Finding the right ski bindings as an intermediate skier can feel overwhelming. You’re no longer a beginner who needs the most forgiving equipment, but you’re not yet charging expert terrain where maximum retention matters. The best ski bindings for intermediate skiers strike that perfect balance between safety and performance, giving you confidence on the slopes … Read more
There is nothing quite like earning your turns in the backcountry. You hike for two hours in the freezing cold, reach a ridge line nobody has touched, and then drop into fresh, untracked powder that feels like carving through clouds. That experience is exactly why I got into splitboarding six seasons ago, and it is … Read more
Learning to snowboard can feel overwhelming when you’re staring at rental prices that add up faster than your progress on the slopes. I spent my first season renting boards and realized after just six trips that I had already spent enough to buy my own equipment. That’s the math that matters for beginners on a … Read more
When I first strapped into a snowboard over a decade ago, I had no idea that the bindings on my feet would make or break my entire learning experience. I bought the cheapest pair I could find, and spent my first season fighting my gear instead of enjoying the mountain. That is exactly why I … Read more
When you are dropping into untracked powder far from the ski patrol boundary, an avalanche beacon is the one piece of gear you cannot afford to get wrong. I have spent three full seasons testing the best avalanche beacons for backcountry skiing across the Wasatch, the Cascades, and the Canadian Rockies, running side-by-side signal searches … Read more
When you are standing over a debris field with seconds to find your partner, the probe in your pack becomes the most important piece of gear you own. Our team spent three months testing avalanche probes for ski touring across the Wasatch, Cascades, and Canadian Coast Range to find which models deploy fastest, hold up … Read more
When you are caught in an avalanche, every second counts. Buried victims have only 15 to 30 minutes of breathable air, which makes your choice of avalanche shovel literally life-saving equipment. Finding the best avalanche shovels for backcountry skiing means choosing a tool that deploys fast, moves snow efficiently, and survives brutal rescue conditions. I … Read more
Finding the right stick when you are past the beginner stage but not quite ready for pro-level gear can feel like a guessing game. I spent three months testing different models to identify the best hockey sticks for intermediate players, focusing on flex ratings, kick points, and durability for recreational and competitive play. Intermediate sticks … Read more
When I first started mountaineering, choosing an ice axe felt overwhelming. Every brand promised the best performance, but as a beginner, I needed something forgiving, reliable, and safe for learning self-arrest techniques. After testing multiple axes over several seasons of glacier travel and winter ascents, I’ve learned what actually matters for those new to ice … Read more
When you’re navigating steep ice fields or crossing a glacier at dawn, having reliable traction beneath your boots isn’t just about comfort. It’s about making it home safely. Over the past several years, our team has tested dozens of crampon models across the Cascades, the Rockies, and European Alps, putting each through everything from casual … Read more