2013 Ski Gear Mega Super Duper Guide

It's that time of year again, when all the other (bigger) ski publications release their Buyers Guides and Gear Guides to get you pumped on this year's gear. We were too busy skiing last winter to have a ski test (and too small of a publication to organize one anyway). So instead we're poaching all the Gear Guides and 2013 Ski Award sites we can (with credit of course), and gathering them all in one place for your window shopping pleasure. Almost a guide to buyers guides, if you will.

Enjoy.

2013 Powder Magazine's Fantasy Draft

Always a favourite, the Powder Magazine Fantasy draft is back this year with a solid format. They take a handful of reputable but unsponsored skiers, rally them to Jackson Hole for a week, and unleash all of next year's gear. The testers get to choose their favourites, second fav's, and so on, just like, well, a Fantasy Draft. Cool format, but what would be even cooler is if they showcased everyones first choice only. Then the most popular skis would OWN the draft! Maybe that wouldn't be very informative, but it would sure give the most popular skis some love.

2013 Backcountry Magazine Editors' Choice

Backcountry Magazine's Ski Test was an especially eye opening ski test this year, because it's easy to see the push that big apline brands are making into the backcountry realm. Many alpine brands were in the test, and looking in print and online you can tell Dynastar is pushing it hard, and the likes of K2 and Salomon are further reinforcing their stake of the claim as well.

2013 Freeskier Buyers Guide

I always liked the Gear Guide videos that Freeskier did. No signs of them yet, but perhaps they're coming, or I just haven't found them yet. Other than that, the 2013 Freeskier Gear Guide is pretty stacked with all the major brands, plenty of smaller brands, and some good picks. They also have some good 'related content' with editorial for each category. Unfortunately the new beta website with all the rich media expandable ads and backgrounds kinda gives me a migrane, but like we can talk!

Skiing Magazine Gear Section

We can't actually make heads or tails of the ski & boot reviews section in Skiing Magazine. But I guess that's because the 2013 reviews and awards aren't out yet. But the 2013 skis ARE listed in the guide, followed below by last year's awards and reviews. That one threw us for a loop, but we'll be sure to check back when the 2013 awards have been dished out.

SBC SKIER Lack of Gear

Ouch, the 2nd listing of SBCSKIER.com's Gear section says it all... 2008! For real? I guess not every magazine is head over heels for gear reviews, which is probably a good thing. There's plenty of other things to read about in SBC Skier, gear ain't one of them.