Whether you're bagging a peak in the Chugach or ripping down the groomers (not ideal), these bindings do it. I've put five seasons on my Fritschis and they're still holding up to abuse. I've used them for dozens of tours and even a good amount at the resort (more than I'd like to admit). I've never had a problem with the heel releasing while skiing. They do raise you up pretty high above the ski, and they do get some play over time, but all in all they are a good choice. Three levels for climbing, lightweight, and reliable.

Somehow I manage to break or lose headphones frequently. I needed a quick replacement and these were cheap. All I needed was something for the afternoon, and I expected to be replacing them soon after. Surprisingly, they work pretty well. Great at blocking outside noise, decent base for the small size/price. For everyday use- I'd recommend them. I'm looking forward to trying out some of Skullcandy's better headphones.

I've been using this probe for four seasons now with no complaints. It's a solid length, it's lightweight, and it can be put together in just seconds.

Probably my favorite powder ski yet. I had never skied anywhere near that big previously, so I had no idea what to expect, especially being a small guy. I on threw a pair of Marker Griffons and put them to the test.

At first, I was reluctant to take them out unless it was a major powder day. Soon, I realized that they are fun in almost any condition. They're extremely soft...and can pretty much pop off anything with the tails. The more I skied them, the more I realized you could just look where you want to ski, and you ski it. No questions asked. It was the first time I could drop cliffs and launch rollers in deep power without feeling like I'd be thrown "over the handlebars".

Obviously, they aren't going to handle well on crud and hardpack, but they can definitely hold their own ripping down the groomers to get back to the lift.

The EP's are landing pads for your feet. Go get yourself a pair!

The Carolina is a great boat. I've gone on several multi-day trips in Resurrection Bay outside of Seward, Alaska with it. It feels great in the water and holds plenty of gear. I like to attach a deck bag in front of the cockpit for convenience.

Great ski to play around on if you're sticking to the groomers. Holds a solid edge, turns on a dime, and speed is not a question. If you're not ripping hard on the corduroy, I wouldn't recommend it.

Great all around ski for everyday in bounds skiing. It was my go-to ski for non-powder days. It rips hard on groomers and charges through crud. For it's width, it's pretty fast edge to edge and has some nice 'pop' to it.

I bought this rack about five years ago. It is pretty sturdy overall and gets the job done, but I find it to be more of a hassle than it's worth. The front rear must be removed and the mount has to be adjusted for each individual bike fork, meaning that if you use many different bikes, it has to be adjusted every time. It is not compatible with thru-axle forks.

I prefer the Yakima Kind Cobra rack over the Viper.

The trekkers are alright for the occasional, low-angle tour. I do not recommend these for long tours, or anything technical with steep switch-backs.

They can be fully adjusted for boot size and generally stay on pretty well, although I had a problem with the heel strap breaking...I replaced it with a strap from some old crampons and it works better than the original setup.

With the additional height and lateral movement between the boot, device, and binding, it's almost impossible to get a good edge when traversing.

They can get the job done when needed, but I do not recommend them if you plan on touring frequently.

Good features, bad fit. I'm about 5'6" and 140lbs. The pack is too long for me. Other than the bad sizing, the pack has pretty decent features overall. It has an outer pocket for snow tools, a large main compartment, and a nice zippered top pocket. The compression straps can make it pretty small when not packing heavy, and there is a lot of adjustment in the shoulder straps. My favorite feature is the back access to the main compartment. Very convenient when you have skis strapped on.

Overall, not a bad pack, but make sure it fits right. They really need to have more than one size.

I received the Jalapeno gloves as a gift last winter. I love them, but can only wear them on the coldest days. They are very warm- sometimes too warm! The wrist strap is a great feature...no more dropping your gloves in the snow or worrying about them falling of the chairlift. Can't beat 'em!

Warm jacket. Perfect for throwing in your backpack during long tours. I love to put this on under my shell after the ascent to warm back up while preparing for the ski down. I find that it's horrible to wear along when it's snowing or wet out, once the jacket gets at all wet, it will ice up.

Awesome jacket for around town when you're not in the mountains.

I love the Ascensions. I've been using the same pair for four seasons now and they still work great. They'll get you up the steeps with minimal sliding. The rear clip is sometimes hard to work with twin tips, but it's not a big issue. Make sure you put them in your jacket to keep them warm between runs. In severe cold weather, I've had issues with them icing up...but I think that would happen to any skin.

** Rule of thumb - to get full coverage, buy skins that are 10mm less than the widest part of your ski. For example, if you have 130mm tips, buy 120mm skins. You'll be good to go!

The tracker is a solid buy. It's got a straight forward interface and is quick and easy. Like any transceiver, it takes practice practice practice!!

Love the Scott Alias. Mirrored lens is awesome in bright light...I use it for all conditions. Fits great with helmets (I use the Smith Variant Brim). I've never had a problem with the Alias getting iced over.

Yeah, the Voile TelePro isn't light...but if your friend is buried under snow, you want a shovel that can dig them out.

It comes in 2 pieces, a telescoping handle with a D-shaped handle and a large aluminum scoop which can be detached for ease of transport. The D-shaped handle is sturdy and easier to hold than the T-shaped handles seen on many shovels. The scoop is large and metal, meaning it can move snow. This a very efficient tool to use for camp prep or emergency situations.

Bottomline: It might be larger and heavier than many of it's competitors, but it's worth it when it comes to safety.

The King Cobra is my favorite bike rack for quick and easy use. It fits any size bike; 20", 24", 26", 29", and 700c. I've used it for both my road bike and my downhill race bike. The 'jaws' hold the front wheel securely and the rear wheel gets strapped down to the tray. There is a built in cable lock for safety, but I recommend using a second lock if you keep your bike in the rack for long periods of time. No wheel removal required. Overall, the King Cobra is easy to install and use, fits both round and square bars, and holds your bike very stable for those bumpy roads.

I've always had trouble finding a helmet that fits my head well; this helmet was the solution. Not only does it have a great fit, but it's fully adjustable too. It has vents to let air in on those warm days or keep it out on the cold ones. Goggles fit nicely and the brim keeps the sun out of your eyes, allowing you to send it even harder. It's comfortable, warm, and they'll save your head when you make a poor decision.

This is a tiny lightweight backpacking stove. It comes in a little case that can be shoved into your backpack with no worries. It's compatible with iso canister fuels. It's simple to use; light a match, turn on the gas, and you're good to go.

I love this stove and have never had any problems with it, but I would probably consider the Snow Peak Giga Power Stove with Piezo as an alternate if I were to buy another. It's similar in size, the pot supports are a little more sturdy, and matches are not required (bring them anyway!).

The North Face Base Camp Duffel is the perfect bag for traveling. Fill it up with clothes or gear and you're good to go. The bag consists of one large main compartment with an internal mesh pocket. It has four compression straps to make your load smaller. It has handles on either end making it easy to throw around and backpack straps for easy transport. It also has daisy-chain straps to tie down any accessories. It's extremely durable and water resistant.

I have the large sized duffel (28 x 16 x 16 inches). Not too big, not too small. I haven't found any downsides to the bag yet...except the airlines losing it during travel.

This is a great touring pack. It has one main compartment (top-loading) with a pull cord top for easy access, plus a small zipper pocket on top for small items. It has a separate front pocket for shovel, probe, etc. Several straps on the outside allow for adequate compression and an outer shell can easily be thrown under the top pocket. It holds skis well when boot-packing- make sure you have a ski tie of some sort for the tips (A-frame style). I've carried my EP Pro's (127mm underfoot) with this pack many times; fat skis are not an issue. Luckily, I haven't had to use the Avalung, but it could be considered a good safety device.

There are a few parts of the pack that I dislike, but they don't take away from the overall positive feeling. The waist belt could definitely be a little thicker for more comfort and support. I also feel that an outside attachment for a shovel handle would be much more appealing than throwing the handle in the snow pocket. Maybe my Voile TelePro shovel handle is longer than others, but I it pokes up into the top pocket when cinched down.

I put a nylon cord through the small loops on the top of the pack to secure small items down. I found this to be convenient.

Overall, I love the pack. It's the perfect size for touring (30L), holds skis securely, and is comfortable to wear. Also, the Avalung may dig into your shoulder if you buy the wrong size for your torso, so definitely try it on before buying!

My parents gave me the Tadpole 23 as a graduation present about five years ago. I've used it for many backpacking trips over the years and it's still holding strong.

The three-pole frame is functional and allows for a quick, easy set-up. The rain fly offers adequate vestibule space. It fits two people comfortably and is a great size for a single person. Overall, it's pretty lightweight and small, making it fairly easy to find a flat spot for set-up.

The only downside I've found is the edges getting wet around the bottom when it rains. I don't think it's something you can really avoid, but I found that adding rope loops to the fly make staking it down a lot easier. Not only does it allow the fly to be pulled further from the sides of the tent, but it allows you to use rocks or logs to hold down the fly if necessary. This is a great help when you're on river rocks or solid ground when you might not be able to stake the fly down securely.