Skip to main content

Abominable Labs: Fog Free Riding

We’ve all had that moment on the ski slopes at least once: it’s a once in a lifetime storm day, and you’re measuring powder tracks in feet instead of inches. Then, your goggles decide to fog over and visibility goes to zero. Good bye first tracks; it’s time to hit the lodge and dry out a little bit. Fortunately for you, our friends in Tigard, Oregon, Abominable Labs, have finally solved the biggest buzz killer on the mountain (no, we’re not talking about a new way to sneak your hipster microbrew on the lifts). Meet the F-BOM ski goggle.

Born in late 2014 from a small group of dedicated skiers, inventors, and design engineers, the Abominable Labs team has once and for all answered the problem every skier has with their goggles at least a few times a season. Rather than approaching the problem with the tired out industry standards – anti fog treatments and coatings that wear out – the all new F-BOM’s heated lenses provide crystal clear vision.

Using Abominable’s patented KLAIR™ technology, every pair of F-BOMs utilizes a thin, electricity conducting film sandwiched between an inner and outer lens. When hit with a small electric current from batteries mounted in the goggle’s frame, this film heats up just enough to keep you fog free whether you’re spinning hot laps in the massive terrain parks at Mammoth Mountain or heading out into the Cody Peak backcountry of Jackson Hole. On a high setting, the F-BOM provides continuous heat for up to seven hours; the burst setting turns on the warmth for a quick ten minute blast and saves battery life for a week.

Worried that this is all just a gimmick? Abominable Labs partnered with noted optics powerhouse Carl Zeiss to build a laser cut, scratach proof polycarbonate lens. Their batteries and microcontrollers are housed in a weather proof compartment built into the goggle frame that ensures it stays well balanced weight-wise and will fit your face perfectly. Finally, swapping out the outer lenses can be done on the fly with a couple of quick snaps, making you ready for any light conditions. The future of skiing is looking pretty clear to us. The only downside? They’re not hitting retailers until later this year.

Austin Parker
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Austin Parker is a former contributor at The Manual Parker is a powder skier and sport climber and is no stranger hauling…
Bouldering: A beginner’s guide to this full-body workout
Bouldering is a great way to get some exercise and build strength. Here's what you need to know
A man bouldering.

Rock climbing can be a little intimidating, with all the steep inclines, ropes, and requisite knots. But we’re not all trying to free solo El Capitan like Alex Honnold. Many of us just want to get some quality exercise somewhere other than the weight room.
Bouldering is a tremendous full-body workout that’s fun, improves balance and agility, and requires relatively little in terms of gear. It’s a type of rock climbing, but is generally rope-free, meaning you don’t have to learn how to belay. As such, there’s often more lateral movement than vertical, but it’s wonderfully demanding all the same. Keep reading to learn how to boulder.

How to boulder as a beginner
Find a route: Start easy if you’ve never climbed before. At the bouldering gym, getting started is as easy as finding a route. At most bouldering centers, the routes are color-coded by level of difficulty. The easier routes will have larger holds and less demanding aspects. As you work your way up, you’ll notice the holds get smaller, more spread out, and tend to cover trickier rock faces and inclines.
Chalk up: Get comfortable chalking while you’re climbing as you’ll want to keep your palms as blister-free as possible. Practice dunking each hand into the bag, leaving the other hand available for stability.
Rest: Rest is key, especially when you start to take on longer routes that involve 30, 50, or 100 or more holds. Take advantage of spots on said routes where you can relax at least most of your body either by balancing or wedging yourself in position.
Practice routes: Going through a route mentally is a great way to plan your attack at the gym. Imagine where your major limbs will go as you move from hold to hold. Soon, your trained eyes will see the smallest of outcroppings and dents in the rock as places you could clasp onto. And nobody is going to dock you points early on if you don't stick fully to the route map. Use all the holds you need early on until you get a feel for it.

Read more
Snowboard gear 101: Sintered vs extruded – which snowboard base is right for you?
Snowboard buying info you really need to know
Snowboarder making powder turn

Snowboarding is all about the glide. As you gain momentum and rip turns, there's an exhilaration like little else. Add in beautiful mountain surroundings, and sliding on snow is a seminal experience. But what makes a snowboard so slippery? Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has a unique combination of abrasion resistance and low friction. That makes it an ideal material for a snowboard's base, enabling lap after lap of high-speed fun. It just works.

Snowboarders have two base options when picking a new board: sintered and extruded. Each has its pluses and minuses and suits a particular rider. So what's the difference between the two? Let's dive in.

Read more
The 10 best chore coats for men: They’re perfect for seasonal layering
Look great and work hard when you wear these canvas barn coats
Man zipping up a jacket

At a certain age, there are things that every respectable male should possess: a decent suit, a reliable pocket knife, and the confidence to change a tire, for starters. Some tasks require tougher tools and tougher apparel, though. Things like splitting wood, grinding in the shed, and mending fences at the ranch, for example, all call for a proper barn coat (also called a barn jacket or chore coat) -- a durable outer layer that blends timeless style and rugged construction with all-day comfort.

Like virtually all menswear items, there is a long list of options for you to choose from if you are in the market for such a coat. If you're looking to upgrade your life while working hard or looking rugged when you're not in the barn, we have done all the heavy lifting for you. Here are the best men's chore coat options for you to look and work your best in.

Read more