Reviews

Reviews of the lastest gear

Friday, 03 March, 2006

Fritschi torques up the Freeride

Fritschi’s Diamir Titanal range were the original easy to use ski touring bindings. Despite a number of revisions aimed at reliability the Swiss firm has faced strong competition on two fronts: Naxo and Silvretta.

fritschi diamir binding range
The new Fritschi binding line-up

Posted by davidof at 10:52 PM
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Do ski helmets shape up?

You may have noticed photos where we have been wearing helmets. Now some of the outings we do are really climbing routes where there is a risk of stone fall. This particularly applies to couloirs or any steep slope when the weather gets warm. If you would wear a helmet climbing on feet then you should wear a helmet climbing on skis.

ski helmet
Still unusual in the backcountry

Posted by davidof at 09:51 PM
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Monday, 13 February, 2006

Dynafit beefs up Comfort bindings

Despite a reputation for reliability, the lightweight Dynafit bindings and especially the Comfort model have some weak points, in particular the ski crampon (couteaux) mounting plate. At PisteHors we have both experienced and seen many failures in this area.

Cold Comfort

Posted by davidof at 08:46 PM
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Sunday, 12 February, 2006

Black Diamond AvaLung™ Rucksacks

Black Diamond were showing their new AvaLung™ equipped rucksacks at the Munich ISPO. Swiss data shows average rescue times taking upwards of 20 minutes, well into the death zone on the survival curve. The AvaLung is slowly gaining acceptance amongst backcountry enthusiasts who recognised the need to extend the time searchers have to find someone alive.

avalung backpack
I’m the urban spaceman, baby

Posted by davidof at 10:15 AM
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Thursday, 02 February, 2006

A Bevvy of Avalanche Beacons

A battle royal is shaping up between the Germans in the form of Ortovox and the Swiss represented by Mammut and the battle field is user friendly three antenna avalanche beacons. There are also updates for the Nic-Impex range but this is more one of evolution rather than revolution.

Mammut Pulse - the lever simulates body movement

Posted by davidof at 05:43 PM
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Tuesday, 29 November, 2005

Revolutionary Ortovox S1 Delayed

Announced earlier this year with a fanfare of publicity the Ortovox S1 looked like a breakthrough in avalanche transceiver functionality equivalent to the development of multi-antenna beacons in the late 1990s. The 499€ S1 was scheduled for the start of this winter season. However rumours have circulated on bulletin boards since the summer that Ortovox were having problems. Ortovox now say that an extended testing phase has put back release of the S1 to 2006/2007.

ortovox s1

Posted by davidof at 12:11 PM
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Monday, 07 November, 2005

Mondial du Ski Cuvee 2005

It is said, perhaps somewhat jokingly, that driving to resort is more dangerous than skiing. If the N90 from Grenoble to Les Deux Alpes on the day of the Ski Mondial is anything to go by there is more than a grain of truth in this old saw. The long straights and bends from the ruins of Sechilienne through the post industrial wasteland of the lower Romanche valley up to the Lac du Chambon are one long, high-speed race track. The day before the road had been closed for sometime after a head on.

mondial du ski 2005

Posted by davidof at 12:51 AM
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Saturday, 05 November, 2005

Dynafit Aero FR - First Look

We’ve just got our hands on the new Dynafit Aero FR. For ski tourers who are already committed to the Dynafit insert system the boot provides another option. The boot is stiff for a touring boot although nowhere near as firm as a full-on alpine race boot. It has the usual touring rubber sole and unlike other Dynafit boots will fit standard touring bindings. The boots fit average width feet and slot in between Garmonts and Scarpas.

Dynafit Aero FR

Dynafit Aero Fr Review

Posted by davidof at 09:14 PM
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Thursday, 03 November, 2005

Riders on the Storm

Sticking with the fashion theme for the moment we are going to take a look at some budget clothing starting with a Peter Storm Jacket from Millets, a UK based outdoor retailer. Peter Storm used to be synonymous with hot plasticy rain capes and ‘pac-a-mac’ style jackets. The kind of thing used on school nature rambles where the unfortunate wearer would end up hotter and wetter inside than out. Surely not something to be considered by serious outdoor people?

StormTech Jacket

Posted by davidof at 12:54 PM
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Wednesday, 02 November, 2005

I Lurve You Mondial du Ski

While the rest of the team were off testing skis or whatever boys get up to with their toys your PisteHors fashion correspondent was checking out what the bold and the beautiful will be wearing for the forthcoming season. Well in between numerous vin chauds taken in the press tent. We spotted Fashion TV on the slopes; this is the satellite pay-pero-view channel and required viewing for fashionistas world-wide. If you don’t know FTV their trademark is scantily clad size 8 Eastern European girls who just “lurve” the channel. Your hard working writer managed to bag a few T-shirts which just about fitted her baby son so if you see a shade wearing 14 month year old boy clad in FTV gear in Courchevel this winter you will know why.

dynastar
Dynstar Couture