Voile straps are a ski touring necessity

Voile Strap saves the day in Lofoten Norway

Whenever preparing to go in the backcountry Voile straps are a ski touring necessity and the first thing I throw in my bag.

Now you would think one is okay but in all actuality I bring 4 straps on every backcountry trip I go on. This post will focus on a few trips that Voile ski straps saved from what could have been disastrous situations and why you need them.

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MSR Reactor for Winter Camping

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The MSR Reactor Wins for Winter Snow Camping and here is why

When it comes to melting snow and winter camping while ski touring the MSR Reactor has been the fastest and most convenient stove out there. With less bulk and a faster melting rate than other boiling focused burners it’s been my go to for almost ten years.

In this post we will focus on the specifics and why it has been in my backpack almost daily and here is why.

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What is an Avalanche Probe and What you need to look for

I like to say “there is a thin line between badass and dumbass” and that rings true when it comes to Avalanche Probes. You want something sturdy but you also want something light and it’s that one piece of gear that you buy and hope to never use. In this review I’ll’ write about what I both what I got and why in this breaking down What is an Avalanche Probe and What you need to look for.

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BCA Shaxe Avalanche Shovel Review

When it comes to gear in my pack I am really picky and if it won’t last a minimum of 100 days it wouldn’t last a single season below is my BCA Shaxe Avalanche Shovel Review.

When it comes to backcountry riding and your backpack starts filling up you want gear that has multiple purposes. I’ve been using the BCA Shaxe for the past ten years (originally K2) and it has seen more days in the backcountry than any other piece of gear I use.

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Fitwell Snowboard Boots Review

Hanging out in my Fitwells waiting for the snow to fall in Japan

Over the past decade I’ve been using the Boots for on 90% of my backcountry missions with well over 1000 days of tedious climbing and doing everything I can to break down the boots to on avail. I’ve had numerous people ask me if they are worth purchasing and I always say yes and so I thought I would put up a Fitwell backcountry snowboard boots review from my experience.

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Taking Teko’s Snowboard Socks for a Little Stroll

Without a doubt your feet are one of the most important parts of your body when you’re out touring. Screw up your feet and you’ve screwed up your tour, usually. Your feet are your mode of travel, so you had better treat them well. This includes not only the appropriate footwear (boots), but also, well, the appropriate sockwear. I tend to bring a change of socks or two even when I’m otherwise packing “fast and light,” so socks are one of my favorite backcountry “luxury” items.

A lot of high-end snowboard and ski socks are essentially the same, following in the steps of the famed manufacturer, smartwool, whose socks can be found everywhere from your neighborhood kitchy gear shop to the closest big-box REI. Now, brands like Teko and Point 6 produce high-end, supposedly soft and supple socks which are, frankly, tough to tell apart from the smartwool brand socks at first glance. So, as you might guess, when I picked up a pair of Teko’s Merino Snowboard Socks at the beggining of this last season, I thought I was in for the same old-same old. Nonetheless, I needed a pair of socks, so I was happy to give ’em a spin.

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