GEAR & GADGETS

by Ray O’Reilly

 Getting ready for ski season can be a lot
more fun than wall sits in front of the TV and
abusive spinning classes. A Gibbon slackline
from Germany (and a couple of trees in your
yard or park) is as entertaining as it is excellent
at building core strength and balance, leaving
you with an Alexandre Despatie body and invites
from new hacky sack friends to their climbing
gyms. From static to dynamic, several models are
available for beginners to expert balancing acts.
Gibbon 15-metre Classic, $74.
www.gibbonslackline.com

 Helly Hansen’s primo Odin Mountain Jacket
($700) and Kevlar-reinforced removable-bib
Odin Mountain Pant ($500) has been
a number-one zip-together combo of
experienced pros like mountain guides for
several years. But the 2011-12 version has
plenty of new to brag about, including:
Helly Tech Professional 3-ply waterproof/
breathable laminate with 3D welded shoulder
reinforcements, extra-long YKK Aquaguard
pit zips, Recco refl ector and harness/pack-compatible
design and full-stretch appropriate
slim fit, with no plaid, patterned, neon or
baggy options, hits the market perfectly.
www.hellyhansen.com

 Classic but edgy: clean lines, athletic
fit and waterproof/breathable with 3-layer
Gore-Tex protection on the Enzo men’s jacket
($550) by The North Face will have you fit
right in, whether you’re off-piste all the time
or alternating laps and lift lines. If it’s a really
frigid day, try pairing the Enzo with a TNF
baselayer and Jakson or Crimptastic Jacket.
A litany of features includes asymmetrical
front zip, hook-and-loop adjustable cuffs, zip
integration, detachable powder skirt, Recco
equipped—and available in four colours.
www.thenorthface.com

 No matter what your head shape, genre of
skiing or preference of style or colour, Giro’s
got a great combo going with helmets and
goggles—like the Surface helmet ($95) and
Basis goggle ($120) shown here. Compatible
with all aftermarket Tuneup helmet audio
systems, the Surface has six cool vents, three
sizes and is compliant with ASTM, CD and
CPSC standards. The Basis uses a Truesight
Spherical dual lens on a full-sized adult frame,
and is helmet compatible with Giro’s simple
Parkstrap technology. www.ogc.ca

 Mountain Hardwear’s OutDry technology,
used in 14 models of gloves and mitts, differs
hugely from what’s used in others that typically insert a
membrane between the insulation and shell—
and leave seams for moisture to cross through
and become trapped. OutDry involves heat
laminating a fitted waterproof/breathable
membrane directly to the glove’s outer shell,
producing a 100 per cent waterproof solution.
For cold-weather athletes: MH’s Zeus glove
($120) and Maia for women (not shown)
also incorporates the Extreme Pre-curve into
their design for a more natural fit and overall
comfort. www.mountainhardwear.com