I took a bad tumble on a blue run two winters ago. My head hit hard-packed ice at about 28 mph, and the only reason I walked away was the helmet I was wearing. That crash is the reason our team spent three months testing the best snowboard helmets on the market for . Head […]

I have spent the better part of three winters testing ski goggles across resorts in Colorado, Utah, and the Pacific Northwest. From blistering bluebird days at Breckenridge to white-out storm sessions at Snowbird, I have put every goggle on this list through conditions that would expose any weakness in fog resistance, optical clarity, or fit. […]

Looking for the best avalanche beacons for backcountry skiing in ? I spent the last three winter seasons putting 8 top-rated avalanche transceivers through real rescue drills at our local beacon park and on guided tours in the Tetons. Together with our team of two ski patrollers and a certified AMGA guide, I ran each […]

When you are standing on a mountainside and seconds matter, the best avalanche probes are the tool that stands between a rescue and a recovery. I have spent multiple winters touring through backcountry terrain from Colorado to the Pacific Northwest, and I can tell you that not all probes deploy the same, weigh the same, […]

After a season of testing 8 avalanche shovels across frozen alpine slopes, debris fields, and snow pits, our team put together this hands-on guide to help you pick the right one. The best avalanche shovels are not just about lightness, they must be tough enough to break hard debris, certified to UIAA 156 standards, and […]

I spent the last three winter seasons testing snow saws across Colorado's high country, from cutting perfect igloo blocks at 11,000 feet to performing Extended Column Tests in serious avalanche terrain. When people ask me about the best snow saws for snow shelters, I don't give them a generic list pulled from spec sheets. I […]

If you have ever tried dragging a loaded cooler, a pile of firewood, or three days of winter camping gear through knee-deep snow, you already know why the best gear hauling sleds are not a luxury. They are the difference between a productive trip and a miserable slog where your back gives out before you […]

I still remember my first winter camping trip with a pulk sled. I had strapped 80 pounds of gear to a borrowed rig and dragged it across three miles of powdery Minnesota snow. By mile two, my legs were burning, but my back felt better than it had on any January backpack trip in years. […]

Snow camping is one of the most rewarding outdoor experiences you can have, but only if your shelter can handle freezing temperatures, heavy snow loads, and brutal wind. I have spent years testing winter camping shelters in conditions ranging from mild overnight frost to full alpine storms, and the difference between a good 4-season tent […]

I learned the hard way why a regular tent will not save you in a real winter storm. During a January trip in the Rockies, I woke up to find my 3-season tent sagging under six inches of wet snow with the fly popping off the poles. That night sent me down the rabbit hole […]