This is the ultimate ski when the conditions are anything close to pow or crud. There are a lot of fat, early taper skis out there and a lot of camber/rocker designs to pick from. The keys to the Night Train are: it's super light, and it's 100% FLAT underfoot. No camber. So it NEVER hooks up, never feels sluggish, never dumps you on your ass when that fluffy pillow turns out to be a mogul. Throw it sideways going like a bat out of hell, and it just surfs along with you. Point it through a crud field, and it just floats over all the ruts. Then get out on a nice groomer, and even with a half-ass tune you're putting down trenches like a race coach...and that makes it pretty much a no-brainer.

Far as pants go, I haven't had anything tougher. Not as heavy as they look, actually pretty light, but just overbuilt to the max. Super waterproof, and the HUGE vents make skinning like wearing shorts. My only complaint would be the pockets are kinda small. Oh, and you're gonna need a belt. They're baggy.

Short version: got this jacket in black, have worn it a couple times already, and it is sweet.

Long version:

Pros: Quality fabric and solid construction. Totally waterproof. Hand gaiters fit great. Storm skirt snaps to the pants for super seal. Looks SICK, matte black with black logo, and the logo is actually pretty subdued so the billboard effect isn't super obvious. Riri zip is super burly, will never break and adds +10 tram deck cred. Pockets are lined with brushed fabric and load from the top so I won't drop stuff even if accidentally left unzipped. Pit zips don't jam when zipping/unzipping one-handed. Hood fits well. Fleecy chin guard is fleecy. Did I mention it looks sick? It does.

Cons: It's not a warm jacket. Not really a con because it's just a shell, but don't buy it thinking it has magic insulating powers. Layer up kid! Only *real* con I can think of, and it's more of an opinion, is that it fits a bit on the small side in the sleeves. I am 5'10" 175lbs, and not an ape. I normally wear a L but I bought the XL to get good sleeve fit, thus it's a bit baggier in the body than I would ideally choose. In retrospect, I probably could have fit in the Large just fine. Whatever. Steez!

Overall: I'm stoked. It looks like nothing else on the hill, gets a lot of compliments, and you'd pay $500-$600 for a 3-ply 20k tech shell with riri zips and ski features like this from a lot of other companies. Fully recommend.

I bought two. Ok, three. Not super-thick like some beanies, juuuust right. See Rachael's pic for the fit. She has a pretty normal head, so far as I've been able to tell.

I'm a fan of these socks. For the money, you won't find another three-pack that fits or supports your foot this well. I like the strategic zoning, since I get blisters easily through thin socks, but I don't want a heavy sock either. The only negative I am predicting is that somehow, I will end up pulling 6 Left socks out of the dryer, with no Right socks to be found anywhere.

I wrote this for the Jacket when we weren't carrying the Parka, but this one is the real winner. The Alpine Light Parka is super light, durable (in use for 2 seasons without any complaints), relatively inexpensive and WARM. Not as insanely light as the Ultra Light, but the trade-off here is durability; every Ultra Light I have seen has patches or tape on the sleeves. Cold is not an issue with this puffy. I wear it daily to work in the deep winter (temps as low as minus 11 F) and pack it on every tour for lunch breaks and the inevitable wait after sundown. The hood makes everything twice as nice, blocking neck drafts when down and boosting beanie warmth one billion percent when up. Pockets and neck are lined with fuzzy brushed synthetic so you never feel cold nylon on your skin. Packs down to slightly bigger than a Nalgene. CAUTION: runs a tad small; I'm usually a Medium and I needed a Large. Otherwise this is an awesome, awesome piece. Thanks MontBell!

This is a slick little monkey, perfect for slipping into a briefcase or bag without worrying that it will spill all over your "business papers" (read: magazines, iPod). If you are looking for a car-friendly travel mug, look elsewhere, as there is no grippy rubber handle or spill-resistant sipping mechanism involved; screw off the top and you have an open, insulated cup to drink from. That said, it keeps drinks hotter longer than any other vacuum mug I have used (Nissan, etc.) and is truly spill-proof when closed. Great if you come to work, sit down at your desk, and have your coffee. Bonus: looks classy. Extra Secret Bonus: has a hidden space in the cap to store a teabag, so you can carry hot water and brew your tea en situ.