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Gear we use and recommend

OSBE HELMET

The OSBE, new from Italy, allows wider peripheral vision than any goggle we know of. The visor is pour-molded, as opposed to heat-shaped, resulting in exceptional clarity of vision. We found no distortion, although it is possible to scratch the visor; keep it in the bag.

 

osbe
click open   |   snap closed

 

The visor opens with a simple flip and is equally easy to close in the right position with no need to position, adjust or fumble with goggle straps.

No goggle means no "nose-pinch." We find it easier to breath with the OSBE. No small thing!

The shield is available in 4 different colors—clear, mirror, orange, smoke—for varying light conditions.

osbe lenses

 

Protection from the elements is among the best. While the visor does not contact the face and nose directly, it employs an air dam that reduces—but does not totally eliminate—wind curl. The managed curl neither irritates eyes nor causes them to water, but does help keep the visor fog-free.

 

Wayne Wong in snowy bumps

 

Fit is first-class. Helmet fit, like boot fit, is a personal thing, but the OSBE seems to accomodate a wide range of head shapes.

Available in specialty shops and direct.

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POC Helmets and Goggles

poc gogglepoc

 

Warm, comfortable (for the right head shape), very strong, fairly light and totally dominant on the World Cup. The Lobes goggle, pictured, offers superb protection and a great field of vision. We like this best among "conventional" helmets. Everything fro AT to full race, almost any imaginable color.

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The HOT GEAR BAG is an insulated boot bag with an electric heating pad that runs on both household and direct current, warming and drying your boots overnight. In the morning, plug the 12 volt accessory cord into your car, and the HOT GEAR BAG keeps your boots toasty on the trip to the hill and Hot Gear Bagwill render stiff boots easy to put on.

After boots, skis, bindings and poles, the Hot Gear Bag may just be the most important piece of gear that Bode Miller (and hundreds of other skiers) relies upon. The HGB, available in single and multiple pair configurations, holds virtually all a skier's gear, heats and dries boots overnight and every user we've ever met simply can't imagine getting along without it. At top specialty shops or direct.

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ZipFit inner for ski boots

Sven Coomer's Zip Fit custom inner boots are used by some of the world's top skiers, including athletes and pros. No matter what shell you use, Zip Fits increase comfort, warmth and performanc, for any level skier. We never ski without using this wonder product. Race boot skiers will love the Gara "plug" model.

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Hotronics ski boot heaters

Hotronics are the most effective, least bulky, easiest-to-install and reasonably priced boot heaters. There is nothing macho about cold feet! In fact, cold feet are inefficient feet, incapable of providing maximum balance for maximum performance. Skiers with cold feet tire more easily, too.

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opedix performance ski wer

 


Opedix
- Orthopedic surgeon Richard Steadman, of NFL, NBA and Ski Team fame, has commented that it is better to prevent knee strain than to repair knee damage. Opedix agrees. Working with Steadman's own research facility, Opedix has developed and tested a support system— long johns—that is designed to reduce stress on knees, back and shoulders. We have tested Opedix and can report that it appears to work. One of our testers who suffers from chronic knee discomfort reports that Opedix definitely reduces his pain. Another noticed marked improvement in shoulder stress. At about $400 for both bottoms and tops, Opedix is fairly pricey, but effective—and warm.


Euro ski sock

 

Euro Ski Socks are offered in styles ranging from an ultra-light-weight technical Ski Liner to a beefier, padded Ski Zone and use the technical fibers of MicroSupreme™ and Thermolite™ (no wool). These are superb socks, especially for plug boot wearers.

 

 



Lange WC130 ski boot with Booster StrapTwo we can't do without!

 

Booster strap

 

The Booster Strap replaces stock straps with an engineered elastic device that aids boot flex and rebound. The end result is like adding extra muscle to tired legs. Edge hold, rebound and carving power are all enhanced. Bode Miller and Ted Ligety, among others, find this enhancement indispensable. As do we . . .

 

boode with booster
Booster straps, Leki poles and Bode Miller at Alta Badia

 

leki venom ski pole

Leki Poles are, to put it simply (and in our opinion), the best ski poles available, a sentiment shared by a majority of top-tier World Cup athletes, including Bode (see image above).

Of particular interest are the releasable-grip models (Vario shown), to which a special glove or harness is clipped in lieu of traditional straps. This actually helps when preparing to load a lift and makes the pole very easy to "put on".

The poles are light, flexible enough to absorb shock and vibration yet stiff enough to provide needed support on demand. Our favorite model, the Vision Venom Vario (shown above), uses an adjustable shaft to allow milimetrically-precise length adjustment.



gordiniSince 1956 Gordini has been designing the warmest gloves on the market—innovation is key. Gordini has engineered its gloves to be the best in performance, durability and warmth. Gordini utilizes the best components on the market, including GoreTex™, Primaloft™ and nature's own goose down. The company also has developed its own patented technical products: Lavawool™, Naturaloft™ and Aquabloc™.



Leatherman toolFew mishaps are more aggravating than getting caught on the hill with a minor technical problem, like a loose binding screw, settings that have slipped, a small P-tex gouge, or broken edge. Some of these can lead to a long walk down the slope. Avoid getting stuck; carry a Leatherman tool. It can save the day.

 


Chamois and ski stoneEven more important than Leatherman's "ski shop a tool" are chamois, for drying goggles in snow, rain or after a face plant, and the most important tool, a diamond stone. Both of these items are available at most specialty shops.



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