This is the most comfortable high performance boot I have ever worn. I love it. It is stiff laterally, but soft forward and aft making it great for ripping turns and forgiving for jumping cliffs or skiing bumps. I can spend all day hiking in this boot and still have happy feet. The best of both worlds: as comfortable as a slipper and performs like a race car.

I love the chest mount for skiing. In my opinion, the footage comes out better because your chest is always facing downhill and more stable than your head. The only thing you have to worry about is how you aim the camera. If you aim the camera too low, it will look like you are in the back seat. The only other draw back and might not actually be a draw back, but if the snow is really deep sometimes the camera will get pounded with snow and miss some of the action. On the other hand, if the snow is that deep, you are probably having a really nice time anyway.

I have only used this camera for skiing on the goggle mount. I really didn't like it. The weight of the camera is too heavy for the goggle strap and the camera bounces around. It is distracting and the footage doesn't turn out great.

I love this camera. It is awesome. I use for skiing and kayaking. The footage is off-the-hook clear. The water=proof housing keeps the camera completely dry even when submerged for extended periods of time.

I love this hat. It's pretty basic, but has a little flair to make you feel hot. The fleece on the inside is really soft, but not too bulky so that you have a gap in your goggles. It's a really cute hat!

I think that Nuun is a little over played. If you are looking for increased energy, this isn't the stuff. Also be careful ot to drink it on an empty stomach, it will make you sick. I like Nuun for a recovery drink. I typically drink Nuun on my way down from a summit, never right out of the trail head.

I love the Roctane, but I am also addicted to caffeine. This stuff works. It's important to follow the directions and if you do, you will never bonk. Sometimes I think I could live off of this stuff. The Roctaine is definitely for the caffeine feen. If you don't drink a lot of coffee, you might get the jitters. Be careful, this is powerful stuff. And I must warn you about GU belly. It is important to drink tons of water while you are using Gu or the Gu will congeal in your stomach leaving you feeling a little sick.

I love this ski. It is amazing. There is no speed limit. It is the most stable ski I have ever skied on. The huge tip create a hydro-plainning feeling. The tapered tail acts like a brake. All you have to do is lean back a little bit to slow down. You would think these skis would be miserable on groomers, but they are actually a blast as long as you are ok going super fast. It is hard to get the ski to roll over at slow speeds, but as soon as you hit mock-chicken, they are responsive and playful. It's definitely not a ski for your mom. This is a ski for someone who wants to challenge the limits of speed. It's so much fun!

Ever wish you could wear your slippers after skiing? No you can and look good too. I live in these boots in the winter. They truly feel like slippers. After a long day skiing, there isn't anything better than slipping your foot into a moon boot. They are also great for traveling because they are so light weight.

I really like this coat under my RPK shell. The fleece color is great fro cold days to warm up your chin. It's also a great layer for apres.

I love this shirt. I wear it all of the time in the summer. It is great for mtn biking, climbing, and hiking. It is really comfortable and cute. The only problem is that it is kind of smelly.

So.........this hat is awesome if you don't care what you look like. It is awesome for running in the woods, climbing in desolate areas, and walking your dogs in the dark. It keeps the sweat out of your face and keeps your head warm, just make sure know one has a camera.

I was so excited to get this jacket because i thought it looked really cool. Unfortunately, I was disappointed when it arrived. It looked really stiff. So I washed it hoping to soften it a bit, but that didn't help. Kind of bummed, it's too stiff.

This belt is good for ski pants and jeans. It's durable and cool!

I have had a pair of these longs for four years and they are still my favorite pair. They don't ich, the don't rub in my ski boots, and they don't stink. They are awesome!

I have never been a fan of insulated ski clothing. I have always liked layers until I used the Madison. It is an awesome coat. No longer do you need a shell and an insulator. This coat does both. The pit zips are great for insulation and have mesh to keep the snow out. The hood is big enough to hide your face from the storm and the hood will fit over a helmet. It is a little tight in the shoulders, so maybe consider one size larger if you have wide shoulders.

If you are looking for a one piece look, buy the Madison pant in the same color. I did!

This coat never leaves my backpack. Whether I am climbing in the Tetons, biking up Cache Creek, or taking the dogs for a walk I bring this coat. It has never let me down. It is super dry and has huge pit zips for ventilation. It is wicked light-weight and compacts super small. No fancy bells and whistles, it just works. I love it!

These are so much fun to wear! I wear them shopping, out to lunch with the girls, or to drinks on the deck. They have just hint of LA attitude and I love them!

This is my favorite pair of sunglasses! They look great for everyday and have a pretty good sport fit. I wear them skiing, kayaking, and mtn biking. They are super comfortable! I love the rose colored lens. It makes everything look just a little bit brighter. The fit is good for people with a larger face.

These shoes are so comfortable. I work on hard wood floors all day long and they offer great support. My feet and back feel great at the end of the day. I bought them for work shoes, but they are cute enough to wear out. My only issue is that they are a little stinky. I have never had smelly feet, so I'm pretty sure it's the shoe. Probably will need to wear socks with them.

I love this shoe. I wear almost everyday in the summer. It is really comfortable and really like. It is also awesome for traveling because it doesn't weigh anything. I have three pairs. They're my favorite.

I have taken this pack up the Middle Teton and on a few day hikes. It is a great size for quick trips up the Tetons in the summer: the Middle, South, Tewinott. It is light-weight which is great when you are planning on hiking to 12,000+ feet. The shoulder straps and hip belt are awesome: breathable and light-weight. The versa-wing/water bottle holders do not function as well as I would like. My water-bottle falls out frequently. I would ditch the fancy mesh side pockets. I really like the small pockets on the hip belt to stash GU or camera, etc. The bungee compression straps are cool, but the top clip to close the pack is too small. It feels like it could break at any momment and then the whole pack would fall apart. It would be great to make the dual treking pole loops a little bigger so that it would be possible to use them for an ice-ax as well. Rarely do I have treking poles in the Tetons, but I always have an ice-ax. On a side note, my husband has also used this pack. He is 6'4" and the should straps are too small. It would be great to make the shoulder straps longer to fit a taller person.

This pack is great for day trips. I used it all summer in the Tetons for quick trips up and down. It has enough room for a rope and minimal gear. The outside stash pockets are great for crampons, but I had to be careful not to rip the pack with my spikes. The gear loops are little small for an axe, but I made it work. The side pockets are a little shallow for water bottles. My favorite part of the pack is that it incredibly light-weight and breathable. The waste belt is awesome. The photo below is of Eric Seymour using the pack to climb the Middle Teton.

I have always associated Jansport with elementary school backpacks. Not anymore. I have been testing Jansport packs all summer and have been pleasantly surprised. All of the backcountry packs are incredibly light weight. The built in mesh keeps your back cool will hiking. The built in hydration system is awesome. The only draw back is if you like to use water bottles, the side pockets aren't very deep and your bottles end up falling out.

I really like this shoe for trail running. It is wicked light and the "Rolling System" really does improve my stride. I was able to slip them on and run 5 miles with no blisters or discomfort. Awesome shoe!

The Gotama just keeps getting better. I love the rocker in the tip and tail. It is the best steep skiing ski I have ever ridden. The rocker allows the ski to bend to the terrain and stays very forgiving. You can smear or jump into another turn with ease. I never worry about stuffing a tip with the rocker out in front.

Amazingly, the Gotama can carve groomers with the best of them. Put the ski on edge and the entire effective edge bites and you can push the ski into small radius turns or let it run for big super g turns. As expected, the Gotama is great in powder. It floats and you can carve or smear your way down the mountain. Rocker is amazing! You can pick how you want the ski to act. The only downside of the Gotama is it not as damp as skis with metal in them.

When packing my bag, if I can bring only one ski, I choose the Gotama with the Duke. This is my go anywhere and do anything one ski quiver.

This is my first touring boot. The only reason I would hike up, is to go down. After being in la Grave, I realized it was time to buy a touring boot. It was difficult to walk on the rock and ice in my Tecnica's. I was also destroying the sole of my ski boots. I had a hard time deciding which boot to buy. I chose the Luster because it was the stiffest women's boot available in my size. The fit was not perfect, but my boot fitter was able to blow out the toe box and make it work. I also put in an Intuition liner to stiffen up the boot.

I have been using the boot in La Grave for the week and am pleasantly surprised. I thought I would have to be very careful skiing the boot and was worried it would not be stiff enough to drive a big ski. So far, so good. The boot is great in steep icy terrain and ofcourse great in powder. I have not tested it at high speeds yet, but am willing to give it a shot.

I like the Krypton pro. I skied it for two seasons. It is the best powder/jumping boot I have worn. The progressive flex protects your shin from a stopped impact like a traditional four buckle boot.

I feel a four buckle boot transfers more energy to the ski when edging and is quicker. The Krypton pro can not drive a very large ski like the XXL efficiently when compared to a stiff four buckle boot. If I just skied the park, powder or cliffs I would still be in the Krypton Pro.

The one negative is the sole of the boot is very soft. My friend wore out his boot in one season just walking on the tram dock in Jackson Hole.

Tecnica is the perfect mold for my foot, which is the most important when choosing a boot. I can ski this boot right out of the box, no boot work necessary. I used to ski Atomic and would spend days with a boot fitter trying to get the boot comfortable. The only issue with this boot is that it is advertised as a 130 flex, but the black plastic is softer than the plastic of Diablo 130. I am able to crush the boot out of the box. I have been able to stiffen the boot by using an Intuition liner and a boster strap. This has created an incredibly comfortable boot with outstanding performance.

I used to own the BCA Tracker. When I played with the Ortovox and the Pulse at an avalanche seminar I knew I needed to upgrade. I preferred the Pulse over the Ortovox because I thought the interface was simpler and easier to use.

I always had trouble with seeing the red lights on the Tracker in bright sunshine. I had to cover the beacon from the sun to see. Not what I want to do when searching for someone. My search times with multiple burials with the Pulse is great. Seeing three beacons at a time and being able to mark the beacon when found reduces confusion.

The only negative with the Pulse is that when searching for an old analog beacon the Pulse will often ghost another signal. Being aware of this is very important. Also the Pulse takes more time to learn than the Tracker. I have spent a great deal of time searching with the Pulse and getting to know how it thinks. Now that I know the beacon I am faster with my searches and confident in the product.

Icebreaker makes an amazing product. The wool does not itch and does not pick up odors like synthetics. The 260 is a great midlayer. I wear an Icebreaker skin layer underneath and bring the 260 in my pack if I get cold. I can then go to the bar for apre ski and look good and not stink.

I have used Dakine packs for years and this is not the their best product. It looks cool and is probably great for carrying your lunch while you are riding the chairlift. Dakine in the past had thought of everything. Typically there is a place for everything you need and it is very organized. This pack does not have a great place for my shovel or probe. There is a place for my shovel handle on the outside, not great. If you are looking for a backcountry pack, this isn't it. If you want to look cool while riding the lift, this pack will work.

Hestra makes an amazing product. The dexterity of their gloves is unmatched. This glove is very warm and offers padding for protection from hitting rocks or trees.

The glove is also very durable. I have a full season in them, 80 days, and they look almost new. I pick other gloves for touring because they are heavy but for riding lifts on cold days I have found no better glove.

I love this shoe. The vibram sole does great in slick snow and mud. I love the leather. It keeps my feet dry from slush and water. The shoe fits my foot great. The leather adapted to my foot shape after a few days. I get all the features of a technical shoe in a skate shoe style that looks cool.

When this pair wears out I will be replacing it with the same shoes.

I never really thought a sock would make a difference. This one does! As soon as I put it on, I ski could faster and rip harder lines. It was amazing! Actually........

The sock fits great. It is the warmest sock I have ever used. The placement of the x-cross bandage really does protect all of the small bones in my feet. I have had less hots spots and happier feet since using the x-sock.

This ski basically rips. It is the most solid feeling ski at speeds I have ever ridden. I have messed up a line and plowed into a bump field at high speed and the ski soaks of everything in its path.

I choose this ski for hard pack or crud. If there is powder I pick a softer ski with tip rocker. I would accept the XXL in powder if it would just dive but the skis are unpredictable. The big tip splay sometimes wants to rise. The problem is one ski might rise and the other dives.

I love the XXL's but use the Katana or Kuro for pow.

First off the walk mode in this boot is incredible. Long strides and an aggressive vibram sole make walking on the most challenging terrain easy. The boot also skis pretty good. It is not sponge soft and can support being flexed into. If you hit a big bump of course you can crush the forward flex, but what touring boot doesn't?

I am concerned about the buckels esp. the middle one breaking. I have skied the Dalbello Krypton Pro and you could get a much tighter fit and amazing heel hold. The tour feels to have a lot of extra room around the ankle creating movement while skiing.

Overall I am happy with this boot. I don't think the boot is perfect, but for long tours the walk mode and comfort are great.

I live in these shoes. The are so comfortable. Great for traveling; super light weight! And better then flip flops!

Light-weight, durable, functional. I don't know what else you need in jacket!

AJ and Burley love wearing this vest. It floats well and doesn't rub them under their legs/arm pits. It is perfect for kayaking with the boys. I have seen them swim class 4 no problem. The handle on the back is perfect for pulling them out of the water and back into the raft.

This is a must have for touring at high elevations. I have used the binding crampon in Europe and South America. It ws the difference between boot packing the last 1000 feet or skiing. It is easy to use and works like a charm! Worth every penny!

The camera itself is really nice, but it is a pain in the butt to use. I have found that when I use the head mount, sometimes the camera moves as I am skiing. I have also had the camera turn off half way down a run. I prefer the Go Pro, not cords attached!

A lot of folks say the best Gotoma was the the very first Gotoma. This years is better. It still has all the attributes I love about the gotoma: great for all conditions, playful, aggressive, yet friendly, and a few new features that make it one of the best all-mountain skis on the market. The addition of rise in the tip allows the skis to float in the powder and make the crud seem effortless. The low profile of the skis makes it perfect for carving on the hard pack. Finally a ski that performs well in all conditions.

PS - the mounting point is a litle tricky to find. I would recommend demo-ing the ski first and finding the perfect mountaing for you before drilling into your fresh pair. I mounted my 178's -2 from the freeride line.

Have you ever wished you could wear your slippers outside all winter long? Now you can. The moon boot feels like wearing the softest, warmest, most comfortable slipper all day long! It is so nice to slip into moon boots after a long day of skiing.

The Serendipity is a set up from the First Turn. It is a little more wind proof and has a little higher collar. Perfect for warm days skiing or hiking/climbing.

The First Turn is a great coat for spring days or when the temps are a little warmer. It is slightly insulated for comfort and keeps the wind out. It doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles; an inside pocket for valuables and a pocket for your goggles of gear, which cuts down on weight if you are hiking or climbing. And the colors are beautiful!

If you are tired of layering, this is the coat for you. Cloudveil thought of everything! It is a shell with a built in down under-layer. It is great for storm days. The shell is bomber; blocking out the gnarliest wind conditions and the down fill will keep you warm on the coldest days. The pit zips are perfect for regulating your temperature when you are working hard. The collar is deep enough to hide you face from the chilly conditions of the mountain.

This coat is awesome. I wear it every day. It is great for shovelling the snow when the temps are below zero and a must have to stuff in my back pack while I'm skiing: low pro enough to wear underneath a shell and warm enough to wear by itself.

The Jester has changed backcountry skiing for me. In the past I skied on the fritschi bindings in the backcountry. I was always walking out of my skis and they would torque when climbing up. If I was planning on skiing hard in the backcountry, I would opt to book pack. The Jester is heavy, but it is worth its weight in gold. The binding tours well, very smooth and stable. It is when you get to the top that the binding really shines. As you step into, you here that beautiful sound of a clunk as the binding clamps down onto your boot. And you can ski without any worry of binding fallure. It is the best backcountry freeride binding on the market!

I love the down sweater. It is perfect to throw on when you need just little more warmth. It packs super small and is incredibly warm. It is also a great piece for hiking to secret ski stashes or climbing high peaks in the summer.

This skirtis great to throw on for anything. I keep it in my car for after a long run or a big climb. It feels so nice to take off your sweaty clothes and throw on a cute skirt. The length is perfect, just above your knees. The light weight cotton keeps you cool on warm summer days.

These pants are really cute and fit really well. They are a little stretchy which makes them great for long plane rides and traveling. I was able to wear them for a couple of weeks before they looked stretched out. I liked this pant so much, I bought another pair. Sizes are regular sizing; a size 6 is a size 6.

This is my favorite pant to wear on the really cold windy days. The insulation keeps your legs warm while standing in the lift lin and your tush warm on the iced over chairlifts. They are good for short hikes; the inside leg zippers offer good insulation. The only draw back is the sizing runs small. I would recommend buying a size larger than what you are used to wearing in other Cloudveil pieces.

These are the most comfortable pants in the world. Once you put them on, you will never want to take them off. The sizes run a little large and the pants are a little long. The perfect pant to put on and curl up by the fire. I would also recommend the hoody for complete bliss.

I love this top. It fits great. The arms are long enough to wrap your hands up when it is a little chilly. The collar is tall and nice on windy or cold days. It is incredibly warm and comfortable. It is also nice enough to wear to dinner after a day of skiing or hiking. This hoody is great for long trips where it is nearly impossible to find a laundry mat because even after a month of wear it doesn't smell. The only draw back is that you have to be careful that roommate doesn't throw it in the dryer on high because it will shrink. And it isn't the lightest weight top.

I love this top. I don't think Patagonia has changed much about this top in the last ten years besides the color. I still have my first Capilene top from ten years ago and I still love it. It is really warm, comfortable, and durable. The only draw back is that, as we all know, capilene can get a little stinky.

It may just be me, but I felt like I was wearing sand paper when I put these on. I love wearing the icebreaker tops, but these wear just too itchy.

This is a great summer skirt. It is really cute and comfortable. It is perfect to throw on after a day on the river or to go out to casual diner with friends.

Best rain coat on the market. It has been raining for the last two months and I have been living in this jacket. Cloudveil did a great job sealing all of the seams. The collar and hood are big enough to protect your face from nasty weather. I also like to use it in the mtns for the unexpected storm or gail force winds. The pit zips make it easy to regulate temperature and the color is really pretty.

I love these socks. They are really comfortable and the cushion is great for running and hiking. As the name states, they really are darn tough. I've had my original pair for two years and no hole yet. I'm a true fan!

Who knew adding a flip up straw would make all the difference in the world. No more spills in the car or your pack. Easy to grab off your bike. This is my favorite water bottle I own.

So this water bottle is supposed to me good for you, but I have to admit it kind of freaks me out. Sometimes my water has a metallic taste and the bottle dents easily. Still a fan of the Nalgene.

I love these for the summer. I have a couple of pairs. They fit great and are really cute.

It is hard to find a bikini top that you can actually play and work in. This top feels like you are wearing a sports bra and doesn't come off. I wear it when I'm river guiding, kayaking, and surfing. It is awesome.

This is my favorite glove to wear everyday. I have used then for the last two years and always have toasty hands. And they are bomber. I usually go through two or three pairs of gloves a year and the Troller Mitt is the only glove that lasted more than a season.

This ski is truly made for backcountry jibbing. It is not made for traditional skiing. If you don't plan on skiing switch or landing switch, I would recommend the Kuro over the Chopstick. If you are used to a more traditional ski and mounting point, this ski is going to feel really weird.

I never thought I would pay so much for a ski sock, but these are worth it. I bought my first pair this year when I forgot my ski socks. I couldn't believe the difference. Not only are they really warm, but they help prevent rubbing and shin bang. They are great for shredding on the hill and hiking in the backcountry. I have since purchased two more pairs.

I think the Keens are so cute, but they fit really weird. I would try them on before you buy them. Most shoes fit great, but these just don't fit well at all.

Super durable and looks cool as well. Not crazy about the leather straps. In cold weather they freeze up and are hard to form around your hand. The strap also comes undone, it helps to duct tape it.

I love these pants. The are incredibly comfortable and look great. They are great for traveling, relaxing, and exercising.

I planned on using this for a two week backcountry trip in Japan. It seemed like a great idea, but in reality the mouthpiece was either frozen or leaking. After a couple of days of being incredibly thirsty or wet, I went back to using a water bottle.

This is my favorite sports drink. It tastes good and will keep you going all day!

This pack is perfect skiing inbounds or for backcountry days trips. Dakine thought of everything when building this pack. There are pockets for: goggles, skins, shovel, probe, snacks, water, extra layers, etc. It is a perfect size for day trips. And the new adjustable wire loop will hold every size of ski from the fastest to the thinnest. I use this pack every day and love it!

I like to use this pack for the out of bounds areas off of the resort in Jackson. It works great as a day pack. I have taken this pack on trips into the Tetons and Yellowstone and wished there was more to it. The back pack is very simple. There are not a lot of pockets to help you organize your gear. I also wish the ski carry loops were bigger or adjustable. My solution has been to use a standard avalung and a separate back pack.

I purchased these for a trip to Japan. The snow has been incredibly deep and so I needed a pair of skins for the Volkl Kuro. The width of the skins is perfect, but the double bar tip attachment isn't big enough. I improvised with a copper hanger. It seems to be working. I think a bike spoke would work better, stronger. And I agree with Jeff, it would be great if the bag was a little bigger and the razor sucks. I broke my razor on my first cut.

I won my first pair of Kaenon's in a raffle and lost them skiing. I loved my first pair so much, I sucked it up and bought another pair. The glass lens is amazing. They are great for skiing, biking, outdoor activities. They wrap well around your face eliminating wind and sun. A little expensive, but well worth the price.

It took Volkl a little while to come out with a reverse camber ski, but it was worth the wait. The Kuro will make a two inch day feel like a six inch day. It is incredibly stable especially at high speeds. And you won't look like a fool on the groomers because it is not floppy like a lot of the reverse camber skis. You will find yourself arching past all your friends on the Pontoons. The Kuro likes to go fast and is a lot of work to throw around at slower speeds, but who wants to go slow anyway. My friends and I always finish the day with a friendly race down the Hobacks in Jackson. It was always a toss up who would win, until I the Kuro. Now my friend Bob says, "I don't want to race if Jess is going to use her cheater skis."

I love this crampon. If you are going to own one pair of crampons as opposed to a quiver, this is the one to have. It is the best all around crampon on the marker. It is easy to use, durable, and relatively light. It also works with multiple types of boots; alpine, plastic, and soft boots. I'll say it again: if you are going to own just one crampon, buy this one.

I have used this tool skiing in Yellowstone and also in the summer to climb Mount Owen. I am just getting into mountaineering and am not really familiar with what is good and what is better. All of mountaineering friends recommended this tool as the best all around tool. Even Stephen Koch thought it was a good choice. It was perfect for the two adventures I have taken it on.

This ski is sick! It is great in the powder. Where it really accelerates, and I mean you will be flying past your friends, is the day after a storm. It is incredibly damp and will plow through any chopped up snow or crud. It is pretty good on the groomers/ice, but that's not what it is designed for.

FYI - If you take to the shop, warn them about the powder channel, it will melt.

I'm not sure why the Jester was originally marketed as a park and pipe binding. It is so much more. It is one the lightest 16 din binding on the market. It will lighten up any set-up will stil havingthe intergity of a 16 din. Many people believe you must ski 20 din marker to prevent pre-releasing, not with the Jester. It does not have the biometric toe, so it will keep you in off any big cliff or gnarley line. I love the way it skis, it adds a little riser to your set up which helps you power through the turn. I would recommend this binding to anyone.

I have been using the Ransom for the last three years and it is my favorite goggle. The frame is a little smaller than the Motive so it fits smaller faces. The Ransom offers great visibilty, rarely, if ever fogs, and fits well with almost all helmets.

The Down Patrol is my favorite jacket I own. It is incredibly warm, but also has pit zips to cool you down when you are working up a sweat. It is perfect for stormy days and those sub zero days. Cloudveil thought of everything in this jacket: huge collar with fleece on the inside, a powder skirt, mutiple pockets, an Ipod pocket, and its durable. I have skied in the Down Patrol for the last three years, one washing and it looks brand new.

The Koven is a very light-weight shell. It is a no thrills jacket. Perfect for spring skiing or hiking. It is very light and wind proof. The only thing I don't like about the koven it that there are no inside pockets to store a cell-phone or wallet.

The Koven is my favorite and most worn coat I own. In basic terms, it is a shell with a little extra. So on super cold days, I don't have to wear six layers under my coat to stay warm. And the pit-zips are great for regulating temperature on warm days or when I'm hiking. The cloudveil team also built all kinds of cool features like a place for your Ipod, googles, and ski pass. The collar is awesome. It is big enough to bury your entire face in and keep it shielded from the cold and wind. The stow away hood is great too for chilly days. The koven is perfect for women, a shell with a little more warmth.

This bag is awesome! Super durable and plenty of room. I have traveled around the world for the last two years and the bag still looks brand new. The two compartments are great to keep my boots and stinky gear separate from my nice clothes. The only problem, is that it is so big that I end up filling it and having to pay extra on flights. The smaller version of the bag is probaly big enough unless you are planning on being gone for really long time.