Nike ACG or All Conditions Gear produces apparel and footwear for serious use in the mountains, including snow and trail. They are committed to protecting athletes of all levels from the elements while making you look good. This is truly a company that knows how to combine cool designs with functionality. Nike ACG particularly has the freerider and backcountry freestyler in mind for the design of their products. Also make sure you check out the Nike ACG sweetspots showcasing their athletes in search of the ultimate ski experience all over the globe.
SCOTT is without a doubt one of the coolest and best goggle and pole producers out there. The Swiss company also makes seriously good looking and snug helmets to keep your head safe and warm. Combine that with specially made body protection for women and you need not look any further. A company truly dedicated to the freeride sport.
High quality footbeds made especially for ski boots. The man behind LoveYourFeet, Frank Kipping, uses a new technology to produce custom made insoles by digital measuring which is unique in Vorarlberg. Especially interesting for people with feet, knee, and hip complaints. The insoles optimise ski boot fit to increase your skiing performance.
The ledgend is back! Founded in 1924 in Hohenems, Austria, Kästle represented THE cult ski brand before it was bought and eventually taken off the market by Benetton in 1999. A small and talented Austrian team with extensive experience in the ski manufacturing industry set about to return Kästle to its former glory in 2007/08. Kästle's products are uncompromisingly built to the highest standards. They strip away the gimmicks and gizmos that plague many skis and focus on functional technology. The result: advanced and elegant ski designs that deliver uncompromising performance.
In 2003, Pieps introduced a brand new, fully digital generation of avalanche beacons: the first ever 3-antenna beacon. The benefits are unrivaled outstanding digital range – all around in all directions – regardless of the position or depth of the buried person. The newest Pieps innovation is an electronic probe which gives the searcher an acustic and optical indication of approaching and hitting a buried person. The already found beacon can then be temporarily deactivated so that the searcher(s) can concentrate on the next strongest signal.
Not only does the ABS (avalanche airbag system) backpack increase your chances of surviving an avalanche, but the new packs are well built and much lighter than I expected. The weight difference of the baloons and gas cartridge is hardly noticable to me. The shorter length of the pack itself is also really comfortable for women. I'm using the Freeride 10 litre at the moment, a perfect size for every day freeriding. Its compact and sits snuggly on my back, with a diagonal ski carry system I really rate. I also use the ABS Vario allowing you to vary pack sizes. The 15 litre pack is perfect for 1 day ski tours.
