Do you dream of big-mountain faces, endless couloirs and die-hard ski culture? In the heat of the summer months, do you yearn to take turns through some of the world’s most renowned snow? If you’re frothing for fresh tracks long after the snow melts in the Northern hemisphere, and you just can’t wait until winter to come back around, it might be time to think of South America, specifically Chile, as your next ski destination.
Exploring rugged mountains and immersing yourself in a culture passionate about skiing are the objectives here; but, planning a trip of this caliber is a daunting task, so let the experts at evo’s adventure travel business evoTrip lead the way. Offering guided trips to locations around the globe, including tours of Chile’s best skiable terrain, the team at evo is ready to show you the ins-and-outs of exploring new mountains and foreign cultures. Through evoTrip, you can book your dream Las Trancas, Chile ski trip with trips departing August 2018.
In the final chapter of this four-part series, we’re showing you how to suit up for your adventure travel trip into the mountains—this time with a kit for your summer excursion to Chile. Below, you’ll find our top picks from evo’s extensive inventory. We’ve hand-selected a pair of rippin’ Black Crows skis paired with Marker Kingpin bindings; amazingly light yet sturdy touring boots from Atomic; a 686 outwear kit with style and function; a durable Black Diamond backpack; super comfortable mid and baselayers from The North Face, and much more.
Black Crows Atris Skis
The Atris garnered a FREESKIER Editors’ Pick one year ago, securing its place among the best of the best. Still, the Chamonix, France- based Black Crows was determined this season to increase the Atris’ stability without sacrificing its playful reputation. And so, Black Crows’ engineers upped the radius from 18 meters to 20 meters, softened its flex and added a touch more tail rocker to the equation. Testers took note of the new and improved balance of stiffness and sprightliness (they still plastered a perfect playfulness score on the ski) with comments like, “These babies float like a boat, hold up well to the stability test and are just an all-around fun set of boards,” and, “Playful yet stable in the chunder, poppy and responsive when called upon at speed.”
Marker Kingpin 13 Alpine Touring Binding
The Marker Kingpin is the first binding of its kind to utilize Pintech technology while receiving the DIN ISO 13992:2007 TÜV certification. An unparalleled combination of performance and comfort in the Kingpin will make it a top rated touring binding for the coming season. While featuring a unique heel and toe piece design, the binding will also provide climbing aids and crampons, creating an unmatched touring experience with the upmost reliability on the descent.
Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 Ski Boots
For a ripping 130-flex boot, the Hawx Ultra XTD is mind-blowingly lightweight—Atomic’s lightest alpine boot to date, in fact. The brand achieves this by reducing the overall thickness of a standard boot wall. Don’t fret, as an insulated liner ensures your feet remain toasty, regardless of wall thickness. Atomic does, however, utilize a stiffer PU plastic for reinforcement in key spots—the heel, inner and outer arch—of the two-piece shell for better power and support. The boot also features a reinforced, asymmetric backbone made up of stiffer polyurethane plastic for added power and control.
Giro Ledge MIPS Helmet
The Ledge is a minimalist helmet that employs a two-piece, hard-shell design and MIPS to absorb and distribute the common rotational forces endured when skiers crash. The Ledge is also customizable, allowing you to fine-tune your style: The goggle retainer can be removed from the back if you prefer an under-the-goggle fit, the fit system can also be detached to loosen things up and if ear pads aren’t your thing, you can take those out, too.
Hestra Fall Line Gloves
We’ve loved the Fall Line since its debut in 2013, and if it ain’t broke, please, please don’t fix it, Hestra. The impregnated cowhide exterior provides excellent flex and dexterity; low-profile synthetic insulation warms ‘em up without impeding mobility; and a velvety-smooth polyester liner ensures supreme comfort no matter how intense your day gets.
Dragon X1 with Lumalens Goggle
Dragon’s X1 goggle with Lumalens combines the company’s top-of-the-line lenses with a sleek frameless design to make your day on the ski hill the best it can be. The lens filters certain colors of light to increase clarity and contrast and thereby reduce eye fatigue. The result is safe, enjoyable vision no matter what kind of snow environment you find yourself in. And, with the X1’s oversized, spherical lens, you’ll be seeing for miles and miles.
686 GLCR Ether Down Thermagraph Jacket
686 recently made its grand entrance into the ski scene after focusing solely on snowboarding for years, and the brand’s products we’ve tested thus far are super impressive. Exhibit A: this GLCR Ether Down Thermagraph Jacket. First and foremost, it’s stylish-as-can-be; rocking a long fit that looks good on and off the hill. Now, to the specs: 20K waterproof rating; taped seams; underarm vents; internal goggle and phone pockets; hand/wrist gaiters; and a helmet-compatible hood are the bees knees. On top of all that, the most impressive aspect of the jacket is its Thermagraph insulation system, which places 600 power down fill where your body needs it most, while leaving the warmer parts of your body (like your pits) without that extra bulk. In other words, this thing has braved negative temps like it ain’t no thang.
686 Quantum Thermagraph Insulated Pants
The GLCR Quantum Thermagraph Pant boasts the same impressive technology as its brother, the GLCR Ether Down Thermagraph Jacket. A 20K waterproof rating fights off the elements, as well as the praised Thermagraph insulation system, while a big crotch vent will keep you cool and comfortable—especially when out on the skin track. Other useful features include: an intuitive waist adjustment system; fully taped seams; and adjustable leg gussets you can fit to your boots with ease.
The North Face ThermoBall Insulated Hoodie
Designed to be your go-to, ultralight midlayer—perfect for long tours in the backcountry where weight and warmth matter, on cold resort days when you simply want a reliable layer or as a standalone jacket around town, the ThermoBall hoodie can handle it all.
The North Face Summit L1 Top/Bottoms
The North Face’s Summit L1 tops and bottoms are like a security team for your warmth. Layer these pieces under a jacket to protect your from brisk wind chills and foggy, cold winter days. Designed with merrow stitching for ultimate stretchiness and comfort, these tops and bottoms will assuredly keep you warm from first chair to last bell.
Black Diamond Cirque 30 Backpack
Designed like a stuff sack, Black Diamond’s Cirque 30 is ideal for quick and light hike-to missions—just what you’ll experience in Chile. A tuck-away ski carry gives you the ability to tote your skis along with ease and an avy tool pocket ensures your equipment stays in place. The pack is the perfect companion up and down Chile’s famed couloirs.
Armada Carbon T.L. Ski Poles
Shed unnecessary weight and gain responsiveness with Armada’s Carbon T.L. Adjustable Ski Poles. Designed with XL Foam Touring Grips and an updated Power Lock 3.0 adjustment system, these powder pokers aren’t run-of-the-mill—they’re the high-performance snow-stabbers you’ve been waiting for to round out your backcountry setup.
evo Emerald City Beanie
When the lift stops spinning, throw on evo’s own Emerald City Beanie to keep you warm all through the night. The hat sits snug when cuffed, uses woven-in elastic to keep its shape and is the perfect companion, no matter your destination.
Dakine Quick Tune Tuning Kit
Traveling long distances means you don’t have your local ski shop to rely on if anything happens to your equipment. In lieu of cutting your ski day short because of a loose screw, bad wax job or other unpredictable mishaps, pack Dakine’s Quick Tune Tuning Kit for ski rehab on the go. Includes a torque driver with five bits and a 8/10mm wrench, edge tuning tool, triangle scraper, octane bar (for use on all temp wax) and a scuff pad.
Smartwool PhD Ski Light Socks
A sock is nothing without durability and that’s why Smartwool integrated its very own “Indestructawool” technology in its PhD lightweight ski socks. The tech blends a patent-pending blend of ultra-tough yarn that combats wear and tear. The use of two separate elastics allows the sock to stretch and retain shape for a comfortable, anatomically correct fit and seamless toe seals the deal, getting rid of any awkward bunching.
Booster Strap World Cup
Stock power straps are adequate for some people, but others demand elevated drive and control in their skiing. Booster’s dynamic power bands replace a boot’s stock strap, cinching the upper cuff ultra-tight for a stiffer flex which generates increased power transmission and handling—like Ken Block-style handling. Additionally, Booster Straps provide a bit of cushioning to prevent dreaded shin-bang.
Dakine Boundary Ski Roller Bag
An organized travel bag makes you a happy traveler. The Boundary Ski Roller will help you meet that goal. It comfortably accommodates two pairs of mid-sized skis, ski boots, ski poles, a helmet, goggles, gloves and also outerwear—and your boots and apparel even get their own removable, internal bags to keep things tidy. Two zippered, padded pockets on the exterior provide even more storage. You can stuff this thing for miles, just be wary of that 50-pound airline limit before you hit the skies.
Vans Sk8-HI 46 MTE Sneakers
If you’re looking to take the classic Vans look into the mountains without the fear of getting your feet soaked or ruining your favorite kicks, look no further than the Vans Mountain Edition. Specifically designed to withstand the elements, the Sk8-HI 46 MTE has all the bells and whistles you demand when in the mountains all while keeping the classic Vans style in tact.
YETI Rambler Coldster
As nice as coozies are, let’s be honest: most do absolutely nothing useful. Wrapping those flimsy pieces of cloth around your beverage is more for style than function at the end of the day. But a coozie made by YETI, constructed with stainless steel and double-wall vacuum insulation? Not only does that work well, it looks sleek as heck, too. Enter the YETI Colster: In addition to the aforementioned tech, it features a Load-and-Lock Gasket to keep your drink screwed in place, as well as a No Sweat exterior to prevent damp or cold hands. We’ve been keeping our beers frosty with this thing, and suggest you do the same.
