Topics / Gear & Tuning
Gear & Tuning
Skis, boots, bindings, and the home tuning bench — what to buy and how to keep it fast.
The Complete Home Ski Tuning Guide: Wax, Edges, Storage
Gear & Tuning · Jul 13, 2026 · 15 min
The full bench-to-summer walkthrough: setting up the bench, reading your bases, running a 1-and-3 edge tune, choosing wax by snow temperature, hot scraping, and the storage wax that keeps your skis alive through the off-season.
Waist Width, Decoded: What the Millimeters Buy You
Gear & Tuning · Jul 13, 2026 · 6 min
The middle number on the topsheet decides how your ski turns and floats. Here is the 85, 95, and 110mm category map, what each millimeter buys, and honest East-versus-West advice for picking a one-ski quiver.
Smith Squad MAG, Reviewed: A Season on One Pair of Goggles
Gear & Tuning · Jul 13, 2026 · 8 min
A specs-and-consensus verdict on the Smith Squad MAG: how the magnetic lens swap works, ChromaPop optics in flat light and bluebird glare, fit and helmet integration, the honest fogging limit, and how it stacks up to the Oakley Flight Deck.
Reader favorites
The short list — see the full ranking on the gear page.
Smith Vantage MIPS Ski Helmet
$295.00
Check priceOakley Flight Deck L Snow Goggles
$139.99
Check priceSmartwool Merino 250 Quarter-Zip Base Layer
$105.00
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