FEBRUARY BARCODE: 2007-08 Editor's Choice

Derek Taylor, Editor

LOVECRAFT BIO FUELS VEGGIE OIL CONVERSION KIT $425
[323.644.9072 (L.A.), 503.236.1216 (Portland); lovecraftbiofuels.com]

When Rudolph Diesel debuted his namesake engine at the 1900 World’s Fair, he ran it on straight peanut oil. The modern diesel engine runs the same way with a few modifications: a booster pump, a heated filter, a heat exchanger, and a few extra hoses. Lovecraft Bio Fuels, based in L.A. and Portland, Oregon, sells these do-it-yourself kits, and for another $400 or so, will convert your car while you wait. Once complete, your diesel will run on used fryer oil scavenged from restaurants. For operating at colder temperatures, Lovecraft recommends adding an injection line heater, such as those offered at fattywagons.com, and an in-line heater, like those at planetdrive.com. Or if you live where it stays below freezing for extended periods, consider a two-tank system, which lets you start the car with regular diesel and switch to veggie once it’s warm. While emissions figures for waste veggie oil (WVO) are not readily available, mainly because different oils produce different results, WVO does, in fact, produce CO2. However, it’s a closed cycle—meaning the plants used to make the oil consume enough CO2 in their lifespan to offset the car’s emissions. It also helps that you are running your car on something that will sit in a landfill or be rendered into pig feed. Plus no country has ever been invaded over their reserves of burnt fryer oil. Greasenotgas.com, a site run by Oregon snowboarders, has more information, including step-by-step DIY instructions on the two-tank conversion.

4FRNT VCT 189 $749
[801.975.9500; 4FRNT.com]

I like how 4FRNT’s ski. They’re tough skis with predictable performance. The VCT 189 (134-108-126) is my go-to ski when the snow is soft. They’re nimble enough for tight trees, but big enough let ’em ride on open slopes. And unlike the reverse camber revolution, they’ll still let you have fun when you find yourself on top of a bump run or an icy groomer.

O’NEILL MAD PRINT PANT $160
[800.538.0764; oneill.com]

THE NORTH FACE FREEDOM PANT $129
[866.715.3223; thenorthface.com]

A well cared for jacket can last for a couple of seasons. Not so with pants. The cuffs fray from walking on them, the legs get cut from ski edges, and you sit on them almost every run (if you’re lucky, often on a snowy, icy chair). Both of these have all the functional bells and whistles—waterproof, breathable construction, and a roomy, free-fitting feel—and neutral colors mean they’ll go with most of my coats. I always travel with two pairs, because it sucks pulling on wet pants first thing in the morning.