-
CultureSCARPA Signs Ski Mountaineer Chris Davenport
SCARPA Signs Ski Mountaineer Chris Davenport
Chris Davenport skiing in Alaska, April 2012. Photo by Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content PoolIt’s April 2012, and high on an Alaskan glacier in Denali National Park, Chris Davenport and other ski mountaineers are talking gear. How do you make a high-performance freeride ski boot that also works for touring? The ideas fly thick and fast, interrupted by forays to climb and ski the Alaskan steeps. After leaving the glacier, Davenport catches a flight from Anchorage to Venice, Italy, and travels to the Dolomites to meet with the Parisotto family, owners of SCARPA and makers of mountain footwear since 1938.…...
Read More -
GearQuick Tip: Fitting a Pack
Quick Tip: Fitting a Pack
It’s simple: Backpacking feels better when your pack fits correctly. Jenny Ball from Neptune Mountaineering, a Boulder, Colorado outfitter since 1973, shows us how to adjust a pack for proper torso length, correct shoulder fit, and comfortable load carrying on your next hike....
Read More -
Gear
Quick Tip: Tying a Figure Eight Knot
Quick Tip: Tying a Figure Eight Knot
Mountain magazine contributor Drew Pogge demonstrates how to tie a figure eight knot, one of the basic knots used for rock climbing. Pogge has been climbing rock and ice (poorly) 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....
Read More -
-
GearTested: Tecnica X-Lite
Tested: Tecnica X-Lite
The Claim: Tecnica says the X-Lite trail runner offers a superior cushioning system and better energy transfer due to the Tecnica Rolling System—a rockered outsole that promotes forward motion. The Test: I ran the X-Lite over Front Range trails all summer, testing the shoes on everything from level, gravel paths to twisty singletrack littered with large rocks and featuring steep elevation changes. The Verdict: The X-Lite offers a smooth stride on even, flat terrain. But that thick cushioning underfoot feels excessive on easy trails. Step up to more daunting terrain, though, and the X-Lite feels stable at speed,…...
Read More -
GearTested: Jetboil Sumo
Tested: Jetboil Sumo
The Claim: The Jetboil Sol stove is an old Swami standby: The integrated burner base maintains gas pressure and stove heat at temps below freezing. Jetboil claims the new Sumo easily feeds large groups in varied backcountry conditions by pairing the Sol burner with a 1.8 liter cooking cup. The Trial: Through spring and summer, I used the Sumo on car-camping and backpacking trips of two to six people around Colorado. The Verdict: I first fired up the Sumo on a chilly, windy April morning at southern Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes National Park. A simple push on the igniter button…...
Read More -
CultureGear of the Future
Gear of the Future
Click on the image at the left to launch a slide show of gear from Summer Outdoor Retailer 2012. Photos by Olivia Dwyer The biannual Outdoor Retailer tradeshow in Salt Lake City just wrapped up. The Mountain mag crew ran the halls looking for innovative 2013 gear. Here are the highlights. Fabric Mountain Hardwear and parent company Columbia Sportswear share a valuable resource: The Performance Innovation Team, or PIT crew, if you will. PIT’s four-year effort to create clothing that keeps you cool in hot weather was on display in Columbia’s Omni-Freeze ZERO and Mountain Hardwear’s Cool.Q Zero material.…...
Read More -
GearTalking Next Year’s Trail Runners
Talking Next Year’s Trail Runners
Craig Alexander (right) poses with a fan and the eye-catching Newton Running product. Photo by Olivia DwyerA crowd of fit, tanned runners graze on a luxe breakfast of bacon, eggs, and all the fixings at a downtown Boulder hotel Tuesday morning. Each sports Newton Running’s limited edition Gravity shoes. The black kicks pop with neon pink or green. Besides flashy shoes, Newton’s retailers came for an annual summit and the unveiling of the 2013 line. No photos allowed, but we can tell you that the colors are brighter than ever and there’s a toothy, lightweight trail shoe in the works.…...
Read More -
BikeTested: Hestra Bike Multi Gloves
Tested: Hestra Bike Multi Gloves
Hestra gloves feel good and look great. The Claim: The Swedish, family-owned glove maker Hestra has been making supple and durable leather ski and work gloves since 1936. Does their craftsmanship carry over to the bike line? Hestra says yes. The Trial: The Bike Multi gloves arrived at Mountain HQ in early spring. I use them for regular bike commuting, weekend mountain bike rides, and early morning excursions on the road bike. The Verdict: Slip on a pair and the quality fit is self-evident, with range of motion and uninhibited sensory perception. The lack of padding makes these…...
Read More -
GearTested: Terra Nova Quasar 30L
Tested: Terra Nova Quasar 30L
The Claim: Terra Nova, an English company that holds the Guinness world record for lightest tent in the word, takes pride in making lightweight yet super tough equipment for the alpine world. The Quasar 30L pack carries that pedigree, with a hangtag promising a “lightweight, simple, and compact alpine pack with extra durability.” The Trial: The Quasar 30 came with me for quick weekend backpacking trips in the high country from May to July, and piled on miles with short hikes in the Boulder foothills. The Verdict: The Quasar 30 shines when weight is a concern. Even with…...
Read More -
GearThis Just In
This Just In
Water bottle options abound these days, but the BPA-free MiiR Insulated Classic stands out due to user-friendly versatility. The wedge lid threads in and out easily, creating a secure vacuum seal to keep liquids in the double-walled cylinder hot or cold. The MiiR kept our coffee piping hot during morning commutes and errands, then chilled 500ml of water while we hiked and biked in the summer heat. $27; miir.com The Pearl Izumi Fly Split Shorts take scorching summer conditions in stride. Lightweight material, a float liner, and side slits create superior fit with full range of motion. P.R.O. Transfer fabric promises…...
Read More -
-
EnvironmentUpcycle Tip of the Week
Upcycle Tip of the Week
What’s Old:Unfurled sails dotting the blue waters of lakes and coastline herald summer. (U.S. Sailing counts nearly 150,000 boats among its members alone.) As sails convert wind to power, they degrade with exposure to sun, wind, and water. But what happens when a sail is worn out? The fabric gets bundled away in a basement, boathouse, or landfill. Upcycle: Sea Bags began collecting used sails in 1999, upcycling them to create everything from duffel bags and purses to wallets, shaving kits, and throw pillows. At first, founder Hannah Kubiak made 45 items each year. Now Kubiak and business partner Beth…...
Read More -
GearTested: Lowepro Flipside Sport 10L AW
Tested: Lowepro Flipside Sport 10L AW
The Claim: Lowepro says the Flipside is steadfast, lightweight, and technical enough for professional photographers and tech-savvy amateurs out in the field. The Test: Mountain‘s editors used the Flipside on inbounds ski days, mingling with festival crowds, and short hikes close to home. The Verdict: The versatile Flipside stows everything you need for a day’s shooting excursion—if you don’t need to haul a lot of extra layers and food. We personalized the interior space with the removable compartments secured by Velcro tabs for our Canon EOS 7D body, a 70-200mm telephoto lens, a 35mm lens, and sundry accessories.…...
Read More -
GearTested: REVO Headway
Tested: REVO Headway
The Claim: REVO’s Headway sunglasses feature the brand’s Crystal Lenses. The polarized glass lens protect eyes and promise to resist scratching while significantly cutting down glare. The Trial: I used the Headway sunglasses for kayak and stand-up paddleboard expeditions on Lake Tahoe, plus mud season mountain bike rides. The Verdict: REVO tailored The Headway for summer use, with an eye to the water sports crowd. (Each pair includes a leash with small buoy attached, keeping glasses afloat if you drop them overboard.) The larger frame offers a wrap-around style to shut out errant sunbeams. Low weight plus flexibility add to…...
Read More -
EnvironmentUpcycle Tip of the Week
Upcycle Tip of the Week
What’s Old: In a single week, one textile factory can send 60,000 pounds of post-industrial waste to the landfill. That’s a lot of fabric scraps. What’s more, nationwide Americans discard roughly 10 million pounds of textiles each year. Upcycle: LooptWorks, based in Portland, Oregon, collects pre-consumer excess materials marked for disposal in Indonesia, Malaysia, and India. The leftovers become limited production run jackets, hoodies, shirts, skirts, bags, laptop sleeves, and wallets. They’ll typically build 500 items in each style. Materials are tested for quality and the designs are developed in weeks. What’s New: The Noll Messenger Bag offers…...
Read More -
BikeTested: Ibex Indie Freeride
Tested: Ibex Indie Freeride
The Claim: Ibex promises its women’s Indie Freeride jersey (part of the merino wool Ride collection) fights odor and pulls moisture away from your skin. The Trial: I wore the Freeride this spring for bike commuting, longer road rides, and mountain biking around the Front Range in temperatures ranging from 50 to 83 degrees. The Verdict: Wool clothing sounds itchy and uncomfortable, but the Freeride jersey is anything but. Ibex starts with New Zealand merino wool fibers at a small diameter (18.5 microns) to create yarn that is soft against the skin. For chilly mornings and inclement weather, the wool…...
Read More -
GearTested: SeasonFive Barrier Tank
Tested: SeasonFive Barrier Tank
The Claim: Colorado’s SeasonFive developed Atmos 1.0, a three-layer fabric that consists of a water-repellant outer face, a waterproof/breathable middle layer, and an inner layer meant to be worn against skin. They claim the fabric blocks wind, water, and UV rays while allowing heat vapor to escape so you can extend your season on the water while kayaking or stand up paddleboarding. The Trial: I tested the women’s Barrier Series tank stand-up paddling last fall. The tank was my only layer during chillier SUP outings. The Verdict: The Barrier Tank kept me warm and repelled water, but still breathed during…...
Read More -
-
GearTested: Big Agnes Horse Thief SL
Tested: Big Agnes Horse Thief SL
The Claim: The Big Agnes Horse Thief SL sleeping bag promises “superlight” weight savings, plus warmth to 35 degrees. The Trial: I burrowed into the Horse Thief on summer nights in a tent near 10,000 feet, chilly fall outings at lower elevations, and on winter car-camping excursions when frost formed inside the windows. The Verdict: The medium bag weighs in at 1 pound, 11 ounces. It’s on the hefty end of the scale for pure light and fast expeditions, but if you’re not gunning for speed records, this value-packed bag saves weight and pack space. A Pertex Quantum…...
Read More -
BikeMountain Download: Wilderness Trail Bikes
Mountain Download: Wilderness Trail Bikes
By Rob Story | Photograph by Tai Power Seeff Were it not for the soft dirt of Northern California, mountain biking as we know it may not exist. From leftist Marin County north through bongwater-drenched Arcata, all the way to the flannel-shirted Oregon line, the trails are verdant, moss-weeping wonderlands carpeted in pine needles. They’re so appealing, ’70s hippies rode them on cruisers, frying brakes and cracking frames. So the hippies founded the original mountain-bike companies. Gary Fisher. Ritchey. And Wilderness Trail Bikes, the supergroup formed in 1982 by Mountain Bike Hall of Famers Charlie Cunningham, Steve Potts, and Mark Slate.…...
Read More
-
Copy the link below
-
-
-
-
Copy the link below
-
-
-
-
Copy the link below
-
-
-
-
Copy the link below
-
-
-
-
Copy the link below
-
-
-
-
Copy the link below
-
-
-
-
Copy the link below
-
-
-
-
Copy the link below
-
-
-
-
Copy the link below
-
-
-
-
Copy the link below
-
-
-