Traditionally this is the time of year when we see next years gear trickling onto the slopes.
And even though this isnt a normal tradeshow year, its still new gear season.
and pros have been teasing new graphics on social media for weeks.
But during this exciting time of year Ive decided to put it all out there.
So hold onto your butts, we might ruffle some feathers here.
More Eco-Conscious Skis and Outerwear
I think this ones a pretty safe bet.
It just makes sense.
Weve seen it happen already with the proliferation of fully heat-moldable shells.
In some ways, Atomic is a good bellwether for the direction boots are moving.
The Hawx Ultra was at the forefront of the ultralight inbounds boot shift we saw a few years ago.
Then the XTD brought a heat-moldable shell to the 50/50 market that the MTN Lab had dominated.
And yes, I know, Surefoot has been doing custom foam liners for ages.
The traditional gear release cycle makes less sense every year, especially during the pandemic.
Personally, Im a big fan.
Release new skis when youve made a good new ski.
Customers shouldnt feel pressured to buy a new ski with an identical layup just because it has new graphics.
Maybe weve hit market saturation, but I dont think weve made it to peak boutique/custom brand levels yet.
Graphics will continue to have more personality
This ties into the custom options point above.
BDs Jetforce is the striking exception.
And Im just waiting for the big tech jump thats going to bump them to the next level.
Could next season be the year we see a $300 airbag pack on the market?
More 50/50 Everything
Ugh, I hate the 50/50 designation, but it sure is a hot market segment.
And it seems primed to get even hotter.
I get it, the one setup to rule them all is such a tantalizing idea.
Case in point, that weird switch on the new STH.
What does it do?
So far, we havent been told anything concrete other than it makes the boot/binding interface feel different.
Do we need that option?
Is it a good excuse for a bunch of people to replace their existing bindings?
Does it feel like something that youd get on a retro neon setup from the thrift store?
Atomic is selling rear-entry boots for Petes sake.
Whats next, a switch on your boots for groomer mode or off-piste mode?
And some of thats on us.
Plenty of folks who used to be dedicated park skiers have taken their tricks to real mountains.
The Return of Casual Ski Outerwear
This one is just a gut feeling.
Remember when Burton was collabing with Carhartt?
Remember when Orage was making jackets that looked like a vest over a flannel shirt?
Remember when Full Tilt made the Timberland boot?
What IHopeWell Be Talking About This Time Next Year
These are just my personal dreams for ski gear.
Will they come true?
Atomic Bent Chetler 110 (AKA Bring the Blog Back)
Youve all heard this rant.
But whatever: I miss the Blog.
Lots of us miss the Blog.
Atomic has gotten better at building skis since they last made the Blog.
Weve all gotten into touring since they last made the Blog.
Give us that 1600ish gram touring ski.
We know you might do it!
Sell it to us!
And then your athletes wouldnt have to choose between a just-too-narrow BC 100 and a just-too-wide BC 120.
Full Tilt Classic Fit Touring Boot
This one seems likely, but I still want to advocate for it.
And the Classic fits so many peoples feet well.
Youve got this Tom, make us something cool.
That goes for skis, boots, and outerwear.
Demoing touring gear is really hard.
There are a lot of variables that make it a lot harder to evaluate than inbounds gear.
So it makes a ton of sense to model your touring gear off of your inbounds gear.
I love it when brands make their touring boot fit exactly like their inbounds boot.
It takes away a bunch of guesswork.
And I wish more brands would make lighter, more breathable outerwear that fits like their inbounds gear.
It makes everything so much easier.
It feels exactly the same, just lighter.
Most of us arent hucking our meat and skiing big lines in the backcountry.
We dont all need to chase storms and ski a new mountain every week.
Side hits are cool.
Backcountry Skiblading
This one will never happen, and that makes me sad.
And most people arent skiing bottomless pow that necessitates real skis in the backcountry.
Also, they fit in a carry-on bag.
Never curse your lost ski bag again.
