Snow Sports

Rising predawn to chase powder is sacred in ski culture, but an increasing number of resorts are offering early-access programs for people who can afford them

It was a banged-up pair of demo skis that taught me how to Nordic ski—and embrace the humbling process of learning a new sport

Our editors agree that multipurpose gear is generally not it—but one of them makes an exception for the claw

There’s ski racing, and then there’s Austrian ski racing. And there’s no better place than the Hahnenkamm Downhill to witness the passion the athletes and fans have for the sport.

Whether you’re a visitor or a resident, places like Mammoth Lakes, California, Crested Butte, Colorado, and Sun Valley, Idaho, are spectacular—but in this era of climate change, raging wildfires, and sky-high housing prices, making a life there has gotten hard. We asked our writers to imagine a glorious, sustainable tomorrow for these one-of-a-kind destinations. Join us as we dive into their recommendations.

"Powderchaser Steve" has spent decades studying the weather radar and driving through blizzards. Here are his tips for beating the crowds to the snow.

Mountain living is sweet—but it often comes with a hefty price tag. These towns are a little easier on the wallet.

Everybody’s buzzing about this affordable passport to smaller, often overlooked ski resorts around the U.S. Its owners think their rapidly growing business could be the antidote to the ski industry’s endless consolidation.

Held annually in the Swiss village of Mürren, the Inferno combines hard partying with a very serious downhill challenge. And did we mention the abject terror?

After a record-breaking year, the 28-year-old American ski racer sits down to talk success, failure, family, and the future with her mom, Eileen Shiffrin

Pack your bags because we’ve identified legendary ski resorts all over the globe that you’re going to yearn to visit

When you’re one of the greatest skiers of all time, there are some things you only say to the person you trust most in the world

Honoring the life of someone who spent their days exploring wild places often means embracing the pursuits that brought them joy

Learning to ski as an adult is difficult, but worth it

You're known as the king of après-ski, and you like to dress the part

These pieces will get you and your loved ones outside in all of winter’s glory

Six items for piste perfectionists who demand the highest performance from their gear

In a demanding ski testing environment, these products shone, ensuring that our dedicated testers had the right gear to make their evaluations successful

This equipment was made for hard-charging skiers like you

Savvy shoppers know that there are deals to be had, even on brand-new ski equipment

Ski touring and high-output activities in the backcountry require a different kind of armor. Suit up with our favorite picks of the season.

Whether you're looking for insulated or not, steezy or muted, you'll find something that fits the bill on this list.

We tested 45 jackets designed for resort skiing and beyond. These rose to the top.

It's rare that a ski boot will fit right off the shop wall. Here are seven ways to dial in your fit.

The new 40-liter Crux was designed for big backcountry missions and weighs less than 3 pounds

Five boots to keep your feet warm, dry, and planted

Six testers tried 75 bomber products, and these were the ones that rose above the rest

These three pairs of ‘shoes floated above the rest

Mother Nature provided for ideal testing conditions for Outside’s 2024 Snowboard Test at Sugar Bowl in Tahoe. Our test squad did the rest.

An ode to the coldest season

Warren Miller’s ALL TIME is bringing 74 years of filmmaking reimagined to a theater near you this fall.

Just one year in, the Montana-based upstart is earning outsized levels of ratings and high-mark reviews across all models and spanning the industry

We caught up with Lindsey Vonn to chat about recovery, sleep, and who she’s watching this winter

We tested more than 300 products to help you separate the best from the rest

We’re entering the Goldilocks age of backcountry boots. These new models aren’t too heavy and they aren’t too flimsy—they’re just right for a variety of adventures.

These downhill ski boots are designed for ladies who exclusively charge the resort

These high-performance boots are made for carving up the ‘roy and charging off-piste

These new alpine and touring bindings come packed with exciting features

These lightweight skis don’t just power up the skintrack. They’re bonafide downhill performers.

Looking for the perfect backcountry ski for deep days and big missions? Start here.

We tested more than 100 pairs of skis. These 10 were the best in test.

These wide, rockered planks will help you milk those powder days for all they are worth

These wide, rockered planks designed for the deepest days of the year do more than float—they fly

These all-mountain skis have a little more underfoot, more rocker, and more fun in powder

If you ski mountains that measure snowfall in feet rather than inches, these wide rides are for you

No matter the mountain, no matter the conditions, these sticks won't let you down

Introducing the best one-ski-quiver options of the year

These skis with narrower waists are versatile resort chargers that know how to get on edge and play in the bumps

These narrower sticks may have a knack for groomers, but they also like to play in the bumps and crud

This is hands-down the most impressive resort-meets-backcountry boot we’ve ever tried

For the third year in a row, this ski bested the rest in the powder category

This year’s best carving ski will allow you to live out your World Cup racing fantasy

No other women’s frontside ski comes close to the Wildcat’s carving chops

These consumer-friendly carving skis remind us why laying trenches on groomers is so dang fun

Featuring a little more party in the back, this Enforcer likes to play in the deep stuff

Finally, a QST model specifically designed for backcountry adventures

If you’re in the market for a pair of carvers to slice up the ‘roy and live out your racing fantasy, check out this list

If you fancy yourself a World Cup-level skier, this new high-performance boot is for you

If you like the Black Pearl but like a little more energy from your skis, try these sticks on for size

Your flashy new snowboard may be the star of the show, but it’s nothing without these sidekick pieces of gear

20 testers tried 19 splitboards, plus a handful of boots, bindings, and accessories. These were the winners.

40 testers tested 57 snowboards over the course of a week in Sugar Bowl, CA. These are the cream of the crop.

We put 24 pairs of boots and 37 cross-country necessities through the wringer this season and narrowed down the 12 best items.

7 testers tried 26 pairs of cross-country skis in all conditions—from late-season slush to deep powder. These four came out on top.

An sudden and powerful wind gust caused the freak accident

Utah’s Department of Transportation released renderings of the finished product, and people are surprised

Bluebird Backcountry was a special community and will be sorely missed

Ironically, stronger, wetter, and warmer storms will shrink the snow line at many of the state’s most popular ski areas

Utah’s Occupational Safety and Health group found the resort operator responsible for the freak death of a ski patroller on January 2, 2023

Right out of college, Leath Tonino traveled to Antarctica to experience the frozen landscape of his childhood exploration heroes. The daily routine was a bit dull—shoveling snow for the U.S. government—until a pair of skinny skis unlocked the potential of the vast snowy expanse.

The annual NSAA report shows that skiers flocked to the powder in a big way in 2022-23

The gondola is still in play, but a new tolling program in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon could charge cars $25 to $50 to get to the resorts

A tax-deductible donation of any size can have a huge impact on these nonprofits, all working to get everyone outside and protect our planet. Pick an org and donate today in just a few clicks.

Skier Francis Zuber narrates the dramatic video clip of his heroic rescue that generated thousands of views online

The Outside Awards will showcase up-and-coming storytellers and celebrate emerging voices in the snowsports world—plus $40,000 in prize money and a chance to be featured in Outside Magazine and in the Warren Miller film tour is on the line.

And it’s not the one in California that rhymes with Shmammoth, believe it or not