Splitboard Hardware

Jones Nomad Skins w/ Quick Tension Tail Clip

PRICE: £260 / €260 / $260

The top shelf offering of Skins from the backcountry boffins at Jones Snowboards. These Swiss-made skins are made up of 70% Mohair and 30% synthetic nylon. This particular blend is used because it glides well across more level terrain, making life a whole lot easier when on long tours, but can also get a decent grip with the snow on steep and city climbs. There’s even some Anti-Glopping treatment (that name alone should give some idea to what it does) that protects the skins from saturating in wetter, spring conditions It’s not an easy balance to strike, but the Jones Nomad skins pull it off. The Nomad Pro Skins are also laminated with Rubber Safer Skin backing. This layer keeps the skin from absorbing water (i.e. stops them from saturating and becoming heavy) and makes the skins easier to pull apart.

They’re available in two different configurations: pre-cut with the Quick Tension Tail Clip (ideal for owners of a Jones splitboard from 2016 and later, like this year’s Solution); and Trim-To-Fit with a universal tail clip.

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Spark R&D Summit Skins

PRICE: $190

Last season, Spark R&D – the world-leading, split-specific hardware brand – added another string to their bow with the all-new Summit Splitboard Skins. Designed and manufactured in the US, the Summit Skins are (much like the rest of their hardware line) tough as nails with every inch of their design meticulously thought through. They’re compatible with virtually every shape and size of 2-piece splitboard and are made for real backcountry touring (Read: ice, roots, rocks and slush – not just pristine powder). Or, as Spark themselves put it, ‘Compatible with: splitboards and awesome people’.

The skin fibres are made from 100% nylon. While Mohair is often considered to have faster-gliding properties, the Summit Skins will comfortably break trail all day long with the reduced chance of becoming saturated or losing any grip in wetter, spring-like conditions.

The skins come complete with a storage bag and trimming tool for you to cut them down to size. If you’re not entirely sure how, Spark have put together this incredibly detailed and useful skin setup guide which, frankly, puts IKEA’s home assembly instructions to shame.

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Spark R&D Ibex Crampon

PRICE: $100
Weight (size Reg): 336g (pair)

A pair of splitboard crampons might not be considered by some as an “essential” item to your inventory, but they almost certainly will after the first time you need to use them and realise you’ll never head to the trail again without them. The Ibex Crampons are described by Spark as 4WD for your splitboard. Their lightweight aluminium construction delivers max strength and durability at an impressively low weight.

Installation and removal is simple and can be done on the fly without unstrapping by sliding the crampon sideways into and out of touring bracket claw mounts – just remember to do this before you get to the steep/icy pitch. The crampon’s teeth fully engage when used with or without the dual position climbing wire for maximum security on dicey terrain.

Spark are known for their well-considered engineering, and the dual-width design features one crampon that is slightly wider than the other, allowing the crampons to nest together for easy handling and reduced packing space. Simple, yet genius.

The Ibex crampons come in regular and wide sizes and are compatible with Spark’s Tesla and Tesla T1 bindings systems (including Burton and Nitro Split bindings)

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Spark R&D Ibex Pro Crampon

PRICE: $130
Weight (size Reg): 260g (pair)

If you’ve already clocked up several thousand verticle matres on your split, you’ll know that every gram really does count – whether it’s being carried on your back or part of your splitboard hardware. For those who want the best of the best, the Ibex Pro Crampon has been made for exactly you in mind.

The Pro is made with a 7075 aluminium body that is just as strong, but lighter and thinner than Spark’s standard Ibex. This means less drag, less weight and, ultimately, saving you more energy once to enjoy the descent.

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Spark R&D Canted Splitboard Pucks

PRICE: $75

Of course, Spark R&D still make their regular splitboard pucks, but for the same price a pair of canted pucks could just make all the difference saving your knees and getting the most out of that final ascent of the day.

With a subtle 3° of canting and the same infinite stance adjustments as the regular pucks, treat your joints this season and take advantage of this simple but genius little bindings hack.

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Spark R&D Crossbar Clips (Top-Mount)

PRICE: $50

Now, here’s a hardware component that’s often overlooked by splitboarders, but can make a huge difference to the performance and torsional rigidity of the board on the descents. Spark R&D have come up with their unique take on the crossbar design which offers the tightest possible connection.

The design features a one-piece crossbar that extends from one set of bolts to the other while clamping tension is finetuned by turning a set-screw. Made from aluminium and brass with only two moving parts, the crossbar and lever also rotate out of the way to keep them clear of knocking against anything during the ascent.

The Top-Mount Crossbar Clips are designed for splitboards where you can’t see screw heads on the base of your board. For those who need them, Spark also have Through-Mount Crossbar Clips for boards without inserts (you can see screw heads on the base of your board).

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Spark R&D Baseplate Padding Kits

PRICE: $20

Sometimes, it’s the little things that make the big differences. Long days on the trail will often lead to breaking a sweat, but it’s still common to experience cold toes and numb feet but the top of the ascent. Spark’s baseplate padding helps to increase foot warmth and comfort on long tours with. The durable and grippy EVA foam peels back and sticks onto the baseplate (there’s different footprints depending on the binding model and reduces the cold that can transmit up from the metal baseplates – especially on the solid piece of the Surge splitboard bindings.

They also give the bindings more of a look and feel of your regular, solid, binders, with enough material in them to take out some of the vibrations and foot fatigue on the descent. A well worthwhile add-on investment if you’re planning some longer tours and early starts this season.

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Eyewear

Oakley Clifden Sunnies

Price: £167

There’s a reason we spend tons of money on a good pair of goggles to protect our eyes from the sun while sliding sideways, so there is no reason for us not to do the same when sitting down at après.

Oakley’s Clifden sunglasses are custom-built for mountaineering. Their style merges the Prizm technology with a frame design engineered with side shields and a bridge blocker for eye protection and an integrated leash for stowage and convenience.

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Spy+ Monolith Beyond Control Sunnies

Price: $150 – $190

Spy’s Monolith single lens sunglasses are designed to bring a smile to your face. Featuring Spy+’s “therapeutic Happy lens” tech, which we’ve heard is scientifically tuned to boost mood and alertness while enhancing colour and contrast, the sunnies are said to provide a truly life-changing visual experience. Whether this is true or not, the design alone of them is worth the investment – and they’ll keep your eyes from getting damaged too.

Available in plenty of different styles.

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Headware

Airblaster Air Flap Cap

Price: £45 / €50 / $45

Airblaster’s Air Flap Cap, or “fleece-lined sleeping bag for your head”, as they like to refer to it, will keep your head warm and comfy no matter the weather. And it looks cool too. Flaps up, flaps down. It’s all good.

Available in black, yellow, camo and blue.

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Burton One World Cap

Price: $42

This dope ear flap cap was released to celebrate Burton’s full length movie- One World. It’s polartech fleece and super warm, but the flaps can be hidden if you prefer a more classic look.

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Coal The Tracker

Price: £40
Sizes: M, L

This Low Profiled cap comes with cosy quilted fleece earflaps you can choose to either tie up above the head or keep down to keep your ears warm. The warm quilted flannel lining also adds an extra bit of warmth to the hat, making it ideal for slushy spring days.

The Tracker comes in black, olive, and grey.

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Weston Touring Hat 2.0

Price: $30

Lightweight, low profile, and ludicrously cool. Available in black or red for the days when every gram counts. Happy trails!

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Food & Drink

Mizu Water Bottles (V8, V6, M8, M5)

Price: VARIED

If you’re serious about reducing your plastic pollution then the first step is to buy a re-usable water bottle. Mizu offers insulated bottles in different shapes and sizes, available in plain colours or seasonal collab designs.

The V8 fits 760ml and the M8 750ml of liquid, while the slightly smaller V6 fit 560ml and the M3 530ml.

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Mizu Cups (Camp Cup, V Series Cup, Tumbler 16 Takeaway Cup)

Price: VARIED

Mizu isn’t just a master when it comes to creating sustainable bottles, but the brand has an impressive selection of cups too. Whether you’re looking for something to drink your morning coffee from or something to keep your takeaway wine cool in, there are plenty of insulated cups to choose from – and you can always pop in Mizu’s steel straw into to the cup too if you want to make things a bit more fun.

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Mizu Urban Cutlery Set

Price: $27

Whether out on a camping trip or backpacking through Asia, it can sometimes be hard to get hold of decent cutlery that isn’t made of plastic. Mizu’s thought of this too, offering us a reusable stainless steel cutlery set that features a fork, a knife, a spoon, chopsticks and a two-piece straw with an easy to use cleaning brush.

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Picture Ebi Pento Set

Price: £39 / €40 / $40

The eco-friendly Japanese lunch box is a huge favourite of ours. There’s a separator inside providing two different compartments to store your snacks in. The included cutlery is made from bamboo and, on top of that, the bamboo lid can also be used as a chopping board if needed.

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Picture Urban Shrub Waterbottle

Price: £25 / €25 / $30

A good water bottle is a must if you’re serious about cutting down your plastic pollution. Picture’s Urban Shrub double wall insulate waterbottle fits 0.35L of liquid, is made of stainless steel and comes in three different designs: rose, shrub and wood (carry over from last year).

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