Faction Skis Prodigy in "The Best of the Rest" - Powder Magazine's 2013 Gear Guide

FACTION PRODIGY

$739.00

Description

Admit it: your gluttonous fat skis need a diet. luckily, most ski brands are incorporating powder qualities into their smaller all-mountain models, so you can have your cake and eat it too. One of the best is the Faction Prodigy: a perfect ski for A.S.S.F.A.R.T. tram laps. Faction uses its STP wood core, a process that presses a slight wave in the core, which reduces materials—and hence weight— but not torsional strength. The result is a quick and nimble ski that still does all you want in deep snow.

See more from Faction at their official web site.

Faction Prodigy

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Manufacturer	Faction
Dimensions	136-98-126mm
Style	All-Mountain
Gender	Mens, Womens

Powder Magazine Buyer's Guide - Apex Boots - Demand It All!

APEX BOOTS - DEMAND IT ALL!o 12 of 63 total

• 

  Apex MC-1

  $795.0
• 

  Apex MC-2

  $995.00
  
  
• 

  Apex MC-S

  $595.00

• 

  Apex MC-X

  $895.00
  
  
• 

  Apex ML-1

  $795.00
  
  
• 

  Apex ML-2

  $995.00

Powder Magazine Buyer's Guide All Mountain - Faction Skis 3.Zero

FACTION SKIS 3.ZERO

$889.00

Skier's Choice Description

More often than not, when I'm packing for a trip, the Faction 3.zero in a 183cm finds a place in my bag. With equal amount of rocker (10mm over 150mm) at the tip and tail, and 5 mm of camber underfoot, the 3.zero excels in just about any condition. With lightweight poplar/ash core throughout and full sandwich construction, this ski is too good to pass up, and it allows me to worry about things other than the weather.—David Reddick

Manufacturer's Description

“The 3.Zero is my ‘go-to’ ski. I feel confident that I can take it anywhere on the mountain whether I’ll be skiing hardpack, powder or any other conditions. The tip and tail rocker really makes this ski playful. However when you want to arc some turns, the camber is still evident.”—Drew Peterson, Faction Team Skier

See more from Faction at their official web site.

Faction 3.Zero

Manufacturer	Faction
Length	167, 175, 183, 191cm
Dimensions	142-112-132mm
Style	All Mountain above 100mm

Powder Magazine Dream Trip Faction Skis Candide Thovex 4.0

FACTION SKIS CANDIDE THOVEX 4.0

$1,099.00

Shop Rat Description

For my Dream Trip, I’m taking the Faction Candide 4.0 to the land of birch trees, sushi, and deep powder. Really deep powder. New for 2014, the Candide 4.0 is a refined version of the Royale that has been widely popular the last few winters. The core is a lightweight balsa/flax, which is durable, damp, and by no means lacking in stability or rigidity. Solid in and out of the turn, lively in the pow, and lightweight, which greatly reduces fatigue throughout a long day. Zero camber underfoot and tip and tail rocker give this ski a playful, surfy feel. These skis are 800 grams lighter than the Royale, a huge difference since they don’t give up any performance. —Brit Barnes

Features

Lightweight Hybrid Core, Full Sandwich Construction, XL Tip and Tail Rocker, Flat Camber, Custom Matte Finish

Manufacturer's Description

“I loved the award-winning Royale, however, I wanted to make some minor tweaks to the flex and lighten it up. So we changed the core to a lightweight hybrid and refined the flex. The Candide 4.0 is unbelievably versatile considering its width and the firmer flex makes it perform in chopped-up snow, big mountain lines and pillows.” – Candide Thovex

See more from Faction at their official web site.

Faction Candide 4.0

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Manufacturer	Faction
Length	175, 183, 190cm
Dimensions	150-122-140mm
Style	All Mountain above 100mm
Features	Lightweight Hybrid Core, Full Sandwich Construction, XL Tip and Tail Rocker, Flat Camber, Custom Matte Finish

Native Eyewear Blanca Sunglasses Win "Gear of the Year" Award from Men's Journal

Native Eyewear Blanca Sunglasses. Winner of Men's Journal "Gear of the Year" Award 2012

Whether pounding pavement or path, in Colorado or Connecticut, we remained impressed with the affordable Native Blancas. Their rimless design and polycarbonite lenses make them lightweight (one ounce) for aerobic pursuits, while springy frames and hydrophobic nose and temple padding keep them in place during even the hardest miles. [$129;

Native Eyewear Trango Backpacker Magazine Gear Review

Backpacker Magazine – Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2012

GEAR REVIEW: NATIVE EYEWEAR TRANGO

Our favorite interchangeable-lens sunglasses are also stylish and affordable.

by: Kelly Bastone

1

Native Eyewear Trango

The Trango delivers cool-kid style and versatile performance at a reasonable price, thanks to interchangeable (instead of photochromic) lenses. A copper polarized set (with 18 percent VLT) protects eyes from bright sun, and a nearly clear, nonpolarized pair sharpens definition in low light. The frame’s squared-off shape delivers adequate coverage on sunny snowfields, and the polarized lenses reduce glare while filtering out more eye-fatiguing blue light than most shades. “Clarity is HD sharp,” said a tester after skiing in Colorado’s Flat Top Mountains. The lightweight, proprietary plastic frame flexes (rather than breaks) when squeezed into a pack pocket, and sticky nose pads and earpieces grip sunscreen-coated faces. Bonus: With the full frame, you’d never guess they’re interchangeables. Bummer: Tugging on the frame at the temple to swap lenses can get a tad tedious. $129; 1 oz.;nativeeyewear.com 

Backpacker Magazine – Editors' Choice Snow Awards

EDITORS' CHOICE SNOW AWARD 2012: KOMPERDELL CARBON EXPEDITION VARIO 4 POLES

These lightweight poles will serve you well on all of your multisport outings.

1

Komperdell Carbon Expedition Vario 4

Adjustable-length trekking poles are ideal for varied terrain—unless they’re a pain to lengthen or shorten. The Varios custom-adjust in a jiffy, thanks to a sliding, easy-flick-locking top section that scales the poles from 120 to 145 cm (long enough for a 6’7” tester, a bit too long for a 5’3” one). The Varios’ twist-lock lower sections also tighten securely and open more easily than similar models we’ve tried. The carbon-fiber top sections keep the weight at an easy-swinging eight ounces per pole, which means you’ll never get tired of planting and pushing off. And along with the aluminum bottom sections, they withstood deep, hard tele turns by 220-pound testers wearing 50-pound packs.

“I banged the carbon sections against rock repeatedly on a four-day slot canyon trip,” says one editor, “and they never shattered, making me wonder if carbon is as fragile as everyone says.” The small baskets swivel for smoother planting and releases (snow-specific baskets are sold separately for $9), and the extra-long straps fit around insulated mitts. Another benefit of the design: The Varios collapse to 18.5 inches, short enough to pack in small duffels. Wish list for the next iteration: shock absorbers and a less-hefty price.$189; 1 lb.; komperdell.com