Alongside traveling the world in search of adventure, thoughts and discussion of gear occupies the majority of our time at alpinetouring.com. It is little wonder considering that our office is at the base of some of the best skiing on the continent. We live and breath ski equipment and spend endless days testing, critiquing and usually modifying gear to make our mountain adventures slightly easier and perhaps, more enjoyable.

The following gear columns express opinions generated from many of those days in the mountains and the hours of contemplation that follow. Perfection has yet to be reached by any ski touring product. It is in this vain that we present these reviews in the hope that it might awaken some exchange of ideas, maybe improve some gear, or at worst provide a little feedback.

Reviewed: Apr 06

I must admit, I was always hesitant to purchase a pair of dynafit bindings, even though I was the 'light & fast' greatest advocate. Issues of durability and security instantly came to mind when previewing these 740gms contraptions. Plus, how could I justify the $500 required when I have had years of faithful service from my idiot-proof Fritschis? Revelation occurred on my second day of touring in the Rossland Range after I skied a flawless line through a series of 3-4 foot mushroom drops and a tight forest of immature spruce.

They didn't pre-release under duress, in fact, in 50 days of ski touring, they have yet to release (including 2 avalanches).

Its lightness underfoot is its greatest attribute (630gms per foot compared to Freerides) and this is immediately appreciated and will undoubtedly delight me for years to come. Combined with compatible touring boots, it produced a feeling much akin to 3-pin telemarking all those years ago.

Without doubt, the most noisome aspect of the Dynafit is the pin insertion procedure that is 'step in' of the toe. What can be a small comedy of errors on flat ground is next to impossible on steep, hard-packed snow. I hope this procedure becomes easier in time, but will always plant uncertainty about the strength or hold of its 2 front arms (The toe plugs in new 06 Dynafit boots have a tiny ridge which helps with insertion). The heel lift is adequate, although not as tall as the Freerides, and requires more time and endeavor to adjust (can't just whack them with a ski pole). They move swiftly uphill, plainly faster and with less effort than other brands, and when skiing, they had less play (a gorgeous stiffness), particularly laterally, where the sloppiness of the Freeride is so noticeable.

Their ability to hold me in, absolute retention, is both admirable and alarming.  To know that I can pull a lever on the toe piece that will eliminate release is a great feature, however, I find myself always using it, a habit I find hard breaking. In the back of my mind I know that release is critical on those rare occasions, particularly when ski touring.

Overall, I am so happy with the Dynafit that I now look with almost contemptuous glee at tourers on different bindings as they may as well have rocks in their packs. They ski well, and appear bomber enough for a serious ski touring binding, although I doubt they would last a month tearing it up on the lifts.

First Reviewed: Dec 05

Updated: Jan 07

I have now skied the Mega Ride for 2 full seasons and know every nuance of this boot. Even though Garmont have updated this model, the changes are all minor and deliver negligible performance gain. These boots are still far too soft (and low) for serious conditions - such as aggressive, quick skiing, challenging snow or steep, technical lines, either in the backcountry or particularly at a resort. The forward flex is too spongy, the buckle arrangement is inadequate at clamping the heel, and the low cuff height and poor forward lean mechanism, which all can aid walking, only add to the general unsupported and insecure feeling. When the skiing gets tough I seem to forever be fighting to get out of the back seat. However, there is still much to admire about the Garmont Mega Ride - most of which is encountered when touring/walking. The G-Fit liners are warm and deliver easy entry - although they do pack out remarkably fast and are prone to heel wear. The extension clips on each buckle are fantastic, the Vibram-like sole insulates well from the ground and provides a minor rocker to enhance normal walking.

Without doubt, the greatest characteristic of the M Ride is the medium volume shell, much narrower than other AT boot offerings, such as Scarpa, Dynafit and Lowa. These Garmonts fit medium width feet with aplomb (low volume feet still have sloppiness), and the toe box area is noticeably narrow. This, and perhaps the dynafit compatibility were the chief reasons for purchasing the Garmonts. The grey tongues that come standard are far too soft for hard, aggressive skiing but are a dream to walk in. Within the first week of arrival, I had already ripped the tongues off and replaced them with a pair of Raichle Flexon tongues. This stiffened the forward flex but also cramped me over my high instep. With a Dremel sander I sculptured the Flexon tongues so they would align better in the shell and was happy with the result. I was then offered some Dalbello Supersport white stiff tongues as an option and this fitted even closer to the shell, in fact, the similarities in shape suggest an analogous relationship between the two. With all the changing of tongues, I remolded the liner and eventually had a boot that was comfortable all day to hike in and offered a skiing performance that I have come to expect. I've since noticed that the G-Fit liners are a piece of shit (will switch to a firmer intuition soon), the lowest buckle does very little (newer model has switched orientation), the power strap is vital to a secure boot - but could be beefier, and the damn walk/ski lever on the Achilles is vexingly problematic (it will flick to whatever mode you're not doing right at that critical juncture). This has been readdressed in the 2006 model which I envy.

The Dalbello tongues cracked (both sides of both tongues) after 50+ days, obviously the fit wasn't so perfect, so I reverted back to the original grey tongues and now bemoan the soft ride. I would love to able to secure the boot in a more aggressive forward lean (20+°), and why Garmont haven't had the idea to include a choice of tongues is beyond me, but overall, the Mega Ride is still my choice for best AT boot on the market but there's still a long way to go.

Note: For the 07/08 winter, I've ditched the standard grey tongues that come with the M-Rides and replaced them with a sculptured Raichle Flexon tongue. They are noticeably stiffer to walk in, not too bad, however, and the ski is so superior that I encourage everyone I know to follow suit.

Reviewed: Feb 06

In search of the ultimate fatty.

I had the good fortune to test ride the majority of 2006/07 fats and super fats this year. It was during a 3-day demo event held at Big White B.C., put on for the larger ski retailers in the Province. Many lucky store managers and assistants were given VIP treatment allowing them to test ride any model of ski from almost every manufacturer. All familiar names were represented, as well as smaller brands including Movement, 4FRNT, Stockli and Scott - anyone who distributed in Canada.

The weather and to a lesser extent, snow at Big White was lousy, although I suspect that's often the case at Big White(out). I was on a much higher mission than everyone else, however, one which the mountain, nor the despondent ski reps could ever suppress - that was, to find the ultimate ski.

I attacked the demo spirit like a zealot, taking anything larger than 90mm in the waist for 1 or 2 runs then swapping for a completely new ride. Even though there was only a skiff of new snow, I discovered those cherished characteristics of what made a great ski and what was just ordinary, in my limited time. Sure I got strange, puzzled looks in the lift line with my super fat, swallow tails etc., that were twice the size of other skis, but the ultimate ski had to perform in any condition, not just the easy, deep stuff.

My favorite skis during the entire event were:

Volkl Mantra

The Mantra was a revelation underfoot, a superb ski that just excelled in the challenging (junk) conditions. It was snappy, playful, quick at fast turns and stable at speed. It felt similar to the Fischer Watea, in that its sweet spot was enormous, you could be forward or back and could still crank a turn at any moment. I was so amazed at these skis that I tested them on several occasions to see whether my critique was flawed and yet they still charged and still impressed. Volkl markets the Mantra as the updated Explosive, but they felt very different, far greater performance and steering rather than the ubiquitous, damp feel of the Explosiv. Would recommend to anyone as a (ungroomed) resort ski.

Stockli DP Stormrider

The Stockli Rep was a likeable guy who tempted me to try these shiny, metallic fatties around the end of one of the days. I had read reviews of the DP's which suggested a stiff, powerhouse ski that suited Euro muscling and high speeds. What I found was rather different and one of my favorite skis of the event. The Stormrider was a powerful ski that was also nimble, lively and forgiving and not the stiff machine that I had read to believe. It was quick on the groomers and turned effortlessly between short or long radius. I couldn't notice any difference between the gimmick tail plug - they were just an agile ski that I could easily be my one ski quiver for the Kootenays.

K2 Pontoon

I want a pair of Pontoons for this winter. No other ski made me giggle as much as these weird (water) skis. I skied them down groomed blue runs, wide spaced bumps and darted in and out of some mank in the trees - almost the opposite of their ideal conditions (powder & slab) but found instant appeal in the design. They are certainly a specialized ski and would probably come out of the ski locker about a dozen days a winter. And yet I am convinced that they would leave all other skis behind on those days of thick, deep snot, or heavy, breakable crust.

Finally, there wasn't a ski I disliked, all had some redeeming quality. And the new Volkl AC4 and AC3 were simply awesome in the firm conditions - the AC4 would be my hardpack ski of choice.

Reviewed: Nov 05

I finally got to ride the Gotama, after years of admiring this beefy ski, and I came away feeling somewhat surprised. There is no doubt that the Gotama is a lovely ski, awesome float, powerful yet supple and able to turn on a dime. Yet, the sweet spot on the 183cm pair I rode, was tiny, about the length of my boot, meaning that the tips and tails couldn't really be controlled throughout the arc of a turn. I could lay them out sideways at speed but had to remain completely centered to gain the stability I've come to expect. I immediately wished that I had the 190cm model to try as I suspect that the longer length would iron out the fore/aft twitch. I also came away thinking that most good skiers would love this ski - it was an easy, predictable ride and made the hardest, technical line feel foolishly simple to ski. I also sensed that we will be seeing this mold and construction for several years to come as Volkl has spent years making subtle changes to this model and are now on a winning formula.

As with most super fats, the Gotama preferred long radius turns to short although they could honestly snap off fast turns with little effort. Their best characteristic, however, was their ability to throw the tail sideways at any moment, it never hooked or dragged, when the terrain became tight and complex and where I needed to wipe off speed in an instant. Can't wait to try the 190cms.

Marker Duke  (2.5kg)

I've waited over 20 years for this binding. Finally a binding that can be skied with precision and confidence on the hill and climbs fine in the local backcountry. Lacks vertical toe height adjustment but otherwise very beguiling.

Garmont Axon  (4.15kg)

Like the Duke (above), fills a niche that has been so painfully and obviously absent that I wonder what manufacturers do with their time. Its stiff, tough and Dynafit compatible - a first. The Mega Rides and Spirit 4 are great for most tours but not when the terrain becomes steep and technical or when there's warp speed involved.

Head Monster iM 95 OB  (2.9kg)

I applaud Head for releasing an AT specific ski with great dimensions (130-94-119) and feather-light weight. Unlike most of the monster line, the OB isn't made for hard charging resort skiing, but rather medium radius at medium speed turns, which is typical in the backcountry.

K2 Coomba  (4.2kg)

K2 have created a remarkable ski with powder slaying on its mind. A soft flex, ample girth (135-102-119) and flat tail combine to produce a backcountry beast and a fine all-mountain vehicle. Pair with a Marker Duke for the ultimate front-country tool.

Ortovox S1 Avie Scanner  (240g)

The world's first sensor-controlled avalanche scanner is revolutionary in its ability to show position and distance to buried victims. Although its not as simple to use or as foolproof as the BCA Tracker 2 (now due late '08), the S1 uses powerful processors to provide visual clues of multiple burials in  2-D, 4 quadrant format. It is the future of avalanche beacon technology.

Voile Insane (3.1kg)

The best ski Voile has ever produced is a delight in soft snow and would make a commendable touring ski. For such wide dimensions (138-103-128), the Insane is notably light and lively underfoot.

G3 Alpinist Skins (632g)

The new Alpinist Skins from G3 receives a bronze award for trying a new tip connection, a stray outside the box. While I prefer the greater plush (grip) of Ascension skins, the G3 are easy to manage, provide excellent glide and a full strip of glue (much preferred over glue free strips), even if they aren't that light.

Reviewed: Apr 05

A thoroughly delightful ski. Has nothing whatsoever to do with alpine touring but for those days on the groomers or hammering through chalky bumps, this latest Volkl all-mountain ski has edge-hold like no other ski I've tried and a playfulness that had me smiling for days.

I read one review of the 724 Pros which described them as 'burly' and 'far better in longer turns'. On the days that I skied them, which ranged from corn to hardpack to ice to chalky, I felt they were nimble, responsive and gripped the snow like no other ski I have tried. I skied them hard and fast and they never felt unstable or tentative. And there is something special about having a ski underfoot that will never wash out, slide out or chatter on slippery snow. Unfortunately, I didn't get to try them in decent powder but I suspect they are okay. But there are a trillion better powder skis. No, these are for the hardpack days and when you want to show the world your best Bode Miller impersonation.

Reviewed: Jan 06

I have tried most of the hydration products out there and marvel out how something so fundamental has become so sophisticated and yet so problematic. I soon realized that I own dozens of variations, all of which are perfectly adequate at their given time, and also how the needs of drinking liquids fluctuated with the type of touring performed, i.e. duration, severity, temperature, even time of year. This would somehow influence my choice.

To cut a long story short, the 2 systems that I currently use are the Camelbak Unbottle 3L with winterized tube and mouthpiece for day trips - and 1 or 2 1L wide mouth Nalgene Lexan bottles for anything overnight or longer. If I was meticulous in my planning, I'm sure I could keep water from freezing in my Camelbak tube, but a moment of forgetfulness can mean no liquid until well after your days activity. It is frankly, too difficult to keep the Camelbak running smoothly when snowcamping. Nalgene bottles aren't iceproof either, but they will not dribble or leak, an obvious benefit when warming them overnight in a sleeping bag. The Wide Mouth Nalgene is recommended due to its ease of filling with snow or Gatorade, or just water from a boiling pot, and following a general theme, the wide mouth is less inclined to freeze.

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