For the buyer guide reviewed below, the link:
http://mulatero.it/buyers-guide-2017-apertura/
Cover, Skialper 2017 Buyer Guide.
Last year’s apoplexy inducing drop of the first Skialper Buyer Guide in English was exactly that. The book was so good, I fainted due to heart palpitations — then I went shopping.
The new 2017 edition follows along. It appears even slicker, with excellent descriptions of their test categories, bonus articles, and so much more. English translations are improved, though still a bit rough. It’s all understandable if you read between the lines a bit. To visit the Skialper website, browse to http://skialper.it (We’re not doing a live link due to researching some issues.)
Check out this year winner boots, ‘Ski Touring’ category. The two most innovative shoes out there win the prize.
Shopping the amazing plethora of today’s ski touring gear can be like choosing a pasta restaurant in Rome — then ordering. To make it easier, the industry divides ski touring gear into product categories. Skialper follows along. All the Buyer’s Guide reviews (skis, boots, bindings) are done in “chapters” based on categories. While things do overlap, most shoppers will probably be in the center of their category. If not, it’s easy to discern where your desires might shift into the overlap. For example, some of the lighter Freetouring boots with good cuff mobility could overlap into the Touring category. On the other hand, the divisions are surprisingly clear, based mostly on weight and in the case of skis, width & weight. (With a nod to us here at WildSnow, when Skialper gets into their “Ski Touring” skis category, they talk about the now legendary “one kilo” goal in weight per plank.)
Race (What it is.)
Speed Touring (Racing without timing gear.)
Ski Touring (The sweet spot, what WildSnow.com is oriented to. Boot weights 1,000 to 1,400 grams.)
Freetouring or Free Touring (Ski touring with a bit more emphasis on downhill performance and playful downhill style.)
Freeride (Cross-over, ski lifts are frequently used. Blends with regular alpine skiing.)
More, as I mentioned last year this shopping book makes all others bow down. What other magazine or website details nearly every backcountry ski boot available, with metrics such as measured interior last width and maximum ankle width? Who else gives you nearly every ski metric you can imagine, including the ever useful weight vs surface? Yep, 384 pages of gearhead bliss. A whole winter of reading!
Full metrics on nearly every backcountry ski boot available (current retail models).
How to get your WildSnow discount (Good for 48 hours)
DIGITAL PC/MAC (Lou has tested this, it worked for him.)
1) Browse to http://mulatero.it/buyers-guide-2017-apertura/
2) Select English, use Google site translate if you encounter untranslated Italian.
3) Add the digital edition to the shopping cart.
4) Checkout.
5) At the top of the page insert the coupon: Wildsnow_reader
6) Complete the registration and the checkout with the credit card…
…Your total amount will be modified from 7,99 € to 5 €
7) Enjoy your flipboard.
8) Double click for zooming, click the video, links and photo galleries when you see the specific icons.
App iOS or Android
1) Download the (free) app Skialper from iTunes or Google Play
2) Tap on the menu on the top left of the page.
3) Tap on Account.
4) Tap on coupon and insert: Wildsnow_reader
5) Complete the payment in-app.
6) Your total amount will be modified from 7,99 € to 5 €.
7) Double tap for zooming, you can tap the video, links and photo galleries when you see the specific icons.
Last year Skialper printed the paper edition in dual languages, but distributing the 400 page publication internationally was too tricky. This year, the digital versions are dual language but the paper version is all Italian.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
