The strength of the Dynastar Cham 107 is in its versatility. It's a multi-tool that does a lot of things well rather than absolutely stand out in a specific condition or application.
The new Salomon Rocker2 115 is a big-mountain gun that shows some range—surprisingly easy and fun on groomers, yet still likely to satisfy the hard-charging crowd on any pow day.
For those looking for a solid all-mountain wheelset without dropping big bucks, the SUNringle Charger Pros are an attractive option. Just keep an eye on them at first.
The Down Skis Countdown 3 is a serious, damp big-mountain ski well suited to cut big, fast turns on a pow day, but capable of smearing and surfing turns when you ask.
A stiffer ski with positive camber through the tails, the Fischer Watea 106 is not super playful or really easy to ski—it's for going hard and fast, period. In other words, bring your A game.
Reviewer Kevin Bazar has a lot of gripes with kneepads. A lot. So calling the Lizard Skins Knee/Shin Combo Body Armor "good pads" is a ringing endorsement. We agree.
Kästle has gone in a new direction with their fully symmetrical XX110 West, and Colby West and Kästle both deserve a standing ovation for this pow / jib ski that can handle big-mountain lines.
The Specialized Rime mountain bike shoe was designed with more than just riding in mind, with a Vibram sole and stable foot platform for easier walking. All-mountain/enduro riders, take note.
The DPS Wailer 112RPC is the stiffer, wider, and more subtly rockered offspring of the popular Wailer 112RP. And while the "C" stands for charger, this apple hasn't fallen far from the tree. Check out BLISTER's exclusive first review.
The Krypton Pro certainly isn't a stranger to the 3-piece boot market, but the 2013 Krypton Two KR Pro has been significantly re-hauled for 2013. We've been eager to check out a pair since trying the boots on at SIA, so we've brought them to Las Leñas.
Also with us in Las Leñas, the new Lange XT 130 LV, a freeride alpine boot with a walk mode. In short, Lange is calling it a high-performance alpine boot that climbs, and we're here to see if it lives up to the expectations.
In addition to the 13 pairs of skis that we’ve brought to Las Leñas, we figured we might as well bring some boots, too. Here are the boots that we’ve been slinging over our shoulders and backpacks through airports and bus stations, and the boots we got on snow for the first time yesterday. First up, the 12/13 Atomic Redster Pro 130.
The Trabec is POC's first lightweight, in-mold helmet designed for the XC/AM/Enduro market. It's very well vented and offers good coverage, but its styling and colors might take some getting used to.
The Five Ten Women's Blackwing is an aggressive, slim, relatively comfortable climbing shoe that's most at home on anything overhanging. But they offer no protection from being klutzy.
The La Sportiva Katana Women's climbing shoe performs exceptionally well in a wide variety of conditions—once they're broken in. Reviewer Hannah Trim argues it's worth the wait.