Gear Reviews
Honest feedback on Kyle’s favorite splitboarding gear, and why he uses it.
Voile straps are a ski touring necessity
MSR Reactor for Winter Camping
What is an Avalanche Probe and What you need to look for
I like to say “there is a thin line between badass and dumbass” and that rings true when it comes to Avalanche Probes. You want something sturdy but you also want something light and it’s that one piece of gear that you buy and hope to never use. In this review I’ll’ write about what I both what I got and why in this breaking down What is an Avalanche Probe and What you need to look for.
BCA Shaxe Avalanche Shovel Review
When it comes to gear in my pack I am really picky and if it won’t last a minimum of 100 days it wouldn’t last a single season below is my BCA Shaxe Avalanche Shovel Review.
Fitwell Snowboard Boots Review
Over the past decade I’ve been using the Boots for on 90% of my backcountry missions with well over 1000 days of tedious climbing and doing everything I can to break down the boots to on avail. I’ve had numerous people ask me if they are worth purchasing and I always say yes and so I thought I would put up a Fitwell backcountry snowboard boots review from my experience.
Bring Efficiency to your Skinning Game: Spark LT Pin System
Introduction
Spark R & D has made a name for themselves coming out with multiple innovative binding systems, so it came to no surprise that they invested time and energy on there own touring bracket and pin system. Attempting to make a lighter more efficient setup for skinning and changeovers.
Putting the Bite into Firm Conditions: Mr. Chomps Splitboard Crampons
The Breakdown
The Mr. Chomps bindings were used in a array of conditions from early morning frozen corn snow to wind firm ridges. They took 4 months of being walked on, being smashed in my backpack and used as a platform for my stove. This is a breakdown of how they preformed and if they are worth your hard earned dollars.
The Petzl MYO XP: Leading the Way in a World of Darkness
This headlamp was tested in a vast array of conditions and scenarios, from riding down a slope in the pitch black to finding the topographical map in the darkness of my tent. I skinned, boarded, climbed, ran and even fell asleep with the headlamp on. So here are my thoughts on the Petzl MYO XP:
Taking Teko’s Snowboard Socks for a Little Stroll
Without a doubt your feet are one of the most important parts of your body when you’re out touring. Screw up your feet and you’ve screwed up your tour, usually. Your feet are your mode of travel, so you had better treat them well. This includes not only the appropriate footwear (boots), but also, well, the appropriate sockwear. I tend to bring a change of socks or two even when I’m otherwise packing “fast and light,” so socks are one of my favorite backcountry “luxury” items.
A lot of high-end snowboard and ski socks are essentially the same, following in the steps of the famed manufacturer, smartwool, whose socks can be found everywhere from your neighborhood kitchy gear shop to the closest big-box REI. Now, brands like Teko and Point 6 produce high-end, supposedly soft and supple socks which are, frankly, tough to tell apart from the smartwool brand socks at first glance. So, as you might guess, when I picked up a pair of Teko’s Merino Snowboard Socks at the beggining of this last season, I thought I was in for the same old-same old. Nonetheless, I needed a pair of socks, so I was happy to give ’em a spin.