Much Awesome

The better you can see, the better you can slay, so invest in the 2014 Oakley Airbrake Goggles if you really want to kill it on the mountain this winter. Designed for top riders that demand only the very best, the goggles will suit just about any snowboarder’s needs and suit them like a finely-tailored Prada suit.

Every pair of Oakley Airbrake Goggles comes with a rigid and durable outer frame and flexible inner frame. A three-layered system of fleece foam lines your face offering superior fit and comfort. Oakley threw dual top lens vents and F3 Fog Technology into the mix to prevent condensation from building up inside your goggles during tough hikes or big falls. Finally, the goggle strap is super sticky and won’t slip. It is also completely and easily adjustable.

But an awesome pair of snowboarding goggles isn’t complete without a kick-ass lens. And the Oakley Airbrake Goggles definitely have a kick-ass lens. Easily swappable, you can actually pick and choose between a number of lens options to best suit the day’s riding conditions. Need something to block the sun? No problem. A cloudier day? Oakley has you covered. Nit-picky about in-between conditions? Don’t sweat it. Lens are Oakley’s middle name (though you do have to buy extra pairs separately).

The 2014 Oakley Airbrake Goggles are simply much awesome. It’s hard to find a better pair for a fairer price. They’re so good they’ll last you years.

Each year dozens of new snowboards are released by companies both large and small. In addition, many older boards, that have been around the block once or twice, are newly updated and tweaked.

2013/2014 is no different and the snowboard offerings look better than ever before.

The offering of 2014 all-mountain snowboards are particularly hefty. There are just so many great boards out there that it can be difficult to choose between them. Luckily, most of these boards share many of the same characteristics – directional shape, slightly stiffer flex, a camber or hybrid-camber profile – so its up to you to focus on the special features when selecting a new stick.

We’ve taken some of the guesswork out of the process by ranking our top 5 favorite 2014 all-mountain snowboards. Though they’re all slightly different, and work best for different styles of riders, any of these boards will make the new season on the mountain as fun as it can get. Each and every one of these boards absolutely rips.

Here are the best 2014 all-mountain snowboards in no particular order:

1. 2014 Burton Trick Pony Snowboard

Whenever you’re riding a Burton snowboard, you know that you have one solid and high-performance deck underneath your feet.

The 2014 Burton Trick Pony Snowboard is as playful as all-mountain boards come. And it ain’t no one trick pony. It knows all the tricks. Its twin shape (and twin flex) and flat camber profile make riding it a blast. It has a consistent and intuitive underfoot feel, loads of pop, and solid edge hold. Take it up to the backcountry and its elongated tip will help you float over fresh pow.

It’s available in 154, 158, and 162 and runs for $500.

Find out more about the 2014 Burton Trick Pony Snowboard.

2. 2014 GNU Billy Goat Snowboard

Experienced riders will benefit from the aggressive design of the 2014 GNU Billy Goat Snowboard.

It’s all-mountain construction features a camber dominant profile and a twin shape. The slight rocker between the bindings gives the snowboard more pop, power, precision, and control than you’ll know what to do with. The slightly setback stance allows you to take this board past the tape and really rip.

It’s available in 156, 159, 162, and 165 and runs for $540.

Find out more about the 2014 GNU Billy Goat Snowboard and check out our in-depth preview.

3. 2014 Rome Mod Rocker Snowboard

An incredibly durable snowboard that feels at home anywhere on the mountain, there is no denying that the 2014 Rome Mod Rocker Snowboard is as good an all-mountain board as any.

The Mod Rocker starts with a twin shape and a regular camber but flattens things out and extends this flat profile past the inserts. Furthermore, the board’s tips are rockered for an aggressive feel. A variable sidecut gives the deck a more forgiving feel no matter the terrain. Finally, a blend of five lightweight woods plus carbon barrels in the tip and tail make the Mod Rocker a badass board for a badass rider.

It’s available in 150, 153, 156, 159 and runs for $550.

Find out more about the 2014 Rome Mod Rocker Snowboard.

4. 2014 K2 Raygun Snowboard

The 2014 K2 Raygun Snowboard is a very simple and straightforward deck. Yet this simplicity is what makes it shine so brightly.

Nothing fancy gets in the way of the Raygun’s performance. Its slightly directional shape, flat profile between the bindings, and slight rocker in the tip and tail create stability throughout while still giving it a light, playful, and floaty feel. Hyper Progressive sidecut ensures proper edge hold and keeps your riding straight and true. It’s a perfect 2014 all-mountain snowboard for anything from backcountry bombing to park freestyle.

It’s available in 150, 153, 156, 157W, 159, 160W, 161, 164W and runs for about $400.

Find out more about the 2014 K2 Raygun Snowboard.

5. 2014 Capita Defenders of Awesome Snowboard

With our favorite name of any on this list, the 2014 Capita Defenders of Awesome Snowboard gets the all-mountain job done and is more than a sick graphic of a bunch of hotties with guns.

The snowboard features a regular camber profile that cuts out past the inserts where it flattens out slightly and reverses into the tip and tail. Response and snap are prevalent without sacrificing anything in the way of stability or an easy ride. Its directional twin shape makes it perfect for the park, the pow, or anywhere else on the mountain.

It’s available in 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, and 160 and runs for $400.

Find out more about the 2014 Capita Defenders of Awesome Snowboard.

Do you like to get buckwild on the mountain? If so, the 2014 Ride Buckwild Wide Snowboard is for you.

True to its name, the Buckwild is incredibly fun to ride. You’ll have fun and you’ll look so good doing it that everyone else will wish they had your board.

The Buckwild is an all-mountain snowboard designed to tear up just about anything the mountain can throw at you. The park, the pipe, and the backcountry all seem like tame, docile animals aboard the Ride Buckwild Wide Snowboard. Even rails can be lapped up with ease.

Twin rocker, medium flex, and a twin shape make the snowboard incredibly easy to ride. It has a playful and nimble feel that makes tearing around on it a blast. A stable flat area extends well past the rear inserts for more forgiveness and stability when things get sketchy. Cleave Edges wrap the entire board making cutting into ice or chop a cinch. They also improve the board’s overall durability.

The Ride Buckwild Wide Snowboard is a great choice for riders looking for a slightly bigger board than normal. Though it’s not necessarily the best bet for big dudes, it is great for regular-sized dudes that just have big feet. Add the 2014 Buckwild to your quiver and have a wild time on the mountain this winter.

Who knows why we are reviewing a surfboard in the middle of the winter except for the fact that the 2014 Lib Tech Ramp Series Surfboard is badass. It’s a 100% eco-friendly way to absolutely demolish waves.

Seriously though, the folks over at Lib Technologies are absolute mad geniuses. They’ve incorporated 30 new, environmentally-friendly materials into the construction of their Ramp Series Surfboard.

100% close-cell alloy forms the board’s core, making it waterproof and incapable of absorbing moisture. Wrapped around the core is Lib Tech’s Dang Difficult 2 Ding Honeycomb system providing industry-leading strength and ding resistance. The bottom of the board comprises of a Maximum Intensity Leading Foil Fin System and a Mo Box Micro adjustment system. To top things off the surfboard has an Elastomatrix Perimeter Dampening Web to help absorb chop and rough water.

The 2014 Lib Tech Ramp Series Surfboard is simply a great surfboard in every way. It is light, durable, and nimble. Its low rocker and short, wide shape give it a skateboard-like feel in the water. It’s a fun board that never gets old.

The 2014 Smith Vantage Helmet offers the ultimate in fit, protection, and airflow. Out of all the ski/snowboard helmets on the market this season, it is one of the very best.

Extremely comfortable without sacrificing anything in the way of protection, the Smith Vantage Helmet is perfect for those snowboarders who always go big. Smith’s innovative Hybrid SL shell, bombshell ABS, and flyweight In-Mold technology make way for as perfect a helmet as any.

Aerocore Technology and four Koroyd inserts increase overall protection by allowing the helmet to absorb more energy upon impact. At the same time, however, AirEvac 2 Ventilation allows plenty of airflow to keep your head cool when you’re bombing sketchy tree lines. If things get too cold, simply close the vents and your noggin will be toasty in no time.

Hopefully you’ll never take a big fall on your head but if you do you’ll definitely want to have the 2014 Smith Vantage Helmet on. If you’re smart, you won’t take any chances. Wear a helmet. Go big. Stay safe.

Though winter is fast approaching and temperatures are just as quickly dropping, the hardcore surfers among us will stop at nothing to get the wave action that they so crave. And even though water temperatures are far lower than they are in the warmer months, the waves themselves can actually be bigger and better thanks to winter’s wild weather patterns.

But before anyone heads out and tries to surf a winter wave they had better make sure they’re prepared. Apart from a surfboard the single most important piece of equipment that you need for winter surfing is a warm wetsuit designed for cold conditions. And few companies make a better wetsuit than outdoor sports giant Patagonia.

The 2014 Patagonia R4 Wetsuit is the king of the company’s wetsuit line. Though it’s a bit pricey at over $600, it’s worth every penny.

Patagonia set out to make the 2014 R4 the first plant-based wetsuit ever. It uses all natural materials in its construction, including natural rubbers. To take things one step farther, the manufacturing process behind the wetsuit is almost entirely natural as well, using only naturally-growing plants that produce natural pesticides as biofuels.

In addition to its super rad eco appeal, the Patagonia R4 Wetsuit does a stellar job at protecting surfers from the elements. No surfer would look at you with the slightest hint of doubt if you said this baby is the warmest wetsuit on earth. The facts are in and it is. It features a heavyweight merino wool lining throughout, a full hood, and a water-tight chest zip. 100% external seam sealing eliminates any leakage. All of the materials are designed in such a way to provide the maximum in comfort, mobility, and durability.

If you’re planning on jumping in the ocean at all this fall or winter, then you need a wetsuit to accomplish the job. Buy the 2014 Patagonia R4 Wetsuit if you want the best of the best. You won’t be disappointed.