Smith Optics

I’ve got 4 kids, so what caught my eye was the cool, integrated goggle/helmet combo that will be hitting the slopes next Fall. The kids Smith Cosmos helmet and Galaxy goggle has a hook latch on one side and the Tractor Beam magnetic clip on the other side. The result? The kids goggles will stay put and taking them off and on will result in less complaining from the little ones. Very cool.

Gore-Tex

New from Gore is the Active Shell material that is a realization that they were missing out on the more athletic side of the market. While Gore-Tex Pro Shell is undoubtedly bombproof in the field as a impenetrable hardshell, Active Shell is the lightweight and breathable side of Gore while still remaining waterproof.

Therm-a-Rest

With the wild success of the 3-season Therm-a-Rest Neo Air sleeping pad, Therm-a-Rest is now introducing an all-season version to keep you warm and toasty in the snow. Weight still comes in at a paltry 19 oz. and is built with additional layers of reflective material to improve the convective heating capabilities and keep you warm and toasty. Effective R-value is increased from 2.5 to 4.9 as compared to the classic Therm-a-Rest Neo Air.

Kaenon

Take notice… Kaenon has arrived in a big way. While they may still be seen as high-end and “niche”, Kaenon is finally getting their share of attention with bold styles and solid optics. I’m a huge fan and grab mine first over all others.  Check out the new Squeeze for women and the Trade for men. Solid.

Volkl

While Volkl has had backcountry-friendly skis in Europe, they have yet to make something relevant to the North American market. Look for that to change in 2011 with the top dog, Nunataq backcountry touring ski. With enough width, pre-cut skins, early-rise tip and flat camber, the Nunataq can more efficiently attack the Rockies unlike any Volkl before.

Adidas Outdoor

While Adidas outdoor has been strong in Europe for a few years, 2011 will mark their first full foray into North America. Expect the Three Stripes to appear on mountains and in the backcountry with efficient fit hard and softshells featuring Gore-Tex fabrics. The Terrex Feather Jacket is the head honcho of the line… a solid hardshell with some great features.

I also liked the casual Daroga Leather shoes for their versatile, kick-back styling.

Mountain Hardwear

Goodbye Gore-Tex! While Gore is enjoying solid acceptance still among many brands, Mountain Hardwear is switching gears and pulling the plug on everything Gore. This enables them to deliver their products and fabrics THEIR way. For Fall 2011, you’ll find great mixtures of fabrics (hard and soft) and insulation. The fabrics primarily fall into DryQ Active and DryQ Elite product lines with an emphasis on function. Having used a DryQ Active piece for several weeks now, I’m digging where Mountain Hardwear is going.

La Sportiva

Skis, boots AND bindings… whoa! So, La Sportiva is coming into the ski market with a randonee racing twist. Most of the line will only find a home in limited locations, but it all looks well-built and capable. The RT binding is the first tech binding to feature a Release Value (similar to DIN) in the toepiece. It’s a simple design and ultralight. And the Hi-5 ski has enough rocker and size to keep it fun in the deep.

Black Diamond

Talk about an overhaul… wow! The entire Black Diamond ski line gets re-done with more rocker, girth and power than ever before. The Power series gets new and shiny from top-to-bottom and the Efficient series gets the new ultralight Justice (my pick for a backountry slayer). The new top dog is the huge Gigawatt, which sits even wider than the Megawatt. Lots of new technology going on here.

Anyway, the “Made in America” story is a great one, but only if the shoes keep up with their well-known running heritage. As is typical during the Winter, I still manage to slip out for a few snowy trail runs. This season has been filled with more running than skiing because of Utah’s poor snowpack, so the New Balance MT910 Gore-Tex trail runners have seen many miles in rain, slush, snow and mud. All-in-all they have come out victorious, but not without some bumps in the road.

Features of the New Balance MT910:

• Synthetic/mesh upper
• GORE_TEX® XCR® waterproof lining
• Rock Stop foot protection
• ABZORB® material in heel and forefoot offers excellent cushioning and compression
• Ortholite Insert
• Gussetted Tongue
• Sure Lace
• Toe Protect toe cap
• Ndurance® rubber compound heel for maximum durability in high-wear areas
• NLOCK® integrated lacing and webbing system delivers optimal fit, support and security
• MSRP: $129.99

New Balance MT910 Review

Upon arrival, these shoes felt a bit stiff in the uppers. Sometimes Gore-Tex shoes are a tad stiffer due to increased materials, so that’s not out of the norm. The only annoyance off-the-bat was that the corners of the uppers at the point of the uppermost lace eyelet tended to dig into the tops of my feet. This was quickly alleviated by switching to a slightly thicker sock. Be aware that this may be the case with thinner socks, so keep that in mind.

Once broken in, these shoes have been solid performers in mud, snow and loose trails. Overall traction is superb without so much of a slip–even on snowpacked terrain. I suspect this is partly due to the durometer of the outsole as it seems quite firm. That firmness, combined with a dense midsole, tends to create a somewhat-harsh ride on pavement. I feel they are adequate on the hard stuff, but they are definitely more suited to off-road pursuits.

Stability has been top-notch with excellent support from the uppers as well as the midsole. The shoe cradles the foot well and overall protection from rock intrusion in the forefoot (Rock Stop insert) and toebox (Toe Protect cap) is second-to-none. If you have sensitive feet or need extra toebox protection, these shoes will not disappoint. I ran with Sole Dean Karnazes insoles in these out-the-chute and have found them to be an excellent match for these shoes and my flat feet.

Breathability is acceptable for a Gore-Tex shoe, but I wouldn’t recommend these for summertime use or temps north of 60-degrees. I have appreciated the wind protection on cold runs as these have maintained their warmth well. But, on a few warmer Fall days, they did get a little toasty.

These shoes have also passed the mandatory 30-second stream submersion test, so the Gore-Tex lining does its job.

Good MT910

• Very stylish on/off trail
• Excellent traction
• Excellent toebox protection
• Secure lacing system provides a comfortable fit
• Smooth stride
• Ribbed laces keep things tight

Bad MT910

• Cushioning is pretty firm… race car-esque
• A bit firm for road endeavors
• Cuff digs into tops of feet with thin socks
• Gore-Tex liner sounds crinkly

Bottom Line: New Balance MT910 Trail Runners

Really a solid choice for foul-weather running. The Gore-Tex lining keeps your feet warm and dry down to extremely-cold conditions (15-degrees F) and the overall traction and support will help you move right along on any trail.

Buy Now: Search for New Balance MT910

About the La Sportiva Wildcat GTX

The Wildcat is La Sportiva’s recommended shoe for race distances of 50 miles or more – or, if ultras aren’t your style, for a high-mileage trainer that can handle all variety of terrain.  This is the most highly-cushioned La Sportiva model, which strives to balance stability and freedom of movement.

From the midsole down, the GTX version is identical to the original Wildcat; the primary differences in this model lay in the upper, which uses Gore-Tex technology for improved resistance to the elements.

Features

• Last: Tempo
• Upper: Airmesh/ Trail Cage/ TPU Transkinetic heel stabilizer
• Lining: Gore-Tex extended comfort footwear
• Midsole: single density MEMlex 2.4mm EVA/ Nylon molded flex transfer shank
• Midsole height: 28mm at heel, 16mm in forefoot
• Outsole: FriXion AT/ Impact Brake System X-Axis
• Weight: 13.40 oz (380g)
• MSRP: Wildcat GTX: $125  Hobnail Kit: $45

La Sportiva Wildcat GTX Review

One of my favorite aspects of La Sportiva shoes is how comfortable they feel right out of the box; they latch onto your shoe like a snug slipper, and you feel like you can head out your door for a 50K.

The Gore-Tex version of the Wildcat adds a little bit of weight – 13.4 oz compared to 12.0 for the non-GTX style – which makes the shoe feel more bulky than most other La Sportiva offerings.  But this is a foul-weather trainer, not a racer that you’ll use when gunning for a PR.

Fortunately, most other features of the Wildcat are consistent: a low profile around the ankle, a snug forefoot fit aided by an even-tension lacing system, and and a thin, breathable sockliner.  La Sportiva’s AirMesh upper material is still utilized, although the moisture-resistant TPU film decreases the ventilation (and conversely, improves the insulation) of the GTX model.

The submersion test for stream crossings

The Gore-Tex upper is highly effective at both keeping water out, and pushing water away once it finally gets in.  It kept the cold chill off of my feet during winter rainstorms, and moved water away from my feet (in combination with Drymax socks) very efficiently after being submerged in multiple river crossings.  However, when taking the shoes off after a wet run, they’re slower to completely dry than a traditional upper. 

Thankfully, the GTX Wildcat maintains all the overall toughness of the original.  The Transkinetic Heel Stabilizer for lateral stability; a midsole transfer shank for support and energy transfer, and reinforcement in all the right places allow you to run with abandon across all terrain.

Wildcat outsole: FriXion rubber and Impact Brake System

LaSportiva is known for its outstanding outsole traction, with FriXion AT rubber that is softer and stickier than typical outsoles, and the Impact Brake System with die-cut lugs angled in various directions to enhance braking and minimize slippage.  For the most extreme winter conditions, La Sportiva offers removable hobnails that are easily screwed in or out of the outsole for enhanced traction; they’re the same kind of corrosion resistant metal studs that are used in the auto industry for hand studding rally car tires.  Ice and snow are no match for your metal-studded Wildcat.

screw-in hobnails for super traction

Good Wildcat GTX

• Great water resistance in rain and rapid drying time after submersion
• Nice cold-weather insulation from GTX upper
• Outstanding baseline traction further optimized by optional hobnail studs
• Impact reinforcements in all the right places

Bad Wildcat GTX

• Noticeably heavier than non-GTX Wildcat
• Diminished ventilation from TPU coating on upper
• Somewhat slow to completely dry after immersion

Bottom Line: La Sportiva Wildcat GTX

The underside of the Wildcat was always built for muddy, slippery terrain, and the GTX version provides an upper that is equally suited for such conditions.  This is a worthy foul-weather version of an already well-built trail model.

Buy Now: La Sportiva Wildcat GTX

While Inov-8 is still relatively unknown here in the States, they are making great strides on this side of the pond with unique trail running shoes and other footwear. The Inov-8 Roclite 312 GTX caught my eye at the Gore-Tex booth while at Outdoor Retailer and now I’ve had the privilege of giving them the run-down on my local trails. the Roclite 312 GTX the beat-down and am enjoying them overall.

About the Inov-8 Roclite 312 GTX Trail Runners

Lightweight, long-distance runners for rough conditions built with Gore-Tex for inclement weather, the Roclite 312′s are efficient and stylish players in the trail running market. Inov-8 builds their shoes with a bevy of proprietary fit and functional features that enhance the overall performance.

Feature highlights:

• Gore-Tex liner
• META Flex to mimic natural forefoot motion
• META Shank for forefoot protection
• Fascia Band to reduce fatigue
• Extra cushion for long distances
• Endurance last for comfortable fit
• Unisex fit
• MSRP: $135

Inov-8 Roclite 312 GTX Review

When the 312′s first arrived, my wife commented, “Did you get some football cleats?” I just laughed, but I must admit, she was right–the black color-scheme with meaty treads did make them look somewhat football cleat-ish. Thankfully, a walk around the tile wasn’t met with disdain since these lugged kicks have soft, sticky rubber instead of turf-digging spikes.

What first caught my eye about these shoes was the styling. They don’t look much like other trail runners on the market. The full mesh uppers, a lightweight exo-skeleton for support, chunky treads and piping around the toebox really set these shoes apart. They were smart looking on the shelf and are smart looking on the trail (good thing too… I hear mountain lions stay away from sharp-dressers on the trail).

One of the first things that I noticed about wearing the Roclite 312′s was the natural stride and flex. I really like how the entire system works in concert to provide a smooth and consistent feel throughout the step. While some shoes suffer from a hinged feeling, these feel nothing of the sort.

The large, widely-spaced treads are great for maintaining traction on rough and wet trails. You can actually feel the treads as they bite into the dirt. The only caveat to this is in loose conditions where the toe-off push wasn’t always as solid as I’d like. This may likely be due to the squared-off nose.

As far as support goes, these shoes are pretty minimal. I was able to slip in a pair of Sole footbeds to support my pancake-flat feet, but the lateral support is pretty light. That, combined with the narrow heel profile, did exhibit some foot rolling tendencies, which aren’t typically common in trail shoes. That said, if you are confident and sure-footed, you may not have issues, but the technical terrain I’ve been tackling did present some occasional challenges.

As far as Gore-Tex shoes go, these are by far the most breathable I’ve worn. The full mesh uppers really lend themselves to allowing your feet to breathe. While I still wouldn’t recommend them in dry, warm climates, I was comfortable in temperatures around 60 and above. I intentionally stood in a running stream for 30 seconds and not a drop of water entered the shoe.

Good Roclite

• Very lightweight
• Solid overall traction
• Smooth and comfortable stride
• Great for minimalists who don’t need all the clunky support of other shoes
• Ample cushioning
• Excellent foot protection and trail feel
• Waterproof, yet still very breathable for a GTX shoe (still comfortable above 60-degrees)
• Love the casual-esque styling accents

Bad Roclite

• Stability (compared to traditional trail running shoes) is lacking–especially with narrow heel
• Toe-off traction could be better
• Very high volume (bad for me… OK for high-volume feet)
• Toebox captured dirt between mesh layers
• Grippy rubber outsole feels really slow on pavement
• Snow traction is acceptable, but not as good as treads would suggest

Bottom Line: Inov-8 Roclite 312 GTX

Unique styling and good function really makes the Roclite 312 an appealing choice for the sure-footed trail runner looking for a lightweight, bad-weather trainer.

Buy Now: Visit Zappos.com to Buy the Inov-8 Roclite 312 GTX

About the Montrail Mountain Masochist GTX Trail Running Shoes

A highly-supportive and protected trail runner, the Mountain Masochist GTX also shields your feet from rain and snow with its waterproof Gore-Tex liner. This is the foul-weather version of the award-winning Mountain Masochist.

Mountain Masochist GTX Features:

• Gryptonite™ outsole for great traction and exceptional durability
• Full foot Trail Shield™ for under foot protection from rocks and other trail debris
• Triple density Vapor Response™ EVA midsole provides a responsive ride with Trail Shield protection and mid-foot support
• Highly breathable hydrophobic mesh enhances the performance of the Gore-Tex® bootie construction
• Gusseted tongue construction keeps out dirt and moisture
• Color: Navy/Grey
• MSRP: $115

Montrail Mountain Masochist GTX Review

No other shoe I’ve tested has been built with as many bells and whistles as the Mountain Masochist GTX. Going down the list of proprietary construction, there’s little wonder why Montrail trail runners are so regarded in the market today. This shoe is built for all-weather training with enough all-around performance to excel in all terrain in cool weather conditions.

Giving them a visual rundown, they kind of appear a bit out of Mad Max with multiple materials stitched together for a half-mesh/half-suede combo and plenty of supportive bands to provide just the right all-terrain support.

Over the past few months, I’ve been able to test these shoes in a variety of conditions from hot and try to wet, snowy and muddy. Like all Gore-Tex runners, I don’t recommend them in weather over 60-degrees. The combination of the large volume (hence a thicker sock), burly materials and the Gore-Tex liner do limit breathability, but are a welcomed combo when the temperatures dip into the 40′s and below.

The uppers provide an excellent fit with the ability to fit a large-volume foot very well. With my narrow and flat feet, I found the toebox unable to cinch down as much as I’d like, but the extra wiggle-room ended up being pretty comfortable and stable with tons of protection from rocks, roots and debris. In fact, should you have sensitive toes or suffer from poor circulation, I’d highly recommend these shoes for their armor-like and market-leading toebox protection.

Continuing along the protection vein, the Full Foot Trail Shield plate provides superb forefoot protection from sharp rocks and trail stubble. Outsole traction is solid in a variety of conditions, but did tend to attract mud in some of the smaller crevices.

One more thing about the outsole… the island-like heel-strike area is built to isolate those forces and provide specialized cushioning. That’s great and all and works well at stride, but you can really feel the transition from heel-strike area to the midfoot when walking around. At speed, it disappears, but at walking pace, it’s kind of odd.

I’m really impressed with the overall stability and have found them to be extremely supportive and stable in technical and variable terrain. At the other end of the terrain spectrum, short distances on the road are acceptable with this shoe.

Good Mountain Masochist GTX

• Excellent cushioning
• Smooth stride on the trail
• Great trail grip on soft, tacky trails
• Great for cold weather running–keep feet warm and dry
• Shed mud pretty well
• Excellent trail protection and feel
• Superior toebox protection on uppers (great for sensitive toesies)
• Withstood 30-second creek submersion test
• Excellent price for a GTX runner

Bad Mountain Masochist GTX

• Stride is a little odd for walking around
• Exposed sockliner on inner cuff wears easily
• Larger volume requires thicker socks
• They turn into foot saunas north of 60-degrees
• Awkward patchwork styling
• You can feel the tongue gussets with thinner socks
• A little heavy on paper

Bottom Line: Montrail Mountain Masochist GTX

An excellent foul-weather trail running shoe for medium to large-volume feet, the Mountain Masochist GTX will provide superior trail and weather protection in a comfortable and highly-supportive package.

Buy Now: Search for Montrail Mountain Masochist

That said though, I was anxious to try out these new backpacking boots from Merrell. The quality of materials and construction seem well beyond the $185 pricepoint, so the value seems to be there, but how is the ride with such a burly boot?

About the Merrell Outbound Mid Gore-Tex Boots

Built as one of Merrell’s burliest boots, the Outbound Mid hiking boots are built with Gore-Tex liners for waterproof performance in all conditions. These boots are stiff and sturdy–capable of weeklong backpacking trips or excursions where waterproof, supportive boots are necessary. Looking at the specs, the Outbound boots have all the right components from Gore, Vibram, Ortholite and Aegis that’s topped off by a slew of Merrell technology. See below for the rundown.

• GORE-TEX® Gasket Construction
• Cordura, Synthetic and Ripstop Mesh Upper
• Comfort Padded Lycra® Collar
• GORE-TEX® Performance Comfort Lining Treated with Aegis®
• Breathable Padded Bellows Tongue
• Metal Hook and Lacing Eyelet
• Reinforced Silicone Molded Synthetic Instep and Heel Stability Arm
• Molded TPU Abrasion Resistant Full Length Toe and Heel Bumper
• 4.5mm Ortholite® Anatomical Footbed
• Merrell Spring Motion™ Technology Insole; Grade 4 Men’s, Grade 3 Women’s
• Lightweight Direct Injected Polyurethane Midsole
• Merrell Air Cushion
• 7 mm Sole Lug Depth
• Vibram® Outbound Sole/ CT Rubber
• Men’s Weight: 3 lbs.
• Colors: Black/Red or Black
• MSRP: $185

Merrell Outbound Mid Gore-Tex Boots review

After a quick office break-in, I was headed out in the Wasatch with my wife to climb Sunset Peak. This is a relatively quick hike that takes you from Alta Ski area to the convergence of Little Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood and American Fork Canyons. The views are spectacular and the hike is well worth the effort.

As I was breaking them in, I was quick to notice just how stiff these boots were. Laterally, you’d be hard pressed to twist your ankle or feel in any way compromised in its stability. The stride of these boots feels very natural and the forefoot flexes just enough to keep things comfortable. One of the great features of these boots is the combination of Merrell Air Cushion and Merrell Spring Motion™ insole. With the 7mm Vibram-lugged sole, the midsole support and cushion is just enough to reduce shock and keep things comfortable over the long haul.

You don’t want a super-squishy boot for long-distance backpacking, but the cushioning midsole on the Outbound feels to be the perfect combination of stability and comfort/shock absorption.

Lacing them up for the trail, it was easy to cinch them down for a proper fit. With just a midweight pair of EMS-brand hiking socks, I was confident that I’d be blister-free and I was.  In the lower-angle approach trails, the tightness of the forefoot and cuff was just right, but when the trail reached the ridge and got considerably steeper, my ankle wasn’t able to flex enough fore and aft for comfort. As a result I just shortened my stride a tad to slightly reduce the ankle flex–I was too lazy to re-lace, but could have done that easily.

Just keep in mind that these are stiff boots that are built to protect your foot and support your body for heavy-duty backpacking. As such, you will sacrifice some flexibility, but the lugged Vibram sole makes up for some of that lack of flexibility in its excellent terrain-hugging grip. This outsole provided excellent uphill and downhill traction on rocky and loose terrain.

I tested out the waterproof capabilities of these boots by stepping in a stream. The DWR finish on the Cordura exterior combined with the Gore-Tex liners were impossible to penetrate. Water just beaded up and nothing came close to penetrating the boot. I’m sure over time, the DWR finish will wear off, but the Gore-Tex liner will be worth its weight in gold should you choose to hike these in wet conditions (like my homeland in Washington State).

Good Outbound Boots

• Love the supportive comfort of the Air Cushion and Spring Motion midsoles
• Vibram outsole is very grippy in all terrain
• Excellent waterproofing with Gore-Tex and DWR finish
• Surprisingly breathable
• Supportive and sturdy in technical terrain

Bad Outbound Boots

• Gore-Tex could get hot if hiking in extreme heat
• Upper tongue seems a little thick
• Not a whole lot of flexibility for steep/technical climbs

The Bottom Line: Merrell Outbound Mid Gore-Tex Hiking Boots

Sturdy and stable while maintaining an excellent comfort level, the Outbound Mid boots are a solid option for long-distance backpacking or technical hiking when a burly boot is desired. Gore-Tex is a nice touch for those living in wet climates. And, the price is solid for what you’re getting.

Buy Now: Search REI for Merrell Outbound Boots

DaKine Bronco GT Details

The DaKine Bronco GT gloves represent all of the best features you could want in a technical glove. Using a low-profile design with perfectly articulated fingers, the Bronco GT’s fit… well… like a glove after a quick, one-day break-in. Attention to detail is evident with the use of a high quality mix of materials all built around a Gore-Tex™ insert.

As gloves have evolved from short length to gauntlet style, and now back to form-fitting, yet functional and warm, the DaKine Bronco GT gloves represent the best of this new glove design.

Using bomber materials such as Corded Nylon Flextough shell, a rubberized Clarino palm and neoprene cuffs, the Bronco GT is built for years of abuse in all weather conditions. The combination of lightweight, thermal insulation and Gore-Tex inserts provides warmth and dryness from Sierra Cement to Wasatch Powder.

2005 Bronco GT Glove Review

When I first got the Bronco GT’s, the large size felt a bit tight. A friend of mine convinced me that they would stretch and fit just perfectly. After using them once, they stretched out perfectly. He was right. I flogged the Bronco GT’s over the course of several months on many backcountry tours and in-bounds ski days. It wasn’t long before these gloves really became my “only” pair of gloves.

My other pairs of gloves mostly consist of bulkier, half gauntlet designs, or lightweight spring gloves. The DaKine Bronco GT gloves split the gap between the lightweight and comfortable spring gloves and bulky, heavyweight designs. They offer the perfect fit for all-around comfort in all but the coldest of conditions.

On several backcountry tours, the Bronco GT’s performed flawlessly. They breathed well and also kept my hands warm and dry–despite some nuking winds and wetter than usual Utah powder. I really like the grippy, rubberized palms. Because it’s so grippy, it is easy to fiddle with helmet buckles, pole adjustments, zipping jackets and adjusting goggles. I’m totally sold on the functionality of this glove design. I particularly like the glove length and neoprene cuffs for overall comfort. It makes it very easy to comfortably cinch it tight around your wrist, then bring your jacket on top of the gloves. Gauntlet designs just get too bulky, but this glove design works great.

In addition to the rubberized palm, the outer shell of the Bronco GT’s is very burly and durable. I used it to bash a few low-hanging branches during the past few months, and they continue to look as good as new. The only wear and tear I see is a little bit of rubberized palm wear on the edges of the fingers. Other than that, everything looks great and is holding up nicely to plenty of abuse.

Bottom Line: Dakine Bronco GT Gloves

I’m very impressed with the performance of the DaKine Bronco GT gloves. They have worked their way into the “favorite gear” status very quickly. The trim fit offers much more flexibility and overall comfort versus bulkier designs. For the Utah fluff and backcountry tours, the Bronco GT’s are the perfect answer. Because of the durable construction throughout, these gloves will be trusty friends for a long time. The DaKine Bronco GT gloves are the perfect, all-around glove for nearly all conditions.

Buy Now: Search for DaKine Gloves