We were at ISPO in Munich again this year and have already reported on the latest innovations in the areas of skis, safety equipment, ski boots & ski bindings, snowboard equipment and clothing. As every year, we will also be presenting selected interesting products from PowderGuide partners that we took a closer look at at ISPO. The second part of the partner news is about new airbag backpacks from ABS, the latest Fritschi pin binding, new skis from Scott, Line and Salomon, merino-mix underwear from Icebreaker, an Evoc touring backpack, an insulation jacket from Penguin and a helmet from Uvex.
P.Ride Series | ABS
In the new P.Ride series, ABS has first of all revised the airbags themselves. As before, two airbags are used for redundancy reasons, the volume and surface area of both have been increased, the shape has been optimized for better buoyancy and more resistant material has been used to construct the airbags.
However, ABS has also tackled another problem. Often the airbag cannot be deployed by the user in the event of an avalanche for various reasons. For this reason, ABS has integrated a wireless partner release as standard in the P.Ride. The backpacks within a group are automatically synchronized with each other as soon as the handles are unfolded and can then be used in the various modes "group deployment", "targeted individual deployment" and "self-deployment". In addition, each backpack performs a function check when the handle is unfolded and also indicates the functional readiness via a colored LED on the handle.
The P.Ride Base Unit can be adjusted to different backpack lengths and is compatible with the attachments of the well-known Vario system, but there are also three new attachments (18, 32 and 45+5l).
Patrol 55l ski touring backpack | Evoc
Evoc is adding a larger model to the popular Patrol series for the coming season. As the name suggests, the Patrol 55l will hold 55l. The main compartment will not only be accessible from the top but also via the back section, but thanks to the Evoc Neutralite carrying system it will still be fully suitable for heavy loads. As usual with Evoc, the new Patrols also have a sensible layout with a compartment for emergency equipment, a hydration system compartment and various compartments for small items. A new nylon fabric is also used throughout the series, which is not only more stable but also somewhat lighter. The Patrol 55l weighs only 1850g.
Vipec Black Edition | Fritschi
Fritschi continues to focus entirely on the Vipec binding, which is now on the market in the "Black Edition". Compared to the previous model, the entry into the binding has been optimized and some other details have been improved, such as the release on the ascent and a new protection against icing of the rear jaw. Thanks to new guides and a revised locking mechanism, it is now also easier to get into the toe piece by hand or foot. All in all, the binding promises a combination of high safety, ease of use and low weight.
Winter Zone Underwear | Icebreaker
Icebreaker presented the "Winter Zone" underwear at ISPO. This follows the body mapping concept, so thinner material is used in "sweaty" areas such as the back of the knees or forearms, which has a relatively low merino content for Icebreaker of "only" 78% (the rest is polyester). However, the other areas of the pants and shirts are largely (98%) made of merino wool, which makes them comfortable to wear and, of course, keeps you warm and odor-free as usual.
Supernatural 86 | Line
For the 2016/2017 season, Line is expanding the popular Supernatural series downwards and launching the Supernatural 86 with a waist width of 125 | 86 | 112 mm, the narrowest directional ski in the line-up. This is a classic "frontside" ski, which of course scores particularly well on the piste, in the moguls but also off-piste in poor snow conditions. In keeping with this purpose, the ski has a slightly pronounced tip rocker and significant camber in the area under the binding. The construction is also elaborate and designed for stability and damping with a core made of maple wood, P-Tex sidewalls and Titanal reinforcements.
The Supernatural 86 will be available in 165, 172 and 179cm. In addition, the Supernatural series still includes models with 92, 100, 108 and 115mm under the binding.
Superguide 105 freetouring ski | Scott
With the new Superguide 105, Scott is presenting a particularly interesting model for the booming free-touring market. With a waist of 133|105|124 and a weight of 1640g (per ski) in 183cm, the ski is light enough even for very long ascents. Thanks to the elaborate carbon-aramid construction, solid wood core and tip rocker, downhill performance is not neglected either. The Superguide also features Scott's own skin attachment system.
Pinneco Jacket | Penguin
The Pinneco insulation jacket from Penguin is a true all-rounder. It can be worn under a hard shell using the onion principle, but also cuts a fine figure as an outer jacket, especially as it will be available in three stylish colors. Thanks to the stretchy Pinneco-Mantle filling, the jacket is not only very warm, but also particularly comfortable to wear. As the Pinneco insulation is not only largely made from recycled material, but is also completely recyclable, you have a very modern, environmentally friendly jacket! It will be launched in both a men's and women's version and will be available with or without a hood.
QST106 Freeride Ski | Salomon
With the QST line, Salomon offers a very comprehensive range of equipment for freeriders. From clothing and helmets to backpacks, practically everything you need in terms of equipment is included. Of course, skis are a must! A total of 5 different models with different center widths are offered, but the series is led by the QST106. The ski with the wide rocker has a wooden core with Titanal reinforcement under the binding and also uses the new CFX, which is carbon combined with flax. The flax fibers provide good damping properties similar to those of fiberglass. In combination with the carbon, however, the CFX is significantly lighter. The tightly tuned, all-round ski naturally also has a tip rocker and is suitable for days in the ski area as well as for ski tours.
p.8000 3-in-1 helmet | Uvex
With the p.8000, Uvex is launching the first helmet on the market that is certified for three sports, namely skiing, climbing and biking. The very lightweight (310g) helmet is not only adjustable to the head circumference, but also to the type of sport or temperature. The p.8000 also has practical details such as a goggle and headlamp holder and an integrated Recco reflector. The helmet is available in different colors.
