What is fork offset — and more importantly — why should you care about it? In our latest Gear 101 article, we answer these questions, how fork offset actually affects your on-trail experience, why more manufacturers are using different offsets, & more.
Bison Wool? Bison Down? That’s a thing? Well it’s being used by United By Blue,
who started salvaging otherwise wasted bison fibers, and is now incorporating them into a growing range of products. So we talked with Brendan Raugh at United By Blue about how the company was founded as a waterway cleanup company; how they went on to develop an entire line of apparel around salvaged bison coat fibers; how bison fibers compare to sheep’s wool and goose down; and more.
One of the most common questions we get is something like “I’m XX tall and weigh XX — which length of this ski should I get?” So in this Gear 101 article, we outline the factors that go into answering that question.
Death Cookies? Coral Reef? Chalk? Directional vs. Dynamic Style? There are a whole lot of ways to talk about snow and the different ways to slide down it. Check out our updated Glossary, and let us know what other terms we should include.
Next up in our ‘Saving Weight in Your Backcountry Ski Setup’ series, reviewer Paul Forward discusses where he chooses to cut weight in his backcountry gear, and where he opts to keep a bit of weight for better downhill performance.
We just added more reviewers’ perspectives on the topic of which MTB pedals they use, and why they prefer the ones that they do. Check them out here.
Selecting the “right” bike means selecting the right *size* bike — and understanding how a bike’s “geometry” affects that. So check out our Bike Fit & Geometry 101 article to learn more about a bike’s geometry and how it affects both fit and performance.
Shooting hemp t-shirts with guns; eating hemp seeds; building houses with hemp; and industrial hemp legalization in the US — Part 4 of our “What You’re Wearing” series tackles the complex history, misconceptions, and many uses of hemp.
Misconceptions about down are everywhere — fill power, proper care, and animal welfare are all often wildly misunderstood. So today, we’re talking with Matthew Betcher from Allied Feather & Down to shed some light on this fascinating material.
Why are more and more companies making products out of wool? What makes it unique from other fibers? And how is merino wool different from regular wool? We talk to Icebreaker’s Josh Vaughan about these questions; wool’s environmental impact; the variety of wool types and how they differ; and he provides some amazingly in-depth insight about wool’s unique properties.
How much do you actually know about the clothes in your closet, and the stuff we all wear to go play in the mountains? In our new “What You’re Wearing” miniseries, we’re shining a light on the most foundational part of apparel: the fibers. And in part 1, we dive into the world synthetic fibers with Sara Ellis from Gore (the makers of GORE-TEX).
We’re talking again with Atomic Ski Boots product manager, Matt Manser, about the messy world of ski boot flex ratings; the actual differences between some brands’ 120 and 130 rated boot; how Atomic arrives at their own flex ratings; the next areas of innovation that Atomic is focused on, and more.
Ski boots are made of plastic, and different plastics feel and perform very differently from one another. So we get deep into the details with Atomic Ski Boots product manager, Matt Manser, to help you figure out which plastics are used in your ski boots, and the pros & cons & general performance characteristics of different plastics — which will help you understand why you might like or dislike your current boots, and what you ought to be looking for in your next pair.
Ok, people, our outwear nerds / gurus want you to start properly taking care of and cleaning your waterproof jackets & pants, down jackets & mid layers, and other technical apparel to keep them performing at their best. So they’ll tell you how, and recommend several products to use.
If you are new to skiing — or just haven’t gone in a while — here is our guide to what you ought to look for in a ski, whether you are looking to rent or buy.
What’s the best ski binding? Which ones are compatible with your ski boots? There’s a lot of misinformation and confusion about the actual differences between bindings, so we’ve updated this guide to help clarify which ones will work best for you.
Trying to figure out bike suspension designs – how they work and the pros & cons of each – can feel like you need an engineering degree. So we put together this article to clarify the differences between the various suspension designs on the market. Check it out.
Tubeless tire sealant can get expensive, especially when you’re swapping out tires often, so our bike editor gives the rundown on mixing up your own sealant at home.
Assessing a bike’s geometry is a huge part of determining proper bike fit and how a bike will ride. So in part 2 of our Bike Fit Guide, we walk through real-world examples to see what all those geometry measurements actually mean.
“What mountain bike should I get?” Good question, but most of the articles on the topic are too simplistic to be helpful. So we created our own “How to Choose the Right Mountain Bike” guide.