Black Crows Mirus Cor

The Mirus Cor delivers carvability with a freestyle attitude. It’s essentially a classic full camber carve ski underfoot, close-to-center mounted between soft and wider twin tips (and it’s as fun as that sounds). They dig aggressive carving... Like, hip-to-corduroy levels of control. But their profile leaves enough room to trick and pivot if there happens to be a few inches of fresnhess. It’s performance and play, perfectly balanced.

Volkl M6 Mantra Ski

Tittanal sheets within give this ski a powerful blend of stability and confidence in just about any condition (I.e. no speed limits, ever). They’ve also been revamped with Volkl’s 3D Radius Sidecut, empowering long, chatter-free turns at high speeds, and tight, quick turns at lower speeds. Approachable, affordable, and extremely versatile, this is a single-quiver skier’s ideal machine for every run on the mountain—and every side quest between them.

Atomic Bent Chetler 120 Ski

We’ve seen Bent 120s all over the world, and for good reason. They’re everything a powder hound could wish for: lightweight, insanely floaty, but constructed with enough gusto to stomp every landing from Appalachia to the Sierra. They’re some of the most playful and creatively inspiring skis we’ve ever set foot on. Plus, the added surface area in the tip and tail makes these boards absurdly fun even in stirred-up powder.

Armada ARV 116 JJ Ski

JJs epitomize deep-snow fun. They trick and float unlike anything in their class and provide a solid foundation to stomp with confidence. Rather than asserting through powder, they smear through snow like butter on toast. JJs are loose, never hookey, and they won’t drive you around if you’re someone who likes that added room for creativity. They’re more stable than other freeride skis, so they’ll hold up in inconsistent, end-of-day conditions. Surprisingly versatile, they shine brightest sliding, slashing, and popping around in pow.

Blizzard Rustler 9 Ski

It’s all about fun, and that’s what Blizzard built these for. Rustlers construction enhances stability and strength underfoot, making it easier for newer skiers to test their edges and reach for higher speeds. This year’s updates gave this ski a mix of lightweight, energetic, and poppy playfulness. Their shape and profile were also updated with a longer and lower rocker, making it a capable ski in fresh snow. Still, there’s enough camber underfoot to hold down turns when asked. It’s a ski that gives entry-level riders a taste of the best of what skiing has to offer.

Salomon S/Pro Supra Boa 130 GW Ski Boot

As far as on-piste boots go, Supra 130s are a clear champ. Everything about this boot is made for a precision fit, leading to better foothold and more powerful performance overall. Customizable height adaptation on the tongue—plus the BOA® Perfect Fit System to dial down (and quickly adjust) your over-the-foot fit—make this boot as form-fitting as you can get. It's precision-steering, power-transmitting strength for the hardest-charging lines you can imagine.

Dynafit Tigard 130 Boot

Simply put, the Tigard 130 is on another level as far as one-boot solutions for both resort and touring are concerned. The fact that it operates with a generous 70-degree range of motion in walk mode but still holds up beautifully when pushed to hard-charging limits is enough to make us rethink what boots in this class are capable of. It rides with the legitimate stiffness of an alpine boot, and it’ll drive stout powder boards with comfort and ease.

K2 Method Pro Ski Boot

If you’re looking to amplify your park and freestyle prowess, the Method Pro should absolutely be on your radar. The classic three-piece construction is one park riders have come to know and love. The Methods are a shin-bang-exterminating masterpiece on the comfort end, and they don’t sleep on the performance end of the spectrum, either. Its roomy style is best for wider feet, but heat-moldable liners keep these boots relatively versatile.

Salomon S/Pro Supra Boa 105 GW Ski Boot

S/Pro Supra Boa 105s are the embodiment of comfort and precision, flawlessly executed. With the BOA® closure system covering the lower portion of the boot, and Solomon’s flex adjust tech to complement it, these boots land with a proper balance of performance and versatility. They’re an excellent option for advanced skiers seeking user-friendly, better-fitting boots that ride as beautifully as they look.

Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 115 Boa GW Boot

For freeride riders—especially those with narrower feet—the Hawx Ultra XTD boot will be a performance-fitting mindblower. With a smaller-than-standard last width and the BOA® closure system with it, it’s a boot that can’t possibly feel sloppy. It feels like an alpine boot you can truly trust in wind-stripped, lumpy, or borderline hairy conditions. And while it thrives on the downhill, it’s ready for uphill tours, too.

Look Pivot 15 GW

It’s nice to know that if things take a turn for the worst, our knees won’t. Look’s famous rotating heel piece has likely saved a few of us from the ER. Plus, their metal construction makes them an extremely durable and reliable choice for multiple seasons. They're a great solution for skiers who want a responsive, low-to-snow feel or rippers looking to crank up their DINs.

Salomon QST Echo 106

The Echo lines up as one of the most well-balanced touring skis we’ve ever seen. It’s neither featherlight nor bulky on the uphill, but that added sturdiness is appreciated on the downhill. Its healthy taper and rocker make it an adequate ski for mixed snow and powder alike. And while we always hope for the best, you never know what condition you’ll find yourself in up there. With the Echo, you know it’ll go without skipping a beat.

Dynafit Radical Pro Alpine Touring Boot

The Radical Pros hit the happiest medium we can imagine in the touring world: stiff but lightweight, ample range of motion for the uphill, while still delivering extremely solid performance on the way down. Its flexible tongue promotes energy-saving, natural walking even on steep grades. The Hoji Lock System lets riders quickly and easily transition from walk to ride mode, with trust that they’ll stand up to whatever terrain you end up in.

ATK Freeraider 15 EVO Binding

This year’s Freeraider updates make ATK’s tried-and-true recipe even more dependable. It's still made with the same release and response systems, with the dynamic freeride plate underfoot and elasticity in the heel piece that make the Freeraiders the most stable and trustworthy tech binding in the backcountry. Now, they have auto-locking brakes, plus a new toe piece with an adjustable release value. In other words, you can lay them into turns even harder and transition easier than anything else in their weight class.

Pomoca Climb Pro S-Glide Ready2climb Skins

Pomoca’s latest ready2climb skin addresses just about all of the pain points of climbing skins. They’re easy to cut, thrive in high-moisture environments, and deliver best-in-class glide and grip. But mainly, the glue will last nearly forever without ending up all gummy and grody.

Mammut Barryvox Beacon

We love how intuitive and easy to operate the Barryvox Beacon is. A triple antenna and 70m of range put this in the gold-standard pocket. The Barryvox is designed to set up users for rescue success by allowing them to quickly get into rescue mode and pinpoint their partner(s) location. It’s an extremely reliable and essential piece of equipment all levels of backcountry goers can master.

BCA Dozer 1T Shovel

A bestseller and a crowd fave in our office, this shovel is as sturdy as they come, sized perfectly for packing, and the blade easily punctures through tough crud. Dozer’s “stompable” design and the price point solidified it as our top pick.

BCA Stealth 270 Probe

Reliability is key in this tier of gear, and the Stealth 270 delivers. This probe pushes through even the hardest snow without coming undone. It features a locking button on the top, so all you need to do is toss, pull, and press to deploy—one of the most intuitive designs we’ve seen.

ABS A.Light E Set 25–30L

Waterproof, well-fitting, intuitive external straps, and excellent weight distribution are features that we won’t go without, and A.Light delivers there. But most notably, this is the first pack ABS airbag pack with an electronic airbag: the Alpride E2 super capacitor inflation system, offering extra protection without extra bulk. We love the U-shaped zipper for quick access to key items, and the intelligent pocket design that perfectly fits the essentials, too.

BCA BC Link 2.0

Touring is unpredictable by nature, so clear communication is required. The Link 2.0s range and battery life is impressive. But its weather resistance and easy-to-talk external microphone are what make this product shine. As far as overall performance and reliable communication go, there’s nothing like the Link 2.0.

Salomon Qst Xs Ski + Binding

The Kids’ QSTs will inspire confidence in growing groms. These skis have a versatile rocker that’ll let them explore the whole mountain, but the narrow waist and short turn radius will naturally inspire edge-to-edge skills and progression.

Black Crows Junius

The Junius is a ski that hits all the sweet spots. It’s underfoot width lands as a medium option that’ll open new experiences in every snow condition, and the overall profile opens the door for freestyle exploration, too. It’s designed to offer great mobility while maintaining a solid edge. We love this ski because it makes room for youngsters to find their own way to express themselves as they begin to ace the fundamentals.

Nordica Speedmachine J 2 Ski Boot

These boots are designed to adapt as quickly as your little sprout grows out of the bunny hill. The Speedmachines promote an easy-to-manipulate neutral stance to help new skiers feel things out. They’ll love the comfort and warmth, and you’ll love how easy they are to slip on and off in the parking lot.

Marker Free 7

Youth love pushing limits, and the Free 7s are designed to let them do that safely. The Two Linkage Toe system keeps these bindings light but still delivers proper release, and the compact heel system’s release properties are well-suited for everything from ski school to the big runs.