FEATURES

2013 SKI TEST & GEAR GUIDE
Backcountry gear has gone mainstream. That's a good thing, and here's why. The industry big boys—think Lange, Atomic, Salomon—are focusing their attention (and money) on the backcountry. That focus drives competition, which, in turn, breeds innovation. And that means things are only getting better, lighter and more solid. This year, our 40-person test team evaluated more than 400 backcountry skis, boots and bindings (our most ever), and we've reviewed the best of them in this year's Gear Guide. It's the best gear yet—see for yourself.

SNOWBOARD TEST & GEAR GUIDE
Everything was simpler in 2006. That November, our first snowboard review covered just 18 boards, and fewer than half were splits. Choosing what to ride was easy. Six years later, the market has exploded—there are 49 splitboards available, two dedicated backcountry boots, multiple hardware interfaces and a variety of touring-ready bindings. Choosing what to ride isn't so simple anymore, but we've done the hard work for you. We've selected and reviewed the 23 best boards and the top accessories, and highlighted 11 Editors' Choice winners.

SKIS
AT BOOTS
TELE BOOTS
BINDINGS
SNOWBOARDS
SNOWBOARD ESSENTIALS

DEPARTMENTS

Contributors
The people who make it happen

Cold Shivers
A note from the editor.

Figures11
Backcountry's Ski and Board Tests by the numbers.

Letters
Our readers bang on.

Backstory
Our Reader Essays.

Biff America
High heels, assless chaps, and rando race boots.

Spectacle
Where light and dark meet and snow and sky collide our contributors capture the very best in backcountry photos.

Real. Interesting.
A backcountry guide in some of the world's most dangerous countries, John Falkiner pioneered telemark skiing in the Alps and was once James Bond's stunt double. Amy Marwick finds out what it's like to actually be The Most Interesting Man in the World.

Gear Gone Global
Where in the world does your backcountry gear come from?

A Life More Interesting
From saving lives on Mount Whitney to rescuing Siberian tigers to playing the Most Interesting Man in the World on television, Jonathan Goldsmith is the Renaissance man you'd love to have a beer with.

Back Page
The avalanche airbag industry blows up, and hard times fall on the Avalanche Poodle Puppy Farm. By Tami Knight