What’s New and Noteworthy

February 20, 2023

Ibex Woolies 1 are Back!

My favorite base layer of ALL TIME is back in production again! My beloved Ibex Woolie 1 from 2016 is full of holes but still in regular rotation because I love it so much. What do I love so much about it?

The torso length. The Ibex Woolie is the only base layer I've ever found that is long enough to work with a backpack hip belt. Most base layers are too short and end up bunched up under the hip belt and uncomfortable.
It's incredibly soft. At first I didn't believe it was merino wool because it was so soft.
The raglan sleeves are incredibly comfortable and also work well with a backpack on.
At 180 gm2, it's lightweight. I usually don't need anything heavier than this.

And I SO happy to report that the new Woolies are just as good as the old. Ibex says it's a limited run, so get them while you can! You can read more details in our review of the Woolies I here.

– Naomi Hudetz

Ibex Woolies 1

Backpack Updates from Six Moon Designs

**The new (left) and old (right) Wy’east day hiking backpacks from Six Moon Designs.**

I've carried the Six Moon Designs Swift X backpack with a vest harness on my last few thru hikes, and I've been incredibly happy with it. I was skeptical about the vest harness – but after I used it on my thru hike of the Blue Mountains Trail, I was a convert. The vest does exactly what they say it does – it transfers some of the load to the abs and torso and lightens the load on the shoulders.

So I was so happy to see some great improvements in the latest version of their Swift X, including:

All of the stretch pockets (side pockets and kangaroo pocket) are now made with UltraStretch – a tear-resistant 4-way stretch mesh fabric.
They increased the size of the interior pocket so it's large enough for a passport, which I'm happy about.
They added 2 additional side straps so you can fasten the roll top on the sides or the top.

They also made some similar changes to their Wy'east day hiking pack:

All of the stretch pockets (side pockets, shoulder pocket, and kangaroo pocket) are now made with UltraStretch
They increased the size of the interior pocket to accommodate a passport.
They added a back mesh panel for comfort and structure.
They reduced the width of the shoulder straps (which I’m happy about).
They increased the size of the front flap closure buckles.
They added a loop for attaching things like an umbrella or ice axe.

It's great to see companies continue to improve their products! I know I've made some recommendations to Six Moon that they've since implemented. You can read more details in our full reviews of the Swift X and Wy'east backpacks.

– Naomi Hudetz

View at Six Moon Designs

We Tested The Moonbike, The World’s First 100% Electric Snow Bike

Moonbikes recently demo’d the world’s fully electric snow bike, the Moonbike. We tested the Moonbike at Vail Pass in Colorado, a popular backcountry skiing and snowmobiling spot. These bikes are a blast. They’re very easy to ride, and you steer them like a bike. We could ride confidently through the snow after only a few minutes of practice. The Moonbike shines in deep powder, where it can float on the snow and you can catch an edge with the front ski.

The Moonbike has no pedals, and you control the speed with a throttle. Pushing the throttle rotates a snow tread similar to what you’d find on a snowmobile. The electric direct drive motor has a ton of torque, and a light press on the throttle propels you quickly uphill. It has a single ski attached to a suspension bike fork, with a second attached shock that allows the ski to articulate up and down as you go over bumps.

The rear snow tread is wide enough to keep the bike upright when not in use, which also means it doesn’t tip easily while riding. At 190 pounds, it’s easy to lift upright if you do fall, though. Compared to an average snowmobile, the Moonbike weighs a third of the weight and is small enough to fit on a hitch-mounted rack. It weighs a lot compared to a traditional e-bike, but the Moonbike is far more capable in the snow than a wheeled bike and worlds easier to transport than a snowmobile.

– Sam Schild

View the MoonBike

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