COVID-19 couldn’t stop all the shipments of the latest, greatest gear for skiing and snowboarding. Here’s what’s new, hot, and on the shelves now. Check it out here and head to your local retailer to gear up with all you will need for a winter of socially distanced bliss on the slopes.
Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free
Nordica has been wowing us with its women’s skis for the past several seasons and this all-mountain big gun (132/104/121 in a 158cm length) continues that run with a ski that’s perfect for a resort powder day or a morning spent seeking stashes of powder in the trees. The wood core and a carbon-reinforced layer that runs the length of the ski combine for a ride that’s supple but engages when you want to rail. $850; nordica.com
Völkl Blaze 106
This is the weapon of choice for that skier who seeks stashes out in the trees and deep in back bowls. At 146/106/128 mm in a 186cm length, this big, light (about 4 pounds) ski navigates terrain like a much smaller stick and plenty of rocker in tip and tail mean it can levitate on deep days and handle chewed-up crud. Credit its ability to eat up bad snow to Völkl’s Suspension Tip, a rubbery layer in the tip and tail edges that powers through junk. $600; voelkl.com
DPS Alchemist Yvette 100 RP
This women’s backcountry touring ski will porpoise through powder and make quick work of the skin track. With a snappy 15-meter turn radius and dimensions of 122-100-11mm in a 163cm length, it proves playful yet stable in a wide range of conditions. Though it’s best for the backcountry, the carbon ski, which is built in Salt Lake City, Utah, can hold its own on the occasional groomer run. Men will find similar performance in the Wailer 100 RP. $1,299; dpsskis.com
Blizzard Bonafide 97
Here’s that ski that you rely on for most days at the resort (you know, the ones reported as “packed powder”). At 136.5/97/118.5 in a 183 cm length, this all-mountain workman won’t feel undergunned when the mountain’s skied out. Blizzard’s TrueBlend Flipcore construction gives the it resilient oomph on frontside runs and in the bumps by layering various woods down the length and across the width off the ski like a grid for a natural flex. $650; blizzard-tecnica.com
Movement Alp Tracks LT 100
Swiss brand Movement blew us away with this limited edition ski in its Alp Tracks line, positioned between touring and freeriding. With versatile dimensions at 132/100/120 these carbon skis are incredibly light at 2 pounds, 13 ounces in a 185cm length, but they rip like a much heavier pair of sticks. Credit that to a manual construction process that includes features including a mix of rubber and fiberglass in the tip, just enough rocker in tip and tail, and mini ABS sidewalls that suck up the rough stuff. The real shocker is just how well a ski this light can handle hard snow and tricky terrain. It’s a touring ski that feels like an in-bounds alpine board when you point it downhill. $1,125; movementskis.com
WNDR Vital 100
Built for stability, this light (about 4 pounds) ski can dominate groomers and imparts confidence on steep, hard snow—but it will still float and drive when a storm dumps fresh stuff. At 126-100-118mm with a 24-meter turning radius, it’s a classic shape that feels dreamy at high speeds. But the big story here is microalgae. Yes, based in the U.S.A., WNDR creates the plastics in the core from triglycerides derived from microalgae and later combined with wood. That not only cuts down on petroleum products, it also makes for a ski that’s surprisingly stiff for its weight. $699; wndr-alpine.com
Salomon SHIFT Pro 130
Here’s your pick for a day-to-day alpine boot — compatible with Salomon’s Shift MNC tech bindings — that can get out and tour when you want to escape the resort. It’s light enough for skin trail laps at approximately 3 pounds, 9 ounces, yet hale enough for hammering on piste. The boot is available for men and women and also comes in 120 and 100 flex options. $970; salomon.com
Dalbello Lupo Pro HD
Made for hard-chargers this 4-pound, 6-ounce AT boot features tech inserts and a stiff tongue for power on piste that you can pop out for long skins. The Italian brand uses the same stiff polyurethane in the Lupo as it does in racing boots, meaning its gear can both take abuse and deliver a lot of control and power on the down. $900; dalbello.it
Dynafit Hoji Free 110
Dynafit has enraptured us with its Hoji series of boots, which use a lock system that pulls together the easy-touring shell and upper to deliver all the performance of a full-on alpine boot in a light (3 pounds, 7 ounces) package. With 110 flex, the aggressive Free version will work in frame and hybrid AT bindings as well as tech bindings. $750; dynafit.com
Marker Duke PT 16
Marker’s new hybrid freeride binding features the Quad Lock Ride & Hike toe system. Locked down, it offers security up to DIN 16 for hard chargers. But when you want to tour, remove the toe housing sections and you shave off 8.8 ounces of gear per foot and cut down on the bulk. It’s designed to work with a wide variety of soles, too, so you don’t have to worry about upgrading your boots. $825; marker.net
Jones Stratos
Melding freeride and freestyle philosophies, this directional snowboard was designed to take on anything the hill throws at you. Narrow sidecut and plenty of flex means it can slice and dice on the groomers, but you won’t have to bring a powder board when it snows thanks to an easy taper and plenty of rocker. It initiates turns easy and holds them with aplomb when you hit full speed.$580: jonessnowboards.com
CAPiTA Spring Break Powder Racer
Austrian snowboard brand CAPiTA integrated post-consumer recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) from plastic bottles into ultra-thin strips of Polar and Paulownia wood, to form an advanced hybrid core in this floaty board. That green gear construction proves its worth whether stomping cut-up powder or carving screaming lines on the groomers. $500; capitasnowboarding.com
Leki Guide Extreme V Poles
With a carbon upper and aluminum lower shaft, this four-piece collapsible ski / snowboard pole was designed to withstand the bumps and travails of serious use on the hill and deep in the backcountry. The short edge on the basket will scrape ice off the bottoms of your skins if they glop up on a tour. $250; leki.com
Sweet Protection Looper MIPS
The main job of your helmet is, of course, to protect your brain. The MIPS technology here minimizes the sloshing of impact in order to lower the chance of a concussion and molded impact shields mitigate a big hit. Plenty of venting and integration with googles like Sweet’s Interstellar seals the deal. $159; sweetprotection.com
Zeal Optics Beacon Goggle
Zeal’s newest goggle, the Beacon, taps into the physics behind air traffic control towers. The Observation Deck Technology makes this the first goggle system that replicates the eagle’s view of the mountains to help you see every inch of the line below you. $159-$279; zealoptics.com
BCA Tracker S Beacon
Backcountry Access’s most streamlined transceiver yet features real-time display, reliable signal locking, and no-nonsense multiple-burial searching. It’s a beacon that’s intuitive to use, and since it doesn’t include all the bells and whistles professional rescuers demand in their gear, it rings up at a very reliable price, making it ideal for more casual backcountry skiers and riders. $300; backcountryaccess.com
Mountain Flow Eco-wax Hot Wax
This bio-based glide magic does not pollute the snow with all the fluorocarbons of the great majority of ski waxes. $19; mountainflow.com
Seirus Innovation EVO Arc Mask
You will have to wear a mask when you head to the resort this year, so why not go with a model made by alpine glove and face-covering manufacturer Seirus. It’s more breathable than most and the HeiQ V-Block antimicrobial treatment helps to keep you healthy and others safe. $21; seirus.com
Outdoor Research Deming Sensor Gloves
Simple and tough, these goat leather gloves are lined with comfy Sherpa fleece, polyester, and acrylic wool. This great piece of gear breaks in to the shape of your hand, and offers a lot of dexterity when you are stuck in the cold. $140; outdoorresearch.com
Fjallraven Bergtagen Eco-Shell Pant
Waterproof and burly, these ski pants from the iconic Swedish brand can endure season after season of abuse. Best of all, the breathable Eco-Shell fabric uses recycled polyester and no harmful PFCs to provide protection from the elements. $480; fjallraven.com
Ripple Quick Sticks
These lightly flavored cannabis Pixy Sticks make it easy to get a discrete dose of your medicine with no hassle. They come in different strengths that correspond to the day you have planned: The Pure (10 mg THC) delivers a solid buzz, the Balanced (5 mg THC and 5 mg CBD) is the perfect combination to ease pain and help shake of the anxieties of the world, and the Relief (20 mg CDB and 0.5 mg THC) is ideal for those who don’t want the high but do need the anti-inflammation benefits of CBD. stillwaterbrands.life/ripple-quicksticks
Oskar Blues Can-O-Bliss IPA
The perfect gear for ending a full day in the mountains, Oskar Blues’ latest run of IPAs are crisp, refreshing, and just hoppy enough. The Citrus imparts just a touch of sour to even out the bitter and makes for a beer that’s powerful but not overwhelming. oskarblues.com
Flylow Gear Lucy Jacket
Soft and stretchy, Flylow Gear’s Lucy Jacket can shuck off the worst weather the mountain will toss at you, thanks to three-layer waterproof / breathable protection, but it doesn’t have the stiff feel of the typical hardshell jacket. And, in typical Flylow fashion, its low-key style means it can slip comfortably into any après occasion. $400; flylowgear.com
Airblaster Classic Ninja Suit
The ninja suit (aka the grown-up onesie) from Airblaster makes a lot of sense on the mountain, since it eliminates the fuss and futzing of a base layer top and bottom. This new take on an old gear classic keeps you warm and dry all day long. $120; myairblaster.com
Deuter Freerider Pro 34L+ Pack
With plenty of space for a full array of backcountry essentials, this pack is the perfect size for a wide variety of tours—but it also battens down nicely for riding the lifts and making the occasional foray beyond the ropes. Big bonus: A removable mat inside makes for an impromptu seat on wet snow. $180; deuter.com
Book: The Man Behind the Maps
If you ski or snowboard, you know James Niehues. He’s the guy who illustrates all those ski maps you shove in your pocket when you go to a new hill and pull out on the lift to plan your run. And this book—an outstanding procrastination tool—collects all those illustrations from resorts across North America and beyond. It’s the perfect gift. $90; jamesniehues.com
