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ezfitinsoles.com
Nothing ruins an epic day on the mountain faster than aching feet after the first few runs. The solution—buying a new pair of ski or snowboard boots—certainly tantalizes. But the problem could very well be your footbed—the removable foot-shaped pad (insole) that sits directly under your foot in the boot. That’s where EZ-Fit comes in. Application is a breeze: free the old factory insoles from inside your boots, use them as a pattern to trim the Snow insoles with a sharp pair of scissors, then drop ‘em in. They start to mold to the contours of your feet the moment you put on the boots.You’ll quickly notice better stability, less foot fatigue and improved control on edging and power transfer. The cushioning and comfort provided also helps you avoid pain in the foot, knee, hip, and lower back, breathing new life into your ski and snowboard boots—and hopefully to your next outing to the slopes.
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www.bergans.no
Bibs may seem like the kind of ski product reserved for kids, but I love them—they give you really bomb-proof coverage against the snow, especially in the deep stuff, when snow can wiggle its way under your jacket hem. And these bibs from Bergans of Norway pull out all the stops. They incorporate full water-resistant zippers down the legs, easily adjustable suspenders, and removable gators, and two mesh pockets up front. The three-layer water- and windproof membrane kept me safe from the elements, but they had enough stretch to make ‘em comfortable and mobile, especially on long skins into the backcountry (or while pulling tricky moves while mountaineering). The zipper fly also makes attending the calls of nature much easier than I remembered when I was a kid—which is wonderful! A Recco avalanche rescue reflector has been integrated into the pants, offering some comfort when heading into the backcountry, but I’m not a big fan of the mesh thigh pockets. No matter what you have in them, they feel over-stuffed.
-Chris Boyle
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www.obermeyer.com
Most of us outdoor types spend ski season in our backpacking/climbing shells, putting serious wear and tear on gear that’s better reserved for uses that require light weight and compactness. And if you’re a full-bore lift skier who’s not that interested in backcountry, you’re better served by this durable, fully featured, ski-specific shell.
The level of detailing in this unapologetically lift-oriented shell would make Batman’s tailor jealous. There’s an elastic powder cuff that snaps back out of the way when not needed. Knit sleeve wristlets are augmented by Velcro cuffs. Urethane water-resistant, mesh-backed zip vents run down the chest. A luxuriously high fleece-lined collar combines with a removable helmet-compatible hood. There’s an internal chest pocket with a conveniently angled microfiber iPhone/sunglass sleeve, and the urethane zip outer Napoleon pocket even features an integrated, removeable, elastic-leashed microfiber goggle polishing cloth. Recco avalanche system reflectors are embedded in the lining. Of course. Duh. It’s more like a wearable ski valet than a shell jacket.
The Ketchikan uses Cocona in the waterproof-breathable shell and brushed lining. This coconut husk-derived fabric provided excellent breathability and good sweat dispersal on warm, sunny days, and stayed dry during humid, single-digit storms. The free-hanging liner added serious insulation value, and the outer shell was so tough we could blast through dense fir and scratchy spruce groves without worrying about shredding the duds. The Ketchikan still looks new after weeks of beater skiing.
Our only caveat? At 38.7 ounces in a men’s large, it’s too bulky and heavy for backcountry uses. But if lifts, cats, and helos are your game, this is one tough, comfy, stylish ski suit for the harshest conditions and high-mileage uses. It’ll probably outlive you.
-Steve Howe
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Getting ski bums to do anything other than ski can be challenging. But Columbia Sportswear has stumbled upon a genius solution: offer the single-minded slacker the ability to ski or ride for three full months on someone else’s dime. The winner of the Ski Bum Scholarship Program gets roundtrip airfare to Colorado, a plush condo for 90 days in Dillon, a season pass to eight resorts (Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone, Breckenridge, Copper, Steamboat, Winter Park, and Arapahoe Basin), a four-wheel-drive rental to access the resorts, and a “generous” daily food stipend. Just upload a video to YouTube proving you’re worthy. Ten finalists will be selected (each winning a $200 gift card), and one finalist will become the envy of the rest of the known ski and riding population. If you win that coveted honor, all you have to do is provide two updates a week via tweet, FB, or Instagram (or, as we call it, brag a lot) and try to not let your good fortune fool you into thinking that this will happen every ski season.
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www.squaw.com/season-pass
Two Mountains, one pass, at a price that is a bargain at either one. I have had a Squaw Valley USA season pass since the ski season of 1982-83. To me, lift access at Squaw Valley is a necessity akin to oxygen, water, or shelter. Suddenly this year, my pass works at a whole other ski resort, the adjacent Alpine Meadows. Alpine Meadows has open boundaries where I can find fresh pow days after a storm, and my choices for groomers and tree skiing just tripled. Squaw’s KT22 will always be my favorite lift with it’s brisk, six-minute-and-42-second ride to 1,700 vertical feet of incredibly playful terrain, but the merger of Alpine and Squaw created a 6,000+ acre playground, making Tahoe Super Pass pass holders very hard pressed to not find what they are looking for.
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