Gearzilla » Snowboarding

Bergans of Norway Storebjorn Salopette Ski Bibs

nborchelt — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:01:22 +0000

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

Helly Hansen H2Flow Jacket

nborchelt — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 12:00:18 +0000

www.hellyhansen.com, 15.6 ounces
This unique variation on the venerable shelled fleece jacket design truly impressed us during recent tests, with its excellent insulation-to-weight ratio, easy venting, and fast moisture transfer in sweaty situations. At first glance the H2Flow looks like a standard hoodless zip-front jacket with a taffeta outer shell, fleece inner, and twin zip pockets. However, the shell fabric isn’t nylon, it’s tougher polyester, which resists UV degradation and doesn’t stretch or absorb water when wet. Beneath that is a 200g Polartec brushed fleece with yet another difference, a Swiss cheese pattern of circular cut-outs that trap air to increase insulation, while also helping to disperse sweat vapor. The cut-outs are body-mapped, with larger holes and closer spacing in high-sweat areas like the central back, while smaller, widely spaced holes cover the chest and midriff.

The side panels and sleeves are lined only with a lightweight brushed nylon, while the fleece torso is further lined with a loose open mesh for slippery layering and free air flow. As if that weren’t enough, two foot-long zippered vents run down the chest, and the pockets are all mesh, forming de facto vents as well.

The overall effect is a jacket that’s nearly as warm as a puffy when zipped up, but resists rain showers, transfers sweat better, and vents far more than either puffies or standard shelled fleece. The weather resistance and wide temperature range made it perfect for humid, chilly camp evenings and soggy autumn trail runs on damp, cold, 11,000-foot Boulder Mountain. It’s already become one of our key layering staples, as fall progresses into winter.
- Steve Howe

Vapur Element Water Bottle

nborchelt — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:00:29 +0000

vapur.us
Carrying a hard, rigid, bulky water bottle takes up valuable space, which is why we’re partial to the soft-sided variety. Touted as “the Anti-Bottle,” the Vapur Element is constructed of a durable three-layer, BPA-free nylon plastic, and when it’s empty you can roll it up and slip it into a pocket, purse, or pack (try that with a hard bottle). In fact you can fold, spindle, and mutilate it—and it springs back to its original shape without cracks or dents. The dishwasher-safe bottle has a cap design that delighted our sausage-fingered testers: it flips open with the flick of the hand and seals soundly, with no leaks. What sets it apart from other flexible bottles is that it can be frozen, so you can use it for an ice pack, or fill it half way, freeze it, and then fill it up with liquid in the morning for an icy cold beverage. The free-standing bottle comes with its own carabineer, so you can easily clip it to a pack.
Available in 0.7 liter and 1 liter volumes and three color options

Lifeproof iPhone 4 and 4s Case

nborchelt — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:00:10 +0000

www.lifeproof.com, 1.1 ounces
You’ve spent a veritable fortune on your new iPhone—only to have it ruined while you answer a call (or text or while taking photos) a snow or rainstorm. We’ve tried a dozen cases for iPhones and most seemed too bulky or provided insufficient protection, until we found the Lifeproof case, which delighted our testers with its sleek design. At only 13.3 mm wide, it’s barely larger than the phone itself. The snap-on, O-ring case has a slick plastic exterior that doesn’t catch on everything when you’re trying to slip it in and out of your pocket. But best of all, the case is 100-percent dirt-, water-, and snow-proof. The case is guaranteed to not leak in up to 6.5 feet of water, a fact that was corroborated by one tester who went for an impromptu swim in the Rio Grande after a hot hike in Big Bend National Park. The phone was completely submerged, with no leaks whatsoever. The case is also guaranteed to protect the phone for short drops on hard surfaces—nice if you have kids with no sense of value; Lifeproof guarantees the case will protect the phone for drops up to six feet—we can attest that the phone and case can fall out of a car onto hard pavement and survive. The touchscreen sensitivity is excellent, with no loss of function or distortion. Included in the package is a headphone adaptor that allows you to use waterproof buds for swimming, snow sports, or running in the rain. Our testers’ only complaint? Plugging the charger in is difficult, and it’s easy to lose the water-sealing screw that covers the cord jack. Boaters should invest in the Lifeproof Life Jacket ($40), a bright orange rubber case that holds the phone firmly and floats to the surface if dropped in the water.

Tahoe Super Ski Pass

nborchelt — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 08:00:06 +0000

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.

-JT Holmes

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Go Pro HERO 2 Digital Camera

nborchelt — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 08:00:49 +0000

gopro.com
A huge improvement on the revolutionary HERO camera, the HERO 2 boasts a feature that takes an 11-megapixel photograph every half second, a massive improvement from the original HERO’s two-second increment, and has proven to be an invaluable in capturing radical action POV still shots. In a 12-second base jump, I get 24 shots rather than just six, so it eliminates the luck factor. When I follow Timy Dutton straight-lining through a chute, I will capture that spray-free moment in the crux. Sure, at the end of the day I have taken 700 plus photographs, but the camera is extremely lap-top friendly, so I can trash all but the money shots before I load them onto my computer, so I do not waste any valuable space on my hard drive. The new firmware produces an image quality that is indiscernible from HD camcorders more than triple its size, and its ten-shot burst feature allows me to take a full sequence while standing by as my bros huck cliffs on skis, step off mountains and giving over to gravity, or slide a rail in the local park. The only downside is that I get so fired up capturing images of other people, I get far fewer shots of myself!
-JT Holmes

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Wiley X XCESS and Chelsea Sunglasses

nborchelt — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 08:00:06 +0000

www.wileyx.com
We’re serious about eye protection. The essentials are lenses that block harmful rays and won’t shatter upon impact, frames that can take a beating, a fit that’s comfortable and secure, and fashion that means the glasses will spend more time on our face than in their case. We love Wiley X because of the high-quality lenses and frames; these are glasses you’ll be wearing for the next decade, rather than the next season. The ANSI HVP lenses have one of the highest velocity impact ratings in the world, while the proprietary lenses offer 100 percent UV protection for unequaled clarity and contrast. Frames can be fitted with a variety of lenses, from pale yellow that block out blue light waves and let in 86 percent of light to rose, silver, blue, and everything in between. To add to the equation, Wiley X makes high performance eyewear for tactical, motorcycle, auto racing, and fishing, as well as first-rate eyewear for hiking, biking, climbing, and travel. The trick is determining which frame fits your face, and what lens will provide the right protection for your specific needs. The Outdoor line has both men- and women-specific frames, most prescription ready; all have secure non-slip rubberized fit and ANSI Z87 High Velocity Protection. Our current favorite is the new Chelsea for women and the XCESS with super cool Polarized Emerald Mirror lenses and a thick, glossy black frame for men. Our testers recommend both models for everything from running, skate skiing, and hiking to international travel and al fresco lunches.

Excalibur 3500 Dehydrator

nborchelt — Thu, 24 May 2012 08:00:29 +0000

www.excaliburdehydrator.com
Why would you want to make your own beef jerky? Because…you can. And it’ll be less expensive and way better tasting then most of the stuff you find clogging the convenience store shelves (Slim Jim…shame on you). You can make jerky in your oven—but in our experience it can have unpredictable results, make an ungodly mess, and ties up your appliance for at least six hours. Instead, we’ve gravitated to the Excalibur 3500 dehydrator. The five-tray appliance offers enough space to make over two pounds of beef jerky; just pull the beef out of your secret marinade and lay ‘em across the mesh covers over the racks, slide ‘em in, and turn on the dehydrator (don’t be fooled by the lid; it’s designed to fit loosely). A clearly marked temperature gauge spells out the exact settings for all items, and a timer means you don’t have to stick around for the hours it takes to dry your food. The temps will fluctuate during the cooking cycle—and the noise it makes is comparable to a box fan at medium setting, but no heat radiates from the unit. You can set it up on your countertop and let it run. Of course, the dehydrator can do much more than just jerky. Your next backcountry meal could include homemade dehydrated chili, kale chips, one-pot spaghetti, scrambled eggs, or your favorite dried fruits or granola—you could even perfect your own personal energy bar (the instruction manual conveniently includes a bunch of recipes). But yea, we admit we’re pretty addicted to testing out new jerky recipes (where beer plays a large role in the marinade).
Check out a few recipes for a variety of great camp-friendly foods that can be made in the dehydrator.

Smith Optics Maze Helmet

nborchelt — Mon, 21 May 2012 08:00:55 +0000

www.smithoptics.com, 11.5 ounces
Smith’s Maze is the world’s lightest certified snow helmet. I prefer it to any helmet I have ever used because it looks cool, keeps my ears and head warm, and it can be stripped down for warmer missions or for wearing a beanie or balaclava underneath. It has less venting and airflow features than other helmets, but that adds to its clean look and warmth in storm days. Often, airflow features open and get crammed with snow and ice in the event of blowing snow or high-speed tomahawks in powder. The straps are adjustable and allow me to cinch the forehead down for high-speed use like wing suit flying and ski racing, or to simply be sure to eliminate dorky looking “goggle gap.” We used these helmets during the filming of Transformers 3 while flying wing suits in downtown Chicago and we looked and felt pretty bad-ass when doing so.
-JT Holmes

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Kiehl Cross-Terrain UV Face Protector SPF 50 Sunscreen

nborchelt — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:00:09 +0000

www.kiehls.com
This is best sun protection for a mountain man on the face of the planet. I live with five-o’clock shadow and sunscreen creams just don’t rub in well, they make me look like a grey-haired ghost. Keihl’s Cross-Terrain applies quick and clear and comes in a burly hockey puck-style container that I can leave in my pack or pocket to get smashed around during a tumble or a long travel and won’t leak or burst open make a mess. Its viscosity provides protection from extreme winds and is a worthy lip balm, so I don’t have to carry two items. In a pinch, after weather forced a retreat from Half Dome, I used it to lubricate some extremely chaffed body parts and found some clutch relief. SPF 50 means I put it on once, even at the highest altitudes, during the longest surf sessions and in the most extreme elements.

-JT Holmes

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