Volkl Kendo and Kenja Ski
$775, www.volkl.com
Navigating through the bevy of new all-mountain twin-tip skis is a formidable task—even experts get bogged down with the subtle performance nuances of "waist, shovel, sidecut, and turning radius." So we applied our jargon translator to the new Kendo and came up with "fast, stable, nimble, and responsive." Our theory: The Kendo (the Kenja is the women-specific model) is this season's "it" ski for good reason. It holds an edge on fast hard pack without the wobble and chatter of many fatter boards (for tech-heads that's due to the stable 88cm waist underfoot, combined with a 127cm shovel and 109cm tail). The construction of both models is full wood core with two sheets of titanium and vertical sidewalls, giving them sweet stability in any snow conditions, pop in deep pow, and tremendous edge grip. The Kenja has a lighter core and is narrower at the waist and tail, crafted this way for easier turning initiation and better control for lighter, smaller skiers. These are the skis you'll grab on those days when you've been glued to the mountain web cam all night, watching the snow fall—or any other time when you need your turn fix. Simply put The Kendo and Kenja straddle the line between groomed and off-piste with equal measure of muscle and grace.
Kenja comes in 149, 163 and 170cm length; Kendo available in 170, 177, 184cm.
Product Type: Skis
Good For: Skiing, AT skiing, reclaiming the glory days, hanging with the "in" crowd at government camp
Tested In: Timberline Ski Area, Ski Bowl, Mt. Bachelor, Hoodoo Ski Bowl
UVEX Wing Pro Race Helmet
$149, uvexsports.com, 17 ounces
If you watched 2010 Swedish racer Anja Paerson crash on the downhill course in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games you probably went out and bought a helmet. But if you didn't, now's the time. While you might miss the sensation of the wind ripping through your hair for a few brief seconds, it's impossible to not embrace the warmth. Plus there's the safety factor. UVEX is a German company that has been around since the 1920s—and the Wing Pro Race is one of the most widely used helmets on the World Cup alpine race circuit. The Wing Pro Race won't make you a better skier, but it will protect your noggin from an impact—snow, ice, trees, and other skiers and riders. Helmets come in all shapes and sizes, but if you're skiing the trees or going fast, consider one with full ear coverage as it better protects the ears and the temporomandibular joint (try getting that on a Scrabble board!). The Wing Pro Race has injected shell construction—the outer shell absorbs and disperses impact force, while the inner shell acts as a backup to absorb and disperse additional energy. The plush padded lining cradles your head—it's imminently comfortable on, but also provides a third line of defense against impact. Passive vents maintain just the right amount of air circulation--even if you're cranking turns, you'll keep a cool head. In super-cold weather, they can be closed off to seal in the warmth. Better yet, after 200 days of hard skiing over the past two years, the anti-microbial lining kept our tester's helmet smelling rosy. Our only concern: There's still no solution for helmet hair.
Sizes XS-XL, Comes in neon green, fararired (red), softchrome black, softchrome silver.
Product Type: Snow Sport Helmet
Good For: Skiing, snowboarding, going faster than you should, master, FIS, and Jr. Racing, Olympic Downhills, Settling the Score on Your Local NAASTAR Course
Tested In: Mt. Bachelor, Mt. Hood, Hoodoo Ski Bowl, MBSEF (Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Program) Alpine Master's Racing Program (1st in SG, SL, GS 2010)
Anon Hawkeye Goggles
$99 to $125, www.anonoptics.com
Goggles can make the difference between a ho-hum day on the slopes and snowy nirvana. Save your shades for the beach--a good pair of snow goggles outperforms sunglasses by giving you a bigger, more protected field of vision. They also stay in place when you catch big air or land hard, and give you a tight seal against the elements when the weather turns foul. We like the Hawkeye because the spherical lens and frame design provide for 360 degrees of unrestricted vision—no tunnel effect, even when you're moving at Mach Speed. (Plus, no gaper gap!) The lenses have something Anon calls "decentralized injection lens construction"—we're not sure we understand the physics, but the reality is excellent optical clarity. Anon's dual lens construction (and anti-fog coating) makes for a fog-free day—even when you're skinning up before the lifts open to catch some freshies. And after our share of garage sale biffs, we can attest to the shatterproof quality of the polycarbonate lenses. Bonus features: Triple layer foam with a soft fleece outerface for a soft, snug, and comfortable fit. We also love Anon's interchangeable strap system and replacement lenses. Not only can you replace parts for a reasonable price, but it's fun to customize goggles to match your helmet, outfit, or mood. Lenses come in everything from crystal clear to mirrored tints, in more than a dozen colors. For the biggest variety of conditions, we prefer Pink SQ or Gold Chrome. And the mirrored lens option helps you maintain that cool Racer X persona on the chairlift.
Frames are available in men's medium and large, with multiple color schemes available.
GORP Gear All-Star
Product Type: Goggles
Good For: Skiing, snowboarding, ducking the paparazzi, avoiding eye-contact with your ex.
Tested In: Vail, Mt. Bachelor, Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainier
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