THE 2024 SUMMER PEAK GEAR AWARDS
THIS HARDWARE IS THE REAL DEAL. WE ASKED OUR CORE CONTRIBUTORS TO PICK THE GEAR THEY USE THE MOST AND PERFORMS THE BEST FOR THEM TO DETERMINE WHO WINS THESE BI-ANNUAL AWARDS. SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WE PRESENT THE OUTDOOR PRODUCTS THAT MAKE OUR LIVES BETTER. CONTRIBUTORS: JOSHUA BERMAN, AARON BIBLE, BERNE BROUDY, HANNAH COOPER, AMANDA LIVERETTE, RADHA MARCUM, CAMERON MARTINDELL, ARIELLA NARDIZZI, HELEN OLSSON, TRACY ROSS, RYAN SCAVO, DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN
La Sportiva Miura
Symbiosis Gear Aspen Ultralight Backpack $299; symbiosisgear.com WHY IT WON: Our women
backpackers were ecstatic to find Symbiosis Gear’s Aspen pack, “designed for people with boobs.” Rather than take the “shrink it and pink it” approach many companies do, this pack actually combines comfort with versatility. Symbiosis Gear is a new company based right here in Colorado, and we always love to see local brands make quality gear.
SYMBIOSIS GEAR
WHERE WE TOOK IT: Backpacking
trips in the red slot canyons of Canyonlands in terrain that required a lot of mobility, as well as on trails around the Front Range SALSA
LEKI
Leki Makalu Cork Lite $150; lekiusa.com
WHY IT WON: This sturdy
but light pole can do it all— from backpacking to ski mountaineering to day jaunts up talus slopes. Reliable and easy to adjust, these poles weigh just 9 ounces each, telescope from 110–130 cm and feature a comfy cork grip, much appreciated on days with long approaches. Quite simply they are one set of poles to own for both trekking and backcountry skiing. WHERE WE TOOK IT: Absolutely
OSPREY
SHEFIT
24
E L E VAT I O N O U T D O O R S / SUMMER 2024
everywhere from skiing the glacier on the highest point in Iceland to wading The Narrows in Zion National Park
$199; lasportivausa.com WHY IT WON: Simple: This is the
Salsa Warbird
$3,399–$7,699; salsacycles.com WHY IT WON: This bike simply
eats up hills. It’s nimble and can take on singletrack, packed dirt, loose gravel, pavement—all with utter confidence and comfort. The recipe Salsa has created in this high-performance gravel ride makes it perfect for speed, distance, fun, or an escape. It was the perfect bike for a tester who thought she’d given up pedaling long distances— until she hopped on. WHERE WE TOOK IT: Singletrack,
fire roads, dirt roads, gravel roads, and pavement in and around Nederland and the Indian Peaks
Osprey Talon Velocity 20 $135; osprey.com
WHY IT WON: This hauler inspires
speed and efficiency. Melding a running pack/vest with a small backpack, it provides the best of both worlds for peak bagging, long runs, and long hikes (even ski touring). The running-vestinspired harness, flexible back panel, and lightweight design offe the bare minimum for a big day if you know how to pack. WHERE WE TOOK IT: Hikes
and peakbagging around Colorado Springs and across the Front Range
most comfortable and versatile climbing shoe we have owned. Our tester said she “replaced them with a different model to try something new and regretted it.” WHERE WE TOOK IT: Multi-pitch
routes along the Spanish coast, top roping (mostly) in the gym, and bouldering in the gym
Arc’teryx Kragg
$160; arcteryx.com WHY IT WON: One word:
comfort. These slip-ons are the type of shoe you want to wear anywhere, from belaying at the crags to shuffling around town. And we especially loved them as travel shoes—ease them on and off on the plane or at security. The solid, slightly sticky sole means they can even tackle casual hikes. WHERE WE TOOK IT: Trips to
Iceland and Reno. Everywhere we wandered in Boulder in town and on the trails.
Shefit Ultimate Sports Bra $69; shefit.com
WHY IT WON: This sports bra
is supportive enough to comfortably get you through a 20-mile training run but flexible enough to adjust as your body changes so you don't need to buy new sports bras for every stage of life/time of month.