Totti Lingotti

What you shouldn't actually do in a test report I'll do anyway: by simply quoting the manufacturer to introduce the test: "Whitedot's flagship powder ski is a versatile and reliable friend in the mountains." Apart from the fact that I expect a little more from friends in terms of interpersonal values, a thick (128 mm center width), reliable (even in rough and demanding conditions), profound (especially there it shows its strengths) and fun (in all respects) friendship has developed over time.

There is now a huge range of avalanche backpacks on the European market. For winter 2014/2015, Scott launched a new backpack line with the removable Alpride system: four backpacks can be equipped with the same airbag system or used individually. We tested the Scott Air Free AP 30 and the Scott Air Mountain AP 40 for you.

It is not the legendary ship of the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, with which he sailed through the Northeast Passage at the beginning of the twentieth century. But the two-master is also called 'Maud': 'Maud of Ålesund'. The small fishing boat was launched a year after the famous original was trapped by pack ice on the American side of the Atlantic in 1930 and sank. Nevertheless, I feel a bit like the great polar explorer as the bow of the 'Maud' makes its way through the thin sheets of ice through the straits around Ålesund in the early morning.

For a few years now, the young company Forsake has been producing very durable shoes for outdoor enthusiasts. My favorite model is the Forsake Clyde - if Clyde had worn a pair of these shoes with Bonnie back then, they probably wouldn't have been caught so quickly. Waterproof, durable, extremely trendy and most importantly: super comfortable. You can't break them even if you're on the run from cops for months! At least I think so ...

Freeriding and ski touring is 'en vogue' and one of the few areas that is still growing in the winter sports industry. As a result, the range of avalanche airbag backpacks has multiplied in the last five years and there are now several dozen backpack models with avalanche airbag technology available for freeriders and ski tourers. But a lot has also happened with the various airbag technologies: a decade ago there was only the ABS airbag system, but now there are five different systems competing on the European market, which tends to lead to falling prices, but also makes it difficult to keep track of this dynamically growing market.

Isn't this just another pointless gadget for the kitchen that jumps on the 'mountains are totally in' trend? My initial skepticism fades with every snack I make. The more often I prepare my ham in slices and cut my slices of bread with millimeter precision, the more I like the PanoramaKnife. And every time I think of this ridge tour on the Blassen...

Goggle change!

Surfing in Africa - we've known this at least since the first part of the cult film 'Endless Summer', in which Robert August and Mike Hynson travel the world in search of the best waves as prototypes of the modern surftraveler. Since then, there have been plenty of reasons in the relevant circles for a trip to the west coast of Africa. But why not combine it with a descent on frozen water and use the time without waves to skin up a four-thousand-meter peak? Nothing unusual in itself, as the High Atlas has plenty of high mountains. We set off on a journey to a country with plenty of sun, desert, heat, foreign culture, exotic food and unfamiliar scents - and almost 3500 km of coastline and a high mountain range.

Whitedot is one of the ski manufacturers that emerged from a conviction that the existing material could be improved. A few enthusiastic friends of skiing got together and developed the first prototypes. That was several years ago, but the brand is still relatively unknown in German-speaking countries. Without good reason, in my opinion, as the ski manufacturers from the 'white dot' now know how to impress with their appealing design and innovative ski shapes. This time in the practical test of the Ranger Whitedot CarbonLite.

Alternative energies have long been a topic in German households - and recently outside of them too! With the Sherpa 50 and the Nomad 13 solar panel from Goal Zero, you are perfectly equipped for any trip.

As every year, PowderGuide once again reports on the new products from the PG partners at ISPO 2014. The first two parts dealt with detailed ski mountaineering pants, light and heavy down clothing, various PinTech bindings, backpacks and ski clothing for ski touring, all-round touring skis, sustainable insulation jackets, adapted ski clothing, functional ice screws and intelligent ski goggles. The third part features the new highlights from Scott, Suunto, skiFi, Freeride Maps and Black Diamond. Enjoy reading and look forward to your next winter shopping trip!

As every year, we are reporting on the new products from our PG partners at Ispo 2014. In the first part, we looked at detailed ski mountaineering pants, light and heavy down clothing, various PinTech bindings and backpacks and ski clothing for ski touring. In the second part, we present a selection of next year's new products from Dynafit, Flylow, Icebreaker, Salomon, Salewa and Uvex. Enjoy reading and look forward to next winter...!