Innovation of the year 2011Voting closed
There's so much brilliant new kit out this winter, we reckon one of it deserves Fall-Line's new Innovation of the Year award. We've stumped as to which, so we're getting you to decide for us.
Here are the contenders. Have a read, decide which you think stands out from the crowd, then scroll down to vote.
Snowpulse removable airbag system
They say: “The RAS uses the latest technologies developed by Snowpulse. Bags can be used without the system, and transfer of the RAS system from one bag to another takes just a few minutes. Other compatible bags from other manufacturers can be used with the RAS system."
We say: "Airbags have a superb safety record for saving lives of people caught in avalanches; most guides use them despite the weight penalty. Any system that is compatible with several makes of pack makes it more likely to be used increasingly widely, because people who have invested in a decent, well-fitting piece of gear would often take longer to migrate to an airbag system, even if they want one. We think it’s a brilliant idea."
Fischer vacuum boot
They say: "Fischer Vacuum Fit technology makes it possible for the first time to have a 100% perfect fit. The basis for this is the new Fischer Vacu-Plast material. The easy adjustment procedure, which is comfortable for the customer, takes only 20 minutes and offers a reliable and stable result. The material can be reshaped up to ten times."
We say: "Get a better translator, Fischer folk! This is hotter than a bigger star than the sun, and you’re using Germanspeak to make us bored before we realise that YOU’VE INVENTED PLASTIC THAT MOULDS TO OUR FEET! You heat a boot that kind-of fits until it melts (sort of), and then press it onto our misshapen leg-ends with a bag full of pressure and it reappears as a boot that a) still fits into a binding, b) clips up like normal and c) is a perfect representation of our foot. How clever is that? Fischer have opened the door to solving a perennial problem with a relatively simple set-up. You need a fancy machine, a basic bootfitting skill set, and you need the boots, and that’s it. It’s not even that expensive – currently about £150 more than a pair of similar spec boots. You’d spend more than that getting them custom-fitted. And watch the price come down as the technology spreads."
Salomon BBR
They say: "Totally new design in sidecut and shape technology. BBR is a powder ski that carves, and a carving ski that floats. It has an oversized, surfboard tip, rockered to float and adapt to different terrain. But the narrower waist, deep sidecut and normal camber under the foot provide precision and stability carving up the groomers."
We say: "Salomon come up with good ideas on a regular basis, and they’re about the best at driving them into the wider consciousness. Hence a lot of noise about, and interest in, the BBR. It is different from what’s out there, featuring a very wide tip and relatively narrow tail. Making this shape work takes some skill; the BBR in either width (7.9cm or 8.9cm) doesn’t feel over-turny, and doesn’t skid out the tails like a few sceptics were predicting. What it does is make a solid skier feel like they’re a lot better; you turn and grip; you pop up in soft snow and you bash through crud. There are plenty of skis that can deliver this, but none look the part like the BBR – we think the graphics and essence of the BBR will be its legacy."
Gore-Tex Active Shell
They say: "A new lamination technology means that the lining is integrated into the Gore-Tex membrane, allowing for extreme breathability, a more compact three-layer design, and excellent next-to-skin comfort. Sweat is quickly conveyed away from the skin, while moisture produced by rain, snow and wind has no chance of penetrating."
We say: "Instead of the outer material, membrane and inner lining simply sitting on top of each other – like previous versions of Gore-Tex's three-layer shells – with Active Shell the lining is integrated into the membrane, eliminating the need for breathability-inhibiting glue. We think that's rather cleaver. The membrane is significantly thinner and lighter, too. We're also impressed with the way Gore-Tex has managed to deliver all this in such a minimalist design; Gore works closely with its partners (including Arc'teryx, Haglofs, Patagonia) to ensure garments have all the specs without any superfluous features that impede the breathability, so no unnecessary double layers etc. Gore has even implemented a total maximum weight limit of 400 grams. Bravo."
Polartec NeoShell
They say: "All the protection of a hard shell in a soft shell fabric. While traditional shell fabrics require heat and pressure to build inside the garment before the membrane begins to work, Polartec NeoShellbreathes actively, thanks to an exclusive sub-micron fibre membrane with unprecedented air permeability."
We say: "We haven't the foggiest what an 'exclusive sub-micron fibre membrane' is. But, we do know that waterproof technology has remained pretty much the same since the very first hard shell. Breathability is achieved through diffusion: moisture and heat create enough pressure that moisture vapour finally passes through the fabric. Soft shells trade waterproofness for greater breathability, using a constant exchange of air. With NeoShell, Polartec manages to deliver the best of both features: its ‘active’ membrane ensures maximum breathability, yet it is fully waterproof and blocks 99.9% of the wind. Hallelujah! It’ll be available through brands including Mammut, Marmot, Rab and The North Face."
Posted by Online Editor - Wed, 19/10/2011 - 12:25pm
Voting closed
There's so much brilliant new kit out this winter, we reckon one of it deserves Fall-Line's new Innovation of the Year award. We've stumped as to which, so we're getting you to decide for us.
Here are the contenders. Have a read, decide which you think stands out from the crowd, then scroll down to vote.
Snowpulse removable airbag system
They say: “The RAS uses the latest technologies developed by Snowpulse. Bags can be used without the system, and transfer of the RAS system from one bag to another takes just a few minutes. Other compatible bags from other manufacturers can be used with the RAS system."
We say: "Airbags have a superb safety record for saving lives of people caught in avalanches; most guides use them despite the weight penalty. Any system that is compatible with several makes of pack makes it more likely to be used increasingly widely, because people who have invested in a decent, well-fitting piece of gear would often take longer to migrate to an airbag system, even if they want one. We think it’s a brilliant idea."
Fischer vacuum boot
They say: "Fischer Vacuum Fit technology makes it possible for the first time to have a 100% perfect fit. The basis for this is the new Fischer Vacu-Plast material. The easy adjustment procedure, which is comfortable for the customer, takes only 20 minutes and offers a reliable and stable result. The material can be reshaped up to ten times."
We say: "Get a better translator, Fischer folk! This is hotter than a bigger star than the sun, and you’re using Germanspeak to make us bored before we realise that YOU’VE INVENTED PLASTIC THAT MOULDS TO OUR FEET! You heat a boot that kind-of fits until it melts (sort of), and then press it onto our misshapen leg-ends with a bag full of pressure and it reappears as a boot that a) still fits into a binding, b) clips up like normal and c) is a perfect representation of our foot. How clever is that? Fischer have opened the door to solving a perennial problem with a relatively simple set-up. You need a fancy machine, a basic bootfitting skill set, and you need the boots, and that’s it. It’s not even that expensive – currently about £150 more than a pair of similar spec boots. You’d spend more than that getting them custom-fitted. And watch the price come down as the technology spreads."
Salomon BBR
They say: "Totally new design in sidecut and shape technology. BBR is a powder ski that carves, and a carving ski that floats. It has an oversized, surfboard tip, rockered to float and adapt to different terrain. But the narrower waist, deep sidecut and normal camber under the foot provide precision and stability carving up the groomers."
We say: "Salomon come up with good ideas on a regular basis, and they’re about the best at driving them into the wider consciousness. Hence a lot of noise about, and interest in, the BBR. It is different from what’s out there, featuring a very wide tip and relatively narrow tail. Making this shape work takes some skill; the BBR in either width (7.9cm or 8.9cm) doesn’t feel over-turny, and doesn’t skid out the tails like a few sceptics were predicting. What it does is make a solid skier feel like they’re a lot better; you turn and grip; you pop up in soft snow and you bash through crud. There are plenty of skis that can deliver this, but none look the part like the BBR – we think the graphics and essence of the BBR will be its legacy."
Gore-Tex Active Shell
They say: "A new lamination technology means that the lining is integrated into the Gore-Tex membrane, allowing for extreme breathability, a more compact three-layer design, and excellent next-to-skin comfort. Sweat is quickly conveyed away from the skin, while moisture produced by rain, snow and wind has no chance of penetrating."
We say: "Instead of the outer material, membrane and inner lining simply sitting on top of each other – like previous versions of Gore-Tex's three-layer shells – with Active Shell the lining is integrated into the membrane, eliminating the need for breathability-inhibiting glue. We think that's rather cleaver. The membrane is significantly thinner and lighter, too. We're also impressed with the way Gore-Tex has managed to deliver all this in such a minimalist design; Gore works closely with its partners (including Arc'teryx, Haglofs, Patagonia) to ensure garments have all the specs without any superfluous features that impede the breathability, so no unnecessary double layers etc. Gore has even implemented a total maximum weight limit of 400 grams. Bravo."
Polartec NeoShell
They say: "All the protection of a hard shell in a soft shell fabric. While traditional shell fabrics require heat and pressure to build inside the garment before the membrane begins to work, Polartec NeoShellbreathes actively, thanks to an exclusive sub-micron fibre membrane with unprecedented air permeability."
We say: "We haven't the foggiest what an 'exclusive sub-micron fibre membrane' is. But, we do know that waterproof technology has remained pretty much the same since the very first hard shell. Breathability is achieved through diffusion: moisture and heat create enough pressure that moisture vapour finally passes through the fabric. Soft shells trade waterproofness for greater breathability, using a constant exchange of air. With NeoShell, Polartec manages to deliver the best of both features: its ‘active’ membrane ensures maximum breathability, yet it is fully waterproof and blocks 99.9% of the wind. Hallelujah! It’ll be available through brands including Mammut, Marmot, Rab and The North Face."