The can’t do it all, but it does so much so well that it rates as one of the most versatile winter jackets we’ve ever tested. The fit is athletic but comfortable, and the combination of PrimaLoft insulation in the front, back, and upper arms with breathable stretch side panels strikes the perfect balance. It’s packable enough (it stuffs into its own pocket) to be your go-to backcountry midlayer, but it’s equally adept at cold-weather bike commuting. Testers loved the helmet-compatible hood—a stretch panel on the front frames your face with cozy soft-shell fabric, while the body of the hood is stuffed with insulation to make you toastier still. 13.1 oz.

BREATHABILITY: 4

WEATHERPROOFNESS: 3

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Hundreds of bikes lay everywhere, stacked against dumpsters and brick walls. A crowd was swelling around me, high-fiving and joking with nervous anticipation. Then someone was yelling: “Manifests are ready, come get 'em!”

It was 2009, a summer night, and I was in a literal alleyway in downtown Minneapolis. I'd come to try my first alleycat event, . Made to mimic the routine a bike messenger might face in a typical delivery day, alleycats send riders around a city to a series of checkpoint stops.

Traffic, stoplights, potholes, pedestrians, and car exhaust are a part of the experience. Winners combine navigation skills with raw speed to complete courses that might crisscross a metropolitan area for 30 miles or more.

Held every week in cities around the U.S., alleycats have long attracted a crowd of working couriers and fixed-gear nuts used to riding among cars. Recently, a surge in interest toward urban biking has drawn in new riders, from serious roadies looking to win to casual cyclists who come for the party.

In Minneapolis, where I have ridden in a couple dozen alleycats since that first blush, underground races are held every few weeks. One series, called No Name, hosts races the first Sunday night of each month. You put $5 in a pot to race; the winner takes the cash but usually buys beers at the end for the pack (and must organize the next month’s race).

Despite a few large races each year in the U.S., there is no sanctioning body for this “sport.” There is no official calendar of events; rules and event formats vary from race to race. Alleycats have their detractors, too. It's dangerous to race in traffic, and in 2008 a rider died in a Chicago alleycat after running a red light.

If you want to race in an alleycat, get to know your local bike community and ask around. Don't let the piercings and tattoos of the urban set intimidate. Alleycats, at least in Minneapolis, are often open and friendly events to anyone on two wheels. Just know what you're getting into before grabbing that manifest and pedaling into the city streets.

Talk the Talk

Manifest: A paper cluesheet with addresses or directions to the race’s mandatory checkpoints. Racers obtain stamps (at manned checkpoints) or write in clues at unmanned fill-in-the-blank) stops. (Example: “Name the politician referenced on the statue at 34th St. & Vine”.)

Stamp: Inked stamp or signed initials on a race manifest from an event volunteer. Obtained at checkpoints to prove you were there.

Spoke Card: Your race number. Often a laminated index-size card with race logo and “bib” number for event. Placed in wheels spokes before race.

Checkpoint/Stop: Often a city landmark, sign, plaque, or (in the case of manned races) a person sitting inside a restaurant or bar with a stamp or pen. Most alleycats have 10-plus checkpoint stops that racers are required to find before riding to the finish.

Skitching: Grabbing a moving vehicle while riding for a tow. Common with some experienced couriers, but illegal and not recommended.

Major Events

Hundreds of alleycats are held each year in the U.S. and beyond. Most are small, grass-roots events promoted only by word of mouth and social media. Here areĚýa few of the larger alleycats around the nation:

• (July, Seattle)
• (August, Minneapolis)
• (November, Los Angeles)
• (February, Minneapolis)
• (March, New York City)

Essential Gear

Some alleycats require racers to ride fixed-gear bikes, but most are open to anything with two wheels and a chain, from mountain bikes to clunky commuters. Beyond the bike, here are a few key items not to be left behind.Ěý

Map: Bring a detailed map of the city, or use a map program on your phone. Checkpoint stops are often at esoteric addresses and out of the way places. Even if you think you know the city you're going to need some help on the navigation front to complete a course.

Marker or Pen: Bring a couple. You'll need to write down clues, draw routes on a map, et cetera.

Cash: Entry fees are often nominal (or free), but carry some extra scratch in case you need to jump on a train or bus somewhere on the course.

Map Bag: Basically a flat Ziploc-like bag used by orienteer to protect their charts. I use one to prevent my paper maps and manifests from being .

Water: Don't think you can skimp on hydration just because you're in a city. I bring two full bottles or, for longer events, a bladder in a backpack. Some alleycats can last two hours or more, and you're often sprinting and stopping fast, or cranking hard the whole time.

Food: Some alleycats stretch 50 miles through a town, so you need calories and carbs to power through to the end. I bring gels and energy chews on longer events.

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A fixieĚýis a bike without a freewheel—think: no coasting—that's often ridden without brakes. It's a simple concept that provokes some serious emotion in the cycling world: Bikers either love fixies or loathe them. To help you decide which side you're on, we start here with an ode to the fixie written by Stephen Regenold, editor and founder of . Read on for an anti-fixie screed from şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř Online's editor, Scott Rosenfield, an avid cyclist who's not a fan of the hipster's favored ride.

In Praise of Fixies

The first time I rode a fixie, in 2006, it nearly killed me. My legs locked in motion with the wheels, I built some speed to crest a rise.

On top, I gazed ahead down the hill, and started to descend. In an old habit I stopped pedaling and attempted to coast. Bad move. My cranks bucked sharply and the bike swerved, the pedals forcing my feet in circles as the frame cut air on the steep downhill.

The machine was alive! This horse wanted to run, and I wasn’t about to stop it. I felt a rush, the intoxication of riding on the back of something wild, a little dangerous and, most of all just plain fast and fun.

I haven't quit since.

The fixed-gear experience is like nothing else on two wheels. It's a special feeling, an “almost mystical connection,” as bicycle mechanic/muse Sheldon Brown puts it in his well-read ““

Brown, who died in 2008, was no hipster. He was an old guy with a beard who rode regular and fixed-gear bikes, the latter of which he noted feel “like an extension of your body to a greater extent than does a freewheel-equipped machine.”

I go further: Freewheel-equipped bikes, to me, feel broken and limp compared to fixed-gear. By stripping a bike down to its basic design—ditching the freewheel, gears, and sometimes even the brake—you gain ultimate control.

Your body and your riding technique stand in for the missing parts. Your legs are your gas and your brakes. You spin hard for speed, and resist the motion of the rotating cranks when you need to slow down. When you get tired, you can’t coast or shift to an easier gear.

Skeptics see fixed-gear bikes as antiquated or dangerous. Freewheels, gears, and (especially) brakes have become standard for a reason, right?

To be sure, getting a fixie is a bad idea for many riders. Most people benefit from gears and the ability to coast while riding on long tours or commuting in cities with lots of hills. Riding a fixed-gear takes time to get used to. It’s also not for the out-of-shape, and if you have bad knees, riding fixed may make them worse.

But Telemark skiing might hurt your knees, too. Telemark is also harder than alpine. Or how about running in minimalist shoes? Some people are injured, but others gain strength, speed, and (yes) “connection” with the ground by stripping the design down to its essentials.

As for brakes, most fixed-gear riders I know have one on the front wheel. But you can ride without brakes once you're used to the machine. Putting back-pressure on spinning cranks slows you effectively, just like a brake handle can. If you need to stop faster, you can skid to a halt by taking some weight off the rear wheel and locking your legs.

After six years of using them, I ditched my brakes in 2012. I almost never used them, only touching the hand brake when I was tired and didn’t feel like putting back-pressure on the cranks. It’s hard to explain why, but for me, riding without conventional brakes puts me more in sync with the road and my surroundings. I certainly don’t recommend that everyone rush to their garage and remove their brakes (riding brakeless takes a ton of practice, and is illegal in some places). But despite what freewheelers think, stopping without them is rarely dramatic or dangerous.

My current fixie is built off a scandium frame from boutique of L.A., and leans toward a track-bike design. At about 16 pounds and with a gearing of 48 x 16, it’s a remarkably versatile bike, a demon of a build that can leap from a standstill to 25 miles per hour like a drag racer and alongside my geared buddies for 30 or 50 miles on city rides or country roads.

During the snowy months here in Minneapolis, I commute on a winterized fixie with a mountain-bike frame and studded tires. The extra traction and “road feel” of the fixed gearing has won me over after years of riding through snow on freewheel-equipped bikes.

Fixies excel as training tools, too. As an endurance athlete and a serious runner, I like to say that riding a fixed-gear is like “running on a bike.” Without a freewheel, you are always working. I sweat more and try harder, pushing a big gear on hills with no other way to get up, then spinning fast or resisting the pedal force as gravity again takes hold on the descent.

In the end, fixie haters are gonna hate. Be it the brake debate or the hipster embrace, dissing the “fixed culture” is a popular thing to do. But fixed-gear is not a trend to me. I've been enthralled for years, ever since that bike tried to buck me off in 2006. I got back on the horse, and I haven't let go since.

—Stephen Regenold

Why Fixies Belong in the Garbage

Ěý

I’ll admit it: Fixies do have a certain appeal. They’re simple, aesthetically pleasing, and—in a very particular setting, like on the velodrome or in the trash—even functional. But 99 percent of the time, there’s a better tool for the job.

Hating on fixed-gear bikes is almost too easy. At their finest, bikes are efficient, safe, and eminently enjoyable means of transportation. However, strip away a couple key components—namely the brakes and freewheel—and they become dangerous and impractical.

Anyone who’s ridden a bike knows that drivers can be unpredictable. Even the calmest of on-road commutes invariably involves a fair bit of swerving and emergency braking. Cyclists absolutely need to be able to stop as quickly as possible, and the stopping distance of a fixie is reportedly twice that of a front-brake-equipped bike—in the best of cases.

Fixed-gear nuts will tell you that an inexperienced rider is more likely to flip over his bars emergency braking on a road bike than on a fixie. As someone who’s raced on the track and road, it’s far more intuitive to stop safely using two brakes than by backpedalling. You’re also less likely to burn through costly rubber trying to skid to a stop.

True, some riders add front brakes to their fixies, which makes them a little more practical (and, depending on where you live, legal). But if brakes add a level of sanity, they also adulterate the machine. Taking a bike which is essentially a style statement—a direct insult to conformity and functionality—and trying to make it practical seems self-defeating, almost like purchasing a hybrid Hummer. Sure, it’s better than riding without brakes, but is it really the best option?

Even on the flattest of terrain, the majority of people would benefit from gearing or the ability to coast, something the fixie cannot afford its riders. The majority of amateur fixie riders end up over-geared and struggling to get up to speed from stops, or under-geared and furiously pedaling on the slightest downhills.

Fixie proponents claim that struggling with your machines forces riders to become more efficient—that your legs adapt to producing power over a range of cadences. Science says that argument is entirely irrelevant; the fastest riders actually have some of chunkiest pedal strokes, as . And pulling up on the pedals actually reduces your efficiency, .

Then there’s the matter of fixies’ supposedly superior road feel. The idea is that by stripping a bike of its functionality, you gain a higher degree of control. But control is about getting the most out of your body and bike, not making the most of a faulty machine. For me, that means accelerating effortlessly and having the optimal gearing for any situation. Just imagine an F1 driver telling you that he’s upgrading his car to something with marginally-functional brakes and one gear to feel more connected to the road.

And as much as I’ve tried to avoid hating on hipsters, fixies don’t just ride themselves. There’s a certain category of person who consciously chooses to eschew brakes, gears, and sensibility in their bikes, and all too often, that person is also into PBR, Converse, and excessive irony. Some say it’s a “suicidal response to urban conditioning,” an act of rebellion against conformity. But when a subversive act becomes a trend, against what, exactly, is it rebelling?

The fixie is meant for the velodrome, and it excels there. Taken anywhere else, it’s nothing more than a borderline-nonfunctional cliche. If you plan to ride on the road, gears are the way to go.

—Scott Rosenfield

The post Why I (Don’t) Ride a Fixie appeared first on şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř Online.

You see strange things when you head up R&D at Patagonia. Like goose down floating in illuminated tubes. You go to strange places. Like secret labs inside white-washed corporations in Austin, Texas.

For five years, Randy Harward was on a quest to build the “best down parka ever made.” Those are Harward's words to describe the Encapsil Down Belay Parka, a puffy monster debuted to the public late yesterday. It has a heretofore unheard of 1,000-fill insulation rating. It costs $699.

Money was no concern, Harward said, during the R&D phase, which began in 2008. This included climbing trips and backcountry ski outings as well as research at labs in Silicon Valley. Along the way, Patagonia acquired a major stake in a Texas “advanced materials” company, , which is where the vacuum tubes and lab coats came into play. “A little chemistry gave us the extra fill power,” explained Harward, who is a materials guru as well as a vice president at Patagonia.

The company got a patent on its down-enhancing technology, branded Encapsil. It built a proprietary process with AeonClad that converts 800-fill down into the superfine 1,000-fill via radio waves, plasma chambers, “shifted” molecular structures, and other nano-chemical juju. In English, this means the fine plumes on goose down are made even finer by the AeonClad machine. It makes the plumes longer, stronger, more insulating, and resistant to water, according to Patagonia.

Lab-speak aside, I decided to give the parka a test. şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř was sent a prototype of the jacket around Christmas. I zipped on the bright red, beyond-puffy piece on a trip in January to Minnesota's North Shore.

Wind whipped off Lake Superior. The winter sun hung low all day in the sky. I wore only a T-shirt under the Encapsil Parka as I trekked through snow into the forest for a view, and I was warm. In temps down to about 10 degrees Fahrenheit the parka kept me warm with just the thin base underneath. I was hot when I hiked hard uphill, the jacket performing more like a high-altitude mountaineering suit than a regular puffy.

Its hood is amazingly thick, a mummy sleeping bag feel. The body of the parka lofts to about 1.5 inches thick with the 1,000-fill puffiness. You can see the mottled pattern of the down feathers through a semi-transparent interior fabric. The stitching is fine and exact. Patagonia touts the construction is “independently baffled and differentially cut,” a complex pattern of down-stuffed chambers the company cites as another first. Packed up, the parka is about the size of a football. It weighs 18 ounces in a size large.

Because it's sold as water-resistant, I did my own lab test with the parka at home. Under a sink, tap water ran off its Pertex face fabric. It was difficult to soak the parka through even under the hard flow of a faucet. But it is not a raincoat. Water runs off the fabric face, which has a polyurethane coating, but it doesn't bead up. Once soaked through, the goose down does clump some. But it still retains its puff to an extent, as well as some warmth, even when torrentially soaked. I was impressed.

With a wet arm I went outside. After a few minutes of moving, the down was already starting to re-puff itself up and regain its insulation value. The plasma treatment was ostensibly doing its trick. More impressed.

The next week, on a final call with Patagonia, I talked to Harward about the future of Encapsil and down jackets. I asked if 1,000-fill is a current limit of practical puff. “We are making new discoveries every week,” he said. “We're working on a 1,200-fill now.”

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Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer

Two years ago, alpinist Ueli Steck, a.k.a. the Swiss Machine, asked Mountain Hardwear to make him a line of gear that was tough enough to handle the world’s tallest peaks and packable enough to take on speed climbs. The company delivered one of the lightest, most versatile down jackets we’ve ever tested. It’s slim fitting enough to wear under a shell, weighs just seven ounces, and, thanks to a paper-thin, wind and rip-resistant nylon exterior, tough enough for bushwhacking. Then there’s the secret weapon: the down insulation is treated with a waterproofing polymer that keeps it warm when damp. The may be built for the Alps, but the same features that excel up high work just as well on cold bike commutes and frigid lift rides. 7oz

Nau Wool Patrol

We’ve tested (and admired) wool-nylon-blend soft shells in the past, but this is the first waterproof-breathable jacket we’ve seen with wool used on the exterior. While the isn’t quite as light or breathable as a top-of-the-line ultralight hard shell like the Westcomb, it’s more weatherproof than you might think and dapper enough for a night out. Water beaded off the DWR-treated wool when biking between coffee shops in a Portland, Oregon, drizzle and again during a downpour while skiing Mount Hood. The waxed-cotton trim is also a nice touch. 1.6lbs

Stio Rambler Reversible

Flannel isn’t just for lumberjacks anymore. It’s appearing in synthetic base layers, Primaloft insulated shirts, and the from Stio, a startup based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Turned one way, the exterior is a brushed-cotton work coat that’s as tough as your grandpa’s Pendleton but softer to the touch; flip it around and it becomes a DWR-coated nylon windshell. Either way it’s handsome, well priced, and ideal for kicking around town, collecting firewood, or, on a warm and sunny spring day, riding the slopes. 1.2lbs

Arc’teryx Diplomat

The company that built its reputation making the best high-end technical outerwear has done a beautiful thing: it made the coat you’ll want to wear when you’re far from the mountains. The thigh-length features a bonded-wool face, fleece backing, and a hood. As you might expect from Arc’teryx, all of these features make it warm enough to handle a blizzard. Note: the slim cut is best for taller guys and not quite roomy enough to wear over a suit jacket. 2lbs

Armada Bomb Pop

The reason the X Games crowd prefers loose-fitting outerwear isn’t just that it looks cool. It’s also more comfortable, especially in the air. The waterproof-breathable, uninsulated features a baggy fit that allows for freedom of movement whether you’re launching off a cliff or jibbing your way through the park. Even better, it’s packed with features—tall collar, giant hood, powder skirt, wrist gaiters—that make it just as user-friendly for rallying groomers as it is for hunting down fresh snow. But at two and a half pounds, it’s probably best worn in-bounds. 2.5lbs

Westcomb Shift LT Hoody

A jacket like the really could be your all-season, do-everything hard shell. The key is the fabric, Polartec’s much lauded Neoshell, which makes the LT waterproof enough to fend off the wettest storms at the resort, light enough to double as your backpacking rain jacket all summer, and just breathable enough to wear over a base layer when climbing or skinning up a peak. We also like that it’s made in British Columbia and has all the features you need—one Napoleon pocket, one helmet-compatible hood—and nothing you don’t (trust us: you won’t miss the pit zips). 10.9oz

Columbia Winter Blur

The has all the creature comforts—pit zips, removable hood, and powder skirt—you expect in a full-featured ski jacket. It also has two you don’t. First, Columbia wrapped the heavy synthetic insulation in a four-way-stretch fabric, allowing for an athletic cut and an uninhibited feel that’s rare in a jacket this warm. Second, the interior of the Blur is lined with aluminum microdots that reflect heat back to the body. Basically, it’s a wearable, breathable space blanket, and it makes the jacket noticeably warmer.
2.8lbs

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La Sportiva Storm Fighter GTX Jacket

GEAR OF THE YEAR: Who knew that an Italian bootmaker would be so proficient in the jacket game right out of the gate? The ’s Active Shell fabric—a new, lighter-weight version of Gore-Tex’s most breathable stuff—kept us bone-dry during three days of nonstop rain along Northern California’s Lost Coast Trail, and it breathed impressively well as we huffed along Lake Superior’s North Shore through sideways snow. Smart details like Velcro-less cuffs that slide into (not over) gloves and a tiny magnet at the hem that holds the zipper cover in place made us smile. All that, plus it’s better looking (love the asymmetrical detail on the shoulder) and just as light as every other hard shell in its class. 11 oz

Breathability: 4.5
Weatherproofness: 5

Arc'teryx Alpha SV Jacket

BEST FOR: Nasty conditions.

THE TEST: The revamped Alpha SV is cut from an up-armored version of Gore's Pro 3L, which you'll also find on Arc'teryx's Gear of the Year-winning resort jacket. Put simply, it's one of the most durable fabrics we've ever tested. Cut a bit looser than your classic Arc'teryx jacket to fit over bulkier winter layers, the SV is near artisanal in its construction, with miniature bellows on the chest pockets so they'll lie flat when empty and foam tubing to keep the hem from riding up under your climbing harness.

THE VERDICT: It's a bit crinkly, which some testers found annoying, and definitvely pricey. But as one tester also noted, “it's the toughest hard shell I've ever worn.” 18 oz

Breathability: 4
Waterproofness: 5

Rab Stretch Neo Jacket

BEST FOR: Doing it all.

THE TEST: “If I had to clean out my closet and keep just one shell, it’d be the .” That remark came after an expedition-style adventure race in Patagonia, where testers trekked and climbed in this jacket for eight days. The key to its versatility is Polartec’s NeoShell fabric, which breathes as well as any waterproof material we’ve ever worn. The alpine-influenced design includes long arms, a helmet-compatible hood, and two massive pockets on the chest for stowing gloves, glasses, a hat, and a day’s worth of energy bars.

THE VERDICT: The streamlined design—no pit zips, no hand pockets—helps keep weight down, but it’s not as light as some of the competition. 18 oz

Breathability: 4
Weatherproofness: 4.5

Mountain Hardwear Quasar Pullover

BEST FOR: Packing light, moving fast.

THE TEST: Designed by Swiss speed climber Ueli Steck, is about as simple as it gets, with a small hood that fits best under, not over, a helmet (Steck prefers the close-to-head, under-helmet fit) and a single non-zippered pocket inside the chest. The only real creature comfort is the soft, thumb-hole-equipped cuffs, which are certainly cozy—until they get wet. On damp days, the fabric sponged up water as we climbed.

THE VERDICT: Optimal for anyone looking for a packable, just-in-case hard shell for winter, spring, or fall. 9 oz

Breathability: 4
Weatherproofness: 4

The North Face Polar Hooded Jacket

BEST FOR: Start-stop activities on cold days.

THE TEST: A unique mashup, the melds soft-shell construction (arms, shoulders, and hood) with low-profile insulated panels (shoulders, biceps, and back) and a swath of fleece around the torso. In single-digit temperatures while skiing and snowshoeing in Minnesota, the stretchy, breathable Polar Hooded regulated temperatures nearly as well as a traditional soft shell. And it was surprisingly warm: during breaks when we’d normally be reaching for our puffies, it kept us just warm enough on its own.

THE VERDICT: A versatile soft shell with an insulating alter ego. 26 oz

Breathability: 5
Weatherproofness: 3.5

SmartWool PhD SmartLoft Divide Jacket

BEST FOR: Moving quickly in cool weather.

THE TEST: The has a familiar design—an insulated chest panel with stretchy, breathable material along the back and arms—but with a unique twist. Instead of fleece arms and synthetic insulation, it’s wool throughout, including merino for the arms and back and fluffy wool-based fill for insulation. On sweaty cross-country ski outings and winter runs, the shirtlike, one-pound SmartLoft Divide breathed just as well as its synthetic competition. The jacket’s core-warming front was balanced by the thin merino elsewhere—which, by design, lets wind cut straight through.

THE VERDICT: Aerobic do-all coat that several testers praised as the ultimate winter midlayer. 1 lb

Breathability: 5
Weatherproofness: 1

Sierra Designs Gnar Lite Jacket

BEST FOR: Winter camping; cold and wet outings.

THE TEST: Each goose feather inside the water-resistant is coated with a hydro-phobic treatment marketed to keep the down dry “10 times longer” and, should you still manage to wet it through, dry out “33 percent faster” than old-fashioned feathers. To test those claims, we wore this basic sweaterlike coat—it weighs a scant 10 ounces and packs to the size of a grapefruit—as a layer and on its own. During a cold and seriously drizzly March hike, it took about 30 minutes to wet through. Though it did get a big clumpy, the jacket retained some loft (and thus warmth) despite being almost moist enough to wring out a sleeve.

THE VERDICT: The technology (mostly) works. 10 oz

Breathability: 4
Weatherproofness: 3

The trend in insulatation this year is water-resistant down, like the stuff inside Sierra Designs' Gnar Lite. By treating each feather with a special coating, Sierra figured out how to keep down dry up to 10 times longer.

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The Top 5 Obstacle Racing Essentials

Barbed wire. Mud pits. Jacked “gladiators” armed with cudgels. Obstacle racers face a lot of stumbling blocks on their way to the finish line. The sport, which pairs a footrace with Navy SEAL-style challenges, is hitting critical mass in this country, with thousands of athletes signing up for mud-caked events like the Spartan Race, Tough Mudder, and Warrior Dash. For a primer on the best gear for the sport, we interviewed two champion racers: , the most successful Spartan Racer of all time, and , a Vermont-based athlete with top finishes in races like the Warrior Dash and Tough Mudder New England. This is the gear that helps them get to the podium.

• Fuel
• Clothing
• Shoes
• Race-Day Pack
• Positive Attitude

Obstacle Racing Essentials: Fuel

Eating right before an event is key. Three hours before his races, Call makes a customized energy drink with wheat grass, honey, two raw eggs, and a half-scoop of protein powder. (If you’re squeamish about raw eggs, omit them and use a full scoop of protein powder instead.) One hour before the gun, he downs a lighter energy concoction with creatine added in—Call prefers . If the course is longer than six miles, Schlachter recommends packing energy gels, like those made by , to avoid bonking mid-race.

Obstacle Racing Essentials: Clothing

“Rule number one, do not wear cotton!” Schlachter says. “It does nothing but weigh you down and hold mud and water.” Stick to synthetic wicking fabrics instead. That includes underwear: spring for a pair like s Men’s Techwick Boxer Briefs ($20) or Women’s Techwick Seamless Hipster Bikini ($16), which will draw away moisture.

Call, who’s been known to race shirtless, says that he wears “regular running shorts” made of nylon or poly blends. “Any running shorts will do, but preferably without external pockets as they will fill up with water and mud,” he says. For vision correction, Call wears contacts instead of glasses, which get dirty too fast in the mud-and-water-filled obstacles

Obstacle Racing Essentials: Shoes

Call does his workouts in , but for actual racing, he goes a little more traditional track-and-field. “Train in training shoes, race in racing shoes,” he says, noting that ultraminimalist shoes “are not built for speed.” On the course, he wears ‘s Zoom Waffle Racer 8, a cross-country running shoe that weighs a scant six ounces and has just enough tread for running fast. Schlachter prefers aggressive minimalist shoes like the X-Talon 212 from .Ěý Whatever kicks you choose, both athletes recommend pairing them with lightweight, synthetic running socks, like ‘s Coolmax 1/4 Sock Mesh model.

Obstacle Racing Essentials: Race-Day Pack

Before each race, Schlachter pre-stocks a backpack with necessities like sunscreen, towels, a change of clothes, extra energy food, and flip-flops. She also brings two large plastic bags for storing her mud-caked clothing post-race.

In addition, Schlachter packs a special clean-up kit to give herself a low-tech “shower” in the parking lot after the event. She brings a bottle of biodegradable soap from and pours gallon jugs of water over her head after scrubbing herself down.

Obstacle Racing Essentials: Positive Attitude

The most important pre-race item on Hobie Call’s list? “It’s the ‘Today, I’m Superman’ attitude,” he says, noting that proper mental preparation helps him more than any piece of gear.

“The most important thing is to go into the race with a clear mind,” Schlachter says. “Each race is different and each venue is unique. Be prepared for whatever comes your way, be it mud, water, fire, electricity, or a gladiator.”

Article in collaboration with Stephen Regenold/

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The Best Triathlon Gear for Beginners

A low price tag and a quality build make the ideal for newbies. “It's an affordable suit and eliminates open-water swimming fears because of its buoyancy,” says , the senior editor at magazine. A full-sleeve design makes it warm enough for cold-water dunks and also reduces drag by creating a smooth surface for water to slide over. The suits come with gender-specific, ergonomically-shaped panels for women and men.

The Gear Junkie’s Top 10 Triathlon Gear for Beginners | K-Swiss Blade Light Race

Regular running shoes can work great for tri, but shoes with quick-closure lacing systems should be worn for faster transitions. The have an oversized Velcro tab that seals in a blink. The lightweight shoes, about 9 ounces each, work well for sprint events. K-Swiss’ proprietary sole, which has “blades” of foamy rubber, is low-profile, yet cushiony enough for long runs.

The Gear Junkie’s Top 10 Triathlon Gear for Beginners | CLIF SHOT BLOKS

They look and taste like candy, which makes the 33-calories-a-cube a great introduction into the world of energy food. Made mainly of organic brown rice syrup and evaporated cane juice, the gummy treats pack carbs and electrolytes into an easy-to-eat form. I recommend the new Citrus flavor for its tart, fruity burst of flavor.

The Gear Junkie’s Top 10 Triathlon Gear for Beginners | TYR Nest Pro Swim Goggles

The polypropylene frame on is said to mimic the bird nest architectural design of the Beijing Olympics’ main stadium. Wide lenses offer better side vision, and a conforming silicone head strap keeps them comfortable and tight. Soft gaskets provide a watertight fit over the eyes—with no hard edges to irritate as you move around.

The Gear Junkie’s Top 10 Triathlon Gear for Beginners | Smith Optics PivLock V2

will stay in place and give full coverage when you’re leaping through a trail run or tucking into your aerobars, according to of magazine. The shield-style glasses have three lens types that can easily be changed in a quick two-step process. A rimless design allows for a wide vision range and added protection.

The Gear Junkie’s Top 10 Triathlon Gear for Beginners | CEP Compression Sock

Should you pay $60 for a pair of socks? Many triathletes are now saying “yes,” as the compression-sock category gains momentum with its tight-fitting, cramp-fighting designs. Experts say the socks as provide faster and more efficient blood flow, which may help prevent things like shin splints and Achilles tendon issues. The is made by a medical company and has a six-month everyday guarantee, meaning they will squeeze and support at the same level even after 180 wearings, or your money is returned.

The Gear Junkie’s Top 10 Triathlon Gear for Beginners | Felt Z85

Store owner Kevin O’Connor at Gear West Bike &ĚýTriathlon in Long Lake, Minn., said theĚýĚýis a popular pick at his shop for beginner triathletes. “On top of the list is the comfort of the bike,” he says. “A taller head tube allows cyclists of all abilities to ride with comfort and confidence.” A more upright position is the result, though riders can still tuck and pedal for speed. An aluminum frame and carbon fork come standard, and help weigh in at roughly respectable 19 pounds (in 56cm frame size).

The Gear Junkie’s Top 10 Triathlon Gear for Beginners | 2XU Long Distance Tri Suit

Due to concerns over fit, two-pieceĚýtriathlonĚýuniforms still outsell one-piece suits, according to Kevin O’Connor at Gear Wes Bike and Triathlon, “but the trend is changing as theĚýone-pieceĚýclothing choices are growing and the fit has improved,” he notes. Two-piece kits—essentially running-type shorts and a separate top—look and fit like universal workout wear. One-piece getups offer a streamlined, race-only fit and feel. One good option, the offers a tight fit with slight compression of the muscles. A triathlon chamois pad provides support on the bike while remaining discreet for the run. For hot days its fabric has a phase-change ingredient that cools when it gets wet. The company says it can lower temperature on the skin by up to 5 degrees F.

The Gear Junkie’s Top 10 Triathlon Gear for Beginners | Garmin Foreunner 310XT

Triathletes need a watch that’s waterproof for the swim plus has tracking capabilities for the bike and run. There are only a handful of current models that fit that bill, said Ray Maker, founder of popular endurance blog . is one of the best. Its features track time, pace, distance, heart rate, and speed for each of the three triathlon legs. A Garmin GPS chip offers real-time stats for training or during a race, and the device stores data in multiple sports modes so you can upload wirelessly to a computer at home and then get geeky analyzing your splits.

The Gear Junkie’s Top 10 Triathlon Gear for Beginners |

Experts interviewed for this story all recommended getting a book to learn about tri in-depth. Written by Chris Carmichael and Jim Rutberg, (Velo Press, 2010) offers training programs, nutrition advice, and methods for preparing for your first tri in as few as 8 hours a week. If you want something a little more 2012, check out Matt Dixon’s Sprint Triathlon Training Plan for The şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř Challenge, which comes complete with videos and daily workout advice.

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Ibex Breakaway 2

Best for Endurance Epics
Nordic skiers and cold-climate runners will love , which has a wind-blocking front face and a thin, breathable back. Ibex incorporates wool into the jacket’s hybrid fabrics, which stretches and provides a healthy amount of insulation. A bike-jersey-like pocket on back unzips to offer the perfect space for stowing your gloves and a hat.

Helly Hansen Enigma

Best for Apres Ski Trips
A sky-high price tag ($700) is at least partially balanced out by ‘s superlative feature set. Most unique, there are down-stuffed pillows that dot the inside of the coat to offer a plush insulation matrix for trapping hot air in deep channels. This puffy/hardshell amalgam has a waterproof, breathable membrane and PrimaLoft insulation in its body for even more warmth. Other highlights include a removable hood, shoulder pads, a powder skirt, a RECCO avalanche reflector, and a goggle wipe attached to a leash in a side pocket.

Arc’teryx Alpha SV

Best for Hardcore Alpine Outings
A clean design, a durable face fabric, and a GORE-TEX Pro Shell membrane make the a go-to workhorse for people who spend weeks in the mountains each year. Arc’teryx calls the Alpha SV its “most durable waterproof shell,” and the design, which lacks extras in favor of a sleek fit, is an archetype of what a mountain-oriented hardshell should be. A strong face fabric, water-tight zippers, laminated pockets, and reinforced stitching make it rugged and tough.

Mountain Hardwear Quasar Pullover

Best for Fast-and-Light Alpinism
A design collaboration between alpinist Ueli Steck and Mountain Hardwear led to . Mountain Hardwear’s Dry.Q technology provides waterproofness and breathability for the jacket, which weighs about 9 ounces. The design includes a low-profile hood, single-pull adjustments, and soft jersey fabric cuffs for wrapping the wrists warmly on a tough climb.Ěý

Outdoor Research Virtuoso

Best for Warmth on a Budget
In function trumps form by a long shot. Outdoor Research has stuffed a dozen baffles on the body with 650-fill goose down. Rip-stop polyester and a thin Pertex fabric keep the jacket light and packable. The Virtuoso can be jammed into its own side pocket—creating a grapefruit-sized ball.

Canada Goose Snow Mantra

Best for Arctic Expeditions
Built for the lethal-cold conditions seen near the poles, the is advertised to keep you warm to 60-below F. It’s a huge and heavy jacket, whose polyester and cotton body is stuffed with pounds of the company’s eponymous white goose down. An extra-long cut gives warmth almost to the knees, and the coyote fur ruff on the tunnel hood is an Arctic must-have. Inside, you’ll find a pair of mesh “kidney pouches” that are made to be loaded with air-activated chemical warmers.

Patagonia Ultralight Down Hoody

Best for Everyday Lightweight Warmth
Skinny baffles, a sleek cut, airy 800-fill down, and a thin fabric make an ultralight wonder. At about 9 ounces, the Down Hoody will barely measure when stuffed away in a pack. But pull it on and the goose fluff adds significant warmth in a time of need.Ěý

Mammut Gipfelgrat

Best for Fast Alpine Ascents
A waterproof softshell jacket made for harsh alpine environments? That’s the theme of the , a jacket that uses Polartec’s new NeoShell fabric, which is touted as the most breathable waterproof formula yet derived. The jacket has a cut and design like a traditional alpine hardshell. Its NeoShell fabric is a bit thicker, more flexible, and, according to Polartec, offers more breathability than any hardshell because its membrane is more permeable to air.

Columbia Circuit Breaker Softshell

Best for Mechanized Warmth on the Slopes
Plug it in at home to charge. Then, once outside in the chill, press a button for instant warmth. Columbia’s line of electrically-heated jackets combine small heat-producing modules laced into the liner with a fancy fabric that has a grid of metalized dots said to reflect heat back at the body. The result is unique to the outdoor world with a trim cut, alpine-parka features, embedded rechargeable batteries, and on-demand heat. This coat is no cold-weather cure all, but the artificial warmth is noticeable enough to up the comfort level a notch on a lift ride during a storm.Ěý

The North Face Verto

Best for Emergency Backup on Fast and Light Treks
Need a hooded jacket that packs down to the size of an energy bar? That’s the promise with the , a sheen of Pertex fabric that weighs just over 3 ounces. With this minimal “wind shirt” you get protection from stiff gales and some extra warmth. It’s great for putting on when you crest a ridge on a long run, or use it for a backup shell to have if the weather unexpectedly turns. But the Verto is not waterproof, so be sure to pack something up to the job if the weather looks ill from the start.

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K2 WayBack

A mash-up of carbon fiber, aspen, bamboo, and Paulownia wood make this ski lightweight and versatile for the backcountry. A fat tip and an all-terrain rocker shape give the control and predictability in everything from powder to crud. Plus, K2 built the Wayback with backcountry-only touches like flat tails, concave notches for skin clips, and holes in the tip and tail for rigging a rescue sled.

Scarpa Maestrale

Scarpa advertises the Dynafit-compatible as the world’s lightest four-buckle alpine touring boot. At less than 3.5 pounds per boot, they’re less work on the hike up, and they’re burly enough to turn big skis in deep snow on the way back down, making them a favorite of ‘s Lou Dawson. Plus, with a high-volume forefoot they’re perfect for skiers who need more wiggle room in the toes.

Dynafit TLT 5 Performance TF

Dynafit’s ultra-light is the ultimate option for skiers who put as much emphasis on the up as they do the down. At just over two pounds per boot, they’re flexible and fast in the walk mode, thanks in part to a rockered sole. A pair of buckles on each boot and carbon-fiber cuffs provide enough support for serious descents after a run uphill with your skins. Caveats? They’re not cheap.

Marker Duke

Stout, alpine-influenced sidecountry bindings with a free-heel function for climbing—that’s the in a nutshell. This high-performing binding can clamp on for the biggest runs (DIN tops out at 16) and can switch to a hinged hike mode for skinning up the bowl. Marker made the Duke’s chassis specifically for wider skis, and the company says the bindings are among the best at transferring power from boots to ski for initiating fast turns on hardpack.

Dynafit TLT Vertical FT

Light, efficient, and as good in most applications on the uphill as the down, line is among the most popular in the backcountry. The Vertical FT model is sold as lightweight freeride-touring bindings, and they include stout torsional resistance and a DIN setting up to 12.

K2 LockJaw

With no shortage of bells and whistles, the carbon pole is a versatile backcountry poker. Its length can be easily adjusted, a bubble-vial inclinometer on the handle makes gauging slope angle a cinch, and a snow-depth ruler offers a tool for measuring layers in a snowpack. Even better, the poles can be connected to build a 196-centimeter-long avalanche probe for snowpack searches in an emergency.

Ortovox 3

“Simple, not too expensive, one battery. . . this is among the most popular beacons selling this year,” says TetonAT’s Steve Romeo. He likes the for its simplicity and effectiveness; there’s a clear circular display with an arrow icon for searches. The interface shows your distance from and position to an avalanche victim. If you’re caught in a slide, Ortovox says this unit’s intelligent position-recognition system can sense how you’re buried and optimize antenna-signal output to let searchers analyze and find your position on the fly.

Black Diamond GlideLite Mohair Mix STS

Made to be thinner and more supple than comparable skins, the are lighter and easier to pack than the company’s popular Ascension skins. On the skis, the mixed hair underneath—65% mohair, 35% nylon—gives optimal grip as you’re chugging uphill for a few thousand feet of vert. Dawson, of WildSnow, also likes ($206), which feature a glue-less design that suctions on to ski bases. “They do not snag to your fleece jacket or make a mess like regular skins can,” Dawson says.

Black Diamond Avalung II Sling

Breathe even if you’re buried. That’s the promise of products, which offer snorkel-like mouth valves and a lung mechanism that can pull air from dense snow. “I usually put the AvaLung valve in my mouth when testing a slope in case I get knocked over and buried,” Dawson says. Black Diamond sells several backpack models with the AvaLung feature built-in. The AvaLung II Sling, featured here, weighs about 9 ounces and fits over a jacket for an emergency breathing option in a worst-case burial scenarios.

Mammut Ride R.A.S.

An avalanche pack lets you pull a ripcord to trigger an airbag if you’re caught in a slide. In an instant, a huge pillow of air inflates that helps keep you on top of avalanching snow—decreasing your chances of getting sucked into a mess of ice and rocks.The from Mammut, one of many options now on the market, employs a removable airbag system from Snowpulse for backcountry skiers in search of that extra safety edge.

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