MAKE THE PILGRIMAGE
When it comes to making the move to a wide all-mountain ski, there’s no shame in admitting a little apprehension. Go too wide and it can feel like you’re stepping out of a sports car and into a diesel truck. But, the good thing about a truck is that you never have to turn around when the conditions in front of you change. For the best of both worlds, strap on a pair of Icelantic Pilgrim skis; from ice to corduroy to fresh powder, you won’t have to worry about what lies ahead. $650. icelanticboards.com
FIND IT LOCALLY:
Wilderness Exchange Unlimited (Denver)
866.964.0708 | wildernessexchangeunlimited.com
Christy Sports (Cherry Creek, Denver, Englewood, Littleton)
888.413.6966 | christysports.com
SPLIT PERSONALITY
In an age when it seems that last year’s model might as well be last decade’s, it’s surprising to see that K2 spent three years designing and perfecting the new Panoramic Splitboard. The wait was worth it. The Panoramic’s bamboo core gives the board unheard-of strength, and the All Terrain Rocker design gives it more function than most mountains demand. Worth the wait indeed. $600. k2snowboarding.com
FIND IT LOCALLY:
Colorado Ski & Golf (Arvada, Aurora, Littleton, Park Meadows)
303.420.0885 | coloradoskiandgolf.com
Sports Authority (Aurora, Denver, Englewood, Glendale, Littleton, Park Meadows, Parker, Westminster)
800.360.8721 | sportsauthority.com
STABLE UNDERFOOT
The spring-loaded suspension helps weary hips travel farther, but the Atlas Aspect snowshoe’s best feature may be its ability to keep you on your feet regardless of the conditions. The perimeter of the snowshoe features a saw-tooth grip, ensuring you’ll feel stable on hard ice, and the easy-to-use heel lift reduces steep pitches to manageable rises. $270. atlassnowshoe.com
FIND IT LOCALLY:
Dick’s Sporting Goods (Aurora, Brighton, Broomfield, Centennial, Lakewood, Littleton, Thornton)
877.846.9997 | dickssportinggoods.com
REI (Denver, Englewood, Lakewood, Westminster)
800.426.4840 | rei.com
ALL YOU NEED IS ONE
No one fishes in a bubble. The wind rises or the fish start sipping off the surface and you’re sunk if you can’t adapt. So, while it’s nice to have 10 rods for 10 very specific fishing conditions, the rod you’ll use the most is the one that does the most. With that in mind, Sage created its new One fly rod. The One went through three years of development, and you’re guaranteed to get much more use out of it than that. $715-$740. sageflyfish.com
FIND IT LOCALLY:
Trout’s Fly Fishing
(Denver) 303.733.1434 | troutsflyfishing.com
Bass Pro Shop (Denver)
720.385.3600 | basspro.com
LIGHTER (and sexier) THAN EVER
It is light; it is beautiful; and it works even better than it looks. The new Velocity Nickel reel by Waterworks-Lamson not only remains one of the best fly reel values on the market, but thanks to its new nickel finish, it’s also one of the best-looking. The reel’s sleek nickel finish is accented by a burnt-orange cassette, exposed through the arbor ports that serve the dual purpose of reducing weight. $250-$360. waterworks-lamson.com
FIND IT LOCALLY:
Anglers All (Littleton)
800.327.5014 | anglersall.com
Colorado Skies Outfitters (Parker)
720.851.4665 | coloradoskiesoutfitters.com
CUSTOM CATCH
Ed and Cathy Wachter hand build each one of the custom Wachter Nets they sell. In fact, they do everything from Ed harvesting the mesquite, sycamore and red pecan wood near their home in Texas, to Cathy’s inlay work on the finished product. Altogether, the Wachters personally shape, laminate and ship anywhere between 2,500 to 4,000 nets each year, but get your hands on a Tailwater model and you’ll never fish again without it. $105. wachternets.com
FIND IT LOCALLY:
Charlie’s Fly Box (Arvada)
303.403.8880 | charliesflyboxinc.com
Denver Angler (Centennial)
303.403.4512 | denverangler.com
STANDING TALL
As kayak fishing grows in popularity, so too has the demands anglers put on their boats. First among them is stability. If it can’t handle a hard cast, then you might as well be fishing from shore. Add in maneuverability on the water, portability off it and enough storage space for all the necessary gear, and you’d have the perfect kayak. All that is exactly what makes the Wilderness Systems new Ride 115 kayak an angler’s delight. $850. wildernesssystems.com
FIND IT LOCALLY:
Jax Outdoor Gear (Loveland)
866.628.0352 | jaxmercantile.com
THE CANOEYAK
The brand new Mad River Serenade Canoe won’t be available until this spring, but already it has a growing group of paddlers excited. The Serenade looks like a typical canoe, but thanks to a unique leg-lifter seating system, which also can recline, it feels as comfortable as a kayak. It makes for one easy-to-paddle canoe that lets you spend all day on the water without fatigue. But if you do decide to go ashore, the seat pulls out and works great around a campfire. $900-$1,720. madrivercanoe.com
CARRY LESS
The four millimeters of difference between the thickness of the heel and the front of the New Balance Minimus Trail shoe is perfect for runners looking to transition to the barefoot movement. Trail runners, however, will be most thankful for the protection and durability provided by the Vibram sole. The Minimus Trail is so lightweight yet tough, that it also makes for a great hiking or even backpacking shoe. $100. newbalance.com
FIND IT LOCALLY:
Runner’s Roost (Aurora, Denver, Lakewood)
303.766.3411 | runnersroost.com
REI (Denver, Englewood, Lakewood, Westminster)
800.426.4840 | rei.com
TRUNK SPACE
The new Detours D2R Small Pannier Set makes for multi-purpose packing and transporting on your bike, whether you plan to use them daily or just once a year for a multi-day trip. The two rear pannier bags are expandable, easily removable, stowable when empty and come with waterproof covers for year-round use. About the only thing they won’t do is pedal for you. $85. detours.us
FIND IT LOCALLY:
Turin Bicycles (Denver)
303.837.1857 | turinbikes.com
Adventure Cycling (Aurora)
303.699.2514 | adventurecycle.net
SLICK RIDE
You shouldn’t hope to go unnoticed when you arrive on your bike to work or a coffee shop, or anywhere else for that matter. And finally, for those who don’t want to look like they just took the training wheels off their bike, comes a hybrid commuter that fits the bill. Cannondale’s new Quick SL1 is so sleek that you’ll be glad to get noticed riding. Even if you did just take the training wheels off. $1,550. cannondale.com
FIND IT LOCALLY:
Schwab Cycles (Lakewood)
303.238.0243 | schwabcycles.com
Cycle Analyst (Denver)
303.722.3004 | cycleanalystinc.com
Treads Bicycle Outfitters (Aurora, Lakewood, Parker)
800.587.3237 | treads.com
TIC TOC
The ingeniousness of creating a watchband that can turn the iPod Nano into a sleek watch was instantaneously realized. In fact, Scott Wilson, the designer behind the new Blackout LunaTik was able to raise more than $1 million in 30 days as seed money. For runners, hikers or anyone looking to get outside with their iPod, the realization of just how brilliant Wilson’s idea was occurs the moment they strap on their new watch. $90. lunatik.com
FIND IT LOCALLY:
Apple Store (Broomfield, Cherry Creek, Littleton, Lone Tree)
303.583.7310 | apple.com
SPEED IT UP
On February 1st, Nike’s brand-new lighter and more aerodynamic VR S Driver arrives. And while the common eye may not see that much difference from the last VR driver, just remember, you can’t always trust your eyes. Proving the new VR S is much more than a pretty paint change, the new driver is noticeably lighter during the swing despite its bigger clubhead. And the improved Str8-Fit adjustable loft/lie system on the longer and lighter shaft is more responsive than ever before. Don’t believe us? Try one and you’ll have a hard time leaving the store without it. $360. nikegolf.com
FIND IT LOCALLY:
Golfsmith (Westminster)
303.426.7775 | golfsmith.com
Where Yards Count
In an age when all golfers seem to think that spin is the only thing important in a wedge, the thin titanium face on the new Cleveland CG Black Wedges gives amateurs the one thing most of us actually need…a little extra distance as we get close to the green. Being able to hit a soft wedge instead of clubbing down to a 9 or even 8 iron is often the difference between a green in regulation and a bad lie away from triple bogey. $150. clevelandgolf.com
FIND IT LOCALLY:
Golf Galaxy (Park Meadows, Westminster)
800.287.9060 | golfgalaxy.com
Dick’s Sporting Goods (Aurora, Brighton, Broomfield, Centennial, Lakewood, Littleton, Thornton)
877.846.9997 | dickssportinggoods.com
