Gear Reviews

Gear Review: BCA B1 EXT and Black Diamond Deploy 7 Shovels

by
Backcountry Access B1 EXT Shovel

Backcountry Shovels
Backcountry Access B1 EXT shovel
$50, 1 lb. 5 oz.
backcountryaccess.com

BCA’s light and compact B1 EXT has a great strength-to-weight ratio. Its small but solid aluminum blade chopped easily into consolidated snow and icy crust in test pits I dug while backcountry skiing in Idaho’s Boise Mountains. The two-section, straight shaft and blade assemble as quickly as most traditional shovels of similar design, and the shaft compresses short enough (16 inches/40.5 cm) to fit into a pack’s snow-gear pocket without separating its two sections. Extended, the shovel’s length (22.25 inches/56.5 cm) allows for digging without being uncomfortably hunched over.

Read on

Gear Review: Outdoor Research and Rab Winter Down Jackets

by
Outdoor Research Maestro Jacket

Down Jackets for Winter
Outdoor Research Maestro Jacket
$325, 1 lb. 5 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XL
outdoorresearch.com

On January nights that dipped into the low teens during a four-day yurt trip, this fat, 800+-fill power, hooded down jacket was so warm I could hang around outside for hours in the evenings and early mornings, staying perfectly warm. At a bit under a pound and a half, it’s a burly puffy jacket made for very cold situations: ice-climbing belays, winter camping, or all-day backcountry ski tours on frigid days when you need a super-warm puffy for breaks (or even just inside your pack as an insurance policy in an emergency).

Read on

Gear Review: The North Face Etip Pamir Windstopper Glove

by
The North Face Etip Pamir Windstopper Glove

The North Face Etip Pamir Windstopper Glove
$62, 3 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XL, women’s XS-L
thenorthface.com

As someone who gets cold fingers easily but loves ski touring, snowshoeing, winter hiking, and fast activities like skate-skiing—where you don’t always want thick, bulky handwear—I find that many lightweight gloves designed for those activities don’t deliver enough warmth. But on numerous outings this winter, many of them skate-skiing, I found the Etip Pamir gloves kept my fingers comfortable in temps down to the low 20° F.

Read on

Gear Review: Patagonia Tsali 2.0 Trail-Running Shoes

by
Patagonia Tsali 2.0

Trail-Running Shoes
Patagonia Tsali 2.0
$115, 1 lb. 6 oz. (men’s US size 9)
Sizes: men’s 7-12, 13, 14, 15, women’s 5-11
patagonia.com

I keep grabbing these trail-running shoes for gym workouts and trail runs in the Boise Foothills because they’re comfortable, light, and deliver a nice balance of support, stability, and traction. The Tsali’s forefoot padding softens impact while flexing well for running, and the gender-specific footbed ensures a good fit that helps minimize the pounding on your feet. Even on 10-mile runs, my feet and toes don’t feel fatigued or beat up afterward.

Read on

Gear Review: Brooks-Range Ski Binding Tool and Heli Ski Straps

by
Brooks-Range Ski Binding Tool

Brooks-Range Ski Binding Tool
$10, 6 oz.
Brooks-Range Heli Ski Straps
$7/pair, 2 oz.
brooks-range.com

I’ve seen ski bindings blow out in the backcountry, and the result ranges from truly not fun (a buddy hiked two miles back to our car on one ski) to potentially dangerous if you’re not prepared (another friend had a repair kit and remounted a busted binding two days into a weeklong ski traverse in Yellowstone). This lightweight kit comes with eight bits—two Philips, a PZ3, standard #6 and #4 flathead screwdrivers, ¼ and 1/8 Allen, and a Torx T-20.

Read on