Most people I see on the slopes just attach their lift ticket to a zipper or a little loop on their jacket (often there for that purpose), but if you want to be down with all the latest ski gadgetry, you can check out the $5 Retract-A-Cat from REI.
The retractable ski pass holder attaches to your jacket or pants and lets you reel out the pass so the folks monitoring the lift lines can easily scan it. The cord extends up to 32″ and snaps back when they’re done scanning your ticket. It looks like an inexpensive but handy item… maybe a good stocking stuffer for the skier or snowboarder in your family?
What kind of gadgets are going to be popular on the slopes with skiers and snowboarders this year? Well, I’m not a pro at either, but based on my experience, I’d say these electronic optic ski goggles are likely to be a hit.
I don’t know about you, but I spend a lot of time taking my goggles on and off (which is a dumb thing to do because they get all fogged up), because it seems to be too light or too dark with them on. Well, these goggles have a button you touch to electronically adjust the lenses from light to dark, so you can get the view just right. That way you can wear the same pair for night skiing as you do under the glare of the morning sun.
At $200, the price will put them out of some people’s ranges, but maybe you can ask mom and dad to get them for you as a Christmas present.
Whether you’re a boarder or a skier, a helmet is always a smart idea (I can say this with full conviction since I’ve cracked my head on the ice more than once… they can’t all be fresh powder days). But when you head into the lodge and take off your helmet, your hair is a mess. This is probably more of a concern for the girls than the guys, and the lightweight K2 Moxie Helmet is designed with women in mind, long-haired women in particular. Aside from keeping you safe, the helmet sports a built-in “pony port” to let your hair hang out the back. No more trying to mash it up into the helmet or letting it hang lose below the helmet where it becomes crusted with snow and ice.
Other features of the Moxie include Active Matrix ventilation, an easy-fit system, “stow-away integrated posts” for helmet/goggle systems, a washable lining, and 2-season removable ear liners. The helmet is available in 4 sizes and 5 colors (black, silver, white, light blue, and champagne).
If you’ve got a family full of skiers or snowboarders, and you’re looking for a Christmas present everybody can enjoy, a set of Garmin Rino 530 radios could be a fun gift. The GPS-enabled two-way radio not only lets you talk with family members (or friends) on the slope, but you can actually see where they’re at by looking at the screen. This could make mid-day meet-ups a little easier.
The downside is that the gadget doesn’t include names of runs or the location of lifts, so you’d need to take a trail map with you to figure out what exact run someone is on. Also, you have to buy the software to run the Rino separately. Still, it could be a fun toy if you’ve got money to spare and like playing with GPS gadgets. The retail price is $499 (though it was closer to $400 when I checked at Amazon):
If you spend a lot of time in the terrain park and take a number of falls every time you go out (hey, it’s not your fault… it’s the lousy snow conditions), then these padded snowboard shorts might be something to look into. The Pro-tec IPS Halo Papa Hip Pads are similar to the padding football players wear beneath their pants. They provide some extra protection for those rough landings. They can also be a smart idea if you teach lessons, and 6 year olds are crashing into you all day long. The hip pads cost about $60 and are available at several online retailers, such as Tactics.
Do you spend all your time at the terrain park when you hit the slopes? Is every little bump on a run a potential jump? If getting air is your passion, then you might have fun with this gadget designed for skiing and snowboarding.
The Tech40 Air Pod is a $99 device that counts how long you stay in the air after a jump. Okay, it sounds a bit like a glorified stopwatch, but it also stores your “hang time” for your last 15 jumps, so you can keep track of your progress. In addition, it keeps track of the time, the date, the temperature, and it has an alarm, so if you have to meet someone at a certain time, you can remind yourself it’s time to get off the mountain by having it go off.
You need a leash for your snowboard because, well, they make ya (apparently the ski resorts don’t like it when people’s boards slide away and whack some innocent skier in the back of the head), and a lock just makes sense when you’re shelling out hundreds of bucks for a board. I mean, you’ve got to head inside for nachos at some point, and you want to relax and know your equipment is safe. So, here’s something to help you deal with both situations.
The Guardian leash and lock set from Dakine is handsome and compact. The leash is made from stainless steel and a plastic-coated steel cable, so it should be sturdy enough to last you a few seasons. The digits on the 3-digit combination lock look easy to roll with your thumb, even when it’s encased in a glove.