The Overview: Hats are a winter staple. They go with any outfit, hide a bad hair day and can jazz up any look. From winter time to the summer months there are hats of every occasion and with lots of styles, designs and colors there is something for everyone. Finding the right hat is no small thing. Which is why a lot of people simply say, “I’m not a hat person.” But, really they just haven’t found the right hat.
Whether you have short hair or long, a big head or a tiny one, and even if you don’t think you’re a “hat person,” Pistil makes a hat that you will love.
The Test: Bad hair day? Yes we all have them I seem to have them more often than most people. So I just go for something easy and quick in the morning: a stylish hat. I wear them to work, the mountain, walking the dogs, or even to the bars, the hats look good and draw good attention while hiding my bad hair day or laziness to brush it.
Rating 4.6 (out of 5)
Style: Always simple and cute. Pistil has a style for everyone’s taste. Pom poms, floppy, slouchy, with a brim, bight colors, black; there is no going wrong. +1
Durability: I’ve had one Pistil hat for five years and it still looks brand new and has held it’s shape. +1
Performance: To some extent the style determines how the hats fit. Some of the knit hats stretch out a little and will fit looser after a while, but they’ll still cover the ears and keep your head warm. -.4
Comfort: From a fleece lining to wool, once you try one on that fits there is no removing it. +1
Our new “How To” series will walk women through trying something new in outdoor sports and activities with professional athletes. We’ll be sure to cover skills and tricks from beginner level to expert.
This edition covers how to land a backflip on skis with The North Face, Black Diamond athlete, Jacqui Edgerly. I’ve personally been amped to see more and more women throwing huge backflips of late, including Rachael Burks and her Femalewolfpack.com crew. But for many of us —including me—it seems extremely scary to attempt, and thus, quite impressive to see Jacqui push herself to become a backflippin’ master. Jacqui, 23, of Aspen, Colo. is a seasoned big mountain athlete, competing on the Freeskiing World Tour (now the Freeride World Tour) since she was a teen. She’s spent the majority of her comp years on the podium. About three years ago, while I was covering the FWT for Powdermag.com, she started throwing backflips off cliffs during competition. Few, if any women, were doing that in competition. What stuck with me was that she wasn’t only taking a physical risk when she backflipped, but she was also risking the podium. As is the case with trying anything new, sometimes you don’t quite nail it. In the action sports world world it takes loads practice and muscle memory to land a trick the majority of the time. Jacqui did crash a couple times, but she also earned a great deal of respect in my book for pushing the level of competition and inspiring other women to step it up. The late Sarah Burke was a similar sort of competitor; someone who wanted to push the sport forward, rather than earn another medal. Jacqui, too, pushed through her crashes, and now dominates the backflip. Her progressive nature, determination, and of course, raw talent, has landed film segments with Sweetgrass Productions, Stellar Media and Dubsatch Collective.
WGG: Take us through the motions of backflipping start to finish.
JE: Know what speed you need to hit the perfect landing. The more speed you have the better, usually. As you reach the lip think about popping up and not back, hips to the sky. Look for your landing as you spin around and bring your hands forward and stomp it. It will come naturally if you commit to it. Be confident and committed and you will most likely spin right around to your feet. And be patient…a lot of time I just flip it right as I hit the lip, but if you are patient and take your time getting around it is much smoother and more layed out.
Yeah, she sends it!
WGG: What kind of take offs should you look for?
JE: Jumps with nice wootang lips are the best. Flat take offs are a little more difficult.
WGG: Where is a good place to practice?
JE: In the spring I hit the jumps in the park, but mostly just find/build jumps that have enough kick to send me upside down.
WGG: What’s your favorite thing about backflippin’?
JE: The weightlessness. If all goes well the landing is rewarding, skiing gracefully out.
WGG: When did you land your first back flip?
JE: I landed my first backie about five years ago down in Farellones, Chile.
Women’s Gear Guide went to our first Snowsports Industries of America (SIA) “2013 Snow Show,” last week. It’s the nation’s largest snowsports trade show, and we’re still recovering. We met with so many brands that we were cross eyed at the end of the day. Leah Fielding was there to check out next season’s women’s ski gear, while Dayla Robinson was holding it down for the snowboarders. There are so many amazing products in queue for next season, we had a hard time narrowing down our list of “important stuff.” Here’s what’s trending, new and cool for ski and snowboard women.
OUTERWEAR Streetwear style meets high performance features and fabric in 2013/14. The color palates have mellowed from past year’s blindingly neon to more muted, earthy hues. Mustard yellow stands out as the color of the year. Bursts of yellows are paired with muted teals, greens and tans. We also noted a presence of organic textures —Roxy’s waxed twill jacket (pictured to the right)— and asymmetrical designs and body flattering cuts—most dominantly by Orage.
Patagonia, TREW, Burton, Obermeyerand Arc’Teryx were also standouts, as brands that are applying the female-specific fit, technical performance and style to outdoor women’s apparel.
Obermeyer’s 13/14 high performance women’s jacket
“Fashion is next to performance,” says Lauren Myatt, women’s product line manager for Obermeyer. Myatt says she looks to Stylesight—a fashion trending website resource—to stay on top of new styles and colors.
SNOWBOARD
Female participation in snowboarding is growing significantly for the 18-34 year-old crowd and the industry is taking notice. The new generation of Millenials doesn’t think snowboarding is just for the boys anymore – and there are many more options in apparel and equipment just for these women, according to a press release by Snowsports Industries of America.
“Hybrid camber rocker snowboards seem to have the biggest draw — they give women riders from beginner to expert a versatile ride for any condition,” commented Richard Leto of Ski Barn in Wayne, NJ.
Snowboard boots with a stiffer flex and those with hiking or crampon-compatible soles, and lighter, stronger more efficient splitboard bindings were testament to snowboarding’s rising backcountry renaissance. So it comes as little surprise that female-specific splitboard models are on the rise too. Burton came out with the first option for the 2012/13 season and many other manufacturers are following their lead, including K2.
ALPINE
Just like snowboarding, there’s a charge into the backcountry for skiers. Whether it’s accessed through a resort, a trailhead or hiking, backcountry was definitely the talk of the Snow Show and the alpine category is responding with more backcountry-focused features that also provide downhill performance. Skis are also about 15-20 percent lighter on average than previous models, according to a press release by SIA.
“Consumers are looking for boots and bindings and gear that allow them opportunities. They want the option to go bigger and deeper,” says Aaron Provine of Backcountry.com.
We saw a surge of women’s alpine ski boots with walk-mode features. Among the most notable were Dalbello and Lange. Dalbello continues to create a legacy around high performance boots that kick ass in the comfort and warmth department, especially when combined with the Intuition ID liner. Lange, who is has a history of stiff, high performance race boots, has reinvented themselves, and their boot design and are now back at the top of their game, with an extremely comfortable boot liner and softer flex options.
Dalbello Kyra, alpine boot with walk-mode.
“We’re seeing a fusion of many ski disciplines. Freeriding blending into frontside skiing blending into alpine touring and ski mountaineering,” commented Kurt Hoefler, VP of sales at Rossignol.
In general, rocker technology continues to be the up and up trend. “Manufacturers have realized that rocker isn’t just for freeride, but when judiciously applied, it can make even a carving ski more versatile. We’ve also seen skis trending towards more girth – 95-115 underfoot where the tip rocker seems to be the sweet spot for most people,” said Tom Winter, VP of marketing at Liberty Skis.
For women’s skis, we noticed more and more manufacturers are filling gaps in their all-mountain and freeride lines. For example Volkl, Rossignol and Salomon added new models with waist sizes that were previously unaddressed. Rossignol’s new Savory 7 and its male counterpart the Soul 7 received “Best of Show” for its revolutionary design. The ski is 106 mm underfoot with a more gradual tip rise than year’s past and a stiffer tail. Honeycomb technology reduces chatter in the tip.
Rossignol Women’s “7 Series”
Women’s skis in 2013/14 will see the continuation of lighter materials and design, amongst them are Liberty, Armada, Volkl, Black Diamond and DPS. But, the most exciting news in ski innovation for women came from 4FRNT, who’s beefed up the materials and construction under the heel, creating a cant, if you will. This allows women to better engage the tip of the ski, and carve, because their weight is more forward.
Dynastar came out with whole new women’s line the “Cham,” a tip rockered ski with a traditional tail, making it highly maneuverable in tight trees, and maintains stability at high speeds.
NORDIC
The Nordic industry is predicted to experience exciting product developments with lean snow years propelling innovation. The lines between alpine touring and cross-country skiing are blurring, more companies are offering high-performance skate boots and there are increased options in metal edge touring skis for recreational skiers, according to an SIA press release.
Though snow levels are low, optimism is high. “I find this to be an incredible opportunity to try to find compelling reasons for retailers to sign up for my brands and instigate market-share shifts,” said Isaac Wilson, product manager for Salomon Nordic and Atomic. “Here at the Show we have access to some of the most important dollars in the Nordic industry. It is an opportunity to check out what is out there and what is relevant to the marketplace.”
ACCESSORIES Helmets
Trend for the coming season in helmets include new technologies in multi-impact protection materials, impact-absorption materials taken from body armor, fully integrated goggle-helmet systems and more adjustable fit options.
For women with smaller heads and faces, looking for a lower profile helmet, newcomer Pret made a great showing. Bern helmets had some cool new updates with wireless, bluetooth headphones, that you can control with your smartphone. We also liked helmets, like Bern and Scott, who have multi-seasonal use, ie mountain biking in the Spring.
Hats
As with apparel, the color palette for hats adopted more muted earth tones like olive, moss, taupe, grey and brown. Pops of brighter colors appear with lime, chili, pacific blue and yellow, could be seen at Pistil’s booth. The biggest hits at SIA were chunky hand-knits, multi-colored marled yarns, plush fleece linings and bandana balaclavas.
Goggles/Sunglasses
For next year, many brands are embracing a simple and classic styling of goggles with cylindrical or flat lenses. These near-frameless goggles have a clean, simplified look but also state of the art technical features such as improved venting features and techy integrations like cameras, such as Zeal and Oakley. Bluetooth connections and adjustable lens tint. For sunglasses a retro style, with mid-size silhouettes and translucent frames are dominating the category.
“Designs are moving toward sleeker, lower-profile dimensions overall,” said Andy McSorely of Oakley.
Zeal Optics, new low profile goggle.
The lower-profile trend in unisex models means more options for women with smaller faces.
Gloves/Mittens
The market has a continued demand for touch-screen technology. Backcountry is also touching this category as consumers need a glove that does more than just keep their hands warm and dry.
“We’ve seen steady growth in our technical glove category. With more skiers/snowboarders traveling in the backcountry, the demand for a glove that can be used with ropes and tools has been a big request in the marketplace,” said Adam Green, of Scott Sports.
On the innovation side of things, Gordiniintroduced their new mitten/glove model that uses silk as its insulation.
Baselayers There were more insulated mid-layers at the Snow Show than ever before. Many companies are developing base/mid-layers that are meant to be worn together as a system and worn on their own as lifestyle pieces, including Patagonia, Roxy, Arc-Tery’x and Orage. Polartec’s uber-popular waffle grid fabric continues to dominate the baselayer scene. But there was also a big emphasis on natural fibers — especially wool.
Vermont’s Darn Tough Socks have time-tested construction and design to keep your feet happy in all outdoor activities.
The Overview:
Over 30 years ago the Cabot family opened a mill and began making socks in Northfield, Vermont. Frigid winters and humid summers taught them that all socks are not created equally. Living in an unforgiving climate, their socks had to be tough and of course they certainly had to keep feet dry and warm. Whether skiing, hiking, biking, climbing or running, Darn Tough Vermont socks work.
The Test: I have skied, hiked, ran, worn to work, biked and hiked Vermont’s Long Trail in Darn Tough socks. They are 100-percent worth the investment and if they were to wear out (none of mine have yet; and some of them are really old) they have a life time guarantee, just send them back and get another pair, simple as that.
Most recently I have been abusing them while skiing. And not just free skiing, but ski instructing, i.e. way more movement and standing and walking around in ski boots than on a normal ski day. I have yet to put a hole or wear through any of my Darn Tough socks.
Rating 5 (out of 5)
Note: We know, we know. We’ve been giving out a lot of 5’s lately, but truly, these are great products. As we continue to test more and more products we will re-evaluate past ratings.
Style: With new designs every season for women, the fun and styles never fun out, from flowers to stripes, polka dots and solids there is a design for everyone. +1
Design: True seamless socks, such as Darn Tough, result in miles and miles of blister-free, happy feet. +1
Durability: If they actually wear out you can have them replaced. +1
Performance: Merino wool breathes. In the summer your feet stay dry and sweat free and in the winter your feet stay warm. +1
Lightweight and reduced materials in the binding help save your energy and joints over time, so you can shred day in and day out!
The Overview:
When you shred hard—and almost every day— like I do, you want a snowboard binding that enhances the comfort of your boots, is lightweight and also stiff and durable enough to ride your heart out. I found the Burton Escapade EST bindings to be my ideal blend of comfort and performance. Plus it’s extremely versatile, and customizable due to the removable cushy food bed.
The Test: I first tested the Burton Escapade EST bindings out on Aspen Mountain. We’ve had a relatively dry winter here, thus far, so I ride a lot of hardpack and bumps. So I really need a binding that I crank down, but can also be forgiving since I ride a lot of top to bottoms from bell to bell. I noted right away that the cushioned foot bed was not just über comfortable, but seriously reduced the weight of my set up. Burton removed materials from the base plate and replaced it with a EVA cushioning, making the bindings not just lighter, but also increasing edge control and handling. It’s like a custom foot bed every time you strap in. I also noted that with any sudden impact I felt the heel gel support cushion my feet. Since I’m more of big mountain shredder than a jibber, I also really liked that these bindings are easy to adjust into a more forward stance for stellar edge control. I also noted, while making long, wide turns, that the mesh-lined high-back responds smoothly, with no vibration.
Rating
5 (out of 5) Design: Burton thinks of everything from how to make a binding lighter and more comfortable to a woman’s natural stance. +1 Style: I’m pretty sure Burton invented snowboarding, so it goes without saying, cool colors will always be present. +1 Durability: Burton’s own chrome-plated aluminum and polycarbonate levers make for buckles that endure year after year. +1 Performance: A lovely harmony of comfort and stiffness, what more can a girl ask for? +1 Comfort: I think we covered this in-depth, but the EVA foot beds make this the binding we’ve all been dreaming about! +1
The Overview:
Anyone out on the slopes needs a pair of goggles. Some end up wearing a hand me down pair or the first thing they find in a closet full of ski equipment. Most of the time, the fit is less than ideal. Women often have even more trouble finding a pair of goggles that work well on their face in a comfortable and attractive way. Enter the Julbo Eclipse Goggles. From the sleek fit to the pink color, these scream feminine.
The Test:
These goggles ventured out with me for two days on Buttermilk Mountain and one day on Aspen Mountain. The temperature resided in the negatives for the two days on Buttermilk and would go from windy and cloudy to bright and sunny within seconds. The first day I skied through open slopes with fresh powder and shady tree trails and the second day I snowboarded on groomed slopes. I found the goggles mostly agreeable for the variety of terrain and light/weather conditions I experienced. The only main concern was when the wind picked up on a trail lift ride and airflow through the goggles became too strong. The goggles worked the best when I skied Aspen Mountain on a day with warm temperatures and cloudless skies. Experiencing the different days showed me that the Julbo Eclipse goggles can handle a lot, despite their petite appearance.
Rating 4.75 (out of 5)
Design: Zebra photochromic, double spherical lenses help in the anti-fog department. They work for many different weather conditions because they can go from a category 2 on cloudy days to category 4 on sunny days. The lenses do not switch out which makes them a less ideal choice for extremely stormy or bright days, however it is more convenient because you don’t have to worry about switching them if the weather conditions change suddenly. +1 Style: A chic look: metallic pink rim and a pink strap. Unlike many bulky pairs of goggles, these feel and look more like sunglasses, but still provide average coverage on the face. +1 Durability: The strap feels strong and the lenses don’t scratch easily. Frame is effortlessly bendable which may be problematic after continued use. But for the most part everything feels sturdy. +1 Performance: Airflow exists to keep the goggles fog free. This worked, I never experienced foggy vision, however there was often too much of a draft, particularly on cold and windy days. This fit of the goggles may disagree with my Smith Allure helmet and could work better with a hat. However, the goggles came with an extended outrigger that made them fit around a helmet so it would seem that they were designed to go with bulkier head protection. +.75 Comfort: The soft face foam provides a comfortable fit around the cheeks and forehead. I was in no rush to take them off at the end of the day. +1
Up until a couple years ago, backcountry snowboarding was reserved for women willing to suffer on snowshoes or ultra-heavy men’s split boards. It was a painful, tiring affair that left little energy or enthusiasm to do what we came to do: snowboard down some rad lines. Now, women’s specific snowboards such as make it easy and enjoyable for us to get out into the wilderness.
The Test: If this is your first time with a split board, as it was mine, I’m here to help navigate I’m happy to report it was quite easy. I do suggest having your local snowboard shop install the split kit. I like Radio Snowboard Shop, here in Aspen, Colo. If the board is in two pieces—you can set up your comfy snowboard bindings of choice to fit your regular boots—they simply slide into the hardware to position forward. Place skins on, with the metal clamps at the tip (forward), and then you have some fat skis ready to go up hill. There are two notches for a heel lift, depending on the steepness of your climb. The set up is designed to be lightweight so you can put in serious mileage both uphill and downhill.
For transitioning to riding: rip those skins off, slide bindings off and the board easily attaches together via four notches. Then slip the bindings onto the mounts to ride.
The S Rocker in the board lifts tips giving you good float in deep snow. But the board also features traditional camber underfoot and rides like a big mountain board, stiff in the right ways. It reminds me of my first Never Summer pre-rocker days. It carves in variable snow, i.e. chunder, and feels like you have a real board underneath your feet.
The first time I took the board out was to do an evening skin up Buttermilk. I got to the top around sunset with my puppy who is not into hanging too long in the cold. I was losing light, but it only took me six minutes to remove the skins, put the board together, and reposition my bindings. Not bad. Second try was more like four minutes. Because I went on my first split board excursions during a serious cold snap here in Colorado, I was worried all the fiddling would leave me with frozen digits, but in fact it was easy to handle in gloves so I would suggest having some thin liners around to use in transitions. I was also told by some experienced split boarders to spray Pam on the hardware, it keeps things lubricated in cold, dry weather.
What you’ll need for a proper backcountry split boarding session:
knowledge of backcountry snowboarding (avalanche clinic or Avi course)
Rating
5 (out of 5) Note: We know we’ve been giving out a lot of top ratings, but as we test more and more similar products, we will evaluate past ratings and re-rate accordingly when applicable.
Design: Lightweight for the uphill, yet stiff enough for variable backcountry conditions. +1 Style: Pink, purple, red stained wood graphics make for a cool look. Not too girlie, not too manly. +1 Durability: A wood core and overbuilt design ensure this board stands up to the test of time. +1 Performance: The ease of transition from split board to snowboard, plus the duality of the snowboard’s riding capabilities, ie rocker tips and camber underfoot, makes this board a top performer. +1 *Innovation: The snowboard when combined with the Voile Split Interface kit, is a true game changer for snowboarders looking to leave lift lines and crowded slopes behind them. +1
The Overview: When the snow begins to fall, all snowsports enthusiasts can think about is blasting through powder as soon as possible. But in order to get the goods, you need a weapon of choice. However, with fewer powder days on the East Coast than out West—a ski that can perform on hard-pack or ice-pack, and powder— is key. Liberty Envy Powder has a bamboo core, which is a strong material and sustainable, making this ski lightweight and energetic. This versatile little number carves edge to edge quickly, thanks to camber underfoot. Rocker in the tip allows this ski to float in soft snow.
The Test: Vermont is a tough place to test out skis. From our early season hard pack to our mid-season 3-6 inch storms the ski has performed through and through. This ski is light, flexible and poppy which allows for maximum fun on both groomers and softer stuff. It can hold an edge on ice but I prefect not to put this ski through that torture. But on the few days a year that we do get a proper snowstorm, the ski just floats like a dream.
Rating: 4.6 (out of 5)
Style: HOT PINK! These skis say it all: fun! But, if you really aren’t a pink girl, these may be a bit much -.4
Design: Lightweight set ups are key for protecting our knees, and Liberty’s use of bamboo does just that. +1
Durability: So far these skis have stood up to rocks, ice, teaching kids, getting skied over at least once a day with no de-lamenation. + 1
Performance: The ability to perform well on both groomers and powder, makes this an ideal East Coast ski. +1
sustainable, making this ski lightweight and energetic. This versatile little number carves edge to edge quickly, thanks to camber underfoot. Rocker in the tip allows this ski to float in soft snow.
