What one expects from an Arc’teryx shell is a high-quality build, an ample feature set, durability, and, oh yeah, the $$. The women’s Rush jacket is a backcountry skiing dream with some style to boot.

The golden age of easy on-off insulated pants for backcountry skiing is among us: Rejoice! Stellar Equipment’s Ultralight Down Pants 2.0 are 3/4 length down pants with high function and style points too.

Blue Ice, a plucky technical gear company, has built a durable and multi-purpose ski and climbing pack in the Firecrest 28. For the fast-moving, the Firecrest 28 seamlessly incorporates the best attributes of mountain running vests into a functional and slick-looking ski pack.

Julbo has introduced a photochromatic lens in the Reactiv 0-4 High Contrast that offers a single-lens option for changing light conditions. We tested the new lens in Julbo’s Aerospace, a goggle designed to mitigate fogging with a built-in vent system.

Scarce, maybe threatened, but not extinct. You might think telemark was a graveyard of gear and ethos, struggling to regain some relevance. The Turn is alive and well.

Climbing or skiing Denali is a goal for many. Another goal is finding the right pack to haul a mega-load up the biggest hill in North America. No matter how real the struggle is, the Seek Outside Unaweep 6300 has a feature set to make the load carrying more comfortable and efficient.