Fall-line Skiing Issue 180 November 2021

GEAR OF THE YEAR 2022

Award-winning skis, splitboards, boots, bindings, clothing and more

The complete skier

WIN

EPIC KIT FROM DYNASTAR, ORAGE AND SCOTT

GEAR GUIDE BACK IN THE GAME

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FOLLOW THE VOICE

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Welcome

Sophie bagged 50 epic days’ skiing in Scotland last winter

SKI SERENDIPITY Remember the early days of the pandemic when you spent hours studying Covid-19 case graphs, waiting for your sourdough to prove itself worthy of being eaten by your new lockdown puppy?

Seems like a lifetime ago now, right? Thank Ullr…

Suffice to say the past 18 months have been utterly honking for the majority of UK skiers, except perhaps for a handful of well geographically positioned lucky b**tards like myself with a (look away now) Scottish season’s best 50 days skiing under their skins.

There, I said it. Part confession, total elephant in the room. I’m fully aware this admission won’t win me any popularity contests, but quite frankly at my age, with my injury record, I’ve long since lost interest in competitions – of any kind.

Now don’t get me wrong. Like the rest of you I’ve experienced my fair share of personal and professional challenges over the past year or so and again, just like you, I’ve ached for sunshine and laughter-filled days in the big mountains with mates. That said, it’s impossible to ignore or deny that living in the Highlands of

GEAR OF THE YEAR 2022

FALL-LINE

Award-winning skis, splitboards, boots, bindings, clothing and more

Issue 180, November 2021

The complete skier

WIN

EPIC KIT FROM DYNASTAR, ORAGE AND SCOTT

GEAR GUIDE BACK IN THE GAME

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EDITORIAL TEAM

ISSUE 180 NOVEMBER 2021 £4.99 WWW.FALL-LINE.CO.UK

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Editor Nicola Iseard nicola@fall-line.co.uk Online & gear editor Sophie Nicholson sophie@fall-line.co.uk Editor at large Jonny Richards jonny@fall-line.co.uk Art director Nicola Lang nic@fall-line.co.uk Sub editor Helen Milbank

Scotland during a monumental snow year went a long way to making this whole Covid-19 malarky far more palatable. More crucially, however, it made the task of producing this Gear Guide both plausible and possible. My life choices may not have brought many zeros to my bank account over the years (sorry Dad). But when the pesky pandemic rolled into town, putting a virus-shaped spanner in all lift-accessed skiing and ski testing plans, living where I do meant that I was able to react, assemble a team of fellow turn-earning obsessed testers, and get to work.

The fruits of our Scottish and Alps based-teams’ ‘labours’, combined with results from last year’s more traditional ski testing, await in the following 164 pages. As was the case last season, this winter’s Gear Guide looks different to years gone by, but hopefully it remains a useful, entertaining and winter stoke-fuelling resource.

We’re on the cusp and ready to drop back in folks. Now’s the time to do your research, consult the experts at your local ski store and get geared up so you’re ready to make up for lost time when those first flakes fall. It’s time to get back in the game!

Sophie Nicholson, Gear Editor

Backcountry editor Martin Chester martin@martinchester.co.uk Office Manager Tamsin Robinson tamsin@fall-line.co.uk CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Blair Aitken, Vivian Bruchez, Chris Exall, Lee Hardy, Iain Innes, Rob Kingsland, Chrigl Luthy, Colin Martin, Amy Marwick, Duncan McCallum and Megan Michelson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Bruce Benedict, Hamish Frost, Edward Granville, Rob Grew, Oskar Hall and Noah Wetzel Subscriptions team 07754 279367 ADVERTISING MANAGER

Rich Evans sales@fall-line.co.uk PUBLISHER

Richard Fincher richard@fall-line.co.uk PUBLISHING Fall-Line Media Ltd, PO Box 7888, Kettering, NN16 6QY, tel: 01733 293250

/FallLineSkiingMagazine FALL-LINE’S INSURANCE PROVIDERS

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Copyright 2021, Fall-Line Media Ltd, PO Box 7888, Kettering, NN16 6QY Printed by Stephens & George Reproduction by Fall-Line Media Ltd No liability is accepted for the accuracy of the information contained herein, nor are any guarantees given by the magazine. Copyright worldwide of original material is held by Fall-Line Media Limited, and permission must be obtained for any use, transmission, storage or reproduction. Publication does not imply that the opinions are shared by Fall-Line Media Ltd. Fall-Line Media Limited assumes no responsibility for the loss or damage of contributed material. We cannot accept responsibility whatsoever for product or samples submitted to us for review – please make sure any such items are insured to their full value.

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FA B I A N L E N T S C H If life is about taking one moment at a time, pause for a second. The next hundred are about to happen too quickly to remember.

SCOTT-SPORTS.COM © SCOTT SPORTS SA 2021.22 | Photo: Christoph Jürgen Johann

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CONTENTS 32

If brands were willing and able to send us kit, you can be damn sure we tested it!

Sophie, Gear Guide Ed

GEAR OF THE YEAR 2022

Award-winning skis, splitboards, boots, bindings, clothing and more

The complete skier

WIN

EPIC KIT FROM DYNASTAR, ORAGE AND SCOTT

GEAR GUIDE BACK IN THE GAME

ISSUE 180 NOVEMBER 2021 £4.99 WWW.FALL-LINE.CO.UK

80> 9 772048 122020

PHOTO FISCHER SPORTS

SUBSCRIBE TO FALL-LINE

Just £25 for five issues and nab a limited-edition Yeti buff!

See p114 for more details

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8 Skeeks

26 Why so serious?

80 Alpine boots

10 Win!

28 Talking transceivers

88 Freestyle & Freeride boots

32 Covid-19 ski testing

96 Touring boots

36 Piste skis

110 Splitboard swag

44 All-mountain skis

116 Outerwear, mid & baselayers

52 Freestyle skis

130 Socks, gloves & accessories

56 Freeride & Fat skis

150 Airbags, transceivers…

70 Touring skis

160 Kids’ kit

Your shout! Plus win £75 of Ski Bartlett vouchers Epic gear from Orage, Dynastar and Scott

13 Cutting edge know-how

Get kit-servicing savvy with help from Datawax

14 Plake ponders

The ski legend shares his musings on all things gear

16 Backcountry buys

Touring kit essentials from Atomic's Blair Aitken

18 Behind the brand

We meet Orage co-founder and president Eric D’Anjou

20 Backcountry boots for life

Dynafit’s Schorsch Nickaes on its Lifetime Guarantee

22 Rig for the gig

Vivian Bruchez’s gear of choice for ‘A Steep Spring’

We chat to OOSC’s co-founder Aaron McLaughlin Dieter Kotlaba on Ortovox’s new Diract Voice The story behind this year’s Highland and Alpine affair Hard-charging beauts to rip up the piste Charge from piste to pow with grins aplenty

Have fun all over the mountain Floaty friends for the best of times

Veritable vehicles to get you places – and back again

Buckle up folks, it’s time to get locked and loaded Pop, drop – then hike and huck…

Go further, faster and higher, plus bindings and poles Just like two skis, but fixed together. You want one Layer up in style in the latest techy fabrics

Keep your extremities protected, plus top backpacks …and the backcountry kit you need this winter Get equipped for happy family shreds

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WIN! £75 OF SKI BARTLETT VOUCHERS Want a chance to bag £75 of spending money to splash on kit at Ski Bartlett’s legendary shop in Hillingdon or on its website, skibartlett.com?

All you need to do is put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. Share some snowy wisdom, pose a question on anything from kit to couloirs, or send us a photo and the tale behind it. The writer of the winning letter in each issue wins the vouchers… it’s as simple as that.

WRITE TO US AT skeeks@fall-line.co.uk with British mountain guide Martin Chester

Martin Chester is a British IFMGA guide and Fall-Line’s esteemed backcountry editor. To find out more about him and the awesome trips he organises, go to martinchester.co.uk

UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SKI TOURS

Semantics can be tricky, especially when we use the same words for such a wide range of activity. One person’s ‘ski tour’ will be very different to the next person’s.

One hour, one day, one week or one month?

Fast or slow? Sunday stroll or epic life-changing gnarl?

Ski touring is usually focused on the journey, namely travelling on your skis to get somewhere.

Depending on the objective, it breaks down into a few commonly described types: HIKE TO RIDE: This is

PART 1

What is

ski touring?

Welcome to our new series for wannabe ski tourers looking to get their fix SO WHAT’S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT?

Throughout Covid-19, social distancing, space and fresh air has become more desirable than ever, and with many lifts closed last winter, there had never been such a good time to get into ski touring.

Of course it’s understandable to be cynical about skiing uphill. However, in 30 years of introducing people to the dark art, all have been amazed how much easier it is than expected. With modern kit, most average Brit skiers are capable of way more than they imagine and a lifetime’s worth of adventures…

PHOTOS ROB GREW, SCOTT SPORTS

HOW TO SKIN UP AND WHAT KIT YOU’LL NEED

If you’ve only ever skied downhill, you can be forgiven for assuming that skinning uphill will be a side-steppysweaty-huffy-puffy-angry kind of affair.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

The whole rig is so much lighter than heavy downhill kit, and easy to use.

Here’s our list of essentials:

TOURING BOOTS: These enable a natural

stride and gait, with race stiff ski performance for the descent. A cunning mechanism, usually on the heel, allows you to switch between rambling comfort and ski-stiff support. Most of these boots will have a rugged mountaineering sole (curved for walking and tread for grip) and may have two lugs, or sockets, at the toe. Hence, they’re only really compatible with…

TOURING BINDINGS: These allow you to free the heel and hinge at the toes, so you can slide the skis forward in a long and leisurely swoop.

Once at the top, you can lock the heel back down for the descent.

PIN (OR ‘TECH’) BINDINGS: Work by clamping the toe of the boot between two pins – on which the boot rotates.

These use the rigidity of the boot (so long as it has the right lugs) to save weight.

primarily focused on short ascents, for example to get over a col, get into an untracked bowl, or to get back home from the bottom of a run that doesn’t reconnect with the lifts.

DAY TOURS: As you might expect, these are a day out at most. In fact, you often see folks nipping out for a few hours in the morning – much like you might go for a run or a walk. So a day tour could be a short, simple foray; or it could be a full-on dawn-to-dusk adventure.

You might even use the lifts to get started, but you can get far from the resort and the crowds, yet be back at base by the end of the day.

HUT-TO-HUT TOURS: These tours are

basically an alpine journey that lasts several days. The Haute Route is a classic example, but there are many more.

Rather than coming back to the valley each night, there is a network of refuges scattered through the mountains. Hence there is no need to carry much more than your day kit and toothbrush. Some of these are wild and remote; others are like piste-side hotels.

SKI SAFARIS: These are hut-to-hut tours using a variety of uplift.

For example, the Dolomites is riddled with amazing rifugi, often right by the lift systems, that offer amazing lodging when the lifts shut.

You can link them together for a ski holiday.

The ratio of piste to off-piste skiing is entirely up to you and your itinerary.

SKI TOURING ON MARKED PISTES: This has recently become ‘a thing’ especially since Covid-19. With tracks and trails covered in snow, ice or slush through the winter months, many people like to take their morning stroll, or their training run, on skis. But they may not wish to get involved in avalanche danger, or have the kit (or mates) to head into the backcountry. Hence, skinning tracks in resorts provides a safer way to get that fix of fresh air.

FRAME BINDINGS: These look, and work, more

like a conventional alpine binding, but the whole setup is mounted on a plate, or ‘frame’, which hinges at the toe.

Modern skins are a miracle of adhesive engineering

SKINS: Modern skins are a miracle of

adhesive engineering. Like a post-it note with a pelt, they glue on, slide forward (but not back) then whip off whenever you want to revert to skiing.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MINDSET

As important as the kit is – and you should always try before you buy, by visiting your local ski store – the secret to happy skinning is more about the mind-set. Just apply a pinch of zen and a dollop of patient karma, and you will find that skinning is in fact a mellow-rhythmicgraceful-and-mindful kind of affair that you can do at your own pace. From a quick dog walk on planks to a Himalayan expedition, the joy is that you can choose a trip to suit your skills, fitness, timescale and desires.

UNDERSTAND THE LINGO AT – an abbreviation for ‘alpine touring’ used in reference to backcountry skiing.

Bootpack – literally, this means shouldering your skis and kicking steps in your boots, up a (hopefully) short slope, usually to gain access to greater ski options.

Backcountry – a term for any skiing out of bounds or off-piste in the wild, untamed, and unpatrolled mountains.

Side-country or slackcountry – easily accessed off-piste terrain, closer to the lifts, but no less dangerous or rewarding.

Kick turn – a tricky-to-master, harder-to-describe, but totally fine-once-you-know-how method of changing direction when zig-zagging uphill on skins.

Rando – ski randonee is literally just the French term for ski touring.

Ski-mo – short for ‘ski mountaineering’, but usually refers to the Lycra-clad races through the mountains.

Skin track – the path made by the first team to skin uphill in deep snow. Not too steep and not too meandering, once in place it is usually easier to slot in, like a Scalextric car, and benefit from their efforts.

Tech bindings (interchangeable with pin bindings) – the touring binding with pins that grips the lugs in the toe of a touring boot.

Ironically, it’s short for ‘low tech’ as it’s the most simple.

Walk mode – the hinge mechanism on a touring boot that allows you to unlock the ankle for comfy walking, yet lock it back for skiing performance.

❆ For more beginner backcountry tips, head to fall-line.co.uk and click on the Backcountry tab

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BACKCOUNTRY FOR BEGINNERS

Thank you for your ‘What is ski touring?’ article in October’s Fall-Line (FL 179). I’ve often wondered what the appeal is when I see skiers going the wrong way (up instead of down). Only getting a week or two in the mountains each season, I’ve never been tempted to try it. It looks hard work and seems a waste of downhill time! However, enduring two seasons without skiing now (thanks to Covid) I’m definitely tempted if that’s what it takes to get back on skis. Martin Chester gives a good intro, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series… although I’m not so excited about splashing out on all the kit if I get hooked!

Lisa Sullivan, Aldershot

Please give it a go Lisa, but beware – you may well get hooked! We know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s worth trying just to see what it’s all about. Remember you can always rent gear until you’re sure it’s what you want to do (for suggestions of where to hire kit, or buy second hand, see page 16).

PLAKE AND ME

I was pleased to read that Glen Plake loves skiing ‘really shitty snow’ (FL 179) – I have something in common with him. Well, nearly! When faced with a load of ‘shitty snow’, as the great man puts it, I often say to my friends “if you don’t ski the crap snow you don’t get good at skiing the crap snow”. None of us ski it as well (or enjoy it as much) as Glen Plake does, of course, but this season I’ll be able

WINNER MAKING MEMORIES

It’s that time of year where the ski season comes into relief and plans and ambitions come into focus for the upcoming winter. I’ve been fortunate enough to ski in some of the world’s most mythical and far flung locations, from La Grave to Kashmir.

Normally my focus would be putting together maximum bang for buck with a combination of steeps and challenging terrain, hassle-free travel, snow-sure conditions and the perfect crew of mates.

But having had consecutive ski trips cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic, as well as having two young children coming of skiing age (4 and 6), my new focus is trying to get three generations of the family on snow at the same time before it’s too late. My parents are experienced, if cautious skiers but still gamely head off to the Alps or Dolomites each year.

If the pandemic has taught us one thing, it is that nothing can be taken for granted – particularly the James in La ability to see our loved ones. We’re all craving Grave in 2018 shared experiences and with that in mind, instead of scoping out new spots for powder and adventure, I’m obsessing about finding the perfect place to get my parents and children on the slopes together. Getting us all skiing side by side, I know, will provide us all with memories that will endure for a lifetime. Who knows how long we’ll have this opportunity for and I want to make sure I don’t take it for granted.

To everyone out there who has had their ski trips cancelled and missed out on quality time with their family, I hope you get back out on snow this winter and get to share it with those special to you.

James Bradley, London

Thank you James (we’re wiping away a tear here!), we agree there’s not much in life that compares to skiing with family, and watching your kiddos flying down the piste hot on the heels of their grandparents, well that’s pretty darn special. Happy planning!

to tell my ski mates “if Glen Plake was here…”

PLAKE PONDERS

Richard Gregory, Watford

Thanks Richard. Pleased you enjoyed the great man’s words of wisdom!

After you’ve reminded your pals that, in the words of Plake,“it’s cool to ski bad snow”, remember to lead them to a mogul field to enjoy what he calls “the lost art of mogul skiing”! Check out this month’s Plake Ponders on page 14.

He is the legend of freesking. Fall-Line’s newest blogger, Glen Plake, shares his insights, humour and alpinist wisdom on the lockdown-boom of backcountry skiing, and explains why moguls will always rule

P

eople often ask me what I seek in a skiing day.

And I tell them this: I want to have a natural skiing experience. I either want to be skiing moguls, or skiing ‘mountains’ (exploring). These are the two things that intrigue me the most.

Skiing is always considered an outdoor sport, but let’s be honest, in the confinements of ski areas, with all these prepared slopes, the environment isn’t entirely natural.

Sure, railing groomers is fun, but it’s so two dimensional.

Mogul skiing is the only thing within the ski area confinements that really gets me going. While moguls are certainly not natural, they do form naturally. And I know it’s a strange activity, and most people don’t even know what it is now – it’s literally a lost art – but the diversity and the complexity of skiing bumps is something that I am thoroughly intrigued by and love, and could do forever.

Beyond that, skiing for me is “let’s go ski mountains”.

I almost seek out really shitty snow – I want the snow to be bad, so that I can integrate with it. Because these days, with all the big skis, and all the slope preparation, it’s like “of course you’re going to conquer it, I mean how can you not?!” So it’s cool to ski bad snow, to be intrigued by the mountain a little bit. And I think that’s why I enjoy ski touring so much. When you get up on top of the peaks you find variety in the skiing surface – that to me is important.

I think that’s one reason we’re so intrigued by the Aiguille du Midi, and other big descents in Europe. The top could be terrible, and then all of a sudden we get to mid-elevation and we’re like “wow this snow is amazing,” and then at the bottom we’re like “well, we’re paying for it now!”. We have the elevation to play with in the Alps.

That said, there is some great backcountry skiing in North America. I spend a lot of time, especially early and late season, at Mammoth Mountain. It’s a great mountain, the snow is really consistent. It’s not that great for powder, because it gets hit with a lot of wind, but the snow is really unique, it never thaws until June.

My time in Mammoth can be anything. During snow cycles I could be out with Patrol doing avalanche mitigation – I am part of the mitigation team – firing guns or throwing dynamite. I might be doing some ski school stuff. Or just touring off the backside.

The whole of the Sierras in general have fantastic ski touring. Most tours involve a night out in a bivvy, because they are pretty difficult to reach. It’s a big day to get into the higher peaks, it’s pretty physical, so you might as well spend the night out there. It makes the day harder, because you have to take so much extra gear, and everything is in a 30L pack, if you’re tight, or more likely 40L, or even bigger.

Did a lot of people head into the NA backcountry last winter as a result of the pandemic? Hell yes! I said it would happen years ago, and now I’m kind of laughing about it… ‘backcountry is in!’ ‘Out of bounds is IN!’ There has been a massive explosion, holy cow.

A place near Mammoth where I would normally be the only car parked, had 200 cars parked last year. Were there incidents? Yeah, there were rescues all over the place!

Nobody was ready for this explosion of people. And everybody, EVERYBODY, was out doing it – the lady wearing a one-piece Bogner suit sitting at the Elk Medallion restaurant had ski touring equipment. And I’m like “whoa!” It was pretty crazy, actually.

It brings up a lot to interesting topics though, especially here in North America. In Europe, there is more of a

guided culture: skiers tend to seek expert guidance for outdoor activities. And the North American market – the North American backcountry skier – I think needs to adopt that mindset.

Someone might want to try backcountry skiing, and in North American the answer is: “just go do it! Take an avalanche course, and go do it!” That’s what they tell everybody: just take an avalanche course. My response is: why don’t you go out ski touring with a guide first and learn a little bit? Because if you walk straight into an avalanche course, you might as well go into a meeting with someone who’s speaking a different language. You’re not going to learn anything, or understand anything. This stewardship is lacking in the US. The other thing I’m excited about is the prospect that people will learn more about their local wilderness-access laws. With this backcountry ski boom, as more people get into it – and I’m again speaking about North America here – people may discover that what they see and think is a good place to go touring is in fact part of a wilderness area, which makes it extremely difficult for a guide, or anyone ski touring, to operate in. No cars are allowed. You’re not even allowed to ride a mountain bike in a wilderness area!

We had a deal come through here half a dozen years ago, somewhere where I would take people ski touring for a day – it was the one place that didn’t involved a whole bunch of effort, just a good fun place to go ski touring. You used to be able to drive to it, and now it’s a fricking 10-mile slog to reach it. And I’m like “are you kidding me?!”

I am not an activist, but if I was to become one I would do anything to get rid of wilderness areas, because they have destroyed public access to beautiful public land.

I hope this increase in the ski touring market makes the forest service realise that there is a whole lot more to skiing than these little ski parks that they have allowed to develop.

But anyway, this explosion of interest in backcountry skiing, I hope it continues. We’ll see how it goes when the lifts start opening, see if people continue to get out there, but I think it’s wonderful that more of the public than ever are getting to experience a natural, unprepared skiing environment. I think that’s something we’ve been missing.

It’s like a revolt against the homogenised ski resort – people are getting to choose their own skiing experience, instead of having it chosen for them.

Plake doing what he does best. “Mogul skiing is something that I am thoroughly intrigued by and love” says Plake

Skiing for me is ‘let’s go ski mountains…’ I almost seek out really shitty snow – I want the snow to be bad, so that I can integrate with it

PHOTOS GLEN PLAKE ARCHIVE, PETER MORNING

BACKCOUNTRY BASICS

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Where will you ski this winter? Email us your plans (or your ‘I reeeally want to go here’ lists) at skeeks@fall-line.co.uk – we’re stacking ’em up for a Let’s Ski Skeeks Special.

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WHAT WILL A COVID SKI SEASON LOOK LIKE?

H

ow will resorts implement physical distancing? Where and when will we have to wear a face mask? Will there be restrictions when it comes to ski lift passenger numbers? There are lots of questions surrounding the 2021/22 ski season.

We want you, our trusted readers, to feel as informed and prepared as you possibly can be about your upcoming ski trips.

Which is why, over the coming months, we will be gathering as much information as we can from ski resorts about what measures they will be putting in place this winter, and what they envisage the season will look like. We will then feed that information directly to you via our website, newsletters and social media channels.

So stay tuned!

STAY INFORMED WITH FALL-LINE AT... fall-line.co.uk @FallLineSkiing /FallLineSkiingMagazine /falllinemag

PHOTOS FISCHER SPORTS GMBH

Let’s navigate this strange new world together…

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23/10/2021 09:15

WIN G

ORAGE INSULATED JACKET AND COMFY BASELAYER

et geared for winter with a toasty and technical jacket and baselayer combo from Canadian brand Orage. Tried and tested in the notoriously freezing British Columbia and Pacific Northwest, Orage’s kit combines statement-making freeride style with high-performance features.

Up for grabs is a super-stylish, heavily insulated water-resistant synthetic down jacket designed to bring big-time cosy points to your all-mountain game.

If a man wins it’s the Redford jacket (size large), and for women the Riya jacket (size small), both £400. They come with 10k/10k waterproof/breathable properties – plus the seriously classy design means they look kick-ass when you’re strolling around town. Other cool features include a two-way adjustable helmet-compatible hood, mesh goggle pocket, hand gaiters and stretchy powder skirt.

If that isn’t cool enough, we’re also giving away either the men’s Fraiser/ Tamarack baselayer combination (£145, size large) or women’s Moss/Sage longneck baselayer top and pants (£160, size small). Constructed using Orage’s lightweight merino blend fabric, Drirelease, these mega moisture-wickers are perfect for leg-burning hike-and-ride adventures and/or spring skiing sessions.

Clean, soft, stylish and technical, they’ll keep you warm, dry, comfy and primed for powder-hunting all day long.

Orage is a brand that combines heritage with modern-looking unique designs (read more on page 18), so if you’re looking for high-performance gear with a genuine point of difference, you need this kit in your life!

Enter online now, you lucky lot…

WORTH £560

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COMPETITIONS

WIN

I

SCOTT PATROL E1 30 BACKPACK KIT

s there a greater feeling of riding through elbow-deep pow down a deserted backcountry face? There is not. But with the joy of off-piste riding, comes the inherent risk of avalanches, and while an airbag is not – and never will be – a substitute for avalanche and snow safety education, you cannot argue with the statistics: airbags save lives.

Scott’s Patrol E1 30 Backpack Kit is one of the best in the business. It is a fully electronic airbag with innovative ‘supercapacitor’ tech that releases power faster, lasts longer, and works better than batteries in low temperatures.

With no canisters to worry about travel is hassle-free, the battery is easy to recharge, and crucially the airbag can be deployed

multiple times, so you can practice at home – this really helps with muscle memory and building those instinctive reactions should the shizzle hit the proverbial.

The pack comes laden with features, including diagonal and A-frame ski carry, a dedicated avy tools pocket, sternum strap with whistle, helmet-carry system and an SOS label with emergency instructions.

Many people worry about the extra weight of avalanche backpacks, but weighing in at 2670g the Patrol E1 30 is one of the lightest on the market for its size. See, we told you it was good…

Get online and enter for your chance to get this pack on your back this winter!

WORTH £855

HOW TO ENTER: FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THIS SCOTT PATROL E1 30 BACKPACK KIT OR THE ORAGE GEAR, HEAD TO FALL-LINE.CO.UK BEFORE 3 DEC www.fall-line.co.uk 11

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COMPETITION

WORTH £1,140

WIN

DYNASTAR M-FREE 99 SKIS AND BINDINGS, PLUS LANGE XT3 130 OR XT3 90 LV BOOTS

L

ooking for a playful freeride ski to take you from fresh tracks to big hits to smooth landings this winter? You are in luck. The generous folks at Dynastar are offering one reader the chance to bag a pair of M-Free 99 skis, complete with Look Spx 12 GW B100 bindings (£570).

Like its wider siblings in the M-Free line, the brand new, unisex M-Free 99 has a progressive twin shape and rocker profile, and should appeal to creative skiers looking for a daily freeride driver for backcountry freestyle antics aplenty.

From deep snow to mixed conditions, its hybrid core uses a blend of poplar and polyurethane materials to deliver a smooth ride that lets you take advantage of every wind-lip and untracked stash. Meanwhile, its versatile 99mm waist ensures quickness and precision in the trees and in couloirs.

Every rad new pair of skis needs a rad new boot to drive them. Enter the brilliant Lange XT3 130 (if a man wins, £570) or the XT3 90 LV (if a woman wins, £445).

Designed to explore beyond the ropes, the boots have a unique metal-on-metal cuff lock that mimics the feel of Lange’s bolted cuff on the way down, but allows for an impressive 53° ROM on the ascent.

With GripWalk soles and tech inserts these boots may look less like a Lange of old, but they still retain the powerful trench-cutting feel of their raceorientated siblings. So, if you want a boot that climbs like a tourer, but carves like a racer, the XT3 is for you.

Get online now to enter a gab this epic set-up!

HOW TO ENTER: FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE DYNASTAR M-FREE 99 SKIS AND BINDINGS, PLUS LANGE XT3 130 OR XT3 90 LV BOOTS, HEAD TO FALL-LINE.CO.UK BEFORE 3 DEC 12 www.fall-line.co.uk 12 www.fall-line.co.uk

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in association with

KIT CARE

CUTTING EDGE KNOW-HOW

Sharp edges mean you’ll be working with – not against – the mountain

Servicing our equipment is something we can all do – but lack of confidence, time or knowledge all combine to put us off. Luckily the Datawax team are here to share their know-how…

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n addition to helping you take care of your equipment, learning to service your skis also means you’ll get the best out of them – and your skiing! Once you understand the basics, you can tune your skis to suit your own particular style and the conditions, which will make your whole holiday more enjoyable. You’ll be more in control, less tired and working with – rather than against – the mountain.

LIFE ON THE EDGE

Getting to grips with edge angles is key to successful ski tuning and can improve your technique by leaps and bounds when done well. There are two angles on the metal edges. The one that’s flush with the base material is the ‘base edge’, and that’s the one people refer to as ‘bevel’. It makes the ski less twitchy at high speed and easier to rotate and turn.

Bevel is what beginner or intermediate skiers need/want on their skis so they are easier to turn and control at speed. Generally, 0.5 degrees is what most performance skis have as a base bevel. Freeride skis and intermediate skis might have 0.75 or even 1 degree. Much more than 1.5 and it’s a lot harder to use the edges for carve turns and

ski in control on-piste. Using a bevel guide to trim the edge means that you can make your skis less twitchy, more friendly or easier to ski on – whichever description you prefer.

Very few people ski with a ‘flat edge’ purely because it’s actually pretty hard work – especially at higher speed!

So once you’ve set your base edge, you need to look at the side edge. This is the angle of the edge that makes it cut into the snow and gives you grip. Most of the time, factory skis are produced at 89 or 90 degrees: 90 degrees is the maximum, so 90 or 89 are a ‘sharpish’ edge angle. The big bonus for setting your kit to 90 or 89 is that the edge stays sharp for AGES, so you don’t need to service them as often.

When it comes to skiing on-piste, or predominantly on hard or icy snow, we want to sharpen those skis a little more – in other words, reduce the angle. So most highlevel ski instructors, race coaches and amateur racers will set their skis to 88 (or 87) because it really cuts into the snow, meaning better grip and stronger connection.

Because the angle is more acute, the edge wears out and goes blunt faster, so the flip side is that the ski will need to be serviced more often.

World Cup ski racers will set their edges to 86 or even 85 (for icy slaloms), but that’s because they service their skis every day.

Their skis are properly razorsharp and really cut into the hardest of snow.

To summarise, 89 is a great place to start off. If you’re a little more confident or looking for real grip you may want to try 88.

IT’S TIME TO GET EDGY

Servicing your edges is a really simple process.

There are lots of options of tools out there, but basically all you really need is a workbench with a vice and an edge tool.

We will talk about setting base edges and advanced edge tuning in a later article, but here is an outline of how to tune your side edge: ❆ Clamp the brakes out of the way with a rubber brake retainer. ❆ Place the ski in your vice so that it’s held firmly with the base facing away from you. ❆ It is probably advisable to wear a glove on your dominant hand, to avoid the sharpener cutting you if it slides off the ski. ❆ Choose your sharpening device, set to the correct angle (if appropriate) and ensure the file is facing the right direction to cut. ❆ Then pull the sharpener towards you, don’t push it. Pull from tip to tail. ❆ Make sure the sharpener is held firmly against the base of the ski but only pressing lightly down on the edge. You are sharpening the edge, not trying to wear it away. ❆ Use long, smooth strokes and lift the file off the edge between strokes. Use lots of light strokes, don’t press too hard and always pull towards you. ❆ File the whole length of the ski. The modern ski is designed to carve using its whole length, so the edge should be sharp from the tip to the tail. ❆ Once your edge is sharp, turn the ski over and repeat on the other edge. Please note: on this second edge you will be sharpening tail to tip. ❆ Finally, wipe away any steel filings from the ski.

Check out DataWax.com for all the tools you need. We have two special edging kits (Pro Edging kit and Basic Edging kit) and Fall-Line members always get 10% off – use code FL1892.

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27/10/2021 15:51

PLAKE PONDERS Fall-Line’s newest blogger, Glen Plake, on folding skis, the latest light and fast tech, and why ski boots need to have ‘flavour’. Just don’t mention buckles…

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29/10/2021 15:32

Glen: the ultimate in light and fast

What drives me mad? The amount of buckles that ski boots apparently have to have… How many would I have? I’d have one! I’d have none!

At Elan we are completely revamping our ski touring line and it is ‘freeeeriiide’ inspired. It has to be! I am 100% involved in the development. The last prototypes were… acceptable, but we are not quite there. It’s been a matter of finding the medium of what I was looking for, versus what the engineers had an idea of building. Finally we are at a point where the prototypes are starting to ski more like I want them to ski.

It’s hard. Engineers want to innovate, but at the same time you have to look at what other companies are doing, and sometimes the engineers start going down a road that makes sense market-wise, but…

The problem with the ski industry is that everyone is a nerd and they read all this frickin’ bullsh*t, and nobody can help bullsh*t! Boot flex?! Are you kidding me? It’s bullsh*t! It is nothing but a frickin’ sticker on the back of your boot that makes you feel like you are badder than someone else because your number is bigger than somebody else’s. That is all it is! It has nothing to do with your ability to ski.

The same goes for all these different numbers. The geometry of one ski has nothing to do with the geometry of another ski, because if you put carbon inside a ski it changes everything. You’re constantly fighting these numbers. It’s like: “You can’t have a ski that has a 30m radius, because NO other ski on the market has a 30m radius”. And I’m like: “So? Is the ski good or not?!” “But, it doesn’t fit the category!”

What category?! There are a lot of parameters that mean nothing in the ski industry, and unfortunately you are constantly walking this line.

What am I ski touring on these days? I have a pair of 106s mounted up for deep ski touring days, but in general I’m on a 96, mounted with my Plum bindings. I go back and forth with my boots – it all depends on if I’m doing lift-accessed touring, or if I’m going physical the whole way.

At Roxa we are also in the process of revamping our boots.

For me it’s always been: these are my alpine boots, these are my touring boots. My alpine boots have pin capabilities, but I’m not doing the Haute Route in a frickin’ alpine boot!

But as people are accepting compromises, the line between the two is blurring.

Back onto the subject of industry ‘laws’ – the other thing that drives me nuts is the amount of buckles that ski boots apparently have to have. Ski boots MUST HAVE FOUR BUCKLES. Why?! How many would I have? I’d have one!

I’d have none!

I swear, if you had your phone hooked to your ski boots, hooked to GPS, with foot hold that was being adjusted through telemetry – literally sensors in your ski boots – you’d have some shop guy say: “Yeah, but where are the buckles?”

I’d be like: “They’re up there in the sky! They’re being adjusted automatically through your PHONE!” “No, no, we’ve gotta have buckles… That’s not gonna sell.”

I think that boots have to have ‘flavour’. Nobody wants to talk about ‘flavour’. I think it’s so funny that skiers can get so into this aspect in a different sport though. If we talk mountain bikes, oh my gosh! It’s a click of this, click of that, dampening this, spring-rate that. And that same individual – who is all excited about the ‘flavour’ and/or the variants that you can have with a mountain bike suspension – goes all stupid on you when it comes to skiing. It’s just so one-dimensional.

I think ski boots, like a mountain bike shock, need to have rebound, they need to have a spring-rate, they need to have dynamics and they need to have ‘flavour’. You can’t just say: “Oh, my ski boots are stiff.” I think that ski boots are really misunderstood by people.

My ski boots are my most cherished item of gear. They just make everything about your day go great. And my boots are simple, don’t get me wrong. I don’t have complex boot fittings – I ski boots straight out of the box. And I have a super, super simple footbed; it’s not even custom. It’s actually the base of a footbed, it’s what they make custom footbeds out of! And as for their ‘flavour’…

PHOTOS GLEN PLAKE ARCHIVE, BRUCE BENEDICT

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he other day I was like: “I gotta get a pair of those folding skis.” I work with Elan and don’t even have a pair! It would be funny to put ’em on your motorcycle and go for a spin in Nevada. In the world of ‘light and fast’, that ski is not that – it’s a bit of a tank! But for the design parameters that were set for us, I think the engineers did an amazing execution. It is a tribute to our engineers.

It really is a ‘light and fast’ world we’re living in though.

Ski touring is a part of the industry where there is an enormous amount of innovation right now, and there has been for the past 20-odd years, whether it’s a little backpack company, or binding company, or ski boot innovation.

We at Elan have always made touring skis, but our direction is changing. Ski touring was always about ‘point to point to point to point’. When you skied the Haute Route, you went from Chamonix to Trient, from Trient to Verbier, from Verbier to Prafleuri… But as people’s abilities have improved, as ski gear has become more technical, and as guides have become more open to allowing people to ski more expert and out-of-bounds terrain, ski touring isn’t so much ‘point to point’ now. People are like: “Yeah, I wanna do the Haute Route, but I plan on skiing along the way. I’m going to go from Chamonix to Verbier, or Verbier to Arolla, but I am going to ski three of those mountains that we actually go around.” People don’t want to just walk by a mountain and look up, they want to ski it; they want that downhill reward.

So nowadays, instead of 68 underfoot, a typical touring ski is going to be around 90 underfoot. And bindings, while they are light, need to have some downhill reliability. The boots still have to have all these ski touring mobility functions, but people expect some downhill skiing performance too.

Because more and more people who are into ski touring, especially over the past several years, are not rando racers.

While that is another aspect of it – that “go run uphill and ski down on your toothpicks” aspect, which is fine, and I love that part – most people intend on ski touring for the sake of skiing something. And that has caused a lot of changes in the industry.

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29/10/2021 15:33

GEAR READ ATOMIC GET INTO SKI TOURING SPECIAL

Backcountry buys

Atomic brand ambassador, ski instructor and founder of the British Backcountry, Blair Aitken, on why you should invest in your own touring kit and what to look for

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aving your own ski touring kit ready to go allows for spontaneous trips to local hills and the freedom to travel to remote areas where conditions are good but rental is not possible. Last winter more of our British Backcountry clients than ever turned up on their own skis. Money put aside for trips abroad, which had been cancelled, had been spent on shiny new gear!

Buying new gives you the most choice and the opportunity to practise using your skins, boots and bindings at home before making that first trip. This is vital, as you don’t want to waste time learning how to properly lock your toe piece, or discover your skins don’t fit your skis, when you’re on the mountain.

A full ski touring set up is a big investment, so try before you buy, if possible, via a rental shop or by booking a course with a provider who can supply equipment (Glenmore Lodge or British Backcountry for example). In Scotland, ski touring equipment can be hired at Craigdon Mountain Sports in Perth, Ellis Brigham in Fort William and Tiso in Aviemore.

Most foreign resorts now have shops that cater for ski tourers too – but book ahead.

Another option is to buy second hand.

Social media groups like British Backcountry For Sale/Wanted have a good selection, and if you can’t find what you’re after it’s worth posting a request. Here are some tips for things to look for when buying new kit…

BOOTS

Weight vs performance: this is becoming less of an issue, as lightweight boots become stiffer and more supportive. A four-clip boot, like the narrow-last Hawx Ultra XTD CT GW or medium-last Hawx Prime XTD CT GW, will still ski better than the lighter Atomic Backland boot range, although the gap in performance seems to narrow each year. Though a boot like the Backland Carbon or Backland Pro has a greater range of movement for the ascent.

Compatibility: what bindings are you going to be using the boots with? There are multiple norms in piste and touring bindings. Some boots can only be used in full ‘pin’ bindings; others can be used in anything from pin bindings to alpine. Another thing to consider is whether you’ll use boot crampons and which version will fit best.

Comfort: if you’re in pain, no amount of powder or epic scenery is going to make the day enjoyable. Boots need to fit and this means a bit of work. Speak to a specialist in a local shop and start with the right boot for your foot, even if it is a few grams heavier on paper than another model. Shells can be stretched, and foot beds and liners moulded. The good news is touring boots tend to be more comfy than highperformance piste boots.

If you’re heading off on a big trip having bought new boots, bring blister plasters and tape in case they feel different after two hours’ slogging uphill. Try different socks too, as simple things like fabric type can cause irritations.

need to shorten them, shape them and add the tail attachment. Atomic offers a range of pre-cut skins up to 95mm width with hybrid skin (100% mohair) and standard skin (70% mohair). Skins come with different glue types and fabrics. Skin glue is either tacky glue that sticks well in all conditions, or a suction type that is great to handle but can fail easier in the wet and cold (Scotland, for example).

Don’t get too hung up on the fabric side. Although certain materials glide better in certain snow types, you can always rub wax on if they stick.

Always dry them after use and use a cheat sheet or sock to separate traditional glue skins.

SKIS

BINDINGS

If you’re moving from piste skiing into ski touring, things to consider are: Weight vs performance: it’s possible to get stiff, responsive skis as light as 1kg per ski (see the Backland 85 UL weighing in at 950g). In fact, if you’re thinking about doing big days out I would be hesitant buying a ski more than 1.5kg per ski. Light skis feel weird when you first put them on, but learn to trust them and you’ll never look back.

Width: unless you are going to have more than one pair of touring skis, this is where you may need to compromise. Wide skis feel awful to skin uphill on – they lack feel on steep slopes and are heavy. If you are going to Alaska or Japan, crack on! But when I worked in the Alps I rarely felt outgunned on my Backland 95s; in Scotland my current weapon of choice is an 85mm-wide Backland. Both have a wide, slightly rockered tip with Horizon tech that helps them float. I weigh 65kg; some of my heavier, more powerful friends need a minimum of 95mm underfoot for Scotland and 105 for the Alps. Suggestions for a more freeride-touring set up include the Backland 100, Backland 107 and Backland WMN 98.

Skins: you don’t need to buy the skins with the skis, but if you do it will save you a job, as buying separately means you will likely

The first question you need to ask yourself is: “Where am I going to use them?” You are going to have to choose between a full pin, hybrid or frame binding. There are also binding convertors and the CAST system, but these are only really useful if you are doing short ascents for freeride skiing.

Full pin bindings: two pins clamp onto either side of your ski boots at the front, and two pins fix into the rear of your boot.

These require boots that are pin (or ‘tech’) binding compatible. Unless you are thinking about doing really big distances don’t get hung up on weight – they are all pretty light and you will likely save more in the skis, boots or a sensibly packed rucksack. Instead consider how durable they are; how easy they are to transition from walk to ski mode; and whether the ramp angle is comfortable.

My personal favourite is the Backland Pure or Backland Tour – it’s simple, durable and has a neutral ramp angle.

Hybrid bindings: these blend the uphill benefits of the pin binding with the functionality of an alpine binding. In the past this has been achieved by using a pin toe piece combined with an alpine-style heel piece. Three years ago Atomic and Salomon changed the game with the Shift 13 MNC, and now the Shift 10 MNC offers a full alpine-style binding that transforms into a pin for climbing. Marker have a similar binding, and others will follow. None are particularly light, so if you’re doing anything over 1000 vertical metres a day you may want to stick with conventional pins.

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Having your own ski touring kit ready to go allows for spontaneous trips to local hills

These bindings will need a pin-compatible boot (only the toe holes are used). Make sure the DIN settings cover your requirements, as some have high starting values.

The advantage is your ski could be used in resorts for lift skiing as well as touring, making the one ski quiver achievable!

Frame bindings: a frame binding is basically an alpine-style binding on a hinge. We use Diamir Fritschi frame bindings in our rental fleet as they can accommodate a large range of boot sizes and soles. It also means people can try touring in their own alpine boots.

POLES

Your alpine ones will do fine, but if you’ve just bought shiny new touring skis and boots, a small investment will make things easier and more comfortable. I prefer stiff but lightweight poles. Atomic offers a full range, from collapsible BCT Mountaineering Carbon SQS poles to BCT Touring poles with the safety SQS quick-release system. Most touring poles have foam or tape going down to at least halfway. This allows you to lower your hand when crossing a side hill or skiing steep terrain, without getting cold or losing grip.

Other equipment to consider: ❆ Avalanche safety equipment: unless you’re 100% sure you’re not venturing into avalanche terrain this is something you will need to invest in, and learn how to use. This includes a transceiver, shovel and probe. ❆ Ski crampons for your binding/ski width. ❆ Navigation tools: appropriate map at a useful scale, compass and digital mapping on a fully charged phone (or similar) with a power bank in your bag. ❆ Within the group: a personal location beacon if you are going to be in a remote area without a phone signal. An emergency shelter, first aid kit and repair tools/materials. ❆ A head torch and spare batteries. ❆ Breathable, waterproof, windproof clothes. ❆ A pack with chest and waist straps that has the ability to carry skis.

PHOTO EDWARD GRANVILLE

Blair topping out of Broad Gully in Glencoe on his Backland 85 Ultralite skis with Backland pin bindings

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25/10/2021 14:54

GEAR READ ORAGE

BEHIND THE BRAND…

ORAGE

Orage co-founder and president Eric D’Anjou talks to Megan Michelson about how his Canadian outerwear company got started in the back of a car Megan Michelson: You were at the University of Quebec at Montreal in the 1980s when you and a friend, Evelyn Trempe, started selling ski jackets out of the back of her car.

How did this moment come to be?

Eric D’Anjou: Evelyn and I were part of the university ski team. Her parents owned a ski shop so she saw everything that was going on. She was in her early 20s and people thought she didn’t have a lot of experience, but she’d been working in that store since she was a teenager. Evelyn had the idea of doing her own thing and making her own designs, so we decided to team up and start the brand. All outerwear at that time seemed to be more resort oriented. We were resort skiers, but didn’t love the look of resort wear.

Everything was silver and gold or like Captain America.

MM: What was the first piece you made?

EDA: It was basically a rain jacket you could ski in. That’s where we came up with the name, Orage, which is thunderstorm in French. We wanted the gear to be rugged but also stylish, and we came in with an umbrella of flashy colours. Since we were on the university ski team and working in a ski shop, the first deal we got was the university ski team jacket.

MM: How would you describe the values of Orage back then, when it was first getting started?

EDA: We do things differently in Montreal. It is a very creative city; a small island of French folk in the middle of a sea of English-speaking people. We are very exposed to Europe in terms of fashion. We know what’s going on in North America, but we have influences from elsewhere in the world. We put that European flair into our garments, and when you see our product, you’ll feel

something different. We wanted to have rugged outerwear, like in the late ’80s, but with more style. That has been the philosophy behind our product since the beginning. The way we dress is part of our personality. We don’t all want a black shell jacket.

MM: And the values of the company today?

EDA: Thirty years later, we still have the same discussion in our strategic meetings. It’s always: what’s the edge we have on this piece? Everything needs to have the Orage DNA. MM: Orage sold in 2008, but you bought the company back in 2015. What has been your mission with the brand in this current era?

EDA: When I took the company back over, the new mentality was that this is a brand that follows a progression.

When I was a kid, I was skiing the resort. In my 20s and 30, I was into freeride and the park. Now, I spend more of my time in the backcountry.

We’ve changed the mentality of the brand from park to big mountain and backcountry. We’ve always used the latest technologies, but we’ve adapted our designs to be a bit lighter and more breathable. With new fabrics and technologies we want light, we want stretch, we want breathability and warmth. These are the things that are influencing how we design now.

MM: What is Orage’s approach to sustainability in outerwear design?

EDA: These days, we want to be sustainable, and we want a community approach. We want to work with manufacturers that have the same values and partner with people who care about their staff, quality, and about sustainability. If you have the right partners, everything is possible.

We look at the sustainability of everything, from the way we ship to

The future’s bright; the future’s Orage

our supply channel. We’re now using 60 to 70% recycled fabric this year and we’re shipping 40% of our products without plastic bags.

We want our products to last. If you want to make sure you have a sustainable company, make sure your products will last a long time. Even with a 100% recycled product, if you’re changing your jacket every year, it’s not good for the world we live in.

MM: What’s next for Orage?

EDA: That is a question we ask every day. As of now, we’re working on making even better products. Longer lasting. Lighter. More comfortable.

More cross-over products. If you’re in the mountain ranges, you can wear these pieces from August to May. We want to be ageless, seasonless and versatile. We see the sustainability approach in that way as well: to last longer, to cross over season to season.

We make products that will get around the mountains through all the seasons.

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We want to be ageless, seasonless and versatile. We see the sustainability approach in that way as well: to last longer, to cross over season to season

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GEAR READ DYNAFIT GET INTO SKI TOURING SPECIAL

Backcountry boots for a lifetime

Nicola Iseard speaks to Dynafit Product Director Schorsch Nickaes about all things touring boot related – and what the brand’s new Lifetime Guarantee means Nicola Iseard: For those who are new to ski touring, what differentiates a touring boot from a downhill boot?

Schorsch Nickaes: From a purely visual point of view, they’re very similar. From a technical standpoint, there are several differences that set them apart. The biggest is the ski-walk mechanism. Ski touring boots can be released for climbing to allow a natural gait.

For descents, the mechanism can be closed to prevent the shaft moving, and this keeps the skier’s foot firmly in place.

On top of this, weight is a significant factor.

Ski touring boots are lighter. Additionally, they have a lugged rubber sole for grip when stepping out of your bindings in steep terrain or traversing narrow ridges. Last but not least: more than 90% of ski touring boots utilise inserts in the tip of the boot so they can be used with pin bindings.

NI: How does someone new to the sport find the right touring boot?

SN: Ski touring is a multi-faceted sport, and there are many different types of boots. The first question is: where will it be used? The principal difference is between uphill and downhill-oriented models. For those who climb more, there are very light, flexible and comfortable touring boots. For skiers whose focus is on downhill, stability is more critical.

The middle ground is occupied by all-round boots, which work well for both climbs and descents. The world of skimo racing brings different criteria – every gram counts here.

NI: What should someone look for?

SN: Once the question about the type of skiing and terrain has been answered, the next step is fitting a boot. A ski touring boot that creates pressure points or is too big is not fun.

The second important factor is compatibility with a binding. Not all boots work with all bindings, regardless of whether we’re talking about a frame, pin or hybrid. Dynafit only guarantees perfect function if a Dynafit pin binding is used with ski touring boots with certified Dynafit inserts. The consumer can identify this by orange stickers on the tips.

NI: What is the difference between a women’s and a men’s model?

SN: Women’s boots are generally lighter and created specifically to fit a woman’s anatomy.

For instance, they are built using a narrower

last, and they offer more room in the calf area.

NI: What makes a quality ski touring boot?

SN: In a quality boot you’ll find materials such as Grilamid, carbon fibre or other quality plastics and composites that offer durability, stability and light weight.

Buckles and the ski-walk mechanism have to be solid and built to last. Intuitive function is also a key factor.

NI: How important is the liner?

SN: It plays an important role in terms of comfort and fit. In downhill-oriented boots, the liners are thicker and warmer than – for instance – in race boots, which are designed to be as fast and light as possible. The majority of liners are thermo-mouldable, which means they can be moulded to the shape of your foot for a perfect fit (moulding should be done at a specialty retailer).

NI: Where are Dynafit ski touring boots manufactured?

SN: They’re made by hand in Montebelluna, Italy. The only exception to this is the Pierre Gignoux DNA Race Boots, which are manufactured in our race lab in France.

NI: Dynafit is offering a new Lifetime Guarantee on all its ski touring boots*.

Can you tell us a bit about this?

SN: Sustainability is important to us, not just in production, but in development and construction. We are proud of the quality and lifespan of our products, and we emphasise this with our Lifetime Guarantee, which has been offered with our bindings since 2019.

The life cycle of a ski touring boot and its materials, components and construction, is considered to be five years. For the Lifetime Guarantee to become valid, all the consumer has to do is to register their new ski touring boots on our website within one year of their purchase. It covers all material and manufacturing defects. Damage due to wear and tear, modifications, unauthorised repairs or misuse is not covered.

nor the shell should be placed directly on a heater, or any other heat source. Buckles and straps should be closed gently, without too much tension. The ski-walk mechanism should also be closed. The shell can be wiped down with a damp cloth, but aggressive cleansers should be avoided. After every tour, you should check the rubber sole, and clean out the spaces between the lugs.

NI: If you do experience an issue, how does the guarantee process work?

SN: A guarantee claim can be made through Dynafit or through the retailer where the product was bought. The important thing is to make sure your boots are registered via our website within one year. The website includes a form to begin a guarantee claim; our customer service team will take care of the rest. Depending on the nature of the problem, the boot will either be repaired or replaced.

NI: Can I get my Dynafit ski touring boots repaired independent of a guarantee claim?

SN: Our intention is that our products should be used as long as possible. For this reason, repairs are important. Virtually all components of our ski touring boots are available as spare parts, from the shell to complete liners.

Obviously, we need to determine in each case whether a boot can still be repaired. If you purchased your ski touring boots in a specialty retail store, it’s best to check first with the retailer. If you bought your boots from the Dynafit Online Shop, get in touch with our customer service team, who will be happy to determine the best course of action. * The models DNA by Pierre Gignoux and DNA Pintech are excluded from the Lifetime Guarantee.

NI: How do you maintain ski touring boots in perfect condition?

SN: The most important thing is to properly dry out your boots after every tour. The liner should be removed from the shell to allow air to circulate down to the sole. Neither the liner

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Dynafit are keen to give you a boot: for life

Sustainability is important to us, not just in production, but in development and construction. We are proud of the quality and lifespan of our products Boot/binding compatibility is an important factor when choosing your new ski touring setup www.fall-line.co.uk 21

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23/10/2021 10:06

RIG GIG FOR THE

A Steep Spring

This month: Steep skiing legend Vivian Bruchez outlines his gear of choice for the ‘A Steep Spring’ project VIVIAN BRUCHEZ

Born and bred in Chamonix, 34-year-old Vivian is one of the most technical steep skiers on the planet. An IFMGA mountain guide and professional skier with a string of super-bold first descents to his name, he’s committed to inspiring and educating people about the mountains. He currently lives in Vallorcine with his partner and two daughters.

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arlier this winter, Vivian Bruchez teamed up with fellow mountain guide Mathéo Jacquemoud for the ‘A Steep Spring’ project to ski six of the most iconic peaks in the Alps, including the Matterhorn, Eiger and Mont Blanc. They partnered with French media company L’Equipe to create an interactive online series to showcase both the majesty and fragility of the mountains.

The project involved long days at altitude

– the toughest being the Grand Combin from the valley floor – a 10-hour epic involving 2700m of ascent. Weight is obviously a priority when selecting gear for days like these, but for Vivian ‘skiability’ is equally important.

“I like to have one set-up that I can use for the majority of my steep skiing missions – therefore the gear I use needs to be light and versatile but never at the expense of skiability.”

TRIED & TRUSTED GEAR FOR EPIC MOUNTAIN MISSIONS 3

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LINK TO THE ‘A STEEP SPRING’ PROJECT

The Dynastar M-Vertical 88 skis are light enough for long ascents in the high mountains, but still super skiable

1. Dynastar M-Vertical 88 Skis £560 dynastar.com Weighing in at just over 1kg per ski, these are light enough for long ascents in the high mountains, but still super skiable thanks to the 88mm waist and hybrid paulownia/polyurethane core. Accessible, balanced and versatile, it’s my ski of choice for the majority of the year, except in January/February time when the snow is super deep. Then I take the M-Tour 99 for more freeride descents. I ski the M-Vertical 88 in the 172cm length and the M-Tour 99 in a 178.

2. Scarpa F1 Boots £500 scarpa.co.uk Powerful, precise and warm, I use these all year round in the high mountains. At just 1260g per boot you might gain a few grams compared to the lightest boots on the market, but for me they offer the best weight-to-performance ratio. The high cuff also stops snow coming in over the top.

3. Plum R170 Bindings £345 fixation-plum.com

Light, reliable and easy to adjust, I’ve been working with the guys at Plum for years and use these bindings on all my skis up to 100mm underfoot. Slightly higher at the rear and positioned close on top of the ski, they respond to the slightest of movements. I don’t use leashes or brakes, but adjust my skiing style accordingly and take a huge amount of care in transition.

4. Mountain Hardwear ‘The Viv’ Jacket and Pants Jacket £670, Pants £580 mountainhardwear.com

7. Mountain Hardwear Alpine Light 28L Backpack £240

I designed this Gore-Tex Pro outfit to combine the best in skiing and alpinism outerwear with a looser snowboard-style feel. It’s a stripped-back combination, but comes with lots of tech, including a ‘skin pin’ system that stops your skins from flopping forward inside the shell.

I’m able to use this 28L pack for high mountain adventures as I carry all the hardwear I need on the outside of my pack. I attach ice screws, etc to the loops on the hip belt rather than on my harness for efficient weight distribution and comfort.

5.Petzl Meteor Helmet £76 petzl.com I wear my helmet from the car to the summit and back again so it needs to be light and breathable but still provide protection on technical ascents and descents. This one weighs 240g, is the first CE-certified ski touring helmet and is headlamp and goggle-compatible. It’s really well ventilated so I normally wear a beanie or a cap underneath for extra warmth. It’s not certified for alpine skiing though, so if I’m freeriding in resort I’ll go for something more robust like the Julbo Peak LT.

I’ve used a lot of sports nutrition products over the years, but now I mainly just take real food on the mountain. The most important thing for me is that it tastes good, as the psychological boost this gives you is arguably more important the nutritional content. When it comes to hydration, one of the biggest changes I’ve made in recent years is that I now drink a lot more water. I used to only take 500ml on the mountain, but now I’ll drink one and sometimes even two litres of water over the course of a day.

6. Julbo Shield Reactiv High Mountain 2-4 Sunglasses £155

9. Petzl RAD Line and Petzl Volta Guide £162 and £99 petzl.com

julbo.com

Mathéo and I used the 30m version of the static 6mm RAD Line when roping up on steep ground and glaciers. It only weighs 22g per metre and the sheath is bonded to the core so it can be used in a crevasse rescue situation. We also carried the 30m Volta Guide 9mm, and combined the two for technical climbs and abseils.

Unless the weather is really bad, I’ll use glasses in the mountains and these are my go-to pair.

The Cat 2-4 Reactiv photochromic lenses adjust to the conditions and are ideal for high altitude when you need maximum protection from UV light and glare. They’re comfortable and fit great.

mountainhardwear.com

8. Food and water

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25/10/2021 15:12

WINTER LOVE IN TIROL, AUSTRIA

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s the nights draw in, families across the country are dusting off their ski gear ready for what is shaping up to be one of the most memorable winters on record. After 18 months away from the slopes, just imagine how fantastic it will be to be back in the mountains doing what you love best: skiing with your favourite people.

The Tirol is fully open again this winter and is a great choice for families – the region’s ski resorts are renowned for their family friendly approach to skiing and are busy prepping to make sure that visitors will enjoy the magic of a winter holiday together once again.

So, where to ski?

ST. JOHANN IN TIROL

PHOTO TVB RAURIS/FRANZ GERDL

This charming resort in the Leukental Valley has a fine selection of accessible, quiet and mellow slopes that provide the perfect place to introduce your children to the sport.

When you need to take a break from the fun there are numerous cosy mountain huts where you can enjoy a hot chocolate and recount your adventures, or if you’d like to expand your ski experience there are plenty of tempting options, including skiing in the nearby, famous resorts of Kitzbühel or SkiWelt.

You can choose from a range of ski passes that will suit all abilities, including the 3 Länder Freizeit Arena ski pass, which gives access to 171km of pistes, or the amazing Super Ski Card, which covers 2750km of pistes, including three glaciers.

Children will love the snowy chocolate box-pretty village of St. Johann In Tirol and nearby Oberndorf, Kirchdorf and Erpfendorf, and if they tire of skiing there’s no end of other ways to keep them entertained, from building a snowman to ice skating and tobogganing. For stormy days there are also indoor options, including an indoor playground, a climbing and bouldering wall and an indoor swimming pool.

The area is renowned for its family friendly accommodation, so when staying here you can expect spacious family rooms, play areas, children’s meals on the menu every day, along with excellent childcare facilities and a fun programme of daily events and activities for kids of all ages – and all at great value.

SKI WELT WILDER KAISER BRIXENTAL

This is one of the biggest, most modern and most environmentally friendly ski resorts in the world, comprising of nine idyllic ski-in/ski-out snowsure

PHOTO FRANZ GERDL

Affordable skiing, short transfers, mega fun on and off the slopes – it’s easy to see why these Tirolean ski areas are a hit with families

St. Johann In Tirol has storm days covered, with plenty of indoor options

villages surrounded by magnificent scenery, including more than 70 peaks above 3000m.

As well as hundreds of wide, gentle pistes on which to practice and gain confidence, the resort has a great range of facilities for families. There are 22 ski schools, top-notch childcare options and free nursery slopes, alongside three fun parks, eleven fun slopes with ‘ski parcours’, speed measurement runs, ski movie routes and SkiWelt chill-out areas with free Wi-Fi. Phew – you might need a chill-out session after all that fun…

And if all that isn’t enough to keep you and your family going, there’s also Austria’s largest night-skiing area, with 13km of floodlit runs.

The Ski Welt also has three toboggan runs that are floodlit at night and stay open until midnight for those who can take the pace!

Talking about keeping the pace, for super-keen families who like a challenge, there is the new signposted

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Epic pistes, cosy mountain huts and excellent ski schools make the Ski Welt a mecca for families

SkiWelt Tour, which lets you discover the most beautiful slopes in the SkiWelt. You can either ski it clockwise, skiing 69km connected by 34 lifts, or ski it counter-clockwise and soar down 84km of pistes connected by 37 lifts. Both will bring you back to your starting point without using the same slope twice, offering the most stunning views of the surrounding peaks.

SKI JUWEL ALPBACHTAL WILDSCHÖNAU

The Ski Juwel presents families with the classic Austrian ski experience – traditional, picturesque alpine villages tucked beneath impressive snowsure mountains, yet all less than an hour’s drive from Innsbruck. Pretty villages like Alpbach (voted Austria’s

‘most beautiful village’) and Auffach, which are linked by a gondola, are perfect for families, boasting wide, open pistes for all levels – and with 109km in total, there is plenty to go at.

There are numerous ski trails and lifts specifically designed for children and beginners, along with a wide range of top-class ski schools and children’s clubs.

There is also night skiing for kids with excess energy to burn, along with some fun and unusual ways to enjoy the snow without being on skis, such as learning how to build an igloo, or zooming down the Alpbachtaler Lauser-Sauser alpine coaster. This two-seater sledge on rails can reach speeds of up to 42kmph while descending over 134 vertical metres over two jumps and through two

Tobogganing in the Ski Juwel is a must for families

360° twists! Thrills guaranteed.

Talking of thrills, be sure to set aside an evening for tobogganing. One of the best in the area is the toboggan run from the Lanerköpflbahn that winds its way through alpine pastures to Niederau, a small but popular resort celebtared for its mix of gentle beginners slopes and demanding valley runs.

The attractive villages of the Ski Juwel area offer a range of family packages – including free ski passes for children in March – so there is no need to break the bank either.

Affordable skiing, short transfers, Austria’s most beautiful villages and mega fun on and off the slopes: it’s easy to see why this classic Tirolean ski area is such a hit among families.

PHOTO SKI JUWEL ALPBACHTAL WILDSCHÖNAU

PHOTO SKIWELT WILDER KAISER – BRIXENTAL/TIM MARCOUR

PHOTO KSKIWELT WILDER KAISER – BRIXENTAL

ADVERTORIAL

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GEAR READ OOSC

Why so serious?

Sophie Nicholson talks to British brand OOSC’s co-founder, Aaron McLaughlin, about his mission to bring fun back to the mountains Sophie Nicholson: For those who don’t know about OOSC, tell us more…

Aaron McLaughlin: We are a UK-based ski wear brand, started by a couple of friends in 2015, producing bright, fun, retro-inspired ski wear. We take considerable time and care in producing every garment as if it was for our friends and family, which is exactly how we see our customers. There is no better feeling than getting tagged on social media by a happy customer who has had 15 compliments for their ski suit and feels great!

SN: Why did you start?

AM: Nick Marsden (fellow co-founder) and I went to uni together and became best friends through our law degrees, but mainly through our love of skiing. We got ‘real jobs’ but our dream was to start a company and work for ourselves, and we had loads of stupid ideas.

We then had a eureka moment at a pub in South London in 2014. We always bought retro ski wear on eBay for group trips that wasn’t waterproof, didn’t fit properly and smelt like it had been in the attic for 30 years… what if we could make retro-style kit that actually performed and fit as well as it looked? Voilà, OOSC was born!

We now strive to bring fun and colour back to the slopes, using the finest polyester made from recycled plastic bottles. We were fed up with all the big names in the industry producing dull grey, black and blue ski wear and wanted to act like it was 1992!

SN: There are a fair few companies out there making retro ski wear, so what makes your products different?

AM: Our brand ethos is to incorporate fun and colour into everything we produce – we take inspiration from ’80s and ’90s ski fashion and make it into modern ski wear.

In our opinion, boring ski wear needs to move aside. Having fun is a key component of our brand, especially given the last 18 months; everyone needs to embrace their inner retro vibes and get a splash of colour into their ski get-up the next time they hit the mountains.

As OOSC has grown, we have developed a nice mix in our range, offering some subtle styles as well as some more out-there statement pieces, meaning we have something for everyone. We also listen to our customers

to keep improving and develop new products or features that people ask for.

SN: What’s your greatest success?

AM: Changing our full range to be as sustainable as possible in 2018 was a big step, and is now the leading factor in our production and business direction. We have been developing some new materials made from 100% recycled sea waste, such as fishing nets, that I can’t wait to show the world.

We are also growing the team, and recently did our first annual tree-planting day, which was a great success and our first step towards bringing our business to a more circular economy; every small step makes a difference.

Having sold to 70 countries direct from our website is epic. It’s mind-blowing to me that people are rocking our brand the world over; it’s a pretty cool and humbling feeling.

Having Margot Robbie and Michelle Keegan as customers was pretty unreal, too…

SN: In the last couple of years you’ve moved into gym and swimwear. Tell us a bit more about this…

AM: Our gym wear has been in development for a couple of years – we wanted to make sure the quality was exceptional and really worked on creating a multifunctional range.

Once we started making baselayers, we decided to tweak them slightly so they could also be used for working out. Multifunctional, good-quality products mean that our customers need to buy less items, and also means that those baselayers don’t sit in a cupboard all year until their ski trip!

We also have some new insulated jackets and Sherpa fleeces, which we’re very excited about; they are both made from 100% recycled materials, and the padded jacket also has 100% recycled Thermolite insulation.

which was open for business, and due to the fact we have quite a unique product offering, it allowed us to come through the other side slightly bruised but still smiling! With the production side of things, we placed our order for AW 21/22 months earlier than we ever have before, so we had an earlier target completion date. Unfortunately, there was a state lockdown for two months in Vietnam, along with the global shipping crisis just to add a bit more fun for us to contend with, but the good news is that most of our products are either in our warehouse or on the water now.

We also spent the time upgrading our website, moving logistics providers and upgrading all aspects of our business behind the scenes, so we are ready for a (hopefully) really big season.

SN: What does the future hold for OOSC? What’s the dream?

AM: Our dream is to become a global household name – the first brand people think of when they want sustainable, fun, head-turning ski, gym or swimwear.

We are just about to launch our new brand ambassador program, the OOSC Retro Rewards Club, which I’m super excited about, allowing us to collaborate and interact with our customers on a different level.

SN: And finally, what are you most looking forward to doing when you get back to the mountains this winter?

AM: I can’t wait for those perfect bluebird mornings, when the sun is out and there’s a crisp, cool air, with some fresh pow. Catching first lifts for the first time in years, tearing it up, followed by a strong après session with as many friends as we can. We will be all over the Alps this winter so if you see us come say hello and have a beer!

SN: It’s been a rough 18 months or so.

How have you guys dealt with all the disruption caused by Covid-19?

AM: I am not going to lie, it was pretty brutal losing last season, then the Aussie winter also got cancelled this summer to compound things, which isn’t ideal when we bought our stock before the first lockdown in 2020.

However, we didn’t let it discourage us. We focused our marketing last year on the States,

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Everyone needs to embrace their inner retro vibes and get a splash of colour into their ski get-up the next time they hit the mountains

Head-turning style: OOSC in all its colourful glory www.fall-line.co.uk 27

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The goal was useroriented – to develop a product that would make the search for avalanche victims as intuitive as possible in order to save valuable time when every second counts

“Stop! Turn around”: the Diract Voice has your back 28 www.fall-line.co.uk

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ORTOVOX GEAR READ GET INTO SKI TOURING SPECIAL

Talking

transceivers

Sophie Nicholson meets Dieter Kotlaba, Head of Hardware at Ortovox, to find out more about Diract Voice – this year’s most talked-about avalanche transceiver Sophie Nicholson: Tell us how the idea of a voice navigation transceiver came about?

Dieter Kotlaba: The initial idea that led to the Diract Voice was actually born while having a beer at ISPO (the annual snowsports tradeshow in Munich). The goal was user-oriented – to develop a product that would make the search for avalanche victims as intuitive as possible in order to save valuable time when every second counts. After that our team of product technicians and athletes all came together to provide their input.

SN: Why do you think it has taken the industry so long to integrate this function into avalanche transceivers?

DK: It’s a tricky thing: once a good idea is born and a new technology is on the market, one always wonders why it took so long because it seems so simple. In the end it was a long process from the first testings with voice navigation that were too quiet or unclear to the final technology.

SN: Most brands have a pro and recreational model – where does the Diract Voice sit when it comes to functionality?

DK: The Diract Voice is super intuitive, no matter what your level of experience.

What matters most is the clear focus on the primary features of a beacon to make

handling as easy as possible. Even experienced users need simple solutions. Still, there are certain features, like the group test feature, that’s specifically useful for pro users.

SN: Tell us a bit about the build, research and testing process…

DK: The development process took around six years, involving several experts from Europe and North America. In addition, we analysed feedback and test reports from internal experts, Safety Academy mountain guide partners and mountain rescue professionals.

SN: The end product is impressive and likely to be very popular among less-experienced backcountry users.

Are you concerned that it might make these kind of users think they don’t need avy education or training?

DK: A simple device doesn’t mean that the mountains are a safer place, so training and practice is still super important. We offer plenty of opportunities to train and learn via our Safety Academy platforms, both in person on the snow and online.

SN: What do experienced backcountry users think? Have you had any feedback about the voice being distracting or stressful – in the same way as SatNav can be to some people?

DK: The Diract Voice only ‘talks to you’ if really necessary. If you’re doing everything right, the device will only offer some guidance commands. It will not be distracting or stressful, rather a support to users in a super-stressful situation. And if you want, there is still a way to turn off the voice navigation via the Ortovox App. SN: Voice guidance aside, there are heaps of other cool new features, including the protected on/off button to prevent accidental switches between search/ transmit modes, new userfriendly harness that uses a

Velcro pull rather than zip or buckle, and rapid processing speed. Which of these are you most proud of?

DK: Actually a very basic feature, but one that is so much better than anything we have offered before! We’ve dramatically improved the process of getting your beacon out of the pouch from underneath your jacket – with gloves on – and switching it from ‘send’ to ‘search’, or from the transmit mode to the new standby mode. If one person in the team is still transmitting, the rest cannot search. In some rescues it reportedly took minutes before all users were ready: now it takes seconds!

SN: Direct feedback from testers suggests that electrical interference can bring the search strip width down to 20m. What do you think about that?

DK: We actively try to compensate interferences, but honestly we can only do so much. Putting away your smartphone, radio or GoPro (at >50 cm) is definitely the best option! If there is still strong interference then we narrow the search strip width, as this is better than indicating ghost signals on the screen. Again, once you put away the interference source the search strip width will once again increase.

SN: Other testers have reported that the device can get ‘stuck’ in turnaround mode (180 degree issues if you overshoot). Do you guys have a plan to deal with that?

DK: This was a topic we improved during our test and release phase last winter with our international test team. In the production software version 1.1 this issue has been resolved.

SN: And finally, the Diract Voice certainly represents an industry first, how do you see the technology developing in the future?

DK: We believe this is the next big step since the triple-antenna technology came to market. We are convinced that the level we reached is a very high standard entry in this technology. Over the years for sure there will be more ideas and input into how we can use this new dimension of user feedback. We are excited to see where it takes us. www.fall-line.co.uk 29

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ADVERTORIAL

WAKE UP TO LES DEUX ALPES

A lively town with high-altitude slopes on Europe’s biggest skiable glacier – Les Deux Alpes takes some beating

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inter is almost here.

And after 18 months of no skiing, finally you can allow yourself to get excited. The lifts will turn.

You WILL ski.

All those things you have dreamed about over the last year and a half… soon they will be real once more.

The early morning hoon on perfect corduroy. The first dip into that much-earned fondue. The look on your little one’s face after conquering a tricky red run. The chairlift chats, the ski school stories, the snowy strolls through town. This is the beauty of a ski holiday – it is the culmination of all these unique moments that make it so, well, magical.

If there is one resort that puts a little extra dollop of magic into a ski trip, it is Les Deux Alpes. Located just over an hour from Grenoble, in the heart of the beautiful Écrins massif, the resort has a lofty top elevation of 3600m, with a vast vertical drop of 2300m, and boasts

Europe’s biggest skiable glacier.

Skiing doesn’t get more snowsure: you can expect top-quality snow conditions from December all the way through to April. Don’t you just love a snow guarantee?

SKIING FOR ALL

Whether you’re a first timer or a seasoned pro, a holiday to Les Deux Alpes with Crystal Ski Holidays is for you; it is one of those resorts that really does have skiing for everyone.

While beginners can find their feet on the 16km of linked blues, that weave down from the top of the glacier to the resort base, intermediates can enjoy fast cruising on the wide open reds.

There is a good smattering of blacks for experts, and the off-piste is extensive – head to the Fée/Pierre Grosse sector, a locals’ favourite, and you can expect to find fresh powder days after the last snowfall. The park, meanwhile, is world class, with lines for families, newbies, intermediates

Whether you’re a first timer or a pro, a holiday to Les Deux Alpes with Crystal Ski Holidays is for you

and experts. Phew – that is a lot of skiing… For those who still have energy to burn, there are plenty of off-slope activities to get stuck into.

Choose from the more traditional ones, like snow shoeing and dog sledding, or ones with more of a unique twist, such as snow e-mountain biking and rubber ring tobogganing – fits of laughter guaranteed.

Every good ski day ends with a good après-ski tipple, and Les Deux Alpes has some of the liveliest après-ski this side of Austria.

On the mountain, it’s all about the Pano Bar, at the mid-station of the Jandri Express – it’s like being in an open-air nightclub surrounded by

Head to the Fée/Pierre Grosse sector and find fresh powder days after the last snowfall

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BOOK AND TRAVEL WITH CONFIDENCE

What if we told you that you don’t need to spend hours searching the

internet looking for deals – that if you book a package holiday with Crystal you could actually save money – and that they will do all the hard work for you? Sounds too good to be true, right?

Well, actually, it’s not. All of Crystal’s holiday packages include flights, transfers and accommodation in one neat and affordable bundle.

You can also add lift passes, equipment hire and ski school to your booking, so everything’s ready when you arrive in resort. Simples. And with three ways to book (online, via phone or in one of Crystal’s hubs), getting your dream trip nailed down is easy.

Considering these uncertain times, you would be forgiven for feeling apprehensive about booking a holiday.

But you needn’t: Crystal has rolled out its Crystal Holiday Promise, so you can book and travel with confidence.

If your holiday can’t go ahead for reasons related to Covid-19 – like changes to the FCDO advice – you’ll

Let the experts at Crystal do all the hard work, so all you need to do is hit the slopes

PHOTO LUKA LEROY

mountains – while down in the village a myriad of pubs, clubs and sports bars line the 2km main street, many with live music.

Best of all, once it’s time to retreat to your hotel or apartment, you won’t have far to go. Pretty much all the accommodation is within a few minutes’ walk of the village centre (and the ski lifts, too).

Les Deux Alpes boasts excellent restaurants (hello Le P’tit Polyte, the highest altitude Michelin-starred restaurant in the Isère region). But for visitors looking for the ease of catered accommodation, there are plenty of good-value half-board hotels.

In fact, if value is one of your biggest considerations when planning your ski trip this winter, read on…

be able to change your booking to another date fee-free or receive a full refund. You’ll also be able to change your booking to another date fee-free if someone in your party is diagnosed with Covid-19 or is officially required to self-isolate at the time of your trip.

If you book a package holiday, you’re protected under the package holiday refund guarantee, too. This means that if Crystal needs to cancel your holiday, for whatever reason, you’ll be able to change your booking to another Crystal holiday fee-free, or you can opt for a full refund. And of course, your holiday will be protected

by ABTA and ATOL, too.

You’ll get expert service every step of the way and, so you know what to expect when you arrive, Crystal’s free Ski Explorer app has snow reports, resort info and more.

So seize the day and start planning that next trip. After all, the lifts will turn. You WILL ski. Let’s get back to the mountains. crystalski.co.uk

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COVID-19 SKI TEST: A No Ski Test? No lifts? No travel? No problem…

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hen Covid-19 shut down any possibility of an official industry Ski Test, the situation looked pretty bleak for getting this year’s Gear Guide off the ground.

With lifts shut across most of the Alps, local authority boundaries closed and international travel a total write-off, it would have been easy to simply give up and just forget about ski testing. After all, that’s what pretty much everybody else did. Totally understandably, of course….

But as many of you will know, we Fall-Liners are not like the rest. The mountains are our life. We are committed. Over the years significant sacrifices have been made in order for us to live in places where we can ski, run, bike and hike all year round.

So when the world as we knew it transitioned into planet pandemic and the first flakes of winter 2021 started falling, some of us lucky folks found ourselves exactly where we’ve always been – at the foot of the mountains and ready to earn our turns.

Getting hold of gear was a huge challenge, but if brands were willing and able to send us kit, you can be damn sure we tested it! From the wintry wilds of the Scottish Highlands to the still-turning lifts on the Swiss side of the Portes du Soleil, our band of testers did what they could to rescue this year’s Gear Guide.

Their ‘work’ was invaluable, and combined with input from the rest of our gear-obsessed gang, it enabled us to bring you folks a Gear Guide – something we’re very proud of.

We hope it provides you with inspiration as we tread optimistically towards what we hope will be a vastly improved winter for us all.

2022 Gear Guide test team – last season’s testers, 2020 McSki Test fam and the rest of our motley mountain crew…

Rich Evans, Fall-line ad sales manager When the opportunity arose for someone to represent Fall-Line at last winter’s Dynastar Ski Test in Chamonix, Rich read the email, told nobody else about it and immediately drove to France.

Height/weight: 175cm/76kg Test category: Represented Fall-Line at the Dynastar Ski Test in Chamonix Ski style: Piste to powder. Happiest when feet are on the ground Best ski on test: The quiver-killing Dynastar M-Pro 99

Nicola Iseard, Fall-Line editor Mother-of-two Nicola likes long walks on the beach and… Who are we kidding?! Based in the Portes du Soleil she can be found lapping her local hill on race skis with her groms on one day, and finding freshies in the Morgins trees with husband Chrigl the next. During Covid she branched into touring and now loves going uphill too. All-terrain go-getter and the steeper the better! On the downs, that is…

Height/weight: 170cm/54kg Test category: Women’s Skis Ski style: Steeps, speed and spread eagles Best ski on test: Black Crows Divus Birdie for those piste-bashing days

Lee Hardy, Fall-Line contributor McSki Test co-organiser Lee’s greatest memory of last winter was skiing powder from his door in Braemar, although he should probably say it was the birth of his first child.

Height/weight: 176cm (maybe even 177cm)/82kg Test category: All-Mountain, Backcountry and Freeride Ski style: Snake hips meets race piste Best ski on test: Atomic Maverick 86 C for intermediate all-mountain skiers with touring aspirations

Chrigl Luthy, Fall-Line contributor

PHOTOS ROB GREW

Dickie Fincher, Fall-Line publisher Veteran of 18 ski tests, it’s rumoured that Dickie and his metal hip are entirely responsible for the epic conditions experienced at last year’s McSki Test.

The source of this rumour has yet to be identified but it’s widely believed this person’s real name may be Richard.

Height/weight: 183cm/104kg Test category: Piste and All-Mountain (and poached a few Freeride runs too…)

Ski style: Joyful Best ski on test: Völkl Deacon V-Werks: “It turns out money can buy you love after all…”

Chrigl enjoys the simple things in life like beer, and flying down hills – although preferably not together. He can be seen on short punchy steeps, long tours, either on skis, snowboards or monoskis, racing his kids through mogul fields, or trenching groomers… truly a multi-personality disorder expressed on skis – therapy not required.

Height/weight: 188cm/82kg Test category: Men’s Skis and Splitboards Ski style: “If we carve into that from here then we could probably get some air off it…”

Best ski on test: Black Crows Mirus Cor: “It transforms even the most featureless groomers into G-force-loaded carving experiments”

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HIGHLAND & ALPINE GIG Amy Marwick, Fall-Line contributor BASI Level 4 instructor Amy drove all the way from Morzine to Glenshee for last year’s Ski Test, proving yet again that some people will literally do anything for a chance to ski with Dickie Fincher.

Height/weight: 155cm/53kg Test category: Women’s Skis Ski style: All-terrain ripping and big mountain grinning Best ski on test: Black Crows Anima Birdie: “A friendly giant, surprisingly manoeuvrable and psyched me up for some big mountain ripping”

Iain Innes, men’s ski tester

Sophie Nicholson, Fall-Line gear editor PHOTO HAMISH FROST

Ex downhill champion Iain’s helmet cam footage from his Aladdin’s Couloir descent went proper viral on social media last winter. A ski mountaineering star in the making, he’s partial to the super-sketchy technical descents and skiing in his pants.

Height/weight: 172cm/70kg Test category: Freeride and Backcountry Ski style: Ex-racer turned steep and gnarly Best ski on test: Black Diamond Cirque 84

Martin Chester, Fall-Line backcountry editor Chemo may have stripped IFMA mountain guide Martin of all his storm fat but he’s retained all his CV capacity, recently recording a resting heart rate of 42 BPM and a host of PBs on a bike. Kilian Jornet better look the hell out…

Height/weight: 178cm/72kg Test category: All things backcountry – over the hills and far away Ski style: Functional, but not pretty (his words, not ours): “That’s why I always try to go where no-one can see me” Best ski on test: “I’ve high hopes for the new BD Helio Carbon 95”

Having missed all of last winter following ankle reconstruction surgery, Soph was delighted that her return to the mountains coincided with epic Scottish conditions and social distancing rules so that nobody could witness her stuttering comeback.

Height/weight: 167cm/58kg Test category: Women’s All-Mountain, Freeride and Touring Ski style: Turn-earner, preferably involving a fat bike Best ski on test: Faction Agent 2.0X

Rob Kingsland, men’s ski tester Aerial trickster and all-round backcountry badass Rob is something of a legend in the Scottish ski scene. Down to earth in person, out of this world on skis.

Height/weight: 178cm/74kg Test category: Freestyle, Freeride and Backcountry Ski style: Jack of all trades.

Best ski on test: Völkl Revolt 104

Duncan McCallum, splitboard tester Having ridden all over the world, TV presenter and ex pro climber Duncan claims to like splitboarding in Scotland but clearly would prefer to be in Japan. Wonder why?

Height/weight: 189cm/87kg Test category: Splitboards Riding Style: Laidback deep-snow seeker Best board on test: Jones Ultra Solution

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[ Photo special ]

Method madness to the

Getting it done as best we could during a global pandemic

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he ongoing disruption means that this year’s Guide follows a similar format to last season – aka our Skis of the Year are split between Editors’ Choice winners (ones we skied and loved – some of which are pictured here) and Ones To Watch (the ones we um… haven’t… yet skied).

Some of our Editors’ Choice fleet are brand spanking new for 2022, while others are belters that we ripped around the mountains last winter at the McSki Test.

And while we have done our utmost to take all the best new gear for a spin here in Scotland and the Alps, for obvious reasons we haven’t managed to get on board absolutely everything as we normally would. Hence the Ones To Watch winners: aka the skis we’re super excited to get on, and the ones we’re pretty sure you guys will love too.

Things are looking up folks, so grab yourself a glass of something well deserved, put those itchy feet up and start scheming – it’s time to get back in the game.

Nicola atop Pointe d'Angolon in Morzine

34 www.fall-line.co.uk

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Soph descends from Sgùrr nan Clach Geala in the North West Highlands

Did someone say ‘exposure’?!

Sunset transitions on the lower slopes of Ben Hope

Gully-hunter Iain Innes at work Photo Hamish Frost

With lifts closed, ski bike adventures were the order of the day in Scotland

Chrigl in Morgins' epic lift-accessed trees

Getting to grips with the Jones Ultra Solution www.fall-line.co.uk 35

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PISTE SKIS

When the piste opens up, these hard-charging beauts will really give it the beans

BUYER’S

BETA

DICKIE FINCHER’S GUIDE TO PISTE SKIS

This season it’s been harder to test, well, everything. The reviews here are a mix of info about carry-over skis (many models haven’t changed) and reports from the Alps (where we actually managed to jump aboard some new skis), manufacturer data, and our own experience built up over years of doing this.

Piste skis are seeing a revival, with a few sub-niches appearing or, more realistically, being reinvented.

Fast, powerful piste skis aren’t race looky-likeys anymore and have their own techy vibe, aka they tend to be slightly wider with a bit of rocker, which all trickles down to accessible speed. They’re just as fast, but less twitchy. We haven’t included any beginner skis because you might as well rent until you know what you want, but the next level up is where it gets interesting.

THINGS TO CONSIDER ❄ It’s rare to get a commercial piste ski with a turn radius above 22m; what we need to consider is how regularly and sharply we want to corner.

Slalom-based sidecuts, which figure turn radii around 13m or less, are fun and can take quite a lot of concentration to enjoy. Add a stiff tail and you’ll be sporting thighs like Thor. Without a little nose rocker, they’ll be pretty twitchy and much happier on an edge. ❄ Mid-range radii of 15-17m point to a more relaxed ride with the ability to crank hard when effort is applied. From this choice, you’ll find a mix of full camber or light nose rocker. The latter detunes the tip and prevents it catching.

Some of the skis here are full camber, which is springier and more responsive. ❄ Minimising energy loss is another element a piste ski excels at. As we admire the race-quality base material, we use this lack of friction to maintain acceleration out of turns, developed by that powerful tail. Moving forwards along the ski, a sturdy sidewall hiding laminate construction with a layer of trimmed metal to damp vibration is standard practice these days. ❄ There’s no need to work hugely hard to reduce weight on piste skis because they want to stay fastened to the snow. Quality skis with bindings will cost upwards of £500, or around three times the price of renting them. They’ll last for at least 25 weeks of skiing…

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Black Crows Mirus Cor £630 ❄ Lengths: 168.3, 173.2, 178, 184.2 ❄ Radius: 13m @ 178 ❄ Dimensions: 134-87-123 @178 ❄ Weight per ski: 3600g

You can’t fault Black Crows for their ability to innovate with bold ski shapes year upon year.

The Mirus is no exception. This orange dragonfly-wing-like ski is from Black Crow’s COR range, an acronym which denotes their most funky creations. And the zaniness is more than just skin deep. With its super-tight 13m radius, twin-tip profile and healthy rocker the Mirus has a breadth of abilities that creative skiers will relish, transforming even the most

featureless groomers into G-force-loaded carving experiments.

That being said, its 87mm waist and balanced nature means it can be a useful all-mountain tool.

Tester Chrigl says: “It does prefer a more neutral stance, much like a modern slalom ski or a twin-tip, but the Mirus is always composed and predictable. It is the skiers with more than one arrow to their quiver who will get the most out of the Mirus – ex-racers, fun carvers, slashers, jumpers…” We think it’s great to see a ski that is built with ‘maximising your fun and creativity’ as its key selling point, while not being aimed purely at the youth segment. black-crows.com

It is the skiers with more than one arrow to their quiver who will get the most out of the Mirus – ex-racers, fun carvers, slashers, jumpers… Chrigl

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Head Supershape E-Magnum £615 including bindings ❄ Lengths: 149, 156, 163, 170, 177 ❄ Radius: 13.1m @ 170 ❄ Dimensions: 129-72-111 ❄ Weight per pair: N/A

Head are carrying over their E-Magnum from last year because a) it was only launched last year and b) almost no-one has skied it yet. As with all top-end Head skis there’s tech-aplenty, in this case piezo-driven damping technology called EMC – Energy Management Circuit.

Vibration twangs the electrically responsive material, which creates electrical energy that then feeds back and dampens said vibes.

There’s more power in the tail of this than the

previous model, according to testers. This could be because of a purported phased release of energy from the damping circuit into the ski as the turn is eased. Or it might be a slightly stiffer tail, thanks to a deeper wood core, than the previous model. This translates to increased thickness throughout the ski and sets the Supershape series as railing against the current trend of removing mess from the ends in favour of maintaining the same flex pattern throughout the ski. The E-Magnum delivers a damped, grippy ride with enough shape to initiate and dive through hard carves. Very happy at speed, and highly suitable for those with power, mass, or indeed both… head.com

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MEN’S PISTE SKIS

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

K2 Disruption MTi £715 including bindings ❄ Lengths: 165, 170, 175, 180 ❄ Radius: 18.1m @ 175 ❄ Dimensions: 118-74-104 ❄ Weight per pai: N/A K2’s lower-end M3 and SC Alliance models are properly playful, but for a mix of charge, whoop and holler every tester loved the Disruption MTi. “So planted, but so responsive,” reckoned Lee. For chunkier chaps, the ‘M’ for ‘medium turn radius’ worked brilliantly – it carved well inside the quoted 18m turn radius but hung onto trench-digging high-speed arcs with utter confidence. Tech-wise the core is a maple/aspen mix, there’s a touch of nose rocker for

straight-line stability, and you get an upper-end Marker MXCELL piston binding as part of the package. There’s also Dark Matter Damping, which we translate as ‘areas of the sidewall with material to soak up chatter’. The Disruption MTi is very fast to engage and lock into the turn with complete confidence on sketchy, rattly pistes, so the sweet area on the construction/performance/ entertainment 3D Graph-of-Ski is perfectly filled.

If you’re looking to go out all guns blazing this winter then the new long-radius Disruption Ti2 is a metal-loaded monster that’s built for maximo screamage – K2 claim it’s the most damp, stable piste ski they’ve ever built. k2snow.com www.fall-line.co.uk 37

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MEN’S PISTE SKIS Dynastar Speed 963 £720 inc bindings ❄ Lengths: 156, 162, 168, 173 ❄ Radius: 13m @ 168 ❄ Dimensions: 122-68-104 ❄ Weight per ski: 2340g with SPX 12 Konect bindings

ONE T WATC O H

This wears its retro colourway with pride, and according to our overseas spies delivers a retro hip-shimmying experience. With a sub-70mm waist, relatively wide tip and shorter lengths, this is a ski for the turn-enthused.

The tail isn’t so flared as to make the Speed 963 only happy on an edge and there’s tip rocker to let it track smoothly.

Dynastar use their Hybrid Core construction to run damping material (PU inserts) towards the tip and tail, yet retain a poplar core and full sidewall construction. Initial reports indicate a powerful, pure piste ski with strong flex and rapid edge-to-edge performance. At the time of going to press, the UK price looks very good value. dynastar.com

ONE T WATC O H

Fischer RC4 The Curv DTX M-Track £790 inc bindings

Atomic Redster X9 WB Revo S £850 inc bindings

❄ Lengths: 157, 164, 171, 178 ❄ Radius: 15.5m @ 171 ❄ Dimensions: 117-70-100 ❄ Weight per ski: 1930g @ 171

❄ Lengths: 152, 160, 168, 176 ❄ Radius: 13.5m @ 168 ❄ Dimensions: 125.5-75-109.5 ❄ Weight per ski: 3095g @ 168

Fischer’s The Curv series enters its fifth season as a performance piste ski, revised over the seasons with the addition of the M-Track binding plate and a new triple-radius sidecut. The DTX M-Track is the curvier version of the point-and-fire GT – there is also a milder version without the track binding plate.

The tech is focused on power delivery giving a smooth ride.

The performance is driven by a wood core with two layers of titanal and diagonally layed laminates for torsional strength.

Multi-radius sidecuts are very much the thing to add versatility to a model’s turning performance.

This ‘Radical’ iteration is supposed to ease turn initiation and make it faster edge to edge – previous Curvs have been swoopy. fischersports.com

A full power expert’s ski from Atomic, the Redster X9 is, on the face of it, configured purely for short, punchy turns. With full camber and a short 13.5m turn radius, the Revo S model is meant for slalom wannabes. But wait!

Let’s examine the spec again, for what do we have here? A 75mm underfoot width, a new damping system called Revoshock and a multi-radius sidecut; all allow that aggressive turn shape and powerful construction to be eased into longer carves. The pure aggression is calmed a touch, so strong skiers can expect an all-day ski. It’s still focused and powerful, and the WB (wide body width) profile means it’s more skiable in variable on-piste conditions, so pick these as a piste-minded option with the ability to change up turn shapes. atomic.com

Blizzard Thunderbird R15 WB £800 including bindings

Elan Amphibio 18 Ti2 FusionX £770 including bindings

❄ Lengths: 158, 166, 174, 182 ❄ Radius 15m @ 174 ❄ Dimensions: 126-76-107 ❄ Weight per ski: 1900g w/o bindings

❄ Lengths: 160, 166, 172, 178 ❄ Radius: 15.7m @ 172 ❄ Dimensions: 121-73-104 ❄ Weight per ski: N/A

❄ Lengths: 153, 160, 167, 174 ❄ Radius: 14m @ 167 ❄ Dimensions: 121-73-103 ❄ Weight per ski: 2050g @ 167

The Amphibio 18 is our pick of Elan’s fast-turning rippers, not because of the radius, but because of the flex and bitey nose that allows you to whip the ski from edge to edge. The full sidewall with the piste standard wood core and twin layer of metal, increased material over the edges, plus Elan’s signature asymmetric construction, gives the inside edge increased grip.

We always try the skis on the wrong feet to remind us if the asymmetry is a gimmick, which it turns out not to be as long as you’re putting the effort in. “Bring your best groomer game and you’ll be rewarded every time.

This ski is just right for fast, aggressive piste charging,” reckoned Rich. “It just wants to go fast.” elanskis.com

Last winter, Fischer decided to adopt a genderless approach to skiing to keep things fluid and free so you can rock the graphic that really appeals rather than one that’s been dictated to you. Both look super slick and no matter which you choose, you’re looking at one fast, smooth, forgiving, and challenging ski that works really well for a wide range of skier types and weights. Rapid into the turn thanks to the light tip and tail, it feels relaxed and chilled off the gas due to the Triple Radius that delivers variable turn shapes depending on the pressure you apply during initiation and then through the turn itself. Top tech, primo performance, value and versatility – a real resort ripper with broad-based appeal. fischersports.com

There are four Thunderbirds in Blizzard’s universe – sadly they don’t travel at 15,000mph or go underwater, but they are very useful long, medium and short-radius piste skis, with the R15 medium-radius model also getting a wider (WB) version.

It uses different densities of wood – beech and poplar – in its new core, and builds them up to allow a stiffer centre with more flexibility towards the tip and tail. This wide-body version is part of the new way to make a powerful piste ski more manageable, and it shares similarities with other models taking this route – negligible rocker, zoned construction and two layers of metal. blizzard-tecnica.com

Fischer RC One 73 £570 including bindings

38 www.fall-line.co.uk

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Wherever Your Passions & Dreams Take You...

Rossignol React R8 HP £485 including bindings ❄ Lengths: 156, 163, 170, 177 ❄ Radius: 14m @ 177 ❄ Dimensions: 127-74-110 ❄ Weight per ski: 1750g @ 177 w/o bindings Many of the skis in this list are powerful and won’t be much fun if you’re not an adept skier. The piste isn’t ALL about digging trenches, and there are some mighty fine intermediate/more relaxing models available. We’re picking Rossignol’s React R8 HP: they market their React series as ‘compact race skis’ but if you’re looking for an accessible, not hugely grunty ride then this is the one to check out.

Lighter and slightly less aggressive than the Ti version, the R8 HP is a rapid and forgiving ski that still comes with heaps of high-end race-inspired tech, including LCT line control to help torsional flex and flex tip technology for slalom-style levels of grip. Ideal for high-end intermediates looking to push their piste performance, the React R8 HP is a stonking set-up for the money – easy to carve, fun, forgiving, predictable and stable. rossignol.com C

A rapid and forgiving ski with heaps of high-end race-inspired tech

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CM

MY

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Salomon S/Force FX.80 £530 including bindings ❄ Lengths: 149, 156, 163, 170, 177 ❄ Radius: 17m @ 168 ❄ Dimensions: 127-80-110 ❄ Weight per ski: 2185g A mid-width ski that you’d possibly class as All-Mountain, except that Salomon’s S Force FX.80 is one of the new breed of mid-radius piste skis designed to make going fast on groomers nice and easy. The longish turn radius and tip rocker make for smooth rather than aggressive turn initiation. Construction is semi-cap, so there’s plenty of meat but it’s not as stiff as a full wood core sandwich. Again, this makes for all-day cruising with controlled forays into high speed rather than a relentless requirement for input from tiring quads. The S Force FX.80 is priced right, it’s widely available and it will be a great ski for intermediates and upwards to progress on.

And with 80mm underfoot, why not take it for a bounce between the pistes… salomon.com

Designed to make going fast on groomers nice and easy

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WOMEN’S PISTE SKIS

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

K2 Disruption SC Alliance £495 including bindings ❄ Lengths: 146, 153, 160, 167 ❄ Radius: 12.6m @ 160 ❄ Dimensions: 127-74-109 ❄ Weight per ski: N/A Drawing on K2’s infamous freeski heritage, the Disruption range is all about creating mad pistey angles and sparking inbound arcs.

The SC Alliance is the shorter radius, more playful of the two skis in the women’s Disruption Alliance range, and we love it for its audacious versatility in all turn shapes. “You can really dance between the edges and carve in so many different

rhythms, a real fun choreographer,” says Amy. If you’re looking for a bit more grunt on your groomers, the other ski in the range – the MTi Alliance – could well be your sister of shred.

With a full sheet of metal and a wider turn radius, the MTi Alliance skis with a more powerful character making it ideal for speed demons looking to lay down some GS turns. “The MTi would make a great ski for instructors moving through the higher levels of the BASI system, fulfilling that wider turn radius and remaining aggressive without being a dedicated race ski,” says Amy.

The SC Alliance on the other hand is ideal for intermediate to advanced skiers. Built with a wide shovel in the front, ideal for cutting through any crud or slush, a low-density yet resilient aspen core and a slalom-style radius of 12.6m, the SC Alliance felt stable and strong at high speeds yet was incredibly maneuverable and accessible, pinging from turn to turn with a lively pulse. Confidence-inspiring and grippy with bags of control, if you’re looking for a real smooth operator, the SC Alliance could well be the rig for your pistey gig. k2snow.com

You can really dance between the edges and carve in so many different rhythms, a real fun choreographer Amy Blizzard Phoenix R13 CA £500 including bindings

Fischer RC One Lite 73 £370 inc bindings ❄ Lengths: 141, 148, 155, 162 ❄ Radius: 12.5m @ 155 ❄ Dimensions: 117-70-101 ❄ Weight per ski: 1450g @ 155

❄ Lengths: 145, 150, 155, 160, 165, 170 ❄ Radius: 13m @ 166 ❄ Dimensions: 125-76-105 ❄ Weight per ski: 1500g w/o binding

ONE T WATC O H

Brand new is Blizzard’s swanky Phoenix collection – five new accessible yet powerful femalespecific skis designed to deliver maximum performance for all levels. Whether you like your carves hard and fast, or prefer a cruisier laidback ride, there’s a ski in the Phoenix series to suit you.

All of the models are named after the radius, as Blizzard’s design boffins believe this to be “the most meaningful element of a carving ski”. The R13 CA is our pick of the new bunch – a powerful yet impressively light, turny and responsive ski that’s happiest making slalom-style turn shapes. It comes with a bit of tip and tail rocker, so it won’t hook up or punish the occasional mistake. blizzard-tecnica.com

Nordica Belle DC 78 £450 including bindings

ONE T WATC O H

The RC One has been among our top piste picks for both men and women over the past few seasons, so if you’re looking for similar performance in a lighter and more accessible package, the RC One Lite 73 should hit the sweet spot you seek.

Easy to control and oh-so-turny, the special lightweight Air Tech construction and lively poplar wood core help conserve energy, so you’ll be happy to keep on ripping from first lift to last.

A touch of tip rocker provides float in the fluff and keeps things nimble up front, while the full sandwich sidewall construction provides durability, excellent edge grip and stability through the turn. Light, reactive, smooth, confidence-inspiring and outstanding value too. fischersports.com

❄ Lengths: 138, 144, 150, 156, 162, 168 ❄ Radius: 13.7m @ 162 ❄ Dimensions: 127-78-106 @ 162 ❄ Weight per ski: 1790g @ 162

ONE T WATC O H

The brand new Belle ski line from Nordica is made up of a collection of six frontside-optimised skis specifically designed to meet the unique demands of female skiers.

With a double wood core, rubber pulse core layer in the middle of the ski and great flex control, the new Belle DC 78 promises to be a lively, fun, smooth and stable ski. The centre of the ski has been lowered by 2mm and the two parts of the binding plate moved closer together to create a women’s-specific mounting point that’s more natural and centered. The result is a more balanced ski that’s easier to drive through the turn. Ideal for intermediate skiers looking for a confidence-inspiring easy turner to take them to the next level. nordica.com

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Piste skis are seeing a revival, with a few sub-niches appearing or, more realistically, being reinvented Dickie

Atomic Cloud C14 WB Revo S £800 including bindings

Black Crows Divus Birdie £580

❄ Lengths: 144, 152, 160, 168 ❄ Radius: 13m @ 160 ❄ Dimensions: 123-75-107 ❄ Weight per ski: 2810g @160

❄ Lengths: 157.2, 162.3, 167.2 ❄ Radius: 16m @ 162 ❄ Dimensions: 120-82-105 @ 162 ❄ Weight per ski: 2950g

An assertive, powerful ski for women who like to ride hard and fast. New for this winter is the addition of Atomic’s Revoshock system, which absorbs vibrations and chatter and redirects it from the body of the ski to the edges for increased stability, precision and power through the turn. The ‘WB’ stands for ‘Wide Body’, which gives you more ski to push against.

Introduced for more aggressive female skiers, it has a light Flyte wood core that will enable your legs to keep carving all day long.

A multi-radius sidecut means you can open it up for long GS-style arcs and it will respond and deliver.

Amy said: “Light yet grounded, the Cloud C14 WB Revo S is perfect for playing with turn shapes. It powers through chop, excels at speed and is so easy to pull out of the turn.” atomic.com

This is a good-looking ski; one of the most attractive elements of it is the gentle tip rocker continuing for a good 30cm of the ski. The tail also has some moderate and consistent splay and we found it to be a little softer than the tips. The rocker gives it a predictable turn initiation at all speeds, and the tips never flap around when the surface gets a bit rougher. With a mere 82mm underfoot, it’s clearly best suited to firmer snow, and it engages eagerly and predictably when rolled from edge to edge, making it feel very smooth to ski.

“So fun to tip over on pistes,” says ed Nicola. “A tight-ish 16m radius, with a large sweet-spot, permitting a more neutral or forward balance, and when you ski softer snow the slightly stiffer tip doesn’t flex up it just slices purposefully through the snow.” black-crows.com

Dynastar E Lite 5 £400 including bindings ❄ Lengths: 149, 155, 162, 170 ❄ Radius: 12m @ 155 ❄ Dimensions: 125-74-109 ❄ Weight per ski: 1450g w/o binding A super-responsive, crackingvalue ski that will work best for advanced skiers. Formerly known as the Intense 10, it’s a technical ski that’s light, powerful and smooth. Nimble and easy to turn, it’s an ideal choice for anyone looking for a ski to match their ambitions and help take them to the next level. The light hybrid poplar/PU core, moderate tip rocker and full length sandwich construction combine to deliver a precise and fluid on-piste ride.

Dynastar’s V Tech construction adds power and stability to the main body of the ski. Amy was impressed: “It held an edge really well when I ramped up the speed on a firm, steep piste; the 12m radius had me pinging from turn to turn, and it blasted through bumpy conditions.” dynastar.com www.fall-line.co.uk 41

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WOMEN’S PISTE SKIS Elan Ace Speed Magic £680 including bindings

Fischer RC4 The Curv DTi WS £595 including bindings

❄ Lengths: 149, 155, 161, 167, 173 ❄ Radius: 14m @ 161 ❄ Dimensions: 111-67-98 ❄ Weight per ski: N/A

❄ Lengths: 150, 157, 164, 171, 178 ❄ Radius: 13m @ 164 ❄ Dimensions: 120-70-102 ❄ Weight per ski: 1950g @ 164

The clue is in the name. The Speed Magic is a women’s piste powerhouse for strong skiers looking for an extremely efficient ski to crank up the speed of their short-radius turns in all piste conditions. It features Elan’s Arrow technology, which combines a cambered carbon booster plate that transfers energy to the tips, with an arrow-shaped layer of titanium that loads extra energy to the edges. The result? You get a dynamic and agile ski that can dish out short and explosive turns on a dime. If you like your skis with high energy, and exploding from one turn to the next with ferocious speed, then the Speed Magic could be the ski for you. Go fast, keep those turns tight and you’ve got smiles for miles. elanskis.com

Designed in conjunction with Fischer’s top athletes, the new RC4 The Curv DTi WS is a highperformance race-inspired piste ski that’s undeniably rapid but still heaps of fun. Equal parts smooth, precise and stable, the lightweight beech/poplar wood core and triple-radius sidecut mean it’s super responsive and easy to turn when you’re laying down slalomstyle shapes on the groomers.

Strategically placed carbon in the binding area ensures excellent grip so you can commit to those carves and refine your technique with confidence. Dynamic, powerful and nimble as a mountain goat, if you’re looking to push your piste performance to the next level this winter, the RC4 The Curv DTi Ws had got serious groomer game. fischersports.com

Rossignol Nova 10 Ti £530 inc bindings

Salomon S/Force Fever £530 including bindings

❄ Lengths: 153, 160, 167 ❄ Radius: 13m @ 160 ❄ Dimensions: 123-74-109 ❄ Weight per ski: 1650g @ 160 w/o bindings Rossignol’s Nova 10 Ti version won our 2020 Piste Ski of the Year award, standing out as a ski that gives back whatever degree of effort you put in, making it the ideal ski for pushing progression on-piste. The combination of a light wood core wrapped in a titanal topsheet makes for a fun yet powerful ski. “Smooth and maneuverable, it worked with me as I stretched the performance from slow, short, skiddy turns all the way through to high-speed GS-style carves,” said Amy. The Nova 10 Ti handles well in variable terrain, with the stiff titanal strip along the nose, aided by a rockered tip, cutting through choppy terrain like a swordfish with a plane to catch, offering a damp and stable ride. Super Nova-tastic… rossignol.com

❄ Lengths: 149, 156, 163, 170 ❄ Radius: 13m @ 156 ❄ Dimensions: 126-80-109 @ 156 ❄ Weight per ski: 1925g The S/Force Fever is a ‘piste plus’ ski that drops into winter with a similar construction to the multi-award-winning men’s S/Force Bold. Ideal for advanced skiers looking for a precise ski without that full-on race feel, the versatile S/Force Fever will have you hollering with delight as it rips around the resort. Top tech includes Salomon’s vibrationabsorbing Crossover Tip Technology, a lively and responsive poplar wood core, and a bit of tip rocker designed to help you fire and float over chop, pow and slush. Testers reported that it skied a bit like a ‘man’s ski’, so make sure you’re engaged and in charge then let ’er fly. salomon.com

Head Power Joy 68 £620 including bindings ❄ Lengths: 153, 158, 163, 168, 173 ❄ Radius: 12.7m @ 163 ❄ Dimensions: 122-68-102 @ 163 ❄ Weight per ski: N/A This is the first women’s ski to feature Head’s new race technology – aka Electronic Management Circuit – designed to reduce vibrations for a damp, smooth performance. When EMC is switched to ‘on’, negative vibrations are absorbed and the skier enjoys a more stable ride. What distinguishes the Power Joy from the rest of Head’s race range is its lighter weight core construction, which allows you to ping through each turn without feeling like you’re about to be bucked out of the saddle. The 12m turn radius makes it nippy in shorter turns, while still managing to build the power throughout longer GS-style carves. Amy had a ripper of a time aboard it at last year’s Ski Test.

“Powerful and precise race-style performance, but with less effort than you’d normally need to put in on an out-and-out race ski.” head.com

Völkl Flair 76 Elite £455 including bindings ❄ Lengths: 147, 154, 161 ❄ Radius: 14.2m @ 161 ❄ Dimensions: 124-76-105 ❄ Weight per ski: 1750 g @ 161 With no carbon or metal in the construction, the relatively lightweight dual wood core Flair 76 Elite may go straight into the ‘intermediate’ category when it comes to categorising skis, but when it actually comes to the serious business of smashing down groomers, it’s capable of seriously high-end fun. Playful, responsive and back with a bright graphic for winter 2022, it’s a really good everyday resort ski that’s easy to throw into the turn, holds an edge well and is super happy cruising the blues and reds and helping you push your piste game on the blacks. Super-high-end aggressive skiers are likely to want to get on board a more raceoriented ski, but if you’re happy honing your skills and working towards bigger things, the Flair 76 Elite will facilitate and flatter. Great value, too. voelkl.com

42 www.fall-line.co.uk

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ALL-MOUNTAIN SKIS Our pukka picks will let you charge from piste to pow with grins aplenty

BUYER’S

BETA

DICKIE FINCHER’S GUIDE TO ALL-MOUNTAIN SKIS How much of the mountain? ALL OF IT! That’s the promise in the name, but how realistic is it when translated to, say, the halfpipe. Or a 50° couloir?

Let’s cut out a few bits and say we’re going to ski mainly frontside, and maybe use the pistes quite a lot.

We could even say that our skiing will be almost exclusively lift-accessed, and the off-piste expeditions will be in sight of the resort. In the US, this would be called ‘inbounds’. So we don’t need to worry too much about weight, and we do need solid hardpack performance, but with the ability to work powder and choppedup debris left by those pesky Swedes who got up earlier than us.

THINGS TO CONSIDER ❄ There are essentially two ways to go with an all-mountain ski. You either pick a piste model with a wider footprint, or a narrow version of a freeride ski. The former will have an integrated binding, 75-85mm width, midrange turn radius of 15m+ and probably at least one metal layer for damping and powerful piste performance. The latter could well be a flat-top ski allowing you to pick a binding, might lack a metal layer, and would tend towards a longer turn radius. ❄ A decent AM ski could easily be the one pair you need wherever you go (couloirs and parks depending, see below). To get this level of flexibility you’ll want to know if you’re permanently seeking soft snow off the sides, or mainly hammering the piste. For the former it’s worth looking above 85mm to get some float, adding rocker and soft tips to help if you lack experience in the pow. This set-up is mostly likely to be a flat-top. We’d steer clear of adding a boot with a walk mode to a ski like this. AM skis generally need a stiffer piste boot to power them up properly and there are dozens of more focused and lighter choices. ❄ System skis with integrated bindings tend to have a pistier look and construction, which should deliver decent carving performance.

They’re fun to set up for a chop-smashing run, too, staying centred and using the power in the tails to pivot around like a wannabe mogulist. ❄ Twin tip park skis – we recommend looking at these for AM duties: their pop makes them fun in most conditions and they’re wide enough with flexible noses, making soft snow a cinch.

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Atomic Maverick 86 C £450 ❄ Lengths: 164, 172, 180, 188 ❄ Radius: 19.5m @ 184 ❄ Dimensions: 126-88.5-109.5 @ 184 ❄ Weight per ski: 1700g @ 184

Smooth, poppy, predictable performance with a fun factor of 10, the Maverick 86 C has all the all-mountain feels. Atomic’s OMatic core and carbon backbone combine to simultaneously lighten, stiffen and strengthen the ski in key areas, which aids stability while reducing swing weight. HRZN float-inducing tech in the tip helps if you’re prone to nipping off the side for a play in the soft stuff too.

Lee took ’em for a spin last winter and was really impressed by both the tech and ride. “Nimble and maneuverable, this ski is so easy in and out of the turn, making it super accessible for both intermediates and experts who like a responsive ride.

The fluid way it starts steering into the turn, and good grip underfoot, gives confidence to push and explore the ski’s boundaries. Push it too hard and the tail does start to let you know it’s getting close to the end of its grip and it may be at that point you are ready to move on to its bigger brother the 95Ti – an absolute belter all-mountain/freeride ski.” Fancy trying touring? Slap a hybrid Shift-style binding on, grab some skins and dip that toe in the backcountry water. atomic.com

44 www.fall-line.co.uk

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MEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN SKIS

Smooth, poppy, predictable performance with a fun factor of 10, the Maverick 86 C has all the all-mountain feels

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Blizzard Brahma 88 £550

Elan Voyager £1120 including bindings

The Brahma has been a benchmark mid-width ski for a while, with the proviso that you needed to give it a bit of a prod to make it turn. Blizzard previously acknowledged this by making the same ski with no metal – the Bushwacker. As of last winter, there’s a revised core with a softened and lightened tip and tail, a sharper sidecut for faster turning and reduced rocker allowing more good ‘ol poppy camber.

It really has turned a very punchy, not-so-turny blaster into a far more useable hooner with a chunk of added playfulness. Lee sees the revised Brahma appealing to a whole new group of skiers: “A great ski for the advancing intermediate looking for a versatile all-mountain ski to carve the piste but who wants to venture off-piste. You can tell it’s denser underfoot and filters out at the tip and tail. This lets it track really well and gives smooth, easy turn initiation with a relaxed tail shape that will smoothly let go at the end of a turn.” blizzard-tecnica.com

Ever wished your skis could shrink to half the length for easy stowing?

During the past three years Elan has honed the tech they developed for the military and brought us a world first: a ski that folds to half its length!

We had a pair of Voyagers on test for a week last season and were super impressed with both the ease-of-use of the folding mechanism, and how well it performed as a ‘normal ski’. The secret to the simplicity is in how the binding rotates to either free the central hinge, or lock the extended ski securely in place. How does it ski? “It initiates well, has great edge-hold throughout the turn shape, and accelerates out the end,” says Chrigl. “It feels solid, smooth, and there is no indication of its party trick while you are skiing.” It’s quick edge to edge thanks to its 78mm waist, but when you ask it to perform a sequence of short turns the slight weight penalty of the mechanism can become apparent (it weighs the equivalent of a slalom ski with a race plate). elanskis.com

❄ Lengths: 165, 171, 177, 183, 189 ❄ Radius 16m @ 177 ❄ Dimensions: 128-88-110 @ 177 ❄ Weight per ski: 2100g @ 177

❄ Lengths: 160, 166, 172 ❄ Radius: 13.7m @ 166 ❄ Dimensions: 128-78-110 ❄ Weight per ski: N/A

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MEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN SKIS

Line Blade £630 ❄ Lengths: 169, 176, 181 ❄ Radius: ‘Short’ ❄ Dimensions: 154-95-124 ❄ Weight per ski: 2000g Line claim the Blade is their piste ski, but we figure that’s because it isn’t park or freeride-oriented and where else is there to ski? With a 95mm platform underfoot and the fun-loving flex of a powder ski, it’s not like any pure piste machine we know. It is striking, interesting and reminds us very slightly of Salomon’s left-field BBR – all nose and skinny tail. But it’s more interesting, simply because the construction involves a radically cut titanal layer with directional

Huge fun… gives skiers a load to play with on pistes that otherwise could be a tad tedious. Maybe the perfect liven-upper?

arrows sliced from the sheet, a vast nose, swallowtail and multi-radius sidecut. It also feels flexier along its length compared with everything else here bar the Head Kore, but torsionally pretty stiff given the width.

Hardpack proves it’s no trad piste ski, but it does crank a mean turn and get very whippy when you throw yourself about – the Blade loves being played with and responds to an energetic input, certainly from a heavier skier. Lighter riders had a different experience – they reckoned the Blade simply needed to be thrown into a turn for sharp razor-esque edge engagement.

“I followed Amy on a pair of the Blade Ws

and she was pretty well flat across the snow through the turns,” Dickie revealed. No-one was following him but he was certainly flat on the snow a couple of times, judging by the snow in his goggles…

“It’s a bonkers carving device, though it liked a bit of bite to the surface to generate full grip – very hard snow got a bit skittery,” he reckoned. “When it did go, the ski released very predictably and tail first.”

The Blade is different: huge fun and will give skiers a load to play with on pistes that otherwise could be a tad tedious. Maybe the perfect liven-upper? lineskis.com

46 www.fall-line.co.uk

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Armada Declivity 88 C £454

Black Crows Serpo £630

❄ Lengths: 160, 168, 176, 184 ❄ Radius: 17.2m ❄ Dimensions: 131-88-112 ❄ Weight per ski: 1675g

❄ Lengths: 168.2, 174.1, 180.1, 186.3 ❄ Radius: 20m @ 180 ❄ Dimensions: 131-93-115 ❄ Weight per ski: 1825g

Armada’s Declivity replaced the fine Invictus series last year with a different construction but the same attitude – all-mountain adaptability. This winter sees the addition of the new Declivity 88 C to the collection – a hard-charging all-mountain rig with a lightweight carbonreinforced caruba core for extra strength and durability.

Soft rockered tips, camber in the middle and the slightly stiffer tails make for a balanced ski that’s quick into the turn yet still feels stable and controlled when you’re laying down those high-speed arcs. The 88mm waist means it’s built to hold its own all over the mountain and the finetuned flex profile and modern shape ensure a slick ride. armadaskis.com

Dynastar Speed 4x4 763 £525 including bindings ❄ Lengths: 164, 171, 179, 185 ❄ Radius: 14m @ 171 ❄ Dimensions: 128-82-112 ❄ Weight per ski: 2000g w/o bindings

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

The artist formerly known as the Speed Zone 4x4 82 is back with a new look and a new title. As with Dynastar’s piste-specific Speed line-up, the skis in the Speed 4x4 all-mountain collection are now categorised from 963 (most advanced) to 363 (entry level) – FYI pub quiz fans, the significance of the ‘63’ part is that this was the year Dynastar came into being. The Speed 4x4 763 is aimed at advanced skiers looking for a punchy yet refreshingly smooth ride.

Less hard-chargey than the 963, the 763 comes with a lightweight hybrid PU/ paulownia core that makes for a damp, powerful yet nimble ride. dynastar.com

The Serpo is Black Crow’s allmountain offering which, with its 93mm waist and mild tip rocker only, should be familiar territory for skiers looking to cruise all over the resort. Tester Chrigl found that the 20m radius, combined with the titanal layers, lent the ski quite a planted, less energetic feel than some others.

“The tips and tails were surprisingly soft to hand flex, given the feeling of stability the Serpo offers. The soft tip will no doubt help it plane better in powder conditions. With all the stiffness centred under the boot, I had anticipated that it would ski ‘looser’ than it did. I found it would make short turns and skids but not with huge enthusiasm. Instead, where it really shone was edge-grip on the steeps.” black-crows.com

Faction Prodigy 1.0 £369 ❄ Lengths: 164, 171, 178, 184 ❄ Radius: 17m @ 178 ❄ Dimensions: 120-88-112 ❄ Weight per ski: 1750g A sub-£400 rig that will take you from the park to the piste and beyond, the Prodigy 1.0 is a cracking-value, multi-talented, directional, freestyle/AM twin.

Designed and tested at Faction’s home in Verbier, the Prodigy series is arguably Faction’s most funnest and progressive collection. While the wider Prodigy skis are more freeride oriented, narrower models like the 1.0 are perfect for razzing around in the park, hitting up natural features in resort and generally having a blast. This year’s Prodigy 1.0 comes with a redesigned construction to bring it in line with the best-selling 2.0.

Now featuring Faction’s elliptical sidecut, full-length sidewalls, XL 2.5mm edges and a poplar/ash wood core, it’s stronger, more precise and more dynamic than ever. factionskis.com www.fall-line.co.uk 47

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MEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN SKIS Head Kore 87 £700 including bindings

Nordica Enforcer 88 £500

❄L engths: 156, 163, 170, 177, 184, 191 ❄ Radius: 16m @ 177 ❄ Dimensions: 130-87-110 ❄ Weight per ski: N/A

❄ Lengths: 165, 172, 179, 186 ❄ Radius: 16.5m @ 179 ❄D imensions: 121.5-88-109.5 @ 179 ❄ Weight per ski: 2080g @ 179

With a new construction, lighter weight and new footprints (smaller gaps between lengths to balance stability and playfulness), the revamped 2022 Kore collection is one of the allmountain/freeride stories we’re really excited about this winter. Lee had this to say about last winter’s Editors’ Choice-winning Kore 87: “Fantastic fun! It is solid underfoot and excels in changeable conditions. Easy to turn yet amazingly light and grippy.” This year’s ski features a hybrid karuba/poplar core, so you’re looking at an even lighter ski that’s stiffer and comes with a crud-busting chamfered sidewall so you won’t get thrown off course. head.com

One of the most tested and highly rated skis, this returns with the same wide appeal, innovative design and brilliant skiability.

Predictable, smooth and grippy underfoot, it really does the allmountain job exceptionally well.

The lightweight wood core and carbon-reinforced chassis inject the lightness and nimbleness that make it so accessible, with excellent vibration-damping properties ensuring you’ll still be able to power down and lay out the smoothest of smile-inducing carves. If you are an aspiring intermediate/advancing on-piste charger looking for an allmountain weapon that can still pop off for a spot of sidecountry, this is a fun, solid and powerful performer. And if you need it punchier, simply scale up to the Enforcer 94. nordica.com

Having launched the epic Black Ops freeride collection last season, Rossignol have turned their attentions to their muchloved all-mountain Experience series and completely revised the collection for winter 2022. New sustainable layups feature durable hardtop topsheets designed to optimise flex over the length of the ski and superversatile All Trail sidecuts.

Weighing in at 1800g, the Experience 82 Basalt Konect is a light and responsive ski most at home on the groomers, but with enough grunt and float to cope with late-afternoon soft chop.

Vibration damping in the tip keeps things smooth on teethrattling pistes, while the basalt laminate ensures you’re still looking at a lively, energetic ride. rossignol.com

Salomon Stance 96 £580

Völkl Deacon V-Werks £1100 including bindings

Völkl Kendo 88 £580

❄ Lengths: 168, 176, 182, 188 ❄ Radius: 20m @ 182 ❄ Dimensions: 132-96-114 ❄ Weight per ski: 1940g

❄ Lengths: 162, 172, 177, 184 ❄ Radius: 15m @ 177 ❄ Dimensions: 132-84-115 ❄W eight per ski: 2880g @ 177 w/bindings

The Stance series fills the missing ‘punchy all-mountain/ freeride’ gap in Salomon’s line-up, and is super effective on hardpack, even in this relatively girthy 96mm model.

A full sandwich construction ski with two layers of metal and poplar wood core; all trimmed and spliced to keep weight out of the ends. Once sliding, it is clear that this is a ski that can handle any terrain.

The 96mm width gives it a natural stability, and the damp, controlled feeling hides the speed right to the point where you start to question a few key elements of the run. Like do you really want to turn in chopped snow at this speed?

Answer – possibly not, but get centered, activate the brave button and feel the Stance soak it up. salomon.com

“Sod the expense – it’s clear you’re getting what you pay for!”

Dickie was grinning like he’d found an Anglo-Saxon hoard after a couple of runs on the Deacon V-Werks. Völkl have taken their incredible Deacon 84, added lightness, responsiveness and directional carbon lay-ups, and also removed any change from a fruity £1100. The result is one of the most effortless ways to tit around on skis we’ve seen.

Chopped snow is scampered through with tiny tweaks and you find yourself changing direction in every possible way. All turn types are available, which was one of the biggest surprises: this is a true frontside slayer.

A touch too spendy? The straight up Deacon 84 and 80 will similarly impress for less. voelkl.com

Rossignol Experience 82 Basalt Konect £485 including bindings ❄ Lengths: 152, 160, 168, 176, 184 ❄ Radius: 16m @ 168 ❄ Dimensions: 127-82-115 ❄ Weight per ski: 1800g

❄ Lengths: 163, 170, 177, 184 ❄ Radius: 17m @ 177 ❄ Dimensions: 129-88-111 ❄ Weight per ski: 1940g @ 177 Our 2020 Overall Men’s Ski of the Year, the Kendo 88 is a versatile genius capable of delivering all over the mountain.

A cleverly designed lean machine, the combination of super-gentle rocker with multiradius sidecut, metal subtraction and carbon-fibre is a recipe that really works. The grip is up to the usual Völkl ‘hang on until your femurs compress’ levels if you keep the pressure on, and at that point you’ll be putting the 17m turn radius into play. Ease back and the nose and tail will naturally pick a softer turn shape – so there’s never a point where any of the ski feels like it’s not engaging with the snow.

Vigorous to aggressive reactions on-piste are backed up by nimble performance in the soft stuff courtesy of its confidenceinspiring skiability and long nose rocker. voelkl.com

48 www.fall-line.co.uk

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WOMEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN SKIS

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Elan Wildcat 86 CX £680 including bindings ❄ Lengths: 152, 158, 164, 170 ❄ Radius: 14.7m @ 164 ❄ Dimensions: 127-86-113 ❄ Weight per ski: N/A The Wildcat series from Elan is the women’s equivalent of the Amphibio range – a collection of skis designed to bridge your progression from piste performer to all-mountain ripper.

If you currently feel most comfortable on the piste but are committed to expanding your mountain environment, the Wildcat 86 CX Powershift will help you do exactly that.

There’s a whole range of slightly less stiff, slightly narrower Wildcats to suit different ability levels, but we loved the 86 CX

Powershift for its ability to hold up under the control of a strong skier.

It rides like a carver, stiff and grippy, but is a little more forgiving than a straight-up piste ski and comes with a wide shovel at the front for chewing up any deeper snow in your path.

With 86mm underfoot to play with it copes well in different snow, inspiring confidence in chop, fresh and slush.

Smooth yet aggressive in the varied snow we experienced at last winter’s Scottish Ski Test, the Wildcat 86 CX Powershift was easy to work, drove cleanly through the turn, and generated a good bit of performance when pushed steeper and faster.

Built with Elan’s Amphibio Truline Technology, the ski is reinforced on the inside (so there’s a left and right ski), which allows for added pressure on the inside edge of the outside ski as you carve through the turn.

The outside ski is where you want to stay balanced through a turn for high-performance skiing, so this should help you perform your best turns.

The outside edges also have a slight rocker, which allows for easy turn initiation and better flotation through deeper snow.

Top technology packed into a versatile and super-fun ski that will bring out your wild side! elanskis.com

Smooth yet aggressive in the varied snow we experienced at last winter’s Scottish Ski Test, the Wildcat 86 CX Powershift was easy to work, drove cleanly through the turn, and generated a good bit of performance when pushed steeper and faster

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Salomon Stance 88 £520 ❄ Lengths: 154, 161, 168, 174 ❄ Radius: 17m @ 161 ❄ Dimensions: 120-88-102 ❄ Weight per ski: 1520g Built for skiers looking to carve the hardpack, dance in the moguls, float in the fluff and groove around the groomers, Salomon’s Stance series created a serious all-mountain buzz at last year’s Ski Test.

The Stance 88 offers the perfect blend of race-style edge grip and power-building piste performance, combined with the nimbleness and float of a freeride ski.

A great all-mountain choice for intermediate to advanced skiers who favour a traditionalshaped ski but are keen freshen up their style, the Stance 88 scored well across all categories. It varied shapes easily and the allterrain rocker coped well with both chunky snow and boot-top fresh. Light, damp and rapid, the combination of the karuba/poplar wood core, dual titanal plates and progressive sidecut give the ski a lively, adaptable yet confidence-inspiring character.

“Hard charging, leaping and diving with the flexiest of fun times,” said Amy. “The Stance 88

is ideal for those seeking confidence in deeper or variable snow, yet still want a ski that will can rip up the piste. If you’re looking for something a little further down the freeride end of the spectrum, the wider Stance 94 comes with a more planted and powerful feel, but if you like starting your runs with clean carves, boosting off ridge lines, slithering neatly through the bumps before finishing by cutting through the deeper crud with ease, the Stance 88 could well be the ski for you”. Also available in 80 for winter 2022. salomon.com www.fall-line.co.uk 49

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WOMEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN SKIS ONE T WATC O H

ONE T WATC O H

Armada Reliance 82 C £520 including bindings

Rossignol Experience 82 W Basalt £485 including bindings

❄ Lengths: 150, 158, 166, 174 ❄ Radius: 14.9m ❄ Dimensions: 124-82-108 ❄ Weight per ski: 1375g

Last year Armada replaced the old Invictus series with a new allmountain family – the Declivity collection – and the overhaul continues this season with the introduction of the new women’s Reliance series.

There are five new models to choose between, from 102 Ti to 82 C, all of which feature different shapes and constructions to suit a wide range of experience levels and motivations. For genuine frontside all-mountain antics we reckon the approachable Reliance 88 C may well be the pick of the bunch. With carbon stringers, a lightweight karuba core and all-mountain rocker, the new Reliance 82 C is lively yet forgiving at all speeds in a variety of conditions – a super-fun rocket ship built for day-in, day-out charging all over the mountain. For a similar ride but with a touch more grunt, beef up to the Reliance 82 Ti. armadaskis.com

❄ Lengths: 143, 151, 159, 167 ❄ Radius: 13m @ 159 ❄ Dimensions: 127-82-115 ❄ Weight per ski: 1450g

Rossignol’s Experience series has been completely reinvented for winter 2022 with new sustainable layups, durable topsheets designed to optimise flex over the length of the ski and super-versatile new All Trail sidecuts. The Experience 82 W Basalt lines up in this new collection as an accessible, responsive and confidence-inspiring ski, ideal for intermediate to advanced riders. A relaxed flex and lightweight paulownia wood core provide an accessible and intuitive ride, while basalt layers absorb vibration to keep things smooth when you’re laying down those high-speed arcs on early morning hardpack. The combination of Rossignol’s Drive Tip design and full sidewall construction ensure a precise yet smooth sensation throughout the turn, and there’s a versatile 82mm platform underfoot. rossignol.com

The new Reliance 82 C is lively yet forgiving at all speeds in a variety of conditions – a super-fun rocket ship Atomic Maven 86 £360

Blizzard Black Pearl 88 £500

❄ Lengths: 147, 153, 161, 169 ❄ Radius: 15.5m @ 161 ❄ Dimensions: 121.5-87-105 ❄ Weight per ski: 1450g @ 169

❄ Lengths: 147, 153, 159, 165, 171, 177 ❄ Radius: 14m @ 165 ❄ Dimensions: 128-88-110 @ 165 ❄ Weight per ski: 1740g @ 165

Atomic’s new Maven series is made up of three seriously impressive skis designed to deliver maximum performance across the full spectrum of all-mountain conditions.

Designed and tested in conjunction with some of the best female racers and freeriders on the planet, the Maven family are a multi-talented bunch laden with the latest tech. The Maven 86 is the easiest to get to grips with – a lightweight, fun, laidback yet responsive ski that’s quick to turn and built for cruising around the mountain. A poplar wood core provides energy to the ride and the metal plate underfoot adds stability and edge grip where you need it most. The fairly long turning radius gives heaps back if you commit. atomic.com

The hugely popular Black Pearl continues to be one of the best all-mountain skis around.

Lightweight, stable, with a smooth flex and torsional rigidity, it comes with Blizzard’s women’sspecific Carbon Flipcore WSD high-performance construction that helps you spring through the turns with strength at high speeds. Blizzard’s Trueblend wood core is designed to make the ski stiffer underfoot and softer at the ends, which simultaneously delivers supereasy handling, dynamic flex and precise control. A real confidence inspirer, the Black Pearl responds to its rider, giving back what you put in, making it suitable for all levels. Also in 78, 82 and 97. blizzard-tecnica.com

Dynastar E 4x4 5 £440 including bindings ❄ Lengths: 156, 164, 171 ❄ Radius: 13m @ 164 ❄ Dimensions: 130-82-110 ❄ Weight per ski: 1900g w/o bindings Adaptable, agile, responsive and stable at all speeds, last year’s Intense 4x4 82 Xpress returns with a new name: the E 4x4 5. At 82mm underfoot, it’s closer to a piste ski than some of the others in this category, so is best suited to skiers who enjoy ripping the resort but may have their eyes occasionally on the all-mountain prize. A great-value ski, it transitions from groomers to cruddy sidecountry effortlessly, with the hybrid paulownia/PU wood core showing off excellent damping qualities at high speeds.

The 3D profile ensures the ski goes into the turn easily and holds firm. Tester Amy felt it was “equally happy making short sharp turns and nipping through bumps as it was swooping long arcs.” dynastar.com

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Faction Prodigy 1.0X £369

Head Kore 85 £700 including bindings

K2 Mindbender 88 Ti Alliance £525

❄ Lengths: 158, 164, 171 ❄ Radius: 15m @ 164 ❄ Dimensions: 120-88-112 ❄ Weight per ski: 1580g

❄ Lengths: 149, 156, 163, 170 ❄ Radius: 14.8m @ 170 ❄ Dimensions: 127-85-108 ❄ Weight per ski: N/A

The Prodigy 1.0X (the same as the men’s 1.0 with a different topsheet) neatly bridges the gap between X-Games Slopestyle winner Kelly Sildaru’s weapon of choice, and general resortbasher. With 88mm underfoot and a sweet blend of rocker and camber, Faction have constructed a winning formula.

Nicola tested the 1.0X on a day where the snow was unpredictable and quite steep in sections, putting it back to back with Faction’s more freeridepositioned offerings, and found the poppy poplar core (no pun intended) reminded her why twintips are so much fun all over the mountain. In fact, you can play with the mounting point, going from -6cm from true, to more freestyle -3cm to fine-tune your intended use for the ski. factionskis.com

With its reduced waist size and feathery weight, the new Kore 85 is slightly stiffer than last year’s 87, bringing a super-charged energy that requires a rider to drive through the turn and offers stokelacious rewards to those that do. Cover the whole mountain, pop off drops, slice up the piste, truck through the crud, or slap a touring binding on her and head off into the backcountry – you choose. The key to its versatility lies in the construction. Behind the subtle, simple and low-profile style lies a heap of clever tech that combines ultra-light yet strong graphene, with a honeycomb of flexy koroyd and a springy new hybrid karuba/poplar wood core.

Amy was genuinely impressed: “The real all-mountain deal. An incredibly versatile and exciting ride, it’s ideal for skiers looking to invest in a rig that will help facilitate their freeride ambitions.” head.com

❄ Lengths: 149, 156, 163, 170 ❄ Radius: 14.8m @ 163 ❄ Dimensions 125-88-112 ❄ Weight per ski: 1570g @ 163

Nordica Santa Ana 88 £480 ❄ Lengths: 151, 158, 165, 172 ❄ Radius: 15m @ 165 ❄ Dimensions: 119-88-107 ❄ Weight per ski: 1715g @ 165 The multi-award-winning Santa Ana 88 gets a pretty in pink graphic update for winter 2022, but other than that it’s still the same frontside-oriented winter weapon that’s strong, light and super playful. Adaptable and relatively stiff for such a lightweight construction, it’s an excellent choice if you’re looking for a quiver-of-one to ride onpiste, off-piste and everywhere in between. Playful yet still able to pack a punch on demand, the Santa Ana 88 carves fast and hard on the groomers when driven with commitment. Put simply it likes to get on an edge and offers a focused and reliable ride thanks to the two layers of metal reinforced with carbon stringers in the full-length chassis, which keep any crudshaped distractions at bay. Also available in 84. nordica.com

Scott Slight 93 W £685 including bindings ❄ Lengths: 155, 160, 165 ❄ Radius: 13m @ 160 ❄ Dimensions: 130-87-118 ❄ Weight per ski: 2470g with bindings @ 160 The Slight 93 W is a wicked all-mountain ski that returns this winter for high-end allmountain antics aplenty. The combination of its lightweight feel and capability to hold up on hard, icy early morning pistes with zero chatter to be heard, even when travelling at high speeds, continues to impress. Built with a carbon/ aramid elliptic construction, the Slight 93 W has incredible damping properties and super-stable rigidity. Despite this, it still delivers a fun and springy performance when playtime is the order of the day – a massive all-mountain win.

Also in 83 W. scott-sports.com

Back with a vibrant new style but the same creatively crafted, grin-inducing, highperformance all-mountainslash-freeride feels, the 88 Ti brings K2’s freestyle heritage into the present, popping, dropping and exploding all over the mountain. Precise yet playful, K2’s Titanal Beam Technology (Ti) provides accuracy, control, power and stability, enabling you to switch from edge to edge with ease and hold firm when powering through turns. “This ski breeds burning legs, high fives and smiles, sailing from piste to sidecountry with reliable edge grip and spring underfoot,” says Amy. k2snow.com

Völkl Yumi 84 £525 ❄ Lengths: 147, 154, 161, 168 ❄ Radius: 14m @ 161 ❄ Dimensions: 125-84-107 ❄ Weight per ski: 1408g @ 161 The Yumi 84 brings the freeride feels of Völkl’s popular Kenja and Secret skis into the all-mountain category with a more accessible and versatile construction. Glass layers wrap around the titanal binding platform to add stability and drive to the ski without adding a whole heap of excess weight. Designed to mimic the Titanal Frame in Völkl’s top-end freeride models, the construction will make this already lively rig even more responsive and easier to ski. When it’s time to dive off the side, the Yumi 84’s tip and tail rocker will provide float in the fresh and the 3D radius sidecut means that at slower speeds you will be able to employ a slalom-sized turn easily.

But if the speeds get racy you can expect the Yumi 84 to switch into GS mode and do all the hard work for you. voelkl.com www.fall-line.co.uk 51

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FREESTYLE SKIS

Super fun to ski all over the mountain, if you want more air this winter these are for you

BUYER’S

BETA

CHRIGL LUTHY’S GUIDE TO FREESTYLE SKIS If I had a penny for every time I wanted to use ‘pop’ in this paragraph describing freestyle skis… But that’s what they’re for, getting airborne!

Their no-nonsense, wood core feel and energetic character mean they excel at zipping about, skiing bumps, carving and then popping out of the turn for the edge change, bashing crud, even little steep sections where their low swing weight helps manoeuvrability. And these days, the combination of their rocker profiles and waist widths even allow for some exploration in deeper snow. As for freestyle itself, the term has many sub-headings, such a pipe, slopestyle and urban, and while it’s true freestyle is more a question of how you express yourself rather than what ski you’re on, there are specialist design elements in each category.

Waist widths rarely dip below 80mm, and if they do it is likely you’re looking at something designed for edge grip in a halfpipe. Generally speaking, the fatter you go, the softer the skis and the more rocker will be built in. Butter zones allow riders to butter off lips and rolls for extra steeze points.

Extra width underfoot, 90mm and above, means a bigger landing platform; the sacrifice will naturally be the extra weight and a less-nimble feel.

All freestyle skis aim to reduce overall weight, but also swing weight in the tips and tails. Some will include a healthy dose of early taper to reduce this weight, but be aware some of these models are quite specific in their applications.

A burning question for all freestylers is price, and equal to that is the question of durability.

They need to be built well and will eventually need replacing. Make no mistake, as is true with most things in life, the lighter the ski, the less it will last.

THINGS TO CONSIDER ❄ Is the more expensive option always better? They may need replacing if you twang them on a rock, so have confidence that these days some of the cheaper options are super capable. ❄ One-ski quiver? If you choose a more versatile width, between 90-100mm, you might find they become the only ski you ever use. ❄ Bindings with high DIN ranges are heavier and pricier, but may last longer. Figure out your favourite DIN range and allow for a range a couple numbers higher and that should be adequate. ❄ Softer skis equate to more fun on small features, which also means you can be more creative. Stiffer skis mean stability at higher speeds, support on bigger landings and more edge grip. ❄ Mounting. DON’T let a shop mount your skis without having a proper conversation about the mounting point first! Shops will often mount at whatever line they find first, rather than what will best suit your freestyle aspirations. Talk to friends with similar set-ups, research online, and also be realistic about your style.

Faction CT 1.0 £469 ❄ Lengths: 158, 165, 172, 178, 183 ❄ Radius: 18m @ 178 ❄ Dimensions: 122-92-120 ❄ Weight per ski: 2150g @ 178

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

A staple in this category for years, Candide Thovex’s Signature Series of all-mountain freestyle skis has become a legend in its own right. The skinniest ski in the line-up – the 92mm-waisted, multi-award-winning CT 1.0 – was given a total overhaul for winter 2021 with the addition of titanal and rubber making this master of trickery even more stompable than ever before. The new construction in the 1.0 brings it in line with the wider CT 2.0 (102mm underfoot) – presenting Candide fans with a glorious but serious dilemma when choosing their weapon for mass freestyle destruction. Rob is a fan of the narrower CT 1.0 as it offers: “More performance as a pure park ski than the CT 2.0, but still gives it the beans when it’s all-terrain jibbing time. The flex and profile make it easy enough to slash and press while offering a seemingly endless speed limit to charge inbounds, rip moguls and boost chopped-up natural features.”

Chrigl jumped on the CT 3.0 last winter: “It is butterable thanks to the rocker and surf zones but the flex means business. It will stomp landings and it will ski fast… really fast.

In fact, you might end up skiing switch faster than you ever have, wondering how you could ever revert at this speed.

You can.” factionskis.com

Völkl Revolt 104 £460 ❄ Lengths: 172, 180, 188 ❄ Radius: 20.2m @ 180 ❄ Dimensions: 132-104-122 ❄ Weight per ski: 2000g @ 180

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Völkl’s hugely popular Built Together series (a super-sick collab of athletes, engineers and artists) welcomes a new family member this winter – the brand spankin’, superversatile and eye-catching Revolt 104. Rob’s personal ski of the year, the Revolt 104 has been brought in to fill a very obvious gap between the park-specific 95 and our 2020 Editors’ Fat Ski Pick, the super floaty Revolt 121.

The Revolt 104 may be the middle child in the family but it has a very defined sense of self. Designed to perform in the park, on the piste and in the backcountry, it’s a one-stop charging shop for all-mountain freestyle skiers.

A Jack of all trades and master of well… all of them really, Rob loved it: “It was instantly predictable in the way it handled turns, from snaking moguls through to slashing windlips and carving hardpack. Whatever kind of turns I wanted to do the ski delivered and did so without hesitation. And it was exactly the same situation in the air. Balanced through takeoff to landing, it just inspires the confidence you need to stick tricks on any terrain. It’s exciting to discover a ski that takes the design features normally reserved for fatter skis, scales them down and performs so well from the park through piste and into the powder.” voelkl.com

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MEN’S FREESTYLE SKIS

Line Blend £450

❄ Lengths: 171, 178, 185 ❄ Radius: 20m ❄ Dimensions: 133-100-122 ❄ Weight per ski: 1850g

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Approved by park and street ski specialist Will Wesson, the new and improved Line Blend has been redesigned to bend, send and butter even better. With an extended sidecut for rapido turns, a wider tip and tail to press on, and a blunted tip for nailing those nose blocks, the new Blend still does everything it has ever done – just better.

With 100mm underfoot to play with, there’s a solid base for sliding boxes, rails and stomping landings.

Combined with the symmetrical medium flex, it’s a ski that keeps giving as you move across the whole mountain. lineskis.com

Head Oblivion 84 £485

Armada Stranger £540 ❄ Lengths: 172, 180 ❄ Radius: 15.8m @ 180 ❄ Dimensions: 139-100-121 ❄ Weight per ski: 2100g @ 180 The Stranger lines up in Armada’s Zero Series as a real world freestyle-slash-freeride ski – a shred all day, everyday kinda rig.

“No bottomless pow, no 80-foot booters, no racing gates… just making the most of the everyday conditions at your local resort,” say Armada, which quite frankly makes a lot of sense. The chat may sound convincing but it’s the tech that makes the Stranger so potentially compelling. The tight 15m radius looks set to deliver the kind of snaptastic turning trickery you’d expect from an all-mountain or pistey kinda ski, yet you’ll be riding aboard a girthy freerideesque 100mm underfoot, so it should be simples to switch into float mode when it’s time to hit the soft play area. Mix in some key freestyle attributes and the rockered Springboard tail, and you’re looking at a wicked hybrid ski. armadaskis.com

K2 Poacher £445

❄ Lengths: 171, 176, 181 ❄ Radius: 19m @ 176 ❄ Dimensions: 120-84-109 ❄ Weight per ski: N/A

❄ Lengths: 163, 170, 177, 184 ❄ Radius: 19m @ 184 ❄ Dimensions: 124-96-118 ❄ Weight per ski: N/A

The narrowest ski in our line-up, the new and improved Head Oblivion 84 flies the traditionalist flag among a rapidly expanding breed of girthier freestyle rigs. The narrow waist and new simple shape combined with the full laminate wood core and Head’s vibrationdamping Independent Suspension System all work together to deliver a light yet stable, predictable yet poppy, all-round good-time ride. Adventures in the park and pipe demand a bomber construction and this year’s Oblivion 84 is living its toughest life yet thanks to Head’s Tuff-wall tech, which thickens up the base and edges to withstand the rowdiest of freestyle antics. head.com

Whether you’re diggin’ or despisin’ the oh-so-colourful new splattage style of this year’s Poacher, one thing’s for sure – this ski still has serious freestyle game.

Playful, responsive and loaded with energy, this symmetrical twin tip with beefed up sidewalls is built for riding switch and boosting it big style in the park and pipe. The lightweight aspen double barrel wood core is blended with fir at the edges to provide durability and impact protection where it’s needed most, and carbon stringers on the top of the core provide a springy feel to keep you grinning all session long. Still a massive hit from the park to the streets to the podium. k2snow.com

Faction Prodigy 0.0 £279 ❄ Lengths: 143, 150, 157, 164, 171 ❄ Radius: 15m @ 164 ❄ Dimensions: 117-85-109 ❄ Weight per ski: 1710g This feels like a shout-out to park skis of yesteryear, before they became heavily adorned with top-tech.

After all, we shouldn’t be too precious with our park skis – their main purpose being to take abuse.

Speaking of abuse, the great-value 0.0 should hold up well to all sorts, with its stout 2.5mm edges and strong sidewall construction underfoot. The cap construction is reserved for the tips and tails to reduce chipping. At 85mm underfoot, it’s quick edge to edge and spinny enough for even indoor snow park laps.

The longest length is 171cm, so heavier riders will have to head to the Prodigy 1.0. factionskis.com

Line Sir Francis Bacon £565 ❄ Lengths: 176, 184, 190 ❄ Radius: 16m ❄ Dimensions: 143-107-139 ❄ Weight per ski: 1850g Light, soft, buttery and with a 107mm waist for those deep-ass days, the Line SFB is still one of our most favourite skis – ever. If you are a lighter rider and you want to perfect Nimbus Crewesque hand drag 360s off the top of Japanese pillows and mushrooms... buy this ski. If you want to slash the slushy sidewalls of kickers in the park then jump a piste sign into mushy snow before doing switch hand drag carves down the remainder of the piste... buy this ski. If you want to invent your own tricks and evolve the sport of skiing as we know it... buy this ski. The paulownia/maple core may be too noodley for hard chargers and heavy skiers, but for creative folks seeking something different that rewards ingenuity and deftness of touch, the SFB still reigns supreme. lineskis.com www.fall-line.co.uk 53

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WOMEN’S FREESTYLE SKIS

A sub-£300 freestyle ski from the legendary newschool brand – the Honey Bee is back again with a super-fun new look and heaps of freestyle flair

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Faction CT 2.0X £549 ❄ Lengths: 166, 173 ❄ Radius: 16m @ 166 ❄ Dimensions: 131-102-127 ❄ Weight per ski: 1690g The all-conquering rippin’ and flippin’ CT 2.0X returns this winter with a new construction that’s guaranteed to make it more relevant and popular than ever.

Designed in collaboration with the true all-

terrain trickster himself, Candide Thovex, the new and improved CT 2.0X is ideal for intermediate to expert skiers looking for a creative ski that’s equally at home in the park as it is slashing through soft stuff.

New for winter 2022 is a sustainable lighter wood core and a new carbon weave that not only makes the CT 2.0X stronger and more durable, it also results in a whopping 400g in weight loss. Now made in Austria, this new

toned up version of the CT 2.0X still pops, drops and ploughs up, over and through any conditions you throw at it.

An evolution of an already epic ski, this playful symmetrical twin turns the whole mountain into your own personal playground and embodies a genuine all-mountain freestyle identity. Also available in a wider, stiffer model – the CT 3.0X. factionskis.com

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EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Line Honey Bee £295 ❄ Lengths: 144, 155, 166 ❄ Radius: 16.5m @ 166 ❄ Dimensions: 120-92-116 ❄ Weight per ski: 1500g A sub-£300 freestyle ski from the legendary newschool brand – the Honey Bee is back again with a super-fun new look and heaps of freestyle flair. Ideal for entry level or intermediate skiers looking to progress in the park, the mega-poppy wood core and low swingweight

means it’s playful, nimble and bang on for spins and grins. Big-ass edges and the durable 4D fibrecap construction means it’s built to withstand stomps, boosts and grinds. The 92mm waist provides both stability and float so this versatile lass is prime for switching things up between park playin’ and powder slayin’. lineskis.com

Ideal for entry level or intermediate skiers looking to progress in the park, the mega-poppy wood core and low swingweight means it’s playful, nimble and bang on for spins and grins Armada ARW 86 £365 ❄ Lengths: 156, 163, 170 ❄ Radius: 17m @ 163 ❄ Dimensions: 114-86-108 ❄ Weight per ski: 1600g @ 163 Looking to pop, jib and spin your way around the whole mountain? The ARW 86 is back with a super stylin’ new graphic for winter 2022. A highperformance expressive freestyle ski with a lightweight, playful style, the 2.2mm impact edges and durable S7 base ensure it’s super durable when hitting up rails and the freestyle rocker and poplar ash core means it can hang on around the rest of the mountain too.

Creative, stylish and most importantly, FUN – it’s perfect for all-day park playing and all-mountain cruising. armadaskis.com

K2 Midnight £360 ❄ Lengths: 149, 159, 169 ❄ Radius: 17m @ 169 ❄ Dimensions: 116-88-110 ❄ Weight per ski: N/A The artist formerly known as MissConduct is back with a rebrand and a bold and bright new graphic that’s way more befitting of what remains one of the best women’s all-mountain twins around. Grippy in the pipe, floaty over jumps and lightweight and nimble on the rails, she boosts in and out of the park with power and personality. The combination of the carbon boost construction and lightweight aspen wood core make for one seriously poppy ride, while the durable TwinTech sidewalls ensure she’s built to last. A mega bonus of the Midnight’s playful, forgiving DNA is that it translates equally well into an all-mountain cruiser with enough stiffness for laying down a solid carve or cutting up the crud on a hot lap in the sidecountry. k2snow.com

Völkl Bash 86 W £340 ❄ Lengths: 148, 156, 164, 172 ❄ Radius: 19m @ 164 ❄ Dimensions: 120-86-110 ❄ Weight per ski: 1590g @ 164 Blurring the line between dedicated park ski and all-mountain fun times, the Bash 86 W is a versatile, swanky-looking ski designed to flatter and facilitate. Balanced and maneuverable, it’s ideal for aspirational freestylers looking to refine tricks and perfect their park game. The combination of its directional shape and twin tip rocker ensures maximum adaptability, meaning you can carve up those early morning groomers before jumping straight into the park for undiluted playtime. voelkl.com www.fall-line.co.uk 55

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FREERIDE SKIS

When all-mountain rigs run out of steam in the rowdier stuff, these step up and bring it

BUYER’S

BETA

LEE HARDY’S GUIDE TO FREERIDE SKIS

Built for aspiring freeriders and hooners alike, freeride skis tend to span a wide range of widths, from the ultra-versatile mid-90mm to knocking on the door of 105-110mm. Most will sport a good deal of tip rocker to help lift the ski out of the deepest conditions, while being traditional enough to ski like an all-mountain ski in firmer conditions.

Jacks and Jacquelines of all trades and masters of much, freeride skis are built to tackle anything the mountain can throw at them. These are a legit multi-talented, confidence-inspiring bunch, and you’ll be blown away by their grip on ice and how well skis this width can carve up the groomers.

Look out for models with metal layers – often manufacturers will offer a ‘Ti’ version of a ski alongside the standard.

Metal translates to a super-planted, smooth, clinical feeling. But if you prefer a bit more of a snappy feel with more direct feedback, consider opting for the standard model. In fact, take the time to look at the construction of your ski choices; even look at the stated weights for comparison. Then shred forth!

THINGS TO CONSIDER ❄ Be realistic about the kind of terrain you are most likely and/or capable of skiing: a lighter more playful ski is likely to be way more fun for most. ❄ Get tech-savvy. Skis with metal layers will be more stable. Carbon layers will help save weight but will need good damping to counteract their chatter. Check what woods are used. And, if it all sounds like gobbledygook then find the brand you’ve always liked, as chances are they use similar tech across their range. ❄ Leaness over lardiness. Resist the temptation to buy the fattest-looking ski if you spend 75% of your time on-piste. A narrower and more versatile 95mm will do everything really well. ❄ Ready to hike? Consider weight if you are planning on using your freeride rig for hike and ride freetouring missions, or prepare to be left behind. ❄ Make it last. Future-proof your investment by buying a binding that will allow you to expand your horizons. Powder is addictive, so it’s worth thinking about a hybrid free touring binding like the Shift or Duke PT if you’re harbouring backcountry aspirations. It’s common to see plain pin bindings with pin heels on these widths too.

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Dynastar M-Pro 99 £540 ❄ Lengths: 162, 170, 178, 186 ❄ Radius: 20m @ 178 ❄ Dimensions: 127-99-117 ❄ Weight per ski: 1900g @ 178 New last winter, the M-Pro 99 takes its place in the French brand’s M-Line of freeride and touring skis that represents the latest evolution of the super-popular Cham, Legend and Mythic series.

The M-Pro 99 is a super-slick, welldesigned ski that offers the smoothest of rides. Versatile, capable and built to go fast, it’s a mid-weight, moderate freeride ski with a hybrid wood/PU core and average rocker profile that’s capable of doing a whole lot of things very well indeed. The Rocket Frame Titanal laminate enables power on demand and the full width underfoot and tapering towards the tail combine to deliver a light, nimble ride with great edge contact in the hardest of conditions.

Tester Rich jumped aboard the new M-Pro 99 at last winter’s Dynastar Test launch and was impressed by its performance in-bounds. “When it comes to on-piste performance it has the stability and edge control to carve it up on the hardpack, and the moderately deep tip rocker delivers a smoother and tighter turn than you’d expect.”

By all means take it for a spin on the groomers, but it’s beyond the ropes where the M-Pro 99 really shines. Damp, lively and easy to pivot, the M-Pro 99 is most at home popping through the pow, floating on fresh and charging through the chop. If you’re into super-powerful, heavy and demanding skis it may not be your bag, but if you’re looking for a dynamic ski with a middle-of-the-road weight that just feels ‘easy’, the M-Pro 99 is an accessible, responsive and fun ski that’s rapidly becoming a firm freeride fave. dynastar.com

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MEN’S FREERIDE SKIS

PHOT0 NOAH WETZEL

The M-Pro 99 is an accessible, responsive and fun ski that’s rapidly becoming a firm freeride fave

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MEN’S FREERIDE SKIS EDITO CHOICRS’ E

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Nordica Enforcer 94 £540

Rossignol Black Ops Sender £585

Updated last winter, the user-friendly, accessible Enforcer 94 has become even more fun all over the hill. Dickie says: “Revised and softened, the pokey, potent Enforcer 94 gets semi-cuddly gaining nimbleness and pivotability without giving up much hoonishness”.

So, how does it do it? The carbon-reinforced chassis not only reduces weight but increases the skis strength and stability. Couple this with ‘True Tip Technology’, which trims heavy ABS plastic away from the extremities of the ski, replacing it with a lightweight wood core in these areas, and you have a playful and nimble ski that still retains that classic powerful and stable Enforcer feel. Lee loved both the Enforcer 100 and 94, but the 94 pipped it for him due to its versatility: “This is the one to go for if you’re looking for a more ‘real world’ freeride ski that really can ski everywhere.” nordica.com

New last winter, the Black Ops Sender follows firmly in the footsteps of the Soul 7 and manages to fill those boots with a large dollop of pop and a whole lot of freeride fun to boot. So, what have those creative folks at Rossi done? By extending the paulownia wood core into the shovel and doing away with the full honeycomb, they’ve increased the contact point and torsional stability in the ski. The result is a wicked winter weapon that is really easy to ski: playful and pivoty in a variety of terrain.

The Damp Tech inserts at the tip help absorb irregularities in the terrain to give it a really consistent, confidence-inspiring feel. Lee says: “I loved this ski. So smooth, playful, yet planted. Harder chargers may want to go for the stiffer bigger brother – the Sender Ti – but if you like your rigs on the fun side of the mountain, the straight-up Sender will have you grinning like a Covid-19 vaccine creator.” rossignol.com

❄ Lengths: 165, 172, 179, 186, 191 ❄ Radius: 17.1m @ 179 ❄ Dimensions: 127-94-115.5 ❄ Weight per ski: 2015g @ 179

❄ Lengths: 164, 172, 178, 186 ❄ Radius: 18m @ 178 ❄ Dimensions: 138-104-128 @ 178 ❄ Weight per ski: 2100g @ 178

The Nordica Enforcer 94 is the one to go for if you’re looking for a more ‘real world’ freeride ski that really can ski everywhere Lee

ONE T WATC O H

Völkl M6 Mantra £640

Atomic Maverick 95 Ti £575

Black Diamond Impulse 98 £600

❄ Lengths: 163, 170, 177, 184, 191 ❄ Radius: 18m @ 177 ❄ Dimensions: 135-96-119 ❄ Weight per ski: N/A

❄ Lengths: 164, 172, 180, 188 ❄ Radius 19.3m @ 180 ❄ Dimensions: 129-94.5-113 ❄ Weight per ski: 1800g @ 180

❄ Lengths: 161, 168, 175, 182, 189 ❄ Radius: 18m @ 182 ❄ Dimensions: 132-98-119 @ 182 ❄ Weight per ski: 1810g

It feels like the M5 Mantra was only just out of the blocks before it was being upgraded. Missing a season means we barely got to know it. “I did almost the last run before lockdown on a pair,” Dickie lamented. “Just as well the memories are sweet.”

The memories should be pretty similar on the M6, which shares the same core, shape and rocker, but comes with a shaped titanal layer to tune the flex for each length. The same goes for the carbon stringers, which look a little like the pattern in the RTM 84 über-ski. voelkl.com

The all-new Maverick series comes in four flavours, but the sweet spot for Lee was the 95 Ti. Taking over from the old Vantage range, the Maverick borrows some of the old models’ spice, adds a sprinkling of Backland and throws in a dash of Bent Chetler to produce a super-smooth, freerideslash-all-mountain power house.

A precision milled poplar wood core and thin dual layers of titanium help keep the weight down. On top of this, the perfect rocker and camber underfoot give you a ski that has maximum effective edge contact throughout the entire turn. HRZN tech in the tip gives great drive on the hardpack through the shovel and more float in the fresh. “It can literally nail the entire mountain,” says Lee. “It was so fluid.” atomic.com

This is the skinniest offering in BD’s new Impulse range – a punchy and versatile all-rounder. With a pre-preg fibreglass layup and a poplar wood core, the construction means business. Aimed at the aspiring all-mountain/ freeride skier, it has a reasonable tip and tail rocker but traditional camber underfoot.

Partner it with BD’s Helios 200 LT binding (as Lee did on Test) and it’s more than capable for day tours. blackdiamond equipment.com

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Blizzard Rustler 10 £500 ❄ Lengths: 164, 172, 180, 188 ❄ Radius: 17.5m @ 180 ❄ Dimensions: 133-102122.5 @ 180 ❄ Weight per ski: 2020g @ 180 Strong-intermediate to expert skiers looking for a progressive freeride ski with power and stability in a lightweight package will do really well aboard this weapon of freeride fun.

Blizzard’s Dynamic Release Technology is the key driver behind the impressive performance – a specially shaped layer of titanal that reduces torsional rigidity in the tip and tail. “A playful, light, stable yet dynamic ski,” said Lee. “Energetic and poppy when you are flying through the trees, but stable when you need to rip down something steep.”

Also in 94 (Rustler 9) and 116 (Rustler 11). blizzard-tecnica.com

Head Kore 99 £700 including bindings ❄ Lengths: 156, 163, 170, 177, 184, 191 ❄ Radius: 17m @ 177 ❄ Dimensions: 134-99-120 ❄ Weight per ski: N/A With a revised construction, lighter weight and smaller gaps between lengths to balance stability and playfulness, the revamped Kore series looks set to punch the pow-pow out of winter 2022. New for this winter is a hybrid karuba/ poplar core to provide that perfect balance of density, durability and light weight.

Fans of wonder material graphene will be pleased to know it’s infused in the tip and tail to make it light and mega responsive in deep snow. Wide and floaty, yet feathery enough to slap on a touring binding and hike for freshies, it’s an ideal choice for fans of nimble skis that encourage a creative riding style. head.com

Elan Ripstick 96 £580 ❄ Lengths: 164, 172, 180, 188 ❄ Radius 18m @ 180 ❄ Dimensions: 136-96-110 ❄ Weight per ski: 1650g @ 180 Before you jump aboard a Ripstick you need to remember to get these on the correct feet.

They’re asymmetrical, which means they actually have a left and right ski. Once you’re ripping you’ll immediately notice that the carbon lay-up allows more direct transmission to the driving edge – these really do grip for something so bendy!

“God these things are fun,” said Lee. “How something so smooth and easy to turn can grip this well on a carved-up piste is amazing!” Updated last winter, the tip and tail profile provide less chatter in variable snow than the previous iteration, so they feel balanced and floaty through every turn, and the extra grunt in the tail allows more drive through the exit of the turn.

Rob was loving them too: “A super-fun ski.” elanskis.com

Fischer Ranger 102 FR £515 ❄ Lengths: 164, 172, 180, 188 ❄ Radius: 18m @ 180 ❄ Dimensions: 136-96-110 ❄ Weight per ski: 1650g @ 180 This multi-award-winning genderless ski comes in two colours and a wide range of sizes, designed to appeal to anyone who self identifies as a freerider. Whether you opt for cool blue or kickass shocking pink, you’ll be rocking a truly versatile allmountain blaster and genuine one-ski-quiver contender. With heaps of tech, including Fischer’s Airtech Ti milled core, titanal and full carbon shovel, the Ranger holds firm when pushed hard, but is easy to skid thanks to the freestyleinspired flicked-up tail. Fun, confidence-inspiring and creamy-smooth – the Ranger 102 FR lets you decide the kind of skier you want to be. fischersports.com

K2 Reckoner 102 £445

Line Sakana £675

❄ Lengths: 163, 170, 177, 184 ❄ Radius: 19.3m @ 184 ❄ Dimensions: 134-102-127 ❄ Weight per ski: N/A

❄ Lengths: 166, 174 181 ❄ Radius: 15m @ 174 ❄ Dimensions: 150-105-138 ❄ Weight per ski: 1750g

If you’re looking to hit up backcountry booters in Japan, then you’ll want to check out the Reckoner 112 or 122, but if you want to take things down a notch then the Reckoner 102 hits the sweet spot as the most versatile directional freestyle-meetsfreeride ski in the collection.

With its low swing weight, soft flex, poppy feel and super-accessible price point, the Reckoner 102 is a grininducing ski, ideal for those spring sessions when you’re playing around at slow speeds, working on your butters and looking to cruise everywhere.

The gradual all-terrain twin rocker profile hints at this ski’s desire to find soft snow, but Rob was impressed by how well it performed in all conditions at last year’s Ski Test. k2snow.com

All hail the return of arguably the coolest looking ski of all time – the multi-awardwinning Sakana. Back with a new retro graphic this winter, the Sakana has always been a statement-making ski in both style and performance.

The spoony tips, versatile 105mm waist and signature swallowtail at the rear all add up to a rad-looking ski with a super-surfy, turny feel.

The oversized tip rocker allows for the big sidecut on such a fat ski, ensuring it doesn’t hook up in the soft stuff, and the mix of lightweight and denser woods deliver spring and response. Accessible, beautifully crafted and so much fun, the Sakana is quick to impress and impossible to forget. lineskis.com www.fall-line.co.uk 59

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MEN’S FREERIDE SKIS Line Vision 98 £540 ❄ Lengths: 172, 179 186 ❄ Radius: 18m @ 179 ❄ Dimensions: 131-98-119 ❄ Weight per ski: 1515g This is aimed at freestyle-y freeriders and all-mountain skiers who still like to ride the lifts, but have turned to the softer landings and skin tracks of the backcountry.

As we see it, there are two main reasons for looking at the Vision series: 1) You want an ultralight ski, 2) You want that light ski to be skied with a more neutral stance. We love the idea of having a light freetouring rig where the balance of the ski is more ‘centered’ than traditional backcountry skis.

As for the weight, the Visions use a paulownia blend and have kept the weight at around 1500g.

Combine this with a long gentle rocker profile and you have an extremely maneuverable pair of sticks. lineskis.com

Salomon QST 98 £520 ❄ Lengths: 169, 176, 183, 189 ❄ Radius: 16m @ 176 ❄ Dimensions: 132-98-120 ❄ Weight per ski: 1860g New for this season, the QST 98 replaces the QST 99. Aside from micro-fiddling with the width, the new ski has noticeably more rocker and sidecut, plus feels a little softer throughout. Since Salomon also have the stiffer, blastier Stance in this width, the QST is aiming squarely at those wanting a softer, more playful freeride-focused ride. The rocker will make it easier to pivot in soft snow and crud, but we’ll need to see how the softer tip and tail handles hardpack.

It’s a wood-cored, carbonstringered construction, so we’re expecting decent control and torsional strength. salomon.com

Nordica Enforcer 104 Free £540 ❄ Lengths: 165, 172, 179, 186, 191 ❄ Radius: 18.5m @ 179 ❄ Dimensions: 135-104-124 @ 186 ❄ Weight per ski: 2125g @ 186 Our 2020 Freeride Ski of the Year returns with a new graphic and the same impressive balance and stability to put grins aplenty on freeride faces.

Playful yet powerful, it comes with Nordica’s Energy 2 Titanium construction – a race-inspired full wood core with two metal sheets that give fantastic topend power transmission, torsional stability and edge grip.

A genuinely intuitive all-rounder, the combination of that superbly communicative wood core with slightly softer tails makes for a responsive, forgiving and megamanageable ski. With a snappy radius and rocker profile that changes with each length, the feel is consistent. “Open it up on the piste, drop that hip and it grips like a limpet, with great mid-foot stability,” said Lee. Also in 110 and 115. nordica.com

Völkl Blaze 94 £580 ❄ Lengths: 165, 172, 179, 186 ❄ Radius: 17m @ 179 ❄ Dimensions: 134-94-116 ❄ Weight per ski: 1570g @ 179 The smile-inducing Blaze range blasted into the line-up last winter with a massive injection of freeride fresh air. Light, playful and designed to do it all, the middle child of the Blaze range – the 94 – came up trumps for us due to its straight-up versatility. Quick, turny and super playful, the 3D radius sidecut really contributes to its agile nature. “This thing just encourages shorter radius turn shapes,” says Rob. “Lightweight and good in soft and light chop, it’s a playful ski laden with top tech.”

The titanal under the binding area gives strength where you need it and the new suspension tip and tail ensure smooth turn initiation and a fun, lively flex. “If you are looking for a light playful poppy freeride ski that loves a spot of touring then stop right here,” says Lee. “The Blaze 94 is a fun, pivoty ski with plenty of grip underfoot.” voelkl.com

Ogso Marinelli £600 ❄ Lengths: 162, 170, 178, 186, 194 ❄ Radius: 20m @ 178 ❄ Dimensions: 135-104-120 @ 178 ❄ Weight per ski: 2100g @ 178 Ogso has entered the market with two lines: Medium Lights (Freeride) and Ultra Lights (Touring) – the Marinelli is a Medium. Tester Chrigl jumped on a pair and has this to say: “The spoonshaped tip delivers what its appearance promises – the float in powder and chop was unrivalled for the waist width.

Equally, on soft corduroy pistes, the Marinellis felt surfy and right at home. It turned well and allowed for adjustment throughout the arc of the turn. Where it felt less certain was on hardpack and ice. For a poplar ski with a sturdy flex I had expected a grippier ride on edge.” ogso-mountain-essentials. com

Wed’ze FR 500 Slash 100 £299 including bindings, £250 w/o ❄ Lengths: 174, 183 ❄ Radius: 17m @ 183 ❄ Dimensions: 133-100-124 ❄ Weight per ski: 3295g with bindings Accessible, affordable and flippin’ awesome – the Slash 100 is a superb gateway freeride ski. Nimble, fun and speedy, it’s a fine-looking, fully rockered, floaty ski that oozes the freeride fun factor.

Chrigl put it to the test in Chamonix last winter and was super impressed: “Onpiste the short 17m radius and the energetic rebound in the flex makes it super reactive. It was mega fun.

Side-hits, tight carves, spins and changeable snow were a hoot. For a beginner or intermediate this would be a fantastic resort messaround. And for a more advanced skier it has a playful side but still handles speed.” decathlon.com

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WOMEN’S FREERIDE SKIS EDITO CHOICRS’ E

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Atomic Maven 93 C £550

Rossignol Black Ops Rallybird £580

❄ Lengths: 156, 164, 172 ❄ Radius: 17.9m @ 172 ❄ Dimensions: 127.5-94-111.5 @ 172 ❄ Weight per ski: 1630g @ 172 Designed in America and built in Austria, the introduction of Atomic’s new Maven series is one of the biggest female all-mountain/freeride ski stories this winter. Developed through extensive testing, it replaces the harder snow-oriented Vantage to deliver performance and versatility for all snow conditions, terrain and skier types. Gear Ed Soph reckons the Maven 93 C is the one to go for if you’re looking for a freeride ski that can seek out fresh laps in the sidecountry in the morning, rip up the resort in the afternoon, and hike and ride with the best of them all winter.

Versatility is the name of the game here and it comes courtesy of Atomic’s OMatic core, which provides energy, flex and stability throughout the ski.

Soph skied it in a full whiteout and complex Scottish conditions and was really impressed by the wide HRZN Tech tips that provided excellent float in fresh snow and crud. atomic.com

❄ Lengths: 154, 162, 170 ❄ Radius: 13m @ 162 ❄ Dimensions: 137-101-127 @ 162 ❄ Weight per ski: 1700g @ 162 With their sustainably sourced wood cores and recycled steel edges, Rossignol’s Black Ops series is a multi-talented bunch that command you ‘Ride Free’ (that’s the slogan for Rossi’s freeride skis). Described by our female testers as a ‘friendly freeride ski’, the Rallybird ripped around the variable conditions at last year’s Ski Test, sailing through the crud with fluidity, carving up the piste with stability, and popping off bumps and jumps with just the right amount of spring. Super accessible for the progressing freeride skier, it’s a confidence-inspiring and well-balanced steed for taking on more challenging terrain. At 101mm underfoot with a 13m radius in the 162cm version we tested, it’s über turny for tight corridors but can still surf through wider turns when you reach those open powder fields. The narrower Stargazer is another cracking Black Ops offering if you want to scale it back, with an even more reassuring rig. rossignol.com

Atomic’s new Maven series is one of the biggest female all-mountain/freeride ski stories this winter Head Kore 91 W £700 including bindings

Völkl Secret 96 £640 ❄ Lengths: 149, 156, 163, 170 ❄ Radius: 14m @ 163 ❄ Dimensions: 135-96-119 ❄ Weight per ski: 1840g @ 163

❄ Lengths: 149, 156, 163, 170 ❄ Radius: 14.7m @ 170 ❄ Dimensions: 130-91-113 ❄ Weight per ski: N/A

ONE T WATC O H

Redesigned and reinvented, the Kore 91 W looks better than ever. Winner of multiple awards in its previous life as the Kore 93 W, this new version comes with a karuba/ poplar wood core, 2mm off the waist and new lengths to balance stability and playfulness. The original was nimble and balanced, but demanded solid input; the new construction will make this latest version even lighter, funner and, crucially, more accessible to a wider range of skiers.

Perfect for a whole range of intermediate to advanced riders looking to push their performance in crud, pow and hardpack, this is a seriously impressive, high-tech, lightweight super-charger. head.com

ONE T WATC O H

We’re psyched to see the brand spankin’ new Secret 96 added to the line-up for winter 2022. A replacement for the Secret 92, the new 96 drops in this winter with a wider underfoot platform but a narrower centre radius, designed to make it even more responsive and versatile. Laden with tech, including a tailored titanal frame, tailored carbon tips and Völkl’s 3D radius sidecut, this is a ski designed to adapt to the individual. Longer lengths come with more metal so they offer increased power and damping for aggressive skiers, while the strategically placed carbon strands ensure the ski responds precisely when fired into the turn. As you move through those arcs, the flex will get softer and the ride more playful and flowy. A muted topsheet keeps things stealthy. voelkl.com

Blizzard Sheeva 10 £475 ❄ Lengths: 156, 164, 172, 180 ❄ Radius: 14.5m @ 164 ❄ Dimensions: 131.5-102-121.5 @ 164 ❄ Weight per ski: 1760g Easy to direct and quick to respond, the Sheeva 10 returns in the same perfectly proportioned package, designed to deal with a wide variety of snow conditions. Light enough to get onto an edge at ease, yet solid enough to hold right through the fastest and longest of turns, the Sheeva 10 is equal parts stable and nimble, playful and forgiving. The girthy waist means it’s most at home out of bounds in the soft stuff, but we continue to be impressed by its ability to switch things up in resort too. Designed by women, for women – it’s great value too. blizzard-tecnica.com www.fall-line.co.uk 61

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WOMEN’S FREERIDE SKIS Dynastar M-Pro 99 W £500

Elan Ripstick 94 W £560

Fischer Ranger 94 FR WS £430

❄ Lengths: 154, 162, 170, 178 ❄ Radius: 13m @ 162 ❄ Dimensions: 126-98-116 ❄ Weight per ski: 1550g

❄ Lengths: 146, 154, 162, 170, 178 ❄ Radius: 16.2m @ 170 ❄ Dimensions: 136-94-110 ❄ Weight per ski: 1570g @ 170

❄ Lengths: 153, 161, 169, 177 ❄ Radius: 16m @ 169 ❄ Dimensions: 125-91-116 ❄ Weight per ski: 1750g @ 169

Packed full of new tech that we’re itching to let rip, the M-Pro 99 W’s hybrid poplar/PU core combines the power and agility of wood with the damping properties of PU. A fulllength Ti (metal) layer is strategically cut into a funky shape to channel power where it’s needed.

One of the few women’s skis to come in a 178 with a specifically proportioned 20m radius for that length, the M-Pro 99 W should be a great choice for taller female skiers. Like the look but keen for something a touch narrower? The M-Pro 90 W may be the rig for your gig. dynastar.com

The multi-award-winning Ripstick 94 W – and one of Editor Nicola’s favourite skis of all time – returns with Elan’s Amphibio Carbon Line Tech.

You’re probably already aware that Ripsticks have a specific left and right ski, and Elan have taken their asymmetrical tech to the next level by placing carbon reinforcements on the inside of the skis and carbon rods into the wood core. It all adds up to the lightest, most stable and powerful version of the Ripstick yet. Wide up front, the soft rockered tip gives float in all but the deepest of pow, while the narrow waist and energetic tail provide snap and maneuverability on harder terrain and steeps. It also comes in 102 and 88. elanskis.com

The perky pink and purple WS version of the Ranger 94 FR may not be a women’s-specific ski per se, but it hints at its vibrant freeride flair. The introduction of Fischer’s genderless skis last winter signaled the departure of the female My Ranger range, opening up these previously male-centric all-mountain/ freeride blasters to us ladies.

The Ranger 94 FR WS’s twin tip construction and freeride rocker profile shows the freestyle DNA of this ski, which makes it great for slashing through the soft stuff and launching off backcountry booters. An exceptionally good-value freeride rig for creative skiers, particularly fliptastic females transitioning from a freestyle background. Scale up to the 102 FR WS for those deliciously deep days. fischersports.com

K2 Reckoner 92 Alliance £300

Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free £540

Salomon QST Lumen 99 £500

❄ Lengths: 149, 159, 169 ❄ Radius: 14.6m @ 159 ❄ Dimensions: 124-92-114 ❄ Weight per ski: N/A

❄ Lengths: 158, 165, 172, 179 ❄ Radius: 16.5m @ 172 ❄ Dimensions: 134-104-123 @ 172 ❄ Weight per ski: 1790g @ 172

❄ Lengths: 153, 159, 167, 174 ❄ Radius: 19m @ 167 ❄ Dimensions: 134-99-116 ❄ Weight per ski: 1700g @ 167

The brand new K2 Reckoner 92 Alliance drops into winter 2022 as a wicked gateway freeride/freestyle ski offering incredible value in a mega-versatile package. Designed to make all-mountain shredding super accessible and fun, this playful twin tip will be happiest shredding off the side and hitting up natural features rather than tearing up big mountain freeride terrain. A lightweight aspen veneer core, all-terrain twin rocker and snappy turning radius make it ideal for playful creative skiers looking for an easy-to-getto-grips-with ski. At just £300, it’s seriously great value. Sick topsheet too.

K2snow.com

Strong freeriders looking for a bit more width to make those deeper days all the more epic will want to get on board the new Santa Ana 104 Free. With less metal than her slimmer sisters, but more flexibility and bounce, it’s most at home in softer conditions. The rocker profile gives the tip and tail a pronounced rise for full-blown floatage on pow-pow days or when sailing over chop. Girthy she may be, but still packs a punchy performance on regular days when pistes are crunchy.

Eyebrow-raisingly obliging across the full spectrum of conditions for such a wide ski, the 104 Free earned herself a heap of pals among female testers. nordica.com

Back with a new stealthy silver topsheet, the QST Lumen 99 drops into this winter with the same supercharged freeride flavour we’ve grown to love over the years.

With a full wood lightweight poplar core, a layer of flax with carbon running through, cork inserts at the tip and reduced taper, the QST Lumen 99 is a springy ski with snappy turning power and excellent vibration-absorbing capabilities. Easy to manage and responsive on all terrain, it’s ideal for first-time freeriders and experienced rippers alike. salomon.com

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Völkl Blaze 86 £540 ❄ Lengths: 146, 152, 159, 166 ❄ Radius: 13.3m @ 166 ❄ Dimensions: 129-86-111 ❄ Weight per ski: 1380g @ 166 Yeah, yeah we know. 86mm underfoot definitely feels on the skinnier side for a ‘freeride’ ski, but hear us out because the new Blaze 86 really does have what it takes to mix it in a whole heap of off-piste terrain. A true all-rounder, it’s a lightweight, nimble ski with a profile that makes it more than capable of dealing with boot-top fresh, windblown hardpack and late-afternoon chop.

The wide shovel and suspension tip and tail brush off inconsistent snow with ease, and Völkl’s 3D-radius sidecut enables the full spectrum of turn shapes. Weighing in at just 1380g in a 166 with optional Blaze-specific skins, Soph reckons it’s the perfect Scottish freeride ski – a versatile rig that’s happy to tour, explore beyond the ropes and rip up the resort. Size up to the Blaze 96 or 106 if you’re anticipating deeper days. voelkl.com

THE BAVARIAN BESTSELLER, PIONEERED WITH NEW TAILORED TECHNOLOGIES

REBORN! How do you improve a legend?

You retain the features that made the ski famous and add the latest innovations.

A true all-rounder, it’s a lightweight, nimble ski Wed’ze FR 500 Patrol 95 W £299 including bindings, £250 w/o ❄ Lengths: 165, 175 ❄ Radius: 18m @ 175 ❄ Dimensions: 129-89-113 ❄ Weight per ski: 1925g @ 175 Versatile and outstandingly good value, the FR 500 Patrol 95 W is a great option for budget-conscious newbies and aspirational female freeriders alike. A traditional-shaped freeride ski, the light yet solid Patrol 95 responds best when let off the leash to run free and do its thing. Reassuring and adaptable, it turns tightly in the trees, rebounds energetically on-piste and arcs out the longest of GS carves with supreme confidence. Looking for a more out-and-out freeride ski? The wider freestyle-inspired FR 500 Slash 100 W offers a more surfy kinda ride. decathlon.com

Versatile and outstandingly good value… great for budget-conscious newbies

M6 MANTRA With the new M6 Mantra we introduce the next generation of All Mountain Freeride Skis: the new models offer more stability, liveliness, maneuverability and best of all greater versatility, making the mountain more fun both on and off the piste.

VOELKL.COM

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FAT SKIS

Fat floats. Fact. So get buoyant in even the shallowest powder on these fab fatties

BUYER’S

BETA

CHRIGL LUTHY’S GUIDE TO FAT SKIS Who are you calling fat?! It’s all relative, I suppose and fat skis are unquestionably at the top of the food chain. Their waists measure from 105mm at the skinnier end to a lard-assed 130mm-plus, and they plane nearer the surface, reducing overall friction, meaning that fat is also FAST. Being on top of the fresh stuff doesn’t only mean they glide faster either, it also grants them extra manoeuvrability. This is why fat skis wearers are often regarded by ‘purists’ as cheaters, because the chubbers make turning in deeper snow a doddle. Staying up on top allows for quicker pivots and with less input. This is also why they appeal to those who have less experience of deeper snow conditions. It’s funny, fat skis are often marketed as ‘expert’ models, but the truth is, if you are new to deep snow, these are the tools that will help the most (in the short term at least).

If, however, you want to ‘get your pro on’, they will open doors for your off-piste progression. The extra stability and speed they offer in tricky snow, the mega landing platform they have for stomping tricks or cliffs, and the increased width underfoot for big slarvey slashy turns are all reasons why they are designed like they are.

These days fat skis are cleverer than ever.

Rocker profiles make them feel less cumbersome on-piste, as do new dampening technologies so they don’t chatter. Now, more than ever, it’s a good time to leave those purists in your big fat wake.

THINGS TO CONSIDER ❄ Hard piste performance and short turns will suffer.

There is no denying this. How fat you go depends on how much you value the qualities they will bring you in certain conditions.

As for grip in couloirs, if you can’t get enough edge grip on a ski with only a cm more width, then you probably shouldn’t be there! ❄ Stiffness. More than width, this will really affect how easy a ski is to live with. Softer fat skis, often referred to as ‘noodles’, can make everything on the mountain more fun… except for going fast. A fat ski that is too stiff, unless you are truly hauling ass, will be utterly soul-destroying on most slopes. ❄ Length. You may be able to size down compared to your typical 100mm underfoot, all-mountain/freeride-preferred ski length. ❄ Rocker-profile, camber, twin-tip and mounting point – these are all key elements beyond the simple waist width measurement. If you want it to feel looser, aim for more rocker, even going for reverse camber. More traditionally (rear) mounted skis will need to have their tips driven, while more centrally mounted options are pivotable from a more neutral stance. ❄ Turning radius. A tighter radius will mean it is more reactive but also potentially more fidgety. ❄ Weight. Some lightweight 116mm fatties are lighter than 102mm freeride models, so don’t be afraid to skin/bootpack touring lines.

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Elan Ripstick 106 Black Edition £730 ❄ Lengths: 164, 172, 180, 188 ❄ Radius: 18.1m @ 180 ❄ Dimensions: 143-106-120 ❄ Weight per ski: 1900g @ 180

In our experience, the Black Edition Ripsticks offer about 15-20% more energy over the standard green models and this 106 Black Edition is no exception. Where the regular 106 has plenty of grip and balance, and acceleration even, the Black Edition seems to add more rebound energy.

As tester Chrigl says: “If you are familiar with mountain biking, I would say it is akin to running slightly higher pressure in your shock, and removing some rebound dampening. The effect is not very noticeable at slower speeds, which keeps the Ripstick Black useable at lower speeds and energy inputs, but as you wind it up, this Ripstick starts getting rowdier, and you have to up your game to match it.” It has a high speed limit in almost all snow conditions, despite being metal free (which we like). The Amphibio tech and the rocker profile keep the Ripstick family nicely pivotable in tighter spots. This is a dynamic freeride ski that will put a smile on the face of more advanced riders as it is so damn capable. Even the groomers are fair game with a relatively short 18m-ish radius. Note that true lengths in the Ripstick family are a few cms shorter than stated. elanskis.com

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Wed’ze FR 900 Pow Chaser 115 £350 w/o, £399 with bindings

❄ Lengths: 177, 186 ❄ Radius: 17m @ 186 ❄ Dimensions: 139-115-134 ❄ Weight per ski: 2135g w/o, 3575g with bindings Talk about a revolution! Chrigl put Wed’ze’s FR 900 Pow Chaser 115 to the test in Chamonix last season and was blown away by its performance. “Stable and predictable at speed yet still happy to skid and drift on demand, the Pow Chaser was like a bloodhound ripping around the expansive bowls at the Grands Montets, seeking out lips and drops and other features to play on”.

While the forgiving soft-to-medium flex makes the Pow Chaser 115 a more accessible ski than others in this category, Chrigl claims it will still work well for more advanced and/or heavier skiers as the flex is very well designed, predictable and consistent.

“This ski has bags of energy, pop and edge grip and, despite the flex softening towards the tips and tails, there are no nasty surprises where the ski bends dramatically – no hinge points. Underfoot the slightly less rigid flex than some rivals also translates to great on-snow feel and vibration dampening”. Fun and forgiving yet reliable and capable, the Pow Chaser 115 is a genuine triumph – a kick-ass, affordable ski that delivers all over the mountain. decathlon.com

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MEN’S FAT SKIS

Another absolute beast of a ski made by a big mountain skier, for big mountain skiers

Salomon QST Blank £750

Scott Pure £590 ❄ Lengths: 182, 190 ❄ Radius: 21m @ 182 ❄ Dimensions: 142-109-128 @ 182 ❄ Weight per ski: 1850g @ 182

❄ Lengths: 176, 186, 194 ❄ Radius: 17m @ 186 ❄ Dimensions: 138-112-127 ❄ Weight per ski: 2200g

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The widest soft snoworiented ski in the lineup, the brand spankin’ new QST Blank looks like the perfect powder partner for those dreamy deep days we all deserve this winter. An absolute weapon at 112mm underfoot, it replaces the QST 118 and has been designed in conjunction with Chris Rubens and Whistler’s Blank Collective. Created to be more accessible, it still promises to be one big time pillowpopping, steep slaying, powder player. salomon.com

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Scott’s new Pure ski is another absolute beast of a ski made by a big mountain skier, for big mountain skiers. Designed by Swiss freeskiing legend Jérémie Heitz, the 109mm underfoot new Pure features a similar core construction as Scott’s SuperGuide Freetour (lightweight paulownia/ beech with carbon fibre and aramid), but crucially comes with a layer of pre-shaped titanal and a sandwich sidewall construction for maximo charging. Direct, responsive, powerful yet not too heavy, it’s got all the cred you need to tick off those bucket list lines in the backcountry. scott-sports.com

Armada ARV 106 £540 ❄ Lengths: 172, 180, 188 ❄ Radius: 20.5m @ 180 ❄ Dimensions: 134-106-124 ❄ Weight per ski: 2125g @ 180 Arguably the ‘funnest’ ski of all time, the ARV 106 is back with a graphic update to inject a whole new level of epicness into your fat freeride game. Last winter’s full redesign from the bottom up has made the latest version of this versatile all-mountain freestyle ski the most playful yet. We’re psyched to see the Smear Tech upgrade in the tip and tail, which should make soft snow sessions buttery smooth and reduce any potential hook-ups.

Other exciting new additions include ash stringers for increased pop in the pow and park, and reinforced AR75 sidewalls designed to reduce high-speed chatter when hitting up features or grinding groomers. Pow, kneedeep fresh, spring slush or carvy couderoy, this has all the cred to deliver a whoop-tastic ride all over the mountain. armadaskis.com www.fall-line.co.uk 65

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MEN’S FAT SKIS Atomic Bent Chetler 120 £600

Black Crows Anima £660

DPS Pagoda 112 RP £1,199

❄ Lengths: 176, 184, 192 ❄ Radius: 19m @ 184 ❄ Dimensions: 143-120-134 @ 184 ❄ Weight per ski: 1800g @ 184

❄ Lengths: 176.6, 182.1, 189.2, 194.4 ❄ Radius: 19m ❄ Dimensions: 145-115-135 ❄ Weight per ski: 2250g @ 182.1

One of the best-looking and most playful skis of all time, the multi-award-winning Bent Chetler 120 is absolutely prime for deep-pow slashing and pillow bashing. This latest version combines Atomic’s Dura Cap Sidewall construction with HRZN Tech that offers more surface area in the tip and tail for improved float and less tip deflection when smashing through chop and crud. Weighing 1800g in 184cm, this is the lightest ski in our fat line-up, making it super manoeuvrable in the trees and ideal for hike and ride adventures when you need to earn those deep turns and fresh lines. A faceshotseeking legend. Get after it. atomic.com

Whether you’re looking to tackle technical highconsequence terrain in the big mountains or rip big wide open faces on hard snow, you’re going to need a ski that will hold your line at all speeds and the Anima has been designed to do exactly that. The crew at Black Crows tweaked the sidecut to improve edge hold and stiffened up the flex in the tip and tail last winter to make this even more stable, whether you’re in high or low-speed mode.

Throw in a lardy 115m waist, a smattering of camber underfoot and a deep double rocker, and it all adds up to a hard-charging rig. black-crows.com

❄ Lengths: 158, 168, 178, 184, 189 ❄ Radius: 15m ❄ Dimensions: 140-112-127 @ 184 ❄ Weight per ski: 1920g @ 184

Faction Dictator 4.0 £679

K2 Mindbender 108 Ti £630

Völkl Katana 108 £675

❄ Lengths: 179, 185, 191 ❄ Radius: 23m @ 185 ❄ Dimensions: 141-116-131 ❄ Weight per ski: 2100g @ 185

❄ Lengths: 172, 179, 186, 193 ❄ Radius: 22.9m @ 186 ❄ Dimensions: 136-108-125 ❄ Weight per ski: N/A

❄ Lengths: 170, 177, 184, 191 ❄ Radius: 19m @ 184 ❄ Dimensions: 146-108-129 ❄ Weight per ski: 2298g @ 184

The weapon of choice for freeride legends Sam Anthamatten and Andrew Pollard, the re-designed yellow peril – aka the Dictator 4.0 – is a flat-tail big mountain ski designed for all-out charging. Now made in Austria with the highest quality construction and materials, it features the same construction as last year, which saw the addition of an elliptical radius sidecut for easier turn initiation.

Dual titanal layers keep you locked and loaded when you’re sending big backcountry booters, and a 116mm waist provides all the float you’ll ever need on those dreamy deep days. factionskis.com

At 108mm underfoot, the Mindbender 108 Ti is plenty wide enough to see most of us through anything the sky can deliver. The Y-shaped Titanal layer allows the nose to flex easier than a solid sheet, and we found it turned harder than the drawn-out 23m radius on the spec sheet. Chrigl’s summary? “It’s got that damp Ti feel, aka edge grip and stability, but comes with a relatively loose tail, meaning that you can switch to drift at any time.

Basically it’s stable where it needs to be, making it an ideal freeride comp ski.”

Looking for even more girth? Size up to the 116C for those bucket-list deep days. k2snow.com

Looking for a dreamy-ass ski for that once-in-alifetime deep-powder trip?

Then look no further my faceshot-seeking friends.

A direct replacement for the Wailer 112 RP, this features the same multi-awardwinning deep rockers and spoony shape that make DPS skis so highly rated.

With its unique construction (a horizontally layered core combining ash/aspen/ poplar wood wrapped with carbon), 15m turning radius, and low weight, it’s quick in the trees, floats in the deepest of fluff, yet still feels damp in firmer conditions. dpsskis.com

Remember the Katana?

Well, it’s back. Kind of…

Lighter, narrower underfoot and more tapered than its predecessor, the Katana 108 may be living its most accessible life yet but it’s still a straight-up solid beast.

The fattest ski in Völkl’s current ‘all-mountain/ freeride’ line-up, this big mountain player with titanal frame construction is an ideal option for strong and aggressive freeriders. With its subtle deep rocker lines, smattering of camber, Völkl’s 3D radius sidecut, stiff tips and soft tail flex pattern, this can ‘do’ lively, but it’s happiest when it’s pedal to the metal. voelkl.com

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Ripstick Black Edition 96

The search for skis that surf powder on a storm day and devour hardpack weeks after a storm is over.

elanskis.com

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WOMEN’S FAT SKIS

Black Crows Anima Birdie £660 ❄ Lengths: 176.6, 182.1 ❄ Radius: 19m ❄ Dimensions: 145-115-135 ❄ Weight per ski: 2250g A fat freeride beast with a freestyle edge, the Anima Birdie features the same construction as the men’s version, designed to make the ski softer, more playful and more accessible.

The double rocker profile with traditional camber underfoot gives it a stable yet pivoty feel,

and the relaxed tail allows you to shave off speed in double-quick time. The relatively stiff flex and longer sidecut help you hang on in hard snow, and the enlarged tip sails through the soft stuff.

Amy is a big fan: “the ski seemed to float effortlessly across the chopped up snow at last year’s Ski Test. I was surprised at how light and turny the Anima Birdie felt, despite skiing it in the 182.1 length. I usually ski around 163cm so was

Faction Dictator 3.0X £629 ❄ Lengths: 164, 172 ❄ Radius: 18m @172 ❄ Dimensions: 134-106-124 ❄ Weight per ski: 1970g @172 The Dictator 3.0X is a classic freeride flat tail with a poplar wood core running tip to tail and two layers of titanal.

Combine this with a lardy 106mm platform underfoot and you’re looking at a big-ass ski that likes to roll from edge to edge, hard and fast.

Incredible in wide open spaces it chews up any terrain in its path but still reacts at high speeds thanks to its 16m radius. Amy was impressed by its versatility at last year’s Test: “despite bulldozing through the chop it was still maneuverable in the tight rocky/heathery sections that dominated the Scottish test terrain”.

Responsive and controllable yet with real power and purpose, the Dictator 3.0X is a ski for

Line Pandora 110 £540 ❄ Lengths: 162, 170, 178 ❄ Radius: 16.5m ❄ Dimensions: 144-110-130 ❄ Weight per ski: 1420g With a significant tip and tail rocker, the Pandora 110 is built for floatastic freeride times, while the

lightweight paulownia/maple Partly Cloudy core allow you to put the power down at will. Line’s THC construction with carbon, aramid and fibreglass keep this lightweight rocket ship smooth and damp when conditions get gnarly – aka most days!

The 16.5m radius is suitably balanced to provide

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worried that the two available sizes may be too large, but the 182.1cm was actually super compliant. While the Anima Birdie is undeniably built for creative big mountain riding in wild open spaces, it’s still incredibly maneuverable and shmeered through tight turns when asked”.

A super-smooth, buttery and intuitive ride that would suit an instinctive, advanced off-piste skier. black-crows.com

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experienced off-piste riders whose charging style lies at the hard and fast end of the spectrum.

From sidecountry party laps with your crew to seizing the moment when big lines come into condition, this ski is designed to facilitate your objective. “Joyous to ride and so darn cool looking, the Dictator 3.0X makes you ski like a badass, line after big mountain line,” says Amy. factionskis.com

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pivot when you’re floating down pillow lines, but still allows you to hold firm when you’re ripping long freeride turns on wide open powder faces.

The lightest ski in our Fat line-up, the Pandora 110 looks set for groovy greatness when she drops in this winter. lineskis.com

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PHOT0 OSKAR HALL

Faction’s all-new Dictator 3.0X is destined to become a fat fave among female freeriders bossing the big mountains

Völkl Blaze 106 £625

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Armada ARW 106 UL £540 ❄ Lengths: 164, 172, 180, 188 ❄ Radius: 19.5m @172 ❄ Dimensions: 132-106-121 @ 172 ❄ Weight per ski: 1750g @ 172 Rather than producing separate skis for men and women, Armada are following Fischer’s 2021 lead by taking a ‘genderless’ approach to their ARW collection this winter. The all-new ARW 106 UL is definitely the pick of the bunch – a stunning looking, super-light versatile

Scott Scrapper 105 W £535 ❄ Lengths: 167, 175 ❄ Radius: 20m @ 167 ❄ Dimensions: 132-99-120 ❄ Weight per ski: 1580g @ 167 The soft and light air-channeled wood core construction is unique to the women’s-specific Scrapper 105 and allows progressive female freeriders to really feel like they’re in charge of the ski, rather than the other way round. Throw

freeride/freestyle ski with a lightweight caruba wood core and monster freestyle rocker. Ultra light and floaty it may be, but with Armada’s Smear Tech on the base and beveled tips and tails it’s got all the cred to retain strength and dampness for managing cruddy off-piste conditions too. Quick to respond if you need to switch things up on pillows or in the trees, this quiver killing all-mountain twin comes in a choice of lengths from 164cm to 188cm, and promises to be one seriously playful, fun and inclusive freeride ski. armadaskis.com

into the mix the 3D sidecut and some lightweight carbon stringers and you’re looking at a light and really responsive ski. The Scrapper 105 W’s twin-tip rocker profile allows for maximum float and fun, and its nimble nature begs to be slashed and playfully tested.

If you’re looking to get rowdy or send your first cliff drop, then the Scrapper 105 W’s powerful DNA will give you the confidence you need to give it the backcountry beans. scott-sports.com

❄ Lengths: 158, 165, 172 ❄ Radius: 14m @ 165 ❄ Dimensions: 146-106-128 ❄ Weight per ski: 1600g @ 165 Surprisingly pingy for a chunky ski, this is broad across the nose and tail, but the full wood core construction and lack of metal across the length of the ski ensures it delivers a bendy, responsive and accessible big mountain ride. The titanal binding platform underneath the foot retains good power transmission through the drive phase of the turn, but the central radius of the ski’s 3D radius sidecut is just 14m, meaning shorter turns are easiest to initiate. It all adds up to a surfy yet nippy ski, with a particularly lively tail. Some testers found it unnerving at high speeds, suggesting it needs a strong skier to stay on top and keep in control.

Light and maneuverable, all the skis in the Blaze range have the bonus of being able to double up as hike and ride skis, with skins available pre-cut and a lip on the tip and tail for fitting. If you’re looking for an out-and-out touring ski then Völkl’s Rise range is where it’s at. voelkl.com www.fall-line.co.uk 69

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TOURING SKIS

Veritable vehicles to get you places – and bring you back with a smile on your face

BUYER’S

BETA

MARTIN CHESTER’S GUIDE TO TOURING SKIS Truth is, on a day of pure touring you’ll be going uphill for at least 75% of the time, so we need to consider both uphill and downhill performance in this category. And versatility is the watch word here: when we’re ski touring we don’t always get to dictate terms and conditions.

Traditional touring skis are skinny and straight. These days we tend to focus more on quality skiing, so we all put on a bit of weight and girth a couple of seasons ago. Very few people took it wider than 110mm underfoot, and 105mm wide is about the top end of this category. Now we’ve come of age and shed the extra width, recognising the sweet spot sits between 85 to 95mm.

THINGS TO CONSIDER ❄ What kind of ski mountaineer are you?

An uphill athlete, a sideways traverser or an adventure skier who’ll stop at nothing? ❄ Is it all about the up and big vertical?

Lightweight carbon lay-ups, as skinny as you dare, will shave grams off your feet. But beware: just like a sports car, stripping a ski back to basics can lead to a rattly ride. Pair them with hybrid race boots and race tech bindings. ❄ Versatility: If you’ll be ‘coming round the mountain’ rather than sprinting up or hooning down, you want an all-round touring ski. Aim at 95mm underfoot for starters. These are likely to be relatively straight, so don’t be surprised at a relatively long turn radius and seemingly little sidecut. A lightweight wood core will add spaniel-like spring, with little extra load. Most people like an early rise or progressive rocker in the tip. Pair them with a mid-range pin binding to suit you and your touring boots. ❄ All about the skiing? Adding a bit of weight and shape to all the features above will be worth the extra effort it takes to punt them uphill. At 100mm-plus underfoot, these are likely to sport a wood core, stiffer construction, maybe a bit more sidecut, or at least a shapely shovel to keep you floating. If you plan to spend a bit of time on the lifts, a burly binding like the Shift or Duke PT will be the ideal partner. ❄ Which skis? You can go touring on just about any ski, so long as you fit the right binding, so don’t be bamboozled by weight.

Ripping it down on a ski you love will be worth the extra effort it takes to push it uphill.

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Black Diamond Cirque 84 £550 ❄ Lengths: 157, 164, 171, 178 ❄ Radius: 19.5m @ 171 ❄ Dimensions: 115-84-104 @ 171 ❄ Weight per ski: 1030g @ 171

A classic lightweight mountaineering ski designed for long approaches, speedy ascents and technical descents in the high alpine. With a full-length paulownia wood core, pre-preg carbon fibre lay-up, versatile 84mm width and ‘all-conditions’ tip rise, it’s built to deliver a balanced downhill experience. Iain’s skied them in just about every condition and taken

them down some of the gnarliest lines Scotland has to offer. He says: “Having spent 20-plus days touring on the Cirque 84s, they have become my go-to pair for all Scottish missions. Light enough for long approaches on skins, or steep bootpacks and even mixed climbs with skis on my back, they’re also stable enough that I could confidently ski on steep terrain above serious exposure. If you’re looking for a one-ski quiver, the Cirque 84 paired with a lightweight pin binding is your answer.” Also in 78. blackdiamondequipment.com

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Scott Superguide 95 £525 ❄ Lengths: 162, 170, 178, 184 ❄ Radius: 21m @ 178 ❄ Dimensions: 130-95-115 @ 178 ❄ Weight per ski: 1440g @ 178 Last year the Superguide Freetour walked away with the honours, but this year the props go to the workhorse in the range, the Superguide 95. Scott have always made dependable solid touring skis to take you on your most epic of journeys, and this one is arguably their best yet. Back with an updated and slicker topsheet, at 1440g it’s a smooth operator on the ups. The skins are both a joy to fit and use with their integrated tip clips – no knocking tip bails off on tricky transitions here.

Like its bigger brother, the Freetour, the 95 uses a paulownia wood core with beech stringers to keep things lively underfoot, with zero degree carbon stringers to keep the ski solid and stable when the going gets tough. This makes it feel more planted when it comes to the descent. With more freeride DNA than flappy touring feels, despite its low weight, it’s punchy in the shovel and can be driven hard. A balanced flex through the length of the ski gives a smooth ride and the elliptical shape adds grunt to the torsion of the ski, which means edge grip on steeper/harder ground is very reassuring.

The ultimate versatile touring ski. scott-sports.com

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Blizzard Zero G Approach 94 £550 ❄ Lengths: 157, 164, 171, 178, 185 ❄ Radius: 18m @ 171 ❄ Dimensions: 128-94-111.5 ❄ Weight per ski: 1300g The new Zero G Approach collection features two new skis – the Zero G Approach 84 and our pick of the pair, the Zero G Approach 94. More accessible

than the original, it also comes in at £80 less than the undiluted version, making it ideal for those looking to get a foothold in the backcountry. A lighter construction and softer flex makes for a more playful ride, yet it still carries a solid 94mm underfoot. By reducing the amount of carbon fibre, it becomes less stiff, and the slightly tighter radius also makes it easier to control in narrow chutes and tricky snow. blizzard-tecnica.com

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MEN’S TOURING SKIS

ONE T WATC O H

Dynafit Radical 88 Ski Set £950

Armada Tracer 98 £540

Atomic Backland 86 SL £480

❄ Lengths: 158, 166, 174, 182 ❄ Radius: 20.5m @ 174 ❄ Dimensions: 121-88-110 ❄ Weight per ski: 1300g @ 174

❄ Lengths: 164, 172, 180, 188 ❄ Radius: 18m ❄ Dimensions: 132-98-124 ❄ Weight per ski: 1575g @ 180

❄ Lengths: 158, 165, 172, 179 ❄ Radius: 16m @ 165 ❄ Dimensions: 116-86-104.5 @ 165 ❄ Weight per ski: 1080g @ 165

Pairing touring skis with the right bindings and skins can be a right old faff. And an expensive one at that. If you’re keen to spend less time researching kit and more time actually skiing, then Dynafit’s new ‘Unpack and Ski’ Radical Ski Set may be the stroke of genius you seek. The Set is made up of Dynafit’s new Radical 88 ski, Radical binding and Pomoca skins. Compatibility and quality guaranteed. The new Radical 88 is an all-round, ‘classic’ touring ski with a versatile 88mm waist, lightweight poplar core with carbon speed stringers, long turning radius and full ABS sidewalls. It all adds up to a balanced, dependable, userfriendly package that’s been designed and combined to deal with the demands of a wide range of conditions. A real solid all-rounder. dynafit.com

Atomic Backland 100 £550 ❄ Lengths: 164, 172, 180, 188 ❄ Radius: 19.2m @ 180 ❄ Dimensions: 129.5-100-129 @ 180 ❄ Weight per ski: 1380g @ 180 Bang on for experienced backcountry skiers looking for a beefy yet light and nimble ski that delivers both float and grunt. The carbon backbone runs the length of the ski, giving it supreme edge hold with no extra weight. Push the slightly soft shovel too hard and it may hook up, so chill and let it do its thing. The HRZN Tech in the tip powers through the most challenging of conditions, and the stability from mid-shovel to the rear of the ski delivers alpineesque performance. Lee reckons it skis more like the bombproof Bent Chetler than a twitchy touring rig, so would be ideal for advanced skiers looking for a solid platform that can cope with hardpack and inconsistent crud but is fit for floatage when the deep days roll round. Comes with pre-fit skins. atomic.com

Talk about versatile. The Armada Tracer 98 is a genuinely multi-talented ski that’s equally at home hiking for freshies as it is ripping sidecountry freeride stashes and laying down wide open turns on-piste. ‘The crown jewel’ in Armada’s Tracer series, the caruba core/ durable fibreglass construction with bevelled top edges provides a poppy and lively ride that’s fun and easy to control in tight couloirs, while the layer of adaptive mesh keeps things damp and stable when you want to open it up and unleash the big guns on wide open faces. It really has got that elusive one-skiquiver potential. armadaskis.com

Many will overlook the skinnier 86 SL, favouring the fantabulous 95, 100 or powder-slaying 107 in the Backland range, but quite frankly they’d be fools. This svelte beauty is a powerhouse of fun. With a superlightweight fibreglass construction and wood core, it’s a thoroughbred when it comes to the ascent. Pair this with Atomic’s Backland pin binding and you’ve got a real rocket ship to launch you up the skin track. As for the descent, the carbon backbone provides enough grunt to allow you to let this thing fly. A lightweight ripper that’s effortless to turn. atomic.com

Black Crows Corvus Freebird £670

Black Crows Mentis Freebird £690

❄ Lengths: 176, 183.4, 188.2 ❄ Radius: 21m ❄ Dimensions: 140-107-119 ❄ Weight per ski: 1875g @ 183.4

❄ Lengths: 157.1, 164.3, 171, 178.2 ❄ Radius 19m @ 171 ❄ Dimensions: 110-80-100 ❄ Weight per ski: 1000g

Last winter saw the Corvus Freebird undergo some upgrades including a longer sidecut, less defined tip rocker and more taper at the tail. Big mountain riders will appreciate the addition of the titanal mounting plate underfoot, which should ensure any hybrid Shift/Duke PT-style bindings stay firmly connected to the ski when dropping cliffs.

It all adds up to a supercharged pink rocket that feels solid, stable and durable in all manner of conditions. At 1875g per ski, it’s no lightweight lycra-wearing skier’s weapon of choice, but it’s still mega-manoeuvrable underfoot for such a wide ski. Beauty and a beast? We think so. black-crows.com

Black Crows may be best known for their big-hearted big mountain backcountry approach, but their new touring ski for 2022 is actually an 80mm underfoot ‘fast and light’-style ski – the Mentis Freebird. Weighing in at just 1kg per ski, the new Mentis Freebird replaces the 76mm Vastus Freebird, offering a slightly wider yet still uphill-oriented highperformance training ski that should actually be skiable on the descent. It’s basically a skinny powder ski with a blunt spoon nose, front rocker and long classic camber, which all sounds like heaps of fun.

Time to dig out the Lycra race suit we reckon. black-crows.com www.fall-line.co.uk 71

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MEN’S TOURING SKIS Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95 £650

Blizzard Zero G 95 £630

Dynafit Blacklight 95 £615

❄ Lengths: 162, 169, 176, 183 ❄ Radius: 19m @ 176 ❄ Dimensions: 124-95-113 @ 176 ❄ Weight per ski: 1400g @ 176

❄ Lengths: 157, 164, 171, 178, 185 ❄ Radius: 22m @ 178 ❄ Dimensions: 127-95-111 @ 178 ❄ Weight per ski: 1260g @ 178

❄ Lengths: 165, 172, 178, 184 ❄ Radius: 19.5m @ 172 ❄ Dimensions: 127-95-115 @ 172 ❄ Weight per ski: 1220g @ 172

Covid-19 may have prevented Backcountry Ed Martin from trying out his test pair of Helio Carbon 95s last winter, but he’s ready and raring to put ’em to work when this season rolls around: “At first acquaintance, things are looking good. This is a sleek-looking ski, with a springy camber and elegant early rise 327mm (18.5%) tip rocker. Built in Austria by Blizzard engineers, we’re looking at a light paulownia core, laid up with pre-preg carbon fibre. Shapely and full ABS sidewalls should dampen any carbon chatter yet increase grip all-round the mountain. All of this in a 1.4kg per ski package with a versatile 19m radius. If we get the BD design with the Blizzard performance, I’ll be a happy man.” blackdiamondequipment .com

While all the Zero G models are superlative in their own right, the 95 remains our pick of the bunch.

It’s super speedy on the ascent, but crucially has been designed to make sure you keep up on the down. The carbon Drive 2.0 technology uses a 3D carbon fibre frame with an ultralightweight paulownia wood core to guarantee optimal flex and torsional rigidity. Backcountry Ed Martin is a big fan of the 22m sidecut that “delivers grip all over the mountain and provides a forgiving and catch-free ride, especially in variable snow. The smooth flex and tip-tail rocker gives the spreadable smoothness right round the turn, with the long contact surface improving stability on all types of terrain.”

An uphill charger and a downhill slayer. Also in Race, 85 and 105. blizzard-tecnica.com

Dynastar M-Tour 99 £600

DPS Pagoda Tour 100 RP £1,199

Elan Ripstick Tour 88 £580

❄ Lengths: 162, 170, 178, 186 ❄ Radius: 20m ❄ Dimensions: 127-99-117 ❄ Weight per ski: 1300g

❄ Lengths: 153, 163, 171, 179, 184 ❄ Radius: 15m ❄ Dimensions: 132-100-117 @ 179 ❄ Weight per ski: 1480g @ 179

❄ Lengths: 163, 170, 177, 184 ❄ Radius: 17.7m @ 177 ❄ Dimensions: 128-88-108 @ 177 ❄ Weight per ski: 1330g @ 177

This slick-looking, mega-light, capable and confidenceinspiring ski is essentially a replacement for the legendary Mythic – Dynastar’s popular lightweight carbon-enhanced touring ski that has always excelled on the uphill and charged the descent. The standout feature of the Tour 99 is the fantastically feathery basalt-reinforced hybrid paulownia/PU core that looks set to deliver a damp, light and smooth ride. Steep skiing legend and IFMGA Mountain Guide Vivian Bruchez’s freeride ski of choice, the M-Tour 99 excels in the high mountains when long approaches and technical descents are top of the menu. Also available in the leaner M-Vertical 88. dynastar.com

A superlative ski that drops into winter with an understated style that belies its high-performance construction. The combination of the ash and paulownia wood core, DPS’s proprietary carbon laminate and aerospace grade foam really is top-of-the-heap tech – a totally unique construction created to deliver unsurpassed downhill performance in a super-light ski.

With its wide tips and deep rocker profile, the playful and floaty Pagoda Tour 100 RP is unsurprisingly surfy as hell in the soft stuff, but what’s really impressive is how powerful, smooth and damp it is in crud and harder snow. The 15m turning radius ensure it’s responsive and edge grip is impressive. A smooth operator. dpsskis.com

This season the Blacklight family expands to include two new high-end speed-oriented skis – the women’s-specific Blacklight 88W and the widest offering in the line-up, the Blacklight 95. Weighing in at just 1220g at 172cm, the lightweight Blacklight 95 with paulownia speed core looks set to not only facilitate rapid ascents but also provide the necessary width underfoot that will enable skiers to enjoy those hard-won powder descents.

Combine this with a large-ish turning radius and longer tip rocker, and you’re looking at a ski that’s built to help you get the most out of the big mountain. Fast, powerful and loaded with carbon, it’s an ultralight and dependable weapon. dynafit.com

The Ripstick Tour 88 enjoyed a sort of ‘Bapteme du Feu’ on a tour up to the notoriously steep and mogul-riddled Swiss Wall in the Portes du Soleil last winter, in some changeable slush-to crunch conditions.

Tester Chrigl would typically select a longer length ski, but he found there were real benefits to the 177cm length in the steep moguls, namely how nimble the Ripstick Tour proved to be. “Yes, the Tour’s tips are demonstrably soft, like most Ripsticks, but this seemed only to translate to easier turn initiation, with almost no negative side effects such as flapping or lack of precision,” says Chrigl. “For its weight and flex pattern it is a bewilderingly calm and supportive ski.” elanskis.com

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Faction Agent 3.0 £649

Fischer Hannibal 106 Carbon £645

❄ Lengths: 172, 180, 188 ❄ Radius: 21m @ 180 ❄ Dimensions: 134-106-124 ❄ Weight per ski: 1740g

❄ Lengths: 171, 178, 185 ❄ Radius: 22m @ 178 ❄ Dimensions: 138-106-122 ❄ Weight per ski: 1540g @ 178

With its 106mm waist, 21m radius and progressive shape, the Agent 3.0 is undeniably a descent-oriented backcountry ski, yet still more than capable on the uphill thanks to the combo of the lightweight karuba wood core and full carbon weave. Weighing in at 1740g, it’s on the burlier end of the spectrum, yet it was Sam Anthamatten’s weapon of choice for last winter’s highmountain adventure following the Patrouille des Glaciers route from Zermatt to Verbier.

Lee took the Agent 3.0 for a spin at last year’s Ski Test: “This is a whole heap of fun.

It’s super smooth into the turn, feels nimble and pivoty, yet somehow really planted and grippy.” If you’re looking for more girth size up to the Agent 4.0. factionskis.com

Light and fat, the Hannibal 106 Carbon is a powderseeking backcountry skier’s dream. A paulownia wood core keeps things light on the uphill, while titanal reinforcements underfoot and full-length carbon stringers are designed to deliver a super-stable ride when it’s time to drop in for that well-earned, hardcharging descent. The minimal sidecut facilitates long smooth turns so you can lay out fresh arcs on wide open powder-laden faces. And at just 1540g per ski it’s light enough that you’ll be happy to hike again for a bonus lap. fischersports.com

Scott Superguide Freetour £575

Völkl Rise Beyond 96 £630

❄ Lengths: 178, 185 ❄ Radius: 24m @ 178 ❄ Dimensions: 134-104-122 @ 178 ❄ Weight per ski: 1580g @ 178

❄ Lengths: 156, 163, 170, 177, 184 ❄ Radius: 17m @ 177 ❄ Dimensions: 138-96-119 ❄ Weight per ski: 1320g @ 177

Impressively light for a ski boasting a burly 104mm underfoot. Dickie tested it in the Mont Blanc Massif where he was treated to the typical spectrum of high mountain conditions.

Strong, confident and lightweight was the summary: “There’s a bit of rocker for the first foot in the tip – I’d call it a long nose – and a carbon wrap to stiffen and dampen the wood core. With a long 24m turn radius you’ve got a stable platform for cranking up the descents.” Dickie skied it with a variety of bindings, including Fritschi Tetons and Salomon Shifts, and found it worked well across the board.

“It’s strong enough to benefit from the Shift’s increased stability on the downhill.” Also available in 95 and 88 widths. scott-sports.com

This is the latest addition to Völkl’s super-popular Rise family that dropped into our backcountry lives last winter.

The widest in the series, the new Beyond 96 weighs in at just 1320g at 177 cm (100g less than its predecessor, the Rise Beyond 98) and comes with a tighter radius for snappier turns on the steeps.

Available in a wide variety of lengths, this Beyond 96 is accessible to a whole variety of folks looking for a downhilloriented ski so they can max out on the descent. Featuring Völkl’s infamous 3D-radius sidecut, it adapts to the specific nature of the terrain so you can cruise or charge.

Also available in 88 and 82. voelkl.com

K2 Wayback 88 £495 ❄ Lengths: 160, 167, 174, 181 ❄ Radius: 20m @ 174 ❄ Dimensions: 121-88-109 ❄ Weight per ski: 1199g Last winter Rob took the Wayback 88s for some serious Scottish adventures. “From the get-go they felt at home on my feet and didn’t offer up anything in the way of surprises.

Paired with Marker Alpinist bindings they made light work on the uphills as expected. The ‘Snophobic’ topsheet did a great job of keeping the snow clear, even on the warm days. On the descents the skis were stable at speed, allowing me to carve big turns without feeling jittery.” K2 has managed to slim the weight while keeping the dampness, making for a dependable feel.

The 20m radius in the 174 is a nice middle ground. “Overall these are a great choice for a dedicated touring ski that you could take from mellow slopes to technical mountaineering objectives” says Rob. k2snow.com

Zag Ubac 95 £619 ❄ Lengths: 170, 174, 178, 184 ❄ Radius: 18.5m @ 178 ❄ Dimensions: 129.5-95.5-116 ❄ Weight per ski: 1360g @ 178 An impressively lightweight free-touring ski with a capable and versatile 95mm waist. The feathery feel comes courtesy of Zag’s 100% paulownia wood core that helps keep quad burn to the minimum on both the ascent and descent. Throw in a dollop of multiaxial carbon and fibreglass and you’re looking at a light, dynamic and energetic ski with just the right level of stiffness and flex for technical descents in the backcountry. The short but not-too-short 18.5m radius reinforces its playful feel, while the tip and tail rocker ensure you’ve got the floaty goods for ripping those powder fields. Max performance. Minimum weight. zagskis.com www.fall-line.co.uk 73

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WOMEN’S TOURING SKIS

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Atomic Backland 98 W £500 ❄ Lengths: 156, 164, 172 ❄ Radius: 14.6m @ 164 ❄ Dimensions: 127.5-98-118 ❄ Weight per ski: 1120g @ 164 Weighing in at just 1120g per ski with a solid all-round 98mm underfoot, the Backland 98 W may well offer the solution to that eternal backcountry quest – aka a ski that goes up as well as it descends. With lightweight performance and genuine skiability at a cracking price, the Backland 98 W certainly has all the cred we look for in a do-it-all touring partner.

Gear Ed Soph skied the Backland 98 W in a 164cm this winter in Scotland and had a total riot. “So natural and easy to ski from the getgo, this ski requires next to no breaking in period. Swoopy, fun and so easy to handle, it climbs like a beast, laps up the powder and charges through the crud. Despite the gnarly Scottish weather on the day of testing, I had a smile on my face all day long – it just makes skiing so much fun! Plus it comes with a cool new graphic this season.”

The combination of the ultra-light wood core,

carbon backbone and powder rocker means it climbs easily and responds swiftly and powerfully to the full spectrum of conditions when it’s time to descend. The 98mm platform inspires confidence in all but the steepest and iciest terrain, and the powder rocker facilitates float in the fresh and charge over the chop.

Looking for something wider? Last year’s Editors’ Choice-winning free-touring Backland 107 W is a lightweight, bouncy, easy-driving ski that’s happy to play all day long. atomic.com

So natural and easy to ski from the get-go, Atomic’s Backland 98 W requires next to no breaking in period. Swoopy, fun and so easy to handle, it climbs like a beast, laps up the powder and charges through the crud Gear Ed Soph

Faction Agent 2.0X £599 ❄ Lengths: 155, 163, 171 ❄ Radius: 15m @163 ❄ Dimensions: 127-96-117 ❄ Weight per ski: 1410g Forget pretty in pink, this ski is perfect in pink!

At 96mm underfoot, the Agent 2.0X is a superversatile, all-conditions, mid-flex touring rig that’s light enough to rock the ascent and rip

up anything in its path on the descent. Gear Ed Soph spent over two weeks out on it last winter in Scotland and is now a fully signed up convert to the Agent club. “What can I say? I absolutely love this ski! I skied it in surfy spring corn, boot-top fresh, tight icy gullies and it quite simply bossed the lot,” says Soph. “Easy to pivot, floaty in the powder, light on the climb

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

and super reassuring in harder conditions thanks to the stiffer tail that completes turns with precision, I was happy to take these skis out for short easy days, longer expeditions and steep sessions knowing that the Agent 2.0X would have my back wherever and whenever.”

The proverbial freeride-slash-touring quiver of one then? Soph thinks so… factionskis.com

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Scott Superguide 95 W £525 ❄ Lengths: 160, 168 ❄ Radius: 20m @ 168 ❄ Dimensions: 128-94-113 ❄ Weight per ski: 1370g @ 168 Filling that understandably popular ‘do everything, ski everything’ 95mm underfoot gap, the Superguide 95 W is every bit as good as we’d hoped.

Stiff enough to stand up at higher speeds yet supple and forgiving through short turns, our female test team were unanimous in their praise for the Superguide 95 W at the

ONE T WATC O H

Scottish Ski Test. “It’s super easy to wield and rebounded energetically without feeling like it might fold in half in firm conditions,” said Amy. “It has a freeride feel that gives you confidence to push on the downhill. It ate up the lumps and bumps and hopped over the heather like a happy haggis.”

When it’s time to start earning those turns, the Superguide 95 W has got mountain goat-ascending capabilities thanks to its low weight and easy skin-fixation system. It’s feathery as a fluffed up duck but still super

durable and strong thanks to the addition of beech wood stringers to reinforce the paulownia wood core.

If you’re looking for a well-balanced women’s-specific touring ski for hut-to-hut Alpine tours, summit-to-sea spring Nordic adventures, day hits in Scotland and everything in between, the Superguide 95 W will have your back.

A genuine backcountry quiver-of-one contender. Also available in 88. scott-sports.com

Dynafit Blacklight 88 W £620

Armada Trace 108 £590

Blizzard Zero G 95 £630

❄ Lengths: 151, 158, 166, 172 ❄ Radius: 17m @ 166 ❄ Dimensions: 122-87-110 ❄ Weight per ski: 1060g @ 166

❄ Lengths: 156, 164, 172 ❄ Radius: 17m @ 161 ❄ Dimensions: 132-108-125 ❄ Weight per ski: 1550g @ 164

❄ Lengths: 157, 164, 171, 178, 185 ❄ Radius: 19.5m @ 164 ❄ Dimensions: 109-95-125 @ 164 ❄ Weight per ski: 1135g @ 164

The brand new Blacklight 88 W is a high-end touring ski for dedicated summit seekers.

Weighing in at just over 1kg per ski, it’s the lightest ski in our lineup, which clearly reveals its fast and light intent. Softer and lighter than the unisex version, the female-specific 88 W offers an altogether more playful and maneuverable backcountry ride.

Speediness comes courtesy of a technical construction that features an mega-light paulownia wood core, uni-directional carbon layers for increased stability, and full ABS sidewalls for max power transfer. Each length comes with a different rocker construction and turning radius to ensure proportional performance and the bases are finished with a special racing grind for maximo rapidity. If you like your turns on the ski mountaineering side of the spectrum, it’s time to ignite those afterburners with the Blacklight 88 W this winter. dynafit.com

Our 2020 Fat Touring Ski of the Year delivers big-time backcountry giggles and girth. Updated with a supersick new top sheet, the Trace 108 is undeniably built for deep days yet is surprisingly light and nimble.

Floating in the deep stuff might be in its DNA but the Armada Trace is no one-trick powder pony. Poppy and playful in soft spring snow, it is just at home ripping around the frontside as it is off the back. Armada’s Adaptive Mesh shaping has been tailored to different parts of the ski to deliver torsional stiffness and stability underfoot and minimal chatter, float and swift turn initiation at the tip and tail. Light yet solid and stable, the Trace 108 hits a real sweet spot for such a wide rig. armadaskis.com

It may not be a femalespecific ski, but this year’s Blizzard Zero G 95 is certainly worth highlighting in this section. Now that it’s available in accessible short lengths and a new colourway, there’s no reason why experienced female ski tourers shouldn’t have the 2022 version of this epic backcountry ski right at the top of their list. Speedy on the ascent and superbly capable on the down, the 3D carbon fibre frame with ultra-lightweight paulownia wood core guarantees optimal flex and torsional rigidity – aka bucketloads of downhill stability and edge grip. The perfect weapon for ambitious ski tourers looking for max power to weight radio. blizzard-tecnica.com www.fall-line.co.uk 75

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WOMEN’S TOURING SKIS Dynafit Beast 98W £615

K2 Talkback 96 £540

❄ Lengths: 163, 170, 177 ❄ Radius: 17m @ 170 ❄ Dimensions: 124-96-115 @ 170 ❄ Weight per ski: 1340g @ 170

❄ Lengths: 156, 163, 170, ❄ Radius: 18m @ 163 ❄ Dimensions: 128-96-115 ❄ Weight per ski: 1254g

Weighing in at 1340g per ski, the ‘freeride-touring’ Dynafit Beast 98W climbs like a beast yet feels nimble on the descent when negotiating tight couloirs and tricky terrain. It also comes with a special snowshedding topsheet to reduce snow build-up on the top of your skis so there’s no excuses for slow ascents!

A serious quiver-of-one contender for day tours and off-piste adventures, the descent remains the Beast 98 W’s DNA. With full ABS sidewalls, an ash/poplar wood core and a single radius sidecut, the Beast 98 W is light yet stable, holds an edge admirably and responds immediately on demand. If you yearn for peace and quiet in the backcountry then you’ll appreciate the chatter-free ride brought to you by the Beast 98 W’s carbon Ride Tip in the shovel that does a great job of minimising vibration at the front of the ski.

A backcountry beast with no additional burdens – if you want to explore further faster and higher this winter, it’s time to unleash the Beast 98W. dynafit.com

The Talkback 96 is a traditional kinda touring ski that offers a predictable and stable ride in all kinds of gnarly conditions. Gear Ed Soph took it out for several spins last winter in complex Scottish snow. “Dependable rather than super energetic, it’s the kind of ski you want underfoot when you’re faced with confidence-shaking crud, windblown powder, chop and icy steeps – and everything in between,” she reckons. “Once you find the sweet spot, it feels more like an alpine ski than a skittery tourer.” The paulownia wood core keeps things light and lively on both the ascent and descent, while the injection of carbon and K2’s Ti-Spyne titanium tech increases power, grip and stability edge to edge. Throw in a snow-phobic topsheet and you’re looking at a real solid backcountry ski that can climb and descend with the best of them. k2snow.com

Salomon MTN Explore 88 £500

Völkl Rise Above 88 W £550

Zag Ubac 102 Lady £649

❄ Lengths: 153, 161, 169 ❄ Radius: 18m @ 161 ❄ Dimensions: 121-88-107 @ 161 ❄ Weight per ski: 1275g

❄ Lengths: 149, 156, 163, 170 ❄ Radius: 14m @ 163 ❄ Dimensions: 131-88-111 ❄ Weight per ski: 1187g @ 170

❄ Lengths: 164 ❄ Radius: 17m ❄ Dimensions: 133-102-118 ❄ Weight per ski: 1290g

Salomon’s MTN Explore 88 is a smooth, efficient, predictable touring ski that deals impressively well in crud, chop and lumpy snow. A 3D karuba wood core keeps things light on the ascent and Salomon’s Spaceframe 2.0 tech reduces materials in key areas of the ski, ensuring weight is kept to an absolute minimum. When it’s time to rip, there’s an 88mm platform underfoot, which will cope well in most conditions. The carbon/flax laminate provides a tangible feeling of stability and power that you normally associate with a metal ski but with zero weight penalty. Super stylin’ in bright turquoise, these skis are guaranteed to make a backcountry impression this winter. Size up to the unisex MTN Explore 95 if you’re looking for something wider on deeper days. salomon.com

The Rise series encompasses three female-specific touring skis designed to appeal to a range of experience levels.

The Rise Above 88 W has a versatile waist and the necessary lightweight DNA to strike the balance between uphill performance and downhill skiability. Featuring Völkl’s 3D-radius sidecut, it’s been designed to adapt to the nature of the terrain, enabling you to make the switch between tight turns in steep couloirs to GS-style turns on wide open faces with grinnable ease. Other touringspecific features of note include a Tourlight hybrid wood core and Völkl’s Smart Skin Clip attachment tech, which allows you to attach and detach skins from the tip or tail of the ski. Also available in the new Rise Beyond 96 W. voelkl.com

An impressively lightweight free-touring ski with a solid 102mm waist designed to ensure you enjoy those wellearned downs. The feathery feel comes courtesy of Zag’s 100% paulownia wood core that helps keep quad burn to the minimum on both the ascent and descent. Throw in a dollop of multiaxial carbon and fibreglass into the construction and you’re looking at a light, dynamic and energetic ski with just the right level of stiffness and flex for technical descents in the backcountry.

A snappy 17m radius reinforces its playful feel, while the tip and tail rocker ensure you’ve got the floaty goods for ripping those powder fields you’ve worked so hard to hike into.

Max performance and big style backcountry fun. zagskis.com

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SKI BOOTS

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n the words of a well-known drinks advert, good things come to those who wait. The past 18 months have been like no other and, as you can imagine, this has thrown up some interesting things within the ski industry. Where the likes of the US had reportedly their fifth busiest season on record, in much of Europe the lifts didn’t turn and, in those areas where they did open, it was for locals only. However, things are slowly starting to get back to some form of normality, where we can travel and see the world again, experience the mountain air, and enjoy spending time on the slopes with family and friends. The mountains really are calling, and we WILL go.

CHAIN REACTIONS

While there have been factory shutdowns over the past 18 months, the ski industry is a fairly small one, and can be nimble with the decisions it makes in terms of production.

So, with a global pandemic, what has happened in terms of the ski boots sector?

In short, not a massive amount; there have been a number of new models appear on the market, as discussed in the Editors’ Picks on the following pages, but a lot of the boot tech and features have remained the same. When technology is as good as it is there isn’t always a lot you can, or need, to change.

Many of the colour updates have been put on hold where possible, and instead the

brands are focusing on getting the products they’ve got into the stores.

Therein lies the next issue: the supply chain. We have been all too aware of the lack of delivery drivers causing shortages of fuel at the pumps and certain items on the supermarket shelves. Well, this supply chain starts a long way away, where they produce a raw plastic pellet to make the boot shells, or the foam materials for the liners.

A shutdown of a factory in the Far East for 12 weeks due to Covid has a knock-on effect all the way down the line. The material to make the liner doesn’t arrive on time, then the machinist in Italy is sick so the delay continues, and on and on.

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Solutions 4 Feet’s head boot-fitting honcho Colin Martin rounds up the latest developments in ski boot design

Go and have a chat with the staff at your local ski store… they can guide you through the process of getting those new boots and having them set up specifically for you GET IN STORE EARLY

So, what does this mean to you, the consumer? Well, early deliveries are in store and more products are hitting the shops week by week, but there will be some inevitable delays, and perhaps there was an element of truth in the joke social media post that I put up the other week, stating that there was a ski boot shortage and you should panic buy now… There isn’t currently a ski boot shortage, but there is certainly a pent up demand from people who want to go skiing and buy new kit, so I would be hitting the shops soon to get the best selection.

We sit in a great position in the UK in

that we get our deliveries ahead of most of the European resort shops, as our ‘selling season’ tends to start a bit earlier. Take advantage of this and the many indoor ski slopes we have (both snow and artificial) to test your new gear and have any adjustments made before your big trip.

After all, the last thing you want to be doing is sitting in a ski shop every evening.

We’ve said it before: the UK has a number of great ski shops that offer a far more technical service than many abroad, which is ideal because the UK consumer demands a high level of product knowledge.

So go and have a chat with the staff at your local ski store; they like to talk about skiing

more than you possibly realise, and they can help guide you through the process of getting those new boots and having them set up specifically for you.

Even if you are not looking to buy just yet, have a look at the technology. See how much lighter a modern boot is compared to what you bought 10 years ago, look at the crossover freeride/touring models that ski as well as an alpine boot but give you the touring flexibility to get to those untouched powder stashes and quiet peaks…

If you are just going in to browse, try to do it mid-week when the stores are quieter.

That way you’ll get to speak to the specialists when they are not so busy. www.fall-line.co.uk 79

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ALPINE BOOTS

Buckle up folks – it’s time to get locked and loaded in these resort-rippin’ boots of plenty

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Atomic Hawx Ultra 130 S GW £490

ALPINE SIZES: 24-30.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 98 FLEX: 130 So roll down your ski pants leg and your ski buddies will assume you’ve upgraded to Atomic’s hardcore Redster shell, but on the inside your feet will still be in the Hawx comfort zone. The Atomic Hawx Ultra 130 S GW is about as close as you’re going to get to a trench-cutting race boot, but with a plusher all-mountain fit, albeit one that is definitely skewed away from flipper feet. Though its lightweight Prolite shell makes it carry like a tourer, the fixed-cuff low-volume shell puts it very much on the frontside of the mountain, making arcs on the groomed. A mouldable shell with Atomic’s Mimic platinum liner just mean you can ski for longer and with less of a fight to get in and out of the boot. Fun fact: the regular soles can be replaced with cantable GripWalk pads to keep you perfectly aligned. atomic.com

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

K2 BFC 120 £350

ALPINE SIZES: 24.5-30.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 103 FLEX: 120 With an acronym name that translates to ‘built for comfort’ you might expect K2’s BFC to have the punch and performance of a bowl of rice, but there is more to it.

If you’re looking to replace your 92mm Lange World Cups then look away, this isn’t the boot for you. However, if you want a boot that caters to a higher volume foot and combines punch, support and a cuff release then this ought to be on your list. There’s lots of tailgate power from K2’s trademark Y-shaped Spyne cuff and the easy-to-reach release makes a walk to the lifts or some mellow climbing as easy as pulling on the tag.

It’s super easy to enter and overall, though K2 may not want to say it, this is the perfect boot for a strong but more mature skier who just wants to ski all day, but ski well. k2snow.com

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Nordica Speedmachine 3.0 120 £420 ALPINE SIZES: 24-31 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: 120

The Speedmachine 3.0 is the latest iteration of a concept started in 2005; a mediumvolume boot that is powerful, no matter how much you stand on your edge. Start with a bi-injected shell where a light but rigid support frame wraps the calf, heel and sole, then fill in the gaps with a softer material for comfort. It’s lighter but more powerful edge to edge than its ancestors. For a performance fit Nordica uses a race-derived liner with customisable cork inserts and a velcroed tongue that can be moved for fine tuning.

Add precisely targeted Infrared stretching and you have ‘nomen omen’ as my Latin teacher used to say, or if you prefer, it does what it says on the tin. The feel is of a grand tourer: a boot with a race heritage, but one you can use all day. nordica.com

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KEY: Volume: ● Low ● Medium ● High

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1. Dalbello DS 120 GW £420 ALPINE SIZES: 25.5-30.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: 120 With a 100mm last, this packs a punch all over the mountain.

The design has a flexible core shell wrapped in a web-like skeleton to bolster support without adding weight. Overall, the fit is medium all round, with a well-defined ankle and heel zone.

You can balance the cuff easily and the bootboard is designed to be tinkered with to keep most skiers perfectly centred. As Dalbello led the development of GripWalk it should come as no surprise that it comes with this as standard. dalbello.it

2. Dalbello Panterra 120 GW £425 ALPINE SIZES: 24.5-30.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 100-102 FLEX: 120

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Updated for winter 2022, Dalbello’s new and improved allconquering all-mountain specialist returns with a fresh look and increased levels of comfort. A new liner offers better support in the heel area, increased warmth and more volume in the toe area, so you’ll be able to wiggle those tootsies and keep the blood flowing. The 120 features a new ‘racing polyurethane’ tongue that improves the connection with the shell of the boot to provides a more intuitive, flexy kinda ride.

Other than that it’s the same time-tested four-buckle ‘easy-on, easy-off’ cabrio construction that’s ideal for those with problem feet who still demand top levels of performance. Also in 90, 100, 130 and 120/130 ID with ID wrap liners. dalbello.it

3. Fischer RC4 The Curv GT 130 Vacuum Walk £555 ALPINE SIZES: 25.5-29.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 96 +3mm FLEX: 130 This high-performance, lightweight, medium-volume boot with a stiff 130 flex is all about delivering a superlative fit. The thermoformable 3D pre-shaped liner has been designed to deliver comfort and support where you need it most, and it comes with a removable, grindable tongue that can be adjusted according to instep height and shin shape. The shell is adaptable thanks to Fischer’s Vaccum Full Fit tech. Other primo features include GripWalk soles, GT buckles, Precision Steering tech and Phat Maxx Curv Strap. fischersports.com

4. Fischer Ranger One 100 Vacuum Walk £410

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ALPINE SIZES: 25.5-30.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 101+3mm FLEX: 100 Our 2020 All-Mountain Boot of the Year winner may look like a traditional four-buckle alpine boot but hidden in the top buckle is a surprise. Flip the small lever and the cuff releases into a walk mode with 55° ROM; close it and you’re back in four-buckle alpine mode. fischersports.com

5. Full Tilt First Chair 120 Grip Walk £405 ALPINE SIZES: 24.5-30.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 99 FLEX: 120 Fully customisable and mouldable with Pro Intuition liners, the shell opens right up to offer easy-on/off access. A narrow last with roomier toe box offers control with comfort, and the adjustable 120 flex delivers power and precision. Other fancy features include GripWalk soles, 45° heel lock, adaptable forward lean and Shock Absorber Boot board. fulltiltboots.com www.fall-line.co.uk 81

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1. Head Edge Lyt 110 £300 ALPINE SIZES: 25-30.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 102 FLEX: 110 Just a little less hardcore than the Edge LYT 130, the 110 still retains the great fit and smooth flex of its big brother but with a slightly less hefty feel. Best suited to a lighter skier, or one who doesn’t always take the fastest route to the bottom, the Lyt 110 feels strong and damp on hardpack but light on the chairlift.

Take the adjustable flex down a notch to 100 if you’re looking to cruise. head.com

2. Head Nexo Lyt 130 £380 ALPINE SIZES: 25-32.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: 130

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The top-of-the-range Nexo LYT 130 RS is a super-highperformance boot that will appeal to aggressive skiers looking to rip fast and hard. With wonder material graphene, GripWalkcompatible soles, and a Liquid Fit Primaloft liner, the lightweight Nexo LYT 130 RS is packed full of primo tech. The adjustable flex means you can tone it down to 120 if you’re feeling on the zen side of charge town. head.com

3. K2 Recon 120 Heat £585 ALPINE SIZES: 24.5-30.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: 120

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Don’t let the freezing temps hold you back. This lightweight, high-tech boot comes with a Bluetooth-controlled Thermic heated liner to keep those tootsies super toasty so you can keep ripping on the coldest of days. With GripWalk soles, a heatmouldable Powerlite shell and Precision fit Pro liner, it’s a mega customisable boot with a strong flex and responsive feel. Ideal for advanced skiers looking for a kick-ass-looking, feature-laden boot. Looking for max power? The Recon Pro comes with a whopping 140 flex. k2snow.com

4. Lange LX 120 £325 ALPINE SIZES: 24-31.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 102 FLEX: 120 Our 2020 Alpine Boot of the Year returns with a new classic ‘dark petrol’/red cloak look and the same levels of comfort that have won it so many fans among wider footed skiers. Offering Lange-style precision and performance in a slightly roomier package, it’s a lightweight, high-performance boot with Dual Core shell and GripWalk soles, that’s guaranteed to put wide smiles on wide-footed skiers this winter. The anatomical shell with stout 120 flex is powerful when you tilt onto the edge, and the heatmouldable Dual 3D Pro liner irons out any fit hotspots. Great value, too. lange-boots.com

5. Lange RX 120 LV £380 ALPINE SIZES: 24-31.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 97 FLEX: 120 Lange’s RX 120 LV returns with a new tongue, footbed and liner this winter that make it even more precise and powerful than ever before. A high-performance race-style boot, with none of the associated pain, the RX 120 LV comes with GripWalk soles and Lange’s Dual Core sandwich construction for speedy rebounds, quick reactions and edge-to-edge action. The new Dual 3D liner and RBT tongue combine to maximise power transmission and responsiveness. lange-boots.com 82 www.fall-line.co.uk

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KEY: Volume: ● Low ● Medium ● High

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1. Nordica HF 120 Pro GW £450 ALPINE SIZES: 24-31 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 102 FLEX: 120 With GripWalk soles, this uses a single rear buckle to close the cuff and a second closure over the instep to tighten the shell, wrapping the foot in a race-bred cork and oil-filled liner. That means it fits remarkably well. A double hinge system gives the sense of flexing in a traditional overlap boot, but in a boot you can put on and take off ‘hands free’. This isn’t for everyone, but it does have a unique blend of convenience, comfort and performance. nordica.com

2. Rossignol AllSpeed 100 £265 ALPINE SIZES: 24.5-31.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 102 FLEX: 100 All-day resort performance in an accessible, comfortable boot.

With softness and firmness in all the right places, this is a solid and dependable boot with plenty of volume for those wider of hoof. Features of note include the toasty fully customisable Thinsulate liner and GripWalk soles. rossignol.com

3. Roxa R/Fit Pro 130 £440 ALPINE SIZES: 24.5-30.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 100-102 FLEX: 130

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Italian company Roxa has been making boots for others for years, but in the early 2000s took the step of putting their own brand on their own designs. With Glen Plake on the design team (read all about it, back on page 12) you can assume they are doing some things right. The Roxa R/Fit Pro 130 is a medium-fitting over-lap design with lots of smart tricks. A clever, moveable instep buckle and quick release on the beefy cam-lock power strap both fall into the why-didn’t-else-anyone-do-that category. Out of the box the pre-punched Ultralon liner and Biofit shell give a little space for predictable hotspots, with an overall feel that is slightly snugger than a typical 100-102 last. It skis true to the stated 130 flex and has a solid edge-to-edge feel. roxa.com

4. Salomon S/Pro 120 £390 ALPINE SIZES: 24-31.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: 120

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With easy access and a customisable shell, cuff and 4D liner, this is a super-adaptable boot designed to deliver max comfort. New for this winter is the addition of GripWalk soles. When it comes to letting it rip, the 120 flex combined with Coreframe construction, Sense Amplifier and Sense Strap tech offers a powerful ride best suited to advanced/experts. salomon.com

5. Tecnica Mach1 MV 130 TD £500 ALPINE SIZES: 22-30.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: 130 A quick and responsive race-style boot, the latest iteration of the Mach1 uses a unique cuff set-up for better power transmission.

Most traditional alpine designs have a side hinge and a bolt or two at the base of the cuff, connecting it to the clog, but Tecnica’s T drive tech reverses this concept with a composite plate connecting the clog to the top of the cuff. It’s schoolboy physics – lengthen a lever and you can create bigger outputs with less energy needed. Because the plate is a super-strong composite, it reinforces the cuff and allows the use of softer plastics elsewhere, wrapping the foot more evenly. The MV version has a 100mm last with spacious toe box and Tecnica’s grindable CAS liner to tweak any minor fit issues. blizzard-tecnica.com www.fall-line.co.uk 83

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WOMEN’S ALPINE BOOTS

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

K2 Anthem 105 LV GripWalk £350 ALPINE SIZES: 22.5-27.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 98 FLEX: 105

The fixed cuff immediately signals that the K2 Anthem 105 LV GripWalk is designed to love the frontside of the mountain. This is K2’s light but strong boot for light but strong skiers. The fit is medium in most areas but with a spacious toe box and a cushy feel from the Precisionfit Pro liner. As with many boots in the category the Anthem 105 uses a dual-moulded shell with a stiffer rear and ankle area mated with a softer area on the front of the cuff and topside of the clog. This, combined with the flat, neutral stance, gives a ‘make your feet dance’, quick edge-to-edge feel. Skiers who push the speed and power envelope might prefer the 105’s beefier flexing big sister, the 115. k2snow.com

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Nordica HF 75 W £350 ALPINE SIZES: 24-31 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 102 FLEX: 75

Many thought that the days of rear-entry ski boots ended around the same time that Nevica killed neon, but for some skiers the convenience of a rear entry boot cannot be matched. Nordica’s HF 75 takes what was great in rear-entry and blends it with the needs of a 21st century skier who wants to power a ski with a deep sidecut. A monolock buckle on the rear of the cuff releases the spoiler and opens a 40° gap so your foot slides into the shell. Push the buckle down with your foot, hand or ski pole and the shell is locked shut. By adding a second instep buckle and a double axis hinge the HF skis like a modern ski boot; you can feel your edges and you’re supported when the ski is on its edge. Will it win a medal? No. Will it make your day better and last longer? Undoubtedly. nordica.com

Roxa R/Fit Pro 105 W £390 EDITO CHOICRS’ E

ALPINE SIZES: 22.5-27.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 100-102 FLEX: 105

Roxa might not be the most well-known brand today but they are on a roll. Roxa’s R/Fit Pro 105 W is a simple, elegant frontside boot for a strong woman skier who wants an all-day fit. As with the men’s version of the boot it uses lots of simple tricks to make what looks conventional a more interesting proposition. As a company who make lots of boots for lots of folks, Roxa is able to experiment with proof of concepts so they rely extensively on 3D printed prototyping to narrow down what works. The Optifit instep buckle can be swivelled slightly to get the optimum angle for heel hold. Though the fit is medium all-round and can be fine turned with the mouldable Ultralon liner, the cuff is super adaptable to fit just about any size or shape of calf. roxa.com

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KEY: Volume: ● Low ● Medium ● High

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1. Atomic Hawx Ultra 95 S GW £360 ALPINE SIZES: 22-27.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 98 FLEX: 95 Atomic Hawx boots fit well, they just do. And this is no exception, combining medium flex and a narrow fit. It contains Atomic’s usual bag of fit tricks, with a heat-mouldable Mimic Gold liner, customisable Prolite shell and adaptive fit system cuff to accommodate a huge range of calf shapes. Combining a cuff alignment adjustment with cantable soleplates means your alignment can be fine tuned too. atomic.com

2. Dalbello DS 90 W GW £310 ALPINE SIZES: 22.5-27.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 99 FLEX: 90 With its lower cuff profile and soft warm liner, this is a wellthought-out women’s-specific boot pitched at advancing intermediate skiers. The Powercage structure enables easy edge-to-edge performance, and MyFit tech means both the shell and IF-liner can be fully customised. GripWalk soles complete the list of tech. Also in a 110 flex. dalbello.it

3. Dalbello Panterra 95 W GW £375 ALPINE SIZES: 22.5-27.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 99-101 FLEX: 95

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Our 2020 All-Mountain Boot of the Year, the Panterra returns with a new look, new liner and improved tongue. Still a megaadjustable weapon with heaps of potential for customisation, it’s perfect for experienced skiers who regularly charge between piste and powder. With its adjustable last, adaptable collar, variable ramp angle and canting system, the Panterra 95 can be tweaked to fit. Also available in 75, 85, 95 ID and 105 with ID wrap liners. dalbello.it

4. Fischer RC4 The Curv 95 Vacuum Walk £345 ALPINE SIZES: 22.5-27.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 99 +3mm FLEX: 95 This lightweight boot will suit medium-footed females looking to push their performance on-piste. With a women’s-specific cuff and warm customisable pre-shaped Primaloft liner, it’s built for max comfort. Other features include Fischer’s Soma Tec last that aligns your feet, knees and ankles in exactly the right position to ensure maximum control. Scale up to the 105 or 115 flex for a punchier ride. fischersports.com

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5. Fischer Ranger One 105 Vacuum Walk WS £410 ALPINE SIZES: 22.5-26.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 101 +3mm FLEX: 105 Both a hike and rider hiding in an alpine disguise, and an alpine boot with the capability for occasional touring tricks. It may look like a straight up four-clip with a power strap, yet it has many features that can out-tour touring boots. Sitting under the top buckle is a lever that releases the cuff and gives an astonishing 55° of cuff travel. Weighing in at around 1740g also parks it alongside many free-touring boots, yet it has a true alpine feel. Of course, it’s female friendly with a preformed last that can be customised, and the liner has the extra benefit of Primaloft insulation. Easy to get on and off, it’s a highvolume boot that comes with GripWalk soles. Also available in 115 and 95 flex versions. fischersports.com www.fall-line.co.uk 85

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1. Full Tilt Plush 90 GripWalk £315 ALPINE SIZES: 23.5-27.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 102 FLEX: 90 Back with a stingin’ new yellow/black style for winter 2022, the Plush 90 is the Soul Sister’s chunkier alter ego and with a little more width and volume comes added comfort all wrapped up in a luxe furry lining. Super easy to get on and off, with a non-slip GripWalk sole and removable insoles, the Plush 90 is Full Tilt’s highest performance AM boot for women, pitched at advanced skiers looking for a comfy freeride feel.

Also in 70 flex for a softer, easier ride. fulltiltboots.com

2. Head Edge Lyt 90 W £300 ALPINE SIZES: 22-27.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 102 FLEX: 100/90

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If you’re wider of hoof and seeking an intermediate-toadvanced, lightweight alpine boot, get your trotters into the Edge Lyt 90 W. Wonder material graphene creates a feathery feel and provides a lightweight boot with super-dynamic rebound. The easy-entry design means you can wave goodbye to painful and frustrating moments in the boot room, and once they’re on your feet Head’s primo Liquid Fit liner and supermacro tooth plate enable you to customise the fit. head.com

3. Head Nexo Lyt 100 W £350 ALPINE SIZES: 23-27.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: 100/90

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This comes in three flexes: 90, 100 and 110, all of which feature Head’s power plate tech for increased support through the upper cuff. Ideal for expert skiers who like to blast the groomers, it can be slackened off with a flex adjuster when you’re ready to take the pace down a touch for some chilled cruising. Constructed using super-light, super-durable graphene, these rapid chargers also come with a Primaloft liner and heat-mouldable Liquid Fit tech, offering a superprecise performance fit around the ankle and heel. head.com

4. K2 BFC W 95 £300 ALPINE SIZES: 22.5-27.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 103 FLEX: 95 If K2s Anthem is a lively party animal, the BFC is more mellow and chilled. Phrases like ‘hands-free entry’ and ‘CushFit inner’ tell you that this is a boot that likes to take it easy. On the slopes it has a smooth feel, and GripWalk soles and a cuffrelease après mode make for slip-free journeys across the car park. With its 103mm last this is perfect for easy riders. K2 claims it might be more comfortable than the shoes you wore on your way to the slopes. k2snow.com

5. Lange LX 80 W £270 ALPINE SIZES: 22-27.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 102 FLEX: 80 With an 80 flex and 102mm last this boot suits an entry-level to intermediate skier with high-volume feet looking for max comfort with performance progression. The LX features Lange’s Dual Core technology aims to harness the energy that you put in and translate it into explosive power and rebound through the turn. An ideal and affordable choice for improvers keen to continue their development in comfort, it returns this winter in a new bright blue cloak that’s more befitting of such a flippin’ good boot! lange-boots.com 86 www.fall-line.co.uk

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KEY: Volume: ● Low ● Medium ● High

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1. Lange RX 90 W LV £345 ALPINE SIZES: 22-27.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 97 FLEX: 90 A real resort ripper, this features Lange’s Dual Core shell and Dual 3D liner, designed to offer good heel lock and foot hold.

With GripWalk soles, Thinsulate insulation and a shin liner, it suits low-volume-footed skiers looking for a tech-laden boot.

Also available in 110 flex and 80 flex. lange-boots.com

2. Nordica Speedmachine 105 W £380 ALPINE SIZES: 22-27.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: 105

Designed for max fun on the frontside, Nordica’s Speedmachine 105 W offers high performance and bag loads of tech… a favourite year after year 3

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Designed for max fun on the frontside, this offers high performance and bag loads of tech, including a customisable Infrared Tri-Force shell, 3D performance fit liner, women’sspecific cuff and toasty Primaloft inner. A favourite year after year, scale up to the Speedmachine 3 115 or 105 if you’re looking to experience the new 3Force Technology. nordica.com

3. Rossignol Pure Elite 70 £265 ALPINE SIZES: 21.5-27.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 98mm FLEX: 55-70 This comfortable, affordable, low-volume boot is ideal for lighter skiers and beginners looking for a boot that will work with them as they progress. Softer plastic around the instep enables easy on, easy off, and it comes with a cosy, breathable merino liner. It’s also GripWalk sole-compatible. rossignol.com

4. Salomon S/Max 100 W £360 ALPINE SIZES: 22-27.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● ● LAST: 98 FLEX: 100 Last year’s Editors’ Choice winner is a light and quick pisteorientated boot that tips the scales at 1620g. Back with a colour update and GripWalk soles, the stiff inner skeleton means the shell is super quick, responsive and gives an almost telepathic connection to the ski. When the shell and liner are heated it gives a vacuum-packed fit. salomon.com

5. Salomon S/Pro 100 W £350 ALPINE SIZES: 22-27.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: 100

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The super-comfortable, high-performance S/Pro 100 W GW returns with a swanky new style update. Perfect for advanced chargers looking for a mid-stiff boot with bags of comfort and tech, seamless 3D customisable liners ensure hot spots are kept firmly at bay, and the mouldable shell enables wider footed skiers to go up to a whopping 106mm inside the boot.

It comes with GripWalk soles, also in 90 flex and two highvolume models, the S/Pro HV 100 and HV 90. salomon.com

6. Tecnica Mach1 LV 105 W TD £350 ALPINE SIZES: 22-27.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 98 FLEX: 105 Now featuring Tecnica’s T-Drive Technology for the ultimate combo of power transmission, performance and flex, this latest version is living its most rippable life yet! And get this: the super-high-spec Celliant and lambswool liner claims to convert body heat into infrared energy that penetrates your tissue to increase circulation. Blimey! Also available in a 115 Pro version. tecnicasports.com www.fall-line.co.uk 87

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FREESTYLE BOOTS Pop, drop, butter and jib – unleash your creative side in these spin-tastic boots

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MEN’S FREESTYLE BOOTS

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Full Tilt Kicker £295

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FREESTYLE SIZES: 23.5-30.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 102 FLEX: 70

Boasting a new stealthy style, the Full Tilt Kicker is built to kick the bejizzles out of your park this game this winter. With a generous 102mm last, a central buckle mounted at 45° that pulls you directly back into the heel pocket, and Full Tilt’s category-leading Intuition liner, the Kicker delivers a low-volume feel to higher volume feet. Throw in shock-absorbing inserts underfoot and you’ve got a boot that’s perfect for first time stompers looking to perfect their trickery in the park. fulltiltboots.com

The Full Tilt Kicker is built to kick the bejizzles out of your park this game this winter… perfect for first time stompers looking to perfect their trickery 88 www.fall-line.co.uk

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KEY: Volume: ● Low ● Medium ● High

1. Dalbello Il Moro £595

WOMEN’S FREESTYLE BOOTS

FREESTYLE SIZES: 24.5-29.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 98 FLEX: 120 Dalbello’s top-of-the-range Il Moro returns this winter with the same high-performance features for advanced freestyle antics. Designed to bracket both park and big mountain performance, the full-length ‘landing gear’ boot board takes the sting out of hard landings from big drops, and the centred stance makes it easy to zero in on the boot’s sweet spot when you’re motoring. The three-piece Cabrio construction provides a super-smooth and responsive flex, and with a 100% customisable shell and liner system, you’ll be stomping through winter on your terms. dalbello.it

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

2. Full Tilt Drop Kick Pro £360 FREESTYLE SIZES: 22.5-31.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 99 FLEX: 90 It’s time to commit and drop into winter with the Drop Kick Pro. The most successful boot on the market, this bangin’ bad-ass comes with a 100% customisable Intuition Pro liner for pro level fit and support. With an adjustable flex, light but durable easy on/off customisable shell, shock-absorber boot board and 45° heel lock you’ll be rigged and ready to get max sendy. fulltiltboots.com

3. Roxa Element 100 GW £240 FREESTYLE SIZES: 24.5-30.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 99-101 FLEX: 100 The Element 100 uses the same three-piece cabrio design made famous by the likes of Dalbello and Full Tilt.

It makes sense, of course, because it’s easy to get on and off, allows for a super-smooth flex and powerful edgeto-edge performance in the park. The Intuition liner wraps the calf and shin, and you can adjust the forward lean and lock the heel in place with an independently functioning instep buckle positioned at 45°. Inverted toe buckles prevent scrapes and breaks when rails and rocks are the order of the day. Scale up to the reggae stylin’ 120 or 110 for a stiffer flex and Intuition IR liners. roxa.com

Full Tilt Soul Sister 100 GripWalk £360 ● FREESTYLE SIZES: 23.5-27.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME:

LAST: 99 FLEX: 100

Miss-time a landing in a traditional shell and you might feel as if you’ve walked into a fence. Landing in a Full Tilt is more like endlessly exhaling. The three-piece shell with a tongue ribbed like a drink straw is reassuringly mellow in its progressive forward flex. Throw in a tall cuff with a low hinge point, and there’s a real sense of lateral support – park the ski on its edge, ride and fly. The combination of the Intuition liner and open shell means that the boot is easy to customise, though high insteps will need a little work. While this is categorised as a freestyle boot it wouldn’t be out of place on a strong skier who likes ripping all round the mountain. fulltiltboots.com

Roxa Trinity £340 FREESTYLE SIZES: 22.5-27.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 99-101 FLEX: 85 Roxa’s three-piece cabrio design is the holy trinity that lies at the heart of this mediumflexing female-specific freestyle boot. The lower height women’s-specific cuff leaves room for those strong calves to stomp and slide their way through winter, and the adjustable spoiler ensures you’re in control when it comes to forward lean. Other winter-worshipping features of note include Intuition liners, an adjustable Biofit last, shock-absorbing boot board, inverted toe buckles and GripWalk soles. Get ready to worship ladies… roxa.com www.fall-line.co.uk 89

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FREERIDE BOOTS

Hike and huck, slash and stomp – take your big mountain game to the next level

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 130 CT Tech GW £600 FREERIDE SIZES: 22-32.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: 130 WEIGHT: 1668g

Where the Hawx Ultra hunts on the frontside of the hill, the Prime loves to go under the ropes and poach fresh tracks. Locked down it will play on the groomed but its natural habitat is the quieter side of the hill. It comes with touring soles ready for pin bindings, but they can be flipped for GripWalk pads if you prefer a more traditional binding setup.

Out of the box the Mimic platinum liner fits a wide range of feet, but the strategically placed mimic inserts can be re-heated a number of times to harden for an almost foam-like fit. Unlike the alpine versions, this liner has a small degree of flex inbuilt for hiking. Of course, poaching fresh lines involves climbing and the Prime has a simple but seriously tough free-lock mechanism that when slipped open gives around 54° of cuff travel. As you’d expect the last is a little more generous than the groomer-orientated Ultra and it skis just a little softer than its stated flex. atomic.com

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Salomon Shift Pro 130 AT £540

FREERIDE SIZES: 22-31.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: 130 WEIGHT: 1631g

Salomon’s Shift Pro 130 doesn’t fall wholly into the full-on touring category, but it is a boot for skiers who prefer to earn their turns; and one you’re more likely to find covered in untracked snow than carving on ripplechip groomers. The Surelock ski/walk mechanism, means you have plenty of cuff travel for the climb up. The Coreframe insert cradles the foot and allows the boot to be made light, without the risk of the shell deforming when your speed cranks up to 11 or you’re making crisp short-radius arcs. The Shift Pro also uses the 3D Seamless Race liner, which is dense and when heated offers a close to foam quality of custom fit, without niggling from stitches around the toe box. With 40° ROM in walk mode, this is a versatile and light boot with an alpine feel. salomon.com

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

Tecnica Cochise 130 £600 FREERIDE SIZES: 22.5-30.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● ● LAST: 99 FLEX: 130 WEIGHT: 1850g

The big dawg in the Cochise line-up, the Cochise 130 returns this winter with a total overhaul that puts it right back at the top of the freeride game. This year’s shell is not only lighter, it combines two different thickness of plastic to provide a better fit. The all-new T-Ride walk mechanism features a longer lever directly fixed into the boot’s shell for a more secure connection and responsive downhill ride, and there’s a new Power Lock strap with a special hook to keep things locked and loaded when you’re charging the white castle. With 50° ROM in walk mode, tech inserts, a wickedly customisable shell and liner, and a new quick instep feature that makes it super easy to get on and off, the 2022 version of the Cochise is stronger, lighter and better than ever before. tecnicasports.com

KEY: Volume: ● Low ● Medium ● High 90 www.fall-line.co.uk

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AMELIA

Snow+Rock Expert, Covent Garden

by attitude The mountain lovers. United by impatience and anticipation. We’re united by piste and park, by style and function. United by versatility. We’re united by innovation and technology that sets us apart. United by difference. We’re united by responsibility for the wild playgrounds we love. United by the challenge, by performance, by experience.

And we’re united by the snow. At last, the time has come. All those who share our passion, our patience and our attitude. Back in the mountains, united once more.

Scan here to shop new season

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MEN’S FREERIDE BOOTS 1

1. Dalbello Krypton 130 ID T.I £560 FREERIDE SIZES: 24.5-29.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 98 FLEX: 130 WEIGHT: 2191g Dalbello’s Krypton drops in to winter 2022 with a whole heap of upgrades to compound its legendary freeride status. GripWalk soles have been added to improve traction on steep bootpacks and tech inserts mean you can rock them with your pin bindings for rapido ascents. The new high-performance Wrap ID Pro heat-mouldable liner offers a personalised fit with great impact absorption and solid foot hold. That aside, it’s the same three-piece cabrio construction with a wicked progressive flex that ramps up as you drive deeper into the boot. NB while you can customise the flex and forward lean, there’s no walk mode. dalbello.it

2. Fischer Ranger 130 Walk DYN £640 FREERIDE SIZES: 24.5-30.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 99 FLEX: 130 WEIGHT: 1600g

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The super-popular, award-winning Ranger 130 returns this winter to offer tip-top downhill performance in a lightweight package. A stiff medium-volume boot with carbon reinforcement, the 130 has all the freeride features you need, from tech inserts to Vibram GripWalk soles, lightweight Grilamid shell and cuff, Active Fit Zones, 3D pre-shaped liner and impressive 55° ROM in walk mode. You can scale down the stiffness to the 120 or 115 – they’re all built to charge. fischersports.com

3. Full Tilt Ascendant SC GripWalk £475 FREERIDE SIZES: 24.5-30.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 102 FLEX: 120 WEIGHT: N/A

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Approved by the legendary Sammy Carlson himself, this hike and ride specialist features FT’s easy on/off Evolution Tour shell with a higher back and lightweight Grilamid plastic designed to make the uphill smooth as silk. With 60° ROM in walk mode, a fully mouldable Pro Tour Wrap liner for a blister-free super-snug fit, easy to use ripcord cinch strap, durable TPU shell, GripWalk soles and shock-absorber boot board, it’s loaded with freeride tech for getting up to get down in the backcountry. fulltiltboots.com

The supremely feathery Head Kore 1 returns this winter with the same stand-out hike and ride-ability that has established it as one of our all-time freeride favourites

4. Head Kore 1 £550 FREERIDE SIZES: 23-30.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: 130 WEIGHT: 1665g The supremely feathery Kore 1 returns this winter with the same stand-out hike and ride-ability that has established it as one of our all-time freeride favourites.

Weighing in at 1665g, the graphene-infused Kore 1 is still a ‘light is right’ boot with a natural but powerful 130 flex, Liquid Fit liner and optional power plate to help distribute pressure in the shin area. When it’s time to hike it has 45° ROM in walk mode, tech inserts and GripWalk soles. Skiers looking for a more forgiving flex can opt for the Kore 2 120 flex version that features the same top-level tech. head.com

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Lightweight, responsive and powerful with a Powerlite shell and GripWalk soles, the K2 Mindbender 130 remains one of the best freeride boots around 2

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1. K2 Mindbender 130 £585 FREERIDE SIZES: 24.5-30.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 98 FLEX: 130 WEIGHT: 1885g The boot that can’t make its mind up: frontside or backside, piste or deep? The Mindbender 130 is a super-versatile, lightweight freeride boot with a stout 130 flex and heaps of belting features. Lightweight, responsive and powerful with a Powerlite shell and GripWalk soles, it remains one of the best freeride boots around. A tough metal ski/hike switch offers an impressive 50° ROM in walk mode, and while the fit is snug, strategic pre-punches mean common hotspots have been taken care of and with a fully heatmouldable PrecisionFit Pro Tour liner, you can properly dial the fit in. Also available in a 120 or 100 flex. k2snow.com

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2. Lange XT3 130 £570 FREERIDE SIZES: 24.5-29.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: 130 WEIGHT: 1790g Lange has always been known for building highperformance boots with a race, or race-like snowfeel, a painted-on fit and the power of a supercharger – and the XT3 130 is no different. Engineered to go up and built to ski down, the XT3 130 comes with a unique metal-onmetal cuff lock that mimics the feel of Lange’s bolted cuff on the way down, but allows a 53° ROM on the ascent.

With GripWalk soles and tech inserts this may look less like a Lange of old, but it still retains the powerful trenchcutting feel of its race-orientated siblings. A bipolar boot that climbs like a tourer and carves like a racer. lange-boots.com

3. Rossignol Alltrack Pro 120 GW £370

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FREERIDE SIZES: 24.5-31.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: 120 WEIGHT: 1870g Designed for max fun on the descent, the brand spankin’ new Alltrack Pro 120 is a sidecountry specialist designed for ripping powder in resort and short hikes for fresh lines.

Light, locked and loaded with heaps of features for downhill charging, it comes with a strong 120 flex, 50° ROM in walk mode, and medium last for a precise but comfortable fit. A dual core shell keeps things lively and energetic so you can really enjoy the downhill, and preshaped custom liners ensure all-day comfort. Also GripWalk sole compatible. rossignol.com

4. Roxa R3 Freetour £630 FREERIDE SIZES: 24.5-30.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 99-101 FLEX: 120 WEIGHT: 1520g If you’re on the hunt for a lightweight freeride boot that’s built to chew up vert, Roxa’s R3 Freetour could be the one for you. With 52° ROM in walk mode, Dynafit-certified tech inserts and Vibram touring soles, the R3 Freetour climbs and hikes like the proverbial backcountry beast. The Easy Stride top buckle closure cinches in the power strap for faff-free transitions, and there’s a nifty screw on the rear which, when turned 90°, softens the flex in the upper cuff giving a more progressive damping with quick rebound. A stiff 120 flex, heat-mouldable Intuition liners and a mouldable shell complete the package. roxa.com www.fall-line.co.uk 93

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WOMEN’S FREERIDE BOOTS

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Dalbello Chakra Elevate 115 ID T.I. £500 FREERIDE SIZES: 21.5-26.5 WALK MODE: N VOLUME: ● LAST: 98 FLEX: 115 WEIGHT: 1895g

The new and improved Chakra Elevate 115 starts at Mondo 21.5 (that’s a UK 3.5) and returns this winter with tech inserts and GripWalk soles, making it the ideal choice for tiny-footed, strong freeriders who like to hike ridge lines and tour with pin bindings. The light, heat-mouldable ID Max liner is super cosy, the Centre Balance Rocker Stance provides excellent control, and Dalbello’s three-piece Cabrio design with progressive flex will suit those who dig a stiff flex with springy rebound. A confident boot for in bounds rippin’, it’s worth noting that there’s no walk mode here so regular tourers will definitely want to check out the new Quantum Free 105 W. dalbello.it

Head Kore 2 W £460

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FREERIDE SIZES: 23-27.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: 110 WEIGHT: 1616g

Made using the wonder spacedust that is graphene, the Head Kore 2 W is a lightweight powerful freeride boot with a slightly more on-piste feel than some others in this category. It feels precise and has a broad sweet spot that’s helped by the cuff design, which uses an integrated power plate, increasing its height, and combined with a 50mm power strap gives bucketloads of power in the middle and end of each arc. The Kore uses Head’s trademark LiquidFit liner, a system where a gel can be injected, or removed, to fine-tune the fit after the liner and shell have been heated. It’s as close as it is possible to get to a custom, aftermarket liner without shelling out for one. A neat trick, borrowed from race boots, is the locking buckles, so that when you’re hiking up it’s impossible to catch and unintentionally open a buckle, leaving you with a nasty shock on the first turn. head.com

Rossignol Alltrack Elite 110 LT GW £470 FREERIDE SIZES: 22-27.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 98 FLEX: 110 WEIGHT: 1670g

It’s pink, get over it, there’s more to this boots than its looks. Ideal for strong female skiers who want to ski the frontside and the backside, it comes with 50° of cuff travel so you can hike for fresh knowing you’ve got a solid boot to charge on the descent. The Alltrack uses Rossignol’s trademark spider’s web-like Generative Grid construction with material pared away in key areas to slash weight but not performance. The cuff is low and the tulip-shaped rear spoiler easily accommodates a woman’s natural calf shape. With a 98mm last and 110 flex this is a boot for someone serious about precision and more interested in the descent than the climb. It feels quick yet powerful and stable, a hard blend to find. rossignol.com

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1.Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 115 CT GW £530 FREERIDE SIZES: 22-27.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: 115 WEIGHT: 1458g This may be the lightest boot in the line-up, but it’s one top-ofthe-range ripper that’s built for charging. With 54° ROM in walk mode, tech inserts in the toe and heel, GripWalk soles, a Mimic Platinum liner with a special touring flex zone for uphill striding, and multi-binding compatibility, it’s ideal for advanced/expert freeriders. Also in less beefy 105 and 95 flex. atomic.com

2. K2 Mindbender 110 Alliance £475 FREERIDE SIZES: 22.5-27.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 98 FLEX: 110 WEIGHT: 1715g

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Our 2020 Freeride Boot of the Year is a super-stylish, super-capable boot best suited to hard-charging females.

The stiffest in the women’s range, it features 50° ROM, GripWalk soles, a heat-mouldable shell, adjustable forward lean and is compatible with alpine and tech bindings. There’s also a rip cord powercinch strap for a super-secure fit. Scale down to the 90 Alliance for a cruisier ride. k2snow.com

3. Lange XT3 90 LV £445 FREERIDE SIZES: 23-27.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 97 FLEX: 90 WEIGHT: 1593g Designed to get under the ropes, this retains that powerful Lange snowfeel thanks to the classic V shape last with a narrow heel and wider forefoot. The shell blends a dual core polyurethane clog with a Lyftran cuff, sculpted to fit the lower calf. Ride-therails vibe with freeride feels. lange-boots.com

4. Roxa R3W 105 £470 FREERIDE SIZES: 22.5-27.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 99-101 FLEX: 105 WEIGHT: 1520g

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This lightweight beauty comes with all the tech you need to perform at your best. The three-piece Cabrio design delivers a smooth, progressive flex, and with CAD Design technology and other fancy weight-saving tech, it’s a fit-for-freeridepurpose powerful boot that won’t slow you down on the hill.

Oh, and the 45° ROM in walk mode should help too. roxa.com

5. Salomon Shift Pro 110 W AT £460 FREERIDE SIZES: 22-27.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: 110 WEIGHT: 1548g Replacing the QST Pro, this boot’s composite coreframe stabilises the clog, so when the ski is tilted on its edge power transmission is direct. The seamless liner is dense, but the lack of any stitches means the foot feels evenly wrapped with no hotspots. Add to that the oven-ready customisation option and you have a close-fitting boot with a stable feel, lots of support from the cuff and 40° ROM in walk mode. salomon.com

6. Tecnica Cochise 95 W £430 FREERIDE SIZES: 22-27.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● ● LAST: 99 FLEX: 95 WEIGHT: 1650g

Built for advancing freeride skiers, the new Tecnica Cochise 95 W offers cracking value and mega multi-functionality… with heaps of new tech

Built for advancing freeride skiers, this offers cracking value and mega multi-functionality. With heaps of new tech, it’s lighter, stronger, more precise and even more customisable. There’s a new CAS shell and liner, a new T-Ride walk mechanism with 50° ROM, and a new quick instep system. Also in 85 and 105 flex, and the Cochise Pro W with 115 flex. tecnicasports.com www.fall-line.co.uk 95

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TOURING BOOTS

Fast and light – go further, faster and higher into the big mountains this winter

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Fischer Transalp Pro £690 TOURING SIZES: 22.5-30.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: N/A WEIGHT: 1280g

Sustainable, speedy and super capable, Fischer’s all-new Transalp Pro is a downhill-optimised boot for committed ski tourers who demand the best of all worlds.

Its eco superpower lies in the Pebax Rnew shell construction – a renewable material made from castor beans that brings a host of technical properties, including reduced weight, sustained flex in low temps and optimal energy return. Despite this, it still weighs in at just 1280g per boot, making it a genuinely viable choice for skilled backcountry operators who want to protect their winters. Other features of note include the easy-to-operate-with-one-hand walk/ski mode that provides an unbelievable 80° ROM in walk mode, a fully customisable compact 3D liner, and two-buckle design for a dialled in fit. Also available in the slightly heavier Transalp Tour and Tour WS (Pebax/TPU - £600) and Transalp TS (TPU - £500). fischersports.com

Lange XT3 Tour Pro £640 TOURING SIZES: 25-28.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 99 FLEX: 130 WEIGHT: 1520g EDITO CHOICRS’ E

This winter sees Lange change tack completely with the launch of the XT3 Tour series – their first ever out-and-out alpine touring range. The XT3 Tour Pro is the pinnacle boot in the collection, a bright blue lightweight tourer that’s still super capable of Lange-style downhill business. With a 99mm last, 130 flex and impressive heel hold, the XT3 Tour Pro is definitely aimed at the tourer looking for both precision and power on the descent.

Drive from the Dual Core Light Shell is mightily impressive and really does deliver a fullon freeride feel. When it comes to the ascent you’re looking at an impressive 53° range of movement. “Transitioning to ski mode is a simple affair,” says Lee. “Click the top two buckles back and engage the Active Power V-Lock et voila. A metal-on-metal locking mechanism, it feels reassuringly solid and turns this lightweight boot immediately into a full-on downhill charger.” Other features of note include the rockered boot board for mega push on the ascent and full-length Vibram sole for max traction on airy ridge lines. lange-boots.com

Scott Cosmos Pro £600

TOURING SIZES: 25-31.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 102 FLEX: 125 WEIGHT: 1400g EDITO CHOICRS’ E

The Cosmo Pro is back! The 2022 version is a truly high-performance touring boot with a new cabrio hybrid construction that delivers a more fluid flex when in walk mode and gives a real world 60° ROM that the old Cosmos struggled to deliver. The BOA dial on the liner holds the tongue firmly in place when skinning, making it ultra comfy on the ups.

Slicker on the ascent than its predecessor, it’s on the descent where it really comes into its own. “With its new adjustable forward lean, beefy power strap/buckle combo and BOA liner gripping your foot, it feels closer towards a freeride boot than the old Cosmos ever could,” says Lee. “The slightly narrower last makes for incredible feel and if the 125 flex is more than you want or need, then simply take a step down the range to the Cosmos Tour with its 120 flex and standard lace-up liner.” scott-sports.com

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RADICAL PRO W BOOT

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1. Atomic Backland Carbon £650 TOURING SIZES: 25-30.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 98 FLEX: 110 WEIGHT: 1103g Weighing in at 1103g per boot, the lightweight Backland Carbon is a seriously impressive backcountry boot. The Boa technology allows for a really precise fit and the Free/Lock 4.0 ski/walk lever is super easy to use. Skinning feels natural and easy thanks to the Frictionless Pivot system, and when it comes to the descent, the Backland Carbon has still got plenty of performance left in its stealthy low-profile tank. Precise and supportive – if you’ve got the skills, it’s got your back. NB: Backland boots are not compatible with hybrid bindings such as the Shift. atomic.com

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2. Dalbello Quantum Free Asolo Factory 130 £640 TOURING SIZES: 24.5-30.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: 130 WEIGHT: 1250g All the advantages of a lightweight skimo style boot with none of the pitfalls. The clever Quantum construction, which sonically bonds two pieces of the lower shell together, provides superlative fit in all the right places. “You better make sure you’re holding onto something when you set off for the first time in walk mode as the 65° ROM means these things are bonkers flexy!” says Lee. “The IF Touring Liner has high density padding, holds the heel well, and is extremely comfy out of the box. Transitioning from walk to ski mode was easy and then you get a genuinely 130 flex freeride boot. Power transfer from boot to binding is fantastic and this would happily drive a ski well over 100mm underfoot”. dalbello.it

3. Dalbello Quantum Asolo Factory £620 TOURING SIZES: 22.5-30.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 99 FLEX: N/A WEIGHT: 960g The lightest boot in our line-up, Dalbello’s next-level Quantum boots are basically two halves of a super-light, mega-stiff polyamide/carbon fibre shell bonded together for a supreme weight to performance ratio. With 65° ROM to play with you’re looking at a genuinely efficient uphill player, then pull the simple ski/walk lever and nail the correct tension with the Dyneema Technora Rope system and you’ll find they’re super rapid in transition. The Quick Lacing System means you can dial in the fit to suit and the ID Touring Pro liner is fully customisable. Also available in Quantum Asolo (1065g), Quantum (1150g) and the lightest of the bunch – the Quantum Lite (875g). dalbello.it

4. Dynafit Radical Pro £560 TOURING SIZES: 25-31.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 103.5 FLEX: 120 WEIGHT: 1380g

Dynafit’s Radical Pro is a light yet powerful all-rounder designed to perform equally on both the ascent and descent… serious downhill whoopage

The Radical Pro is the top model in Dynafit’s new Radical range. A light yet powerful all-rounder designed to perform equally on both the ascent and descent, it combines a mega 60° ROM in walk mode with a freeride-esque 125 flex for serious downhill whoopage. It may look a lot like the dearly departed TLT6, but the new Radical Pro is more of a traditional backcountry beast with a seriously wide 103.5 last and stiffer flex. Made from carbon-infused Grilamid, it uses the Hoji Lock system that transitions from ski to walk mode in one step, so you can flip it and rip it again and again. Also available in the standard Radical with 110 flex – both with Dynafit’s five-year Lifetime Guarantee. dynafit.com

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KEY: Volume: ● Low ● Medium ● High

1. Dynafit Hoji Free 110 £650 TOURING SIZES: 23.5-31.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 102 FLEX: 110 WEIGHT: 1550g

All hail Hoji and his flippin’ excellent boots! Slightly lighter and flexier than the Hoji Free 130, the 110 has a traditional toe welt at the front of the boot that opens up Hoji town to a wider range of skiers 1

All hail Hoji and his flippin’ excellent boots! Slightly lighter and flexier than the Hoji Free 130, the 110 has a traditional toe welt at the front of the boot that opens up Hoji town to a wider range of skiers. Now compatible with alpine touring and hybrid bindings and automatic crampons, it has a lightweight Grilamid shell and offers an impressive 55° ROM in walk mode thanks to the V-shaped tongue design. Throw in the bespoke thermomouldable Hoji Free liner by Sidas, and the super-easyto-operate Hoji Lock system designed to fit over the top of your ski pants for rapid deployment, and you’ve got one of the most innovative backcountry boots on the mountain. dynafit.com

2. Dynafit Speed £420 TOURING SIZES: 25-30.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 103 FLEX: N/A WEIGHT: 1050g Dynafit’s new Speed boot is a lightweight summit seeker.

Ideal for folks who prioritise the ascent, it’s similar to the award-winning TLT Expedition in terms of weight and performance, but comes in a slightly more affordable package. 60° ROM in walk mode combined with a soft Pebax tongue and a lightweight Grilamid/glass fibre shell means it goes up like a firework on Hogmanay. The Ultra Lock 2.0 closure system opens, adjusts and closes using just one buckle ensuring transitions are super snappy.

The generous fit combined with the adjustable forward lean and sturdy shell make for smiles on the descent too. dynafit.com

3. Full Tilt Ascendant Approach £495 TOURING SIZES: 24.5-30.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 102 FLEX: 120 WEIGHT: 2015g At 2015g, the Ascendant Approach is a beast of a boot that will appeal to free-touring spirits looking to lay down fresh tracks in the big mountains. The 100% Grilamid shell and 60° ROM in walk mode keep things nimble on day tours and bootpacks and the Pro Tour Tongue Intuition liner has been designed for max power transfer, so you can really drive the ski on the descent. Other features of note include GripWalk soles for max purchase on ridge lines and Full Tilt’s three-piece design and progressive flex for all-time whoopage on the descent.

Good value too. fulltiltboots.com

4. Roxa RX Tour £490

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TOURING SIZES: 24.5-30.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 99 FLEX: N/A WEIGHT: 1190g At 1190g, the Roxa RX Tour is a super-light, affordable and powerful Grilamid touring boot. It uses an unusual one-and-a-half buckle closure design; the clog closing with a fairly traditional buckle and cable set-up. The half buckle is the cuff closure, which uses a power strap strong enough to restrain an angry bear. You can release it though your ski pants; when closed it’s a cuff buckle, open it and you get around 62° ROM for the uphill.

Available in a slightly heavier 1290g Batman-stylin’ black/green RX Scout. roxa.com www.fall-line.co.uk 99

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MEN’S TOURING BOOTS

KEY: Volume: ● Low ● Medium ● High

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1. Salomon S/Lab MTN £550 TOURING SIZES: 24-29.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● ● LAST: 98 FLEX: 120 WEIGHT: 1570g

With a progressive 120 flex and great edge-to-edge response, you’d be forgiven for thinking the Salomon S/ Lab MTN was an alpine boot… until you hit the skin track

With a progressive 120 flex and great edge-to-edge response, you’d be forgiven for thinking this was an alpine boot… until you hit the skin track where the sleek two-buckle design, low weight and 47° ROM perform like the proverbial mountain goat. Available in a cool new colour for 2022, it weighs in at 1570g so is ideal for driving wide powerful skis. Looking for a lighter, more affordable option? The less-expensive MTN Explore is another well-proven performer. salomon.com

2. Scarpa F1 LT £560 TOURING SIZES: 24.5-31 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: N/A WEIGHT: 990g

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Weighing in at 990g, the F1 LT (Light and Tough) plugs the gap between Scarpa’s skimo-esque Alien and the heavier F1/ Maestrale series. With 72° ROM in walk mode and a sub-1kg carbon/Grilamid construction, it’s built for long missions. Boa tech takes care of the fit on the lower part of the boot and the tall, durable cuff keeps snow out and gives you a solid platform to push against on the descent. scarpa.co.uk

3. Scarpa Maestrale XT £600 TOURING SIZES: 23.5-31 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 101 FLEX: 130+ WEIGHT: 1490g Our 2020 Touring Boot of the Year with RECCO tech is on the beefier side of the touring spectrum, but at 1490g per boot with 56° ROM, it’s more than capable on the uphill. The robust 130+ flex, combined with a traditional ‘two buckles on the cuff’ set-up, means that it has a powerful freeride feel. Also available as the 125 flex Maestrale RS (£520) and 110 flex Maestrale (£500). scarpa.co.uk

4. Scott Freeguide Carbon £630 TOURING SIZES: 25-30.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 101 FLEX: 130 WEIGHT: 1455g

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With a carbon/Grilamid shell, this is the Swiss brand’s stiffest, most downhill performance-oriented backcountry boot to date.

Weighing in at 1455g with a stout 130 flex and a whopping 60° ROM in walk mode, it is a light but beefy free-touring boot that hikes well and rides like a beast. The three-piece CabrioHybrid construction includes an inner overlap, which makes things more comfy on the uphill and adds power and more precise energy transmission on the descent. The Boa Closure System on the liner provides a solid, personalised fit around the calf and shin. scott-sports.com

5. Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro £650 TOURING SIZES: 22-30.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● ● LAST: 99 FLEX: 130 WEIGHT: 1320g The flagship model in Tecnica’s Zero G backcountry series, the 1320g Tour Pro returns in a burnt orangey red to light up the backcountry. An über-lightweight boot, it goes uphill with ease thanks to the 55° ROM, and the Grilamid customisable CAS shell, carbon cuff and Light Fit waterproof/breathable liner with RECCO tech all combine to speed up the ascent. The 35mm light power strap means you won’t lose momentum in transition, and with a 130 flex and an alpine racing-esque overlap shell construction, the Tour Pro descends like the proverbial backcountry beast. tecnicasports.com 100 www.fall-line.co.uk

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Black Diamond Athlete Parkin Costain Photo by Bob Plumb

BUILT FOR THE BACKCOUNTRY At Black Diamond, backcountry safety continues to drive our innovations in equipment. This winter, our snow safety tools feature the latest advancements in technology, from our fast and accurate Recon BT avalanche beacon to our industry standard Quickdraw Carbon Probe 300 and Evac 7 shovel.

SHOP SNOW SAFETY AT BLACKDIAMONDEQUIPMENT.COM

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WOMEN’S TOURING BOOTS

Dalbello Quantum Free 105 W £540 TOURING SIZES: 22.5-27.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: 105 WEIGHT: 1230g

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Built to send serious raspberry ripples down those backcountry spines this winter is Dalbello’s stonking new lightweight free-touring specialist – the Quantum Free 105 W. This lightweight two-buckle boot features Dalbello’s super-cool Quantum bonded shell and dual link cuff construction for superlative fit and skiability. Gear ed Soph tested it last winter and was blown away by both its uphill and downhill performance. “With a whopping 65° ROM in walk mode, it honestly feels like wearing a pair of slippers when you’re skinning! So comfy and natural, I had no problem putting in back-to-back 1,500m+ days in these rippers straight out of the box. With just two buckles to adjust, transitions are faff-free and the tall cuff means you’ve really got something to push against, whether you’re making high-speed turns or needing solid snappy feedback in tighter, steeper terrain. The IF instant fit liner worked brilliantly for me with no adjustments required but it can be tweaked to fit if needs be. Light, rapid with bags of control and power – it’s my favourite boot to date.” dalbello.it

Dynafit Radical W £475 TOURING SIZES: 22.5-27.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 103.5 FLEX: 110 WEIGHT: 1390g

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An accessible, lightweight all-rounder designed to perform equally well on both the ascent and the descent, the new Radical boot combines serious style with epic levels of comfort, top tech and Dynafit’s five-year Lifetime Guarantee. Weighing in at 1390g with 60° ROM in walk mode and a flexible tongue construction, it’s an uphill beast that’s happy to munch up multiple ascents. Transitions are rapid thanks to Dynafit’s infamous Hoji Single Lock System, which allows you to switch from walk to ski mode using just one hand. Now all that remains is to secure the buckles and cinch in the power strap and you can get on with the business in hand – enjoying those well-earned backcountry turns. dynafit.com

An accessible, lightweight all-rounder designed to perform equally well on the ascent and descent, the Radical combines serious style with epic levels of comfort

Scarpa F1 LT WMN £560 TOURING SIZES: 24-27 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 100 FLEX: N/A WEIGHT: 930g

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We’re truly stoked that Scarpa have decided to launch a women’s-specific version of this ultralight, high-performance touring boot this winter. The new women’s boot is available in smaller sizes with a lower cuff to accommodate the female calf, but other than that it’s the same fast, light, technical and tough boot that our male skier mates have been raving about. Weighing in at less than 1kg per boot with a stonkin’ 72° ROM in walk mode, it’s built for long days chasing max vert, with heat-mouldable Intuition liners and Boa tech to ensure max comfort and a precise fit. A seriously impressive boot for seriously ambitious female ski mountaineers. scarpa.co.uk

This is built for long days chasing max vert, with heat-mouldable Intuition liners and Boa tech to ensure max comfort and a precise fit 102 www.fall-line.co.uk

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KEY: Volume: ● Low ● Medium ● High

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1. Atomic Backland Pro W £550 TOURING SIZES: 22-27.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 98 FLEX: 95 WEIGHT: 1030g The Backland Pro W returns with the same feathery Prolite construction, Frictionless Pivot and Free/Lock 4.0 tech to provide the smoothest of uphill strides, with a female-specific Platinum Light liner and customisable shell. NB: not compatible with hybrid bindings such as the Shift. atomic.com

2. Dynafit Seven Summits £380 TOURING SIZES: 22.5-27.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 104.5 FLEX: N/A WEIGHT: 1360g

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This may not be the lightest of boots, but with its 104.5mm last and all-round capabilities, it’s a practical option for intermediate to advanced tourers looking for a roomy boot that does it all, with 60° ROM in walk mode. dynafit.com

3. Dynafit TLT Expedition CL £570

The Roxa Scout is an affordable, light and super-versatile touring boot that will work well for a whole lotta ladies

TOURING SIZES: 25-30.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 103 FLEX: 110 WEIGHT: 1020g Our 2020 Touring Boot of the Year packs a lot of performance into an extremely lightweight package, with Master Step tech for easy entry into pin bindings and a two-buckle design. Also available with the warmer CR liner. dynafit.com

4. Roxa Scout W £440 TOURING SIZES: 22.5-27.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 99 FLEX: N/A WEIGHT: 1140g An affordable, light and super-versatile touring boot that will work well for a whole lotta ladies. It has 62° ROM in walk mode, and a dual-density tongue, heat-mouldable liner and women’sspecific cuff ensure you’ll be comfy in the skin track. roxa.com

5. Scarpa Gea RS £520 TOURING SIZES: 22.5-27 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 101 FLEX: N/A WEIGHT: 1160g Experienced backcountry skiers looking for a eco-friendly touring boot will want to get their hiking hooves into Scarpa’s new and improved Gea RS. Its eco superpower lies in the new Grilamid Bio cuff – a material produced from renewable sources. With 60° ROM in walk mode, it’s built to chew up vert.

Also comes with heat-mouldable Intuition liners. scarpa.co.uk

6. Scott Celeste Tour £525 TOURING SIZES: 23-27.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● LAST: 103.5 FLEX: 110 WEIGHT: 1150g

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New this winter, this will appeal to strong skiers looking for a high-volume boot. It’s super light and mega comfy thanks to the roomy 103.5 last. The rear walk/ski mode hook is easy to manipulate and offers 50° ROM. Looking for a slightly softer ride? Check out the Celeste with 100 flex. scott-sports.com

7. Tecnica Zero G Tour Scout W £570 TOURING SIZES: 22-27.5 WALK MODE: Y VOLUME: ● ● LAST: 99 FLEX: 115 WEIGHT: 1275g A technical, hard-charging, lightweight backcountry performer, with 55° ROM in walk mode, a Grilamid and carbon fibre shell, RECCO tech, Vibram sole and waterproof/breathable liner. Also available in the Zero G Tour with 105 flex. tecnicasports.com www.fall-line.co.uk 103

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SKI BINDINGS

Maximise your performance this season with our pick of the best of the bindings bunch

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MARTIN CHESTER’S GUIDE TO BINDINGS

THE SEVEN C’S EXPLAINED: ❆ Choice: the range of bindings is no less numerous and diverse; but they are starting to cluster into obvious groups.

So making a choice is getting easier, so long as you know your intended use. ❆ Competition: with the amazing array of touring bindings on offer, competition is stiffer than ever. ❆ Category: the three main groups are: Lightweight race bindings are no less radical but more widely accepted.

At the other end of the spectrum we have the heavyweight freeride bindings. Freeride becomes freetour as many more of us are hiking or skinning for our fix of freshies. As such, there is an increasing selection of Multi Norm Compatible (MNC) bindings.

Pure touring bindings used to be the majority of multi-day bindings; light enough for the ascent, yet burly enough to smash around the whole mountain.

Frame bindings are now history and pin bindings are king. The wide range is separated by brand loyalty and features, leading us to consider . . . ❆ Cunning: once again, the devil really is in the detail with some really clever innovations. G3 deliver greater clearance under the springs, to prevent them icing up; Fritschi Xenic have developed their cunning sledge release, so there is no gap for the ice to build up… Each has their own feature. ❆ Compatibility: unless you want to change your full setup, you mustn’t forget the boots. No need to repeat here (just check out fall-line.co.uk/ ask-martin-chester-which-boots-fitwhich-bindings), but if, for example, you need a big boot to drive a big ski, then it makes sense that the interface between the two is in the same burly class. On the simplest level, you need tech inserts in your boot to fit into a pin binding. But if you don’t know your ISO 9523 from your GripWalk then you need a good retailer to help you. ❆ Combinations: you need to be clear what you want the whole rig to do. ❆ Compromise: I hate to break it to you but you can’t have it all. Which is more important? Saving weight or freeride performance?

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Atomic Backland Tour/ Salomon MTN Tour £480 TOURING DIN RANGE: male/female/expert (three heel piece settings) WEIGHT: 398g per unit Light and exceptionally functional, the Backland Tour/MTN Tour is one of the most user-friendly bindings on the market. Minimalist yet reassuringly robust, Gear ed Soph spent a winter touring on these and really rates the patented step-in aid at the front, which automatically guides your boot in for easier pin engagement. Another cool feature is that

the heel risers move independently from the heel tower so you don’t have to rotate the heel piece when transitioning between walk and ski mode (unless you’re skinning ‘flat’). A wide mount creates a secure fix for fat skis and with one easy flick of the pole you can choose between two different heel riser heights. Downhill performance was faultless on test – simples. If you prefer leashes over brakes, the £430 Backland Pure/MTN Pure will save you just over 100g underfoot. atomic.com, salomon.com

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Dynafit ST Rotation 14 From £490 FREETOURING DIN RANGE: 7-14 WEIGHT: 605g per unit A cracking option for the heavier, chargier skier who doesn’t want the additional weight of a hybrid binding, the all-new ST Rotation 14 is beefed up and ready for freetouring adventures. A reassuringly weighty binding with a rotating toe, the ST Rotation 14 combines downhill performance with safety in a

pretty indestructible package. With indexing to help centring of the toe-piece when stepping in, icebreaker pins, easy lock brakes and bayonet heel locking system, it takes away those niggly touring binding worries so you can focus on the business of big time sending. Also in ST Rotation 10 and ST Rotation Lite 7 and 10 – all with Dynafit’s Lifetime Guarantee. dynafit.com

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Marker Squire 11 £150 FREERIDE/FREESTYLE DIN RANGE: 3-11 WEIGHT: 820g per unit

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The completely redesigned Squire 11 is perfect for aspiring and existing freeriders and freestylers looking for an affordable and progressive binding for park and powder antics. Specially designed for lighter riders (30-110kg), it comes with Marker’s Hollow Linkage Heel for a vastly easier step-in process, so you can reserve those stomping energies for the mountain.

Compatible with both GripWalk and alpine soles, it comes in a sick range of colours and laden with tech that keeps weight to a minimum without any compromise when it comes to consistent release. Super good value, too. More powerful and/or heavier skiers should go with the Griffon 13 or Jester 16/18. marker.net

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1. ATK R12 £510 with brakes FREETOURING DIN RANGE: 5-12 WEIGHT: 330g per unit Italian binding company ATK have a reputation for mega-light, predominantly all-metal bindings that offer excellent weight to performance/reliability ratios.

The R12 packs a whole load of features, including ATK’s cam release system, three climbing positions, easy step-in and release value up to 12. Need something burlier? Scale up to the super-chargey FR14 (£535), a freetouring expert with 8-14 release, beefier springs in the heel and freeride spacers. atkbindings.com

2. ATK Crest 10 £385/90 including brakes TOURING DIN RANGE: 5-10 WEIGHT: 280g per unit Most of the top features from ATK’s R series in a super-well-priced lightweight binding. With brakes, three heel riser levels, adjustable lateral and vertical release, plus ATK’S special cam release, it has all the tech. Weighing in at 280g per unit with a brake, it’s ideal for budgetaware backcountry skiers looking for a well made, predominantly metal binding with 5-10 release setting. atkbindings.com

3. Atomic/Salomon S/LAB SHIFT MNC 13 £450 FREETOURING DIN RANGE: 6-13 WEIGHT: 880g per unit

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There may be some new hybrid touring bindings on the block, but the Shift still remains a hugely popular option – for good reason. Combining the light weight and uphill workings of a pin binding with the elasticity and skiing performance of a true alpine binding, it has single-handedly led the charge in creating the binding equivalent of a ‘one-ski quiver’. Weighing

in just at 880g per unit, it packs a whole lot of function and features for a midweight binding: easy step-in, great glide and range of motion when hiking, swift transition between touring and descent modes, and mucho shred-tastic capability.

Also in MNC 10 with 4-10 release for £400. atomic.com, salomon.com

4. Cast Freetour Upgrade Kit £269 FREETOURING DIN RANGE: 6-15 and 8-18 WEIGHT: 1000g per unit The world’s first pin-tech touring system designed by pro freeriders Lars and Silas Chickering-Ayers, this throws an innovative snowy curveball right into the heart of binding set-up selection. A patented conversion system is designed to rapidly turn your Look Pivot 15 or 18 alpine toes into a super-light pin-tech touring system. Once you’ve mounted the Kit you simply swap the toes by pushing a small lever and sliding them off.

Simples! casttouring.com

5. Dynafit Superlite 150+ £565 TOURING DIN RANGE: 4-13 WEIGHT: 294g per unit If gram-counting is your thing but you still want tip-top downhill performance, you need this in your life. Weighing in at less than 300g per unit, it’s unbelievably light and comes with brakes! Designed to bridge the gap between skimo racing and straight up regular touring, it has a large range of adjustable lateral release, choice of two heel riser heights and is crampon compatible. Vertical release can be adjusted using a U-spring (available separately) and an adjustable mounting plate can also be added for up to 20mm of heel adjustment. dynafit.com www.fall-line.co.uk 105

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SKI BINDINGS

1. Dynafit Blacklight+ £445 TOURING DIN RANGE: 5-12 WEIGHT: 370g per unit Ideal for ‘regular’ ski tourers who want a lightweight binding that prioritises the downhill, this is a robust binding that comes with brakes (70, 90 and 105mm), a bayonet locking heel system, and ultra-high risers. Easy on the up and beefy on the descent, it ticks a lot of boxes. Backcountry bean counters may want to check out the brake-less Blacklight (no +) at 280g/unit. dynafit.com

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2. Dynafit Radical £400 TOURING DIN RANGE: 4-10 WEIGHT: 520g per unit The time-tested Radical returns with an aluminium-reinforced heel unit for max robustness. Practical, durable, light and safe, it’s a true all-rounder. Easy to step into thanks to the step-in side towers, it’s an accessible binding that’s simple to get to grips with, comes with a 4-10 release range and is compatible with skis up to 110mm underfoot. dynafit.com

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3. Fritschi Tecton 12 Carbon From £485 TOURING DIN RANGE: 5-12 WEIGHT: 550g per unit w/o brake This takes the Vipec toe and combines it with an alpine-style heel unit for mega grip. This year’s version sees significant updates; the biggest change comes in the black body of the binding itself, which now uses a carbon-reinforced high-tech plastic to make it stiffer, stronger and more robust. The chunkier toe lever engages as before with a reassuring clunk, the brake has been slimmed down with a new Teflon slider, and the plastic heel risers are easier to manipulate on the move. fritschi.swiss/en

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4. Fritschi Xenic 10 £310 w/o brakes TOURING DIN RANGE: 4-10 WEIGHT: 280g per unit w/o brake Weighing in at 280g (without a brake), this is a light, super-easy, safe touring binding with great downhill performance. The pin levers in the front unit shift horizontally to minimise unwanted shock-induced pre-release. Unlike others in the range, it only has one heel riser level, however the reduction in weight is likely to negate the need for additional uphill assistance. For extra security add brakes for £46. fritschi.swiss/en

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5. G3 Ion 12 £455 with brakes TOURING DIN RANGE: 50-12 WEIGHT: 579g per unit The Ion 12 remains pretty much faultless. With a wide freeride mount, optimal toe elasticity and forward pressure in the heel, step-ins and transitions are swift due to the BootStop alignment guide; and the retractable, spring-loaded brake inspires confidence when it’s time to shred. Looking to save weight? Go for the brakeless Ion LT 12 or Ion 10. genuineguidegear.com

6. G3 Zed 9 £335 w/o brakes

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TOURING DIN RANGE: 3-9 WEIGHT: 345g per unit w/o brake Ideal for pocket rockets, be they lighter skiers or kids, this is a high-performance, easy-to-use, super-light binding that makes no compromises when it comes to downhill performance.

Calibrated for lighter skiers, step-in is straight forward thanks to G3’s Boot Stop tech. It comes with a set of leashes but if you’re looking for additional reassurance, add on a set of easy-toinstall brakes for an extra £60. genuineguidegear.com

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7. Marker Alpinist 10 £315

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TOURING DIN RANGE: 4-10 WEIGHT: 245g per unit w/o brake Ideal for lighter skiers (max 110kg), looking for a binding for wilderness explorations where every gram counts. At just 245g per unit, it’s an uphill-oriented rig with two levels of heel risers designed to help you boss the skin track. When it’s time to get your down on, the carbon-reinforced toe makes power transmission a breeze. Ultra light, durable and also available in Alpinist 8 (for kids and ladies) and 12. marker.net

8. Marker Duke PT 12 £510 FREETOURING DIN RANGE: 4-12 WEIGHT: 1150g per unit in downhill mode

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The Duke PT (Pin Technology) is available in two versions: the PT16 and lighter PT12. The Hike & Ride toe piece is removable, saving around 300g on the uphill. When it’s downhill time, click the toe housing back onto the base plate and you’re ready to go.

With Sole.ID tech it’s open to everyone. Just a wee word of caution: you can’t ski the Duke PT 12 in pin mode (your boot will be around 40mm further forward in uphill mode so you’ll have no contact with the heel piece). marker.net

9. Marker Kingpin 13 £480 FREETOURING DIN RANGE: 6-13 WEIGHT: 690g per unit

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Ideal for freeriders and ski tourers who want max performance in a pin package, this comes with heaps of top tech, including easy step-in, heel risers up to 13° and adjustable vertical release.

The rear is all about ski performance with a traditional alpinestyle heel piece. There’s also a DIN 10 option and Kingpin M-Werks 12 with Alpinist toe piece and Kingpin heel. marker.net

10. Plum Summit 12 £450

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FREETOURING DIN RANGE: 5.5-12 WEIGHT: 445g per unit The new Summit 12 may be brakeless this winter but it’s still built for big mountain riding. It’s a beautifully engineered binding that goes large on features. Ideal for skiers weighing between 70kg and 120kg, it comes with a two-year warranty. If you’d prefer having the security of ski brakes, grab the Summit Stopper version instead. fixation-plum.com

11. Salomon STH2 MNC 16 £270 FREERIDE/ FREERIDE/FREESTYLE DIN RANGE: 7-16 WEIGHT: 1240g per unit

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The iconic STH2 returns with MNC (MultiNorm Certified) capabilities, meaning it’s game on for any kind of boot-sole type.

Also new for this winter is a dual transfer switch, which allows you to choose your on-snow feel. Opt for ‘direct’ mode if you’re looking for a snappy, edge-to-edge pistey kinda ride or switch to ‘progressive’ if you’re hitting the sidecountry. salomon.com

12. Tyrolia Attack 14 GW £150

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FREERIDE/FREESTYLE DIN RANGE: 4-14 WEIGHT: 2020g per unit The best just got better. Tyrolia have updated their legendary Attack range to offer even better strength and stability at the lowest possible weight. The new Attack 14 is light yet powerful with easy step in and a versatile DIN that will work for all but the heaviest of huckers. NB if you’re looking to rock them with touring boots, go for the Attack 14 MN. tyrolia.com www.fall-line.co.uk 107

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SKI POLES

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Get planted – make your point this winter with our top stick picks

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1. Atomic Backland FR SQS £130 Lengths (cm): 110-135 Designed and developed with Chris Benchetler, these telescopic freeride poles come with a super-handy built-in screwdriver for adjustments on the fly. Made from lightweight aluminium alloy, other top features include an all-new non-slip ergonomic grip, 85mm powder baskets and Atomic’s SQS safety system that releases the strap under tension. atomic.com

2. BCA Scepter Aluminium £80 Lengths (cm): 105-145 Re-designed for winter 2022, this is a gimmickfree touring pole that does everything very well.

Light yet solid, it comes with utility hooks on the grip and solid powder baskets for easy heel riser manipulation, releasable straps for those uh-oh moments, and a Scraper Grip for keeping bases, skins and topsheets free from snow and ice. backcountryaccess.com

3. Black Crows Stans £60 Lengths (cm): 110-135 Weighing in at 230g per pole, this is light, precise and as you’d expect from the Crows, super stylish too. Low profile and ready to rip, it’s a fixed pole that comes with a specially designed handle for optimum grip, compact basket and steel tip.

Choose from a range of colours and let ’em fly. black-crows.com

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4. Black Diamond Expedition Johnny Collinson Edition £95 Lengths (cm): 94-145 These two-part adjustable 256g touring poles are light and super durable. Features of note include 100mm powder baskets, FlickLock adjustability, adjustable strap and extended foam grip. blackdiamondequipment.com

5. Black Diamond Vapor Carbon 2 £140 Lengths (cm): 100-135 (95cm collapsed) BD’s 100% carbon top-level touring pole, weighing in at just 225g. It comes with a twopiece carbon shaft and a minimalist foam grip with BD’s special sticky rubber for heel riser hooking on the fly. blackdiamondequipment.com

6. Dynafit Speed Vario 2 £130 Lengths (cm): 105-145cm (105cm collapsed) This 100% carbon fibre adjustable pole weighs just 208g. The ergonomic foam grip with EVA extension is easy to hold both higher up and lower down the handle, and the solid pressure lock system inspires confidence. dynafit.com

7. K2 Swift Stick £115 Lengths (cm): 105-135 Looking for a quiver-of-one pole? This three-piece collapsible and adjustable aluminium pole is a year-round mountain athlete that works for a range of heart-pumping adventures, including ski

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touring, splitboarding, hiking and hill running.

Featuring K2’s proprietary FlipJaw locking system, 95mm powder baskets and EVA grip, it collapses down super small. K2snow.com

8. Line Vision £95 Lengths (cm): 103.5-145 A fully adjustable lightweight carbon/aluminium pole that will take you from the resort into the sidecountry and further beyond. With 95mm screw-off baskets, anti-slip sleeve and Line’s Screw It All! tips, pair ’em with a pair of Vision skis for mega matchy-matchy points. lineskis.com

9. Scott Scrapper Adjust SRS £90 Lengths (cm): 110-135 This is the telescopic touring version of the legendary Scrapper Pro freeride pole. It weighs just 282g per pole and comes with an adjustable aluminium alloy 16-18mm shaft, interchangeable baskets and Scott’s innovative S.R.S strap release system. scott-sports.com

10. Völkl Phantastick 18 £80 Lengths (cm): 90-135 A super-cool-looking freeride pole for cornice whacking, big time bootpacking and powder playin’. With a solid 18mm aluminium shaft it’s built to stand up to the burliest of big mountain adventuring and comes with interchangeable powder and race baskets. voelkl.com

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SPLITBOARD SWAG You know you want one. Tasty. Just like two skis, but, er, fixed together...

BUYER’S

BETA

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OUR ED AT LARGE’S SPLITBOARD GUIDE

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Buckle up for a better-than-ever backcountry experience, with splitboards that break apart easily (in a good way), bindings that can be switched-out/ twizzled speedily, and a fleet of shiny new models with the ability (and tech) to charge the hill almost as if they were a traditional ‘unsplit’ sticks.

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EDITO CHOICRS’ E

THINGS TO CONSIDER: ❄ You sure?

Do you actually, really, like sweating your a*se off going uphill in the backcountry, sliding around in icy skin tracks for hours on end for what can be a pretty short descent? Or is it just a Jeremy Jones-induced fantasy?

The best way to work that out is to borrow/rent some kit, and book yourself a few days with a guide. ❄ Split reality Your splitboard and bindings will not handle as well on-piste as a traditional snowboard. If you spend 90% of your time riding bullet-hard packed pistes in resort, a splitboard is not for you. ❄ Transitioning So you’re a skier who’s never been snowboarding and you think a splitboard is a good first ride?

God help you. Trad board first; split later. ❄ Same same/déjà vu Key binding manufacturer Spark R&D has announced – due to record demand and sales – that they will be carrying over their entire line from last season (binding models, colours, you name it) to help them and retailers cope with the ‘crazy’ current market. So don’t think shops are pulling a fast one. It is the latest stuff, but a little bit the same as the older stuff! ❄ Pole goals Compactor poles are pricey, but don’t try to save a fiver and then find they won’t actually fit in your pack. Do your homework, check the collapsed length, spend a little more, and you’ll be gold. ❄ Go for a spin Like all boards/skis/lovers, it’s advisable to try before the marriage begins. Do your research and get on board before you buy.

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KEY:

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Women’s specific

BOARDS

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1. Burton Family Tree Hometown Hero X Camber £1350 SIZES: 150, 154, 158, 162 This super-light directional big mountain board wants to chase pow, but is still built to work in a variety of conditions. Burton’s lightest split, the freeride shape with setback camber is designed to deliver freestyle feels when you’re riding flat, but put it on an edge and it’s all-mountain playtime. Burton claim the Split Channel Mount with pre-mounted pucks “is the strongest, fastest, easiest and most adjustable ever”. burton.com

2. G3 Scapegoat £765 SIZES: 158, 162, 166 The award-winning Scapegoat is a lightweight, powder-specific split laden with top G3 tech. The combination of a hybrid poplar/paulownia wood core and full carbon construction ensure it’s light and responsive when you’re negotiating steep narrow chutes. But when the pow comes to town it’s good to go thanks to the 25mm taper in the tail and rockered tip. genuineguidegear.com

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3. Jones Ultra Solution £1300 SIZES: 158, 161, 162W, 164, 165W The redesigned and renamed artist formerly known as the Carbon Solution combines a directional freeride shape with a stiff flex to deliver a balanced, responsive and stable ride. New last winter was an increased taper in the tail for optimum float and a 3D Contour Base 3.0 that has made turn initiation more intuitive.

An absolute bomber. jonessnowboards.com

4. K2 Freeloader Package £1150

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SIZES: 145, 151 Shaped by Wolfgang Nyvelt, this women’s-specific split comes with a wide tapered pow-focused design for max manoeuvrability. The wood core profile has been optimised to deliver skate deck levels of pop and it comes with custom Pomoca skins. salomon.com

8. Salomon S/Lab Premiere £1350 SIZES: 159, 165 This four-part carbon split consists of two pieces that fit in your backpack, so it’s not only lighter on the up, you’ll be able to fit into skier-made skin tracks too.

Stiff and light, the price includes custom-cut Pomoca skins and custom crampons. salomon.com

9. Stranda Descender BC £624 SIZES: 158, 161, 162W, 166W The award-winning Descender, from climate-neutral Swedish company Stranda, is incredibly light and has awesome edge grip. It’s a soulful and dependable board that’s pivotable in tight spots, thanks to its light weight and early rise in the tip and tail. But it’s also happy to ride switch, plough through chop, or be pointed down the fall-line. strandasnowboards.com

10. Stranda Shorty BC £688-695 SIZES: 159, 164, 164W, 169 Super manoeuvrable, confidence inspiring and playful, the directional Shorty is a quiver-killer contender. The ash/poplar core keeps things damp when it’s chattery and the diamond shape, tip-tail rocker and low camber make for mega pow. strandasnowboards.com

SIZES 151, 156, 159, 162, 158W, 163W K2’s new Freeloader “was built to climb faster, descend sharper, and get you further into the backcountry” than any splitboard they’ve built. A bit of taper in the tail combined with the wide nose up front makes for supreme float in the soft stuff and full-on form when blasting through crud and chop. In all an impressive package that includes board, Pomoca skins, mountain hardware and Voilé-style mount pucks. K2snow.com

BOOTS

5. K2 Marauder Package £920

Built for big mountain splitboard adventures, the tough crampon-compatible Vibram sole, Boa tech and Intuition Space Heater liners all combine to create an impressive high-tech backcountry boot. k2snow.com

SIZES: 147, 151, 156, 159, 162, 158W, 163W, 166W Playful yet precise, this is a blunt-nosed backcountry split that gets up to get down. The directional camber baseline means you’ll stay stuck to the skin track when things get steep, and the tapered outline is built for dropping backcountry bombs on the descent. A mega-value package that includes board, skins, risers, hardware and mounting pucks. k2snow.com

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7. Salomon Pillow Talk Split

6. K2 Split Bean Package £740 SIZE: 144 This short’n’stubby fella may look kinda different but by heck, does he rip! If you’re looking for a partner for multi-day technical trips then you’ll need a longer, thinner pal, but for lift-accessed, sidecountry stashhunting the wee Bean is a backcountry belter. Splittrack inserts help keep things secure in the skin track. And kick turns? Yeah, easy. Package includes board, skins, risers, hardware and mounting pucks. k2snow.com

11. Burton Tourist £370 Sizes: 6-12 Designed in collaboration with Spark R&D, this boot has a solid amount of negative flex, Speed Zone lacing for rapid transitions and a Dryride Heat Cycle liner that’ll keep your Tourist tootsies toasty. It also comes with a Vibram sole. burton.com

12. K2 Aspect £425 Sizes: 5-13

13. Salomon Trek S/Lab £450 Sizes: 25-30.5 The medium-flex Trek S/Lab is super techie, with Boa+ Trek lacing, full custom fit liner, sweat-wicking Quickdry panels, an adjustable internal heel strap and rugged Trek BC+ outsole. Oh, and it can be used for non-split riding too. salomon.com

14. ThirtyTwo Jones MTB Women’s W £500 Sizes: 5-10 A stiff yet responsive boot, this is the culmination of a two-year collab with split legend Jeremy Jones.

These boots come with Boa tech, heat-mouldable Intuition liners, Vibram soles and a clever Walk Mode Collar. Also available for men. thirtytwo.com www.fall-line.co.uk 111

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KEY:

BINDINGS

1. Burton Hitchhiker £420 SIZES: XS, S, M, L This takes the user-friendliness of the Spark’s lightweight Tesla T1 System and combines it with some of Burton’s best tech, including the superresponsive Hammockstrap ankle strap and the fully injected Supergrip Capstrap 2.0 toe strap. Double Take buckles make for speedy transitions and the highback construction comes with customisable negative forward lean options. burton.com

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2. K2 Far Out £385 SIZES: S, M, L Developed in conjunction with split legends Voilé, the Far Out is a bombproof, easy-to-use binding with legit backcountry DNA. Comes with lightweight aluminium chassis, pinless speed-rail mountain system, ankle strap and one-tool adjustability. k2snow.com

3. Spark R&D Women’s Arc

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£365

SIZES: XS/S, M/L Lightweight, durable, comfortable and oh-so-simple to use, the women’s-specific Arc embodies everything you need in a backcountry binding. The Montanabased splitboard pioneers have shaved grams wherever possible to ensure a mega-light rig, yet reliability, flex, comfort and performance are still there in droves. This version comes with shorter and narrower baseplates, lower, more compact heel loops and lower highbacks for a dialled-in female fit. Also available in men’s. sparkrandd.com

ACCESSORIES

4. Black Diamond Ascension Nylon Splitboard Skin £160

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Durable, light and packable, these come with BD’s time-tested nylon plush that offers mega grip and efficient glide in the skin track. New last winter, the redesigned adjustable tail attachment stretches in two directions to fit a wide variety of board shapes. blackdiamondequipment.com

5. Burton x G3 High Traction Splitboard Skins £200

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These grippy skins come with G3’s High Traction nylon plush for increased confidence on icy ascents.

The laminated tip connector with self-aligning stainless steel hands keeps things secure at the front and the camming tail connector takes care of things at the rear. burton.com

6. Black Diamond JetForce Pro Split Avalanche Airbag 25L £1040 Light, rechargeable and easy to travel with, this pack allows you to deploy it over and over again so you know exactly what needs to be done should the proverbial hit the proverbial. It also has bluetooth connectivity that allows you to run updates and diagnostic checks before you head out. Feature-packed, it has a splitboard strap, avy tools pocket, ice-tool attachment system and helmet holder. The modular construction allows you to move the system to different-sized packs depending on the nature of your mountain mission. blackdiamondequipment.com

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7. Burton (ak) Dispatcher 18L Backpack £120 This low-profile technical pack has all the features you need for sidecountry hits and short trips into the big mountains. Constructed using a durable Nylon Cordura fabric, it comes with an easily accessible avy tools pocket, helmet sling, hydration sleeve, sternum strap with whistle, and ice axe/poles attachment loops. Choose A-frame carry when you’re in split mode or vertical carry for quick hikes with a fully mounted, descent-ready board. burton.com

8. G3 Pivot £130 Collapsible poles can be a faff – they never seem to stay together, the cables get caught on everything in your pack… Enter the Pivot – a split-specific, innovative and supremely packable three-part pole that wraps around the handle and locks into place keeping everything just so. Light and strong, these aluminium beauties are available in a choice of two lengths and come with a durable 18mm upper shaft, an extended utility tab specifically designed for hooking and manipulating splitboard bindings on the move, and a well-designed extended foam grip handle. Collapsed length 38.5cm (long length). genuinegearguide.com

9. Jones Shralpinist 3L Gore-Tex Pro Jacket and Pants Jacket £700, pants £550 Part of the new Jones splitboard-specific outerwear collection, the Shralpinist line is built to get high so you can lay it down in the big mountains. With bodymapped Gore-Tex Pro, the most rugged fabric is placed where you’re likely to get pounded by precipitation or snagged by rocks – aka the hood, arms, seat and knees – whereas the torso and inside of the legs has more breathable material. jonessnowboards.com

10. Jones Expedition Board Bag £240 This light, fully padded, water-resistant roller bag has enough room for two-three boards. It comes with heaps of pockets designed to accomodate boots, bindings, avy gear, and oversized wheels and a skid plate to keep you rolling down those snowy streets.

Fits boards up to 166cm. jonessnowboards.com

11. Phantom Link Levers £160 Want to take your riding to another level this winter and understand the performance benefits of hard boots? Grab yourself Phantom’s tour/ride levers and a pair of Atomic Backland boots. Simply swap out the stock levers with these dual suspension Link Levers, then set the forward lean, forward flex and backward damping to suit your riding style/weight and you’ll be on your way to splitboard glory. phantomsnow.com

12. Spark R&D Ibex Pro Crampons £129 Compatible with a heap of bindings, including the Arc, these aluminium crampons are easy to install and take out without having to remove your bindings. 22% lighter than the standard Ibex and thinner too, they slice through snow with less drag. sparkrandd.com www.fall-line.co.uk 113

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OUTERWEAR

The mountains are calling – get up and get down in this top technical kit

BUYER’S

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OUR GEAR ED’S GUIDE TO OUTERWEAR

It’s what’s on the inside that counts right? Well, yes… most of the time. Unless you’re stuck on a chairlift in a snowstorm going hypothermic in your expensive new shell that’s proving itself to be utterly useless at keeping you warm and dry. At the end of the day, the rules are simple: when you’re buying ski jackets and pants, the gear really does need to fit the idea.

THINGS TO CONSIDER ❄ Reality check Do you need a layer that breathes, sheds precipitation, keeps you warm or does all of the above? This will depend on the climate and environment where you intend to ski, and the kind of skiing you’ll be doing (vs the kind of skiing you’d like your Insta followers to think you’re doing). Have a think about the where, what and when and then… ❄ Tech talk Waterproof or water-resistant?

Hardshell or softshell? Two-layer or three-layer construction? Gore-Tex Pro Most Rugged or Gore-Tex Active?

H2No or eVent? Hydrostatic heads and MVTRs? Find out what these are, what they mean and decide which is best for you. And your wallet. ❄ Extra factor Do you need a hood that works with your helmet? Are you always losing your ski pass? Tend to sweat a lot?

Like keeping your skins as warm as possible in between laps? All of the above? Then you’re going to need heaps of features. By all means seek out the essentials, but be wary of over-engineered kit at the same time. Excessive, irrelevant fiddly and weighty features? No thanks. ❄ Protect your winters Buy once, buy well. Seek out progressive and sustainable brands that prioritise the use of recycled and eco materials in their manufacturing processes, such as PFC-free DWRs and environmentally friendly dyes. Investing in intelligent kit may sting initially but it’s ultimately the smart skier’s game.

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1. Arc’teryx Procline Jacket £400 A shell you can actually skin in, the new windproof, water-resistant, megabreathable Procline is ideal for skiers looking for a jacket for backcountry turn earning. Weighing in at 720g, it offers fab freedom of movement thanks to the Gore-Tex Infinium fabric with four-way stretch, and comes laden with Arc’teryx ski-specific tech, including pit zips, helmet-compatible hood, powder skirt, RECCO reflector and heaps of pockets. arcteryx.com

2. Black Crows Ora Xpore Ripstop Jacket and Bib Pants Jacket £630, pants £540 Big time style for big mountain riding.

This parka jacket and bib pant set is a supremely cool-looking, über-technical combo that features the Crows’ new waterproof/breathable Xpore tech. The jacket sits longer at the back to keep that tush warm and dry, and there’s a host of cool features here, including an adjustable hood with stand up collar, adjustable cuffs with lycra sleeves you can push up, heaps of well-thought-out pockets, pit zips, removable powder skirt and RECCO tech. Clean and cool. black-crows.com

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3. Black Crows Ferus Mechanical Jacket and Bib Pants W Jacket £400, pants £310

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Quite possibly this season’s coolest outfit for lift-accessed skiing, this lightly padded combo is constructed with Primaloft Black Eco insulation and a mechanical stretch fabric for mega warmth and comfort on the hill. The jacket is cut slightly longer and comes with a wicked Mont Blanc Massif-style liner for max style points. Both come with heaps of pockets for kit stashing, ventilation zips, and RECCO tech.

Available in men’s and women’s. black-crows.com

4. Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell W £300 Head torches at the ready. Weighing in at 455g (women’s) and 500g (men’s), this backcountry-specific jacket feels and behaves like a stretchy, mega-comfy softshell and it keeps the weather out.

The BD.Dry fabric coupled with softshell panels deliver excellent breathability, and the GTT Empel PFC-Free treatment is durable and environmentally friendly.

With heaps of features, including a double front zip with mesh panel for increased airflow when skinning, wrist

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Women’s specific

gaiters, helmet-compatible hood, and harness-friendly chest pockets, it might well be all the shell you ever need.

Available in men’s and women’s. blackdiamondequipment.com

5. Black Diamond Recon Stretch Shell and Bibs Jacket £330, bibs £370 Ideal for inbounds charging and beyondthe-ropes freeride adventures, this mega-versatile kit combines four-way stretch with waterproof/breathable BD. dry tech so you can hike for freshies, boost off booters and rip around the resort all season long. Features of note include a helmet-compatible hood, DWR-treated pit zips, skin-compatible internal stash pockets, and pack-friendly suspenders on the pants. Available in men’s and women’s. blackdiamondequipment.com

6. Helly Hansen Elevation Infinity Shell Jacket £650 Think it’s impossible to create a genuinely sustainable jacket without compromising on technical performance? Then HH is about to prove you wrong. This super-impressive 770g eco-genius has been constructed using LIFA Infinity Pro – a three-layer, waterproof/breathable fabric that’s made without any added chemicals and LIFA Infinity, which is a highly breathable membrane made in a solvent-free process. The DWR coating is chemicalfree, too. Features-wise, you get ‘ultra sonic’ welded seams, an adjustable helmet-compatible hood with hi-vis brim, pit zips, articulated sleeves, RECCO tech, internal stash pockets for skins, wrist gaiters with thumb loops, and a detachable powder skirt. Top tech that’s good for you and good for the planet – a massive win-win. hellyhansen.com

7. Helly Hansen Verbier Infinity Jacket W £600 This women’s jacket comes with Helly’s waterproof, breathable and chemicalfree LIFA Infinity tech for environmentally friendly resort ripping. Smart and sustainable, it’s got heaps of slopespecific tech, including Primaloft insulation for chilly chairlift rides, Helly’s H2Flow strategically placed ventilation, an adjustable and removable hood, RECCO reflector, ski pass pocket and our big time fave – the Life Pocket, which keeps your phone warm and preserves battery life. Also available as the men’s Alpha Infinity Jacket (£500). hellyhansen.com www.fall-line.co.uk 117

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KEY:

1. Jack Wolfskin Solitude Mountain Jacket £400 A burly and sturdy three-layer jacket, designed to deliver ‘sustainable protection against the elements’, this makes up part of JW’s new Felix Neureuther Signature Series and features Texapore Ecosphere Future Dye Stretch made from recycled materials. Weighing in at 820g, the 100% PFC-free fabric is low on energy, chemicals and waste water. The spec is equally impressive, with targeted abrasion-resistant materials on the shoulders and elbows, a helmetcompatible hood, powder skirt, stretchy wrist gaiters and huge skin-guzzling harness-compatible chest pockets. jack-wolfskin.co.uk

2. Jöttnar Hodr Jacket £535 This new three-layer hardshell is a no-nonsense winter warrior. Built for skiing, climbing and mountaineering, it’s made from the rather epic-sounding Skjoldr – a proprietary hardshell developed in conjunction with Japanese textile scientists. Waterproof, windproof and super breathable it comes with a helmet-compatible hood, glove-compatible draw cords, large backpack-compatible pockets and RECCO reflector. jottnar.com

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3. Maier Backline Jacket and Pants Jacket £400, pants £250 New this winter, this waterproof, breathable, insulated combo is ideal for inbounds skiing and sidecountry slashing.

Warm and comfy, with Primaloft Silver Eco insulation to keep you toasty when you’re riding the lifts, the pants have an adjustable waistband so you can let it all out after a long lunch! Other features of note include venting zips, wrist loops, removable powder skirt, a detachable and adjustable hood, and durable Cordura kick patches on the pants. Available in men’s and women’s. maier-sports.com EDITO CHOICRS’ E

4. Mammut La Liste Pro Hooded Jacket and Bib Pants Jacket £625, bib pants £550 If you’re looking to bring your best freeride game to the big mountains this winter then consider investing in the high-end Jérémie Heitz-inspired La Liste Pro jacket. Light yet super rugged, the three-layer Gore-Tex Pro jacket comes with numerous freeridespecific features, including skin stash pockets and high collar with offset venting for simultaneous air circulation and weather protection. The matching pants come with a detachable bib, laser-cut

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ventilation holes in the rear, an integrated Barryvox-compatible pocket, plus a neoprene pocket designed to keep mobile phone batteries alive. A big mountain combo with a minimal environmental impact, the dyeing process involves reduced water consumption and the gear comes with the Fair Wear Foundation stamp of approval. Available in men’s and women’s. mammut.com

5. Orage MTN-X Spire 3L Shell Jacket and MTN-X Gibson Bib Jacket £475, bib £430 Tried and tested in the mega-precipitous British Columbia and Pacific Northwest backcountry, this super-rugged jacket and bib pant offer top weather protection and bucketloads of North American style.

Waterproof and breathable with a 3-ply Dermizax shell, these come with all the usual features you’d expect from big mountain free-touring gear, including a three-way adjustable helmet-compatible hood, mesh goggle pocket and media pocket on the jacket, and transceiver pocket on the bibs. orage.com

6. Orage MTN-X Torngrat 3L Shell Jacket and MTN-X Cliff Bib W Jacket £430, bib £430 The pinnacle female-specific jacket/pant combo in Canadian brand Orage’s range is built for storm chasing on the deepest of powder days. Constructed using rugged and durable waterproof Dermizax 3-ply technology, this outfit is ideal for liftaccessed freeriding and deep winter touring. Waterproof and breathable with plentiful, freeride-specific features and a seriously classy cut and design, this is seriously impressive, statement-making kit. orage.com

7. Ortovox 3L Deep Shell Jacket and Pants Jacket £650, pants £520 This lightweight, durable and supercomfortable combo offers wind and waterproof protection, mega freedom of movement, and a whole heap of burly freeride style. It comes with loads of powder-seeking features, including twoway adjustable hood, transceiver pocket on the pants with integrated carabiner, mesh merino mobile phone pocket, pit zips, removable powder skirt, and merino inserts in the areas where you’re most likely to feel the chill. It’s also PFC-free and climate neutral so mega sustainability wins all round. Available in men’s and women’s. ortovox.com www.fall-line.co.uk 119

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KEY:

1. OOSC Mambo Sunset Ski Suit £250 Looking to make an impact when you get back to the mountains this winter? Then get yourself suited and booted in one of British brand OOSC’s bonkersly awesome all-in-one ski suits.

Inspired by Ibiza sunsets, the Mambo is a 10k waterproof, 10k breathable genius that’s guaranteed to inject a whole lot of fun into your après game this winter. Plus it’s made from recycled polyester so it will put a smile on the planet’s face too… oosc-clothing.com

2. OOSC Fresh Pow Jacket £199

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This retro-styling jacket from British brand OOSC is a bold, bright inbounds expert designed for all-mountain antics.

Made from recycled polyester, it’s waterproof and breathable with taped seams, 80g of synthetic insulation, adjustable helmet-compatible hood, integrated wrist cuffs with thumb loops, ski pass pocket, goggle pocket and headphone loop. Get into it and get after it… oosc-clothing.com

3. Patagonia Stormstride Jacket and Pants Jacket £450, pants £360 Designed for dedicated backcountry skiers looking for rugged, low-impact, highly technical touring clothing, the Stormstride jacket and pants are Patagonia’s most active waterproof hardshell combo.

Made from lightweight three-layer stretch, 54% recycled nylon face fabric with H2No, the jacket comes with adjustable low-profile cuffs to go over or under gloves, internal stash pockets for skins, pit zips and RECCO tech. Fave feature on the pants?

The large thigh pockets and outer thigh vents. Available in men’s (jacket 490g, pants 476g) and women’s (jacket 428g, pants 442g). patagonia.com

4. Picture Organic Clothing Aeron Jacket W £365 Picture’s first three-layer jacket for women, the bio-sourced Aeron is an eco-friendly

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Women’s specific

technical hardshell destined for low-impact adventures in the high mountains.

Waterproof, breathable and stretchy, it’s made from 58% bio-sourced polyester with a PFOA/PFOS-free DWR. Features of note include fully taped seams, an integrated goggle cleaner, pit zips, wrist gaiters, adjustable hood, ski pass pocket, waterproof YKK zippers and a removable powder skirt. picture-organic-clothing.com

5. Picture Organic Clothing Folder Xpore Jacket £500 The most eco-friendly technical jacket in Picture’s range, this awesome-looking three-layer jacket will protect both you and the mountains in sustainable style.

Waterproof and breathable, it comes with strategically positioned dual-density fabrics, providing targeted stretch and protection where you need it most. There are heaps of top freeride-specific features too, including pit zips, adjustable ergonomic hood and fully taped seams. Sustainability creds are bang on, with an eco-friendly Xpore membrane, bio-sourced materials in the face fabric, and Teflon EcoElite PFC-free DWR. Pair it with the Folder Xpore Bibs and go chase that storm. picture-organic-clothing.com

6. Planks Woodsy ‘Yeah Baby’ Jacket and Pants Jacket £220, pants £170 Designed and tested by the legend himself, this wickedly named, super-styled-out workwear-inspired jacket and pant are the stand out highlights from Woodsy’s Signature Series. Waterproof and breathable, there are heaps of pro-level features here, including taped seams, lift pass pockets, media pocket, powder skirt, and a removable hood. Constructed using recycled fabrics and a solvent-free DWR, it’s all about laying down planet-friendly vibes whether you’re lapping the park with your mates or poppin’ for that podium place. planksclothing.com

7. Rab Khroma Cirque Jacket £350 Rab’s backcountry and ski mountaineeringspecific Khroma range expands this winter to include the new Cirque jacket – a lightweight, breathable, packable three-layer Gore-Tex Active shell jacket. Lighter and less rugged than last year’s North American-esque Khroma GTX, it’s ideal for Scottish ski touring, alpine adventures and Scandinavian spring forays where you need highly breathable kit to protect you from the elements. Available in men’s (425g) and women’s (386g, £300). rab.equipment www.fall-line.co.uk 121

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OUTERWEAR

THE GORE-TEX LOWDOWN

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It’s the big daddy of mountain clothing fabrics.

Introduced in 1978, Gore-Tex uses expanded PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene – try saying that after three shots of grappa) membrane. It features some nine billion microscopic pores per square inch. These pores are 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet meaning that rain can’t get through but – and here’s the clever part – also 700 times bigger than a molecule of moisture vapour, so that moisture can escape.

Over the decades, Gore have regularly updated and diversified their offering and remain the leading brand in the field. Gore-Tex comes in a few flavours: ❄ Gore-Tex The tried-and-tested Gore-Tex membrane. Used mostly in its two-layer spec with a moisturemanaging lining, or combined with lofted insulation. ❄ Gore-Tex Pro This top-end Gore-Tex is a three-layer laminate waterproof/breathable fabric designed for sustained use by mountaineers and backcountry skiers. It features multiple layers of expanded PTFE (ePTFE) bonded to the outer material and a grid backing textile. It delivers excellent breathability with a big emphasis on durability for extended use.

Always used in shell garments intended to layer over base and insulating layers. Now available in three different variations that have the potential to be used separately or in combination - Most Rugged Technology, Stretch Technology and Most Breathable Technology. ❄ Gore-Tex Active The most breathable of Gore-Tex waterproof three-layer fabrics for fast and light users (ski tourers, we’re looking at you!). Lamination technology integrates the backer textile directly onto the waterproof membrane for a streamlined, very breathable package. Designs are trim with minimalist features and less durability than Gore-Tex Pro garments.

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ALTERNATIVE FABRICS Many skiwear brands use other fabrics, such as Toray Dermizax, when a high level of stretch is desirable; for example in more piste-focused garments with a closer engineered fit. Some also use softshell fabrics (soft, stretchy, superbreathable, windproof and snow/shower resistant) when breathability on the ascent is as important as weather protection on the descent.

You will see a lot of brands’ own specification fabrics, particularly when they integrate stretch and insulation into ski garments. Popular own-brand ski wear fabrics include H2No from Patagonia, FutureLight from The North Face, Lifa Infinity Pro Tech from Helly Hansen, and Advanced Skin Dry from Salomon. All do a brilliant job in answering the needs of recreational skiers blasting around the front side of the mountain. If you hike to ride, and big storm days are your mountain heaven, look to Gore-Tex as your best friend.

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1. Salomon Outlaw 3L Jacket £360 This stretchy, breathable, waterproof shell comes with Salomon’s ski-specific MotionFit 360 tech, so it moves with you when you’re ripping it up in resort.

Weighing in at 732g it’s a reasonably burly bit of kit that, layered appropriately, will keep you comfortable, warm and dry on chilly mid-winter days. Top features include wrist cuffs with integrated thumb loops, removable powder skirt, ski pass pocket, and high collar to protect you from the storm. salomon.com

2. Salomon Stance 3L Jacket W £450 Designed in conjunction with pro skier Kalen Thorien, this is a fully featured all-mountain jacket with bags of freeride style and full weather protection. It comes with all the top features you’d expect from a high-end technical jacket, including adjustable helmetcompatible hood with visor, waterproof chest pocket, removable powder skirt and integrated goggle wipe. Fave features include the super-comfy brushed interior fabric and longer cut for mega warmth and style points. Available in men’s and women’s. salomon.com

3. Scott Line Chaser Anorak 3L Jacket £390

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This super-cool-looking three-layer Anorak will inject a whole heap of style into your freeride game. Light, stretchy and technical, the waterproof DRYOspun membrane offers industry-leading levels of breathability, so you won’t have to haul it over your helmet when you’re hiking for freshies. The high collar comes with two zippers for max airflow and an anti-chafe chin guard to keep you looking as good as you’re guaranteed to feel when you’re hitting up those big backcountry lines.

Grab the matching pants and get after it.

Available in men’s and women’s. scott-sports.com

4. Spyder Leader Men’s Jacket £530 Spyder’s classic insulated men’s

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jacket returns with the same distinctive style and top features for resort riding. Weather protection is in abundance thanks to the GoreTex laminate, fully taped seams, YKK waterproof zips and 100g of Primafoft Silver Eco insulation that will keep you toasty warm. Other features of note include pit zips, Velcro cuffs with thumb loops, a cleverly positioned chest pocket, and a fully adjustable and detachable, helmet-compatible hood. spyder.com

5. TNF Steep Series Brigandine Futurelight Jacket £720 The most expensive jacket in our line-up, the top-of the-range Brigandine is built for dedicated big mountain skiers looking to invest in the best. Featuring TNF’s infamous Futurelight tech, it’s super breathable for a three-layer waterproof jacket and comes with mechanical stretch, longer length and articulated fit. Other features of note include a fully adjustable helmet-compatible hood, radiofriendly collar and good-sized chest storage pockets. thenorthface.co.uk

6. Wed’ze Freeride Ski Jacket £180 This cracking freeride jacket has been designed to provide top freeski tech in an affordable package. Waterproof, durable and breathable, all the essentials are here, including an articulated cut, taped seams, vents, adjustable 3D hood, wrist loops and heaps of wellthought-out pockets. Bang on for aspirational freeriders looking to venture beyond the resort this winter. Also available in women’s (£150). decathlon.co.uk

7. Wed’ze Downhill Ski Jacket & Liner 980 W £200 It’s 2-for-1 time with this warm and waterproof, resort-optimised jacket with removable down liner. A superversatile bit of kit for layering up or down, this jacket is good to go no matter whether you’re sunny spring shredding or mid-winter powder riding. It also comes with four-way stretch fabric for max freedom of movement and comfort, ski pass pocket and RECCO safety tech. decathlon.co.uk www.fall-line.co.uk 123

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MIDS & INSULATION Lightweight insulation, hybrid or straight-up fleece? The choice is yours…

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OUR GEAR ED’S GUIDE TO MID-LAYERS

Whether you’re riding the lifts in resort or working up a sweat in the skin track, it’s your mid-layer that holds the key to all-mountain glory.

No matter what your granny tells you, a big thick woolly jumper will not keep you as warm as a mid-weight merino wool or fleece layer, or an insulated liner jacket, nor will it allow moisture to make its way to the outer layers so they can do their job. There’s a host of different fabrics, combinations and systems out there designed to work for a range of individual and environmental demands, so it’s worth getting clued up.

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THINGS TO CONSIDER ❄ Fleece The traditional choice. Soft, light, warm, breathable and quick to dry. Cons? Can be bulky and not as warm as others. ❄ Merino wool The sustainable choice. Natural fibres, warm when wet, breathable, and has a strong anti-stink game. Flipside? Heavy when wet, expensive and doesn’t have the best warmth-to-weight ratio. ❄ Lightweight insulation The cosy choice. Down and synthetic insulated jackets offer the warmest option and best warmth-to-weight ratio, trapping air between down filaments or polyester strands.

Down packs smaller, is warmer and lighter, but not when wet, and won’t be as breathable as synthetics.

Synthetic fillings like Primaloft and manufacturers’ own synthetic technologies perform better than down when wet, are arguably more sustainable and are breathable, packable and easy to wash. ❄ Hybrid The technical choice. These jackets draw on the strengths of different fabrics and apply them in targeted areas to maximise functionality, performance, durability, weatherresistance and weight saving. Often expensive, but always clever.

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5. La Sportiva Mythic Jacket £230

A legend in its own lightweight, superbreathable lifetime – the Atom LT has been a staple in our kit cupboard for years due to its outstanding versatility.

Updated last winter, this latest version comes with a more durable face fabric, a revised lining material for increased air permeability and Coreloft Compact – a more resilient synthetic insulation that will keep you warmer for longer.

Wear it as an outer or mid for frontside fun, backcountry adventures and après strolling. Available in men’s (375g) and women’s (320g) in a range of kick-ass colours. arcteryx.com

Retro style with technical abilities, the new Mythic for men and women performs both on and off the mountain.

Constructed using recycled fabrics and Primaloft Silver insulation, it’s a planetfriendly, functional mid/outer with heaps of pockets and an adjustable hood and hem. The stand-out feature is its breathability, which comes courtesy of Vapovent in the side, back and underarms. lasportiva.com

Wear it under your shell, as an outer on low-precipitation days, or simply for styling in the bar at the end of a big day in les grands montagnes. This lowprofile lightweight double down jacket packs down easily into its inner pocket, so is super simple to take in your pack as an extra layer. Available for men and women in seriously classy colours, it comes with harness-compatible hand pockets, helmet-compatible hood with stand up collar and the Crows’ very own chevron design. black-crows.com

3. Black Diamond First Light Stretch Hoody £240 This Bluesign-approved, megabreathable insulated jacket can be worn as a mid or an outer, depending on the nature of your mission. Constructed using Primaloft Silver Insulation Active and Schoeller Eco-Repel Bio PFC-free DWR Technology, it’s built to facilitate long, low-impact days in the mountains.

Available in men’s (475g) and women’s (402g). blackdiamondequipment.com

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1. Arc’teryx Atom LT Hoody £220

2. Black Crows Ora Micro Down Jacket £360

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4. Helly Hansen Lifaloft Air Insulator Jacket £240 Mega breathable and super light, this new jacket is ideal for high-output adventures in chilly climates. Weighing in at just 410g (men’s) and 380g (women’s), it’s perfect for fresh track seekers who like to work up a sweat when they’re earning their turns. With a hood that fits underneath your helmet, it’s going to keep you cosy when the wind is blowing and PFC-free DWR means you won’t be bothered by light precipitation either. Fave features?

The super-soft sheep-like interior large pockets for stashing skins. hellyhansen.com

6. Marmot WarmCube Novus Hoody £230 This lightweight breathable windresistant active mid is ideal for busting out if you’re earning those turns on super-chilly January days. Weighing in at 573g, it’s a fairly weighty layer that features Marmot’s innovative 3D Warmcube construction, which keeps the Primaloft Black Insulation Eco in place, trapping heat in the appropriate channels for a max cosy factor. Other features of note include the fixed hood with elastic binding, elastic cuffs, adjustable hem and articulated elbows.

Available in men’s and women’s. marmot.com

7. Mons Royale Traverse Full Zip Hoody £170 This 88% merino hoody is perfect when used as a mid as part of a lightweight layering system. Super soft and seriously light, it works well for those warmer days when breathability and moisture-wicking are top of the mid-layer list. The wee zip chest pocket for storing your credit card or keys is a nice touch, and the full zip and threepiece hood means you’ll look just as cool in the pub as you will in the powder. monsroyale.com

8. NorrØna Lofoten Primaloft80 Anorak £349 This high-end hybrid anorak is designed for ambitious freeriders looking for a do-it-all light, warm, breathable, durable and weatherresistant layer. The robust rip-stop nylon face fabric stands up to the elements, offering windproof and water-repellent protection, and the Primaloft Gold Aerogel insulation provides exactly the kind of warmth-toweight ratio big mountain riders seek.

There are so many epic features to this jacket, but the standout ones for us are the stretchy cuffs, plentiful pockets, storm hood with one hand adjustment, and sustainability creds. norrona.com www.fall-line.co.uk 125

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INSULATION

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1. Orage Women’s Phoenix Gilltek Jacket W £150 This hybrid insulated stretchy jacket from kick-ass Canadian company Orage is a wickedly cool and clever midlayer. With 170 fill Primaloft Recycled Thermoplume insulation it’s a super toasty bit of kit with well-thought-out stretch panels on the side of the arms and body for maximum freedom of movement. The high collar and close fit provide plenty of comfort from a storm and there are a couple of decent-sized pockets for stashing those necessaries. Also available in men’s – the ISPO awardwinning Morrison Gilltek. orage.com

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2. Ortovox Merino Fleece Light Zip Neck Top £125

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Lightweight, soft and comfy, and made from super-sustainable Tasmanian merino wool, this is warm, moisture-wicking mid is ideal for freeride fun and technical ski tours. Stretchy, comfy, quick to dry and low on stink, it’s ideal for hut-to-hut, multi-day mountain adventures. Available in men’s (290g) and women’s (250g). ortovox.com

3. OOSC Sherpa Fleece Jacket £140 Stay cosy on the mountain and looking cool round the town in this super-versatile, snuggle-tastic unisex fleece from the awesome folks at OOSC. Constructed from 100% heavyweight recycled polyester, it comes with a YKK zip, a breathable mesh lining, two kangaroo pouch handwarmer pockets, and reinforcements on the collar and elbow patches to avoid premature wearing out. oosc-clothing.com

4. Patagonia Micro Puff Storm Jacket £530 New to Patagonia’s backcountry collection this winter, the Micro Puff Storm is an insulated waterproof shell with wicked levels of warmth and weather protection.

Synthetic PlumaFill insulation combined with a 100% recycled H2No performance waterproof shell makes it super cosy and ensures it won’t wet out when the precipitation levels go up a notch. There are heaps of ski-specific features, including RECCO reflector, adjustable helmetcompatible hood, and skin-sized, harnesscompatible pockets. All of this and it’s lightweight and super packable – aka the perfect emergency layer. patagonia.com

5. Picture Takashima Jacket £165 Light, warm, and wind/water resistant, this hybrid insulated jacket combines function, fashion and sustainability in typical Picture style. Weighing in at 420g, the body-

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mapped construction combines Polartec Power Stretch on the shoulders, side of the arms and body, with Primaloft Eco insulation everywhere else for max cosiness and freedom of movement where needed most. PFC-free DWR keeps light snow and rain at bay and elastic on the cuffs, hem and hood helps seal out the storm. picture-organic-clothing.com

6. Planks Peace Fleece £70 Ideal for powder, park and party seekers, this retro pullover snap-neck fleece is made from 100% recycled polyester. Available in three block colourways, and a range of sizes, it’s a soft cosy unisex layer that’s built for all-time shreds and big-time chilling. planksclothing.com

7. Salomon Outpeak Primaloft Hooded Jacket £230

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This super-breathable, quick-drying insulated hoodie comes with a clever construction that combines recycled Primaloft insulation with PFC-free Pertex weatherproof protection and stretchy MotionFit material on the side of the body, arms and upper back. Perfect for inbounds shredding, backcountry adventures and around-the-town strolling, it’s a superstylish quiver-of-one kinda layer. Available in men’s (360g) and women’s (335g). salomon.com

8. Scott Insuloft Superlight PL Hoody W £220 New this winter, this über-feathery, windproof and water-repellent ISPO awardwinner can be used as a mid or an outer layer depending on the conditions and nature of your mountain mission. Super sustainable and super practical, it comes with Bluesign-approved Primaloft Gold synthetic Insulation with Cross Core Technology that provides warmth and weather protection with minimal weight. It’s also super compressible and packs down easily into its own zippered internal pocket.

Available in a range of fab colours in both men’s (350g) and women’s (300g). scott-sports.com

9. Spyder Speed Fleece Half Zip Top £100 The retro-stylin’ Speed Fleece pays homage to the glory days when knees were tight together, skies were blue and skis were super long. A lightweight, stretchy layer, it’s designed for max freedom of movement when you’re laying down those powder 8s, cruising the piste and styling it out at après. spyder.com www.fall-line.co.uk 127

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BASELAYERS

It’s all about that base – lay those foundations with these top technical first layers

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OUR GEAR ED’S GUIDE TO BASELAYERS

When it comes to choosing that all-important first layer, non-wicking fabrics like cotton retain sweat when you’re active, which then makes you chilled when you stop. So, what technologies and choices are available to skiers to ensure they strike the right balance out on the hill between warmth, weather protection, temperature control and moisture management?

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THINGS TO CONSIDER ❄ Synthetic fibres For dynamic and energetic skiers, these offer maximum transfer of humidity, maximum breathability and a next-to-skin sensation. They’re also light, durable, quick to dry and good for sensitive skin. Cruisier types can opt for 100% polyester, which is soft on the skin and warm. But if your bag is high-intensity, high-performance action, the answer is a blend of polyester, polyamide and elastane, ideally with… ❄ Bodymapping A construction precisely adapted to the needs of an active body, with extra ventilation (usually in the form of tiny holes) in zones where you sweat more, and extra insulation in zones that feel the cold. This varies between men’s and women’s anatomy: for example women feel the cold more in the lower back. ❄ Natural fibres Merino and yak wool don’t dry as fast as the best synthetics and are less breathable, but they are sustainable, toasty warm and have natural odour control. If you can’t wash your baselayers during a trip, natural fibres are your best bet. However, synthetics aren’t far behind on this front: baselayer specialists treat polyester fibres with silver ions, which inhibit the growth of bacteria, reducing stink. ❄ Weight Don’t overthink this one, just focus on both your metabolism, anticipated ambient temperature and activity level.

If you’re spring touring, go lightweight.

If you’re always ‘the cold one’ in the group, go with a heavier weight.

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9. Odlo Blackcomb Warm Eco W £70 Made from 94% recycled materials, this offers top sustainability, warmth and moisture-wicking in a wicked-looking package. The funky style is down to the intriguing-sounding Space Dye yarn detailing and the eco-injection represents a significant step towards the brand’s goal to become 100% sustainable by 2030. odlo.com

3. Eivy Icecold Hooded Top W £70 Made of quick-drying, stretchy, moisture-wicking polyester/elastane fabric with UPF50+ protection, features include flatlock seams, thumb loops and an integrated microfleece-lined neckwarmer. eivy.co

4. Floa Backcountry Baselayer £99 With targeted breathability, body-mapped compression and special cooling channels, this is a technical layer.

With a merino-poly blend, it’s rammed with backcountry and freeride-specific features and comes with matching pants. Also in women’s. floasports.com

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5. Helly Hansen H1 Pro Protective Top and Pants Top £220, pants £120 Combining low-profile body protection with top tech, this has been designed in conjunction with pro alpine skiers.

Aerodynamic triple-flex pads on the outside of the arms, thighs and knees offer protection when you’re smashing those gates, and LIFA moisture-wicking tech keeps you cool when you’re gunning for PBs. hellyhansen.com

6. Icebreaker Merino 200 Sonbebula High Neck £85 100% merino, this retro-looking top is ideal for hitting up the hill then hanging with your homies. It comes with a high neck and drop tail to keep you warm, and flatlock seams and gusseted underarms. icebreaker.com

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New this winter, this Fair Trade-certified first layer is ideal for skiers who also like to climb and trail run.

With a looser fit, it features heaps of Arc’teryx top layering tech for max warmth, stretchiness, moisturewicking and breathability. arcteryx.com

New Boulder-based brand Artilect sees itself more as a performance-focused creative outdoor apparel studio, rather than just a ‘brand’. This merino wool blend combo uses Bluesign-approved ultra-light Nuyarn fabric technology. Offering the equivalent warmth to weight ratio as a 260GSM 100% merino layer, it’s a lighter and superior technical product. artilect.studio

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1. Arc’teryx Motus AR Hoody £70

2. Artilect A/SYS Darkhorse 185 Zoned QTR Zip and Leggings Top £110, leggings £100

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7. Jöttnar Erling Top £69 Founded in Arctic Norway by two former Royal Marine Commandos, it’s safe to say Jöttnar does winter kit very well. This 275g synthetic top is a durable, easily washable layer. Stretchy and moisture wicking, it comes with a long chest zip for venting and Polygiene anti-stink treatment. Other features of note include an anti-pull chest hair baffle (yes, this is a thing!). jottnar.com

8. Mons Royale Cascade Merino Flex 200 LS £110 Available in a long sleeve quarter zip or the crew neck featured here, Mons have redesigned the 81% merino Cascade with a new stretch fabric to improve durability and fit. The new mid-weight Merino Flex fabric combined with friction-free flatlock seams and thumb loops mean it’s the most comfortable, longlasting and technical to date. monsroyale.com

10. OOSC Fresh Prince Men’s Baselayer Set Top £40, pants £40 Fun yet totally functional, both the top and bottoms are made from recycled plastic bottles and constructed using a quick-drying, breathable, antistink, four-way stretch polyester/spandex fabric. With super-soft insides and chafe-free flatlock seams, they win big on the comfy scale. oosc-clothing.com

11. Ortovox 185 Rock’N’Wool Long Sleeve £100 Soft, functional and sustainable, this 100% pure merino baselayer is made from the wool of happy Tasmanian sheep! The extra fine fibres ensure itchfree comfort and the looser cut feels cool and looks cool too. It’s available in a range of colours for both men and women. ortovox.com

12. Ortovox 185 Rock’N’Wool Sport Top and Hot Pants W Top £45, pants £45 Ortovox does funky and functional very well and this breathable, soft, moisture-wicking merino wool set will keep you warm and dry. ortovox.com

13. Patagonia R1 Daily Zip Neck Top £90 This recycled polyester/elastane top may feel like fleece next to your skin, but it’s got all the technical properties to perform in the mountains. Stretchy, breathable, quick-drying and moisture-wicking, it comes with top tech including HeiQ odour-control, off-shoulder seams to prevent chafing when wearing a pack, and targeted Capilene Cool Lightweight fabric in the collar and neck. And as you’d expect from Patagonia, it’s Fair Trade certified and Bluesign approved. In men’s and women’s. patagonia.com

14. Salewa Zebru Responsive LS Tee £90 This lightweight, warm and breathable top is made from 64% merino wool. The fit is athletic for optimal wicking and warmth on the mountain, but the standout feature is Salewa’s smart Responsive technology that harnesses the natural power of minerals to increase circulation and speed up recovery. The infrared matrix in Responsive tech claims to absorb energy from the body and recycle it back into muscle tissue to improve performance and reduce fatigue.

Also available in women’s. salewa.com

15. Smartwool Women’s Merino 250 Baselayer ¼ Zip W £110 This female-specific 100% merino baselayer will keep you cosy on the chilliest of chairlift rides. It’s got all the tech performance you’d expect, a flattering fit and funky design. Also in men’s. smartwool.com www.fall-line.co.uk 129

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SOCKS

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Sock it to ’em – get ready to stomp your way through winter

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1. Darn Tough Liftline Over-The-Calf £27

5. Le Bent Elyse Saugstad Pro Series W £22

8. Ortovox Ski Rock’n’Wool Long W £37

A no-nonsense ski sock with a lifetime guarantee.

If you’re looking for a robust, ‘darn tough’ sock, the Liftline is a real resort ripper, with 52% merino wool and DT’s Performance Fit. darntough.com

The world’s first female-specific backcountryspecific sock has been designed in conjunction with freeskiing’s power couple Elyse Saugstad and Cody Townsend. In 19% non-mulesed merino and 44% OCIA certified bamboo, they come with silicone ankle locks and cuff, toe box cushioning, shin compression and mesh vents. lebent.com

Warm and breathable, these women’s-specific socks come with 52% virgin merino wool and a 360° webbing system to keep your feet warm, dry and stink-free. They have ankle and arch support and flat toe seams. Also in men’s. ortovox.com

6. Mons Royale Lift Access £25

These 53% merino socks are ideal for riders looking for a minimalist sock that goes easy on the planet. We’re big fans of the performanceoriented 4 Degree elite fit, Shred Shield tech in the toes, durable Indestructawool construction and the signature Protect Our Winters style. smartwool.com

2. Dynafit Tour Warm Merino £30 These light, warm and breathable 33% merino blend socks are technical tourers. The cushioning around the toes and ankle area provides padding in the places where it’s needed. dynafit.com

3. Falke SK Energising Wool £52 These top-of-the-range, medium-volume 32% merino wool mix socks come with all the usual performance tech with an added superpower – aka integrated gradual compression tech designed to increase circulation and speed up recovery. In men’s and women’s. falke.com

4. Icebreaker Men’s Merino Ski+ Light Over The Calf £26 These 55% merino socks are ideal for warmer days in-bounds and ski touring. With left and right anatomical fit, Achilles, ankle and arch support, plus seamless toes, they’re packed with lower limb-specific tech. Our favourite feature? The ‘function junction’ that prevents bunching.

Available in men’s and women’s. icebreaker.com

This great-value medium-cushioned sock has all the tech to keep you shredding from first lift to last. The light yet durable 64% merino blend construction keeps trotters cosy, sweat and stinkfree, and there’s heaps of other fancy footwork here, including arch and ankle support and a seamless toe box. monsroyale.com

7. OOSC Jamie Nicholls Signature Series Merino £20 These lightweight 64% merino blend socks have been designed by Team GB double Olympian Jamie Nicholls, so it’s safe to assume they’re fairly legit! Moisture-wicking and quick to dry, they’ll keep your feet feeling fresh, warm and dry all season long. The seamless toe box minimises pressure points, the padded shin keeps you protected in the park, and the calf band makes sure they stay firmly in place. oosc-clothing.com

9. Smartwool Performance Ski Zero Cushion POW £23

10. Smartwool Women’s Ski Targeted Cushion Lift Bunny W £25 These women’s-specific 56% merino wool socks are big on style, design and performance. They come with targeted cushioning, 4 Degree elite fit with ankle flex, and Indestructawool tech. smartwool.com

11. Wed’ze 900 Adult Ski £15 Affordable and technical, these 65% merino freeride socks come with light cushioning for max precision on the mountain. decathlon.co.uk

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27/10/2021 14:51

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GLOVES & MITTS Glove love – get your digits dialled in to this season’s best gloves and mitts

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MARTIN CHESTER’S GLOVE GUIDE

Few things can make or break a mountain jolly quite like the humble glove. The right pair will fit your paws like a veritable, er, glove, sliding seamlessly off sweaty hands, layers nicely intact. Get it wrong and you’re in for a miserable, cold, damp time – and risk your digits losing their dexterity. Here are some pointers to help you choose your gloves wisely…

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THINGS TO CONSIDER ❄ Cuff compatibility You have all sorts of lengthed gloves, from short-cuffed gloves (known as under-the-cuff) to arm-dominating gloves (gauntlets). I like gloves that fit over softshell and fleece layers, but under my Gore-Tex shell. You need to shop with the sort of layers you’ll use, or borrow some garments off the jacket rack. Check for the under/over size and shape compatibility between glove and clothing cuffs; then see how any closures (drawstrings, Velcro or straps) might clash with your clothing, or leashes from poles and ice axes. ❄ Loose linings The best glove membrane liners will be made in one piece. The challenge for the manufacturer is to fit layers of contrasting materials (comfy lining, insulating layers and burly outer shell) in such a way that it doesn’t pull out when you remove your sweaty paw.

Trust me, once inverted you can never get those complex layers back in the right place. A bonded construction is best, and if in doubt, ask the retailer. ❄ Sizing Once you’ve skinned up that kilometre climb, then wrestled with your skins, your hands will be puffy and clammy.

Now’s the time you need that glove to go on fast – so buy them plenty big enough. Find the perfect fit in the shop, then buy at least a size up. ❄ Breaking them in The warmest gloves will require a bit of breaking in, so don’t be surprised if they feel bulky and stiff. So long as the size is right, the leather will soften and the insulation will pack down with use.

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1. Arc’teryx Sabre Gloves £160 These über-technical, short-cuff Gore-Tex gloves are designed for all-time freeride adventures. Waterproof, windproof and breathable, they offer heaps of weather protection in a low-profile glove that fits easily under your jacket. With Primaloft insulation on the inside and leather reinforcements on the fingers and palms, they’ll keep you warm and protected. arcteryx.com

2. Black Diamond Recon Gloves £95

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These warm freeride gloves have targeted Primaloft Gold Insulation, 100% waterproof BD.dry insert, a goat leather palm and Pertex Shield cuff. blackdiamondequipment.com

3. Black Diamond Mercury Mitts W £110 Fed up of mitts that give up at the first sight of a cold stormy day? The new and improved Mercury is packed full of tech to keep those digits warm and dry. The 100% waterproof insert and water-repellent finish combine to keep snow on the outside, and the removable Primaloft Gold liner provides toasty targeted warmth inside the glove. The soft recycled fleece lining ramps up the cosy levels and the goat leather palms complete the powder picture. Also in men’s. blackdiamondequipment.com

4. Dakine Baron GTX Trigger Mitts £120

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Waterproof, breathable and built to boost, these trigger/three-finger mittens are ideal for riders who struggle with cold digits but still want an element of dexterity when manipulating buckles and zips. Super warm thanks to the combination of Primaloft Gold insulation and soft wool liner, they come with stretchy short cuffs that are easy to pull on and off and fit easily under your jacket. Other features of note include the durable 100% goat leather palms and removable leashes. dakine.com

5. Hestra Army Leather Patrol Gauntlet 5-Finger Gloves £130

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Buy once and buy well. If you’re looking for a full-on winter glove that’s built for powder slayin’, Hestra’s warm and durable Army Leather Patrol Gauntlet is where it’s at. The long cuff fits over the top of your jacket to keep those digits protected from the storm, and the removable G-loft insulated liner keeps things super cosy inside. Need to remove them to take a pic? Simply hang ’em upside down on your poles by the finger loop using the integrated carabiner and they won’t get wet. hestragloves.com

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6. Hestra Luomi CZone Mitts W £85 In four colours, these waterproof, windproof mittens will keep you looking cool and feeling warm. The short low-profile neoprene cuffs mean they’re easy to manipulate on the move and slip easily under your jacket. Tech-wise, they’ve got all the glove goods including hair-sheep leather palms (who knew?!), a waterproof breathable insert, and toasty Primaloft Gold insulation. hestragloves.com

7. Mammut La Liste Gloves £110 You’ve got the outfit, now it’s time to complete the full La Liste (epic ski movie – Google it) look with these top-of-the-range freeride gloves. Built for the backcountry, there’s all the top tech you’d expect here, including Gore-Tex protection, targeted Primaloft Gold and Silver Eco insulation, Bemberg fleece liner and durable goat leather on the thumbs and palm.

Other features of note include the carabiner loop on the fingers, pre-shaped design for max dexterity and grip, and padding on the back of the hand to keep your knuckles protected when you’re building belays. mammut.com

8. Ortovox Merino Freeride 3 Finger Gloves £125 These burly new freeride three-finger gloves are primed and ready for cold stormy days when you’re lapping pow. Combining the toastiness of a mitt with a separate index finger for dexterity, they come with goat leather on the palms, recycled merino wool padding, dual width adjustment at the wrist and cuff, and a waterproof, windproof Sympatex membrane. Fave feature? Smart finger tech that allows you operate your phone and/or GPS without having to take off your glove. In men’s and women’s. ortovox.com

9. Ortovox Tour Gloves £85 Ortovox have taken all their mountain knowhow and plunged it into these low-profile yet surprisingly robust, breathable, water-resistant and windproof softshell touring gloves. Easy to pull on thanks to the tab on the cuff, the merino liner combined with ‘pulse wrist protection’ will keep your hands cosy on those chilly dawn patrols, and the durable goat leather palms ensure they are built to last in big mountain terrain. The smartphone/GPScompatible index fingers are pretty cool too.

Available in men’s and women’s. ortovox.com

10. Planks Bro-Down Mitts £50 These are ‘heaters for your hands’. Built with tough leather palms, recycled breathable insulation and a synthetic lining, they’re planet, piste, pow and park-friendly. Individual inner fingers keep things toasty on the inside and the exterior is equally wicked thanks to the combo of waterproof/breathable Ridedry10 construction. planksclothing.com www.fall-line.co.uk 133

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GLOVES & MITTS

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1. POW August Trigger Mitts £85

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Strange choice of product name aside, these burly shortcuff Trigger mitts slot easily under your jacket and fire mega warmth into your digits. The combo of waterrepellent leather and waterproof insert will keep you dry on all but the most Scottish of high-precip days, and the microfleece lining and Primaloft Gold insulation combine to ensure it’s toasty town inside. powgloves.com

2. Rab Khroma Freeride GTX Gloves £120

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One of the best-looking gloves out there, with long cuffs, full Gore-Tex Plus Warm weather protection, targeted hydrophobic Primaloft Gold insulation, reinforced Pittards Armortan leather palms and a soft stretchy Matrix outer.

Kick-ass colour too. Also in mitts. rab.equipment/uk

3. Rab Khroma Tour Infinium Gloves £80

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This new technical touring glove with Gore-Tex Infinium windstopper is built with high-end ski mountaineers in mind. Water-resistant, windproof and breathable, it’s a precise, super-dexterous glove designed to be worn when handling ropes, manipulating skins and adjusting buckles and bindings on the fly. It also comes with reinforced Pittards Armortan leather on the palm and thumb and adjustable wrist straps rab.equipment/uk

4. Salomon Force Dry Gloves £50 These affordable all-rounders are ideal for skiers looking for a comfy, warm and weather-resistant glove for holiday shreds. Salomon’s AdvancedSkin Dry membrane keeps you protected from the worst conditions and the short cuff means you can wear them under your jacket. A simple, straightforward ski holiday glove. salomon.com

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5. The North Face Montana Futurelight Etip Gloves £75

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These cosy warm ski gloves come with heaps of top tech and a relatively affordable price tag. With TNF’s muchlauded waterproof/breathable Futurelight in the insert, Heatseeker Eco tech for all-day warmth, Etip functionality for smartphone use and a full-length gauntlet to keep you fully protected from the elements, they’re built for all-mountain antics. Available in men’s and women’s, as well as mitts. thenorthface.co.uk

6. Wed’ze Freeride 550 Gloves £40 These super-stylish leather gloves have all the workwear feels of a higher priced glove with none of the associated price tags. Durable and dexterous, well insulated and weatherproof, they’ll keep you cosy, warm and dry – all for the price of a few hot chocolates and a couple of plates of chips at a mountainside restaurant. No brainer, really… decathlon.co.uk

7. Wed’ze Ski Touring Gloves/Mitts £25

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These two-in-one, gateway touring-specific gloves/ mittens offer the ideal combination of warmth on the uphill and mega warmth on the descent. Designed to be worn as a glove when you’re working up a sweat in the skin track, simply pop the integrated mitten over the top of your fingers when you reach the summit and you’ll be on the receiving end of an additional 8°C of warmth for the descent. Clever and cosy, the 10k waterproof protection will do the job unless you’re planning on heading out regularly on high-precipitation days. decathlon.co.uk

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QUALITY TAKES TIME Quality takes time. Time, knowledge and accuracy are required for producing gloves that should last a long time. For more than 80 years, Hestra has kept cold hands warm. We have designed and crafted gloves for many different purposes, styles and weather – all of them with one thing in common: Timeless uncompromised quality. @hestragloves | #hestragloves | hestragloves.com

“Thank you - this changes everything!”

Richard Auerbach

“Without my Ski Mojo I’d never get onto the slopes” Nigel Barden “I now have bionic knees!” David Carpenter TEL: 07464 373336

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“Skimojo has been transformational... money really well spent!” John Heagney

27/10/2021 14:53

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GOGGLES

Get your faces into the best goggles for winter 2022 1

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LEE HARDY’S GOGGLE GUIDE

It doesn’t matter how good your equipment is if you can’t see where you’re going. So get to your local ski shop and get some goggles on your head, and if you have a helmet don’t be afraid to take it with you.

Having a good seal from the face foam will allow the goggles’ double lens to do its job more effectively. These foams are often made of more than one layer to provide a weather-tight seal and prevent steaming up. Make sure they’re not pinching on the bridge of your nose and, once you’re happy with the fit and comfort, it’s time to choose the right lens tech to suit the conditions.

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THINGS TO CONSIDER ❄ Face fit Press your goggles onto your face without the strap. If the connection feels solid chances are they’re good to go. Snug but not too tight please, and definitely no pressure points. ❄ Comfort with your helmet Trying your goggles in combination with your lid will give you the most accurate picture of how it will all feel. ❄ Venting check While you’ve got your helmet on, check whether it blocks any of your goggle vents. Nobody wants foggy goggles… ❄ Lens focus Make sure you have the right lens for the conditions. Interchangeable or fixed? Mirrored, polarised or photochromic? Talk to an expert at your local retailer to help you decide. ❄ Field of vision Cylindrical lenses are more affordable but offer less peripheral vision.

Spherical lenses curve horizontally and vertically so provide max field of view for a larger outlay. Toric lenses are kind of like spherical ones except with less of a bug-eye look. ❄ Glasses wearers Go for OTG (over-the-glasses) models and try your specs/goggle/helmet combo in the shop.

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1. Atomic Four Q HD £200

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These high-tech cylindrical goggles drop into winter with Atomic’s next-generation Fusion Double Lens (FDL) that uses lamination instead of an additional foam layer between lenses. The result is a whopping 20% increase in field of view with no refractions, reflections or fogging. And the tech doesn’t stop there! The HD lens uses crystals to improve snow visibility in all conditions and the Quick Click System means you can respond to conditions and switch out lenses super rapidomente. Plus you get an extra HD lens in the box – win! atomic.com

2. Bollé Torus £130

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Are you ready for full mountain immersion? Absorb every last detail of those much-missed mountains this winter with Bollé’s new Torus goggles with superhigh-contrast Volt lens. With its large frameless toric shape and extra wide field of view, the Torus really is built to take it all in. Other top tech includes triplelayer face foam with fleece, lens vents, thermoformed nose foam and wide silicone strap. bolle.com

3. Cébé Slider £115 These new cylindrical goggles are all about max ventilation. Cébé’s wicked-sounding Swipe tech allows you to swipe up the lens for increased airflow, making them ideal for touring in bad weather when fogging tends to be the norm. Available in men’s and women’s, they’re perfect for medium-to-large faces and come in four colours. cebe.com

4. Dragon RVX OTG £190

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Big time lens switchers – these are for you! Dragon’s cylindrical frameless RVX OTG goggles come with the next iteration in Swiftlock Lens Tech – Swiftlock 2.0 – a one-sided lever instantly releases the lens.

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Other top tech includes OTG (over the glass) compatibility, armoured venting for max air circulation, Lumalens tech for high-clarity optics, and Dragon’s Super Anti Fog coating. Throw in silicone strap backing and triple-layer face foam with hypoallergenic microfleece and you’re looking at seriously great goggle. dragonalliance.com

5. Giro Contour £220 Designed in partnership with Zeiss, these brandspankin’, super-premium OTG-compatible goggles come with two new injection-moulded magnetic toricshape Vivid lenses that offer a seriously mammoth field of view. With EXV+ Expansion View Technology, Evak Vent Tech, anti-fog coating and triple-layer face foam with microfleece, they’re laden with tech. giro.com

6. Giro Method £135 These retro stylin’, high-tech googles are ideal for spotting those landings in the park and pipe. With a premium cylindrical Vivid lens with optics by Zeiss, the Method offers an impressively wide and clear field of view. Other top tech includes EXV Expansion View Technology, triple-layer face foam with microfleece, EVAK vent tech, anti-fog coating and seamless compatibility for a gap-free fit with all Giro helmets. giro.com

7. Julbo Skydome £205 Julbo’s frameless Skydome goggles with oversize spherical panoramic lens provide a mega-wide field of view. Lightweight and comfortable, they come with Julbo’s Reactiv photochromic lens for for max visuals in ever-changing conditions. Other features of note include the offset strap for compatibility with all types of helmet, dual density face foam, double-adjustment silicone strap, and anti-fog coating. julbo.com

GOGGLEBOX

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Which category?

The key to seeing clearly in flat light, bright sunshine or a blizzard is wearing the right lens –and Sally Bartlett from Ski Bartlett is here to explain what’s what…

“Lenses have category numbers and VLT percentages (Visible Light Transmission – the percentage of light transmitted to your eyes). They vary from 100% in a clear lens to 3% for a very dark lens. Category 1 lenses are lightly tinted for grey days; Category 2 have a medium tint, and Category 3-4 lenses are darker for bright sunny days.

“For skiing, Category 2 or 3 is recommended unless you are out in very low or flat light, in which case Category 1 would be better.

Category 4 would normally only be required for high-altitude glacier skiing in very bright conditions.

“Everyone’s eyes respond

slightly differently to different colour lenses. For some a yellow lens is great for flat light, while others prefer a hint of pink or orange, so look through different colour lenses in the shop. Look at bright lights and into darker corners to see what feels more comfortable on your eyes and gives you better clarity and definition.

“Most brands produce easy on-slope lens-change systems, whether they click in, snap on or slide out.”

Just to complicate things further, some lenses, known as photochromic, are a bit of a one-fits-all, as they adjust according to light conditions.

Cylindrical, spherical or toric?

Cylindrical lenses curve horizontally, while remaining flat vertically. They are generally cheaper than spherical lenses.

In spherical lenses, the bubble shape gives more surface area, enhancing peripheral vision, while strategically planned curves reduce glare. Most spherical lenses are injection-moulded, which allows for tapering (the lenses getting thinner further away from the centre). This reduces distortion and allows the light to hit your eye naturally.

Also, there’s more volume inside a spherical lens, which means better air-flow and so less fogging.

Toric lenses are the new kids on the block. Similar to spherical lenses, they mimic the shape of the eye but have a tighter horizontal radius for enhanced peripheral vision, hence less of a bug-eye look.

This shape also maximises the vent volume in the goggle for an unmatched field of view and max fog-free performance. www.fall-line.co.uk 137

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GOGGLES

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1. Julbo Quickshift £190 Ideal for backcountry skiers, the frameless cylindrical Quickshift features Julbo’s innovative Switch Air System with two detachable drop outs on the bottom of the frame designed to maximise air flow and reduce fogging. Perfect for heart-pumping ascents in wild weather and spring skiing, they also come with Julbo’s Reactiv photochromic lenses for primo visuals in all conditions. julbo.com

2. Oakley Flight Path XL £183 New last winter, these toric lens semi-rimless-frame goggles are inspired by the Canopy – Oakley’s original oversized model. Developed in conjunction with Norwegian World Champ Aleksander Kilde, they have the top and side coverage of a fully rimmed goggle with full helmet integration and a semi-rim bottom for max field of view. Key features include Ridgelock EV lens for enhanced upward visibility and Oakley’s Prizm Snow lens. oakley.com

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3. POC Zonula Clarity Comp £220 Sustainable and super technical, these toric lens goggles come with a 47% bio-based frame and strap and a stonkin’ field of view. Poc’s Clarity Comp lenses, developed in partnership with Zeiss, offer enhanced visuals in all conditions, but if you want to switch ‘em out, the process is super easy even when wearing gloves – simply squeeze the outriggers on the frame to create a gap and pop ‘em out. Other fab features include triple-layer face foam, silicone grip on the strap, Ri-Pel lens treatment, and anti-fog and anti-scratch treatments. pocsports.com

4. Salomon Radium Pro Sigma £160

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New this winter, these spherical frameless goggles offer the widest field of view in the whole Salomon range. Ideal for medium-to-large faces, they come with Sigma lens technology that amplifies colour and contrast and adjusts to the light. Other features of note include the OTG-compatible Custom ID Fit and no-slip silicone strap. salomon.com

5. Scott Shield Light Sensitive £100 New this winter, these semi-frameless goggles have a large cylindrical light-sensitive (Cat 1-3) Amplifier lens that optimises contrast and clarity. Ideal for medium to

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GOBBLEDEGOOK EXPLAINED ❄ Double lenses These create a thermal barrier that significantly reduces fogging.

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❄ Photochromic lenses These automatically adjust to changing light conditions by darkening when exposed to stronger UV light and lightening up when there is less. It’s not instantaneous though – it takes a few minutes to work. But you might find

a photochromic lens that covers, say Categories 1 to 3, which will be good for pretty much all conditions you’ll find. ❄ UV protection All good quality ski goggle lenses are certified to cut out 100% of harmful UVA and UVB rays. ❄ Anti-fogging and anti-scratch You can assume most goggles have

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large faces, they come with an extra wide silicone strap to keep things secure on your helmet, triplelayer face foam and anti-fog lens treatment for an (unsurprisingly) fog-free ride. scott-sports.com

6. Smith Moment W £139 The new Moment from Smith is a slick-looking women’s-specific goggle with a spherical lens and max peripheral vision. Best suited to small-tomedium-faced sisters of shred, it comes with Smith’s ChromaPop lens. The Carbonic-X lens with Fog-X anti-fog tech is scratch and impact resistant, and there’s heaps of other top features here, including the Responsive Fit frame that adjusts to fit and triple-layer face foam. smithoptics.com

7. SPY+ Marauder £160 The Marauder from SPY+ comes with two lenses and the brand’s Deadbolt magnetic lens change system designed to lock those lenses down and prevent unwanted pop-outs in the pow. Happy Lens Tech boosts colour and contrast, and it has all the usual primo features, including OTG-compatibility, anti-fog and anti-scratch coating, venting, silicone-lined strap and triple-layer face foam with fleece. spyoptic.com

8. Sweet Protection Boondock £130 The Boondock is a low-profile, medium-sized, high-spec goggle with slick Sweet style. The semiframeless design and two cylindrical lenses combine to offer top optics, great impact protection and a clean modern look. The RIG lens enhances contrast in low light and they come with all the top tech you’d expect, including excellent venting and a wide strap with integrated buckles for easy on/off with beanies and helmets. sweetprotection.com

9. Sungod x POW UK Vanguards £114 Limited-edition collab goggles that not only look good, they do good too. With big time POW UK eco creds, a lifetime guarantee and a choice of six lens tints with 4KO lens tech, these totally customisable goggles enable you to show your care for the planet in your own particular style. Best for medium to large faces. sungod.co

these coatings, but it’s something to look out for. ❄ Magnets Lots of brands are incorporating magnets into their lenses and frames for easy, quick changes. ❄ Outrigger This is the connector between the strap and the goggle. ❄ Triple-layer face foam It my sound like

some kind of beauty treatment, but actually it just means that there’s a back layer of foam that adheres to the frame, a soft bouncy mid-layer and a plush contact layer against your face. ❄ Vents Again, you can assume that all goggles have these to reduce fogging. Some have them on the lenses, others on the frame, or both. www.fall-line.co.uk 139

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SUNGLASSES

Sun’s out, shades on – get some light in your life this winter with these shiny new sunnies

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1.Bollé Chronoshield £215 Bollé’s retro ’80s classic with top photochromic Phantom+ lens tech adjusts to varying light conditions to provide razor-sharp vision. It offers a super-wide field of fog-free view and you can dial in the fit to your personal preference. bolle.com

2. Bollé Prime £120 These kick-ass-looking aviators are ideal for skiers seeking a pair of highperformance sunnies that look good both on and off the mountain.

Available with Bollé’s latest highcontrast polarised Volt+ lens that increases depth perception and keeps glare to a minimum, they’re prime for high-mountain adventuring and après styling. bolle.com

3. Dewerstone Summit £60 These maple wood sunnies come with 100% UV protection polarised lenses, and take care of the planet too. Based in Dartmoor, sustainability is super important to these guys, as

demonstrated by their collaboration with 1% for the Planet and Climate Neutral. dewerstone.com

4. Julbo Montebianco 2 £150 It’s back this winter with a new look and improved features – from removable side shields to Julbo’s top photochromic Reactiv performance lens that adapts to light. julbo.com

5. Julbo Monterosa 2 W £150 Reimagined for winter 2022, these super-stylish women’s-specific sunnies return with a cool new look more befitting of their super-sporty DNA. This model comes with Julbo’s photochromic Reactiv all-round lens that adjusts and adapts to changing light, but they’re also available with a lower spec Cat 3 polycarbonate Spectron lens. julbo.com

6. Oakley Clifden £167 These retro mountaineering-style sunnies are engineered to keep your

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eyes protected from the most scorching of rays. With Prizm lens technology, interchangeable and removable bridge blocker and side shields, and integrated leash, they’re packed full of high-mountainspecific features. oakley.com

7. POC Devour Glacial £230 Designed to deliver max coverage, these combine the best features of goggles and sunglasses in one high-performance package.

Designed to enhance colour and contrast, the Clarity lenses keep things sharp and the Ri-Pel lens treatment keeps them protected from dirt, oil and scratches. The fully adjustable temples and nose piece deliver a precise, personalised fit. pocsports.com

8. Scott Cervina £118 Vintage mountaineering style with multi-season potential, these top-quality sunnies will keep you protected up high on the glacier and

looking cool at après at the end of the day. Ideal for medium-to-large faces, they come in a range of colours and have heaps of features, including hinge flex construction, removable nose and side protection, detachable leash and Cat 3 or 4 lens. scott-sports.com

9. Smith Wildcat From £165 Ideal for skiers who transition to mountain bikers in the summer, these medium-fit sunnies offer max coverage, clarity, protection and style. Featuring Smith’s ChromaPop lenses for enhanced contrast with natural colour, they come with a lightweight, flexible TR90 frame that stands up well to the abuse that mountain life regularly dishes out.

We’re loving the auto-lock hinges, which make them easy to get on and off with one hand – excellent for sunny après sessions when your other mitt tends to be occupied with a glass of something fizzy and refreshing. smithoptics.com

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MARTIN CHESTER IFMGA GUIDE

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If you believe the best skiing starts where the groomers stop, get in touch.

I provide advice, skills coaching, tailor-made groups and bespoke guided adventures from the Alps to the Arctic, to help take your skiing...

ABOVE AND BEYOND 10

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10. Sungod Renegades From £55

11. Sweet Protection Ronin Rig Reflect £130

These super-durable sunnies are built for adventure. The flexible plastic frames mean you can flex, twist and bend these bad boys and they’ll keep on bouncing back.

Choose from 10 frames and eight different 4KO polarised, interchangeable, scratch-resistant lenses. sungod.co

These super-sporty sunnies have an oversized toric RIG lens, designed to provide max contrast and clarity, and comes with a special hydrophobic coating that works a bit like a windscreen wiper and also reduces fogging. The lenses are super easy to switch. sweetprotection.com

GOBBLEDEGOOK EXPLAINED

Polarised lenses: when sunlight reflects off a surface it can become concentrated horizontally, resulting in glare. Polarised lenses provide 100% protection from this.

Mirrored lenses: these reduce glare, but not as much as polarised lenses.

Tints: different colours offer different benefits, e.g. amber accentuates relief detail.

Photochromic lenses: these automatically adjust to cope with changing light intensities and conditions. They also cross lens categories (see below).

Lens categories: range from 0-4. Higher figures mean higher UV protection and stronger glare reduction, so you need a higher figure for brighter light.

Optical classes: all the sunglasses here have Class 1 lenses, which means they’re suitable for all-day use. You’re unlikely to see Class 2 (intermittent use) or Class 3 (occasional use) ski sunglasses, and we wouldn’t recommend them.

MARTIN CHESTER GUIDING CONSULTING COACHING

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HELMETS

Put a lid on it – protect those noggins with our pick of this season’s best helmets 1

BUYER’S

BETA

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

LEE HARDY’S HELMET GUIDE

Modern-day skid lids have come a long way since those early days when you’d pop one on your head and excitedly go to check yourself out in the mirror, only to realise you looked like you were about to be shot out of a cannon.

While the purpose of a helmet hasn’t changed, the latest line of lids not only look better and feel better to wear, they’re better at keeping you safe, too. With high-tech materials bringing down weight, huge improvements in fit, the addition of visors/shields and MIPS tech being integrated across the board, it’s safe to say they inspire confidence while offering comfort and versatility.

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THINGS TO CONSIDER ❄ Head size First, measure your head at its widest point, above the ears and in the centre of the forehead in cm; this will give you a guide to the size you need. ❄ Try it on Next, get into your local ski shop and try one on. Like footwear, shapes vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

The helmet wants to be relatively snug on your head when the adjustment is at its loosest, then take up any slack with a twist of the helmet’s fit system. ❄ Pair it up Take your favourite goggles with you to make sure they fit with the helmet, or splash out and buy some new goggles to complement your shiny new lid. ❄ Do your research Ask your shop about the helmet’s intended use. It’s pointless buying a lightweight, low-profile touring helmet if you are going to spend all your time in the park where a hard shell would be a much better option. ❄ Get down with the kids Mums and dads, please don’t buy a helmet for little Johnny or Jane to grow into! I know you want it to last, but if it’s too big, it’ll be uncomfortable at best and totally useless at worst!

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1. Atomic Savor Amid Visor HD £200 Available in stealthy black and snowy white, this top piste helmet with integrated visor is safe, comfy and laden with lid tech.

AMID dual-density foam offers industryleading levels of impact protection, the HD lens delivers all the clarity and contrast feels, and the 360° Fit System keeps things snug and precise. Throw in audiocompatible ear pads, Fidlock buckles, a merino liner and the ability to adjust the visor to cater for glasses, and you’re looking at a swish bit of kit. atomic.com

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2.BCA Air Touring £110 Ultra light and super well ventilated, the new in-mould BCA Air is ideal for skiers and riders looking for safety in the backcountry. Weighing in at 340g (size M), it comes with heaps of touring-specific tech including head torch clips, Edam cheese-style holes for passive ventilation, a lightweight polycarbonate shell, and removable ear pads. With dual certification for alpine skiing and cycling, it’s perfect for life-affirming spring bike-ski missions too. backcountryaccess.com

3. Bern Winter Watts 2.0 £140

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The 2.0 version of this classic multisport lid is the best yet. Lighter and more ventilated than its predecessor, it also comes with MIPS impact-protection tech and a dial system to really nail the fit. Ideal for all-mountain shredding, cycling, and skateboarding, it comes with two liners. bernhelmets.com

4. Bollé Ryft Evo MIPS £170 Building on the success of last year’s Ryft, Bollé have expanded the Ryft family for winter 2022. The new Ryft Evo MIPS is one of four new Ryft lids this season – a super high-end, all-mountain helmet that features the same crazy levels of ventilation and MIPS tech as last year’s Ryft in a more affordable package. With 14 vents, Boa tech, removable Lycra liner, and 3D ear pads, it’s super high end. If you’re prone to losing your goggles check out the new V-Ryft Pure with two interchangeable visors. bolle.com

5. Cébé Versatile £150

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Stay safe and cool when earning your turns in this ISPO award-winning modular lid. Developed to deal with the problem of overheating when wearing a helmet in the backcountry, the Versatile comes with Cébé’s new Ultra Venting System tech that allows the upper part of the helmet to be lifted up to increase airflow when you’re sweating up a storm in the skin track. cebe.com

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Women’s specific

6. Giro Grid MIPS £220 The Grid MIPS is a high-end, legit lightweight, super-protective helmet designed for ski touring and splitboarding.

The quick-drying, breathable Polartec liner keeps things cool and comfortable when you’re putting the power down on those stormy skin tracks and the MIPS Spherical construction helps reduce rotational forces from impacts if you spin out on the descent. Also available as the Envi for women. giro.com

7. Giro Ledge MIPS £90 Hit up the park and nail those rails in this skate-style lid with MIPS impact protection. Coming in at under £100, it offers a solid amount of features for the price including removable Auto Loc 2 fit system to keep things dialled in when you’re dropping, slashing and stomping, Stack Vent tech and removable ear pads.

Available in a range of cool colours and funky designs. giro.com

8. Julbo Peak £155 This ski touring helmet has been specifically designed to help you go further, faster and higher into the backcountry. Weighing in at 360g (without ear pads), the light, ventilated, in-mould/ ABS Peak comes with dual certification for skiing and mountaineering. Other features of note include active venting, adjustable fit, Fidlock magnetic buckles, and headlamp retainer. julbo.com

9. Oakley MOD1 Pro £120 The best-selling skate-style MOD1 gets an injection of durability this winter with the introduction of the MOD1 PRO. This new model has the same low-profile design as the original but comes with Oakley’s Dura-Matter robust construction designed to resist dents and dings. Other features of note include fixed vents on the front and top of the helmet, a removable washable Polartec liner, and Fidlock magnetic buckle for easy on and off even with gloves. Also available as MOD1 PRO SL with removable chin strap. oakley.com

10. Petzl Meteor £76 The first CE-certified ski touring helmet, this 240g mega-lightweight in-mould lid is a backcountry beaut that works for climbing and mountaineering too. Low profile with high-end touring-specific features, it’s supremely ventilated for sweaty ascents, headlamp and gogglecompatible, and offers all the protection you need on technical descents. Heads up though – it’s not certified for alpine skiing so keep her in the backcountry where she belongs. petzl.com www.fall-line.co.uk 143

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HELMETS

KEY:

Women’s specific

HELMET GOBBLEDEGOOK EXPLAINED

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EDITO CHOICRS’ E

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1. Poc Meninx RS MIPS £240

4. Scott Track Plus £90

Streamlined yet sturdy, the all-new Meninx may look straightforward, but behind the low-profile style lies a host of top Poc tech. In addition to MIPS tech you’re looking at an ABS shell and an EPP/EPS liner. And if the shizzle hits the proverbial, there’s RECCO reflectors and an integrated NFC Medical ID chip. pocsports.com

The in-mould Track Plus comes with heaps of top helmet tech and a relatively low price tag. Available in a range of colours, the standout features include MIPS protection and 360 Pure Sound ear pads to keep you alert and connected to your surroundings. It also comes with passive venting, RAS custom fit system and a new goggle retainer system. scott-sports.com

2. Salomon Husk Pro £140

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Safe, comfy and with a mega focus on fit, this is a greatlooking all-rounder that does everything very well.

Salomon’s Smart Safety and EPS4D tech take care of the protection side of things, active vents ensure you stay cool, calm and fog-free, and the adjustable dial fit system allows you to get things feeling exactly as you want them. Available in five cool colours and the top-ofthe-range Husk Prime (£180). salomon.com

5. Smith Vantage MIPS £220

3. Salomon Pioneer LT Visor £180

6. Spy+ Astronomic £110

This 430g men’s visor helmet piles the latest modern lid tech into a lightweight package. Its EPS4D construction provides primo impact protection, and the built-in airflow channels in the liner have been designed to keep your noggin cool and your visor fog-free. Speaking of the visor, it’s removable, fits easily over glasses and comes with an interchangeable lens system. salomon.com

A kick-ass-looking helmet with ABS construction and MIPS protection. All the features are here including Spy+’s Fine Tuning Fit system designed to keep things stable when you’re stomping, passive vents for a cool head when you’re dropping in, and removable, audiocompatible ear pads so you can boost to the sound of your own track. spyoptic.com

This high-end helmet has topped the head of many a freerider over the years and if it ain’t broke… you know the drill. Smith’s Aerocore Koroyd construction and MIPS protection provides max protection and mega airflow, there’s an antimicrobial liner, and Boa 360 system for custom fit. Smith’s AirEvac2 tech ensures seamless goggle integration for max style points. smithoptics.com

❄ In-mould helmets bond a lightweight plastic shell to an impact-absorbing foam liner.

They are a lightweight option, but are more likely to suffer from small dings and wear and tear than hard shell ones because they deform more easily. ❄ Hard shell helmets do exactly what they say on the tin – they are more impact resistant and they’re stronger too. They often comprise an injection-moulded ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) shell that is fused with a foam liner. ❄ Hybrid construction helmets combine the two ideas described above.

Hard plastics are added to key, high-impact areas in a bid to offer the best of both worlds when it comes to top-notch noggin protection. ❄ MIPS technology was developed by brain surgeons and scientists to reduce rotational forces on the brain caused by angled impacts to the head.

If you take a big crash the outer helmet rotates independently around your head, redistributing the impact. ❄ Boa’s 360° Fit System is used by many helmet brands.

It gives a precise fit, with the added advantage that you can make easy micro-adjustments with the turn of a dial. ❄ Fidlock is the award-winning designer of a new breed of ultra-fast and secure fasteners.

Their magnetic helmet buckles are easily operated with one hand. ❄ Ear pads are removable on most lids. Some linings are also removable so you can wash them.

You can get helmets with fixed or adjustable vents, or a mix of both. ❄ Audio-compatible helmets allow you to add audio kits, which are sold separately from various companies. They usually have zippered or Velcro pockets in the earpads. A few helmets have a built-in audio system so you can just plug in and play.

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BACKPACKS

Pack like a pro – here’s our round-up of the best backpacks for winter 2022 1

BUYER’S

BETA

MARTIN CHESTER’S GUIDE TO BACKPACKS

When it comes to choosing a pack, it’s important to be absolutely clear what you want it for and why. Once you’ve realistically identified how and where you’re going to use it, you can then get on with the business of speccing the right size, style and features for the job.

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THINGS TO CONSIDER: ❄ Size matters... as does fit There is a law that suggests whatever size you bring, you are going to fill it, so choose carefully!

Fit also matters; the best pack in the world will be overtaking you on the descent if it doesn’t fit your body shape. Here are things to focus on: Back length: get it right to keep the weight on your hips and the pack strapped to your shoulders.

Shoulder width: essential to ensure the straps don’t slip off your shoulders at every turn and the load is comfortable to bear. The Black Diamond ‘Swing Arm’ system is a miracle of simplicity and really works!

Hip belt taper: if you have more than a simple strap, and especially for women’s packs, the shape matters.

I have a confession that with my short back, Deuter girls’ packs fit me better than the blokes. I’m (literally) comfortable with that. ❄ Quality not quantity We’re talking features here. When it comes to panel dividers, avy tool holders, straps, pockets and gizmos: more is only better if you really need them and the function justifies the extra weight. Likewise not all of us can afford a fleet of packs for every mountain sport so keep an eye on our upcoming ‘crossover packs’ review if you’re in the market for a quiver-of-one to do it all. ❄ Try before you buy In person. From a retailer. Try for fit (shape) as well as size. Be clear which features you value (and don’t be fooled by gimmicks you don’t want or need).

Wear the right clothing and, if you can, add some load when you try them on.

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1. Arc’teryx Rush SK 32 £200 The minimalist Rush is a rugged, waterproof 32L pack built for burly days in the backcountry. It’s a fit-for-purpose pack designed to stand up to the elements and provide easy on-the-go access to key items such as avy tools, ice axe, goggles and helmet. Access to the main compartment is via a rolltop closure system that gives the profile a unique aesthetic and profile. arcteryx.com

2. Black Diamond Cirque 22 Ski Vest £140

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The Freerider Pro from Deuter comes with all the features you’d expect of the very best ski touring packs

Fast and light folks looking for maximum vert will want to get into BD’s awesome trail runninginspired Cirque 22 Ski Vest.

Low profile but big on features, it comes with dedicated avy tool storage, diagonal ski carry, an easyaccess skins/crampon pocket, and can be configured as a single compartment or divided top to bottom. blackdiamondequipment.com

3. Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32 £130 Get up and get after it with BD’s time-tested 32-litre ski and snowboard pack. It’s got all the features you’d expect from a mountain icon, including zippered back-panel entry, diagonal and A-frame carry, ice tool attachment points, helmet holder and a separate avy tools pocket. The suspension fit keeps the pack nice and close to your body and stops kit from sloshing around. blackdiamondequipment.com

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4. Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL W £155

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The Freerider Pro from Deuter is a PFC-free technical ski-specific pack.

It comes with all the features you’d expect of the very best ski touring packs, with the addition of a roll-top closure that expands capacity by a whopping 10 litres, allowing you to add more gear, carry a rope or compress the load. Clever.

Also available in men’s (34+). deuter.com

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5. Deuter Freescape Pro 40+ £180 New this winter, this backcountry beast is built for multi-day winter adventures or technical day tours when ropes, axes and crampons are the order of the day. With all the features you’d expect, including rear access to the main compartment, ice tool attachments, avy tools pocket, helmet holder, and emergency whistle, it’s a high-end pack designed for high-alpine adventures. Also available in women’s (38+ SL). deuter.com

6. Dynafit Free 32 £135 This rugged yet lightweight pack is ideal for ambitious freeriders with their eyes on the big mountain prize. The simple, streamlined profile belies a host of technical features, including multiple compartments for gear stashing, removable bottle holder, diagonal or A frame ski carry, aluminium ski hook, helmet holder and the easily accessible integrated ‘Safety Box’ for crampons, ski crampons and skins. dynafit.com

7. Lowe Alpine Revolt 25 £110 Streamlined yet sturdy, the 25L Revolt is bang on for day tours and sidecountry hits. Lowe’s TriFlex carry system is designed to contour to your body ensuring a snug fit on both the ascent and descent. There is also all the usual touringspecific features you would expect in a high-end pack, including ice axe attachment points, avy tools pocket, rear panel access to the main compartment, diagonal and A-frame ski carry, glove-friendly buckles, and a light interior for easy access to gear. Also in 35L. rab.equipment.uk

8. Ortovox Haute Route 40 £180 The legendary PFC-free Haute Route is a technical and sustainable pack designed for long days in the mountains. Features of note include A-frame and diagonal ski carry, front and rear panel access to the main compartment, rope and ice axe attachment points and well-designed pockets for goggles, maps, crampons and snow safety tools. ortovox.com

9. Ortovox Free Rider 28 £170 A clever freeride-specific pack, the Free Rider 28 comes with built-in TUV-certified back protection.

Other features of note include the flat and flexy elastic hip belt that keeps things snug and secure, light interior for easy gear locating, easy diagonal or A frame ski and snowboard carry, rope and ice axe attachment points, safety whistle and emergency card. ortovox.com

10. Osprey Kresta 20 W £140 A simple women’s-specific pack for in-bounds and sidecountry missions, the slender profile of the Kresta means you can just about get away with not having to take it off when riding the chairlift (you daredevil, you!). With a dedicated snow safety front pocket and full zip rear panel access to the main compartment, it’s easy to reach in and grab your gear without having to chuck everything out on the snow. Also in 30L. ospreyeurope.com www.fall-line.co.uk 147

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BACKPACKS

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Women’s specific

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1. Patagonia SnowDrifter 20 £110

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This 26-litre Picture/Arva collab combines Arva’s top-level snow safety and backpack tech with Picture’s sustainability creds and kick-ass freeride style. All the necessaries are here, including A-frame ski carry, vertical snowboard carry, avy tools pocket, hydration system compatibility, ice axe attachment point, hip belt pockets and fleece-lined goggle pocket. Fave feature? The easy-to-use roll-top closure system for increased waterproof protection. picture-organic-clothing.com

Fans of slim, lowprofile packs with all the necessaries and no more will want to throw on the SnowDrifter

Fans of slim, low-profile packs with all the necessaries and no more will want to throw on the SnowDrifter 20 this winter. Made from 100% recycled materials, it’s a simple and efficient freeride-specific pack that’s perfect for short sharp backcountry hits. A clamshell zipper provides access to the main compartment where you’ll find individual sleeves for avy tools and plenty of space for extra layers. Other features of note include multiple ski and snowboard carry options, heat-venting, snowshedding mesh on the shoulder straps, external helmet carry, zippered hip belt pockets and insulated hydration sleeve.

Also available in 30L (£160). patagonia.com

2. Picture Calgary 26 £120

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3. Salomon MTN 15 £130 Looking for a low-volume pack with a trail runninginspired fit? Salomon’s comfortable yet supertechnical trail packs are legendary in mountain circles, so it’s great to see the same design cues in the ski-specific MTN 15. Light, low volume and constructed with a snow-shedding external fabric, it’s a hydration system-compatible day pack with rear access to the main compartment and plentiful well-thought-out pockets. salomon.com

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4. USWE Pow 25 £198 Stomp your way through winter with Swedish company USWE’s super-technical freeride pack with CE-certified back protector. A rugged and hugely capable pack, it comes with dedicated avy tools pocket, insulated shoulder straps to stop your hydration bladder hose from freezing up, A-frame ski carry, and a unique harness system that incorporates the shoulder and waist straps to ensure a super-snug fit. Size down to the 16L version for days in resort and short sidecountry hits. uswe-sports.com

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5. Wed’ze Reverse One 100 15 £15 Quite fancy carrying a pack but have zero need for a big pack with heaps of expensive technical features? This 15-litre pack is cracking value and the perfect size for carrying those bare essentials you need to have with you on the mountain such as spare gloves, food, extra layers, etc. Our fave feature is the ‘reverse’ design that allows you to spin it from your back onto your front for easy access to kit on the chairlift – clever! decathlon.co.uk

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DON’T MISS

FALL-LINE GOES FRONTSIDE

Grab your piste and all-mountain skis for some in-resort exploratory greatness

PHOTO FISCHER SPORTS

INCLUDING: EUROPE’S BEST SKI CIRCUITS (YOU WON’T SKI THE SAME PISTE TWICE!) HIKE AND RIDE IN SWITZERLAND’S BACK-OF-BEYOND WITH CANDIDE THOVEX! (WELL, SORT OF…) BACKCOUNTRY BASICS: HOW TO STAY SAFE BETWEEN THE PISTES THE BEST SKI LIFT IN THE DOLOMITES (AND MAYBE THE WORLD…) MEET TEAM GB’S 2022 WINTER OLYMPICS HOPEFULS LOÏC COLLOMB-PATTON’S INSIDER’S GUIDE TO LA CLUSAZ

GEAR ON TEST: WE REVIEW THE BEST KIT FOR PISTE BASHING AND ALL-MOUNTAIN ANTICS

ON SALE 16 DEC 2021, ONLY £4.99 www.fall-line.co.uk 149

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AIRBAGS

Electronic or compressed gas? Modular or fixed system? Let the list-making begin!

BUYER’S

BETA

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OUR GEAR ED’S GUIDE

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First up, let’s be clear. An airbag is not – and never will be – a substitute for avalanche and snow safety education, years of backcountry experience, and the ability to make smart decisions in a high-pressure environment. Staying safe requires committing to a lifetime of learning that can’t be bypassed by exchanging cash for a fancy airbag. That said, you can’t argue with statistics.

If you’re skiing with an avalanche pack, get caught in a slide and manage to actually deploy your airbag, it’s been proven that your chances of living to ride another day increase.

Viewed in the context of all of the above, and paired with the mandatory transceiver/shovel/ probe combo, an airbag can be a sound investment.

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EDITO CHOICR’S E

THINGS TO CONSIDER ❄ All systems go Compressed gas cylinder systems are light, fast to inflate and don’t rely on electronics, but they can be a hassle to travel with, tricky to get refilled and difficult to repack. Electronic systems, on the other hand, are easy to use and travel with, simple to stuff back into the pack and can be deployed multiple times. The flip side is they can take a little longer to inflate and depend on electronical components and batteries functioning in extreme conditions. ❄ Consider your mission What kind of skiing are you really going to be doing? This will help you decide on the size of pack you need. ❄ Fit to fly?

This is easiest with an electronic system, but it’s still worth calling your airline two weeks in advance to inform them of your plans. ❄ Size matters Avalanche packs come in a range of sizes, so get yourself to a retailer to try them out in person. ❄ Budget Identify the essential features and decide how much you’re prepared to spend. Then stick to it.

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KEY:

1. BCA Float 32 £500 The 2942g Float 32 is a fully featured, exceptionally light and good-value backcountry pack for day tours. Its compressed air canister system claims to be half the size of its competitors’ and fits easily inside the same compartment as the 150-litre airbag itself, reducing weight and freeing up space. It can also be inflated at home with a Track Pump.

Other features of note include BC Link radio compatibility, diagonal ski carry, dedicated avy tools pocket, internal ice axe carry and removable helmet-carry system. backcountryaccess.com

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2. Black Diamond JetForce Pro 25L £1020 Weighing in at 2970g (M/L), the Tesla of avalanche airbags is a 200-litre modular airbag that uses electronic technology, so it’s easy to recharge and travel with. It also means you can deploy it as many times as you want, which helps build muscle memory and instinctive reactions in an emergency situation. Bluetooth connectivity enables you to run software updates and perform both mechanical and electronic diagnostics at home in your chalet via the Pieps app. On the hill, it’s light and low-profile and comes with pro-level features, including the tuck-away diagonal ski carry system, ice axe attachment point, HiLo helmet holder and retractable leg-loop strap.

Need more capacity to feel the Force? Size up to the 35L version. blackdiamondequipment.com

3. Mammut Light Protection Airbag 3.0 £670 This 30L über-lightweight touring pack uses Mammut’s latest lightweight 3.0 compressed gas canister system, which is ideal if you’re concerned about battery life in extreme environments. Light, yet durable and comfortable, it weighs just 2430g and comes with a 150-litre airbag, diagonal ski carry, ice axe and ice screw attachment points, compression straps, hydration system compatibility and hip belt pocket. mammut.com

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4. Mammut Pro X Women Removable Airbag 3.0 W £599

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Weighing in at 2580g, this lightweight women’s 35L pack comes with Mammut’s award-winning R.A.S. compressed gas canister system for max versatility. The back length, shoulder straps and overall dimensions have been designed specifically to fit the female frame. There are heaps of other features to like here too, including the use of recycled materials in the construction, rear panel access to the main compartment, dedicated avy tools pocket, diagonal ski carry, padded hip belt and shoulder straps, integrated helmet carrier and SOS label with emergency instructions. mammut.com

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5. Ortovox Ascent 38 S Avabag W £710 The lightest airbag in our line up, the 1960g women’s-specific Ascent 38 S offers a whole heap of capacity and features in an impressively feathery package. Remove the compressed gas canister and you can practice activating the bag over and over again, so you’re good to go if the shizzle hits the freeride fan. Other notable features include the innovative handle that can be swapped for left- and right-handed skiers, front-panel access to the main compartment, bright internal fabric for rapid location of gear, diagonal ski carry and multiple attachment points for ropes, sleeping bags and mats. ortovox.com

6. Ortovox Free Rider 22 Avabag £685 This award-winning 2130g pack is light, compact and ideal for hitting up sidecountry stashes. As with all of Ortovox’s Avabag packs, it has a great handle design and the ability to practice deployment when the canister is removed. In addition it comes with heaps of other primo freeride features, including an SPS Flex back protector, big hip belt with pocket, diagonal ski carry, bright internal fabric, dedicated avy tools pocket, hydration system compatibility and front access to the main compartment. ortovox.com

7. Osprey Soelden and Sopris Pro £950 The award-winning Soelden Pro 32 and women’s-specific Sopris Pro 30 are two technical backcountry-specific packs featuring Alpride’s E1 Electronic Airbag system with supercapacitor technology. Weighing in at 2950g and designed in collaboration with guides and pro athletes, both combine top airbag tech with Osprey’s pack-building expertise to deliver two light, rechargeable, easy to use, travel-friendly packs destined for backcountry greatness. Features of note include rear panel entry into main compartment, A-frame or diagonal ski carry, vertical snowboard carry, GPS/radio internal carry with mic harness webbing attachment points, dual position stow-away helmet carry and sled carry attachment loops. Now available in Soelden 42 and Sopris 40 for winter 2022. osprey.com

8. Scott Patrol E1 22 Backpack Kit £855 The 2450g E1 22 is a fully electronic airbag with innovative ‘supercapacitor’ tech that releases power faster, lasts longer, and works better than batteries in low temperatures. With less volume but all the same kick-ass features as the flagship Patrol E1 30, it’s perfect for day hits, cat skiing and heli-access trips. With no canisters to worry about travel is hassle-free, the battery is easy to recharge, and the pack comes laden with features, including diagonal and A-frame ski carry, a dedicated avy tools pocket, sternum strap with whistle, helmet carry system and an SOS label with emergency instructions. scott-sports.com www.fall-line.co.uk 151

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AVALANCHE TRANSCEIV With ever cleverer options and improving tech, which avalanche transceiver should you buy?

BUYER’S

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MARTIN CHESTER’S TRANSCEIVER GUIDE

In a world of updates, upgrades and latest models, it amazes us that folks will spend a fortune on the latest phone, yet trust their lives to outdated tech. So if it’s time to upgrade your beacon, here are the golden rules:

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THINGS TO CONSIDER ❄ The rule of three Before we go any further, anything other than a modern three-aerial digital device is now defunct. End of! ❄ Get the latest and greatest…

The latest devices work faster, as well as better. While processing speed is invisible, the performance and results are all too obvious, so do your research, and buy the latest model.

Get the best you can afford: some bits of kit are not worth skimping on. ❄ …but buy what you need You might not need all those ‘pro features’. For most of us, the Mammut Barryvox is a cheaper and easier to use transceiver than the top-of-the-range Barryvox S. And if you can’t afford one of those, the Black Diamond Recon LT that fits in your pocket is better than an older, or second-hand device, you don’t want to carry. ❄ Find a brand that suits you Try before you buy if you can. Be honest here: are you a disciplined team, needing to prioritise speedy single burials? Or if you may blunder into a group multi-burial event, check out the flagging functions. Have you done your training and wanting quick and simple feedback – or do you need all the help you can get? ❄ Signal range This is where the wild claims of the manufacturer and our experience vary massively. Make sure you read reviews where the testers have actually tried them out. If in doubt, the Mammut Barryvox devices consistently win this one, in my experience. ❄ Follow up I forgive you for not registering your new hairdryer or microwave. But make sure you have the registration and service details (and follow up on them) when you buy a new transceiver. It needs to work all the time, every time.

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CEIVERS 1. ARVA EVO5 £220 With 50m search strip width, group check, interface management and U-Turn alarm, this has all the capacity and features recreational backcountry skiers should need. Measuring just 11 x 7cm, it attaches to a waist belt, or you can use a traditional chest holder. Top features include the marking function for multiple burials and the auto revert feature, which reverts to transmit mode after eight minutes, unless you choose otherwise. Compact and great value, this will suit a lot of people’s pockets – in more ways than one! arva-equipment.com

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2. ARVA NEO PRO £275 Expert users should have the Arva Neo Pro on their list. This feature-laden transceiver is pitched at snow safety pros and experienced backcountry skiers. ‘Expert’ features include a 70m/80m search strip width depending on whether you’re in digital or analog mode, standby mode with sensor-controlled revert to transmit, and a scrolling function to target a specific victim. arva-equipment.com

3. BCA Tracker 4 £300

EDITO CHOICRS’ E

The super-speedy, easy-to-use BCA Tracker 4 functions similarly to its predecessor, the Tracker 3, but comes with a durable rubberised case and a larger LED screen, making it ideal for use on bright sunny days and for users wearing polarised lenses. All the latest features are here, including Signal Suppression and Big Picture modes for no-nonsense multiple-victim searching, multiple burial and close proximity indicators, and a motion-sensing auto revert-totransmit mode. It also comes with upgradeable software and electronics performance testing for fleet management. Simple, slick and efficient and most importantly… FAST. backcountryaccess.com

4.Black Diamond Recon LT £300

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Weighing in at just 150g with a 60m circular search range, the new low-profile Recon LT is a gram-counter’s dream. Sync it with the Pieps App for system checks, settings and firmware updates then slip it in your pocket or pop it in the über-light holster and head for the hills.

Simple, minimalist and dependable, the processor is fast, the signal is stable and the path is direct. While you still need to keep your phone off or away, constant monitoring will switch to transmit on the optimal antenna, reducing the impact of electrical interference.

This is the Jack Russell of the transceiver world – not as big and powerful as some, but once it gets its teeth into a signal, it is not letting go. blackdiamondequipment.com

5. Black Diamond Guide BT Beacon £360 This reliable and capable unit comes with a 60m search strip width, multiple burial mark and scan function, and an auto antenna switch

that automatically adjusts to send the best signal.

With Bluetooth functionality you can manage settings and software updates yourself via the Pieps app, and it has an integrated inclinometer. blackdiamondequipment.com

6. Mammut Barryvox £280 Simple, durable and intuitive, the regular Barryvox remains one of the best devices out there. With a 70m search strip width, large and easy-to-read display, acoustic search guidance, multiple burial function, one-button operation, reverse direction alert, auto revert after four minutes, and an accessible price tag, it’s hard to look beyond it for the majority of backcountry users. mammut.com

7. Mammut Barryvox S £350 Tried, tested and above all trusted! The Barryvox S does all the basics really well, yet is packed with advanced extra features. With an effective search area width of 70m (100m in analogue mode), rapid processing speed, simple interface, intuitive operation and a large screen with animated graphics, the Barryvox S is a very impressive bit of kit. The extras that you get here are the Smart Search function that interacts with other searching rescuers, a Rescue Send function that protects rescuers not involved in the transceiver search, and the customisable auto revert function that can either be disabled or set at two or four minutes.

It also has a Pro Check mode that displays the frequency and interval of the transceiver being checked in group check. mammut.com

8. Ortovox Diract Voice £300 This uses voice guidance to alert you to any mistakes and keep you on track in the fine search phase. From self-check to group to send mode and beyond, the Diract Voice tells you what to do and how to do it. Voice guidance aside, there’s heaps of other impressive new features, including a super-rapid processing speed, rechargeable low-temperature battery and a user-friendly harness that uses a Velcro pull rather than a zip or buckle. ortovox.com

9. Ortovox Zoom+ £200 The perfect starter beacon, this will do the job no matter how much of a Luddite/technophobe you are. This simple triple-antenna device comes with a 40m search strip width, autorevert facility and just two buttons, which makes it really intuitive to use. Rotate the turnlock button to power on at the back, and pull the switch apart on top to go into search mode.

Easy. Then just follow the arrows on the screen, the distance countdown and listen to the acoustic guidance. Light yet tough and well built, it also comes with a RECCO reflector.

Scale up to the Diract Voice or Diract if you’re looking for devices with group check, or flagging function and visuals/voice guidance at the fine search stage. ortovox.com www.fall-line.co.uk 153

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BACKCOUNTRY BOOTY Earn those turns in safety this winter with our bounteous backcountry booty 3

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While this section covers a wide variety of gear, the same basic principles hold true…

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THINGS TO CONSIDER ❄ Quality. Always.

By all means seek out a deal, but don’t go for cheap and nasty imitations when it comes to safety kit. Stick to well-known, good-quality brands. ❄ Tech tips Be savvy about ‘wearable tech’! While we are all enjoying the benefits, we’re also waking up to the reality of transceiver interference from other devices. Suffice to say a cloud of bluetooth gadgets dotted around your persona is a very bad plan in the backcountry. ❄ Built to last Shop for shovels, axes, probes and the like in the same way you would shop for tools. Because that’s exactly what they are. Cheap and light usually doesn’t last, and may well fail in extremis. Solid and dependable may be heavier, but burly is better than bust. ❄ Zero compromise For ‘combination’ read ‘compromise’.

Beware those gadgets and gizmos that claim to transform into something else (like ski poles that become probes).

They are usually gimmicks, Jacks of no trades and masters of nowt. ❄ Probing Girth, stiffness and reliable locking mechanisms trump every other feature.

Every time. End of. ❄ Teething tech I hate to play bad backcountry cop, but it’s worth being wary of any swanky new tech launches because they invariably always end up having teething problems. Be patient and wait a season until the second generation becomes available. We promise you won’t regret it. ❄ No to the pro Do you really need those super-expensive, pro-level features and gizmos? Be honest now. It’s unlikely right? Stick to the basics, buy gear with features that you’re actually going to use, and in doing so you’ll be saving cash and keeping things stripped back to the essentials – aka exactly how you should be travelling in the backcountry.

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TY 1. Atomic/Salomon Backland/ MTN Ski Crampons £65 Ski crampons. You never need them until you absolutely need them… which if you’re a regular ski tourer travelling in varied terrain is likely to happen at any time! These are compatible with the Atomic Backland/Salomon MTN binding and available in 80, 90, 100, 110mm widths. atomic.com, salomon.com

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2. BCA Dozer 1T Ultralight Shovel £75 Weighing in at 435g, this new shovel is BCA’s lightest.

The innovative cored-out thinner-walled aluminium blade is lightweight and perfect for slicing through debris. Combined with the 76cm working length and T-grip handle, you’ve got plenty to work with so you can shovel like the demon you’ll need to be. backcountryaccess.com

3. BCA Link Two-Way Radio 2.0 £150 Weighing just 340g, this group communication system won’t add much weight to your pack and will enable you to communicate plans, find your buddies and share observations in the backcountry. More durable, powerful and weather-resistant than its predecessor, the Smart Mic user interface is located at your fingertips so there’s no need to dig it out of your pack when changing settings. It comes with a cold-resistant rechargeable battery. backcountryaccess.com

4. BCA Stealth 300 Carbon Probe £100 This 290g probe is perfect for pros and recreational backcountry users alike. Super light and long enough for deep snowpacks, it comes with laser-etched markings and a 43cm collapsed length making it easy to fit into most packs. backcountryaccess.com

5. Black Diamond Couloir LT Harness £65 Aimed at high-end ski mountaineers and ski-mo racers, this breathable and technical harness weighs just 115g (M). The lightweight Dynex construction provides excellent freedom of movement, there are two gear loops for the absolute necessaries, and a single tie-in point for roping up. NB the fixed leg loops save weight on buckles but do mean you’ll need to remove your skis when taking the harness on and off. blackdiamondequipment.com

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6. Black Diamond Flare Headlamp £25 The Flare is ideal for emergencies: a beautifully designed head torch with everything you might need (red, white, bright and SOS settings) housed in a bombproof alloy shell. The rotary switch is virtually fool-proof and it weighs just 27g. Nifty, neat, nice! blackdiamondequipment.com

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7. Black Diamond Glidelite Mix Skins £155 The Land Rover of the skin world, these impressive and reliable 65% mohair, 35% nylon skins hit the sweet spot when it comes to grip, glide and durability.

Updated last winter, they’re available in fixed lengths – all with redesigned tip and tail attachments to fit a

wider range of ski tips and provide more adjustability at the rear of the ski. Packable, easy to handle, and super sticky, they also come in pre-cut versions designed to work specifically with the new Helio Carbon skis. blackdiamondequipment.com

8. Black Diamond Quickdraw Carbon 240 Probe £90 BD’s lightest probe, this weighs just 226g and comes with all the features necessary for rapid and reliable probing in a rescue situation. Swift deployment is the name of the game here with speed ferrules that align securely with the pull of a cord. A secure locking mechanism and the non-slip grip keeps things locked and loaded, and the oversized robust alloy tip reduces shaft friction. blackdiamondequipment.com

9. Black Diamond Ski Strap £5 Ski straps are multi-talented little backcountry beasts.

At 25in, this tough, stretchy rubber strap is great for keeping skis together, and it will come in handy for a whole heap of other purposes, like dealing with skins that don’t stick, adjustable poles that won’t stay locked in place, and keeping boots together when the buckles have busted. Grab a couple and shove ’em in your pack – you won’t regret it! blackdiamondequipment.com

10. Black Diamond Transfer LT Shovel £80 New for winter 2022, this lean green shovelling machine weighs in at just 405g, making it the lightest UIAA-certified shovel on the market. Despite it’s feathery profile, it’s very much built to do the backcountry business. The innovative riveted blade is light and thin for slicing through debris and the large blade ensures you’ll be moving substantial amounts of snow with each haul. blackdiamondequipment.com

11. Blue Ice Aero Lite Ice Screw £65 The lightest ice screw on the market, this comes with an aluminium body and hanger that minimises weight.

The stainless steel three-tooth tip allows for easy placement in all conditions, and the stainless steel foldable crank is really easy to use. Fave feature? The larger than average diameter means you can safely use it in existing anchor holes. uk.blueice.com

12. DPS Phantom 2.0 Waxless Glide £200 Developed as a permanent alternative to regular ski wax, Phantom is a waxless glide that you apply just once to your bases. DPS also claim it eliminates cancer-causing chemicals, toxin-laden fumes, PFCs and a heap of other nasty stuff associated with traditional hydrocarbon ski wax. dpsskis.com

13. Dynafit Upcycled Primaloft Phone Case £30 Batteries hate the cold. Fact. If you’re looking to keep your smartphone sweet this winter then you need to get this insulated, weather-resistant phone case on your kit list. Constructed using recycled materials, it’s a mini sleeping bag designed to keep your phone safe and warm so you’re good to go. dynafit.com www.fall-line.co.uk 155

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1. Fatmap Explore Membership £30 per year

6. Ortovox First Aid Waterproof Mini £23

The Fatmap app is a wicked digital tool for planning, tracking and sharing your mountain adventures in glorious 3D. With offline topo maps, custom terrain analysis (avalanche, gradient, altitude, elevation and aspect layers) and real-time data including snow conditions, it’s becoming the go-to app for adventurers worldwide. Membership also comes with privileges from some of the biggest outdoor brands and involves a contribution to Fatmap’s sustainability partners. explore.fatmap.com

Equipped with all the essentials for dealing with an emergency, this 150g waterproof first aid kit is a fundamental addition to a backcountry rig. It’s well designed and thought out: we particularly like the emergency card that serves as a reference point to help you keep a clear head in a crisis. ortovox.com

2.G3 Love Glove £49 (per pair) Feel the love this winter with these in-thefield skin savers designed to speed up transitions in the backcountry. Simple and easy to use, they not only function like a stuff sack for your skins, they also prevent hernia-inducing attempts to rip skins apart, wick away moisture and keep skins glue and gunk-free. genuineguidegear.com

3. G3 Alpinist+ Universal Skins From £155 The waterproofing used on all of G3’s nylon Universal and Grip skins is PFC-free.

Weighing in at 249g in 100mm, the Alpinist+ Universal skins may not be the featheriest of the uphill fleet but they are durable, versatile and reliable. The stiff material at the tip prevents snow creep, there’s a low-profile elongated tail strap for swift transitions, and a camming clip that keeps things secure at the back. They also come with removable rip strip. In 100, 115, 130 and 145mm widths. genuineguidegear.com

4. Ortovox Beast Shovel £55 This lightweight, compact shovel with anodised aluminium blade is a legit backcountry beast. Weighing in at 580g with a telescopic shaft, the high sidewalls on the blade and the defined centre ridge have been designed to increase rigidity.

Combine this with the 83cm working length and 2.3-litre scoop volume and you know you’re looking at a genuinely fit-forpurpose bit of kit. It also packs down easily and the T-grip handle can be converted to work for both left and righthanded users. ortovox.com

7. Petzl Fly Harness £96 Just 130g, the buckle-less Fly is Petzl’s lightest harness. Easy to put on and remove standing up even when wearing crampons, it comes with two gear loops, four additional loops, ice screw retainers and removable comfort foam. petzl.com

8. Petzl Leopard LLF Crampons £124 Weighing just 340g, these super-feathery 10-point aluminium crampons are the lightest in Petzl’s range. The Cord-Tec woven Dynema cord-linking system is durable and easy to adjust on the fly, and they pack down super small into their own bag. They come with Petzl’s Alpen Adapt system, which enables users to switch to something more technical at the front. petzl.com

9. Petzl Ride Ice Axe £81 This 240g ice axe is a super-lightweight classic mountaineering axe that will work well for the majority of ski tours. The 45cm length enables it to be carried inside or outside your pack, and the curved shaft, steel head and tapered pick combine to deliver performance in technical touring terrain. petzl.com

10. Petzl Swift RL Head Torch £96 With 900 lumens of brilliant brightness for just 100g, the lightweight, rechargeable Swift RL is the perfect partner for night touring adventures. It comes with a clever Reactive sensor that automatically adjusts brightness according to the ambient light, conserving and distributing power as needed. Features are plentiful, including a single button control that’s easy to use with gloves. petzl.com

5. Ortovox Bivi Pro £95

11. Pomoca Free Pro 2.0 Skins From £180

If the weather changes or one of your team gets injured in a remote environment you could be in for a long, frostbiteinducing wait, which is where this windproof and weather-resistant bivi bag comes in. Suitable for one to two people, it weighs 680g and comes in a compressible stowaway bag. ortovox.com

Light up the backcountry with these pink freeride-specific skins. Lighter and more packable than the Climb Pro S-Glide, but just as grippy, they come in a cool box with Pomoca’s hydrophobic Ever Dry 2.0 membrane, redesigned Click Lop tip attachments and tail hooks for max durability. pomoca.com

SKIN CARE

Martin Chester on how to keep your skins in tip-top nick

Climbing skins are a miracle of adhesive technology. Think about it: we want to glue a piece of fabric to the slippery-waxy base of our skis. We want it to stick all the way up, as we drag it through the snow, yet come off (without leaving a trace of glue) every time.

Whether it is +20°C in the heat of the spring sun; or -20°C in the depths of winter. Amazeballs! So our skins deserve a bit of respect.

Here are some tips for keeping yours attached on big days out seeking the deep stuff: ❄ Choosing and fitting The enemy of secure skins is getting snow between the glue and the base. So a well-cut skin, that perfectly fits the base, leaving only the edges exposed, is the first priority. There is a wide range of skin fittings on the market, but try and find the best for your ski/ skin combination. You want a tip fix that keeps the skin as flat as possible (no gaps to let snow in) and is bombproof in preventing you from kicking the tip of one skin off with the other (it happens).

So choose the best shape and the lowest profile you can find. ❄ Putting them on The mantra here is ‘the warmer, the stickier’. So develop a routine that keeps your skins out of the weather for as long as possible – and gets them onto warm bases as quickly as possible. I shove my skins down my top while I clean my skis and stand them up to face the full heat of the sun while I sort my boots and bindings out. Then I go to work – whipping out one skin at a time and fitting it (with pedantic attention to detail) as quickly as possible.

Smoothing them on (friction is another source of heat) before laying them gently in the snow, ready to jump aboard. ❄ Taking them off Here is where the cold is on our side, for once – so leave them in the snow until the last minute. Then whip them up and off, without dangling the skins in the snow. Especially if you want them to go back on again soon! If you use cheat sheets, then use the ski base as a work surface on which to fold them. Alternatively, a skin sock makes fast removal (even on stormy days) a doddle. Get the skins protected from the weather (and the glue from fleecy fibres) as quick as you can. I keep them down my jacket if I want to warm and dry them for the next lap. ❄ Looking after them between times Some skins need cheat sheets (that nylon mesh that keeps them clean and stops them sticking together while they dry out) some don’t. Either way you need to keep the glue clean and beware sticking them together (alas – forever more) unless you have the right adhesive system. Check your instructions carefully! ❄ Remember…

‘The warmer, the stickier’ so don’t dry them on a radiator (and you will never see mine hanging by the fire, with hundreds of others, in a hut). Don’t be lazy either: a skin left on a ski, overnight in a ski/ boot room, might never come off again. At best, it will leave a trail of glue on your base that may ruin your skiing until you get to a workshop with the right solvents. This stuff really sticks! Likewise, amateur re-gluing can be a disaster. Only use the iron-on rolls and consider taking them to a workshop who specialise in this. www.fall-line.co.uk 157

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RETAILERS’ DIRECTORY ACTIVE SNOWSPORTS

BOARDWISE

activesnowsports.com 01473 487474 Suffolk Ski Centre, Ipswich

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boardwise.com 01543 505084 Cannock

ABSOLUTE SNOW

craigdonmountainsports.com 01467 625855/0131 445 7711/ 01224 62433/01463 248600/ 01738 631006

absolute-snow.co.uk 01442 232154 Watford, Herts

Scotland

Inverurie, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness, Perth

ALPINE ROOM

alpineroom.co.uk 01245 223563 Danbury, Essex

ANYTHING TECHNICAL

braemar@braemarmountainsports. com 01339 741242 Braemar, Scotland

skiequipmentuk.co.uk 01539 734701 Kendal, Cumbria

With three shops in the Cairngorms National Park, our Aviemore & Braemar stores specialise in telemark, alpine and nordic touring equipment, while Aviemore has a wide selection of specialist climbing equipment and ice tools. Our shops provide a relaxed and welcoming environment in which customers can browse around whilst dreaming of their next adventure.

“Can’t make it to the store?

Then check out all of our products online at braemarmountainsports.com

ATTWOOLLS

attwoolls.co.uk 01452 742233 Gloucester

BAC OUTDOORS LEISURE bac-e.com 01422 371146 Elland, West Yorkshire

BACKCOUNTRY UK

backcountryuk.com 01943 816011 Ilkley, West Yorkshire

Scotland’s largest independent ski retailer with five locations throughout Scotland. We pride ourselves on our friendly service and expertise, offering a wide range of ski equipment and clothing, including custom boot fitting and ski touring departments.

DEVON SKI CENTRE devonski.co.uk 01626 833356 Newton Abbot, Devon

DEVINE RIDE

devineride.co.uk 0121 4231160 Halesowen, West Midlands

CARTERS

The UK’s largest and most established ski retailer with 27 stores nationwide.

Stockists of the largest range of men’s and women’s ski and boot brands, including Atomic, Salomon and Rossignol. Try before you buy today at selected locations nationwide.

carters360.com 0118 959 9022 Reading, Berkshire

horacebarton.co.uk 01242 516772 Cheltenham, Glos

LD MOUNTAIN CENTRE

ldmountaincentre.com 0191 232 3561 Newcastle, Tyne & Wear

Being dedicated skiers we pride ourselves in our specialist ski boot fitting, full shell adaptation, liner moulding and custom insoles. Wide range of skis, boots and clothing all widely tried and tested. Full ski workshop in store, on site servicing.

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dicksboardstore.co.uk 0114 279 7909 Sheffield, South Yorkshire

tiso.com/blues 0131 554 9101 Scotland (Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness & Perth)

LOVE & PISTE

loveandpiste.co.uk 01509 853944 Loughborough, Leics

MAGIC TOAST

NEVISPORT

nevisport.com 01479 810239 Nationwide

COYOTI SKI & SNOWBOARD

profeet.co.uk 0207 736 0046 London

Vale of Glamorgan, Wales

ROUTE ONE finchesemporium.com 020 8699 6768 Forest Hill, London

countryside.co.uk 01438 353086 Stevenage, Herts

As one of the oldest independent ski shops in the UK, Countryside Ski & Climb are dedicated to bringing you the best gear with unmatched customer service. Offering expert fitting and advice on all things ski, with gear from leading brands such as Patagonia, Salomon, Hestra and Helly Hansen.

Prepare for your next adventure with Countryside Ski & Climb.

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magictoast.com 0116 2124262 Leicester, Leics

PROFEET

coyoti.com 01446 775778

banksofperth.co.uk 01738 624928 Perth, Scotland

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HORACE BARTON & SON

lockwoods.com 01926 339388 Leamington Spa, Warks

cairngorm@ braemarmountainsports.com 01479 810 903 Aviemore, Scotland

BLUES THE SKI SHOP

Bringing the ski shop to your doorstep, anywhere in the UK. Specialising in custom ski boot fitting, with simple, old fashioned, one to one customer service.

We’re a totally mobile business, stocking the best kit, from the biggest brands in the industry, all backed by our Comfort Fit Guarantee.

LOCKWOODS

ellis-brigham.com 0800 035 6483 mail.order@ellis-brigham.com Nationwide

BIG DICK’S BOARDSTORE

hikeandride.co.uk 07719 315301 info@hikeandride.co.uk London

Finches are the only independent ski & snowboard store in London run by the same family since 1947. Our vast store is packed with a huge range of equipment, clothing & accessories & backed up by experts who will help you with your selection.

FLUID LINES

fluid-lines.co.uk 01206 545533 Colchester

FREEZE PRO SHOP

freezeproshop.com 0131 2609677 Edinburgh, Scotland

routeone.co.uk Nationwide

rivingtonalpine.co.uk 01257 483999 Adlington, Lancs

Specialising in service and knowledge for ski hardware. We’re Masterfit graduate fitters, and have a fully equipped boot lab with fit guarantee.

We have ski tested extensively and can provide you with excellent, first hand advice for ski purchasing and on-site servicing.

Hardware is our thing. Oh and Jägermeister, don’t forget the Jägermeister!

Snowboard stockist

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SAIL AND SKI

sailandski.co.uk 01244 401449 Chester, Cheshire

SCOOTER & SKI

scooterandski.co.uk 0117 970 1356 Bristol

SKEE-TEX

skee-tex.co.uk 01268 768282 Essex

skibartlett.com 0208 848 0040 info@skibartlett.com Uxbridge, West London

Bringing you the most comprehensive range of skis and boots in the UK, combined with over 50 years of specialist expertise and friendly, helpful advice. Our goal is to help you choose the correct equipment to improve your skiing. We are custom boot fitting specialists, and Ski Industries of Great Britain official ski testers. We are also a World Snow Awards winner.

snowlab.co.uk 01323 848410 Hailsham, East Sussex

Snow Lab is an independent specialist winter sports store based in East Sussex.

We are committed to bringing you the best products available to the winter sports industry.

We offer a comprehensive custom boot fitting service, only using experienced and knowledgeable fitters to maximise your comfort and performance.

Snow Lab has an onsite workshop for all your servicing needs. We also hire quality ski and snowboard equipment. Please see our website for more details.

SNOW TOGS

skishops.co.uk 023 807 73925 Southampton, Hants

SNOWEAR

snowear.co.uk 01892 517807 Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Advertise your business here and be seen by the kind of folk who view shopping for skis, boots, helmets and kit as serious stuff.

Fall-Line’s esteemed ad manager Rich is the guy who can make the magic happen. For details email him on sales@fall-line.co.uk

Vector

THE OUTDOOR STORE

www.solutions4feet.com 01869 244424 fitting@solutions4feet.com Bicester, Oxfordshire

Vector - 1 Colour

skiexchange.co.uk 01954 210984 info@skiexhange.co.uk Cambridge, Cambs

Since 1985 the Ski Exchange has provided expert winter sports advice & products. Expert Boot Fitting, extensive range of skis, clothing and accessories.

The Ski Exchange is one of the UK’s largest independent ski shops. With our on site workshop we can also service and repair skis & snowboards. 100% employee owned, our passion is customer service... & skiing.

snowfit.co.uk 01603 716655 info@snowfit.co.uk Norwich, Norfolk

Snowfit/Revolutionz, looking after skiers and snowboarders since 1998.

Our dedicated staff have a wide range of expertise.

Our huge choice of skis, snowboards and boots includes a specialist Ski and Snowboard Touring Department.

On-site boot fitting, Physio Clinic and ski/snowboard servicing workshops make Snowfit/Revolutionz your one-stop wintersports specialists.

THE SKI SHOP

theski-shop.co.uk 01732 464463 Sevenoaks, Kent

snowandrock.com 0117 456 2355 Nationwide

Providers of the best snowsport brands, built to perform in the world’s wildest locations. In-store custom ski boot fitting and gear advice from passionate experts, helping you make the right choice for adventure and the planet. United by attitude over nearly four decades of inspiring you to push your limits.

With over 60 years’ combined experience and the best equipped workshop in the UK we specialize in Vector - Reversed custom fitting of ski boots for all levels of skier from novice to Olympic gold medalist and everything in between.

Fit solutions for serious leg & foot injuries and conditions our specialty. By appointment at our Bicester store.

SUBVERT

subvertboardstore.com 0161 7476066 Castleford & Manchester

SUFFOLK SKI CENTRE

suffolkskicentre.co.uk 01473 487474 Ipswich, Suffolk

braemarmountainsports.com 01339 753878 Ballater, Scotland

THE SNOWBOARD ASYLUM

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ellis-brigham.com 01827 59047 Tamworth, Staffs (The Snowdome)

TRESPASS

trespass.com 0141 568 8089 Nationwide

tallingtonlakesproshop.com 01778 347000 sales@tallington.com Tallington, Lincolnshire

Est 1975. An independent ski and snowboard retailer, with years of experience. Large selection of quality products in store and online. Expert boot fitting service. On-site dry ski slope and equipment servicing workshop.

VENTURA www.snowtraxstore.co.uk 01202 499155 sales@snowtraxstore.co.uk Christchurch, Dorset

Whether you ski or snowboard, shop our huge range of products available from our Dorset Store or online.

We sell the best equipment from the biggest brands, all tested by our in-house ski and snowboard test team. No matter your ability level or snow terrain preference, you can find it all at Snowtrax. #wetestweknow

venturaski.co.uk 01942 717971 St Helens, Merseyside

WHITE STONE thebootbus.co.uk 07792 199099 thebootbus@outlook.com Kent

white-stone.co.uk 01423 858584 Harrogate, North Yorkshire

The Boot Bus is a one-stop ski shop, providing all you need from an alpine stockist at a time and location that suits you best. With our mobile service we visit you to service skis, fit boots and everything in between. Covering the South-East UK & more!

FOR A FULL LIST OF SIGB RETAIL MEMBERS HEAD TO SIGB.ORG.UK

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KIDS’ KIT

Get equipped for happy family shreds with our top picks for winter kit for the kids 1

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The way we look at it, if your kids are warm and dry, chances are they’ll have fun. So, in the spirit of keeping them cosy, we invite you to look through some of the offerings from the brands most dedicated to the kiddos.

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THINGS TO CONSIDER ❄ Size adjustability Some ski suits come with size adjustability. They might have cuffs that can be easily lengthened, meaning the suit will last more than one season. ❄ Go bright Don’t be afraid to choose bright, easily recognisable colours. You’ll be grateful when trying to pick your kids out of a piste-ful of be-goggled groms. ❄ Be prepared to upgrade If you child says their boots hurt, or their gloves are not comfy, or their goggles always fog up, try and relate.

It’s a shame to spoil a holiday experience over a €20 goggle upgrade. ❄ Check the waterproofing/ breathability Check the ratings on suits, just like you would an adult suit, to get an idea of what quality materials are being used in the construction. Sometimes suits are marketed well but can fall short on these specs – 5000g/5000ml is a bare minimum for a snowy/wet holiday. ❄ All-in-ones One-piece suits are amazing for younger kids (up to five) and for sledding (until any age). If you have the funds and space for a spare one-piece, so the kids can use it for sledging, then their main ski suit will stay dry for skiing the following day. ❄ Ninja disguise Never underestimate the power of a good neck gaiter/buff. Our favourites are the hooded ones for extra warmth and so the kids look like wee ninjas. ❄ Mix it up If you child is having trouble progressing, try putting them on longer or shorter skis; just mix things up. ❄ Cotton no-no Avoid cotton underlayers at all costs, and this includes socks. Use wool or synthetic blends.

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1. ATK Candy 5 Bindings £275

8. Buff Kids Beanie £17

DIN RANGE: 1.5-5 WEIGHT: 290g per unit

Designed for kids between four and 12 years old, this wicked beanie will keep your wee grom warm.

The knitted style is cosy and looks great, and it comes in a host of colours and designs. buff.com

These touring bindings are designed for ultra-light skiers with big mountain ambitions. Weighing in at 290g with brakes, all the technical features have been developed for mini folks who weigh less than 40kg. Safe, light, solid, reliable and super technical, ATK’s cam release system means they’re easy to step into. atkbindings.com

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2. Atomic Four JR Helmet £60

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This has all the slopestyle feels. With an in-mould shell and shock-absorbing Atomic Holo Core tech you can give it the beans in the park knowing you have bomber levels of safety on board, and Atomic’s Aircon system to keep you cool. atomic.com

3. Bern Bandito Helmet £65 Grown out of your kid’s lid but not quite ready for a heavy adult-sized helmet? The Bandito takes all the style and safety of Bern’s infamous Watt helmet and scales it down to work for smaller noggins. Lightweight yet super sturdy, it comes with summer and winter liners. bernhelmets.com

4. Black Crows Atris JR Skis £450 Lengths: 156.1, 162.3, 168.1 Radius: 18m Dimensions: 127-97-115 @ 162.3 Weight per ski: 1575g @162.3 EDITO CHOICRS’ E

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This mid-fat all-terrain weapon is designed to help aspiring big mountain skiers perfect their freeride game. With a double rocker, 97mm waist, mediumlong sidecut, and progressive flex, it’s equal parts stable, creative and playful and best suited to shredders over five-foot tall. black-crows.com

5. Black Diamond First Strike Poles £40 These year-round fully adjustable poles are perfect for kids who like to ski in the winter and hike/run in the summer. The Fidlock adjustable system means they grow with you and the rubber handle and straps have been designed for smaller mitts to grip.

They come with freeride and trekking baskets for max four-season fun. blackdiamondequipment.com

6. Black Diamond Kids Recon Mitts £70

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Freezing wet hands are zero fun. Get your digits properly dialled in these high-performance kids-specific mitts with 100% waterproof BD.dry inserts and super-toasty Primaloft Gold Cross Core insulation. Cosy and comfy, they come with a large gauntlet that’s easy to pull on and fits over your jacket. blackdiamondequipment.com

7. Bollé Nevada Jr Goggles £45-55 Bollé’s flagship cylindrical frameless goggle is now available for kids. Developed in conjunction with pros Alexis Pinturault and David Wise, the Nevada Jr is Bollé’s best junior goggle and comes with an anti-fog coating, Flow-Tech Venting, and OTG compatibility. bolle.com

9.Dinoski Pounce The Tiger Suit £185 If only they made this for adults! This award-winning, functional snow suit will appeal to the coolest of cats. Snuggly warm, waterproof and breathable, it’s made from recycled plastic bottles and comes with loads of fab features, including a helmet-friendly detachable hood and thumb mitts. dinoskiwear.com

10. Dragon DXT OTG Goggles £55 A seriously cool goggle for seriously cool kids, the new cylindrical DXT OTG takes Dragon’s top eyewear tech and delivers it to the next generation.

Top features include the Lumalens Red Ionized lens for mid/bright conditions with anti-fog coating and dual-layer face foam. dragonalliance.com

11. Dynafit Youngstar Seven Summits Ski Pack £560 Time to start touring? This ‘unpack and ski’ kid-specific set includes Dynafit’s Seven Summits Youngstar skis, ST Rotation 7 bindings and Pomoca skins. A quality, fast and light package. dynafit.com

12.Faction Dictator 2.0 YTH Skis £319 Lengths: 137, 146, 155 Radius: 14m @ 155 Dimensions: 127-96-117 Weight per ski: 1400g The next generation of freeride stars will be stoked to see a kids-specific Dictator 2.0 unleashed this winter. It’s an all-out charging 96mm underfoot yellow peril that looks exactly like the adult’s Dictator 4.0 – the weapon of choice for Sam Anthamatten and Andrew Pollard. factionskis.com

13. Isbjorn Expedition 3L Jacket and Pants Jacket £330, pants £315 This super-technical, durable hardshell combo is ideal for kids who like to get after it in all conditions.

Waterproof, windproof and breathable, it comes with all the technical features normally associated with high-end adult’s kit, including waterproof pit zips on the jacket and hip-height zips on the pants, adjustable helmet-compatible hood and removable waist extension. isbjornofsweden.com

14. Jones Solution Split Youth Spiltboard £499 Lengths: 137, 142, 147 A big time backcountry board, this fully featured directional split has been designed with all the features of Jones’ adult range so mini rippers can really hit up the sidecountry and beyond. The 3D Contour Base 1.0 makes turning a breeze, the sintered 8000 base will have you firing down the mountain at speed, and the Inner/Outer Traction Tech 3.0 edges help you to hang on in the hard stuff. Also comes with Karakoram Tip & Tail Clips. jonessnowboards.com www.fall-line.co.uk 161

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1. Lange RSJ 60 Boots £100

4. Namuk Logo Beanie £21

8. Wed’ze Boost Skis £90

Sizes: 19-26.5 This blue badass is perfect for mini racers and all-mountain shredders aged 12 and under. The junior mono-injection shell, Control Fit liner, and four-buckle design is specific to smaller calves and foot shapes. lange-boots.com

This has been designed to keep your wee one cosy and safe thanks to the clever reflective pom pom. The fleece band cranks up the warmth, and it comes in a choice of colours. namuk.ch

Lengths: 97, 107, 177 Radius: 7m

2.Namuk/Giro Buster Goggles £40

Hike and ride all over the mountain in these fully featured boots with bags of freeride swag. Light yet powerful, they offer 50° ROM in walk mode.

The 100mm last offers a comfy, precise fit, and they come with custom liners. rossignol.com

These collab goggles combine Namuk style with Giro’s top google tech. Designed to fit small faces, they come with a triple-layer face foam with microfleece, plus a cylindrical injection-moulded lens with Expansion View Technology. namuk.ch

3. Namuk Glow Primaloft Jacket £140 Cosy, reversible and oh-so-versatile, this insulated weather-resistant jacket can be worn as an outer on warmer days or under a ski jacket when it’s super chilly. The primo PrimaLoft Silver Eco insulation is made from 70% recycled fibres.

Fave feature? The integrated reflective threads designed to ensure your grom remains mega visible at all times. namuk.ch

5. Rossignol All Track Jr 80 Boots Sizes: 22-27.5 £215

These lightweight skis with Tyrolia SRM bindings are all about making things easy as you progress.

The 7m turning radius helps with turn initiation and the 3D structure provides excellent edge grip in harder snow. decathlon.co.uk

9. Wed’ze Kids 100 Ski Socks £6

6.Salomon Grom Visor Helmet £85

These 50% wool/acrylic socks strike the perfect balance between warmth and durability. Available in a host of colours, they have just the right level thickness to keep your tootsies toasty and come with a warmth pad in the calf. decathlon.co.uk

This in-mould helmet comes in a range of colours, and has a removable visor so you’ll never lose your goggles again! salomon.com

10. Wed’ze PNF 500 Ski Jacket and Trousers Jacket £30, trousers £25

7. Scott Airflex Junior Vest Protector £85 This comes with AirFlex technology with D3O. Breathable and mega protective, it’s easy to wash, backpack friendly and available in a range of colours and sizes. scott-sports.com

Wed’ze’s design team is made up of parents of young skiers so they know what really works! This warm and waterproof combo comes with heaps of grown up features, including a powder skirt and ski pass pocket. With adjustable sleeve lengths, leg length and waistband, this will last for at least two seasons. decathlon.co.uk

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