Gear Review: Sea to Summit Reactor Bag Liner

The first thing you are going to say when you pull one of these out of its stuff sacks is, “No frickin way”… as in, “There is no frickin way this is going to add any warmth to my sleeping bag.” 

Basket Pedals Are THE DEVIL!

Just looking at this thing makes me cringe.

Buying mountain bike pedals is a lot like biking a difficult downhill line.  You need to commit, and commit hard, or it's going to eat you up and spit you out.

Gear Review: Black Diamond Voodoo

My love affair with Black Diamond skis continues.  I purchased a pair of BD Machine skis from the Outdoor Gear Exchange in Burlington last year, and this year it was time to add to my quiver by getting a wider snow specific ski. 

Again, it was OGE to the rescue, who hooked me up with a great deal. 

Matched with the Radium boot, I've ridden the Voodoos on several recent in-bounds ski days.

The Voodoo has a wider shovel, and less pronounced sidecut than the Machine.  I purchased a shorter length (175cm) than the Machine for easier turns in the woods and moguls.

As indicated on "The Ski Chart", the relaxed sidecut translates to a larger sidecut radius, but don't let that fool you.  The front shovel is designed for easier turn initiation.  While it lacks sidecut, it still turns easily.

The real magic, however, is made when there's fresh powder.  Folks: these are powder skis.  If you like jumping around on pillows then you'll love these skis.  I had one fresh powder day at Bretton Woods and another at Whiteface where they shined as I floated around on the groomers and in the glades.  But I found Nirvana on truly epic day at Killington during the recent Nor’easter.  I rode these magic carpets around the mountain: from blues to the black diamonds to the double blacks.

Their kryptonite, however, is exactly what you would guess for a relatively light ski: steep ice.  I discovered this as they rubber-bandded while traversing some wind scoured crust at Whiteface.  This is somewhat moderated by the modest sidecut, which keeps more of the ski in contact with the slope.  But alas, they won’t stick to lens glass groomers like Spiderman.  But you should bring your big guns when the hardpack calls anyway.

Gered modeling the Voodoos at the top of Killington.

The verdict: these are great skis.  But don’t take my word for it.  My tele-skiing buddy Gered thought that mine looked so cool he had to go out and get a pair for himself.

That’s right, I got mine first.  And now that its on the internets, it must be true.

Gear Review: First Ascent BC-200 Jacket (Updated)

Who knew the invisible man had a career in modeling?

When I used to think of Eddie Bauer, I thought of a crank powered radio that I bought at their outlet store.  It was somewhere between the flashlight key chain and the battery powered tire pressure gauge in their novelty item section.  I also thought of the Ford Explorer that had their name plastered on it.  In short: they were a store of gimmicks.

Fortunately for outdoor enthusiasts, it appears that one of their gimmicks has unwittingly led them into offering a solid line of clothing and one awesome jacket.

Gear Review: Backcountry Boot Comparison Chart

Ismelda Marcos had a closet that looked like this.

You're ready to jump into the backcountry, but not sure where your investment in gear should begin.  Chances are that you already have downhill alpine gear including the boots, poles, skis and bindings.

You can always throw those skis and bindings on your back and hike to the top of the mountain on your daddy's old snow shoes.  Alpine boots, however, aren't designed for walking from the car to the ticket counter, much less to the top of Mt. Cardigan.  More importantly, your feet are usually the first part of your body to get cold if not properly cared for.  They are also your most important body part, and asset, when you're more than ten miles from your car.  Frozen or blistery feet = slow or no movement = searchers find your body in June.

The Gear List: What to bring for a night on the mountain.

Home is where the -20 bag is.

What should you pack on an overnight backcountry ski trip?  Over the years I've learned some hard lessons and developed a list to survive (and even enjoy) a long winter's night on the mountain.  Some items are necessities, while others (down booties) are comfort items that I'm willing to sacrifice some space and weight to bring along.

See for yourself why I have back problem by springtime.

Gear Review: Karhu XCD GT/ Silvretta 500 (a.k.a. "The GT's")

Every ski quiver needs a long distance horse:  a go-to ski for a long tour on rolling terrain.

The Maine Huts, the Pemi-Traverse, the Long Trail and a trip to the Arlington Heights water tower need the right tool.  When I've got miles of rolling terrain to cover, I break out the GT's.

Gear Review: G3 Onyx Binding

Despite a few minor flaws, the G3 Onyx has become my go-to backcountry binding.  My review is after the jump.

Backcountry Ski Ideas: Fall 2010

My Basement

I've been busy researching (obsessing over) skis for the upcoming ski season.  Based on my research, I've put together a chart comparing the best options out there for an East Coast skier.

These are organized based on the width of the ski underfoot.   Generally speaking, a ski with a thinner sidecut will perform better on hard pack and ice, while a ski with a wider waist will float better on powder.

The radius of the ski is a function of the sidecut ratio.  If you can imagine the curve between the widest and thinnest part of the ski as part of the diameter of a circle, the number listed is the radius of that imaginary circle.  The lower the sidecut radius, generally speaking, the easier it is to turn the ski.  However, this is not always the case.  Sometimes the shovel design can lead to better turn initiation.

Most of these skis are considered "medium-fat" skis.  I've left off the widest skis, and also elminated the heavier skis from consideration. 

The prices are as of 9/24/10 from the listed retailer.  If you find a better deal, feel free to leave a comment.  Enjoy.

Model	Sidecut			Radius	Weight/lb	Length/cm	Price	Retailer
Volkl Snow Wolf	113	76	100	18.1	6	170	$199.00	www.untracked.com
Dynafit 7 Summits	113	78	100	20	5.5	170	$531.21	www.campsaver.com
BD Machine	123	79	108	16.5	7.1	166	$99.00	www.gearx.com
BD Stigma	123	79	108	17	6.4	174	$490.00	www.evo.com
Atomic RT80	121	80	107	17	6.3	171	$230.00	www.gearx.com
K2 Backup	125	82	110	19	7	174	$300.00	www.mammothgear.com
Mt. Baker Superlight	122	86	107	21	6.6	167	$280.00	www.evo.com
Karhu Spire BC	122	86	108	22	7	177	$299.00	www.secondascent.com
Dynafit Mustagh Ata	116	86	109	24	6.6	169	$468.00	www.sierratradingpost.com
BD Voodoo	123	88	112	21	7.3	175	$250.00	www.gearx.com
K2 Wayback	124	88	108	22	6.8	174	$372.00	www.o2gearshop.com
Atomic Kalais	125	88	111	20.5	8.1	174	$280.00	www.helm-sports.com
BD Havoc	121	88	113	21	7.6	175	$325.00	www.mammothgear.com
BD Aspect	130	90	117	19	6.5	176	$570.00	www.gearx.com

My Review of REI Taku Pants - Men's - 30" Inseam

Originally submitted at REI

The REI Taku pants, in a 30 in. inseam, are a versatile option for your backcountry pursuits. Waterproof, breathable stretch fabric provides the ultimate in comfort and the ultimate in protection.

REI Taku Pants - Men's - 30" Inseam

Comfortable and dry but flimsy

By NEBackcountryXplorer from Boston, MA on 3/22/2010

 

2out of 5

Gift: No

Waist: Feels true to size

Length: Feels true to length

Pros: Breathable, Comfortable

Cons: Poor Material or Construction

Best Uses: Hiking, Backpacking

Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer

I appreciate the exact sizing of these pants. Most comparable items don't come in leg/waist sizing, instead coming in generic S/M/L sizes. I have Hobbit legs (30") so most standard sized pants are too long (32"). These were comfortable, and kept me dry during resort and backcountry skiing. My complaint is that the fabric in the ankle area is easily cut by ski edges or crampons. This should be a simple fix for REI. It merely requires a stronger material in that one fairly small area on the pants. These are great if you plan on wearing them for hiking, or using gaiters. I would not, however, buy these again for skiing.

(legalese)

Rudy Reborn: Better, Stronger, Faster

"We can make him better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster."

From Sean Astin to Steve Austin, Rudy is reborn.  It didn't exactly cost six million dollars, or even six dollars for that matter, but Rudy's back and better than before.

Boot Flex Rating System

So you've bought a new pair of eight pound skis and your  backcountry boots don't have enough backbone to push them around.  How do you figure out what boots would be more appropriate?

Interestingly, there is no universal standard for boot flex.  Some manufacturers assign their own rating system, but the ratings aren't useful for cross-brand comparisons.

Luckily, the folks over at Teton Gravity Research have already put together an unofficial rating system for the most popular boots.

Whitesnake: A Ski Review

...an' I've made up my mind, ...I'm ain't wasting no more time.... Here I go again with another ski review.

It's not everyday that you come across some guy from Tennessee selling several thousand pairs of identical skis on Ebay.  After failing to sell his bulk load of army surplus skis, I encouraged the owner to sell me a few pairs (Gered and Justin jumped on the deal too) for $25 a piece.  Not bad.

Duck Duck Get Hit in the Head with a Stick

While discussing the advantages and disadvantages of the recent helmet fad around dinner a few weeks ago, I decided that if I was to continue bashing ski helmets I should at least try one out to see how poorly I perform without the keen sense of hearing and broad field of vision my hat head allows for.

It's not that I don't have the excuse of not having a helmet to try. I have one, and I've worn it, and I think it serves a real purpose. For one, it is great to wear bike commuting in the winter. The lack of chilling air vents aside, there are numerous disadvantages. To start, I found it in a dumpster, it's 10 years old, and weighs 200 pounds. And makes you deaf as a door knob. So, I've never worn it skiing.

That all changed the other day when I saw this beauty. One of the lightest helmets on the market, great vent control (super warm) and DOLBY Surround (tm) quality sound built in. And, it's blue. Love at first sight.