Show Report: Ski
& Riding Gear for 2011 / 2012
An advance look at
some really cool new ski & snowboard gear for the 2011/2012
season
..Goggles with built-in
GPS Imaging
..Airblaster Ninja
Suit (Head to Toe Base Layer)
..Goose Down Beanie
..More Breathable
Waterproof Fabrics
..Full Suspension Snowboard
Bindings
..Quickpoles Revolution
Ski Poles
..Magnetic Goggles/Helmet
System
By Chris Weiss
We may only be halfway through the 2010/11 ski season, but
the industry folks are already looking ahead to 2011/12. In
addition to being a great month for fresh turns and ski trips,
January was the month for expo shows. And after the Consumer
Electronics Show, Outdoor Retailer Winter Market and SIA Snow
Show all rolled through their respective towns (Vegas, SLC and
Denver, if you’re wondering), the ski/snowboard world
has all kinds of cutting edge new hardware, soft goods and accessories
to look forward to. Here are some of the latest ski goodies
that will make your 2011/2012 season even better than this one.
Recon Instruments Recon-Ready
Goggles
Last year, Recon partnered
with Zeal to offer the Transcend
goggles, which feature an integrated GPS computer for tracking
your vertical, speed, distance, etc. This year, Recon is widening
its footprint and partnering with a number of goggle brands
in the all-new “Recon Ready” goggles.
Instead of integrating the GPS computer
directly, goggles from  manufacturers
like Uvex, Alpina and Briko will accommodate the Recon unit,
which will be sold separately. Though the two-part package will
likely cost more, you’ll get an upgraded computer that
not only provides GPS performance, but also gives you mapping
and buddy tracking, and syncs with your Android phone to deliver
texts, caller ID and music playlists right to eye. The system
will also be open to third-party developers for Recon-specific
Android apps. There’s no price information yet, but the
$399/$499 price of the Zeal Transcends gives a clue that the
package won’t be cheap.
A Zeal rep I spoke with at Outdoor Retailer indicated that
Zeal is foregoing the second-generation system and will stick
with its Transcend goggle for next year.
Where You Can Buy This Product: |
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Look for Zeal Transcend and
"Recon Ready" Goggles from Uvex, Alpina and
Briko |
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Submit
a Product Review
Airblaster Ninja Suit
What could be warmer than a one-piece
undergarment that runs from the top of your head down to your
ankles? The Airblaster Ninja Suit is destined  to
be your best friend on cold, stormy days. A one-piece base layer
that comes in merino wool or four-way-stretch polyester, the
Ninja Suit sews your pants to your shirt and throws in an integrated
balaclava for good measure. And if you’re worried about
what you’ll do when nature calls, each Ninja suit has
both a fly and a 350-degree zipper to let you get work done.
You can find the four-way-stretch version for $110 and the merino
version for $180.
Submit
a Product Review
Outdoor Research Transcendent Beanie
Many skiers have become quite familiar
with the benefits of goose feathers  thanks
to the numerous down vests and jackets on the market. There’s
really nothing quite as warm and light. So why not smother your
entire body in down, starting with the place where you leak
heat like a sieve: your head. Outdoor Research’s new Transcendent
beanie covers your head in the soft, warm fluff to keep you
comfortable no matter how loud the wind’s howling. It
might not be the most stylish piece, but it promises to be among
the warmest and comfiest. With a retail price of 20 bucks, you
can’t go wrong.
New Breathable Waterproof
Fabrics
2011 may be the year when Gore-Tex finally
gets some serious  competition.
No less than three major brands announced their own waterproof/breathable
fabrics this year, and all three are claiming to be several
times more breathable than Gore-Tex. Columbia Omni-Dry, Mountain
Hardwear Dry.Q and Polartec NeoShell are all air-permeable--unlike
Gore-Tex, allowing just enough air molecules to circulate inside
and pull your moisture out more quickly. Despite the air permeability,
each company claims its fabric is water- and wind-proof. Columbia
already has a few Omni-Dry jackets out and Mountain Hardwear
will be releasing its Dry.Q line in the fall. Polartec has partnered
with several apparel companies including Mammut, Marmot and
Westcomb, with launch scheduled for next fall.
Where You Can Buy This Product:
Look for Columbia Omni-Dry Now
Mountain Hardwear Dry.Q and Polartec NeoShell
from Mammut, Marmot and Westcomb in Fall 2011
Submit
a Product Review
Manic Massive Pop 1.0 "Full
Suspension" Snowboard Bindings
It’s no secret that snowboarders
have been charging bigger and harder every year. In order to
take some of the sting out of huge airs and drops,  Manic
Snow has come up with a new solution: bindings with shocks.
The big manufacturers have been incorporating shock-absorbing
footbeds for years, Manic just takes it a step further, putting
a series of springs under your feet to eat up chatter and hard
hits. To help offset the added weight, Manic uses lightweight
materials like a magnesium baseplate and carbon fiber heel cup.
It’ll be interesting to see if these bindings are as responsive
as traditional bindings or if you lose a step because of the
thick suspension underfoot.
Where You Can Buy This Product:
Submit
a Product Review
 Quickpoles
Revolution Ski Poles
Making your trip from the car to the
slopes and back easier than ever, New Mexico-based start-up
Quickpoles introduced its innovative Revolution ski poles at
SIA. The poles are designed to snap into the bindings of your
skis and serve as a carry handle. With the Revolution, you can
easily carry both poles and both skis with one hand. No more
waddling back to the car dropping your skis every 10 feet.
Where You Can Buy This Product:
Check the quickpoles web site for now
Submit
a Product Review
Smith Galaxy/Cosmos Tractor
Beam System
Tired of fidgeting around with the clip
on the back of your helmet trying to get your goggle strap centered
and comfortable? Smith has a better idea: a magnetic interface
that’s as simple as hold, snap and forget. The new Smith
Galaxy goggles and Cosmos helmet are designed to work together
to keep your goggles securely in place while letting you put
them on and take them off with ease. Since the goggles stick
right to the side of the helmet, the strap doesn’t even
wrap around the head. This will work its wonders on young children
who have enough to worry about with their big, awkward boots
and newly learned skiing techniques. That’s why Smith
will debut the system in a kid’s package for $80.
Where You Can Buy This Product:
Submit
a Product Review
Related Articles
-
More Ski Gadgets!
In November Chris looked at Zeal Transcend Goggles
with Built-in LCD GPS Imaging, a Solar Powered Backpack,
Digital Ski Lessons, Gloves with built-in GPS, Backcountry
Multi-Tool with tools for skiers & snowboarders, and
a Waterproof HD All Terrain Video Action Camera..
Read "More Ski Gadgets!
 |
Chris Weiss.
After working the 9 to 5 grind for about five years, Chris
Weiss escaped to the Rockies where he could snowboard,
mountain bike and hike without so much interference from
life. A couple of years of working in the tourist industry
was enough to inform Weiss that it was time for something
more rewarding. He combined his love of the outdoors with
his love of the written word and now freelances wherever
he can. Weiss has written for Bomb Snow, Trails.com and
a variety of other print and Web magazines dedicate to
all forms of outdoor foolishness. |
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