ISPO time is cat-out-of-the-bag time for the manufacturers. Here they show which products they hope to win the favor of buyers in the 2013/14 season. The PowderGuide crew was out and about for you at ISPO and took a look into the future. In several articles, we show you what news awaits you, especially in the areas of safety, skis, boots and bindings, but also take a look at the booming splitboards. In the fourth and final part, we present all the latest news about splitboards and take a look at the other products.
Splitboards
The developments in the splitboard sector are basically straightforward - Karokoram and K2 have developed their own binding systems alongside the well-known Voilé kit. The Canadians from Karokoram are focusing on lightweight construction with ultra-thin frames and minimalist toestrap next season and are expanding their product range.
K2 is relying on a completely newly developed clip system called "Kwicker" for its snowboard division, which saves a lot of weight thanks to its minimalist design and enables very fast switching from ascent to descent mode. The system requires a special boot - according to K2, progress in boot technology over the last 10 years has made the use of click or step-in bindings interesting again.
As far as the boards themselves are concerned, almost every snowboard brand now has a splitboard in its lineup and the growing splitboard market is now well served with boards of all kinds, even the majority of traditional freestyle brands usually have splitboards. These are often split versions of freeride boards, but some manufacturers such as Jones also offer a wider range of shapes for different purposes.
Mixed
There are also some interesting innovations in the mixed category at this year's ISPO. But here, too, there are no big hits this time. And for once, we'll spare you the really bizarre things. The most interesting finds:
Komperdell
Komperdell remains true to its innovations. The Sabre grip and Slopeslyle grip for ski poles have been further developed and, in the usual manner, a new product has been brought along to win one of the countless ISPO awards. The Airshock Flex Ballistic protector vest impresses with its extremely lightweight design and unprecedented wearing comfort. The vest, which is interestingly fastened with Velcro fasteners on the sides like a training undershirt, adapts perfectly to the body. The chest area is also protected.
Ortovox
Merino wool has proven itself as a fiber for outdoor use. Ortovox is taking the next step and using merino as an inner laminate for hardshell textiles. In the Merino Guardian Shell, a thin layer of wool fibers is laminated to a Dermizax EV membrane on the inside. This is an ingenious move, as the water absorption capacity of the wool fibers creates a buffer effect by absorbing moisture and slowly releasing it through the membrane.
The North Face / PrimaLoft
TNF has developed a new fiber technology together with PrimaLoft. With the Thermoball production method, the fibers are bundled together in a ball shape similar to the finest down and offer the best insulation performance thanks to their high bulking power and low weight. Even when wet, the fibers retain their thermal performance and loft. This technology will be used exclusively by TNF next season, e.g. in the Thermoball Hoodie.
