Benchetler’s professional ski chops are even deeper than his film making, which is saying a lot. For the latest film, he skied on a few different pairs from Atomic, but the Bent 110 GFD was his go-to for the variable and technical stuff.
“All the Mammoth stuff I was on the 110, so we’re skiing through the rocks and the lines,” Benchetler says. He loves “the maneuverability of it, the playfulness of it, and the trick ability of it, like hitting jumps.”
Read More: 2025 Men’s Health Outdoor Awards
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Sleep is crucial when on set filming. And when filming happens at night, well you get your sleep when you can. As Benchetler says, “This whole project I needed to sleep while sun was out. And I’m not a good day sleeper. But I like this mask even when I sleep at night because it’s got that little extra thickness.”
Read More: 2025 Men’s Health Sleep Awards
Chris is also an artist, and he always travels with a water color sketchpad, a water color kit, and some brushes. He usually opts for the highest quality paper he can, like the U.S. Art Supply version here.
When it comes to this while traveling, he doesn’t force time for it but opts for it when he finds himself gravitating to his phone in a hotel room or on a plane. “I find there’s a lot of ideas living in my head,” Benchetler says. “So if I can keep expressing those ideas it’s probably a more beneficial use of my time than sitting on my phone. It’s just something I truly enjoy, and it’s something I have to do.”
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The right bag can make or break a journey. And it can take years to figure out your own system and what sort of bag works for you.
Benchetler uses this weather-resistant carryall from Arc’teryx that’s easy to fold up when he’s not using it. As he says, “It kind of folds up easily, and it’s always a little extra carry bag for travel, for snacks, for pillows, for things that don’t fit in my backpack, whatever.”
Read More: Best Travel Backpacks
Electric toothbrushes are just more thorough and efficient than manual brushes, and we’re big proponents of taking one with you wherever you travel. And that’s exactly what Chris does as a person who has never had a cavity in his life. “Even when I go snow camping, I bring an electric brush—I can’t brush my teeth with a normal toothbrush,” he says.
Read More: Best Electric Toothbrushes
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We already talked about Chris’s sleep habits during filming, but these Hest Foam Ear Plugs were another crucial tool in his ability to get some rest when he could. He worked on a camp pillow with Hest and the brand sent him these simple ear plugs and he uses them when traveling and noise might be a factor.
“I rarely sleep on the project,” he says. “I was definitely awake more than most people. Without these things, I would have never been able to sleep.”
Ryan Brower is the Senior Gear and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health, where he tests the best products in outdoor gear and tech. Baseball, surfing, and camping occupied most of his time growing up.
He also trained in martial arts for 12 years and holds a third degree black belt. He has written about the outdoors for nearly two decades and was previously the Managing Editor, Content Performance at Gear Patrol. He is also a Certified Beer Server and previously covered the craft beer industry. Ryan currently lives on the water in New Jersey with his wife and their dog.
