Table of contents for 2020 Winter Buyer's Guide in Outside

Let’s be honest, no single piece of gear is perfect. Even the best stuff has some feature or shortcoming that annoys us every time we use it. (My personal pet peeve: zippers on the left. Sorry, southpaws and Euros.) But some things come pretty damn close, and these end up winning our Gear of the Year awards. They’re the cream of the crop. And while only the season’s best products get a shiny badge on the page, every item in this issue is a winner, one way or another, with the potential to make the time you spend outdoors measurably better. I can attest that I loved Prana’s Axiom jeans (page 111) so much that I wore holes in them. Yes, a little more durability would have been nice to…

Lange LX 100 $500 (pictured) The 100-flex LX brings Lange’s race-bred technology to intermediate skiers. Its 102-millimeter last is generous, but nothing is dumbed down about the Dual Core shell, which sandwiches soft plastic in rigid materials to let the boot compress and rebound. Nordica Speedmachine Elite $1,000 With infrared rays and small suction cups, retailers can sculpt the women’s 115-flex Speedmachine Elite’s light Grilamid and polyurethane shell with surgical precision. (The men’s version has a flex of 130.) Pair that with the insulated liner and you have a comfy boot that’s quick and agile edge to edge. Head Nexo RS $825 At a feathery three pounds seven ounces, the Nexo had us doubting it would deliver on its promise of a stiff 130 flex. But even 200-pound skiers enjoyed…

Lib Tech T. Rice Orca $600 Lib Tech tested the waters last year by launching a single size (153 centimeters) of the Travis Rice Orca. In response to resounding demand, Lib didn’t revise the ripper’s recipe, but it did drop two additional lengths for 2020: 147 and 159. And with multiple sizes in play at our annual snowboard test in Crested Butte, Colorado, the Orca emerged with Gear of the Year honors locked up. No surprise there: the genre-defying directional deck is as fat, fast, and feisty as its namesake whale, epitomizing the short, wide, experimental shapes that snowboarders crave today. Traction-enhancing serrated edges, a predictable mid-stiff flex pattern, and a compact rocker zone between the feet sandwiched by sections of camber give the Orca stability, pop, and “grip for…

a. Craft Fuseknit Comfort turtleneck $60 We’re not usually into turtlenecks, but Craft’s is beyond reproach. The stretchy material acts as an emergency mask when you pull it up over your chin or nose, with mesh to breathe through. b. Gore X7 Partial Gore-Tex Infinium jacket $270 The X7 is designed for nordic skiing, but it served us just as well on cold-weather bike rides. Articulation at the shoulders and on the back facilitates a long reach whether you’re poling or in the drops. c. Salomon S/Max Carbon Skate skis and Prolink Race Skate bindings $525 and $110 With thin pieces of carbon and dialed-in camber, the S/Max is lightweight and ergonomic. We found that it offered good power and the nimbleness of a race ski on climbs. d. Start Winner…

a. Dakine Team Baron Gore-Tex $115 Designed with input from Chris Benchetler, the Team Baron’s looks reference the freeskiing phenom’s love of some obscure psyche band from San Francisco. The exterior is a mix of stretchy soft shell and supple goatskin, making it the nimblest mitten we tested. Gore-Tex inserts lend waterproofing, and PrimaLoft Gold insulation boosts warmth. b. Flylow Maine Line $65 Mittens are great, until you need to fish something out of your pack. That’s why we’re fans of the Maine Line, with its separate index finger for improved dexterity and no loss of warmth. Nylon on the back of the hand lends flexibility, too. c. Leki Griffin Tune S Boa $189 Skiers sick of constricting pole straps will rejoice: a D-loop between the thumb and index finger…

Giro Terra MIPS $160 Let’s be honest, no one gets amped about strapping on a helmet. But these hard-shell insurance policies protect our heads in the event that we eat it. There are lightweight options that make staying safe feel less burdensome, but they’re often flimsy or look like they belong on a skimo podium. Giro finally solves that with the women’s Terra and men’s Jackson. Despite having the sturdy look of an in-bounds lid, the Terra, at 14 ounces, is lighter and breezier than many others we tested. Testers said it was so comfortable, it felt like skiing in a hat. And it has all the protective qualities you need, including a tough polycarbonate shell bonded to a shock-absorbing foam liner, and MIPS technology to help reduce the rotational…

a. Iverson Alaskan $302 In a world where gear is constantly getting new bells and whistles, sometimes the best products are the ones that have stayed the same for centuries. The Alaskan, a 56-inch wood and rawhide beast, is not unlike the snowshoes of yore. It can be awkward to fit in your car, but once you hit the trail, there’s nothing better to stay afloat in deep snow. b. L.L.Bean Trailblazer $170 The Trailblazer lived up to its name on a trek across an ancient supervolcano in New Mexico’s Jemez Mountains. The aggressive cleats conquer diverse terrain without icy buildup. And the enhanced Boa binding, which locks down for lateral stability, is the simplest on the market—just step in and turn the dial to tighten the shoe around your…

Hoka One One Carbon X $180 Let the carbon-fiber running-shoe craze begin. Not long after Nike successfully incorporated the superlight material into its trainers, Hoka and New Balance jumped into the ring, too. Round one went to the 2018 Gear of the Year–winning Nike Zoom Fly. Round two belongs to Hoka’s Carbon X. Whereas the Zoom Fly is better suited to forefoot-striking elite athletes, the Carbon X is the everyday runner’s superhero cape. Hoka’s rocking-chair-like outsole propels heel and midfoot strikers onto their toes, maximizing launch. And that classic Hoka cush—a combination of soft EVA foam between the carbon plate and your foot, together with a firmer, rubbery variety below—delivers a smooth, responsive ride. The wide platform provides more stability than the shoe’s neutral designation would suggest, while the mesh…

Spy Dirty Mo 2 $170 For years we derided black frames as timid, fun-deficient defaults. Why go colorless when bright options abound? Spy explains why with the special-edition Dirty Mo 2 and its soft-matte frames that suck up light like an eyewear-shaped black hole. These sunnies forced us to abandon other notions, too. We used to look down on grayish lens tints for being blah and not truly sport- or speed-worthy, because they flatten the view and reduce contrast. Well, blah has been killed by techy optics like Spy’s polarized, color-neutral synthetic lenses, which are high-def, deep, and color enhancing nearly to the point of synesthesia. It’s also time to back off snottiness about these curvy-lens sport wraps being embarrassing relics of the nineties, fine for outdoor sports and recreation…

First, let’s be clear about something. Flannel is a fabric, not a pattern—like, say, plaid. (Plaid just happens to be one of the more popular patterns used in flannel apparel.) Semantics aside, there’s a reason everyone’s wearing flannel shirts again: they look good and are more functional (and comfortable) than your average button-up. Take a. Columbia’s Flare Gun Stretch ($55), a cotton-blend classic: loose fitting, super soft, and cut long for maximum comfort. We found ourselves wanting to wear it a few days in a row. So we did. The brushed-cotton twill of b. Filson’s Women’s Western ($135) is butter soft against your skin, and it has just enough structure—particularly in the cuffs and collar—to offer a tailored look without sacrificing comfort. Style points for the pearl snaps. c. Stio’s…

Nordica Enforcer 104 Free $850 Technically, the Enforcer 104 Free is only four millimeters wider than Nordica’s much loved Enforcer 100—a negligible difference on paper, and often enough on snow. But even as skis between 104 and 106 millimeters underfoot have become our favorite daily drivers out west, there’s way more to the new Enforcer 104 than its middle spec. Typically, skis at this width are either burly planks that excel on firm snow or slashers better suited to off-trail riding in dry powder. Versatility is hard to come by. That’s not the case with this Enforcer. For Nordica’s designers, it was all about boosting playfulness without sacrificing power. To give the 104 a lighter, looser feel, Nordica added wood at the tip and tail. A combination of beech and…

a. Salomon S/Lab Shift MNC 13 $725 The Shift wowed testers last year by morphing from an uphill tech touring binding into a full-bore alpine stalwart on descent. This year’s iteration is unchanged (except for a $75 price jump). It’s still the only model that blends the confidence to stomp huge lines with the kind of weight savings that lets you skin up and do it again (and again). 1.9 lbs b. G3 Zed 12 $499 G3 put its 2018 tester-favorite Ion on a diet. The resulting Zed is lighter and retains the category-leading spring-loaded tech jaws for unrivaled hold. At the heel, the stock Zed sheds weight by forgoing brakes (add them for $84; they’re rattly but functional) and allows for 30 millimeters of adjustment to accommodate a range…

a. Costa Cheeca sunglasses $259 Turns out polarized glass is nice when the water’s frozen, too. Costas excel in the mountains, with an athletic fit that helps them stay put. b. Rab Microlight Summit jacket $325 With hydrophobic goose down, a longer cut to keep the coat from creeping up above your pack’s waist belt, and a helmet-compatible hood, the Microlight Summit sounds overbuilt. But weighing in at just a pound, it’s anything but. c. Burton Flight Attendant X splitboard $1,500 The Flight Attendant X rode so well that one tester brought it along on a trip to Utah’s powder-filled resorts. It’s wider at the tip than at the tail, it floats over deep snow, and camber underfoot lends it pop. But what we liked best was the board’s tight,…

Planning a ski trip can be tricky. With so many enticing alternatives—California or Colorado? Utah or Quebec? Vermont or British Columbia?—it’s tough to know which resort to commit to. And given today’s collective deals, chances are your season pass works at a whole range of really cool places. Q. Where can I go skiing with my family without emptying our savings? A. Stevens Pass, Washington. Less than two hours east of Seattle, Stevens—Vail Resorts purchased it in 2018—is getting two updated chairlifts this winter. It’s a great family destination, with extensive children’s ski programs and ample terrain for everyone. (You’ll be in powder off the 7th Heaven chair while your teens hit the jumps in the Top Phlight Terrain Park.) Bonus: kids ages six and under ski free. There’s no lodging on…

a. Corbeaux Agent ¾-Length leggings $129 The best bottoms are the ones you don’t have to think about. That’s the Agent. It moved moisture and never felt constricting as we skinned up and charged down. Credit the recycled polyester and spandex, with Tic Tac–size pockets that trap warm air. b. Adidas Outdoor Primeknit Long Sleeve shirt $79 Adidas debuted Primeknit in shoes and apparel in 2012, and we love the mix of light weight and durability. This layer is seamless (read: no chafing under pack straps), with sections of polyester, polyamide, and elastane for stretch. c. Smartwool Smartloft-X 60 hoodie $250 The Smartloft-X is our favorite men’s midlayer this year. A stretchy merino blend at the arms and back dumped heat on the skin track, while recycled wool in the…

a. Alpacas of Montana Extra Cushion boot socks $30 Proof that workwear can be cozy, these Alpacas, made with fleece from American farms, blend in acrylic for additional shape retention—crucial for spending long hours on your feet. b. Yooper Chook beanie $24 Designed in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, this beanie has a clever detail: a loop of fleece that folds down to cover your face and chin in foul weather. c. Hestra Skullman gloves $75 Goat leather offers protection, while a stiff cuff makes the Skullmans easy to pull on. Wear them alone or with liners when the temperature drops. d. Dickies Sherpa Lined Fleece hoodie $50 How do you make a cotton-poly hoodie better? Add a plush lining for warmth that rivals a puffy’s. Get two, lest your significant other…

a. PoleClinometer sticker kit $15 Backcountry caution dictates knowing a slope’s pitch before committing to climbing up it and then riding down. And while it may look gimmicky, the PoleClinometer provides this information as simply and quickly as possible: with a sticker you attach to your ski pole indicating various angles. Dangle the pole vertically, compare the slope’s pitch with the chart on the sticker, and make better-informed decisions off-piste. b. Mammut Alugator Pro Lite shovel $80 Those who obsess over shovel performance will love the Alugator Pro’s long, telescoping shaft and hardened and sharpened aluminum blade, which has cutouts that both reduce weight and allow it to function as an improvised rescue sled. c. Mammut Fast Lock 280 probe $70 This probe features a big orange handle that’s easy…

a. Helly Hansen Workwear Alta Shelter jacket $85 Changing a tire in the snow could leave you damp and at risk of hypothermia. The Alta keeps moisture and freezing wind away from your core, and reflective strips ensure you stay visible in terrible weather. b. Gerber E-Tool shovel $66 Made to military specs, with a carbon-steel spade that folds away, the E-Tool is your best friend when a tire starts spinning in snow. Use it to chip at crusty ice and to toss dirt under the wheel for traction. c. Primus Lite+ stove $115 Built for use on portaledges and ultralight backpacking missions, this stove is a tough little piece of equipment. It’s compact, and the locking mechanism keeps the pot close to the flame for rapid boiling. d. Good-to-Go meals…

a. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active $199 and up Finally, a non-Apple smartwatch that doesn’t suck. This Galaxy is focused on fitness, tracking dozens of activities and metrics—everything from open-water swimming to biceps curls. It also displays notifications from your phone when synced via Bluetooth. There’s built-in GPS and 45 hours of battery life. Android users bemoaning incompatibility with the Apple Watch, look here. b. Suunto 5 $329 Suunto’s slim midrange watch packs prodi-gious features into a moderately priced unit. It offers 24/7 tracking of stress and VO2 max and includes GPS navigation, adaptive training routines, and more than 80 sport modes, among them triathlon and hiking. Juice-saving intelligent battery modes ensure that you don’t run out of power right before logging a personal best. c. Scosche Rhythm24 $100 The most impressive…

a. Icebreaker Lumista Hybrid sweater jacket $320 This merino-insulated hybrid is a nice cross between sleek-and-modern and ready-for-the-backcountry. With knit merino panels on the back and sides, the Lumista is efficient on cold days, while DWR on the front helps it shun moisture. Its urban style works whether you’re in Telluride or Chicago. b. Howler Brothers Lightning Quilted jacket $185 Extremely light and packable at 12 ounces, the Lightning nevertheless brings the insulation. While its PrimaLoft Gold synthetic lining isn’t quite as warm as down, it still works when wet and costs less. With a snap-front chest pocket, the Lightning has some class. c. Untuckit Puffer vest $128 With poly insulation, the Puffer isn’t too puffy—great under a jacket. But its nylon shell, which is water-repellent, means it works as an outer…

a. Line Pollard’s Paintbrush $90 Eric Pollard’s pro model features creative details inspired by the skier’s art, like wave patterning on the straps and baskets. The price is great for a telescoping ski pole, and the grips have small tabs to make flipping your risers a breeze. b. Dynafit New Speed Vario 2 $150 If you’re the fast and light type, opt for this 100 percent carbon model from Dynafit, which weighs just seven ounces. Adjustable from 105 to 145 centimeters (a wider range than other telescoping poles offer), it’s designed for quick transitions, with an easy-to-use tab to change the length. c. Soul Poles Torched Soul Custom $169 This indie Park City, Utah, brand makes its shafts out of bamboo, which bends when aluminum or carbon might snap. The…

a. Dynafit TLT8 Expedition $750 The TLT7 was so different from its predecessor that it bombed on shelves, despite expert accolades and exceptional performance. So the brand took the best parts of versions six and seven and merged them in the new TLT8. With a lighter fiberglass cuff, easy switching between ski and walk mode, 110 flex, and 60 degrees of walking range, the TLT8 does it all. 2.2 lbs b. La Sportiva Skorpius CR $799 Drawn up from the Italian brand’s winning skimo-racing line, the Scorpius CR carves out a new sweet spot between price and weight. With its easy-to-operate closure system and a walk-mode lever activated with the brush of a hand, it switches gears in a flash. Testers felt the CR could drive far bigger skis than…

Flaxta Prime $120 How does a brand-new player in the goggles space earn Gear of the Year status? By nailing everything we look for: optics, comfort, compatibility, and value. Flaxta launched this year with former POC visionaries at the helm. Goggles count as safety gear because they shield eyes from UV damage, not to mention errant tree branches, and can help cushion a blow to the face. But as with smart technology in cars, the best safety features are the ones that help prevent accidents from happening in the first place. To that end, when designing the Prime, Flaxta put most of its effort into sharp, fog-free optics with excellent peripheral vision. The lens is cylindrical, which helps boost the view at the sides by wrapping the face. But clarity…

Picture Harvest $430 Wearing an earth-conscious jacket can be like driving a Prius: choosing a more sustainable option feels good, but you give up a few things along the way. That changes with the Harvest. It combines 58 percent recycled fabric with a sustainable DWR treatment and a water-proof-breathable membrane made from castor-seed oil. Just as important, that membrane performs every bit as capably as a petroleum-based one. Fit and features are just what you’d expect in a serious ski shell. The long hem and zip-off powder skirt shield against wind and snow, and the three-layer fabric stretches to permit a wide range of motion. Hybrid construction places a durable 75-denier weave at the shoulders and hips, and an airier knit fabric in sweat- and heat-prone areas like under the…

The North Face Forecaster 35 $189 Like you, we have a hard time locating gear that was designed just right. With packs that skew ultralight, we find ourselves wanting more space or a pocket to stash gloves or snacks. Then there are the overbuilt behemoths, but who’s looking to add weight on a ski tour? The Forecaster nails the middle ground. It’s a 35-liter hauler with a floating lid, hip pockets, and an avalanche-tool compartment, yet it weighs a mere 2.7 pounds. The North Face built it with feathery but tough ripstop fabric, a lightly padded suspension system, and a simple top-loading design. Consider that avy pocket: often these are too narrow or too squat for sturdier shovels or longer probes. TNF made the Forecaster’s wide enough for the fattest…

a. Costa Pescador sunglasses $219 Costa’s high-quality glass lenses have always set the standard for optical clarity. Now the frames in its Untangled collection are made entirely of old fishing nets. b. Adidas Primeknit midlayer $185 This recycled-polyester piece is exceptionally comfortable. It’s stretchy and breathable in high-movement areas and more durable where needed. Seams lie flat and don’t bunch up. c. Toad&Co Hartland SS dress $85 Layered over jeans or under a jacket, the Hartland is versatile. It’s pieced together from recycled fabrics and repurposed plastic bottles; side pockets add a touch of functionality. d. Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer jacket $325 You’ll barely notice the 8.8-ounce Ghost Whisperer (7.8 ounces for the women’s version). The lining and shell use secondhand materials, and testers felt cozy wrapped in the 800-fill…

a. Icebug Walkabout Bugrip GTX $250 When there’s more ice than snow on the ground, this boot is the best insurance against slipping. Reverse heel lugs and 16 carbide spikes kept us upright on slick declines. And in slush, the Gore-Tex liner never failed to keep our feet dry. b. Merrell Thermo Rogue 2 Boa Mid GTX $250 Want the traction of a snow leopard on frozen ground? This low-bulk, futuristic winter trekker has an Arctic-ready Vibram sole (particularly grippy on wet ice) and ultra-warm aerogel insulation in the toe. Boa lacing on the side facilitates quick fit tweaks, while the side flap helps eliminate cold spots. c. Oboz Sapphire 8-Inch Insulated $175 Own the sled hill, snowshoe trail, and après lounge with the leather and wool Sapphire. The upper…

a. Oris Aquis GMT Date $2,500 Oris’s GMT dive watch is perfect for aquatic adventures thanks to its steel case, which is water-resistant down to 300 meters. The primary hands show local time, the yellow one tracks a second zone, and the 24-hour ring handles a third. A nice perk: the strap easily expands over a wetsuit sleeve. b. G-Shock Mudmaster GGB100 $350 This behemoth is impervious to muck, with a case sealed against dirt and other crud. It features Bluetooth for navigation, notifications, and time-zone correction, plus sensor tech for altitude, barometric pressure, and direction. It also tracks activity. c. Breitling Superocean II 36 $3,475 The latest addition to the Superocean family was designed with a smaller dial that’s more suitable for women’s wrists. The steel case with screw-down…