Crazy Light Down jackets are inherently lightweight. But the latest jacket on test redefines what a lightweight down jacket can be. The Crazy Levity Jacket offers a 950-fill insulation rating and weighs in at a scant 7oz / 200g (men’s medium). That’s like the weight of a minimalist windbreaker. It feels downright crazy when you first hold it or put it on. For comparison, the Patagonia Micro Puff (the lightest insulated jacket in my gear closet) weighs in at 9oz / 256g, and it’s not nearly as warm as the Levity.  Who is Crazy Crazy is the name of the Italian brand that makes the jacket ..read more

If you’ve ever taken an avalanche safety course, you’ve probably heard about electronic interference and avalanche transceivers. Electronics like cell phones, heated gloves, smart watches, two-way radios and even snowmobiles can create electromagnetic interference (EMI) that will disrupt an avalanche transceiver search. Basically, some electronics emit EMI that can alter avalanche transceiver behavior. The good news is that you can take simple precautions to avoid avalanche transceiver interference.  A recent collaboration between Canadian and US avalanche information centers and a ..read more

Ever feel like your waterproof jacket looks like it’s getting wet? Well, that’s because it is very likely getting wet—on the outside anyway. Here’s why: Your DWR or durable water repellency finish is worn out. First, it’s important to understand that there are two types of waterproof clothing: Good old-fashioned rubberized rain gear like you’d wear on a fishing boat and modern waterproof, breathable outerwear like we wear for backcountry skiing. We’re talking about waterproof jackets using membrane technology like GORE-TEX or one of the many alternative waterproof, breathable membranes on t ..read more

A warm puffy jacket is required equipment for backcountry skiing (read our backcountry ski packing list). It’s your ticket to comfortable transitions, warm summit breaks and it’s lightweight insurance for staying warm in the case of an emergency situation.  I normally carry two types of insulated jackets in my backcountry ski pack—one light-to-midweight synthetic puffy jacket (that gets worn a lot) and one warmer down jacket (that gets worn occasionally). The synthetic puffy serves as my go-to for short breaks and as a midlayer that I wear when touring in cold conditions. The down jacke ..read more

What if you could wear the same pair of glasses on the up and the down? Ski goggles are great. They let you see and ski with precision when it’s snowing, blowing and deep. But, as a backcountry skier, goggles are only good for skiing down. Try and wear them on the uptrack, and you’ll learn very quickly why it’s a bad idea—they fog up. They’re another piece of gear to put on and take off as you transition between climbing and skiing. When I first saw the Smith Bobcat sunglasses (and the Wildcat), I thought, “Hey, these might work for climbing up and skiing down.” So, that’s what I’ve been do ..read more

Dressing for a day of backcountry skiing takes a little practice. Getting it right for the downhill part is easy, but it’s common to overdress for the uphill. Layering is the key to temperature regulation. And layers that let your body breathe are critical to regulating your temperature when ski touring. If you dress too warm or without good breathability, you’ll get sweaty on the uphill and end up cold and damp when it’s time to ski down. If you aren’t warm enough on the climb, you’ll be fighting the cold all day long. And while every layer is important, your ski mid layer choice can really ..read more

Pack Light. Go Far. It’s the rare day that look at a fellow backcountry skier’s pack and think, “Wow, that pack looks light and efficient.” More often than not, I wonder why a pack looks so big or full. Packing light, or packing smart as I like to think of it, is about more than just having the lightest weight gear. Packing smart is part gear, part efficiency and part experience.  So, how do you pack light on a backcountry ski tour? Well, short of spending heavy for all the lightest backcountry ski gear, packing light requires looking at the big picture—weather, destination, partners, te ..read more

It’s that time again. Here’s our annual guide to cool gifts for skiers on your holiday list. Skier Gifts $100+ Give-r 4-Season Leather Gloves $119 We are big advocates of leather ski gloves, and it’s hard to beat the simplicity, durability and price of Give’r Gloves. They’ve got several glove and mitten options, but if you just want one pair of gloves to cover you in a wide range of weather and uses, the Give’r 4-Season Gloves are the ones. They’re insulated, waterproof and feature a comfy knit cuff that seals out snow and cold. They add up to warmer, drier hands in cold, wet weather. The 4 ..read more

I’ve worn a lot of different ski jackets over the years—waterproof, breathable shells from the biggest names in outdoor technical apparel—Patagonia, Arc’teryx, Outdoor Research, Noronna, Dynafit, Black Diamond, Helly Hansen, Stio, etc. For the most part, they’ve all done a great job of keeping me dry and protected in stormy weather, but very few have really fit the way I wanted them to. Some are long in the arms. Others are tight in the shoulders or too roomy in the torso. It’s a familiar story, one brand’s large is another brand’s medium, and some brands are known for trim cuts while others ..read more

Skis, boots, skins, poles, goggles, beacon, pack, shovel  . . .  It’s time to scour your garage, search the basement and clean out the closet. Winter has returned. So wherever it is that you stash your ski gear for the off season, dig through the boxes and round up your backcountry kit. But is your backcountry ski gear ready to roll? Check your gear now, and save yourself the rookie mistake of getting stuck at the trailhead with a gear issue on the season opener. A few easy steps pay off with a smooth backcountry season. Here’s Our Preseason Backcountry Ski Checklist Clean and W ..read more