Opedix Base Layer Pants
Designed with help from Steadman Hawkins Research Foundation, these pants use an anchor and sling design to stabilize the outside of your knee joint and mitigate medial knee-compartment load. Translation: They reduce outward movement and pressure on your knee by up to seven percent, which translates to three to four tons of accumulated load over a day of skiing. Opedix, like the others, is made from wicking compression fabric. Price & Info: $190; opedix.com
Mountain Hardwear Red Savina Heated Glove
Finally, skiers and riders can eliminate cold digits for good. The battery-powered heating layer uses three seven-gram, low-profile lithium batteries to provide fours to six hours of heavenly heat. Available in men’s and women’s models, the stylish glove has a goatskin leather Velcro strap on the gauntlet that houses the on/off switch and charging portal. The shell combines water-resistant indo goat and 550D Cordura nylon with goatskin reinforcements on the palm and back of the hand. The lining is high loft Chori fleece with brushed tricot and the glove is insulated with PrimaLoft.
686… Sew Money
Ladies know nothing’s sexier than money. 686 sewed 798 dollar bills and some Chinese Yen together to construct this showpiece jacket. Along with a jacket made of flags and one of Lego, the Money Jacket is intended to illustrate renewal and reuse. Four sewers in China’s IGD factory spent 10 days carefully attaching the bills to 686 A.C.C jacket. Though it was made for display, it’s actually fully functional, with working pockets, zippers, Velcro and hood. “You could ride in it,” says Kristen Cusic, 686’s Director of Marketing, “As long as you don’t fall.”
Click In the Cans and Crank It
VonZipper’s patent-pending design slickly integrates SkullCandy’s SkullCrusher headphones into three goggle models – the Feenom, Dojo and Chakra. Each goggle comes with a basic strap, set of headphones and a strap with leather inserts so you can pop the cans out of the headphones and snug them up next to your ears. A quick release lets you take off the goggles without messing with the cord. Preferred retailers (those who increase VZ sales 10% from last year) get a Legit Kit with each pair. In neon color schemes like Double Daffy Pink, they include a fanny pack, sunglass strap, beanie and bandana.
Slytech 2nd Skin
Using Polyurethane foams, 2nd Skin protects the spine without sacrificing comfort or mobility. Body heat causes the memory-cell-foam to become flexible when worn, letting it follow body movements with ease. When pressure is applied, air is forced out of the foam, compressing it and increasing the density. When quick, sharp pressure is applied as in a fall, air is trapped in the foam and its thickness and density is preserved for protection.
$120-$190 (subject to change), info@slytech.it, slytech.it
Thule Tire Chains
Spend more time on the hill and less on the road. With a pair of new, hand-made Italian CS10 chains from Thule, you can skip the last-minute stop at the crowded gas station. Then, skip the hour-long, bone-chilling, hand-freezing installation stop on the side of the freeway. CS10 chains go on in one minute and come off with the tug of a lever.
$159-$199, 800-238-2388, thulesnowhchains.com
Full Tilt Hot Dogger Boot
The Raichle Flexon Comp holds a special place in the heart of many skiers. Built on the same, 3-piece mold, the Hot Dogger sports retro graphics with a purple, pink and yellow color scheme to throw you back in look as well as feel. Marketed as a true freestyle boot, the soft, smooth flex is complemented by an “Active” Footboard which uses rubber to absorb the shock from big landings. The “Pro” liner has a powerwrap for added control.
$625, 800-718-0820, FullTiltBoots.com
Kahtoola Micro Spikes
Give your feet the same traction as your tires on ice and snow. The strapless, easy-on design equips your hiking boots with lightweight (356 grams per pair) stainless steel spikes for solid grip on slick streets or trails. Cold-weather engineering means that the shoe harness stays flexible down to 76 degrees below zero. Pocket-sized, you can take a pair of micro spikes anywhere.
$59, 866-330-8030, kahtoola.com
Fox River Activa
The new Activa women’s snow sock from Fox River comes in nine ski and snowboard styles in both light and mid-weights. A variety of patterns combine good looks with Thermolite wicking warmth. The socks also use a unique textile cocktail of AXT merino wool, polypropylene and nylon blend for comfort and warmth. Specifically designed to fit women’s feet, five percent of sales goes the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (bcrfcure.org).
$12-$18, 800-247-1815, foxsox.com
Hot Clif Shot
Energy bars can get rock solid out in the cold, but skiers can never go wrong with a hot drink. Clif’s two new hot sports 
drinks, Electrolyte Hot Apple Cider and Recovery Hot Chocolate are designed specifically for winter athletes. The drinks combine the nutritive value of a sports bar with the warming, hydrating qualities of a hot beverage. Made with mostly organic ingredients, the Hot Apple Cider contains carbs and electrolytes for energy, while the Hot Chocolate includes protein for post-workout muscle recovery.
$1.49, $1.69, 800-370-1688, clifbar.com
Black Diamond Outlaw AvaLung Pack
Complete with an integrated AvaLung (a breathing apparatus in an avalanche burial), the new Outlaw pack contains everything you need for backcountry missions. An insulated hydration sleeve keeps your water liquid, a snowboard-specific strap system secures your deck and a padded goggle pocket protects your gear. Back panel access lets you get in and out quickly and a separate pocket for avalanche equipment is easily accessible with the pack’s clamshell design.
$229.95, 801-365-5555, blackdiamondequipment.com
K2 NEW Extreme
Except for its graphics and top-of-the line performance, which are virtually the same as the Extreme of the late 80’s, the new Extreme bears little resemblance to its forefather. The old Extreme came in lengths over 200cm, the new one starts at 159cm and only goes up to 179cm. The old Extreme had a flat tail, and the new one is curved. The old Extreme had a slim waist a minimal side cut, the new one is wide and curvy (118/85/109), making an all mountain ski that can hammer the steeps with the confidence of the old timers and then stomp a switch landing.
$625, 800-972-4063, k2skis.com
V.I.O. POV.1 Helmet Camera
This wearable Point-of-View video camera is designed to take a cold-weather beating and produce high-quality, ski action footage. Waterproof, dustproof and shock-resistant, it includes a mountable camera, integrated recorder with LCD display, wireless remote and software. The user interfaces allows for singled-handed operation, modular mounting provides stability, and resolution is 720 x 480 at 30 frames per second. The POV.1 is so durable, you won’t damage it if you soak yourself in the rain, cover it with snow or huck yourself off a cliff with it. Runs on AA batteries.
vio-pov.com, 888-579-2267
Recent Comments