Gear Closet: 2016-17 Ski Season Edition
By Cindy Hirschfeld November 29, 2016 Published in the Holiday 2016 issue of Aspen Sojourner
Scarpa F1 Alpine Touring Boot
At less than three pounds per boot, Scarpa’s redesigned F1 achieves a holy grail combo of lightness for the skin up and stability for the ski down. A carbon-fiber frame wraps the foot for torsional stiffness, and the Boa closure adjusts on the fly. $699, at Ute Mountaineer
Kästle MX 84 Limited
Kästle updated all of its MX skis with a more forgiving core and newly tapered tail, but the MX 84 Limited (128/84/112 mm) also got a full carbon topsheet—and only 500 pairs were made. $1,699, at Miller Sports, Hamilton Sports, and Gorsuch.
K2 B.F.C. Ski Boot
Hate your boots? Find reprieve with K2’s B.F.C. (Built for Comfort) four-model line. Each boot includes a roomier last with a wider toe box, a cuff design that accommodates a more natural stance, and a ski/walk mechanism for easier trekking to and from the mountain. $550–$600, at Stapleton Ski
Blizzard Black Pearl Skis
Blizzard’s revamped Black Pearl women’s ski (123/88/108 mm) is now lighter, thanks to a poplar-beech core, and torsionally stiffer, due to new carbon flipcore construction. So it rocks even more, all over the mountain. $600, at Basalt Bike and Ski
Giro Stellar MIPS
A small dial in Giro’s women’s Stellar MIPS helmet expands or contracts the outer shell—rather than an internal band—up to 6 centimeters for optimal comfort and fit. $250, at Aspen Sports
Seirus Heat Touch Ignite Glove
At the tap of a button, Seirus’s Heat Touch Ignite full-leather insulated mitt keeps digits toasty for up to six hours, depending on which of the three battery-powered settings you use. $375, at seirus.com
Jones Snowboards Project X
The all-mountain Jones Project X eschews traditional topsheet/fiberglass construction for multiple layers of carbon that are pre-molded with epoxy before being pressed together into one unbelievably light, high-performance snowboard. $1,500, at Radio Boardshop
Vans Infuse Snowboard Boot
A combo of Boa and standard lacing systems, power strap, and optional tongue stiffeners in Vans’s Infuse snowboard boot enable fit and flex adjustments on the go. $365, at Radio Boardshop
Voormi AN/FO Jacket
The AN/FO jacket from Colorado-based Voormi sets a new standard in skiwear with its waterproof wool-laminate hybrid fabric—the first of its kind. It wears like a soft shell, with four-way stretch, and the street-inspired styling transitions easily from first chair to last call. Bonus: it’s 100 percent made in the U.S.A. $599 at voormi.com
Whether you’re hiking Highland Bowl or cruising Sheer Bliss at Snowmass, this winter’s ski and snowboards, boots, accessories, and apparel will let you do it with greater comfort and performance.
