Name: Black Diamond JetForce Avalanche Airbag Pack

MSRP (Price):$1,149.95

Pros: travel-friendly, multiple deployments, easy to refill/recharge

Cons: heavy, expensive

Rating: ★★★★★

Overview:  The Black Diamond JetForce Avalanche Airbag Pack is the first electronic avalanche airbag system on the market. The jet-fan technology allows for multiple deployments and is travel friendly. So whether you are headed out on foot, being dropped from the heli or just dipping out into the sidecountry the JetForceAvalanche Airbag Pack could mean all the difference. Despite all the features and weight the Black Diamond JetForce doesn’t sacrifice “rideability,” it’s not bulky and stays nicely in place for the shred down. The comfortable suspension lets me be completely unaware that I have a giant airbag strapped to my back, allowing me to focus on my surroundings and enjoy the turns to the bottom.

Feature breakdown: 

The JetForce Avalanche Airbag Pack is powered by a compact Lithium-Ion battery. At a full charge, Black Diamond claims the airbag will be able to deploy four times. One advantage to this the option to repack the airbag in a close call, or after a slide while still in dangerous terrain. An additional plus to this system is the ability to test it out often, on both deployment and repacking. Like training with your beacon, the more often you use the airbag the more likely you are to be prepared to use it properly in a moment of need. With pricey canisters, I have never been willing to test one over and over in my living room.

At almost 200-liters the airbag can be filled in less than 3 seconds, with the jet-fan rotor spinning at 60,000 revolutions per minute. After inflation, the fan continues to pulse, which could keep the airbag filled even in the case of a tear in the bag. After 3 minutes, the airbag automatically deflates, reducing pressure on the user. In the case of a full burial, this can create an hollow space that increases the chance of survival.

The JetForce Avalanche Airbag Pack initially seems more complex, with electrical components. But like a pilot preparing for takeoff, this system allows skiers to check all instruments before descending. The power button, when held down, will flash how much charge, or deployments, remain. And when you are ready to drop a self-check briefly fires the fan letting you know your airbag and system are just as ready as you are. This extra step seems a detractor at first, but it is just as simple as turning on your beacon, and confirming everyone in your party is beeping.

Value: This bag is certainly one of the more expensive options on the market. But it is also a one-time cost, versus the cost to constantly refill cannisters.

Use:  The Black Diamond pack is well-structured with ample storage for everything you need on an all day tour. The thing that surprised me the most is the weight distribution. The pack itself is about 8 pounds, and when fully prepared to head out for the day I had shovel, probe, radio, inReach, hydration pouch, DSLR camera, and of course snacks. Yet once settled on my shoulders the weight is barely noticeable. The hip pack sits lightly on my hips and yet doesn’t pull on my shoulders. Maybe it is just that I am used to carrying so much camera gear, but I have no problem heading up hill with the JetForce Avalanche Airbag Pack fully packed. The back panel also unzips to easily access all the contents, rather than having to dig down from the top. On the exterior there are additional features that make this pack perfect for any backcountry mission. There are both ski and snowboard carry systems, a pocket for the necessary avalanche tools and a helmet holder.

As the 4^th of July crowds began to flood town I watched the sidewalks fill and the parking spaces vanish. I decided I needed to find somewhere with a little less congestion to spend the holiday, preferably on a river. With last minute permits, available I called the Monticello, Utah BLM office and low and behold there was a cancellation for the San Juan River. So in less than 24 hours from deciding I would rivertrip, I was packed and out the door and bound for the four corners portion of Utah.

Not all can pivot into action, or “instarally” as I like to call it. But John Blackshire, with the Colorado SUP Club, decided to come and brought along a couple of expedition sized boards. At almost 12 feet long and four feet wide the Haladaze changes the options for a self-supported overnight SUP. After a quick stop in Grand Junction we a had a 60 quart cooler full of ice, beer and food that we could strap onto the board, and then were headed to Bluff.

After some strange looks from full rigged rafters and the ranger, we pushed off into the current. With the two boards loaded with minimal camping gear, water and provisions to cover the 86 miles of the San Juan, which was following at a hefty 4000 CFS, much higher than where it will settle for the season after runoff. The river starts out mellow, meandering back and forth between red sand stone cliffs. As we track our miles based on the map, we stop to explore ancient Puebloan cave dwellings and admire petroglyphs high above the shore.

In the first day, using little more effort than the current we cover 32 miles, navigating several class II rapids and passing the town of Mexican Hat. We camp beneath a nearly full moon at the mouth of the canyon. The scenery on the second day changes dramatically as the canyon walls rise several thousand feet up from the river. The layers alternate between zigzagged and perfectly linear, a geological look back in time.

Despite the fact, we got a last-minute cancellation, and the river should have been teeming over the holiday weekend we only saw several lone Big Horn Sheep. Some were high on the cliffs above, others at the water level drinking, staring at us as we drifted right on by. I spent most of the 103 degree day with my feet dangling in the cool water, staring up at the art work of the canyon walls, it was truly mesmerizing.

With the massive cooler, we ate gourmet for a SUP trip, meals of steak tacos and mac’n’cheese, and a bottomless supply of cold drinks along the way. Other overnight trips I have had to survive for 7 days on freeze dried food, by comparison this almost seemed like glamping.

On the final 20 mile stretch the landscape began to change, the rock smoothing and rounding as it sank back down far beneath the river bed. This is where the Glen Canyon Dam begins to touch the San Juan, slowing its pace and creating sand bars that seem to miraculously appear which we dodge as we seek out the deepest, swiftest part of the current.

Once we make the takeout, the drive back to civilization seems to last forever. The landscape is flat and barren, with no hint of the canyon just a few miles over that houses the San Juan River.

Summer is officially here and what does that mean? Time to get on the water. From fishing to floating there is a current for everyone. Here are a few of the necessary accessories to get you on the water in style.

The river is a dog’s best friend too, so when you are headed out with your furry friends don’t forget the Ruffwear Float Coat. I tested this one against several models, because it’s not just gear, but can be a lifesaver. The Float Coat is sturdier and more buoyant than all its competition, with floatation right under a dog’s chest. The bright colors and reflective trim make it easy to spot, and the handle on the back lets you haul your pup onboard with no problem.

No matter what activity you prefer when you hit the water, these hot days call for cold beverages. And there is no better way to keep your drink frosty than the Ice Mule insulated dry bag cooler. On any river trip space seems to always be at a premium, so leave your big box cooler on the shore and rollup an Ice Mule to clip right onto your craft. Cheers and set sail for on whatever fits your fancy- a lake, reservoir, pond, river, stream or channel.

Pit Viper our favorite local après sunglass brand finally has a model that is river ready. Polarized Pit Vipers can really take your North Star float to the next level in terms of fashion, as the rainbow mirror makes them easily the raddest lens on the water. But what about function? They are trout tested and approved to cut through the worst glare while you are hunting fish on the Roaring Fork.

The SLXtreme Waterproof iPhone 7 Case is not your average cell phone case. But then again when you are braving the elements of nature you need a little extra help in your corner. This case is bulky, but worth its weight in features. First off its waterproof, a necessity for even the “water resistant” iPhone 7. It’s rugged case can handle drops and scratches, keeping your device safe. Combine that with integrated solar panel and built-in power charger you have a case unlike anything else on the market. So whether it is multiday back packing or overnight SUP trips this case uses the sun to keep you ready to capture every moment of the adventure. Despite the extreme nature of this case, it is easy to open and slide your phone in and out.

Whether you are looking to SUP up the river for a workout or head down stream for days, its nice to have some tune along the way. The answer is Decibullz wireless headphones, because everyone around you doesn’t always want to enjoy your music taste. They mold to your ear, so you don’t have to worry about them falling out. The headphones are sweat proof and water resistant, so just avoid any cannon balls into the deep and your songs will last all day long.

If you are looking for a paddleboard that can do a little bit of everything, the Hala Straight Up is the answer to it all. This is the board for upriver workouts, long distance tours on lakes, downriver rapids and you can even try it out in the surf (Glenwood Springs). Hala Gear SUPs are made locally in Steamboat Springs, so they know every condition the waterways of Colorado have to offer.

Name:  Voile Women’s Revelator Splitboard

MSRP (Price): $650

Pros: lightweight, durable

Cons: still looking

Rating:★★★★★

Overview:  As skiing uphill to earn your turns become more popular, there are a lot of new splitboards for women on the market. Splitboards have been around for a long time, but women specific models have been scarce, or some companies calling their smallest models a unisex to sell it to women. The women’s Revelator splitboard from Voile, however, is not just sized for women, but designed with ripping mountain girls at every stage of construction.

Feature breakdown:

The Lightweight Paulownia Wood Core makes it one of the lightest splitboards I have ever encountered. Rather than my predecessor splitboard which was heavy and bulky, making me feel like a had two-by-fours’s bolted on to my feet on the way up and the way down. The Revelator is light, making me barely aware of any additional weight going up and fun and easy to ride on the way down. The two carbon fiberglass layers give it the flex it needs to still be stable and playful at the same time.

The profile of the Revelator is ideal for any big mountain line. The early-rise in the nose makes it float perfectly in powder and the camber underfoot adds stability. This versatile shape is perfect for all types of terrain and conditions.

And in order to uphill on the Revelator, you need skins. Voilé climbing skins have long been a staple in the market, for skis and boards alike and their skin material has the best grip-to-glide ratio in the industry. The high quality, releasable, adhesive is intended to last for years and a heavy-duty riveted tip attachment will hold up to a lifetime of switchbacks.

Voilé also made skinning even easier by adding an adjustable aluminum tail attachment and an industrial grade Voilé Strap, this makes tightening your skins easy and keeping you climbing no matter the conditions. Voilé Splitboard Skins with Tail Clips are built to fit the right and left board half, already cut to size. You are ready to head out the door and up the mountain with the Revelator.

Value: This board comes in the mid-range for splotboard prices. But the value for me is in the weight and handling ability.  Voile really looked at what could make this board ideal for a smaller and lighter rider in the same conditions. From the narrower waist, flex, tapered tail and the camber and early rise combo this board checked all the boxes to get down the mountain on any line.

Use: Voilé has been a standard in the uphill industry for a long time, giving them the opportunity to tinker with the various parts they manufacture and improve them. One unique feature of the Revelator is the new channel puck system, which compensates for the old systems limited stance options. The new pucks are also molded, and unmoving, making them more secure to the board, giving you better control especially in the backcountry when you need it the most. The other change is the 3 degrees of “cant” or “tilt” on these new pucks, correcting leg stance and making it easier on your knees and better power-transfer.