I don't know the answer. but I would like to know too.

I realize I am weighing in a little late in the conversation, but SealLine also makes a commuter dry bag/backpack the Urban Backpack. It has the dry bag weather proofness with a little more backpack comfort.

Hmmm I don't really know about the snowshoe part. I wonder if someone else does. But to answer how I've dealt with these situations: switchbacks.

Yes a bivy bag (this one or any) will add warmth to a sleeping bag. It's like putting a shell on over a jacket. It's a little warmer. But the main point is that it keeps wind, rain, snow off. As to the warmth added, one can't really say that it will add X number of degrees to the temp rating of your bag. It may be 5 or 0.05, that is what I think BAinUT was saying. I usually figure it will add little to none on its own and maybe 4 or 5 inside a tent/shelter/snowcave.

The length of the zipper isn't the only consideration. This bivy's zipper won't connect to the zipper of my sleeping bag the zipper head of my bag is too small to zip it in. But I prefer to not zip it in anyways, then I can unzip one and leave the other zipped.

I'd suggest at least the 15 in. (though by now you probably bought them, so for anyone else wondering), but like said you can always get longer ones.

Hey I guess this is a bit after xmas. but in case you or someone can benefit... these are the skis I decided on when starting tele. some of the reviews point out that is a little stiffer and narrower than a real powder ski which I made up for by going a little longer and I have found that while this might not be the best ski in any situation it performs well in all. I realize everyone skis a bit different but for me this is a great ski to switch to free-heelin. solid tight turns to rip through anything, light enough for skinning up, enough float for deeper stuff (if you go longer)

I have been wondering the same. I found on the voile website that the short and standard sizes are designed for the 8.5 mm heel pads that are with the 3-pin bindings. The tall (72mm) wires are for the taller 20 and 30 mm risers that come with the hardwire binding models. Beyond that I have heard that smaller boot sizes can complicate things by needing a shorter wire, but I have never heard what qualifies as a smaller boot. hope that helps some and maybe someone else might be able to give more info.

Yes, all beacons work with one another, however if you use some beacons like the Pieps, you can tell that different beacons come through with different sounds, because they are each on slightly different frequenciesWhoa, the above is a little off...ALL beacons operate on the EXACT same frequency, that is how they all work together...they transmit and receive on that frequency. The different sounds are just the different characteristics of the pulse rate of each beacon.I've got to add to this.. the pulse rate of the beacons are different, but only the Barryvox Pulse actually measures pulse of av victims (just to clear that up cuz i misread that the first time). Also not all transceivers work internationally because different countries allocate different frequencies for beacons. So a beacon built for Switzerland may or may not work with a beacon built for the US. but within the US all beacons work together, also within the swiss land all beacons work together. But it's easy to check, either make sure the frequencies are the same or just turn them on before you go out, then you have time to return it.

The bag it comes in is actually used as the pump to inflate the pad. it's actually pretty simple once you see it and try it. but that makes it so you don't blow into it, avoiding blowing moisture into the pad, extending the life of the pad.

yeah it does