Here’s the third installment of our behind-the-scenes look at the latest and greatest gear that will hit retail shelves this Fall and next winter. See you next week in Salt Lake City!
Fjällräven Bergtagen Eco-Shell Jacket
The new Bergtagen Eco-Shell Jacket will be a waterproof, three-layer shell for alpine sports, featuring Fjällräven’s proprietary Eco-Shell fabric — and treated with a PFC-free DWR coating, a welcomed trend in outdoor apparel. Corylon reinforcements are added at high-wear spots (elbows and lower back), while an ergonomic cut and strategic seam placement encourage a full range of motion. Additional features include a three-way adjustable hood; a two-way AquaGuard zipper with inside protective flap; zippered side vents; and zippered chest with inside mesh pockets.
Julbo Explorer 2 Sunglasses
Most well known for its Vermont Classic, also called the Classic Rounds for years, mountaineering eyewear brand Julbo is introducing the evolutionary Expedition 2 next week, featuring high-altitude “category 4” lenses (both photochromic and fixed lenses are available) with styling reminiscent of Julbo’s history but with style points to let you wear them traveling and around town as well. The Vermont Classic Rounds will also be re-introduced.
Columbia Canuk Titanium Omni-Heat OutDry Extreme Boots
Columbia is debuting a new outsole technology in partnership with Michelin as its exclusive partner on their new Ice Control: developed to be the pinnacle outsole for icy conditions. The technology is inspired by, naturally, Michelin’s tire tread, and features a unique traction design for superior adherence to ice surfaces. The Columbia team worked closely with designers at Michelin to develop and test this collection of winter outsoles offered only in select Columbia footwear, led by the Canuk Titanium Omni-Heat OutDry Extreme Boot, lightweight, breathable and rated for temperatures down to -65 Fahrenheit utilizing 600g of insulation (Available in Men’s and Women’s, $200). This winter boot utilizes both Omni-Heat Reflective and OutDry Extreme (proprietary Columbia Sportswear technologies) for the first time in a single product.
Helly Hansen Icon Jacket
The new Icon insulated ski jacket appears to be a sophisticated design with new technologies and features from Helly Hansen, including the H2Flow ventilating and cooling system. Other key features are the Life Pocket integrated in the chest pocket, which will preserve your mobile battery longer than a regular pocket in cold environments; and a high-viz fabric to unfold on the hood to keep you visible. ($900)
Mystery Ranch Saddle Peak
The latest series of snow-specific packs from Mystery Ranch represent the home-grown brand’s many years of experience in fast, efficient ski carry. The 22-liter Saddle Peak features “rapid deploy design elements” for quick access to avy gear (such as shovels, probes, saws, and related safety kit). Back panel fabrics were chosen for snow-shedding characteristics and multiple access points will allow you to pull out your thermos or puffy without dumping pack contents all over the deep snow or parking lot. ($229) The new Patrol pack will be 35/45 liters at $279/$299.
Salewa Fanes TirolWool CLT Hood Jacket
With the new North American Salewa apparel launch this Fall (2017), the Euro leader is introducing a new wool technology called TirolWool. Sourced from a wool collective in South Tyrol, Salewa blends the high altitude wool with a Celliant-treated polyester blend (Celliant is thermo-reactive minerals that recycles and converts radiant body heat into infared energy) to create a warm, soft insulation. The sheep in Salewa’s home of Northern Italy in the rugged mountains of South Tyrol naturally produce more lanolin making their wool inherently more antimicrobial, hydrophobic and thermal insulating. Finished with a durable, water-resistant ripstop nylon and design details such as a ergonomically shaped sleeves with gussets and elastic in the hem and hood for ultimate fit, the Fanes TW CLT jacket is a packable, warm layer for all hiking, trekking and alpine travel ($219).
Dynafit Radical 10 Binding
Dynafit introduces the new, highly versatile Radical 10 binding for the 2017-18 season in an effort to continue to evolve tech binding technology in a lighter weight, safer, more durable, and easier to use binding. The Radical 10 features a new pivoting toe piece designed to absorb lateral impacts, providing elasticity and safety on descents. With a lateral DIN range of 4-10 and 10mm of forward pressure, the Radical 10 hopes to improve retention and prevent pre-release. The toe piece of the Rotation 10 now centers, allowing for ease of transition from walk to ski and for stepping into the heel unit. Additionally, the bayonet lock feature included in the Radical 10 integrates the heel unit into the baseplate, providing for a stronger and laterally stiff binding. The Radical 10 features aluminum components, saving users 50gm in weight compared to the Radical 2. ($649)
Giesswein Merino Sneaker
Part sneaker, part urban-outdoor play shoe, this looks to be a new kind of hybrid outdoor active lifestyle shoe — made with sustainable practices. Soft, breathable boiled wool keeps feet warm in the winter and cool in the summer, with a cushion sole and arch support. They feature a removable bio-based EcoOrtholite footbed lined with Giesswein’s unique boiled natural merino/lambswool knit, whereby the whole foot is wrapped in 100 percent natural, breathable, moisture-wicking merino. An EVA outsole is light and shock absorbing for comfort and stability and the toe box is reinforced for a little bit of added durability and strength. ($130)
Alchemist Construction by DPS
According to DPS, Alchemist Construction came into existence to solve a weakness in pure carbon fiber laminate skis: “harsh biofeedback, both auditory and vibrational, in hard snow.” A two-year process of exploring every aspect of critical damping material placement yielded the most efficient use of damping material relative to laminate positing to tune carbon vibrations, says the brand, and the resulting Alchemist remains proprietary in both the location and materials employed in conjunction with the carbon ski’s layup, although DPS is saying Alchemist skis have the highest power to weight ratios of any ski on the market. It replaces Pure 3 construction in 2017/18.
BCA Float 17 Speed airbag with Float 2.0 Engine
Backcountry Access (BCA) helped popularize airbags in North America with its light, affordable, easy-to-refill Float system, and with the Float 2.0, BCA has shaved off 20 percent of the system’s size and weight. By increasing the efficiency of the Float ejector (venturi) system, BCA has decreased the size of its Float cylinder, which now fits inside the Float airbag compartment, freeing up more space within the pack. Lighter materials in the Float 17 and Float 27 Speed packs make the overall system 20 percent lighter than BCA’s corresponding packs using the Float 1.0 system (parts will not be able to retrofit backwards).
Fritschi Tecton 12 Binding
Black Diamond tells us that the Tecton 12 is the ultimate touring binding, combining the tech-style toe unit of the Vipec bindings that features a pre-defined lateral safety release with the added benefits of an innovative heel-locking lever. This binding will directly compete with the Marker KingPin, and will retail for the same as the KingPin at $649.95, although it will be lighter by approximately 100 grams (weight per pair is 550g). The front Vipec toe piece features pre-defined lateral safety release and has been refined so that it is easier to step-in than any other generation of the Vipec.
Mammut Barryvox S Avalanche Beacon
The new Barryvox S from Mammut is said to feature dramatically improved simplicity, ease of use and performance. The Barryvox S is a 3-antenna beacon with a marking function and offers powerful search (70m range, 70m search strip width), and fast signal pickup and improved signal separation for reduced overlap. Smart Search fine search uses sensor technology to shorten the fine search for all users.
The North Face W Summit L3 Ventrix Hoodie
The TNF Summit L3 Ventrix is a new addition to the pinnacle Summit Series collection as a synthetic insulated mid layer that features a dynamic venting insulation layer that activates with movement and works in tandem with highly wind-permeable fabrics. It’s a high-end, technical, lightweight piece designed to make any fast ascent and descent more comfortable.