A good helmet needs to be protective but not noticeable. Anon’s Merak does that better than any I’ve tested, period. Thankfully, it’s more strange to see someone skiing or snowboarding without a helmet these days on the slopes. While there are still some purists who refuse to wear one, the data is pretty clear that […]
Anon Merak Wavecel Ski and Snowboard Helmet Review Read More »
It has been an interesting season in the Northern Hemisphere. 2026 will go down as one of variability. Much of North America had some unseasonable warmth at some point, and some less-than-welcome droughts, only to be hit with surprise storms that unleashed a ton of precipitation in a matter of days, and then dry up
Spring Has Sprung: How To Navigate Mountains Safely In A Season of Change Read More »
One of the great joys of snowboarding vs. skiing is having soft boots. Of course, there are many more reasons in this author’s humble opinion… but we can stick to the boots being a major differentiator these days. And having soft boots may not be the most efficient way to travel, but it sure wins
ThirtyTwo Jones MTB Lite Splitboard Boots Review Read More »
Author’s Note: This article stems from a core belief that has guided my work in backcountry education: there should be no gatekeepers in the mountains, only mentors. While professional guiding is a vital service, the “trust me” model is increasingly at odds with a public that is more educated and empowered than ever before. This
Why Backcountry Guides Must End the “Trust Me” Model Read More »
We spend countless hours pouring over avalanche forecasts, analyzing snowpits, and meticulously packing our backpacks. But out in the backcountry, one of the most dangerous hazards doesn’t come from a buried persistent weak layer or a sudden spike in temperature. It comes from inside our own heads. As human beings, our brains are wired to
Heuristic Traps: Navigating Invisible Human Factors In The Backcountry Read More »
I miss the days where snowboarding videos were a sit-down event. And this is a criticism of how we consume all media, not just snowboarding—but I pine for the pre-smartphone era of consumption. The days of having a stack of VHS tapes (and then DVDs) on top of a TV set that was the go-to
Pro Standard Grillmount Review: The One Angle To Rule Them All Read More »
Ultraviolet Light is a silent threat in the mountains. We spent plenty of our time and money trying to research the best baselayers, jackets, and hardgoods to help us conquer the mountains, but our eyes often get overshadowed. Actually in this case, they often get undershadowed: the snow of the alpine environment reflects the UV
The Best Glacier Glasses For Ski Touring and Mountaineering Read More »
Choosing the right jacket for backcountry skiing or snowboarding is more than a fashion statement. Hopefully that’s the last thing on your mind. But when it comes down to it, a proper hardshell jacket can be a possible life-saver to keep you warm and dry in critical moments. Or at the very minimum it’ll keep
The Best Hardshell Jackets For Backcountry Skiing Or Splitboarding Read More »
The Arc’teryx Sabre jacket has become one of the world’s go-to gore-tex shells for resort skiing and snowboarding in the past few years. This year they have updated to using the new ePe fabric, which is free of the harmful PFAS “forever chemicals” that leech into our ecosystem. After testing the jacket for the past
Arc’Teryx Sabre Jacket Review: Is it Worth The Premium Pricetag? Read More »
ThirtyTwo T32M FASE Bindings: First Impressions Specs: Quick-release highback, double-beam heelcup, fast ankle strap Pro Models: Pat Fava (featured here), Scott Stevens, Chris Bradshaw Best For: All-mountain shredding Overall Feel: Responsive, yet durable, with super fast ankle strap adjustments I’ll get it out of the way now that I’m a fan of ThirtyTwo. Over the
ThirtyTwo T32M FASE Snowboard Bindings Review Read More »