Highgear is a relative newcomer to the altimeter watch market. While industry heavyweights like Suunto were creating more and more complicated devices with higher and higher pricetags, Highgear was quietly plugging along with the mantra of providing top-notch altimeters and navigational equipment at an affordable price. I've seen and used many of their altimeter watches in the past and have found them to be highly functional and feature-rich for their $130-$160 price range, which is half the cost of those from other top brands. The entire line of Highgear products spans from pedometers to altimeters to portable mp3 players and other handheld tools commonly used in the backcountry. About the Highgear Altis Ti Altimeter Watch The new Highgear Altis Ti was introduced late last year as the new top-of-the-line altimeter watch ...

The first mountain bike I really wanted was a Specialized StumpJumper--that was in 1990. Times have changed, but that level of bike lust still continues as the complete lineup of Specialized mountain bikes display some of the finest craftsmanship and refinement of technology available today. Yes, Specialized is big... yes, they manufacture hundreds of thousands of bikes per year, but the fact of the matter is that they are still the industry standard in many respects. The primary one is their patented FSR suspension linkage--one that is arguably the best suspension design in terms of pedaling efficiency, braking power and squish appeal. It's also one of the oldest designs, so it has been proven time and time again to be the industry standard. About the Specialized Pitch Pro The all-new Specialized ...

Of all the joints in the human body, the knee likely takes the biggest beating over our lifetimes. Thousands of miles just walking around are compounded by knee-pounding activities such as running, backpacking and skiing. It's a fact of life that our knees will likely wear out over time with knee scopes or even knee replacement on the agenda for many. With the latest technology trends, are there ways we can better take care of our precious knees? Are there changes in our exercise habits that can prolong the lifespan of our joints? I have changed my running habits from pounding the pavement to pounding the dirt and have even purchased an elliptical trainer to have a no-impact workout option. Aside from a change of activity and lifestyle, are there other ways I can prolong the lifespan of ...

Portland, Oregon-based Nau Clothing is committed to building environmentally-sustainable clothing and outerwear. This commitment is one that isn't especially easy when it comes to outerwear technology, which is dominated by many petroleum-based laminate materials. In spite of that challenge, Nau is leading the charge in sustainable materials and manufacturing while others are merely dabbling in it. Nau's full line of technical outerwear is subtly-styled, but filled with enough technical goodies to keep even the biggest gear junkie satisfied. With retail outlets in Portland, Seattle, Denver and Chicago and a solid online retail presence, Nau services outdoor enthusiasts worldwide. Built on the philosophy that companies don't merely exist for profit alone, Nau is committed to philanthropy, corporate responsibility, employee and customer satisfaction, open customer feedback and honest dialog about products and design. I'm very impressed by their core principles ...

I've got a handful of goggles on the shelf. Some with yellow lenses for low light conditions, some with chrome mirror lenses for bluebird days and others with amber lenses for all-around versatility. I've also swapped out the lenses in my myriad of Smith Cascade goggles over the years... it's a bit of a chore, but I got it done. Just as Smith changed the sunglass world with the innovative Smith Slider series, they are aiming to change the goggle world with the new Smith I/O goggle. I saw next year's enviro-friendly version of the I/O Evolve goggle at OR in January and have since gotten my hands on a pair of new Smith I/O goggles to flog on the slopes. About the I/O Goggle The Smith I/O goggle offers all that you'd expect ...

New for 2007-2008 is the uber-fat and stout Black Diamond Zealot. This ski is big, burly and stiff and is built like a tank to float through deep pow and power through thick, heavy crud. This year's ski lineup from Black Diamond is stellar. Gone are the days that Black Diamond was just a euro-style touring or telemark ski manufacturer. Their lineup and pricepoints are enough to stir the pot and generate serious buzz in the industry. The Zealot was the flagship model until the newly-introduced Black Diamond Megawatt came on the scene last month. Still, the Zealot is an awesome example of how Black Diamond is pushing their ski designs further and further to accommodate not only backcountry skiers who enjoy pushing their limits, but aggressive skiers of all disciplines (tele, alpine or backcountry touring)....

The UK Vizion 3AAA Headlamp is new to the outdoor market which is stacked with headlamps. Seems like everyone wants in on the LED market and slapping your logo on something mass produced out of China is the method most use. Seriously, just looking at my gear closet I came up with 7 different models of headlamps from 3 different manufacturers. So when I first set eyes on the UK Vizion at the Winter Outdoor Retailers show in Salt Lake City I was skeptical that a new entry to the market could give me anything more innovative and useful that I hadn't already seen. Not only was I wrong in my assumption about the quality, I'm happy to say that I have been pleasantly surprised with the performance. About the UK Vizion 3AAA eLED Headlamp UK, which stands for Underwater ...

It's been three seasons now since I made the switch to Dynafit bindings. That first season I kept a pair of skis mounted up with Fritschi Freerides but after a few months of touring with Dynafit bindings I pulled the Freerides, promptly sold them and bought a second pair of Dynafits. I had become a Dynafit Disciple. I realize that it's hard for some (ahem... Jason) to envision themselves skiing on a binding that looks so...primitive and so...simple, but making the leap is putting yourself on a path of enLIGHTenment, about 2-4 pounds lighter that is. I've skied steep terrain on peaks like Timpanogos, Middle Teton, Mount Superior with no problems. I've skied them inbounds and out of bounds, slackcountry and backcountry. With likely 150 days on my first pair ...

I've got some of the flattest feet around. Combine that with a low volume foot and I end up being an odd fit for many shoes. Often times, I have to cinch the laces up so tight that the eyelets on either side are nearly touching. I also have gone the custom orthotic route by going to a podiatrist and shelling out several hundred bucks for a pair of custom orthotics that are gathering dust in my closet. Over time, I'd settled for a pair of Dr Scholls 3/4 arch supports and thought they did a decent job providing me the arch support that my feet, ankles, knees, hips and back so desperately need. And, they were super easy to swap out from shoe-to-shoe. Introducing SOLE Heat-moldable Footbeds I had heard about SOLE in ...

The life-saving Black Diamond AvaLung has been on the market for a few years now. This technology sucks the oxygen out of the micro air pockets within the snowpack and allows you to breathe while completely submerged for 60 minutes or longer. The AvaLung system doesn't keep you out of avalanches... that's what your brain is for, it's built to keep you alive longer. Given that most avalanche victims suffocate before they are found, the AvaLung system is a must-have item for anyone traveling in the backcountry. The survival rate of a full-burial dramatically decreases after 15 minutes. Without an AvaLung, if you are alive, but not found in 15 minutes, your chances of survival become next to nothing very quickly. However, with an AvaLung, you can safely breathe for 60 minutes or more because of the ingenious ...