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Editor’s Choice: Julbo Ultimate Cover Julbo created the Ultimate Cover with the minimalist backcountry athlete in mind. After all, those who count grams need to protect their eyes, too. “These are by far my favorite glasses I own,” said a weight-conscious tester who uses the Ultimate Cover year-round for skiing, biking and mountaineering. The Ultimate Cover’s frame is smaller than that of the average full-coverage sunglasses, but that doesn’t mean they lack features. The slim arms are coated with a soft material that catches onto the skin, not the hair, and flexes under a helmet for a comfortable, no-slip fit. Per our tester, he “never had an issue with them falling off, and they are comfortable sitting on my nose and ears.” Removable side blinders and a nose guard add extra protection from the sun reflecting off the snow. “These side panels work well to minimize glare. The removable glacier nose guard is goofy, and I love it,” quipped our tester. Read the full review with tester feedback in the 2022 Photo Annual. Pick up your copy at BackcountryMagazine.com/142. $180-250 @julbo_eyewear @julbo_usa #untrackedexperience #bcmeditorschoice #editorschoice2022

Editors’ Choice: Scott Sports Superguide Freetour The Superguide Freetour is a departure from Scott’s earlier backcountry skis, but one Tahoe tester wrote that it was a “really fun do-it-all ski. Solid on edge, solid underfoot. At home in all conditions.” The Freetour is touring-centric with a wispy paulownia core. It’s stiffened by three beech stringers and reinforced with carbon and aramid—strong synthetic fibers that run the ski’s entire length. Full sidewalls seek to enhance power transfer while the sidecut’s multiple radii aim to please with snappy and hook-free turn initiation. Our Kirkwood tester thought they skied great in storm conditions, while testers in the Tetons and Wasatch found they performed well in crud and spring conditions, though the Freetour struggled on hardpack. All in all, Scott has really figured it out,” the Tahoe tester concluded. Read the full review with tester feedback in the 2022 Gear Guide. Pick up your copy at BackcountryMagazine.com/140. $850 136/105/124 3220g per pair (185) Lengths: 169, 178, 185 @scottsportsusa @scottsports #untrackedexperience #bcmeditorschoice #editorschoice2022

Editors’ Choice: Pomoca Free Pro 2.0 Need more pink in your life? The Pomoca Free Pro 2.0 turn heads while maximizing grip and glide and minimizing grams. Available for both splitboarders and skiers, the Free Pro 2.0 have “angled tip attachments offered skintrack security,” commented a splitter who was also taken with “no-gunk glue” and “thin-yet-grippy plush.” The Free Pro 2.0 has an ultra-thin backing and a 70/30 mohair/nylon blend that’s buzzed short to shave weight. The tail clips are rubber, and our testers were split in their reactions. “The tail attachment isn’t as easy as I’d like to adjust, but it’s also somehow easier than I’d like to pop free,” our splitboarder said. But a skier commented, “The tail clips are easier to snap on than average.” Read the full review with tester feedback in the 2022 Gear Guide. Pick up your copy at BackcountryMagazine.com/140. $200 @pomocaskins #untrackedexperience #bcmeditorschoice #editorschoice2022

Editors’ Choice: Dalbello Quantum Free 130 “Probably the most powerful touring boot I’ve skied,” said a tester who tried the 130 inbounds and in the skintrack. “As soon as I took them out of walk mode and cranked down on the buckles, the power of the Dual Link Cuff became very apparent,” a Smugglers’ Notch tester wrote of the two-piece, multi-pivot cuff. The Quantum Free 130 relies on Dalbello’s Bonded Shell technology, which uses two pieces of stiff polyamide and a carbon fiber heel cup. The cuff allows the front and rear portions to move independently when in walk mode, enabling 65 degrees of friction-free mobility, and there was “no need to open the top buckle or strap to activate the full range,” one tester observed. Though they lost points for lateral stiffness, testers gave overall high marks to the Quantum Free 130. “These light little sneakers turned into a solid monster of a ski boot,” one said. Read the full review with tester feedback in the 2022 Gear Guide. Pick up your copy at BackcountryMagazine.com/140 $950 Last: 100 mm 2520g per pair Sizes: 24.5-30.5 @dalbellosports #untrackedexperience #bcmeditorschoice #editorschoice2022