Awesome Winter

We recently spent a day with the fine folks from Michelin and TireRack.com to see why winter tires are critical in colder climates. Those all-seasons your car came are okay down to about 44º F, but below that, you’ll be much safer and better controlled with true winter tires.

A truly insane man in Kodal, Norway demonstrates his love for winter by frolicking in the snow with nothing more than his boxers on, and a bottle of booze to warm his cockles. Hypothermia be damned.

To combat this winter’s snowiest conditions, Nissan has kitted out a series of SUVs riding on 48-inch Dominator snow tracks instead of tires. The Winter Warrior Murano, Pathfinder, and Rogue can be seen at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show, but not at dealerships any time soon.

Mazda sent us to Colorado to test their latest all-wheel drive tech (and we’ll cover that on 95octane soon enough.) But they also gave us a special treat – time behind the wheel of new MX-5s shod in Bridgestone Blizzak tires, then set us loose on the ice and snow.

Are you a classy guy who wants to keep your hands toasty and your digits free to tap on your phone? Then head over to Regina Moran’s Etsy shop. We are as enamored of the high quality cashmere and silk she uses to hand craft her fingerless gloves and beanies as she is.

Snow removal trucks are supposed to angle plows away from cars and oncoming traffic. But that’s not what happened here, as a driver who was on a perfectly clear stretch of road is suddenly blanketed in snow by an idiotic plow operator.

In this awesome footage from Epic TV’s new series A Straight Shot, pilot Dan Vicary flies over the powdery Swiss Alps, while tailed just eight feet behind by cameraman Brian Drake in his own squirrel suit.

A stylish and rugged collection of shoes which take the shape of some of Nike’s most popular sneaks, transforming them into boots ready to take on the worst winter can throw at them. Coming to Nike Stores 10/2013.

Check out the Porsche GT3RS and Mitsubishi Evo 9 versus a Yamaha R1 and WRF 450 in -25° Lapland, with speeds of 160 mph on ice on a replica of Le Castellet; winners tbd on 3/27. (Thanks Gile!)

We’ve never ridden on a bobsled, but it’s always looked fun to us. But this particular rider takes a trip on the La Plagne Olympic bobsled run, and experiences nothing less than sheer terror.

Quick Spikes for the green, YakTrax for snow and ice. This easy to wear traction device fits on most types of shoes. It’s made of an elastic material with hand-wound rust-resistant coils.

The other skiers will swoon and be jealous as you swoosh down the slopes in the Beardski, a fleece and neoprene ski mask offered with a variety of attached, foot long beards. (Thanks Ben!)

We’ll start out by saying we think the guys doing this stunt are idiots. But that doesn’t make the visual of a guy tubing behind a car at highway speeds isn’t cool to watch. Never, ever try this.

Most of us dread the words “snowstorm” – extreme skiers live for seasons when the snow won’t end. Matchstick Productions shares the beauty of nature and drama of the sport in their new documentary.

Hublot’s luxurious and superfast Sledge utilizes carbon fiber for its handles, steel for the runners, hand-sewn leather for the seat and ash wood for stability. It puts our plastic crazy carpet to shame.

We’ve always wondered if the tables were turned, would the animals be wearing us as coats? We still don’t know the answer to that one but thanks to this video we know who would be riding our sleds.

Shaped like the xistera used in jai alai, Hammacher Schlemmer’s set of two snowball slingers provide an unexpected tactical advantage on the winter battlefield; they can hurl snowballs up to 150′.

The 2011 Ice and Snow Festival is coming soon to China’s Heilongjiang province, and so far it looks pretty darn spectacular. Events will include snow splashing, skating and skiing races. Ok; sign us up.

Roger Ebert thinks this short film from Jamie Stuart, documenting the Blizzard of 2010 in New York, deserves to win the Academy Award for best live-action short subject. What do you think?

Planning a winter vacation on a tropical beach somewhere? Drop these ice cubes in your glass in tribute to the suckers back at home. Set comes with 6 eyes made out of coal and 3 carrot noses.

No matter how hard we try to deny it, Winter is gradually making its way into our lives once again. Stay warm and dry this season with this stylish 625-fill duck down jacket from Canada Goose.