Gear of the Week | Christmas Special 2022

Steffen Kruse (Gear of the Week & Management)

The small and fine cape manufacturer FlyLow is a recurring topic on our website. The FlyLow Bib has been a classic for years and I have been using it for several years. Last season, my bib was joined by the LabCoat jacket from FlyLow. Certainly not a cheap Christmas present, but super functional and virtually indestructible, I can highly recommend it. By the way, FlyLow has other, smaller gifts on offer too!

German Wehinger (Conditionreport)

When the colourful and kitschy Christmas markets open up again and Christmas movies are suddenly available on streaming services, I know it's that time of year again. High time for the Christmas wishes. This year, I need a gear update, namely new short and comfortable ski gloves for fun in the snow. In short: no matter where I'm travelling - piste, touring or freeriding - I'm looking for a reliable ski glove. The Vertical Cut Czone 5-finger from Hestra seems to be the perfect all-rounder.

Lea Hartl (Editorial Director)

Like every year, I struggle with my wish list. Maybe a new pair of hardshell trousers? The old ones have been taped several times and are no longer waterproof, but with a bit of tape they'll last another season. In the non-gear area, I'm hoping above all for an injury-free season, ideally of course with lots of snow and a favourable avalanche situations.

gear of the week

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Joshua Verhoeven (Social Media)

If you are looking for a jacket that is comfortable and protects you against wind and weather, the Mammut Crater HS jacket is just right for you. Lightweight and compact, it is easy to transport and its protective properties ensure that you stay dry and warm in strong winds. The perfect companion for your next hiking adventure.

Patrick Wehowsky (snowboard topics)

Orientation is necessary. What is existential for being on the mountain can be transferred at least as much to orientation in social and political life. In addition to the high-frequency daily news stream, longer articles and essays that place arguments in a wider context are also needed. The Kursbuch, which was co-founded by the late Hans Magnus Enzensberger, among others, and is published four times a year, offers an opportunity to do this and brings together essays and thoughts on a general topic. At the latest since the esteemed Sibylle Anderl now also acts as editor, the course book has been on my wish list.

Antonia Paulus (Editorial Office, Social Media)

My wish list for the Christ’s Child is of course painted with lots of snowflakes and I'm hoping for a white Christmas! As all family members are drawn home for Christmas, my heart would beat faster if we could go skiing together in the powder on the 24th.
On a more practical note, unfortunately my ski jacket, a faithful companion for many years, no longer keeps me 100% dry in snowfall or rain (more like 10%), so I'm adding a hardshell jacket to my wish list alongside the snowflakes. I would like to support a sustainable outdoor company, but I would also be happy about a second-hand jacket.

Malte Schulz (Co-operations)

As my annual subscription to Fatmap Explore expires again at the end of the year, renewing my membership is on my Christmas wish list. In recent years, the app has become a constant and trusted companion for me when planning mountain and ski tours, but the app is also very useful for me during the tours. In order not to be dependent on the availability of the mobile phone network, Fatmap offers the option of saving maps offline and using other additional functions with the Explore membership. Thanks to the high-resolution 3D maps in summer and winter mode, combined with various layers such as slope gradient, exposure, altitude and live data such as snow depth and amount of fresh snow, the app is a real "game changer" in tour planning. The Explore membership costs just under €30 per year, which I am happy to use to support this project every year!
More information about the Explore membership can be found here.

Lorenzo Rieg (tours & gear reviews)

Interestingly, when I look through my Christmas wishes published on PowderGuide in recent years, they were mostly touring bindings - there is simply a permanent need for them. This year, however, skins are much higher up on my wish list, as they are also affected by a certain amount of wear and tear on numerous ski tours. For years, the best skins for me have been the Glidelite Mohair Mix from Black Diamond. The fastening system is average, but the combination of gliding and climbing properties with very reliable adhesive is hardly matched by other skins. I would love to equip all my touring skis with them.

Sebastian Müller (MULTImediA, Weather & IT)

After the importance of Thermo bottles was impressively demonstrated to me in Argentina and my last one lost its insulating properties after a fall, I gave myself a pre-Christmas present. I've also never gotten used to tube and bag drinking systems, which is why I'm presenting all my indispensable liquid containers here. From left to right and from large to small: 5l Damigiana for tour planning and VdW, 1L PRIMUS Trailbreak Vaccuum Ex for hot tea and 1L PowderGuide MIZU bottle for water supply before and after the tour, 0.75L PowderGuide MIZU Iso bottle for hydration and 0.5L Ferrino Extreme for hot tea on tour, a 0.33L PET Pellegrino Chinotto for a sip in between and for making tea at home I use a 1.8L ceramic jug. Finally, the only thing missing here is the container for high-proof spirits: I want a hip flask from Father Christmas!

Totti Lingott (Management & Cooperations)

As an absolute vest lover, I had to suffer all the more last season when I left my beloved down vest in the winter room early in the morning after a cold night because of the early start. That's why I now want a new vest, and this time not with down filling, but with the Fibreball insulation material from Penguin. It doesn't weigh much more than down, warms just as well and is much less sensitive to moisture. Thanks to its water-repellent properties, it can also be used as an outer layer, but its core business is of course the second layer.

Johannes Wolf (Technology)

As I'm still in the throes of running fever, I'd like a backpack for Christmas this year. Next year I would like to run several multi-day tours. This will require a larger trail backpack. The Ultimate Direction Fastpack 20 makes this possible. The backpack is a trail running vest and hiking backpack in one. With a volume of 20 litres, it is also big enough to carry several days' worth of equipment. I'm also wishing for a good load of fresh snow just in time for Christmas, maybe the oracle is reading along.

Timo Macvan (Co-operations)

I've wanted to be able to capture my adventures in the mountains in winter and summer for a long time and this year I want to fulfil this wish! The fascination of capturing the mood, the emotion and the action in pictures really appeals to me, so this year I want a mirrorless camera. Of course, it should fulfil a few criteria: I want a compact design and good performance with dynamic images and in difficult lighting conditions. I haven't yet set my sights on a specific model because, as a beginner and student, I will be looking for a bargain, ideally in good used condition for reasons of sustainability! I hope that you will then also see the one or other photo masterpiece here on the platform. Merry Christmas to all!