Author: femignarly

I recently got a reader email asking my thoughts on stiff boots for women. It’s a topic that’s been discussed a million times, memed into oblivion, and yet, stiff boots are scarce on the shelves at most ski shops. What gives? Turns out, it’s a complex business problem. Some boot product line managers see the … Continue reading Why Don’t They Make Stiff Boots for Women?

The Sheeva 10 is my favorite ski I have never owned. I think the ski is an incredible one-quiver resort ski for the Pacific Northwest, and that they provide an ample runway for growth. But as someone who to test, collect, and turn over gear somewhat regularly, those qualities were deal breakers. But those are … Continue reading Gear Review: Women’s Blizzard Sheeva 10 Skis

Ladies and (a few upstanding) Gents, it has been 21 days since our last incident of wildly problematic marketing in the outdoor industry. Today’s clownery comes from Pit Viper. They posted a problematic reel that trivialized date rape and drugged drinks. They got a few comments about how their post was super rapey and they … Continue reading Pit Viper, Rape Jokes, and their Alt-Right Problem

A few weeks ago, my friend Kaelee posted a TikTok about shopping for ski pants. It went viral, and there are oodles of commenters asking, “why do they think we’re all rectangles?!” And I know the answer, so let’s get into it: As you probably know, sizing isn’t standardized. It’s frustrating as hell for customers, … Continue reading Why are women’s ski pants so tight in the butt, hips, and thighs?

At the end of the year, everyone hits this deep period of reflection. Media counts down the best songs and movies and recaps the major events of the past year. So I thought it would be a good time to do the same for the outdoor woman. At the end of 2021, how is she … Continue reading 2021 State of Outdoor Women

If you're new to reading ski reviews, you'll notice that the most in-depth reviews feature a ton of stats and measurements. From personal experience, I know it can be a little overwhelming, so I’ve put together a cheat sheet of the basics. For likely the first time ever, I'm keeping word count tight, but I'm … Continue reading Ski Construction Cheat Sheet

I had a fun piece about personal fashion in the works for tonight, but I’ve gotta clear my calendar because someone’s being a sexist asshole in the snow sports industry again. I’ve got a cocktail and Kate Nash playing, so let’s get into it. Two years ago, LibTech introduced their first women’s products under the … Continue reading LibTech Jamie Lynn Short Wide Board and Sexist Topsheets

 It’s base layer season, and I’ve seen a lot of questions about brand and fabric recommendations. Most answers differentiate wool and synthetic as if that’s the only point of differentiation in the market. There are lots more ways to add value and comfort to a garment and offer something different to the customer. First, let’s … Continue reading Base Layer 101

Last winter, I got a pair of Ripstick 102s to review. Part of the review exercise for this particular site is to review the brand’s marketing commentary for each of the skis. For the Ripstick, it read: The Ripstick 102 W is designed by women for skiers who aggressively push their limits and seek out … Continue reading Let’s Cancel “Keeping Up with the Boys”

Last week, I published a piece on how to find a backcountry ski mentor. It’s quickly become one of my most shared and most read pieces of the year, but I haven’t felt satisfied with it. Some of the discussions that followed made me realize that there was more work to do to create effective … Continue reading Backcountry Ski Mentorship – Core Skills List