Click to get The North Face Surge Backpack on sale during the Moosejaw 72-hour sale -- and get free 2-Day shipping using code TWODAY.

Moosejaw is currently having an excellent sale on many categories of outdoor, adventure, camping, hiking, ski, snowboard, travel, and sports equipment for men (and women).  This sale is only happening for 72 hours. Plus, during the sale, you’ll get free 2-Day shipping on all purchases (not just sale items).  It’s a good time to shop for that outdoor gear you’ve been waiting for!

(Funny, it’s just about a week until Christmas.  Do you think Moosejaw noticed?  Do you think Moosejaw thinks men are shopping this weekend?)

=> Click here to shop the Moosejaw 72-hour sale now.  And get FREE 2-Day shipping on any order when you use code TWODAY at checkout <=

Maybe you’ve been waiting to get a Hyllus Jacket from Arc’teryx — Moosejaw has certain sizes and colors on sale.  Or a men’s Patagonia Torrentshell Jacket.

Or a Surge Backpack from The North Face (click here to see it, or on the photo above) — customers tend to rave about this pack.

Or a Yakima Raptor Bike Mount.

Or Smith sunglasses.

This is a BIG sale (that’s why there’s an end to it).  Moosejaw is offering a lot of the best stuff for good prices for 72 hours and you should shop now to take advantage of it.  Stock up on the things you’ll need for winter — and don’t forget spring and summer, which, you know, come after winter.  For example, how about Bridgedale Men’s Bamboo Hiker Socks?

Take a look at the extensive customer reviews for many products on the Moosejaw site to help hone your gear selections.  And even if the 72-hour sale is over, click here to see current promotions at Moosejaw — they’re always offering something.

Here’s a good one during the current sale:  Sorel Men’s Caribou Boots.  These are some of the better winter boots you can wear.  (They have the Sorel Women’s Caribou Boot on sale, too, because, you know, women like to keep their feet warm and dry in the winter, too.  If you’re interested in more about winter boots, you can click here to see my post reviewing some of the best winter boots of all time.)

Even if you don’t find an item on sale, you can still get FREE 2-Day shipping on any purchase using code TWODAY.

Free 2-Day shipping itself is a good deal because when you order online you often don’t have to pay sales tax and, when you don’t have to pay for shipping either, it’s like getting the product for a discount anyway.  Better than shopping at the mall, man.

Don’t wait to take advantage of this sale, because colors and available sizes are going fast.  Moosejaw knows what they’re doing.  I wouldn’t recommend them otherwise.

Related posts:

1. A Big Gear Sale at Eastern Mountain Sports
2. Best Cold-Weather Gloves to Handle Winter’s Worst

Cold hands? Click here for solutions.

So, if you’ve read my post on the best winter boots, your feet should be thanking you now.  But feet are only half the equation.  Don’t forget your hands.  That means you’ll want the best winter gloves, too.

When it comes to extremities (and we’ve got 5 of them or so), hands can be even more vulnerable than feet.  Personally, when I’m doing something outdoors and it’s below zero, it’s usually my hands that start giving up the battle against the cold first.  (Have your hands ever gotten so cold you couldn’t turn the key in your car’s door lock?  Inconvenient, you know.  And painful.)  So it might be even more important to have the right stuff to wear on your hands to keep them warm.  Warm hands = fun outdoors during the winter.  Cold hands = excruciating bummertude.

And hey, just because you’re shoveling snow off your driveway or walking your dog in the sleet doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have the best cold-weather gloves (or mittens) you can get — gear designed for extreme cold weather comfort.  Because you know that if they will work for, say, ski mountaineering or ice climbing, they will work in Buffalo in the dead of winter when you’re walking to the train.  Following are the best gloves to protect your precious paws from winter’s frigid, damp days.

Arcteryx Alpha SV

I’ll start with the Cadillac of gloves:  Arc’teryx Alpha SV Gloves (after all, this site is not called Pretty Good Stuff for Men).  Let’s not beat around the bush — if your hands are cold and you want to keep them warm, this is what you put on.  (I could have said they are the BMW or Lamborghini of gloves, too.)  Yes, they’re rather expensive.  But worth it for the quality, durability, design, and workmanship.  Arc’teryx is known for making innovative, thoughtful, supremely functional outdoor gear.  When the testers at Backpacker magazine got hold of the Arc’teryx Alpha SV Gloves and took a look at the price, they thought there would be no way they could endorse them.  But then, as they would later write:  “We tried it during a dismal day of crevasse rescue training with Rainier Mountaineering, Inc.”  One of their testers described his experience with these gloves this way:  “Working a wet rope in wet snow in a steady downpour in 35°F weather is the perfect recipe for wooden finger tips — if not full-on hypothermia.  But my hands stayed dry and warm through 6 hours of mucking about.”  Bottom line?  Backpacker endorses them, price and all.  Another of their testers said, “Has better dexterity than any glove this warm I’ve ever worn.”

The editors at Outside magazine were equally impressed.  They stated, “The folks up in Vancouver [meaning Arc'teryx -- which, by the way, is an abbreviation of Archaeopteryx, the first bird ever] have created an Armani suit for your hands…  Best full-gauntlet glove we’ve ever tested.”  And National Geographic Adventure named them “Gear of the Year” for 2010.

The guys at Adventure-Journal chimed in, too:  “May be the best gauntlet glove ever made.”  (See the video below.)

Arcteryx Gloves from Steve Casimiro on Vimeo.

Those are some good reviews.  Yes, the Alpha SV is pricier than most other gloves.  But then, how often can you buy a Lamborghini for around $275?  It’s the end of the winter retailing season, too, so you might find a discount (and there are all kinds of good deals being offered right now at the outfitters I mention in this post).  If the sunset-copper color doesn’t do it for you, you can get them in black.  Find Arc’teryx Alpha SV Gloves at:  Backcountry.com, Moosejaw, and Altrec.  Don’t wait, because inventory on these gloves is selling quickly.

Columbia Majik Wands

Columbia’s Omni-Heat® technology is really catching on in outdoor-equipment circles, and they’ve applied it in their Majik Wands Gloves.  Omni-Heat thermal insulation incorporates a metallic layer that reflects heat back to you.  In the Columbia Majik Wands, it’s combined with an Omni-Tech waterproof and breathable bladder and 100 grams of insulation.  Testers have found that Omni-Heat can increase the insulating properties of a garment by 20 percent — just what you want when it’s 5 below zero and windy.  As with most all their products, Columbia has included other thoughtful features, such as material on the thumb for wiping a drippy nose and shock-corded hem adjustment that can be operated one-handed.  Outside‘s testers said of these gloves:  “The Columbia Majik Wands are toastier than they look.  Breathability is so-so.  Great chairlift-riding gloves.”  But in their review, Snowshoe Magazine stated:  “I can confirm that the 50 percent recycled content Majik Wands is wicked warm in real-world use and doesn’t seem to get ‘too hot,’ as sometimes happens with backcountry gloves.  It breathes well, too.”  And, if cost is an object, you can get them for about a third of the cost (or less) of the Arc’teryx Alpha SV’s.  There are 4 color combinations available.  Find the Columbia Majik Wands Gloves — in many cases, for a discount right now – at:   Rocky Mountain Trail, Backcountry.com, Sun & Ski Sports, and DepartmentOfGoods.  See the descriptive video below…

Mountain Hardwear Minus One

As I mentioned earlier, if a glove is designed for ice climbing, it’ll probably handle most of your typical outdoor winter situations.  This year, Outside singled out the Mountain Hardwear Minus One Gloves as a recommended choice for not only ice climbing but a variety of activities, from backcountry skiing to cold-weather mountain biking.  Their editors state that Mountain Hardwear Minus One Gloves are “waterproof, light and supple, reinforced in all the right places, and surprisingly warm.”  They also note that they tend to fit snugly, so consider ordering a size up.  As you might expect from Mountain Hardwear, only the most up-to-date materials are incorporated in these gloves:  goatskin leather palms with Pittard’s Oil Tac reinforcements for excellent grip, OutDry® Waterproof Technology, mesh tricot lining to wick moisture and sweat away from your hands, corded nylon material for the body.  Dane, an alpine climber who blogs about equipment at Cold Thistle, put these gloves through their paces (both climbing and in everyday use) and found that they got the job done.  They’re tough, light, waterproof, and sort of cool-looking.  You can find Mountain Hardwear Minus One Gloves at:  Moosejaw and Altrec.

Hestra Seth Morrison Pro Model

Now, maybe you’d enjoy a glove with a bit of attitude — something inspired by the edgier things a guy can do.  Something that suggests aspects of shredding.  But of course will still keep your digits toasty.  Well, for that there’s Hestra:  specifically, the Seth Morrison Pro Model Gloves.  First of all, Hestra is a Swedish company.  As you’re probably aware, it gets pretty cold in Sweden.  Second, Hestra makes gloves for the Swedish Army.  In fact, they’ve been making gloves since 1936, and have developed a reputation for producing some of the best gloves in the world.  Case in point:  in the 1980s, Hestra began working with Lars Fält to design gloves.  Lars is an interesting guy.  He spent 5 years as a member of the Swedish Army’s Special Forces, then became a paratrooper.  In the 1970s, he created the first Swedish Armed Forces survival school.  Then he trained with the Special Forces in the United States, England, and Canada.  For fun, he adventured on the side.  And, though he is now retired from the military, he still spends each winter at Lappeasuoando Wilderness Camp, where he teaches courses on how to survive in the wilderness in the winter.   Lappeasuoando is one of those distinctive Swedish places where, in the winter, temperatures regularly dip to 40 below zero (a temperature at which pine trees will crack).  The Lappeasuoando Wilderness Camp cannot be reached by road.  It has no electricity or running water.  Participants in the courses learn how to bivouac overnight in the snow and how to make soup from lichens.  Fält likes to cite the camp’s motto:  “The prepared will survive.”

Seth Morrison

That’s the kind of professional Hestra works with to design their high-performance gloves.  But not the only kind.  They worked with free-skier Seth Morrison to create a glove that would meet the needs of one of the most daring extreme skiers in the world.  Even before he was being paid by Hestra, Morrison wore their gloves.  Since 2005, he has been refining the Hestra Seth Morrison Pro Model.  Drawing on that outdoor-survival-and-Swedish-military tradition, the gloves also incorporate design elements from motocross gloves.  They are warm and tough.  Each year he refines them a bit more.  After spending part of a recent season skiing in the desolate mountains in Alaska’s Petersburg region, Morrison observed:  “Almost no one had skied there before us.  The hands were exposed to cold temperatures, as well as impacts.  Such environments require the best gloves you can get.”  The Seth Morrison Pro Model Gloves are made of Army Goat Leather and cowhide; Thermolite insulation; and an integrated windproof, waterproof, breathable CZone membrane.  They have a side zip for quick on/off, protection on the knuckles and fingers, and a handy nose wipe.  And some attitude.  Get them at:  Backcountry.com, DepartmentOfGoods, and Altrec.

POW Tanto

If you want a versatile cold-weather glove for not a lot of moolah (around $50, depending on discounts), check out the POW Tanto.  POW, based in the Pacific northwest, makes a broad range of gloves for everything from snowboarding to bicycling to golf.  The Tanto is one of their most popular models.  It’s comfort-rated from minus 10 to 32°F and is suitable for activities from skiing to snowmobiling to gripping the steering wheel of your car when it’s 5 below zero and you’re peering through a little hole in the frost on your windshield as you commute to your job on icy streets.  They incorporate goatskin leather, a waterproof/breathable Hipora insert (a 3-layer microporous coating structure), a microfleece lining, and Primaloft insulation, and offer style options from flamboyant to stealth.

The snowboarding gear review site The Good Ride said of the POW Tanto Gloves:

“The Tanto has a good all around feel and is one of the most comfortable gloves we have experienced…  The inside is very comfortable and doesn’t have that grippy feel that many micro-fleece liners have.  It’s ideal to get wet hands in and out without pulling the liner out.  The Tanto is reasonably priced and offers one of the best glove experiences out there for the $100 and under price range.  The Tanto doesn’t have Gore-Tex but it does have a 20,000 [mm] waterproof insert that is outstanding.  Yeah, the Pow isn’t any more reliable than Dakine or Burton but we feel you get a better glove for a lower price.  That being said, we were able to get a very long season out of this glove and it still has more left for next year.”

The Good Ride rates comfort, fit, and waterproofing for the Tanto as “Excellent,” and dexterity, warmth, and durability as “Good.”  Customer reviews for the POW Tanto at the retailers I mention here also tend to be almost uniformly positive.  Outdoor enthusiasts appreciate these gloves.  Miles Clark, professional free-skier, guide for Rainier Mountaineering, Inc., and all-around adventurer, uses POW gloves and is a member of the POW ski team.  Here’s a video of Miles Clark (and friends) showing some of the ways POW gloves can be used (his job might be a little more fun than yours):

POW is a company that stands behind their products (another criterion I look for in any product I recommend on Best Stuff for Men), and you can also find good customer support at all the online shops I mention here.  Here’s a video of the POW guys introducing some of their 2010-2011 gloves at a recent SIA (Snow Sports Industries America) Snow Show in my neck of the woods, Denver:

You can find POW Tanto Gloves (mostly for good discounts right now) at: Dogfunk,  Backcountry.com, DepartmentOfGoods, and Altrec.

As Maxx von Marbod said above, mittens (or mitts in the contemporary vernacular) are once again coming into vogue, but there are places where they’ve never been out of vogue:  places where you have to keep warm.  Since your fingers stay together all cozy-like, mittens are generally acknowledged as being warmer than gloves, and I would be remiss if I did not mention some of the best mittens available for those who are facing super-cold temps on a regular basis (say, telephone linemen in Minnesota).  If you only occasionally need additional warmth to reinforce your gloves, you can simply wear something like a Gore-Tex mitten over them.  But for the most challenging situations, dedicated mittens — i.e., a system – are best.  Check the following mitts to keep your digits dry and toasty.

Marmot Expedition Mitt

Termed “a sleeping bag for your hands,” the Marmot Expedition Mitt is the warmest handwear Marmot makes (which means they’re pretty damn warm).  They’re intended to complement Marmot’s 8000 Meter Suit.  Priced around $100, you get Marmot MemBrain® waterproof/breathable fabric, a bunch of Primaloft insulation (which is basically synthetic down that’s waterproof), DriClime Bi-component wicking lining, a reinforced palm, a quickdraw gauntlet cinch cord, a safety leash, a wrist strap, and a nose wipe.  The gents at UKClimbing did a bit of mountaineering in Alaska using the Marmot Expedition Mitts and were kind enough to write a review.  (They liked them.)  If these are good enough to take on Everest, they should be good enough to get you through your job as a newspaper deliverer in Caribou, Maine.  You can also find the Marmot Expedition Mitt at Rocky Mountain Trail.

One of the customer reviewers of the Marmot Expedition Mitt wrote:

“I bought a pair of these 7 years ago.  These were the first mitts that I found that I could be outside in sub-zero temps in Wisconsin and still have warm hands.  I find above freezing I end up taking them off every 15 minutes or so to let my hand cool off.  The best part is the wicking is so good, I never feel that I have sweaty hands.”

You can get your own pair of Marmot Expedition Mitts at:  Massey’s Outfitters, Rocky Mountain Trail, and Moosejaw.    Other retailers carry them, including Backcountry.com and Rock Creek, but they’re sold out of these mitts right now (click the text links and use their search function to check if they’re again in stock, or sign up to be emailed when they’re available).

An alternative to the Marmot Expedition Mitts would be the Mountain Hardwear Masherbrum Mitten – a technically-sophisticed mitt designed for high-altitude mountaineering.  They’re similar in price and performance to the Marmot Expedition Mitts.  Click here to see detailed specifications, customer reviews, and order from Backcountry.com.  You can also find them at DepartmentOfGoods.

Finally, if you want an economical mitten that still gets the job done (though I don’t think I’d necessarily take it to Everest), check out Dakine’s Fillmore Mittens, a good-looking mitt for $40 or less.  For that price you get good technical features and better-than-average performance from a mitten that Dakine guarantees for a lifetime.  They’re non-bulky, tough enough for a variety of outdoor activities, and pretty stylish.  And hey, you want to look good while keeping warm, right?   You can find Dakine Fillmore Mittens in a variety of colors at better outdoor retailers, including:  Altrec, Backcountry.com, Dogfunk, and DepartmentOfGoods.  Click the links here, check customer reviews, buy them, and keep warm.

And wipe your nose.

Related posts:

1. Winter Boots to Keep Your Feet Warm and Dry in the Snow and Cold
2. Hit the Slopes in Your Best Ski Jacket Ever

Yes, outdoor-lover, I mean “big” in the sense that EMS sells a big selection of the best brands, as well as “big” because of the notable discounts.  Eastern Mountain Sports is one of the premier outdoor retailers when it comes to selection, value, and customer service.  You can get ready for  all your winter activities and sports — skiing, camping, climbing, snowshoeing, sledding, snowball fights – along with everything else you like to do — biking, running, paddling, hiking, etc.  Keep warm!  Stay dry!  Be active!  Have fun!

Get free 2-Day Air shipping when you join the ShopRunner program at EMS.com:  Click here to join now. 

If you’ve been thinking of getting a better tent, a warmer sleeping bag, a headlamp for your bike so you can keep peddling throughout the winter — NOW’s the time to get it!

Also:  EMS currently offers free shipping on orders over $125.

In general, their sales offer discounts off their already low prices.  Take advantage now.  Click the highlighted text links, the images, or banners to save a bundle on the gear you want…

Mountain Hardware Men's Exposure II Parka

Save on Ski and Snowboard Jackets at EMS.com.

Click to shop for Snowshoes.

See Mens Apparel and Outerwear.

Click for good prices on a large selection of Climbing Gear.

Click for good prices on Tents and Camping Gear at EMS.com.

Winter Tents

See Fleece Jackets & Vests to keep you warm during all your activities.

EMS has Cycling Helmets, Shoes, Apparel, and a lot of other gear.
 

And to be fair, I’ll note that Women’s Apparel and Outerwear is also on sale for good prices.  Get a gift for your outdoorsy XX chromosome pals or sporty signif other.

 
Have fun this winter, dude!

Related posts:

1. Take Advantage of the 72-Hour Sale at Moosejaw to Get the Outdoor Gear You Want
2. Father’s Day: Get Something Good for Your Dad (or Yourself)

The Olympics are almost guaranteed to produce great, memorable moments in sports that etch themselves indelibly into fans’ memories.  They become part of sports legend, passed from one generation to the next.  The current Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver have already produced two such moments:  Shaun White and Lindsey Vonn each won gold medals in dramatic fashion in their events with superlative, gutsy performances.  Let’s acknowledge their world-beating determination and skill.  Below, I have listed their victories alongside some of the greatest, most dramatic moments ever in a variety of sports, from track to basketball to golf to gymnastics to football.

Every so often in sports there’s a convergence of occasion, athlete, and execution that makes for unforgettable drama, where all the elements  — suspense, pressure, and a great competitor determined to win in the face of long odds — come together to create a moment of triumph that will be remembered as long as athletic competition endures.

We had two such moments last night at the Winter Olympics, when Americans Sean White and Lindsey Vonn earned victories with masterful efforts.  On the biggest stages, the best performers rise to the occasion.  Even when an athlete is favored — and sometimes especially when favored — that is quite a difficult feat to accomplish.

Lindsey Vonn won gold in the woman’s downhill, fighting not only her competitors but an injured right shin and a brutal course.  The hill was steep, icy, and choppy and there were a number of spectacular crashes, some by women considered to be medal contenders.  Vonn skied on the edge of control, at times almost entirely on her left leg, and won the event by over half a second, a huge margin in ski racing.

Click to get a print of Shaun White's Rolling Stone cover

Shaun White, the world’s foremost artist of the snowboard half-pipe, performed his best at the moment of truth, winning his second consecutive gold medal.  Despite tremendous pressure and expectations, and against a deep field, White’s performance was head and shoulders above the rest.  He rode almost flawlessly in his first run, posting the highest score.  When all his competitors had finished their second runs, no one had bested White’s score, so he knew he had the gold medal sewn up.  For his second run, he could have slid down the center of the pipe blowing kisses to the crowd and still won.  Instead, he let it go , landing tricks never before seen in competition.  He actually made a higher score on what was essentially a “victory lap.”  His joy and love for his sport and his creative flair are inspiring and infectious.

After seeing Shaun, are you wanting to ski or snowboard?  Click the banner below for good deals on the gear you’ll need.

As a sports fan, you treasure these rare, unforgettable achievements.  Don’t we all have a few we like to recall?  Thanks to the data-preserving resources of the Internet, we can actually relive most of them whenever we like.  Following are my lifetime favorites.  (True, it’s never quite the same unless you are “there” in the moment – the build-up of tension, rooting for a team or individual, the uncertainty, etc. — but still, these performances made a deep impression on me, along with millions of others.)  If I introduce something here you haven’t seen before, good.  Please feel free to mention your own favorites in the comments section below.

The Catch

In the 1982 NFC Championship Game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys, the Niners were down 27 – 21 in the fourth quarter.  With time running low, they got the ball on their own 11 yard line.  Joe Montana, the greatest clutch quarterback of all time, marched the team down the field, converting on at least a couple of third downs.  With less than a minute left, the Niners had third down on Dallas’s 6 yard line.  That set the stage for The Catch, Montana to Dwight Clark.  The victory by the 49ers signaled a change in the balance of power in the NFL and launched their dynasty.

Franz Klammer

Franz Klammer’s downhill run in the 1976 Innsbruck Olympics is the single most exciting moment I’ve seen in sports.  Apparently many others feel the same way — see the comments on Youtube about this video.  They will give you a sense of the moment.  The tension was unbelievable as the competition built up to Klammer’s run.  Could he do it?  He almost wiped out several times in the attempt.  I was reminded of Klammer when watching Lindsey Vonn yesterday.

Kerri Strug

Kerri Strug lands her final try at the vault in the 1996 Olympics, scoring high enough to assure the USA the team gold.  She had severely sprained her left ankle and damaged tendons on a previous attempt, so she essentially performed this vault on one leg.  Visa made a commercial about it.

The Look

Lance Armstrong was trying to win his third consecutive Tour de France.  His chief rival was Germany’s Jan Ullrich.  On one of cycling’s most legendary stages, the climb up L’Alpe d’Huez, Armstrong gave Ullrich The Look before breaking away in a move no one could match.  (Never mind that Lance later said he didn’t stare into Ullrich’s eyes — in the moment, it’s the perception that counts.)  The play-by-play is done by the inimitable team of Phil Ligget and Paul Sherwen.  There’s a longer version of the coverage here.

Corey Pavin’s 4 Wood

In the 1995 US Open, Corey Pavin came to the par four 18th hole leading the tournament by one stroke over Greg Norman and Tom Lehman.  He had never won a major tournament.  He selected a 4 wood for his second shot and made one for the history books.  If the video here is deleted, click here to see the shot at the USGA Museum video archives.

Michael Johnson’s 200

In the finals of the 200 meters at the 1996 Olympics, Michael Johnson runs 19.32.  No one had ever gone below 19.60.  Johnson’s record in the 200 stood for 12 years, and he still holds the world record for the 400.

Robert Horry’s clutch 3

In game 4 of the 2002 NBA Western Conference Finals, the L.A. Lakers faced the Sacramento Kings, with the Lakers trailing in the series 2 games to 1.  The Lakers went down by 20 in the first quarter.  No team had ever come back from such a big deficit to win a playoff game.  In effect, Horry’s shot kept alive the Lakers’ run to another championship.

Michael Jordan versus the Jazz

Down 86 – 85 to the Utah Jazz in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, 17 seconds left in the game, Michael Jordan steals the ball from Karl Malone, dribbles down, puts a move on Byron Russell, and hits nothing but net to win Chicago’s 6th championship.  It was the last shot he ever took as a Bull.   Here’s a great call of the same play in Italian.

Tiger Woods chips in at the 16th

In the 2005 Masters, Tiger Woods was leading the tournament by one stroke over Chris DiMarco when he came to the par three 16th hole.  His drive was off the green.  Then he  hit what is probably the most dramatic golf shot ever.

Miruts Yifter doubles in the 5,000 and 10,000

Miruts Yifter is a small, balding Ethiopian guy.  Nobody really knew how old he was when he ran both the 5,000 and 10,000 meter races in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.  (He was probably at least 37.)  His speed and heart were anything but small, however.  After many Olympic disappointments, he got one last chance and made the most of it.  See Yifter unleash one of the most amazing finishing kicks ever (he could run a 48-second 400).

The 10,000 (a race that also included the great Lasse Viren):

The 5,000 (which included 1,500 meter and indoor mile world record holder Eamon Coghlan):

Dave Wottle

Relatively unknown American Dave Wottle stuns the world in the 800 meter final of the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Forrest Griffin versus Stephan Bonnar

This was the final fight of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter TV show.  These two light heavyweights were competing for a six-figure contract and a shot at making it in the UFC.  The legend goes that as this fight began, about 2 million people were watching on Spike TV.  As the fight went on, people began calling each other, telling their friends to watch.  By the conclusion of the 15-minute bout, the audience had grown to 10 million.  You can see a fair number of mixed martial arts techniques in this fight but the most important thing on display is that elusive factor that all champions have:  heart.

Something that Shaun White and Lindsey Vonn know all about.

Related posts:

1. A Big Gear Sale at Eastern Mountain Sports
2. Order “Mockingjay,” the Final Book in the Hunger Games Trilogy, from Barnes and Noble for a Great Discount

By now you’ve probably been up to your favorite ski resort(s) a few times and you’ve realized that, instead of trying to make do with your old skis, it would have been more fun to have some new ones.  Not to worry.  Here are some excellent all-mountain skis you can grab now to take advantage of the remaining months of the season.   Order today and you can have them by the weekend.

Outside Magazine’s 34 dedicated testers rated the following skis at the top of their class for “All Mountain” models — that is, skis for those who hit a variety of resort terrain in a variety of conditions:  early-morning groomers, powdered trails, and the back bowls.  And you can find some good prices now online.

K2 SideStash:  Gear of the Year for 2010

Outside testers chose the K2 SideStash as the 2010 Gear of the Year (and Skiing Magazine designated them the 2009-2010 “Best in Test Winner” ) due to its balanced performance in a wide variety of conditions.  They said it handles powder so well you probably won’t need a pure powder ski (unless maybe you live in Squaw Valley), yet its metal-and-wood laminate construction is burly enough to handle crusty, first-thing-in-the-morning corduroy.  The gentle tip rocker allows you to initiate turns with little tip pressure, yet they float effortlessly to the surface in the light stuff.  Skiers of all levels praised the SideStash’s controllability.  The testers recommend that they be paired with a Marker Duke Binding to create the ideal combo for backcountry as well as resort hard-pack (not to mention spring snow).  (Tip: 139 mm; waist: 108 mm; tail: 127 mm)  Get the new K2 SideStash here for an excellent discount.

Rossignol Phantom SC 87:  Chosen as “Killer Value”

The testers at Outside loved the value-versus-price of the Rossignol Phantom SC 87 and they awarded them the “Killer Value”designation.  They liked it in every condition, terming the ski “silky,” “energized,” and “stable but completely maneuverable.”  Rossignol has paid careful attention to the balance between the ski’s longitudinal flex (lengthwise bend) and torsional flex (side-to-side bend).  One tester stated simply:  “This is one of the best skis I’ve ever tested in any category.”  (130/87/116)  The retail price is $750 but you can get them for a discount here.  Here’s a video review of the Phantom SC87 from Skis.com:

Right now, Skis.com is offering a nice deal:  get a free Nordica Flake Hoodie or Wild Hoodie with any purchase of $299 or more at Skis.com →  Click here to shop at one of the most comprehensive ski stores online and get a free Nordica Hoodie.  Ends 1/31/12. 

On with the reviews of all-mountain skis…

K2 Apache Xplorer

Due to its versatility, the K2 Apache Xplorer has become a success story for K2 since its introduction last year.  As Outside summed it up:  “Bring the Xplorers up to speed and they’re as damp and predictable as any ski in this test.  Ski them lazy and slow and they won’t buck you.  In other words, K2 has mastered the easy-to-ski, mid-fat, all-mountain ski.”  The skis are known for their generous “sweet spot.”  One tester said, “Anybody could ski it at any speed on any mountain.”  It has a wood core that consists of fir and aspen for strength, durability, and energy.  The construction, plus the width and sidecut dimensions make the ski responsive yet fairly forgiving.  (128/84/112)  Get them here along with bindings for a serious discount from REI.

Head John 94

Outside’s highest-scoring ski in the all-mountain category is the Head John 94.  This twin-tip ski combines big-mountain capabilities with technical riding.  From blasting through trees and powder to arcing race-style turns, this ski is tremendously versatile.  “Fun, fun, fun,” said one of Outside’s testers.  The company that builds skis for Bode Miller and Swedish free-skier Jon Olsson knows a thing or two about how to build performance into a wood-core ski.  The “94″ in the product name refers to the  94-mm waist — a width that makes this ski excellent for broken or cruddy snow while retaining the carving characteristics that allow for making GS-style turns on groomed runs.  This ski is more for advanced or expert skiers.  (132/94/119)  Get it from Altrec for over $200 off the suggested retail price.

Here’s a video of Jon Olsson having fun on his Head skis (from Seven Sunny Days by Matchstick productions.  See their new film, The Way I See It):

Salomon X-Wing Fury

Here is an excellent all-around ski for just about everyone — the Salomon X-Wing Fury, a ski that fits a wide range of abilities.  This is the successor to one of the best-selling skis of all time, the Salomon X-Scream, and now takes its place as the flagship of Salomon’s line of all-mountain skis.  Unlike the X-Scream, however, which labored in deep snow, the X-Wing excels in it.  The 85-mm waist and the wood core provide both excellent shock absorption and enhanced edge holding.  As one of Outside’s testers said:  “Everyone will love it.”  Of the X-Wing Fury, OntheSnow.com stated:  “Likely the best all-mountain ski ever made.”  Ski Magazine awarded it a gold medal in 2008-2009.  Why get 2 or 3 different skis when the X-Wing Fury will handle just about anything you throw it at?  (126/85/113)  Get it here (plus bindings) for a good discount.

Fischer Watea 94

The Fischer Watea 94 is a great all-mountain ski for lighter or less-powerful skiers.  From Outside’s review:  “From the ‘powder hull’ tip — it’s shaped like the prow of a ship — to the loose and playful feel, this ski was built with the resort powder skier in mind.  On the groomed trails the Watea is predictable and stable.”  Skiingmag.com wrote:  “It scored its highest marks in stability and is, predictably, cool and calm even at top speed.”  They noted that once it gets up to speed it is maneuverable and stable, but it does not particularly like short turns.  Powder Magazine said:  “This might be the most backcountry-ready ski out of Fischer’s freeride line.”   (130/94/118)  Find it here for a good discount off the list price.

Poles

Scott’s Team Issue Poles are made from aircraft-grade aluminum (twice as strong as the industry standard) and have a simple, durable strap.  The 3-section Black Diamond Expedition Poles maximize pack space and adjustability with their FlickLock mechanisms; the top of the Power Series grip is reinforced so you can use it to pry open frozen buckles.  Leki’s Speed S Carbon Trigger Poles have a quick-release button on top of the grip so you can click the strap in and out conveniently; the straps also release automatically should you snag your pole on a tree, reducing the possibility of injury.

Here’s a good video on ski pole considerations:

Have fun during the rest of the season.  And if you don’t get enough days in with your new skis, remember that the southern hemisphere ski season (Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, etc.) will soon be here!

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Most ski/snowboard resorts will be opening this month.  It’s already snowed a good amount in my neck of the woods (20 inches a couple of weekends ago), so thoughts are naturally turning to sliding down hills on the fluffy white stuff (at least it’s fluffy in the Rockies), shredding terrain parks, dancing through moguls, and enjoying après-ski activities…

You want to keep warm, dry, and comfortable while you’re doing all that, so it’s time to get yourself an excellent ski parka.  You’re in luck, because the trend of technological improvement in most every area is readily apparent in clothing for outdoor activities.  It’s fair to say that the current crop of ski/boarding outerwear is the best in history in terms of performance, price, durability, functionality, fit, and style.  What follows is the cream of the crop.

Outside Magazine and its legion of testers reviewed a bunch of winter gear in all categories…

…and I’ll be getting to many of their recommendations in the next few weeks.  But we’ll start with that staple of winter intrepidity:  the ski parka.  For most of you skiers and boarders out there, that means a jacket you can wear at your favorite resort(s) — one that’ll keep you warm and dry whether you’re bombing down a run in 2 feet of powder, juddering down an icy slope in the fog, or sitting on a windy chairlift for 15 minutes.  Not to mention skiing double black diamonds on warmer days where you’re actually working up a sweat.  The current class of parkas can handle these diverse conditions and more.

Patagonia Reconnaissance Jacket

Click to buy Patagonia Reconnaissance Jacket

We may as well start with the best of the best:  the Patagonia Reconnaissance Jacket, which was selected as Outside’s Gear of the Year for 2010.  This is a high-loft, insulated soft shell with features that will keep you comfortable during a full day of glade schussing.  Additionally (for those of you with green leanings), it’s made of recycled and recyclable materials.  The Reconnaissance is highly breathable and supple and keeps riders warm with compressible, 100-gram PrimaLoft Eco insulation — ideal for the conditions of cold, big-mountain country.  Welded seams increase compressibilityand Patagonia’s Deluge DWR (durable water repellent) finish shrugs off wind and water.  Since it’s insulated, this jacket keeps you warm without having to add a lot of layers.

On balmy days, armpit zips and the permeable fabric enable you to regulate your temperature, and the helmet-compatible hood and powder skirt (with webbing loops that connect to any Patagonia ski/snowboard pants) zip off.  The jacket has many thoughtful features, including soft, brushed polyester against the chin and back of the neck, two handwarmer pockets, an insulated chest pocket for your iPod or other audio device, another pocket on the left bicep, and an elastic panel in the middle of the back that enables the jacket to flex with your movement.  There’s a holder for your ski pass under the jacket’s hem.  The pit zips are positioned so that you can unzip them without removing your backpack when skiing in the back country.  The Reconnaissance weighs 37 ounces.  On this page at Rock Creek, there’s a video from Patagonia that demonstrates this and other ski jackets more fully.

Patagonia Reconnaissance Jacket in Kombu Green

Said one tester at Outside: ”Sunny and dry, dumping wet snow, high winds and frigid temps… whatever the weather was doing, I always reached for this jacket.”

And remember that “green” component I mentioned:  the entire jacket is recyclable through Patagonia’s Common Threads program.

It wasn’t named 2010 Gear of the Year for nothing.  As if that wasn’t enough, at about $375 it also has the lowest suggested retail price of all the premium jackets reviewed here.  (Hey, get this jacket, head up to the high country, and be the first to comment on its performance at the bottom of this post.)

Columbia First Descents Parka

Click for Columbia First Descents Parka

Outside designated the Columbia First Descents Parka as a “Killer Value” and it’s easy to see why.  This parka, included in Columbia’s Titanium collection, is a versatile two-piece jacket with a waterproof, breathable outer shell and an inner down liner that can stand alone as its own jacket.  In fact, Outside thought the inner jacket alone was worth the price of admission.  It has zipped armpit vents and 3 pockets.  The outer shell, made of Omni-Tech, is woven of a supple, stretch yarn that promotes easy movement.  All seams are sealed.  The tall collar protects your face from frigid temps and biting wind and it has a laser-cut ventilation portal to allow your breath to flow freely.  It has a removable hood and powder skirt.  It’s got plenty of pockets to stash goggles, a camera, an mp3 player, etc.  (What’s with all the audio pockets, by the way?  Are you guys listening to a lot of tunes as you huck cornices?)

So, basically, you’re getting 3 jackets for the price of one.  Reviewers said that when the outer shell and inner down jacket are zipped together, it made for one of the warmest parkas they tested.  Total weight is 4 pounds.

Columbia First Descents Parka in black

As was pointed out by reviewers, this jacket is suitable for activities beyond boarding and skiing, such as backpacking, general camping, and rainwear on the trail or around town.  One reviewer called it “a tank of a jacket,” and went on to say:  “The jacket is great… the cool stretch material allows the jacket to move with me.  The liner is almost too warm at times, which is a good thing.  I’m thrilled with this jacket and love the plaid.”

I personally like most gear from Columbia.  Their stuff was a little nebbish in the early days of the company, but they’ve grown up into one of the best outdoor clothing and gear companies around.  I like the thoughtfulness and technical qualities of their designs which, I think, began to surpass North Face in certain areas awhile back.  And you get a lot for your money.  (That’s why this jacket is a “Killer Value.”)  The Columbia First Descents Parka retails for $400 but you can usually find it for a good discount here.

Here’s a brief video of one of Columbia’s lucky ski guys (this’ll help get you in the mood):

Arc’teryx Sentry

Click for Arcteryx Sentry

The writer-guys at Outside referred to the Arc’teryx Sentry as the “love child of a high-end mountaineering jacket and a toasty resort parka.”  Metaphors aside, this jacket incorporates some premium materials, including Pro Shell, Gore’s most waterproof/breathable fabric, and PrimaLoft’s top-of-the-line Sport insulation.  Arc’teryx calls the Sentry their most protective snowsports jacket.  (By the way, do you know the origin of the apostrophe in the Arc’teryx name?  The company was named after Archaeopteryx Lithographica, the first reptile to develop the feather for flight, thus freeing itself of the constraints of the horizontal world.)

The Sentry features athletic shaping for total mobility, a laminated powder skirt, fully taped seams, two-way armpit zips for temperature regulation, and four pockets:  2 insulated hand-warmers, an external chest pocket with a laminated zipper, and an internal mesh pocket with a two-way zip.  The powder skirt has a loop for your lift pass.

Arc'teryx Sentry Jacket in Miro Blue

Of this jacket, Outside wrote:

“The Sentry wowed every tester in the field, besting everything from arctic gusts on the lifts at Colorado’s Loveland Pass to a sopping spring squall at Alpental in the Cascades.  You can even hike or tour in it.  Bonus:  the hood stuffs away in a surprisingly non-bulky collar.”

The jackets weighs in at only 1.8 pounds (how’s that for technological superiority?).  It’s too new and, well, Arc’teryx, to be discounted much yet, but you can find it here via Moosejaw for around $600.  (By the way, you might like the kickass photography at the Arc’teryx site.)

Patagonia Pipe Down Jacket

Click to get Patagonia Pipe Down Jacket

We began with Patagonia and we’ll conclude with Patagonia.  Outside added the Patagonia Pipe Down Jacket in a side feature, citing it as perfect for cold-weather skiing (or any place you want to keep warm, such as standing along the downhill course at the winter Olympics).

If you like a classic down jacket, the Pipe Down is for you.  It has a compressible layer of 600-fill-power premium European goose down (and the fixed helmet-compatible hood is insulated, too).  It’s chevron-quilted to minimize bulk and keep the down from shifting as you’re carving turns down the side of some remote Alaskan mountain.  The ripstop shell has Patagonia’s DWR finish to increase durability and shed moisture and wind.  The soft, 100%-recycled polyester lining slides smoothly over layers (e.g. the new Patagonia Kernelius Jacket) and fleece at the collar protects your neck.

Patagonia Pipe Down Jacket in Henna Brown

It has a removable, stretchy powder skirt, armpit zips to keep you ventilated, two hand-warmer pockets, an audio-device pocket on the chest, and a zippered stash pocket inside.   Webbing loops on the powder skirt are compatible with any Patgonia ski/snowboard pants.  Weight is 30.8 ounces.  It is also the least expensive jacket in this group.  And it’s cool looking.  Find it here for around $300.

Any of the ski/board parkas here will enhance your enjoyment of riding this winter.  May you find plenty of deep powder and hot toddies.

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