Imagery: Rachael Zimmerman, Gave Rovick, Carly Finke
WE OVERHAULED THE WHOLE DAMN THING
Having tested the instruments of our beloved sport for more than two decades, the FREESKIER crew has continually evolved the process, putting new products through the wringer in a variety of ways. During that time, our team has been lucky enough to take the latest skis, boots, outerwear and accessories to some of the greatest mountains on the planet. Sometimes we’ve gone about it internally, trusting the knowledge of our team. But with the breadth of products to be tested, it’s typically a combination of internal and external efforts—tapping into our network of zealous skiers who can provide an informed opinion for you.
In the Fall of 2023, we took a good, long look at our current testing process and asked ourselves how we could give you more. Buying new ski gear is not a cheap endeavor and you should be gobbling up every morsel of information you can before deciding on what’s going to work best for you. So we created anew testing program to give you more of those critical bites. Thus, the FREESKIER Gear Lab was born.
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE GEAR LAB IS TWO-FOLD
We wanted to spend more time evaluating the products that you want to learn about so we could deliver better information directly to you. Casting aside our week-long ski test model, we searched for a testing locale where we could set up shop for a full month. After evaluating myriad options, we landed in the Vail Valley.
With 5,317 skiable acres, Vail Mountain is an idyllic location for putting gear through the paces in every type of terrain and all kinds of weather conditions. You name it, we got it. Storied for those who ‘came for a weekend’ yet stayed for the winter (or ten), the valley’s vacuum effect has pulled skiers in for decades. Whether it’s a bluebird powder day with friends or a cruiser corduroy day with the family, Vail will always deliver.
AT THE HEART OF OUR TESTING WAS THE VAIL COMMUNITY
The town of Vail, which recently celebrated its 60th birthday, is home to some of the most die-hard skiers you’ll ever find. We called it home for 32 days last winter and one of the best parts was getting to know the people and places that commonly go unnoticed by short-term visitors. Furthermore, we were honored to include the passionate skiers who represent the backbone of the community, from the young men and women of the 10th Mountain Division Freeride Team, to the seasoned locals.
We tapped into the crew at Buzz’s Boards, a shop that’s been a Vail Valley staple since 1982, kept our tunes dialed at Pepi’s Ski Shop, founded by the legendary Pepi and Sheika Gramshammer in 1968, and linked up with the crew at Troy’s Ski Shop for more than a few testing days. We chowed down atVendetta’s Pizza, which has been serving up fresh pies for four decades, and had more than a few cold pints at The Après Cafe, owned and operated by one of the die-hard skiers that we were happy to welcome to the FREESKIER testing squad—Tommy “Two Turns” D’Errico.
We did all of this while listening to stories of Seth Morrison flipping the cliff under Chair Four into chest-deep snow, and hearing about Mikaela Shiffrin skiing down Genghis Khan so damn fast you’d have to see it to believe it.
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
If you think testing gear for four straight weeks is all fun and games, well, you’re right. It’s also pretty damn exhausting. But this is what we do, we love it and we wouldn’t have it any other way. The advancement of technology in recent years has led to most skis on the market being exceptionally good when compared to years past. However, they’re highly nuanced—not one-size-fits-all.What works well for one skier may not be the best choice for another.
So, we got out there to figure those nuances out and break them down for you. In the following pages, you’ll find reviews of 80 ski models, 18 outerwear kits and 60 other essential pieces of gear that we know will perform well in the mountains. Whether or not they’ll fit your mold, is up to you to decide but we’ve done our best to help you make that decision. So, go forth, soak up the specs, nibble these nuggets of info and pick out the pieces that are right for you. We’ll see you on the other side.
