Abstract: An equipment bag attachment mechanism detachably secures two equipment bags to each other for easy collective or individual transport. In embodiments, the equipment bags may be selected from among a helmet bag, a boot bag, and a grooming bag. In embodiments, the mechanism includes a first attachment mechanism portion that includes a pair of opposed tongues, one of the tongues having a downwardly extending protrusion, and a second attachment mechanism portion that includes a loop that seats between the opposed tongues and is limited by the protrusion to hold the two mechanism portions together.

Abstract: A shelving apparatus made of a frame that can be removably attached to the upward portion of a barrier structure with a support extending outwardly from the upward attachment so as to maintain different angles of the support relative to the ground and to be operable to move the downward attachment in a range of motion between positions forward and rearward of the upward of dimensions of different barrier structures.

Abstract: A shelving apparatus made of a frame that can be removably attached to the upward portion of a barrier structure with a support extending outwardly from the upward attachment so as to maintain different angles of the support relative to the ground and to be operable to move the downward attachment in a range of motion between positions forward and rearward of the upward of dimensions of different barrier structures

Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure is a sliding apparatus. In some aspects, the sliding apparatus may comprise an elongated body containing magnets. The elongated body may comprise a toe end, a tail end, a top surface, and a slide surface. In one aspect, the magnets may be located between the toe and tail ends of the elongated body, spaced apart from one another in the elongated body, and polarized to define top poles oriented toward the top surface of the elongated body and bottom poles oriented toward the slide surface of the elongated body. For example, the magnets may be arranged so the bottom poles have alternating polarities in a direction relative to the elongated body. Related apparatus and systems also are disclosed.

Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure is a climbing skin attachment apparatus. The apparatus may comprise a climbing skin attachment portion and a snow device connection portion, a channel extending at least partially through the climbing skin attachment portion along a channel axis to receive an anchor portion of a climbing skin, and a passage extending through the climbing skin attachment portion and into the channel along the channel axis to receive a lead portion of the climbing skin. Related apparatus, methods, and systems also are described.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a footwear heel to a snow travel aid is provided. The apparatus comprises a mountable base connected to a generally vertical post and an upper portion having at least one forward connector for connecting the upper portion to the heel. The upper portion is rotatable on the post between a downhill position and at least one touring position and comprises at least one part which travels over a prominence at a fixed location relative to the upper portion during rotation from the downhill position to the touring position. The at least one part becomes engageable with a depression adjacent the prominence when the upper portion is in the touring position to resist rotation from the touring position back to the downhill position. The post comprises a feature that provides clearance for the at least one part to travel over the prominence or which functions as the prominence and depression. Also provided are posts for use as a part in such an apparatus.

Abstract: One aspect is an exemplary climbing skin extending along a longitudinal axis. For example, the skin may comprise: an attachment surface engageable with an undersurface of the snow device; a glide surface that slides across snow when moved in a forward direction along a longitudinal axis of the skin and resists sliding across the snow when moved in a rearward direction along the longitudinal axis; and a stiffener element disposed between the attachment surface and the glide surface to resist a lateral bending about the longitudinal axis and permit a longitudinal bending about a lateral axis of the skin that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A heel unit apparatus for a ski touring binding is disclosed which comprises a body mounted on a support, the body being rotatable relative to the support on a vertical axis. The body comprises a resilient element movable within the body which when pre-loaded under compression or tension, exerts forces in opposing directions. The body also comprises at least one forward connector moveable between resting and release positions for releasably connecting the body to the heel of a footwear and a My linkage between the resilient element and the at least one forward connector configured such that force exerted in one of the opposing directions resists movement of the at least one forward connector from the resting position to the release position. The resilient element, the at least one forward connector and the My linkage cooperate to resist forward release.

Abstract: A heel unit apparatus for a ski touring binding is disclosed which comprises a body mounted on a support, the body being rotatable relative to the support on a vertical axis. The body comprises a resilient element movable within the body which when pre-loaded under compression or tension, exerts forces in opposing directions. The body also comprises at least one forward connector moveable between resting and release positions for releasably connecting the body to the heel of a footwear and a My linkage between the resilient element and the at least one forward connector configured such that force exerted in one of the opposing directions resists movement of the at least one forward connector from the resting position to the release position. The resilient element, the at least one forward connector and the My linkage cooperate to resist forward release.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a footwear heel to a snow travel aid is provided. The apparatus comprises a mountable base connected to a generally vertical post and an upper portion having at least one forward connector for connecting the upper portion to the heel. The upper portion is rotatable on the post between a downhill position and at least one touring position and comprises at least one part which travels over a prominence at a fixed location relative to the upper portion during rotation from the downhill position to the touring position. The at least one part becomes engageable with a depression adjacent the prominence when the upper portion is in the touring position to resist rotation from the touring position back to the downhill position. The post comprises a feature that provides clearance for the at least one part to travel over the prominence or which functions as the prominence and depression. Also provided are posts for use as a part in such an apparatus.

Abstract: Climbing aids for use on snow comprising a climbing skin and one or both of a climbing skin tip and tail are disclosed. At least the climbing skin tip and/or tail is comprised of a flexible sheet that may be composed of a plastic polymer. Embodiments are disclosed in which the sheet is resilient and curved in a generally transverse direction to transfer forces towards the edges of the climbing aid to reduce entry of snow between the climbing aid and the undersurface of a ski or snowboard.

Abstract: Climbing aids for use on snow comprising a climbing skin and one or both of a climbing skin tip and tail are disclosed. At least the climbing skin tip and/or tail is comprised of a flexible sheet that may be composed of a plastic polymer. Embodiments are disclosed in which the sheet is resilient and curved in a generally transverse direction to transfer forces towards the edges of the climbing aid to reduce entry of snow between the climbing aid and the undersurface of a ski or snowboard.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for holding a footwear toe to a snow travel aid. The apparatus comprises jaws that grasp the toe while permitting pivotal movement of the footwear about the toe in forward and rearward directions and is for use with a heel holder that provides for lateral release. The apparatus comprises one or more resilient elements for biasing the jaws whereby the jaws are biased towards a closed position throughout the operational range of motion of the jaws. Also provided is an apparatus which comprises jaws that grasp the toe while permitting pivotal movement of footwear about the toe, wherein the apparatus is adapted for generally horizontal, forward and rearward translation relative to a longitudinal axis of the snow travel aid, selectively by a user.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for holding a footwear toe to a snow travel aid. The apparatus comprises jaws that grasp the toe while permitting pivotal movement of the footwear about the toe in forward and rearward directions and is for use with a heel holder that provides for lateral release. The apparatus comprises one or more resilient elements for biasing the jaws whereby the jaws are biased towards a closed position throughout the operational range of motion of the jaws. Also provided is an apparatus which comprises jaws that grasp the toe while permitting pivotal movement of footwear about the toe, wherein the apparatus is adapted for generally horizontal, forward and rearward translation relative to a longitudinal axis of the snow travel aid, selectively by a user.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for holding a footwear toe to a snow travel aid. The apparatus comprises jaws that grasp the toe while permitting pivotal movement of the footwear about the toe in forward and rearward directions and is for use with a heel holder that provides for lateral release. The apparatus comprises one or more resilient elements for biasing the jaws whereby the jaws are biased towards a closed position throughout the operational range of motion of the jaws. Also provided is an apparatus which comprises jaws that grasp the toe while permitting pivotal movement of footwear about the toe, wherein the apparatus is adapted for generally horizontal, forward and rearward translation relative to a longitudinal axis of the snow travel aid, selectively by a user.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for holding a footwear toe to a snow travel aid. The apparatus comprises jaws that grasp the toe while permitting pivotal movement of the footwear about the toe in forward and rearward directions and is for use with a heel holder that provides for lateral release. The apparatus comprises one or more resilient elements for biasing the jaws whereby the jaws are biased towards a closed position throughout the operational range of motion of the jaws. Also provided is an apparatus which comprises jaws that grasp the toe while permitting pivotal movement of footwear about the toe, wherein the apparatus is adapted for generally horizontal, forward and rearward translation relative to a longitudinal axis of the snow travel aid, selectively by a user.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a climbing skin to a ski or snowboard is provided as are kits and climbing skins joined to such apparatus. Included is an apparatus for attaching a climbing skin to a front portion of a ski or snowboard, the front portion including ski sides which converge toward a front end of the ski or snowboard, the apparatus including: (i) opposing first and second holders, each holder being configured to receive one of the converging ski sides; and (ii) a connector between the first and second holders which includes at least one hinge. Also included is a kit including the apparatus and a climbing skin. Also included is a climbing skin having a fastener, the fastener including a portion which is retained between layers of the skin and one or more portions which extend from the skin for attachment of the skin to a ski or snowboard.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for holding a footwear toe to a snow travel aid. The apparatus comprises jaws that grasp the toe while permitting pivotal movement of the footwear about the toe in forward and rearward directions and is for use with a heel holder that provides for lateral release. The apparatus comprises one or more resilient elements for biasing the jaws whereby the jaws are biased towards a closed position throughout the operational range of motion of the jaws. Also provided is an apparatus which comprises jaws that grasp the toe while permitting pivotal movement of footwear about the toe, wherein the apparatus is adapted for generally horizontal, forward and rearward translation relative to a longitudinal axis of the snow travel aid, selectively by a user.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for holding a footwear toe to a snow travel aid. The apparatus comprises jaws that grasp the toe while permitting pivotal movement of the footwear about the toe in forward and rearward directions and is for use with a heel holder that provides for lateral release. The apparatus comprises one or more resilient elements for biasing the jaws whereby the jaws are biased towards a closed position throughout the operational range of motion of the jaws. Also provided is an apparatus which comprises jaws that grasp the toe while permitting pivotal movement of footwear about the toe, wherein the apparatus is adapted for generally horizontal, forward and rearward translation relative to a longitudinal axis of the snow travel aid, selectively by a user.

Abstract: A pivoting telemark binding is provided which includes a toe piece pivotally connected to a base plate and a mechanism for locking the toe piece relative to the base plate to prevent pivoting. An actuator for the locking mechanism is placed at the front end of the binding to be positioned over the ski. Also provided is a ski crampon for use with this binding, as well as a heel lifter device for use with any telemark binding.