Henry

When you are grinding up a 3,000-foot bootpack in the dark, with frozen fingers fumbling for a gel packet, the last thing you want is a heavy, floppy pack throwing off your balance. I learned this the hard way during my first skimo race in the Wasatch, wearing a borrowed pack that bounced with every … Read more

If you have ever skinning up a steep switchback and found yourself choking down on your pole shaft because the standard grip just was not cutting it, you already know why shovel grips exist. Ski touring poles with shovel grips give you an extended handle zone below the main grip, letting you plant your hand … Read more

When you are heading into avalanche terrain, your safety depends on three things: a beacon that finds signals fast, a probe that pinpoints the buried person, and a shovel that moves snow quickly. That is the avalanche safety triad, and every backcountry traveler needs to carry all three. I have spent months evaluating the best … Read more

If you spend any time in the backcountry during winter, you already know that avalanche safety is not optional. A solid snow saw is one of those tools you hope you never need in a rescue scenario, but absolutely cannot go without. Whether you are digging snow pits for stability testing, cutting columns for ECT … Read more

When you are heading into the backcountry, your avalanche probe is one of those pieces of gear you hope you never have to use but absolutely cannot skimp on. I have spent the past several seasons testing avalanche probes across the Cascades, the Wasatch, and the European Alps, and I have come to one firm … Read more

If you spend time in avalanche terrain, whether as a ski guide, snow safety professional, or serious backcountry traveler, having the right snow study tools can mean the difference between a safe day and a dangerous one. The best professional avalanche snow study kits give you the instruments needed to analyze snowpack conditions, identify weak … Read more

When you are standing at 14,000 feet with wind howling and clouds rolling in fast, knowing your exact elevation is not a luxury. It is survival. I have spent years climbing peaks across North America and Europe, and I have relied on altimeter watches in conditions where a phone would have died in minutes. Finding … Read more

If you have ever waxed your skis at home and felt like something was missing from the finish, you are not alone. I spent two seasons skipping the brushing step entirely, thinking my wax scraper did all the work. Then a veteran ski tech at a local shop showed me what a properly brushed base … Read more

Training through winter puts a different kind of stress on your legs. Cold temperatures constrict blood vessels, which means slower circulation, longer recovery windows, and heavier legs the day after a hard session. I learned this the hard way after a brutal January training block where my calves felt like cement for days after each … Read more

Winter training takes a toll on your legs that summer workouts simply do not match. Cold temperatures constrict blood vessels, slow down circulation, and leave your muscles tighter for longer after every session. I learned this the hard way during a particularly brutal January training block when my quads and calves felt like concrete for … Read more