Winter in Northern California brings with it two extremes–downpours and muddy trails in San Francisco matched with buckets of snow in the Sierras. To my surprise, the Ultra Extreme II boots from The North Face have served me well in both conditions. Waterproof and insulated, these comfortable winter boots take you from hiking the Marin Headlands in the morning to snowshoeing in Tahoe in the afternoon.
We have seen a wave of radical new snowshoe designs recently, all promising to take you farther and higher into the mountains. Built on a honeycomb platform similar to that of Fimbulvetr, the new Snowfoot snowshoe is purpose built for mountaineers and freeriders looking to get after those steep alpine ascents.
With this funny winter weather in the West, you never know if you are going to be hiking in 70 degree sunshine one weekend or skiing the next. Over the course of the early season, I was fortunate enough to find hidden snow stashes across Utah, Colorado, and Canada, while still hitting the trail both on bike and on foot here in the Bay Area. Whether skiing groomers or hiking amongst the redwoods, the Silver Ridge pack from Columbia has always been on my back.
The Obermeyer Sienna is a totally tricked-out waterproof alpine ski jacket with must-have features for the serious skier or rider. Klaus Obermeyer, owner/founder of the eponymous brand, has spent more than 60 years designing ski apparel and it shows. From easy-to-manipulate big-tooth zippers to bomber waterproofing, the Sienna is a full-featured performer that’s worth the price.
No more removing your phone this winter to change your music or start recording on…
Believing that standard snowshoe design leaves much to be desired, Norwegian company Fimbulvetr (Old Norse for The Great Winter), set out to create a stronger, lighter, more durable, and ergonomic snowshoe from scratch. The result is a unique honeycomb rocker design that floats like a dream and acts like an extension of your foot, giving you more freedom of movement over all types of terrain.
