Filled with Polartec Alpha (made to keep U.S. Patagonia pulled it off with the Nano-Air, a breathable insulator that won our Gear of the Year last season. (Inga Hendrickson)Ĭompanies have tried for years to make a puffy you put on and keep on, whether you’re at camp or on the hill. Outdoor Research Uberlayer ($300) The best backcountry jackets of 2016.
At 8.5 pounds, it’s heavy for big tours, but that’s a small price to pay for superb downhill performance. “Precise and multifunctional,” said one tester. The subtle “beak and a half” profile pairs a rocker up front with a more traditional (albeit still turned-up) tail for edge hold. The Corvus has the heart of a big-mountain charger and the backcountry chops of a lighter ski, with a carbon-fiberglass layer under a wood core. But its boards weren’t light enough for touring-until now.
(Inga Hendrickson)īlack Crows, based in Chamonix, France, has a reputation for building powerful freeride skis. Arc’teryx kept the design blessedly simple by slimming down the powder skirt and putting diagonal vents over the ribs, which cool remarkably well for their size.īlack Crows Corvus Freebird ($840) The best backcountry skis and bindings of 2016.
#Outdoor research uberlayer vs nano air plus#
A soft shell with synthetic insulation in the torso and arms plus stretchy fabric along the sides offer fantastic mobility and a stellar warmth-to-weight ratio. Imagine your favorite sweatshirt, but built to shred. The supple Rethel is, hands down, the most comfortable ski jacket we’ve ever tested. 10.8 ounces 10-millimeter drop.Īrc’teryx Rethel ($475) The best jackets of 2016. This shoe did hit its limits on longer outings and under heavier loads-the flexy forefoot and thin midsole can feel understructured for tired feet or bigger runners-but on most days, this is as good as a lightweight trainer gets. The Pegasus uses a lattice of overlapping cables that independently apply tension to keep almost any foot shape locked in place. But it was the new, customizable fit of the mesh upper that sold us. Pliant, light, and soft, it immediately wooed faster runners looking for a responsive, tempo-ready shoe, as well as our cruise-minded testers, who appreciated the soft foam and moderately heel-strike-oriented midsole. It’s hard to decide if this is a speed shoe for the masses or a training shoe for the fleet of foot. Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 32 ($110) (Inga Hendrickson) It’s too stiff for beginners, and you’ll want something else on powder days, but for all other situations, it’s a near perfect daily driver. The directional twin shape makes it adept going switch without losing its freeride characteristics, and it manages to be soft and playful yet impressively stable. It’s a robust platform that dampens hard landings and offers a firm grip in no-fall zones. Testers found this all-mountain hero to be solid in even the nastiest conditions. Merriam-Webster defines temerity as “foolhardy contempt of danger.” That about sums it up.
High Society Temerity ($379) (Inga Hendrickson) At 95 millimeters underfoot, it’s wide enough for most powder days, but with some traditional camber and the aforementioned Kastle engine under the hood, you can also rail groomer turns. Result: the most adaptable all-mountain ski we tested. In the new FX95 HP, Kastle designers overhauled the ski’s camber and profile, pairing a tapered tip and tail with just the right amount of rocker for a surfy feel in soft snow without sacrificing edge hold on hardpack. Two sheets of aluminum, a silver-fir core, and the fastest graphite base that money can buy are staples of this premium brand. Kastle FX95 HP ($1,199) The Best All-Mountain Skis of 2016 (Inga Hendrickson)
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To read reviews for the other 290 great skis, jackets, boots, bindings, helmets, gloves, and toys, check out the full guide. From the world’s most adaptable all-mountain ski to a running shoe with a bespoke fit, this is the very best gear of the 2015–16 season. Only 297 of them made the cut-and only seven of them won a coveted Gear of the Year award. Over the past seven months, we’ve tested more than 600 products for possible inclusion in the 2016 Winter Buyer’s Guide.
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