Backcountry skiers are like the leg-shavin' XC mountain bike racers who count every gram, drill out every part, swap out all steel bolts for titanium ones and shave their legs too. Every gram counts whether you are pedaling or skinning uphill. Regardless of lightweight gear or not, I'm always the last one up the skintrack. I just like to take things slow and steady, but can still appreciate the weight savings. With so much high-quality, lightweight backcountry gear these days, there's a myriad of choices. Dynafit or Fritschi? Foam or bamboo core? Full-size or mid-size shovel? Carbon fiber or aluminum probe? The list is endless. Lets talk about an all-new piece of gear that not only can help reduce weight, but can also help keep your cool on those long skintracks: the Sierra Designs Mantra Pants....

I've long been a fan of Gordini's Lavawool® fabric. This proprietary blend of wool and synthetic fibers represents the best in both thermal properties and quick drying attributes. I tested a pair of the Gordini Vertigo gloves a few years back and that was my first taste of Lavawool fabrics. I was impressed by the feel and function of the fabric--very warm and quick to dry, which are both highly-desirable qualities for gloves. As Lavawool as gotten more and more acclaim, Gordini has been expanding the Lavawool lineup in recent years--utilizing it in other applications aside from their glove line, such as socks, hats and face protection. The latest application of this fabric is in the new Gordini Lavawool base layers. About the Gordini Lavawool Midweight Base Layers The ...

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 ...

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)....

Want to earn a pair of free skis? With carbon-fiber ski manufacturer, DPsskis.com, $969 and some word-of-mouth could score you a pair of free skis. Free skis may not come to every bro/brah in the industry, but the word on the street is that DPS skis are the best skis you'll ever turn, so relying on an independent crew of ad-hoc salesman on snow might not be a bad idea. Here's the skinny... to enter the DPS Skis Sales Rep Program, you must first put skin in the game by ponying up $969 for your own pair of skis. After that, you simply sign up for the program and start spreading the word. You end up with your own unique referral code that can be distributed to all interested parties. You get ...

With a 120-inch mid-mountain base, 412-inch total snowfall to date and 7-inches of pow in the past 24 hours, Utah's Solitude Resort was primed for the picking. Driving up Big Cottonwood Canyon, the road was fairly clear as this storm was a tad warmer than other recent storms have been. The sloppy-wet snow in Salt Lake City translated into some well-needed snow in the Wasatch. While it’s really only been a little more than a week since the last snowfall, it seems like a month. In the parking lot, the decision begins… super-fat Black Diamond Zealot skis or only sorta-fat Scott Mission skis? Hmmm… I opt for the Scott Missions with their 90mm waist and shapely profile to not only float in the powder, but also lay down perfect railroad tracks on the groomers....

Black Diamond has certainly stepped things up in the past couple of seasons. Their ski line is recognized as one of the best and most versatile lineups for alpine touring, telemark and resort skiers alike. While I'm still trying to get my grubby hands on a pair of the Black Diamond Zealot's for testing, their all-new, flat-camber Megawatt ski is catching my eye. This ski is built to be an inbounds ski on uber-deep or chunky days or as a dedicated cat ski or heli ski option for those who only ski in the deep stuff. Word is these things simply charge the pow and crud like nobody's business. And, because it's not a true reverse-camber ski (really a flat camber ski with a rockered tip), it can still arc turns on the groomers without scaring the crap out of you--this ...

Scott USA has gone from a goggle, pole and basic outerwear company to a full-on hardgoods manufacturer... and a darn good one at that. Their top-shelf ski lineup is now one of the best in the industry, while their entire product line has been beefed up, improved and expanded. Their upcoming goggles are functional and stylish with an entire lineup of limited-edition, bling bling models that will definitely make a statement on the slopes. Though pricing is not included, I'm sure the limited-edition lineup will come with a price. Looking over the goggle lineup, the Scott Celebutante goggle--which is a decked-out goggle based based on the Alibi frame--looks like a sweet example of style and function. They look sweet. Rounding out the ski and outerwear lineup, there's a ton of new eye candy. Here are a few ...

The Smith Optics booth is always a happening place with the beanie-wearing Smith sales/marketing crew working the crowd like no other. Greg Randolph (aka Chopper) showed me a few goodies in the lineup for fall 2008. The two items that stood out were the all-new Smith Hustle Evovle Ski Helmet and the I/O Evolve Goggles with a recycled rubber frame and bamboo-fortified strap. I'm a big fan of the Smith helmet/goggle combination since it allows them to build helmets and goggles that maximize airflow and overall fit. It's no wonder Giro has also branched out into the goggle world, but Smith has them beat on years of experience in optics. Smith Hustle Evolve Ski Helmet New for Fall 2008 is the stylish new Hustle helmet. This lid looks like a mixture of the Variant and a standard skate helmet, giving ...