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
When the temperature drops below freezing, heated apparel can feel like a lifesaver. But here is the catch: your heated jacket or vest is only as good as the battery powering it. After testing dozens of lithium battery packs for heated apparel over two winters, I can tell you that picking the wrong battery means … Read more
Every gram on your head matters when you are three hours into a skin track and still have 2,000 vertical feet to go. I learned this the hard way on a multi-day tour in the Wasatch, where my old resort helmet felt like a bowling ball by day two. That experience sent me down a … Read more
Finding the right pair of technical alpine soft shell pants can make or break your day on the mountain. I have spent months climbing, ski touring, and hiking through demanding alpine terrain to figure out which pants actually hold up when conditions turn rough. After testing more than a dozen options across ice climbs in … Read more
Finding the right pair of crampons for dry tooling can make or break your season on mixed terrain. Over the past three years, our team has tested dozens of modular crampon systems across frozen waterfalls, limestone caves, and alpine mixed routes to figure out which ones actually hold up when conditions get serious. This guide … Read more
Finding the right ice tool can make or break your season on frozen waterfalls and mixed lines. I have spent multiple winters climbing routes from WI3 to WI6 and M4 to M7, swinging dozens of different tools into everything from brittle early-season ice to plastic late-season hero ice. After testing 13 of the most popular … Read more
When you are out on fast-moving water or working near frozen lakes, having a reliable throw line within arm’s reach can mean the difference between a successful rescue and a tragic outcome. I have spent years testing and evaluating swift water ice rescue throw lines in real conditions, from spring runoff whitewater to midwinter ice … Read more
When someone falls through the ice, you have minutes, sometimes seconds, before cold water immersion becomes life-threatening. Water pulls heat from the body 25 times faster than air, and hypothermia sets in fast. That is exactly why I put together this guide to the best ice rescue throw rope bags, because having the right floating … Read more
Garage humidity is a silent problem that creeps up on you. One day your tools are spotless, and the next you spot rust forming on your wrenches, condensation on your car windows, and a musty smell that clings to everything. I learned this the hard way after losing a set of woodworking clamps to corrosion … Read more