Hestra overall makes the best line of ski gloves: materials and the fit are simply a cut above all. There are gloves in the hestra line that are better than the heli for some specific purposes, such as racing or spring skiing, but nthe Heli is the best general purpose ski glove bar none. It fits well, it protects you from snow, it has killer "idiot leashes", it is waterproof, and the removable liner makes it a snap to dry. If I had to have only one ski glove, that would be the Heli. Hestar hit that one out of the park.

One of the main purposes of a winter pack is carrying skis, even if you are doing a short bootpack, you would move faster if the your pack is comfortable. If you are carrying skis, you need a hipbelt. Arcteryx forgot that even if the pack is 18L small, the skis are still heavy. Bootpacking with skis on a backpack is sooo much more comfoprtable if the pack has a real hipbelt... Without it the straps dig in your shoulders and the whole thing sways from side to side. Not comfortable at all.

I really like the 26L, but this one misses the boat completely (I was hoping to downsize a bit). It lacks the two main features that made 26L great: the stretch helmet pocket and the backpanel access. The helmet pocket on this pack is too small, no way a helmet will fit in it; on the 26L model the pocket is larger and it is made from a stretchy material. Backpanel access is essential for a ski pack- that way you can dump it in the snow with the skis on and get your stuff out. There is no way you can get your stuff out from the 16L version. Major disappointment.

I am surprised that Arcteryx could miss so badly. This pack is way too short and it sits very high on the back. The straps are also too close so the pack does not hug the back properly. The roll closure with the zippers is a neat idea, but the extra hardwear kind of gets in the way and the roll closure does not work as well as it used to work on the older RT series packs. Overall, a step backwards for Arcteryx.