Earlier this month, a thru-hiker was stabbed to death on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia. After a few cursory moments of thoughts and prayers, the internet started offering suggestions that hikers arm themselves with guns.

Comments on the şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř social-media channels ranged from thoughtful to truly paranoid, but what surprised most me wasĚýhow many people claimed to carry a gun on the trailsĚý to Wes Siler’s 2018 piece about whether or not to carry a firearmĚýin the backcountryĚý(he ultimately argues that nonlethal defense is a better option). Many, it seems, fancy themselves pretty savvy gunslingers: Is that Wild Bill Hickock or Jeremy from accounting? It’s hard to tell. And that scares me far more than any grizzly bear or random hiker I’m likely to encounter. Anonymous recreationists carrying guns should scare you, too.

I’m not anti-gun, nor am I a city-dwelling ideologue. I’ve lived in Montana for nearly 20 years, andĚýI own guns. The only time I carry one into the woods, however, is to hunt. To kill game. That’s what they’re built to do.

I’ve been an outdoor writer and editor for nearly as long, covering everything from skiing and climbing to hunting and fishing. I own a backcountry guide service and operate exclusively in grizzly country, including some of the most bear-dense partsĚýof Yellowstone. I’ve had dozens of grizzly encounters, run-ins with polar bears on Arctic ski expeditions, and more than a few awkward conversations with disturbed individuals over the years—all sans sidearm and no worse for wear. Some of these experiences were scary, but I’ve never pulled the trigger on my bear spray (much less a pistol), and every one of those encounters made me a better outdoorsman.

I’ve also worked as an armed courier, transporting millions of dollars in an armored Freightliner—a job that required defensive-firearms training and certification with law enforcement and former military contractors. Guns were part of my wardrobe, and I’m comfortable with almost any firearm you could put in my hand. It’s guns in other peoples’ hands that make me nervous.

I’m not going to cite statistics about rifles and pistols or their effectiveness in wilderness-self-defense scenarios (the outcomes are generally piss-poor). The only fact that truly matters is irrefutable: the more firearms present in a situation, the greater chance you have of being injured or killed. Period. This isn’t a guns-in-America discussion. This is about whether it’s necessary or reasonable to carry them while recreating on public land and trails.

Are We in Danger?

We are not in danger on our favorite hiking trails and in our national forests. In fact, these places are ridiculously safe. While the recent murder on the AT is tragic, it was also an incredibly rare event. According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, which manages and preserves the trail, between two million and three million people hike part or all of the AT every year (over 5,000 are registered for nonstop thru-hikes this year alone), and yet in 45 years of record keeping, just . The most recent murder was only the third since 2000. If you extrapolate an average of two million hikers per year since the turn of the century, that equates to a murder rate of roughly 0.008 per 100,000 hikers.

In my backyard, grizzly bears roam freely, as they should. Sure, each year bears maul people, but most incidents are predictable and preventable: the elk hunter creeping around in the fallĚýwhen bears are stockpiling calories for winter,Ěýthe habituated bear feeding in urban areas,Ěýthe surprised sow with cubs. These are outlier events, not an assault on humanity. We are statistically very, very safe on the AT, in grizzly country, and everywhere else we recreate outside. I bet my life on it nearly every day.

Still, some people will insist they need a gun just in case. This means one of two things: they are completely terrified of some unspecified threat, or they simply like guns because they’re coolĚýand want to carry one. That is completely legal in most cases. But what is legal and what is reasonable are often not the same.

Why Carrying a Gun IsĚýUnnecessary and Dumb

There are three practical reasons why carrying a gun in the backcountry is silly.

First, any responsibleĚýowner knows that the highest priority is the security of their weapon at all times. On the trail, that becomes a real issue, since there’s no way to safely store your weapon. Want to go for a quick swim? Sorry, you can’t leave your sidearm unattended. Need to head into town for a resupply? Public transportation is off-limits, and most businesses don’t allow firearms. Want to grab a cold beer at the local watering hole after a particularly humid stretch of trail? Bummer, because in most states gunsĚýaren’t allowed in bars.

Second, hikers and backpackers are notorious gram counters. Are you seriously going to agonize for months over how to save a few grams on your stove, tent, and shoes, and then pack two pounds of loaded pistol on your hip? You may as well carry an external frame pack and a canvas-wall tent.

Finally, and most importantly, carrying a gun changes the way we interact with and feel about others. For thru-hikers, the social element is an enormously rewarding part of the experience. They meet people from around the world, adopt kooky trail names, share information (including who might be sketchy or carrying a weapon), and coexist for a brief time in a remarkable place, doing a remarkable thing. Bring a firearm into that dynamic, and it won’t be the same. Others don’t know you—they don’t know your training, demeanor, judgment, or intelligence. All they know is that you have a weaponĚýand, with it, the power to hurt them. And that’s all that truly matters. Guns intimidate.

There Are Better Ways to Stay Safe

The most important defensive training I received had nothing to do with how to apply deadly force. One of my instructors (a former Army Ranger) told us that if you need to improvise a defensive situation, it’s probably already too late. Whether it’s a charging bear, a person with a knife, or a terrorist with a bomb, if we’re reacting to a situation, we’ve already lost.

Situational awareness and anticipation are the keys to avoiding trouble, and these are the best tools we have to remain safe in any environment. They are what we used to safeguard all that cash when I was an armed courierĚýand what I use daily to keep my clients safe in the backcountry.

Do research before you embark on any adventure. Identify threats—bears, people, weather, fire. Educate yourself on these threats. Be alert, and note the details of your surroundings and the people you encounter. Something feel off? It probably is; change your strategy. It’s easier to avoid a dangerous situation than it is to escape one.

There are courses for this stuff, so rather than buy a handgun, take a class in developing situational awareness. If you hike in grizzly country, take a bear safety and behavior course, and practice deploying your bear spray. This makes it easier to identify a legitimate threat, and the beauty of bear spray is that if you pull the trigger and your judgment is poor, no one is dead. But whether it’s a bear or a knife-wielding assailant, they will not be a threat after a lungful of pepper.

A gun is not the cure for fear. GunsĚýtreat the symptoms of fear by making us feel safer and more powerful. But like water on a grease fire, they tend to escalate conflict rapidly. And if you’re in a defensive position, you probably won’t come out ahead.

Please, for the sake of the rest of us—the good guys on the trail—don’t carry a gun. It makes it awfully hard to tell who the good guys are. Going for a hike, run, or bike ride in the woods is incredibly safe. Let go of the fear.

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Beast 16 Bindings

BEST FOR: Stomping big backcountry lines.

THE TEST: The first 16-DIN tech binding, the new features a “return to center” toe piece. As you ski, the binding deflects to absorb shock. It’s one of the reasons, safety-wise, alpine-style bindings outperform tech bindings. The Beast also offers just six degrees of ramp angle from heel to toe, which makes for easier lateral movement and less pressure on the quads. 4 lbs.

THE VERDICT: It’s two pounds heavier than a svelte tech binding but still a pound lighter than most freeskiing AT bindings.

TOURABILITY: 3.5

POWER: 5

G3 Onyx Bindings

BEST FOR: Versatility.

THE TEST: The has matured into a dependable tech binding. We like that the brake remains engaged, even in tour mode, until the skier makes the first stride, thus saving the ski from unmanned adventures down the hill. Also smart: aftermarket plates ($77) let you use the same bindings on all your skis. 3.6 lbs.

THE VERDICT: Most improved binding of the year.

TOURABILITY: 3.5

POWER: 3.5

Tryolia Adrenaline Bindings

BEST FOR: Going down more than up.

THE TEST: The is heavy. It’s strong. It can handle cliff drops and race speeds. At almost six pounds for the pair, “it sucks energy like a black hole” on the skin track, said one tester. Mates best with stiff AT or alpine boots.

THE VERDICT: With DIN values to 16, height-adjustable toes that accommo- date alpine or AT boot soles, and a Titanal-reinforced mode lock, the Adrenalin is all about the descent. 5.8 lbs.

TOURABILITY: 2.5

POWER: 4.5

Salomon Guardian WTR 13 Bindings

BEST FOR: Heavy-metal-inspired descents; skiing primarily inbounds.

THE TEST: The updated, slightly lighter remains the best-performing freeride AT binding available. A low stack height lends it great snow feel, and the extrawide platform can power the fattest powder skis. It’s too heavy for anything other than short backcountry missions, but switching modes is a snap. 6.3 lbs.

THE VERDICT: An alpine binding with a walk mode.

TOURABILITY: 2

POWER: 5

TwentyTwo Designs Axl Bindings

BEST FOR: Driving big tele skis.

THE TEST: The offers top edging power and initiates turns without slop, thanks to a one-piece aluminum toe and stiff underfoot springs. Three settings let you adjust flex from aggressive to easy. 4 lbs.

THE VERDICT: At four pounds it’s hardly lightweight, but the Axl’s performance is unmatched.

TOURABILITY: 3.5Ěý

POWER: 4.5

Dynafit Radical ST Bindings

BEST FOR: Covering lots of ground.

THE TEST: The are tough to beat for their durability and user-friendly features. The forged-aluminum toe piece, with handy guides that align your boot with the pins, is now easier to step into. The binding is also wider and stiffer laterally to power today’s bigger skis, and it’s incredibly lightweight—a huge plus after the first couple-thousand feet of climbing.

THE VERDICT: şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř of a pure randonnĂ©e race binding, the Radical sets the efficiency standard. 2.3 lbs.

TOURABILITY: 5

POWER: 3

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Black Diamond Equipment Push Ski Boots

BEST ALL MOUNTAIN (TELEMARK)

Last year, BD updated the with an improved Boa liner and a plastic tongue for more forward support. It remains BD’s do-it-all boot, with good lateral rigidity and smooth range of motion on the way up. 8.6 lbs

Dynafit Vulcan TF Ski Boots

BEST FAST AND LIGHT (ALPINE TOURING)

With a carbon-fiber cuff and three buckles, the ’s stiffest boot. The free-floating cuff makes for effortless strides when touring. Our only gripe: getting it on and off is a bit tricky. 7 lbs

Scarpa Terminator X Ski Boots

BEST BIG MOUNTAIN (TELEMARK)

The touring-oriented , redesigned specifically for the Freedom NTN binding, is reasonably stiff and laterally powerful. Smart: tech-compatible fittings allow you to pair it with Dynafit-type alpine-touring bindings. 7 lbs

Garmont Kenai Ski Boots

BEST FAST AND LIGHT (TELEMARK)

remains one of the lightest telemark boots out there. Its low-cut Pebax shell helps minimize weight and maximize comfort. But it can only drive lightweight touring skis under 100 millimeters. 7.2 lbs

Scarpa Maestrale RS Ski Boots

BEST ALL MOUNTAIN (ALPINE TOURING)

This year’s four-buckle is stiffer and heavier but otherwise unchanged, with a comfy walk mode and a moldable liner. It can drive all but the fattest skis. “Exactly the same boot only better,” said one tester. 6.9 lbs

Lange XT 130 Ski Boots

BEST BIG MOUNTAIN (ALPINE TOURING)

Lange finally embraces the sidecountry with the . It’s stiff enough to drive any ski but is designed to go up, too, with a hike mode, lightweight buckles and liner, and a grippy rubberized sole. Available in two widths. 9.3 lbs

Psst, hard-charging resort skiers who hike a lot and occasionally head into sidecountry: the Lange XT 130 is designed for you.

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TwentyTwo Designs Axl Bindings

BEST FOR: The bigger-is-better crowd.

THE TEST: The is burly enough to drive any ski, but what sets it apart is a simple, durable touring pivot. On descents, testers noted that the stainless-steel toepiece offered unbelievable lateral power and predictable response, particularly in tough conditions. Three cable positions let every skier dial in their preferred tension.

THE VERDICT: Pair it with big boots to take full advantage of the power and precision. 3.8 lbs

Tourability: 3.5
Power: 4.5

Rottefella NTN Freedom Bindings

BEST FOR: Aggressive skiers.

THE TEST: We tried to find a downside to Rottefella’s lighter and flexier version of the classic NTN Freeride, but we couldn’t. The retains the Freeride’s commanding lateral power, semi-releasable safety, and near infinite adjustability, but thanks to a redesigned tour mode that’s almost completely free (there’s just a touch of forward tension), it taxed us a lot less while climbing. “Smooth, powerful, and efficient,” concluded one tester.

THE VERDICT: Pair ’em with the fattest skis you own. 3.3 lbs

Tourability: 4
Power: 4.5

G3 Enzo Bindings

BEST FOR: All-around touring plus downhill adjustability.

THE TEST: New from G3, the features a stout stainless-steel toe box, adjustable underfoot cable routing, push-button tour and downhill-mode switching, and uninhibited touring motion. Testers found the Enzo more powerful than G3’s previous model, the Targa, and they appreciated the versatility of three cable settings.

THE VERDICT: A nice binding, but neither the lightest nor the most powerful. 3.8 lbs

Tourability: 4
Power: 3

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Dynafit Radical TLT FT Bindings

BEST FOR: Charging the resort and then ducking into sidecountry.

THE TEST: The newly updated is Dynafit’s most powerful binding, specifically designed to pair with fat powder boards. The toepiece’s side towers—beefed-up versions of the pincers found on older Dynafit models—make the binding easier to get into and out of and increase power transfer. And the improved heel-riser design makes it easier than ever to adjust the climbing height on the fly, no more contortions necessary.

THE VERDICT: An uncanny blend of power and weight. The Radical is the most confidence-inspiring Dynafit binding we’ve ever tested. 2.6 lbs

Tourability: 5
Power: 4

Salomon Guardian 16 Ski Bindings

BEST FOR: Short tours just outside the resort and maximum power in-bounds.

THE TEST: The ’s wide toe unit (80 millimeters), low stack height (its chassis sits closer to the ski than any other binding’s in its class), and beefy materials (the toepiece is a stout fiberglass-nylon composite) make the Guardian the most precise and powerful AT binding we’ve seen. It accepts all alpine and alpine touring boots, and testers liked the “totally alpine feel” for charging through myriad resort conditions.

THE VERDICT: It’s a downhill binding—just look at the weight—but suitable for short skin tracks back to the resort, cat, or heli. 6.5 lbs

Versatility: 2
Power: 5

No, you're not crazy. The Guardian 16 is also being sold as the Atomic Tracker 16. (Salomon and Atomic are owned by the same company.) Identical binding, different name and paint job.

La Sportiva RT Ski Bindings

BEST FOR: Ultralight touring without losing performance.

THE TEST: It doesn’t seem possible that a full-featured touring binding this sturdy—the has an aluminum-alloy framework and hardened steel pins—could weigh so little (a little more than a pound per pair). Even more impressive is that the RT comes equipped with some serious safety features, including a lateral and vertical heel-release mechanism built into the baseplate to keep it out of the way.

THE VERDICT: “It’s the sexiest and the lightest,” said one tester, “but it’s gonna cost you.” 19 oz

Tourability: 5
Power: 3

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K2 BackDrop Backcountry Skis

GEAR OF THE YEAR: With the BackDrop, K2 has refined its proven recipe for a powder ski—a perfect blend of rocker and sidecut combined with a bit of carbon fiber—with fantastic results. “Catlike quickness, and it floats like a cork,” one tester said. “Requires minimal skier input to smear, slash, or rail any turn,” said another. It’s also light enough to tour with, thanks to that lattice of carbon in the tail and forebody. The result is a go-anywhere, shred-anything ski that craves powder but can handle resort chop without complaint. Bonus: K2’s pre-trimmed skins ($200) snap into the BackDrop’s tip and tail holes in seconds. 142/112/131; 8 lbs

Versatility: 4.5
Power: 4

DPS Wailer 99 Pure Skis

BEST FOR: Weight watchers who crave long backcountry tours.

THE TEST: The may be only 99 millimeters at the waist, but it floats like a much fatter ski, thanks in part to generous tip rocker and variable sidecut. But what most impressed testers was how well it skied on hard snow. A tapered tail and traditional camber add up to what one tester called “the Leatherman of skis.”

THE VERDICT: Expensive but fun. The hefty price tag is due to the all-carbon-fiber layup; it’s also available in a slightly heavier (less carbon), not-quite-as-lively version, the Hybrid ($799). 126/99/110; 7.5 lb

Versatility: 5
Power: 3.5

Dynastar Cham High Mountain Skis

BEST FOR: Carving up backcountry and pulling double-duty at the resort.

THE TEST: With a lightweight paulownia wood core and an early-rise tip, the planed effortlessly. “Bounces like a bumblebee in powder,” one tester said. Traditional camber holds an edge on harder surfaces, and the tapered tail finishes any arc with ease.

THE VERDICT: Just enough guts to blast through crud all day at the resort, but happiest seeking out soft snow in the backcountry. If you’re more often in-bounds than out, consider the standard Cham, which has a denser poplar core and two layers of metal, and weighs two and half pounds more. 137/107/122; 8.7 lbs

Versatility: 4
Power: 3.5

G3 Empire Skis

BEST FOR: Rocketing down big faces.

THE TEST: G3’s biggest ski to date combines stiffness and full reverse camber to achieve what testers called a “spirited and fun” ride. All that rocker means this behemoth skis much shorter and smaller than it looks, which translated to high marks for agility and playfulness, even at top speed. “You can let ’em run, but it dumps speed instantly,” one tester said. As a bonus, even with a tough Titanal topsheet, the is just light enough to haul uphill.

THE VERDICT: Bounce, slide, carve, and smear in the deepest snow. 153/127/139; 9.5 lbs

Versatility: 3
Power: 4

Atomic Automatic Skis

BEST FOR: Charging down big mountain slopes with superior maneuverability.

THE TEST: Atomic calls its new technology “sprocket power boosters”—basically, titanium rods integrated into the wood core. Our testers said it works. The was stable at high speeds but still had lots of rebound. “Quick turn initiation,” noted one. A tapered tip and tail make for playful feel in soft snow, and there’s more sidecut than you might expect (note how narrow the waist is), which made railing turns on firm snow surprisingly fun.

THE VERDICT: One of the liveliest big-mountain skis on the hill. 140.5/117/129.5; 9.7 lbs

Versatility: 4
Power: 4.5

Völkl Nanuq Skis

BEST FOR: Ripping the backcountry in all conditions.

THE TEST: Sharing the same lightweight, multilayered wood core as last year's Gear of the Year-winning Nunataq, the Nanuq is a more touring-oriented ski designed for variable conditions. Thanks to a healthy dose of tip rocker, it performed well in powder, where testers called it agile and energetic.

THE VERDICT: Almost a quiver of one. Just be careful in the crud. While ther'es enough sidecut to bite into firmer snow, the ultralight Nanuq gets a bit squirrelly in variable snow. 131/96/114; 7lbs

Versatility: 3.5
Power: 4

Voile Buster Skis

BEST FOR: Hunting down fresh snow.

THE TEST: “It’s the perfect backcountry package: flotation, weight, power, and price,” gushed one tester. With a 118-millimeter waist, the is a true powder ski, but camber and a carbon-and-fiberglass-reinforced aspen core will stand up to rigorous in-bounds pounding. Considering how light it is, the ski lived up to its name in variable conditions, providing a surprisingly stable platform when blasting through cruddy snow, while a rockered tip and tapered tail give the Buster float and maneuverability in the softer stuff.

THE VERDICT: Surprisingly stable in all conditions for such a lightweight ski. 139/118/127; 7.8 lbs

Versatility: 4
Power: 4

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Voile Switchback X2 Telemark Bindings

BEST FOR: TELEMARK

In its second year, the , one of the lightest free-pivoting bindings on the market, has proven itself to be an intuitive, powerful backcountry workhorse for driving all but the most gigantic skis. Touring performance is excellent, with a simple mechanism and easy mode changes. Testers called it an “all-in-one combo” with “lateral stiffness on par with bigger bindings.” Pair it with a medium-stiff boot for maximum return. 3.1 lbs

Tourability: 5
Power: 3.5

Marker FT 12 Tour Alpine Touring Bindings

BEST FOR: ALPINE TOURING

Built on a wide chassis, the is similar to the Duke, Marker’s beefiest offering, in its alpine-inspired power transmission and responsiveness. It’s strong enough for demanding in-bounds skiing, but it has an ergonomic stride and weighs over a pound less than the Duke. Mode changes still require you to remove your skis, but it’s as easy to get in and out of as a traditional alpine binding. 4.5 lbs

Tourability: 3.5
Power: 3.5

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Black Diamond Custom Boots

While the Custom’s stiffest-in-class shell remains unchanged, practically everything else is new. The liner has a plastic tongue shield to help distribute shin pressure, there’s foil underfoot for greater warmth, and a new Boa closure system and articulated design allow for greater range of motion while touring. The verdict: still tough, less rough. 9 lbs

TAGS: big mountain, warm

Garmont Voodoo Boots

The Voodoo’s three smartly placed buckles allow for unprecedented range of motion on the uptrack. The shell has been pre-punched in all the right places to accommodate a wide range of feet. And it had the best walk mode in the test, hands down. Add it all up and you’ve got what one tester dubbed “the Cadillac of touring tele boots.” 8 lbs

TAGS: great walk mode, fits all feet

Scarpa Terminator X Pro Boots

Scarpa’s designers ditched the overlap liner in favor of a more traditional alpine tongue on the new TX Pro. They also used denser foam (for better turn initiation), redesigned the power strap, and reengineered the walk-mode mechanism to make it easier to use with a gloved hand. No wonder testers deemed it their favorite all-mountain boot. 7.5 lbs

TAGS: serious forward lean, NTN-compatible

Salomon Quest 14 Ski Boot

Built with an overlap shell design, the Quest 14 has three buckles and a wide powder strap for a moderately stiff but consistent upper flex range that significantly reduces the potential for shin bang. But the kicker is the supercomfy walk mode, which makes it perfect for resort-based skiers who often hike for better turns. 9.3 lbs

TAGS: ALPINE-BOOT PERFORMANCE, WALK MODE

Scarpa Mastraele Boots

The Mastraele impressed testers with its balance of uphill ergonomics, downhill control, and daylong comfort. With 40 degrees of cuff rotation, the low-profile shell is as nimble on the skin track as it is over scree. Flex (both overall and lateral) is smooth and precise but not as stiff as Dynafit’s slightly heavier Titan Ultralight. 6.8 lbs

TAGS: billy-goating, ultralight

Dynafit Titan Ultralight Boots

Last year’s Titan was a tester favorite for its impressive weight-to-power ratio. With the new Ultralight, Dynafit shaved nearly a pound from the boot, mostly by using a slightly softer, less dense plastic. It’s not quite as powerful as the original, but a Pebax-carbon blend in the heel booster gives it plenty of oomph to drive even the plumpest skis. Fits narrower feet best. 7.5 lbs

TAGS: all mountain, tech fittings

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K2 Rescue Shovel Plus

Most collapsible backcountry shovels just dig and scoop. K2's Rescue Shovel Plus has you more than covered there.Ěý The twin points on the blade give it more bite—and increase its structural integrity—when you're, say, furiously chopping through concrete-hard avalanche debris and your buddy's crappy old plastic shovel is buckling. You can also affix the blade to the uniquely shaped grip, which essentially turns the shovel into a hoe, allowing you to quickly scoop out an igloo or build a backcountry kitchen. But, true to its name, it serves another, totally unique function. Because it has the necessary nuts and bolts stashed in its hollow handle, and the blade and shaft have been pre-drilled in the right places, it can also be used to construct a rescue sled. The instructions are in with the pouch of hardware; all you need are a few ski straps, ten yards of cordelette, and skis with holes in the tip and tail (like all of K2's and Völkl's backcountry skis). We hope you never have to assemble it, but it's nice to know that, in a pinch, you've got options.

Mountain Approach Folding Approach Skis

Until now, snowboarders have generally had two options for getting into the backcountry: snowshoes or splitboards. But snowshoeing is slow (no glide), and even the best break-aparts aren’t as responsive as a solid board. Mountain Approach’s Folding Approach skis offer a new way. In lieu of a traditional P-tex base, these 55-inch-long, 4.5-pound minis have integrated climbing skins and free-pivoting bindings, allowing you to skin up in your snowboard boots. At the top, you fold the skis into thirds—two hinges let them collapse—slide them into the included 35-liter backpack, and down you go.

Pieps Vector Avalanche Transceiver

The Pieps Vector is the first avalanche transceiver to incorporate GPS technology. It’s a welcome addition. For starters, you can use the Vector as you would any other GPS device. But it’s also helpful in the event of a slide. While GPS signals won’t lead you directly to your buried buddy—the location information they provide is too general—they do allow you, thanks to the principles of tri-angulation, to figure out the relative position of the signal much faster, saving you, and him, precious time.

Ěý

La Sportiva Stratos Boots

The average alpine ski boot weighs around five pounds. Alpine touring, four. This one? Just over a pound and a half, or about the same as a leather backpacking boot. Designed for elite randonnĂ©e racers, the all-carbon La Sportiva Stratos are the lightest ski-mountaineering boots on the planet. Due to their design complexity (and niche use), La Sportiva—which recently debuted an entire line of backcountry ski gear, including the ultralight bindings on page 106—handcrafts just five pairs a week in its factory in Trentino, Italy. Every minute detail, from the titanium rivets to the six-position adjustable forward lean to theĚýfeatherweight custom liners, is made with one thing in mind: getting up the mountain as fast as possible.

Columbia Circuit Breaker Soft Shell

Self-warming skiwear isn’t new. Skiers have been putting aftermarket heaters in their boots for years, and Columbia and Black Diamond recently debuted impressive (if expensive) battery-heated gloves. But we’ve never tested an electric jacket we liked until now. The best thing we can say about the Columbia Circuit Breaker soft shell, aside from how warm it kept us, is that it doesn’t feel like a heated jacket. It’s a bit heavier than a standard shell—there are two power packs, each the size of an iPod—but because the heat travels along lightweight, flexible carbon-fiber threads sewn into the fabric, it isn’t stiffer than other soft shells. Turning it on is as easy as pushing a chest-mounted button, and the Circuit Breaker really does blaze: on its highest setting, it kept us toasty for more than five hours.Ěý

Zeal Transcend GPS SPPX Goggles

It seems like technological tomfoolery. A GPS-powered digital display embedded in the lens of high-end, polarized, photochromic goggles? Foolish but for the fact that the Zeal Transcend GPS SPPX works exceedingly well. Better, actually, than anything you could wear on your wrist or download to your smartphone. While last year's version was pretty slick, the new model is even cooler, with pre-loaded resort maps and a feature that automatically records distance and drop. Part of the reason is how easy it is to use: simply reach up and toggle through speed, altitude, temperature, distance, and more. The micro display, visible toward the bottom right of the lens, disappears from view when you're skiing. It's like a downloadable dashboard from one of those badass European roadsters James Bond drives—when he isn't on the slopes.

Salomon BBR 8.9 Ski

Narrow waist. Oversize tip. Slight rocker. Pintail. We've seen them before, just never on the same ski. The sum of these parts? Salomon's BBR 8.9 is intended to do it all: carve groomers, float in powder, and be playful on everything in between. The most surprising thing about the BBR, which was inspired by the shape of water skis and designed by Bertrand Krafft—the same guy behind Salomon's popular X Scream series and its classic Pocket Rockets—is how well it succeeds. While some experts might want more tail (to finish turns strongly), and the narrow-waist and wide-tip combo can get grabby at higher speeds in crud,Ěý many intermediate and advanced skiers will find that it lives up to the hype. The slight rocker makes turn initiation automatic. It's just as happy making short turns as big sweepers. And the extra-wide tip and narrower tail make it, as one tester put it, “without a doubt one of the best powder skis I've ever tested.” 147/88/110

DPS Spoon 150 Skis

Since its inception in 2005, Salt Lake City-based boutique ski maker DPS has been combining rocker and carbon fiber in experimental ways. (One of the company's partners, Peter Turner, is the former R&D manager at Volant Skis, the company that created the now legendary Spatula, the world's first reverse-camber, reverse-sidecut ski.) The Spoon 150, which is still in the concept phase and won't hit shelves until 2013, is its most radical design to date. Looking to create more lift and smearability in deep snow, DPS engineered the ridiculously fat Spoon (150 millimeters underfoot) with a completely convex base. But because the shape—the most extremely rockered ski the world has ever seen—allows for virtually no edge grip, its engineers added what they're calling cleats, or “downward vertical undulations,” designed to give you some bite in firmer conditions. According to DPS, test runs in fresh snow in Alaska this spring yielded “long, 100-foot smears at 30 mph, with unmatched reeling sprays.” No word yet on how the cleats dig into the firmer stuff. 154/150/152

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Marker Duke Bindings

THE SELL: Maximum downhill performance with some tourability. THE TEST: Marker now makes lighter bindings (the Baron and Tour F10/12), but the updated Duke, which has a wider binding chassis for stronger power transfer from boot to ski, remains the most powerful and torsionally rigid AT binding on the market. Two other smart improvements: the updated AFD pad (the part of the binding under the forefoot) is now compatible with almost every AT boot on the market, and the higher climbing bar makes for easier skinning on steep tracks. THE VERDICT: The updated ergonomics and chassis are welcome; it’s still the best binding for someone who skis predominantly in-bounds and only occasionally goes on short tours. 5.7 lbs

TOURABILITY: 3
POWER: 5

Twenty-Two Designs Axl Bindings

THE SELL: A stout, free-pivot touring binding that can take a beating and drive the biggest skis. THE TEST: The stainless-steel Axl isn’t light. But most testers were willing to accept a little heft on the uptrack for what one described as “unmatched lateral stability and power.” A new heel lifter now accommodates nearly every boot on the market, and on the downhill, unlike other bindings, the Idaho-made Axl has three settings for its underfoot-mounted cables to satisfy styles from big-mountain chargers to meadow skippers. THE VERDICT: Plays best with stiff boots and big boards. 4 lbs

TOURABILITY: 3.5
POWER: 4.5

Rottefella NTN Freeride Ski Bindings

THE SELL: A resort-oriented step-in telemark binding with increased safety and mucho power. THE TEST: With its safety release, standard brakes, and four cartridge options to cover nearly every modern telemark style, the unchanged NTN (only the paint job is new) remains our favorite binding for aggressive skiing in our out of bounds. It tours pretty well, too. But, at more than four pounds, and with a walk mode that's not quite friction-free, it isn't nearly as efficient as a lightweight, free-pivot binding like the Voile Switchback X2. THE VERDICT: The most alpinelike binding available in terms of edge control and step-in ease. 4.4 lbs

Tourability: 2.5
Power: 5

Dynafit Radical FT12 Bindings

THE SELL: A resort-worthy Dynafit binding. THE TEST: We were skeptical, but the Radical, with its wider footprint and stronger lateral impact resistance on the toe-piece towers, really is tough enough to handle daily in-bounds wear and tear. Because it’s low to the ski and offers no lateral play, the FT12 turns on a dime, in-bounds or out. And at a pound and change per binding, it still received high marks on the way up. Efficient heel-post climbing aids adjust with the flick of a pole, making transitions easier. THE VERDICT: Toughest Dynafit we’ve tested. 2.6 lbs

TOURABILITY: 4.5
POWER: 3.5

Voile Switchback X2 Bindings

THE SELL: The lightest free-pivot telemark binding on the market. THE TEST: The Switchback has long been a tester favorite for fast-and-light touring setups; our only gripe has been its lack of power. Seeking to address that, Voile overhauled the X2 this year, pulling the cable routing back more than an inch to create what one tester described as “greater lateral control and a much more active engagement.” Voile also outfitted the X2 with a longer, more supportive toe plate and stiffer cartridges. THE VERDICT: It’s definitely got more oomph, but some testers still longed for more power. 3.2 lbs

TOURABILITY: 5
POWER: 3.5

La Sportiva RT Bindings

THE SELL: The lightest touring binding on the market. THE TEST: Built out of an extremely strong (and expensive) aluminum alloy, with hardened-steel heel pins and stainless-steel springs, the 10-DIN RT is a lot stronger than it appears. And despite how light it is (less than a pound per pair), the RT has all the touring features we look for: a three-position heelpiece, integrated crampon attachments, and brakes ($125; sold separately). Our only gripe is that you can’t adjust the heelpiece with your ski pole; you’ve got to twist it by hand. THE VERDICT: A deceptively full-featured binding. 13 oz

TOURABILITY: 5
POWER: 2.5

La Sportiva’s new alpine-touring bindings, the RTs, are built with the same tech fittings as the Dynafit bindings they’re modeled after, and they work with all Dynafit-compatible boots.

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