So, I've skied the Black Diamond Verdict (mounted w/ Freerides) in a variety of conditions and I must say, this is a fun ski. In fresh pow, they float right to the top. They're quite stiff and do an excellent job punching through the crud, yet, are agile enough to hop from bump to bump when the moguls pile up. On the groomers, this ski is fast and stable (though it definitely prefers long radius turns to short). I like this ski so much that it will become my new go-to ski for pretty much everything.

I spent a weekend alpine touring on the 188 and it rocked my face off! These skis ride super-high in the pow -- whether your breaking trail on the way up -- or skiing down. The dimensions provide for super fun, surfy turns in the fresh. The skis are surprisingly stable on groomers too, however, not quite fun-enough that I'd want this as my everyday ski. Still, if I were looking for a powder/backcountry-specific ride, these would be it.

I'm 6', 220lbs and these bindings have worked quite well for me. On the skin track, the bindings have performed great for me -- the climbing wires are easy to change on the fly and there's no twisting or flexing when traversing the fall-line (unlike my naxos which twist as much as half an inch). Locked down, they provide a solid ride that lets you feel the ski just like any other alpine binding.

These skis are truly amazing in powder and fresh snow and yet stable enough to blast down the groomers. The stiffness of the skis is tricky to pin down. In soft snow, these skis feel really soft and reactive, but on hard-pack, they're stiff stable. As others have said, you simply can't sink these skis (I'm 6 foot, 220 lbs.). They ride high, on top of the snow and never really get into it. The result is a soft, floaty ride that makes skiing pow way too easy. In powder, these skis turn on a dime- just pressure the boot a little and they'll snap right around. As the snow gets chopped up and manky, these skis continue to perform great- they bust through the chop and float incredibly on the remaining piles of soft snow. And on the groomers, these skis will get you back to the lift line w/ no problems at all. They don't turn all that quick on the hard pack, and it's really tough to get the skis to bend, but they'll be plenty stable enough for some high speed Super-G turns. All in all, this is just an awesome ski that I'll be sure to go to once there's a dusting or more of fresh snow.

This camera is awesome. It's lightweight enough that when mounted to the elastic band on my ski goggles, I don't even know it's there! The video recording quality is incredible in just about all lighting conditions. The wide lens ensures that you capture a large portion of your eye's natural field of view. The LCD screen is great for reviewing your footage in the field or on the ski lift and fits easily in a jacket pocket. The user interface is super easy to use. Also, battery life in this camera is actually super impressive -- I was using it on a 10-degree, overcast day and all I used were 4 AA rechargeable batteries. Oh, did I mention that it's super rugged too? I brushed a few tree branches while filming and it didn't even affect the video or the camera itself. This thing rocks.

I just returned from a trip down the Green River through the Gates of Lodore. This boat did an awesome job through every single rapid -- including Disaster Falls, Hell's Half Mile and Triplet. The boat is pretty maneuverable, even with a lot of gear (just make your moves sooner). It's also super stable. Even though we hit a few holes and big wave trains, this boat just plowed right over them without any stickiness at all. It also drives through eddy lines like nobody's business. There was also an impressive amount of space on this ducky -- including room for 2 dry bags, a medium-sized ammo box, bocce ball kit, tripod, drag bag and 2 total passengers. All in all, this boat was super fun and very safe and it was the envy of the entire rafting party -- everyone wanted a turn in it.

This shell is a great value. I've used this jacket for 2 years as a rain coat during the warm season and as an outer shell during ski season. The entire jacket, from the fabric to the zippers has held up great after all the hiking and skiing I've done in it. Of course, if you can afford more jacket, then go ahead and buy a higher end shell or softshell. But if you're looking to get max bang for your buck, this jacket will definitely do the trick.

I bought this sweater for my blue collar, hard-working, flannel-wearing father who actually loved wearing this garment. Instead of all that nasty cotton he's notorious for, he now wears this while cutting wood, mowing the lawn, working his garden and snowblowing the driveway.

This hoody served as an excellent gift. As others have said, this hoody is super soft, comfy and warm. It's now a staple garment in the recipients wardrobe.

I bought these socks as a stocking stuffer for my sister who now loves them. This is a lot coming from someone who refuses to wear wool on account of it being too itchy - which is certainly not these case with these. Since I can convert her, these socks deserve a 6-star rating.

These are solid backpacking boots that provide excellent support and stability on the trail and with heavy pack loads. However, I was looking for an all-around town and trail piece of footwear and these are just too much boot for that.

This cooler is hands-down the best soft-walled cooler I've ever picked up. It does a great job keeping beverages cold and the waterproof lining does a great job keeping melt water in. The three pockets are great additions and the fold-down cup holder is a neat novelty.

This fuel cooks just like it's supposed to. I've used this now on a Jetboil and MSR Whisperlite stove with no problems whatsoever up to altitudes of 6500 feet. The 110 gram canister is a perfect size for nesting in nearly any camp pot or Jetboil personal cooking system.

This is the best tasting power bar I've had yet. Yes, it's pricier than others, but the good taste guarantees that I'll actually finish eating it, thus ensuring I don't bonk while out on the trail or skin track.

I have the 33 oz javapress and absolutely love it -- so much so that I use it every morning to make coffee for 2. It's pretty durable (it's still intact despite falling off the counter a couple of times), easy to clean, and plenty light enough to take backpacking. If you're backpacking frequently or far enough that weight and space are a concern, I'd suggest you look into a folding drip system. But still, as far as all around versatility, this press certainly does the trick and I'd highly recommend it.

This little knife has it all -- a great sheath that clips securely to your PFD and holds the knife firm - yet easily accessible and unlockable, a blunt-sided cream cheese/butter spreader, bottle opener and a blunt tip (in case you over-used that bottle opener and got a bit klutzy). A great piece of gear for river runners.

These water bottles are great pieces of gear. Use them as-is or attach them to a Platypus hydration tube (essentially allowing you to carry back-up hydration bladders). So far, after 6 months of use, not a problem or leak. Highly recommended -- especially if you're sick of carrying around empty lexan or aluminum bottles that take up way more space than they're worth.

Well, this pump does the job when it comes to Schraeder valves, but I had lots of trouble getting it to inflate Prestas. The pump didn't come with any instructions, so it was quite frustrating having to eventually figure it out. On its third ride, the tethered valve plug feel off and after just 3 months of use, the rubber band that holds the pump to the frame mount dried out and cracked -- now I have to carry this thing in my pack. I'm kinda disappointed, but not enough to buy a new pump -- I'll just make sure I stick to Schraeder valves.

This bottle cap eliminates twist-to-open hydration and is great for dribble-proof drinking out of your Nalgene bottle. I also like the reinforced clip -- it's much stronger than the original Nalgene cap tether. Definitely a worth-while upgrade.

These are definitely the best pair of boxers that have ever touched my butt! They move well, breathe fantastically and look great. I like these better than my 100% silk ones...

These bags are great at organizing your pack. They're very very lightweight, yet super strong and durable. The cord lock works great and doesn't slip at all -- keeping all the contents within the bag where they should be.

This valve was an excellent upgrade to my hydration hose. I often carry a tight-fitting pack which means extra pressure on the bladder and a leaky hose. The Hydrolock has been a great little upgrade at cutting off that unwanted flow, thus keeping my chest and leg nice and dry.

This fuel bottle worked great on my Jetboil stove and nested perfectly in the personal cooking system. My last bottle lasted me for 3 weekends straight -- serving about 15 meals.

These locks have done a great job for the past year at securing my rack to my car. The key still turns great despite the locks exposure to dusty desert and snowy mountain conditions. A small price to pay to keep your valuables locked to your rack and your rack to your roof.

After a few cleanings, this Klean Kanteen bottle serves up beverages w/out any weird after taste (at first I swore I tasted metal, but not any more). Regardless what you put in there - coffee, tea, gatorade, etc., just clean it out and you're good to go. It doesn't insulate very well, so don't expect beverages to stay cool. However, it's super tough and being that it's recyclable, it's environmentally friendly too. Everyone should have one of these in their gear closet.

I've been using these for over 2 years now and they've served me fantastically -- in-bounds and backcountry. The flicklock design never gets stuck, making adjustments quick and easy. They're quite durable too -- it took an out of control, un-braked tele ski traveling around 60 mph to bend it. Thankfully, BD keeps spare parts around, so they're easy to repair too. These poles provide excellent bang for your buck...highly suggested.

This is a great lightweight boot. Plenty of grip and support. After 7 months of use, they're still in great shape and no problems yet to date.

I like these pants a lot. The fabric is very durable, yet very breathable. They have a bit of a slim fit in the thigh area on me, so if you have big legs, keep that in mind. Still, they're perfect for hiking. I'd definitely recommend them.

I was hoping to use this within my current overnight bag, however it's just too big at 800 cu in. If you just need a simple camera bag, then this will work, but realize there are no pockets for batteries, filters, etc. and there's just one shoulder strap.

This shirt is now a staple of my outdoors wardrobe. I've worn this in the mountains of Utah ski touring and hiking in the Adirondacks of NY. In both climates, this shirt kept me warm and dry. It's soft, highly breathable, odor-resistant and very very comfortable. Highly recommended.

This down jacket is a lifesaver in cold weather. This jacket provides awesome warmth, comfort, style and packability. It's perfect for both - backcountry yurts and city streets.

This is a great ducky! I've taken my girlfriend's boat down the Hudson River and the Snake River (Alpine section) and it worked great. These fun little IKs are maneuverable and stable up to class 4 whitewater. The Strike is also quite playful and is really fun to surf in small holes and average-sized waves. This is a great boat for beginners and expert paddlers alike. If you're going to get one, I highly suggest you add thigh straps and foot pegs for extra support and stability -- especially if you want start doing rolls.

Shhh...don't tell anyone about this place -- the snow is that good!

I put this on my hydration hose to finally stop it from leaking all over me. Guess what -- it worked! While it does make it a little trickier to feed the hose through hydration sleeves and what not, it'll still go through w/out having to take it off -- you just have to work with it. Great product. I highly recommend it.

The wide version of this boot is great for anyone with fat feet. Mine are especially wide, which makes boot buying particularly difficult. The Breeze has plenty of room in the 6th toe area. All around, the boots are comfy and dry and provide excellent support.

It's wool and has a goat logo. What more could you want? As a bonus, it's also great-fitting and comfy.

Wow I love these boots. They're plenty stiff enough to push around my fat skis in all conditions. The forward lean mode really puts you in an aggressive, rock-the-house stance. Relax the lean and you have a more comfortable position for enjoying some slow floaty pow turns. And when it's time to walk, just flick the switch on the back of the boot and it's super easy and comfy to walk in them.

Another key aspect is that this boot's single-plastic design means a bootfitter can adjust the shell if need be (most other AT boots are made of multiple different types of plastic, hence there's not much a bootfitter can do for you). I had to get these blown out almost an inch to accomodate my super-wide foot. It worked and I will never look back.

The only complaint I'd make about these boots would be that the provided footbeds are paper thin and really should be replaced with something beefier (which most people do anyways). Otherwise, these are awesome boots and I highly recommend them to anyone seeking something that will rock both, inbounds and backcountry in the same day.

This is better than all those picnic forks out there. Strong, sturdy and lightweight, it does all that a fork should.

I bought these for my sister for Christmas and she absolutely loved them. This was her 3rd pair of Crocs and she was just as excited about these as her first pair. Apparently the comfort level is unmatched and with a wide variety of available colors they've become quite fashionable.

Utah is the land of much snow and few discounts. Thanks for making skiing just a bit more affordable. No hassles, quick fulfillment and cheap pricing. What more could you want?

If you need a 1-goggle quiver, this is it. The RC36 lens does reduce glare and improve contrast in any condition. My only complaints are that on super bright blue-bird days, these goggles don't do enough to reduce the brightness like a pair of mirrored lenses do. On those super-socked in days or when night skiing, they make it hard to distinguish what's in the shadows. If you can afford it, I'd really suggest going with a pair of goggles for bright days and a separate pair for dark days. Otherwise, these goggles will do the trick.

These work okay in all conditions if you need a do-it-all goggle. Otherwise, spend the money on 2 great pairs of goggles -- 1 for dark days and 1 for bright days. Your eyes will thank you.

This boat provides a great way to enter the world of whitewater kayaking. It's very maneuverable, stable and light. It's made of very durable material which does quite well at bouncing off rocks (and I've bounced off a few). As far as inflatable duckies go, this boat is a classic.

These sandals are the closest thing to real shoes I've ever come to without actually having to go there. They've got all the openness and drainage of a sandal, with all the protection of a standard hiking boot sole. They offer great support and protection.

The only drawback to these shoes is that when a stone sneaks in under your foot, you've gotta take the sandal almost all the way off to remove it.

This beacon is easy to use. Tested it out through a few beacon drills and I carry it with me on all my tours. So far I haven't had to use it in a real life/death situation (hope I don't have to), but with the drills and the Tracker's simple design, I think it will work well for me when the stinky stuff hits the fan and the adrenaline's pumping.

I love this shell. Pick this shell up once and you'll feel just how bomb-proof this thing is. I love the full-length side zips (unlike many other shells which feature only pit zips or zips that only go half way down the side of the jacket). All of the zippers on this jacket are a little stiff, however I'm sure they'll loosen up with time. Also, I love how I can move freely in this jacket --the range of motion in this jacket is great!
If you're interested in this jacket, just note that it seems to run a little big. I typically wear an XL, however that was way too big for me. I've got the L and even with a full complement of base layers & insulating layers on underneath, it fits me perfectly. It's got plenty of room up top in the chest and mid-section, yet forms tightly enough around the waist that I won't be worrying about snow flying up underneath when I bite it in the pow.

This is the best base layer I've ever owned. The Merino wool is very comfortable, warm and dry. I'm a bigger guy and the XL size fits me perfectly. I highly recommend these to anyone who's going to be outside in cool temps for any period of time.