Johannes Wolf

With the Aenergy ST 20-25, Mammut is launching a lightweight ski touring backpack onto the market, which is intended to be the ideal backpack for fast-paced tours in particular. For this reason, Mammut has opted for a mixture of trail and ski touring backpack in the design.

The Ortovox 3L Ravine Combi is a lightweight freeride combo for the backcountry that feels at home on freeride descents as well as ascents in steep gullies.

La Palma is a very special island and has been known worldwide since the volcanic eruption in 2021. But La Palma is also characterised by a special trail running event. In a few days' time, the Transvulcania trail run will start across the island for the thirteenth time.

The airbag system from Ortovox and Arcteryx, which won the ISPO Award 2022, is one of the new products of the season and is currently the subject of many magazines for good reason. Airbag systems have established themselves in recent years and are now standard equipment for many people. In recent years, it has become apparent that more and more manufacturers are trying to switch from the classic cartridge system to electronic systems.

Three-layer jackets and trousers are now a dime a dozen and pretty much every manufacturer has at least one model in their range. With the 3L Deep Shell combination, Ortovox has another freeride and touring combination on offer. I was able to test how this combination performs in practice this winter.

I'm sure most of you are familiar with this feeling: it tingles at first and then starts to burn. Especially on cold days, it happens again and again that your fingers suddenly hurt when you are finally back in the warmth. The reason for this is, of course, the cold. We freeriders love it, because without cold there would be no snow, but cold fingers are simply annoying and unpleasant! Warm gloves are therefore essential.

Everything is different this season - especially if you don't currently have the pleasure of open cable cars due to where you live. In order to still be able to test equipment extensively, the motto this season really is: "Earn your turn". Luckily, Ullr took pity on us after the late start to winter and gifted us with heavy snowfall from the end of December. Perfect for testing the Scott Superguide Freetour, which Scott calls the "Holy Grail".

As in previous years, there are two clear trends at ISPO again this year: firstly, the trade fair is increasingly losing exhibitors, especially in the winter sports segments we have observed, and secondly, the exhibitors represented are focusing more and more on the central theme of "sustainability". I think this trend is always particularly noticeable in the clothing segment.

The Grünstein bypass is a real classic in the Mieminger mountains. Even if it is certainly not the loneliest tour, the circuit with its more than 1500 m descent offers a treat to many in terms of scenery and downhill technique.

A few years ago, Arcteryx launched the Atom LT Hoody, a versatile and now tried-and-tested jacket for the transition period. It is not without reason that the model has already been mentioned several times on PowderGuide and put through its paces. I have been able to test whether the current model is still as convincing over the last few months.

In recent years, many freeride suits have become thinner and lighter. Three-layer jackets and trousers are now state of the art. However, anyone who really pushes their outfit to its limits, e.g. by climbing on the rocks, will certainly have had a cut or two in their clothing. The Vertic series from Scott shines here with its very robust material and stylish look.

You need all kinds of equipment for ski touring and freeriding, and often the first thing you think of is skis, ski touring boots and skins. But you shouldn't neglect the ski poles either, as these also contribute to a successful ski tour. That's why our Gear of the Week this time is the "Traverse Pro" poles from Black Diamond.