Lorenzo Rieg

La Sportiva is strengthening its range of ski touring boots for the current season with a very lightweight model that bridges the gap between ski touring boots and normal, ascent-orientated boots. We have already tested the new Skorpius extensively.

Every winter sports enthusiast really likes merino underwear. So of course I also took a closer look at the Yotei Powder Hood from our partner Mons Royale and would like to present it to you here in a Gear of the Week.

First of all, I have to admit that I hardly ever wear a back protector anymore. In the past (a really long time ago), it was part of my standard equipment and I was practically never out and about without my protector - back then it was a very heavy hard-shell version.

It is fair to say that there has been a merino boom that has swept through the outdoor industry like a whirlwind in recent years. There is hardly a well-known outdoor manufacturer that doesn't have a few products made from this miracle wool in its range and many now rely exclusively on merino underwear and accessories, such as our partners from Mons Royale.

As in previous years, it is also noticeable in 2020 that many manufacturers, especially large ones, are staying away from ISPO. On the one hand, this has resulted in a certain shrinking of the trade fair as a whole, but on the other hand it has also created more space for smaller manufacturers.

With the new Evo 5, the safety specialists from Arva in France are launching a new avalanche transceiver on the market for the current season that packs all the essential features into an extremely small and lightweight housing.

With the Mindbender series, K2 has skis in its programme that basically work in all conditions or at least in a wide range of snow conditions and types of use. Of course, it also depends on the width and construction whether the skis have their centre of gravity in powder or rather on the piste, but we tested whether the skis really work everywhere using the Mindbender 99 TI as an example.

Winter has only just begun and just in time for Christmas, no, not a new magazine from Downdays, but a whole book with almost 200 pages! We leafed through it and took a look at what the "Book of Ski Stories" is all about.

In 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the political objectives of the United Nations in terms of sustainability, came into force. In short, these goals, which run until 2030, are intended to help achieve sustainable development on an economic, social and ecological level. But what are the SDGs anyway, how do they affect us and do they have anything to do with outdoor sports?

Since the merger with neighboring Fieberbrunn a few years ago, the "Skicircus" really does offer an almost infinite number of descents for freeriders and ski tourers. During our visit, we were particularly impressed by the opportunities to access long descents in great freeride terrain with short hikes. From extreme variations on the Wildseeloder to relaxed alpine terrain - there is something for everyone.

French glacier eyewear specialists Julbo have long been known for the "classic" design of their aviator-style glasses with leather rims. At some point, a "sportier" style was added and the range was expanded into the cycling and lifestyle sector.

Merino underwear has been state of the art for some time now, but the Norwegians at Devold have come up with something new. The Tuvegga Sport Air line is not only made from highly breathable merino mesh, but can also be worn on both sides thanks to body mapping and a roughened structure. The shirt is warmer when worn on one side and more breathable on the other.