- Extremely lightweight and warm @ 30 F +
- Compresses down to about 9 inches in width (my fits in bottom of Mammut Trion Guide 45+7 pack)
- Fit of the bag is a bit on the tight side, especially in the lower 1/3 of the body
- Useful hood, but very straight forward (no bells/whistles of higher end bags)

Used five times so far. Bag is great, keep me warm on sub-40 nights. Slightly constricted feel in the lower 1/3 of my body. Personal preference, I assume, as I like to have my feet spread apart wider when I sleep.

Quick to inflate and easily adjustable in terms of desired firmness. Takes a bit of time to deflate but just open the air nozzle and take care of the rest of your gear in the morning. Very comfortable, I chose the rectangular over the mummy - barely any weight differential.

Extremely packable and compact. Solid R-Value for air as opposed to foam. You'll sleep like a baby.

This jacket is amazing. It performs flawlessly from the depths of winter to cold summer mornings in the high country. You could put a firehose on full blast about a foot from this jacket and all water would be repelled. Completely bomber construction. Fairly lightweight and packable. Looks good in the city, too.

Seriously, why can't all companies produce quality like Marmot?

Upgraded from the old 2007 Camelbak reservoir that developed a small crack in the sides of the mouthpiece from using it a million times, especially in winter conditions.

Fits most, if not all, packs. Doesn't carry the smell of your energy tablets too badly, in case you aren't diligent and taking care of your gear. Never leaks. New mouthpiece is solid. Inside dries fairly fast.

Don't buy a Platypus or MSR whatever - go with what works. This thing will last a long time, but be sure to buy a cold-weather sleeve and mouthpiece cover. You may want to get an additional tube just for winter as it will endure much harsher treatment and my old Camelbak mouthpiece showed signs of wear and had to eventually be replaced.

You need it for moderate/steep snow climbs and other types of travel. Fairly light, but rugged and really helps on the steeper sections. I haven't used it for glissading or self-arrest, but confident in the piece of gear.

You need an ice axe for certain type of activities. Go with a proven company in Black Diamond and a product that tons of people have.

Super light, compact, all-in-one. Works well in cooler/cold temps. Feels a lot lighter and compact than the original Jetboil.

Boils water in less time than advertised. Stash with this the rest of your ultralight gear and you are ready rock and roll. Make your dehydrated/instant food at home with old Backcountry Pantry/Mountain House bags and you'll save $$$ while eating better.

Get this thing ASAP.

Mainly use this helmet for snow climbs. Does it what it's supposed to do. Not very low profile, but comfortable on the head. The chin strap could use some refinements as I have to fiddle with it every time out.

These boots are sick. You will seek out steeps and deep pow - and destroy both of them. Extremely comfortable for hiking sidecountry or backcountry ridgelines. Stylish. Get these while on sale!

Before purchasing these bindings, I was torn between the Calibers, the Salomon Relay Pro (I had the old Relay Thrusters) and Ride SPIs. My goal was to get a med-stiff flex, light-weight, high-performance binding for freeride and backcountry. Due to familiarity with the brand and a discounted price, I went with the Salomon Caliber 2011 bindings. The build quality is excellent and I foresee these bindings providing 3-4 seasons of high-quality performance.

I've ridden a couple days on them so far (paired with a 07-08 Supermodel and a Salmon Synapse 2010 boot). The bindings are perfect - extremely responsive, mega-comfortable, and excellent integration with the Synapse boots. The Calibers provide a noticeable increase in control in steep terrain and while I can't find it on the binding, I'm sure there is a secret gas-pedal installed as these things excel at top speeds. These bindings like to be ridden hard, fast, and aggressive... they'll repay you for putting them where they like to be.

Performance in untracked powder conditions was unparalleled.

Depending on your riding style and given the stiffer flex of the binding, you may want to slightly decrease your boot tightness or stop a notch short of your usual binding tight fit. On run-of-the-mill groomers it's fun to have a little more flex. As the winter progresses, I'm looking forward to putting the Calibers through some more testing but I'm confident they'll come through with flying colors.

In summary:
- On the stiffer side (compared to the Relay series)
- Significantly greater control and responsiveness than "average" binding
- Perfect integration with Salmon boots (Synapse)
- Light-weight
- Excellent build quality and components
- Like to be ridden very aggressively
- Easily adjustable (heel, lean, toe extension, etc)

A great pack - useful for backcountry skiing, single to multi-day hiking/backpacking trips, climbing, and general mountaineering. Crampon-specific storage, ice axe loops/storage, large bladder, comfortable shoulder and hip belt padding, durable and strong ski ski and pole straps, quick side access zippers, and tons of storage are highlights that stand out from my usage.

Definitely feels lighter than 3.5 pounds. I've knocked it around some rocky terrain and it came out looking brand new. The vibrant blue is a great color. I'm 5'8" and the pack fits perfect.

In summary, I purchased this pack for multi-season, multi-activity use and durability - so far it's performed beyond all expectations. I researched and tried on what seemed like countless packs and I'm 100% satisfied with the Mammut Trion Guide 45+7.

The goggle mount is a shaky, although very secure. For long-term, non-helmet use, a DIY rig might be desired.

Two issues that I have notice before any actual on-mountain usage: some fish-eye effects in every mode but complete 1080p. Goggle mount is a bit wobbly, but that's to be expected.Anyway, the camera itself is pretty sweet. The video quality is excellent, colors are rich and vivid, quite clear and crisp. Looks great on variety of websites including Facebook, VholdR.com, and Youtube.The basic software that comes with the camera allows you to modify certain audio/video settings to get the best video given the lighting conditions (sunny day, etc).I don't have any high-end post-processing software, Adobe Premiere or Vegas Studio. But the VholdR.com website forums have some good recommendations.All in all, fairly satisfied. The stability of the goggle mounts could be vastly improved). But the video's awesome! Can't wait to use it more and put together some nice videos.Here is a sample (filmed in "Tall HD"):http://vholdr.com/video/loveland-pass-professor

I regularly use these snowshoes for backcountry snowboarding and hiking. They are comfortable to wear, quick to put on, lightweight, and strong. They don't feel clunky and work well in hard-packed conditions to 8-10" powder (without using flotation tails). The traction is great for steeper ascents and the tapered tail makes for quick movement.

Additionally, these snowshoes are at a good price point and should last a number of years.

These poles are lightweight, very strong, and collapse down to a very compact size to fit on the side of your pack. Sometimes the push-button mechanism to collapse the pole gets a bit hard to work with in cold snowy weather, but after a few seconds it works.

The separate pole pieces also can be completely separated for use with a Black Diamond snow saw, etc. Recommend this pole for any season.

- Useful as a light jacket for high-elevation summer hiking, throughout autumn, and as a shell into winter.
- Extremely windproof
- Not 100% waterproof, but very water-repellent and dries instantly
- Comfortable and super lightweight

I'm not sure how much the tech has changed from the 07-08 to 08-09, but these boots are perfect in every way.

Two points: Responsive and comfortable.
What else do you want in a boot?

- Quick access and micro-adjustable.
- Lining is that ridiculously comfy.
- Excellent Heel and toe responsiveness in ultra deep Utah powder, windblown Colorado backcountry, and average groomers.
- Dream-like performance in the steepest terrain.
- VERY comfortable while hiking side-or-backcountry. When your fitness level is equal to your friends, but they are falling on the wayside, you can thank the Synapse boot.

I highly recommend these boots. I've ridden them countless days over the last two seasons and I don't have a single negative remark about them.

This is a great three-season tent. It's very lightweight, packs down to next to nothing, and sets up quickly. Given the low weight and small size, it's surprisingly roomy inside - you can fit two people. Good vertical space, too. Ventilation is about average, nothing stands out on that point.

I'm unable to comment on the durability of tent in harsh weather - although the fly and guy lines secure the tent very well in my experience.

Again, what stands out is:
- Low weight (even with fly)
- Quick set up
- Small pack size
- Provides more room than other solo tents

Highly recommended for spring, summer, and fall backpacking.

Does the job and always useful. Gives an important piece of data very quickly to help inform your decision-making in avalanche terrain.

They are a big larger than the size of a tic-tac container, as the previous reviewer noted, but still very small and portable.

Price seems a bit high, but I suppose you couldn't get much lower than $20-30.

Dad uses this midweight baselayer on late winter/early spring morning runs.

He slowly warmed up to it and now it's a staple of his early morning run clothing portfolio.

I picked these up before an early season trip to Vail. Replaced last years K2 Formula bindings.

First of all, the Salomon Relay Thruster has a lower profile than many bindings for a size 9-10 boot. It's light-weight, but strong; cushioned, but very supportive; and easily adjustable.

Secondly, they have tight responsiveness, whether you are on groomers, in the trees, or hitting some untracked powder shots. They are super comfy and easy to get in and out of, too.

Finally, I wear them with a pair of Salomon Synapse boots and they go together perfect, even the colors. Not important, but it doesn't hurt. Compared to some of the flimsy and oversized bindings around, the Relay Thruster's will be a very satisfying breath of fresh air. They are worth the price, especially compared to what else you get at the $275-300 price point (i.e. Burton).

Edit:
After riding in the Relay Thruster's for a full season, I have a one or two extra pieces of info. They are very comfy, but responsive. From steep backcountry lines in Utah and Colorado in all types of conditions (powder, windblown) to groomers to ultra deep pow days, these bindings handled everything with ease. My only compliant is that the material on the underside of the heel piece got a bit frayed from rubbing against something on my boot.

Without much effort at all, you will cruise groomers like a luxury yacht in the Mediterranean, float in powder like you're in some sort of dream-like state, and maintain control AND speed on steeps. This is an excellent board.

When it comes to extremely steep windblown terrain, this board may begin to show a bit of weakness. You may find yourself wishing the Supermodel was just a bit stiffer at those times.

I disagree with the other assessment of this board that is only ideal in 4-16 inches of powder. I've ridden this board in over 30 inches of Utah powder and it performed like a dream. Another reviewer said to go with the Custom or Malolo... I would respond by saying, one, I don't want to buy two Burtons, and two, in reference to powder, the Supermodel outperforms both the boards.

In summary, you will love this board, especially if you get it for a 10-15% discount. Bring a cellphone to the mountain - you might lose your friends due the speed on groomers and ability to handle untracked powder and conditions that you only dream about in your deepest sleeps.

You can't go wrong with this stove. It takes a bit of practice to learn the simmer technique, but it's there. Pack it inside an MSR cookset and you're good to go. Very light, self-cleaning, and low maintenance. A +.

These bindings are solid, but you'll feel like there has to be something better. Not a knock on K2, but nothing really stands out about them. Responsive, but not superior response.

One winter of normal use will bring out the flaws of this pack. But first let's touch on some of the highlights.
1) Easy, straight-forward hydration system with zippered shoulder pocket)
2) Horizontal or vertical snowboard carrying options
3) Looks small but can hold a solid amount of gear
4) Probe-specific inner pocket
5) Adjustable straps, fits well
6) Large, quick-access top panel pocket
7) Padded back panel (2x's as a seat)
8) Two side straps for poles, probe, etc
9) Easily doubles as a summer day-hiking pack (if you pack light enough you can go overnight with the # of clips and straps to hold gear)

Unfortunately, flaws begin to show quickly...
1) Small pieces of velcro are used to roll up/secure straps when the straps are not in use. This velcro quickly loses it's quality. The pack will quickly have so many straps hanging out off it'll look like a bad hair day. While it's more annoying than anything, who knows what they could get stuck on with a ride in some very tight trees.
2) North Face's puzzling adoration with # of straps and length. In this instance, not are there too many straps all over the pack - they are LONG. The hipbelt adjustment strap doesn't need to be over 12 inches long. You might find yourself cutting length off.
3) A 3rd clip on the lower back of the pack doesn't fit into the snowboard carrying clips found on the pack. While there use isn't intended to coincide I'm sure, it would seem logic to allow all clips to connect in case a use is found for it.
4) You can't fit a shovel in the front pocket unless it's sticking out. Not sure if that's desirable.

In summary, this pack would be a 4 or 5 star if North Face only went with the essential ski/snowboarding carrying straps/clips and side straps. Not only could you save some weight, but it wouldn't be annoying to deal with the straps flying all over the place. The horizontal board carrying option is very comfy. Also, the hydration system is a plus.

This beacon is high-end. I've never had to use it in a actual burial, but performs very well in practice scenarios. Provides very accurate and quick readings. Handles multiple and deep burials. Worth the slightly higher expense. Take classes and know how to use it.

Packable, strong, easy to use.

Blade is a bit smaller compared to other shovels. Due to compact size (a positive), the shovel handle's length is shorter than some other shovels currently in the market (negative).

All in all, it does the job. Moved snow just as quickly as other backcountry users.

While my girlfriend has the balance down, she had a strong dislike for snowboarding after ONE run down the bunny slope. Being an understanding boyfriend, I took her to Solitude for a couple ski lessons. It was love at first sight (for her, both to Solitude and skiing). Getting to the point, she's ridden at A-Basin twice this season (mid-November) and is starting to get on some blue groomers. Take home message....? Get your girl some of these puppies and soon you'll have a little snow bunny that looks good AND can ski. Next stop - powder days with your baby. The Sweet Luvs will get you there.

I picked up my girl this beanie in white. Sure she's warm - but can she look any cuter? This thing is adorable. Buy this gift for your little lady and she won't even remember you leaving her on a powder day. Warning: you might have to buy her more than this if you live in Utah. :)

Got these babies for my little lady before she went on a recent adventure. She liked them but didn't rave about any specific.

Probe performs very well - snaps together in a snap. Negative? The cloth handle holds up for about as long as the recent bailout package stimulated the economy. You'll probably find yourself buying some thin climbing rope and make a new handle.

I've had these for a couple years. The lens is fairly scratch resistant and they never fog up - unless you hike for about an hour, sweat like your being interrogated and fail to unzip your jacket the whole time. I'm not the biggest fan of the latest styles. Also, for those than think the "smaller" frame equates to less range of view - I never once encountered that problem.