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INJINJI® SKI/SNOWBOARD SNOW SOCKS and KAHTOOLA® SNOWSHOES

WINTER SPORTS MADE FUN WITH NEW APPAREL AND EQUIPMENT

November 10, 2008

Words, Judith Ecochard, Images courtesy of Respective Companies

A bushwhack hike in the northern Catskill Mountains was a challenge...with the top half of the mountain covered in two feet of packed and powder snow.


Fortunately, we got to demo new to the market INJINJI SKI/SNOWBOARD Socks (part of the Snow Series Performance Toesocks), and the ultra-light KAHTOOLA step-in FLIGHTdeck™ TS Showshoes on this outing…and are happy with the performance aspects of both kicker accoutrements.

INJINJI™ SNOWSOCKS:

We’ve been running in our 5-toe (patented) design Injinji socks with happy results. Though the unique five toe sleeve design took about three jogs to get used to, the seamless construction kept our toes moisture free. We even felt our digits were more properly balancing our bodies with each step as the socks are anatomically designed for right and left feet.













Makes sense since the company itself is motivated by active types - who care about friction and resulting blisters.
The new Injinj® Snow socks (MSRP $24) are ‘equipped’ with the AIS: technology (Anatomical Interface System) that’s soft, comfy inside our hiking boots, light weight, and breathable (Coomax™ equipped). We really felt a noticeable difference in our hiking/heel to toe motion up the mountain.

Plus the X-Static Silver inner lining acted to keep our toes warm (and apparently reduces odors though we didn’t take a whiff).

And by the 7th hour of our outdoor adventure, we were very glad to have the over the calf, second skin Injinji socks on---- versus our usual bunched up by now hiking socks.
INFO AND RETAIL AVAILABILITY ONLINE: INJINJI

KAHTOOLA FLIGHTdeck™TS SNOWSHOES

Kahtoola, (means direct in Tibetan language) is a company that gets outdoor enthusiasts to where they want to go.

















The company’s new FLIGHTdeck™TS SNOWSHOES are step-ins for powder conditions, and a durable, adjustable, traction system (via Hypalon® decking and stainless steel cleats)… that fits shoes or boots... for ice and packed snow. We had no problem clicking in half way up the mountain where the snow got deep…and were REALLY GRATEFUL we had the pair we tried out, the TS 23 model that’s geared towards fitness types— (8 X 23” - 59 oz / pair).

The flexibility of the Kahtoola snowshoes to adapt to snow conditions is critical and really makes a huge difference… as we didn’t have to stop and switch ped coverings with the varying conditions.

Hallelujah.

And our fellow hikers were VERY JEALOUS.

Also available is the TS24 uni-sex (women’s 5.5-men’s 14) model for hiking and exploring (it’s slightly larger at 8.5 X 24” - 64 oz/pair)

INFO: KAHTOOLA SNOWSHOES

RETAIL: $269... widely available online and in stores across the globe.