
The Ski Area Citizens' Coalition, a grassroots organization that tracks the environmental impact and effort of 82 ski areas, has issued its 2011 report card. Resorts were graded in four areas: habitat protection, watershed protection, addressing climate change, and environmental practices and policies. The good news is that overall ski resort grades have improved 2% this year, and have......read more
The Sick Stick freestyle powder snowboard utilizes a revolutionary bamboo core. Made by sandwiching a core between two structural bamboo veneers, the weight of traditional fiberglass and resin is reduced by 25%. There are no petroleum-based topsheet materials or lacquer coats - the graphic is direct-printed on the board, making it less toxic and, in turn, lighter. The Sick Stick comes in......read more
Utah's Soul Poles are the poles of choice for environmentally-conscious skiers and trekkers. Made by hand using bamboo shafts and recycled plastic grips, straps and baskets, the sustainable Soul Poles are available in four styles: original (plain bamboo), torched (bamboo with darker stripes), vibrant (orange, blue or green), and limited edition (hand-painted by the artist/color theorist R.......read more
For winter rec adventures like hiking and snowshoeing, there's nothing like eating some piping hot soup or chili for lunch. In the outdoors, Stanley's Vacuum Food Jar is an enduring classic, with double-wall, stainless steel construction for long-lasting insulation. The indestructible container features a lid that doubles as a cup, and a wide mouth opening that makes it easy to fill in......read more
With a delicate mix of rejuvenating and exfoliating ingredients -- all of which are organic, vegan, and cruelty-free -- this Creamy Foaming Cleanser from Suki Face is the best women's facial wash we've come across. Unlike face cleansers that leave skin brittle and dry, the gentle foam actually hydrates your skin instead of stripping it. Pair it with a good moisturizer, and your facial skin care......read more
Simple though they may seem, these sustainable wood Animal Boxes from Karl Zahn carry deep symbolic meaning. Each represents "a 'power animal' -- a totem for our individual ambitions." With hollow cores and the addition of hinges, they provide a beautiful, figural hiding spot for small objects. Made in USA....read more
As a kid growing up on the shores of Lake Erie in western New York, Kiel Mead had a "love affair" with driftwood, which he collected for display at home. Now a designer living in Brooklyn, Mead works primarily with found objects, refashioning them in new and interesting ways. Mead makes clever and colorful use of driftwood with these unique, one-of-a-kind hooks, which are stained......read more
Parisian electronic producer Rone has teamed up once again with director Filip Piskorzynski for a continuation in theme from their previous "Gravity" video. Again featuring Natalia Dufraisse floating in midair, the Atlantic-featured "Parade" video throws painting, printing, and stop-motion animation into the mix. Each frame of the animation has been modified by an adorable kid who brings the......read more
For a Manhattan-based company, Best Made Co. sure knows how to make quality goods for the outdoors. Beginning with its now-famous axes, Best Made has built a nice stable of woodsy products, all with an eye on good design and local manufacturing. These new Elkskin Chopper Mitts continue the trend. Made from natural 3.75oz American elkskin, a washable material that remains warm even when wet, the......read more
Yes, it's another time-lapse video, and yes you have to watch it. This spectacular new clip was shot near Tromvik, in northern Norway, one of the best places on earth to witness the northern lights (aurora borealis). Time-lapse specialist Nicholas Buer happened to be visiting the area during a solar flare, which sent massive reverberations through earth's magnetic field and made the......read more