Ethan Caldwell

There is nothing quite like dropping into a fresh field of untouched powder. Your skis slice through the snow, clouds of cold smoke billow around you, and for a few seconds everything is silent. But that magic dies fast when snow starts creeping in at your waistband, soaking through your base layers and turning an … Read more

Nothing ruins a backcountry lap faster than snow creeping down your waistband on a deep powder run. I learned that lesson the hard way during a 2-foot storm day in the Wasatch, when my regular snow pants let in more snow than they kept out. That day convinced me to switch to bibs, and I … Read more

Nothing ruins a ski day faster than frozen legs on a chairlift ride. I have spent multiple winters testing cold weather ski pants in temperatures ranging from balmy 30 degrees down to negative 15, and the difference between the right and wrong pair is dramatic. When your legs go numb halfway through the morning, the … Read more

Finding the right pair of snowboard pants can make or break your day on the mountain. I have spent three full seasons testing over a dozen pairs across resorts in Colorado, Utah, and Vermont to figure out which ones actually keep you dry, warm, and comfortable from first chair to last run. The best snowboard … Read more

When you are skinning up a ridge at dawn with your heart pounding and sweat building under your layers, the last thing you want is a jacket that traps all that moisture against your body. I learned this the hard way during a multi-day hut trip in the Colorado backcountry, wearing a resort jacket that … Read more

There is nothing quite like dropping into a fresh line of untouched deep powder. Your board floats, the world goes quiet, and for a few seconds everything feels perfect. But that magic disappears fast if your pants let snow in at the waist, soak through at the knees, or leave you shivering on the lift … Read more

Finding the right ski jacket can make or break your day on the mountain. I have spent multiple seasons testing women’s ski jackets across different conditions, from icy East Coast mornings to soggy Pacific Northwest storm days, and I know firsthand how overwhelming the options can get. The best ski jackets for women need to … Read more

Riding backcountry is a completely different animal compared to lapping resort groomers. When you are hiking up a skin track or splitting your board for a long ascent, your body generates serious heat and sweat. That resort jacket you love? It turns into a sauna about twenty minutes into your tour. Finding the best snowboard … Read more

Finding the right pair of backcountry ski poles changed my entire touring experience. I spent years using resort poles on skin tracks, fighting with frozen locking mechanisms and dealing with grips that left my hands numb after three hours of side-hilling. Once I switched to poles actually built for backcountry skiing, the difference was immediate. … Read more

Finding the right snowboard jacket can make or break your entire day on the mountain. I have spent seasons testing women’s snowboard outerwear in everything from icy East Coast groomers to heavy Pacific Northwest dumps, and I know firsthand how frustrating it is to deal with a jacket that leaks, overheats, or just does not … Read more