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GearQuick Tip: Buckle Ski Boots Correctly
Quick Tip: Buckle Ski Boots Correctly
In October, Mountain visited a Masterfit University seminar to learn the ins and outs of bootfitting. We asked Nick Blaylock, a bootfitter at Mount Snow Boot Works who’s worked with Masterfit since 2001, to demonstrate the correct way to buckle a ski boot. Here, Nick demonstrates how to create even tension and avoid making your foot cold or uncomfortable. Learn more at masterfitenterprises.com, and contact Nick at mountsnowbootworks.com....
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BikeBuilding a Cyclocross Bike
Building a Cyclocross Bike
Sydney Fox (right) on course at CrossVegas with the Specialized CruX. Photo by Daniel DunnOn the cyclocross course, I’m prone to crashing and taking corners painfully slow. Neither habit boosts me to the front of the pack. But at CrossVegas in mid-September, I demoed a Specialized CruX carbon that helped my performance and made me believe in an elusive cross victory. It was stable, smooth, and cornered precisely. I sat down with Andrew Frasca, the lead bike engineer, and Ned Overend, a Mountain Bike Hall of Famer and a podium finisher at the 1985 cross national champs, to find out…...
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CultureMTN Download: Arcade Belts
MTN Download: Arcade Belts
The skiers behind the belts: David Bronkie, Tristan Queen, and Cody Townsend (from left). Keep your pants on: Arcade Belts updates overlooked gear with style. By Megan Michelson | Photo by Tai Power Seeff A few years ago, Cody Townsend, a Squaw Valley-based pro skier and avid fly fisherman, started wearing a fishing belt to hold up his pants while skiing. A lightbulb went off in his head. Well, not literally. He had an idea. “There was a need for a better belt in action sports,” says Townsend, 29. “Leather belts are medieval technology, nylon belts wear down too fast, and no…...
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Gear
Quick Tip: Fit Ski Boots to Ability Level
Quick Tip: Fit Ski Boots to Ability Level
On October 18, Mountain visited a Masterfit University seminar in Denver, Colorado to learn the ins and outs of bootfitting. We asked Nick Blaylock, a bootfitter at Mount Snow Boot Works who’s worked with Masterfit since 2001, to share his method for sizing ski boots. Here, he demonstrates how to measure your mondopoint and do a shell fit for skiers of expert, intermediate, and beginner ability levels. Visit masterfitenterprises.com for more information, and contact Nick at mountsnowbootworks.com....
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GearTested: SmartWool PhD SmartLoft Divide
Tested: SmartWool PhD SmartLoft Divide
The Claim: SmartWool says that because they use lofted wool between the fabric layers of the PhD SmartLoft Divide, it insulates like a down piece but still provides warmth when wet. The Test: The Divide entered my layer line-up in February, and I wore it skiing over the rest of winter, then as my insulation piece for summer and fall nights. The Verdict: The SmartLoft holds in heat. My core stayed toasty warm under the wool insulation. And the weather-resistant nylon face fabric repelled light rain and shut out a stiff breeze. A base layer fits underneath comfortably.…...
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GearThis Just In
This Just In
Recently, we made the most of mountain downtime with the ENO SingleNest Hammock. The sturdy nylon sling packs down to grapefruit shape, and the 17-ounce weight was an easy extra for car camping, day hikes, and overnight backpacking. Hang a daisy chain or ENO’s Slap Strap Pro (8 oz; $25) on a tree, then use metal clips to set up the hammock. The fabric stands up to errant tree branches and ENO rates it for 400-pound loads. Comfort level? We kept drifting off to dreamland. Use it for lunch breaks or basecamp luxury—it also shines hanging in the park or…...
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GearTested: Gregory Border 25
Tested: Gregory Border 25
The Claim: Gregory bills the Border as the perfect daily companion. Two separate compartments allow easy organization for bike commuting, overnight stays, gym days, and airport travel. The Trial: I used the Border daily for six months for all of the above. The Verdict: The Border first caught my eye due to TSA-friendly laptop storage. A U-shaped zipper runs around a compartment inside the back panel. Simply unzip and slide the Border through x-ray. In eight security screenings, no one batted an eye. The bag clamshells open to lie flat. A protected sleeve puts the heavy electronics next…...
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Bike
Sneak Peek: Next Year’s Biking Gear
Sneak Peek: Next Year’s Biking Gear
Another round of previews showing new gear and innovations on display at Interbike this past September in Las Vegas, Nevada. See a full recap of new gear across different categories (with photos) here, and check out more video sneak peeks of gear from Smith Optics, Pearl Izumi, and Moots Cycles here. Jamis Bikes rep Rob Dillion discusses the brand’s new 650b wheels. These 27.5-inch wheels offer the superior handling of 26-inch wheels with the rolling advantages of a 29er. Here’s the lowdown on why Jamis believes the size has applicability for mountain bikers. Skratch Labs…...
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GearThe Skinny on Rocker
The Skinny on Rocker
Face it. New skis are cool. And you thought your midfats with that nice carvy sidecut were great. Rocker has changed everything in the past two years. And it’s come of age this season. You probably know how rocker floats you in powder, saving your legs for more runs. But you might not know that rocker makes turning easier (you don’t have to drive the tip anymore), loosens up the ski when you need it (you can pivot in glop or hardpack), and makes those stupid-fat boards (120 mm-plus underfoot) unnecessary in all but Alaska settings. Look for a smidgen…...
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GearTested: BioLite CampStove
Tested: BioLite CampStove
The Claim: The BioLite CampStove cooks meals and charges electronics using biomass fuel. Housed in an orange case attached to the stove can is: A fan, a thermoelectric generator (TEG), and a USB charging port. Light a wood fire in the fuel chamber and a fan circulates the air, gasifying the biomass fuel and creating a clean-burning cooking fire. Once it’s burning hot, a thermoelectric generator converts the heat into electricity accessed through the USB port. The Trial: I used the BioLite CampStove for car camping and fly fishing trips through late summer and fall, cooking dinner for two…...
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BikeInside Interbike
Inside Interbike
Click on the image below to see a slide show of new cycling gear. Photos by Sydney Fox The annual cycling industry tradeshow just wrapped up in Las Vegas, Nevada. Here’s what you can expect to see hitting the shelves at local bike shops in 2013. Components: Shimano released a direct mount derailleur hanger system, which essentially removes the b-link in the derailleur hanger to facilitate easier wheel changes. There’s also less hardware to break. • Kappius Components, a start-up led by founder Russell Kappius, showed a new hub. The Kappius hub features more engagement points, activating…...
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Gear
Quick Tip: Top Rope Belay Technique
Quick Tip: Top Rope Belay Technique
Mountain contributor Drew Pogge demonstrates proper top rope belay technique, including how to communicate with your climbing partner and safe practices. The demonstration takes place at Practice Rock, a local crag outside Bozeman, Montana at the mouth of Hyalite Canyon. Pogge has been climbing rock and ice for 12 years, from Alaska to South America. From his home in Bozeman, he enjoys access to some of the finest climbs in the United States, and is humbled daily by the abundant local talent....
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Gear
Quick Tip: Building a Top Rope Anchor
Quick Tip: Building a Top Rope Anchor
Mountain contributor Drew Poggs breaks down how to build a top rope anchor for rock climbing, including the gear you’ll need and a demonstration at the crag. The demonstration takes place at Practice Rock, a local crag outside Bozeman, Montana at the mouth of Hyalite Canyon. Pogge has been climbing rock and ice for 12 years, from Alaska to South America. From his home in Bozeman, he enjoys access to some of the finest climbs in the United States, and is humbled daily by the abundant local talent....
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BikeTested: Niterider Lumina 650
Tested: Niterider Lumina 650
The Claim: Niterider says the Lumina 650 packs potent lighting into a small body, offering up to 650 lumens and longer burn times in a set-up that weighs 30 percent lighter than the brand’s popular MiNewt Pro 750. The Trial: I ran the Lumina 650 during group and solo night rides on tight, technical singletrack around New England. The Verdict: The Lumina 650 offers four settings, including a 40-lumen battery-saver mode. I started with the light on my mountain bike handlebars at 200 lumens. It was enough to throw shadows away in front of me and kept me…...
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Gear
Quick Tip: Buying Climbing Shoes
Quick Tip: Buying Climbing Shoes
Mountain contributor Drew Pogge discusses how to buy a shoe for beginner or intermediate rock climbers, including what to look for in fit, sole, closure, and price. Pogge has been climbing rock and ice for 12 years, from Alaska to South America. From his home in Bozeman, Montana, he enjoys access to some of the finest climbs in the United States, and is humbled daily by the abundant local talent....
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Bike
Scoping New Gear at Interbike
Scoping New Gear at Interbike
There’s a tradeshow for every season. In September, the bike industry congregates in Las Vegas, Nevada for Interbike. We sent two contributors to report back on the new gear and the best bikes to include in our Fat Tire 2013 test. (Check out the 2012 results here.) The Outdoor Demo got underway yesterday, and our contributors filed video reports on the new Pearl Izumi X Project 1.0 cycling shoe, the Smith Optics Pivlock V2 Max sunglasses, and the Moots MX Divide 29er. Take a look below. Pearl Izumi’s Tony Torrance talks about the X Project 1.0…...
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Gear
Quick Tip: Backpacking Stoves
Quick Tip: Backpacking Stoves
You don’t want to subsist solely on granola bars while backpacking in the mountains. Jenny Ball with Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder, Colorado discusses the options for backcountry stoves. In this video, learn about canister stoves, which operate using compressed gas. Jenny discusses several lightweight stoves from MSR, Jetboil, and snow peak, plus what size you will need for your group and when to use a windscreen. —Dave MacRunnel...
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CultureIntroducing Stio
Introducing Stio
Stio founder Stephen Sullivan outside the Jackson Hole, Wyoming retail location. Courtesy photo A 24-year Jackson Hole local, Steve Sullivan (and business partner Brian Cousins) created the apparel company Cloudveil in 1997. It was the brand that introduced soft shell fabrics to the outdoor community. By 2008, Cloudveil grew to $22 million in global sales. But the success story soured when ownership changed hands and Sullivan failed in a bid to buy back the company. He left in 2010, but began planning his return to outdoor apparel as soon as his non-compete clause expired last fall. Sullivan’s first name in…...
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