This backpack is a lightweight and original design that allows for quick approaches and easy access to gear during long climbing routes. The pack lacked durability, and some of the features such as gear straps could be improved upon in…
It’s odd to have a piece of gear you hope to never have to use in a real-life application. There are a few other pieces of gear that fit into this category- my personal locator beacon, my rescue harness for…
This skiing jacket is made for the backcountry. It blends performance, comfort, and style. Ortovox brings its history of intelligently designed gear all while using industry-leading lightweight and sustainable materials. Backcountry skiing demands a lot from your gear. Rarely will…
Ski touring is a gear-intensive sport. It can be tough to find a pack that holds gear specifically how you like it. I’ve often found that many companies developing packs to hold gear in innovative ways can forget one of…
Although airbag packs have been on the market for years, for a time they were consistently too heavy, too bulky, and too expensive for many backcountry users. Luckily for us, air bags have come down significantly in weight and bulk,…
“One jacket to rule them all.” That’s the perfect description for the Orotovox Swisswool Zebru Jacket. Over the last couple of months, I have kayaked across the ocean, climbed in the high sierras, and rafted down the Grand Canyon. Fortunately…
With winter finally coming into full swing, it’s time to break out the ice tools and join the mad rush to find the best ice. The hunt for backcountry ice often involves long and steep approaches. Typically those require a…
The Ortovox PALA alpine pants won’t snag on all of the sharp, pointy objects that come with winter mountaineering, but the fun colors and technical features are sure to snag you a ton of compliments on the mountain while being…
As the sleet came in sideways, I debated the wisdom of trying to get into my pack to put on my puffy. I was on skis, standing in sparse high-alpine juniper trees, and at the top of a 50-foot, snow-covered…