Ride, Baby, Ride
Prepare for an epic winter. Our picks for the best in resort gear will have you enjoying the mountain and looking damn good this season.
1. Gnu Impossible A.S.S. Pickle
Meet the kitchen sink of snowboards. Gnu threw every technology it has into this baby—it features Elliptical C2, Twin, Asymmetric, Banana rocker, and Camber. Top that off with materials including strong, ultra-light Magnesium fiber, rugged Bio Beans top material, glow in the dark sidewalls and lightweight Columbian Gold eco wood. Translation: It’s a light-but-solid-underfoot board that can handle any condition you encounter on the hill. $800; gnu.com
2. Salomon Rocker 2 115
We wanted to stay as positive as possible here and recommend a ski that will just eat it up in powder (it’s going to dump this season, yes?) The latest twin tip in Salomon’s Rocker series doesn’t just float in the bottomless stuff—it responds with authority thanks to a bit flatter of a tail. Plus that 115 cm underfoot seems to hit the sweet spot of just big enough to handle crud and the occasional groomer without getting unwieldy (the turn radius of 26 meters is swooping while still agile). It’s the perfect ski for big days. $875; salomonfreeski.com
3. Powderhorn Powderride
Powderhorn worked with Gore-Tex to create a four-way waterproof/breathable stretch fabric for this baby—the first use of the material in the U.S. The result is an athletic soft shell with all the protection of a hard shell. $475; powderhornworld.com
4. Nikwax BaseFresh
Yeah you stink. But this stuff will wash that smell out of the base layer that claimed to be stink-proof, then turned out to eventually hold onto your own personal funk. It works well on workout clothes and yoga mats too. $7.50 (300 ml); nikwax.com
5. Outdoor Research Incandescent Hoody
You could get overwhelmed with the sheer number of puffies on the market these days, but Outdoor Research got creative here by using a quilting pattern that doesn’t just look different but also puts the down where its insulation is most effective. Even better, the light Pertex fabric on the outside allows those goose feathers to loft more and hold more warm air. It weighs a mere 17.9 ounces and easily stuffs into a pack. $325; outdoorresearch.com
6. Teva Lifty Chair 5
Built with the long, cold, thankless days of lifties in mind but good for everything from winter hiking to getting you to the mountain, these soft boots are stuffed with 3M Thinsulate LiteLoft insulation and wrapped in a waterproof shell. Best of all, they compress down easily for travel. $170; teva.com
7. POC Fornix
The purpose of a helmet is of course to protect your skull and the Fornix does that better than most thanks to POC’s Aramid Bridge System—which combines outer shell and inner foam to keep the helmet both quite light and to ensure that it stays in one piece during the multiple impacts of a serious fall. Beyond, that it looks damn stylish and features six vents to keep things cool. $160; pocsports.com
8. Zeal Ion HD Camera Goggle
Yep, nothing beats homemade ski porn (or so we are told) and no helmet cam can compete with these goggles when it comes to keeping a low profile on the hill. The camera is impressive, shooting full 170º wide angle 1080p video and 11 megapixel still photos. $399; zealoptics.com
9. Liberty Retro Light Bamboo Pole
Liberty combined pliable bamboo with a carbon core here, making for a light pole that looks stylish yet can handle some abuse. $118; libertyskis.com •
