K2 iKonic 85 Ti
Lange XT 2.0 All-Mountain Adventure
Flex: 80–130
Hike mode: Yes
MSRP: $550–$850
Walk to Ride Bindings
Hestra Jon Olsson Pro Model Glove
Some purchases you can skimp on. Others you can’t. With gloves, for instance, you get what you pay for. You can feel the quality and craftsmanship in the new Olsson Pro as soon as you slip it on. It’s at the top of the food chain for Hestra, which says enough right there. Light weight. Super-supple cowhide. It’s as comfortable as your favorite T-shirt. We love the elasticized keeper, sturdy wrist closure, and pre-curved Ergo Grip. It’s everything you need from a glove and not a darn thing more.
Dakine Women’s Heli Pro 11 20L
Dakine’s signature Heli Pack has been updated this season with a women-specific model. Changes include a narrower shoulder width and a higher sternum strap to improve load distribution and reduce pressure points, as well as a downsized lumbar belt suited for narrower waists and wider hips. The slim 20L model also boasts gender-neutral goodies such a ski-carrying system, helmet tote, fleece-lined eyewear stash, laptop sleeve, and enough cargo pockets and tool compartments to have you fully rigged for backcountry adventure or lift-served with the kids.
Abom Goggles
Foggy goggles make us angry. The new Abom goggle makes us happy. It boasts an active antifog technology. Think car rear-window defroster: A rechargeable battery sends a current to heat up a transparent film between the dual lenses. Push a button for heat on demand, activating an eight-minute fog-fighting burst. The battery lasts up to six hours, which should be enough to land you at an après bar, where a different type of goggle might be called for.
Atomic Ridgeline Hybrid Down Insulator
Can’t decide between synthetic or down insulation? Don’t. PrimaLoft’s blends combine the two into an insulation option that retains the best qualities of each. The Silver blend is 60 percent synthetic fiber and 30 percent white duck down, giving this jacket amazing warmth, breathability, and the ability to keep its loft even when it’s wet.
Dynastar Elite 11
Nordica GPX
Flex: 85-130
Hike mode: No
MSRP: $499–$799
Male testers concurred that the new GPX line represents the continuing return to greatness for Nordica. The brand gets back to basics with this no-BS performer: great fit, sensible stance angles, quick power to edge. Race- boot performance meets PrimaLoft-insulated comfort. [Shown: GPX 130, $799]
Marker Kingpin 13
DIN: 6–13
MSRP: $649
For tourability, the tech-style toe can’t be beat. For skiability, you want the secure feel of a step-in heel. The Kingpin, which debuted in-season last year, gives you both. Marker had issues with toe durability early on but took care of that quickly. So no more pussyfooting: Earn your turns and hammer them too. There’s a 10-DIN version as well ($599).
Ortovox Net Merino Ultra 260 Tech Hoodie
Think of the Tech Hoodie as a two-for-one. Ortovox uses an innovative mesh inner lining beneath soft merino, allowing the chambers in the liner to trap warm air for the warmest, coziest of layering pieces. The hood is also lined, and a deep zipper allows for venting as needed. It’s soft enough to be worn as a baselayer but thick enough to count as a midlayer, too. That’s a win.
Rossignol Allspeed/Pure All-Mountain Traditional
Flex: 70–130
Hike mode: No
MSRP: $400–$850
Westcomb Nova Top
The Nova rocks Polartec’s new Power Wool, a wool/polyester hybrid whose construction sets it apart from the competition. Instead of blending different yarns together, ultimately weakening the fabric, Power Wool stacks them, with the soft, odor-resistant merino next to the skin and the durable, wicking polyester on the outside. The result: everything you love about merino in a piece that will perform better and last longer.
Tecnica Mach1
Flex: 75–130
Hike mode: No
MSRP: $360–$840
