True, the Mammut air packs ship w/o the cylinders. Drop the SKU: MAM0639 into our search bar and you'll land on the right item needed to finish off your kit.

Due to hazmat regs, we have to ship our canisters empty. Apologies for the inconvenience - we hope to have a more streamlined solution soon!

We at Backcountry.com have requested that all of our re-fill able cartridges ship empty. As mentioned by Ted, they can be filled at scuba or paintball shops.

Both skis on your hit list will shine in powder. The Patron has a burlier construction than the Bent Chet and, in my opinion, will be more fun to ski on an everyday basis. Especially if you're like me and your best freestyle days are behind you. If you're more into tricks and jibbing, the Bent Chet will be lighter and livelier. Honestly can't go wrong with either ski - take the Patron for a sturdier all-mountain ride or the Bent Chet for its lighter weight and more freestyle ready feel.

The content was originally incorrect here - this package features a beacon, shovel, probe. The package with the backpack is under the SKU: MAM0632. Enter that into the search bar above to check it out. Thank you and apologies for the confusion!

These are intended for resort skiers that might occasionally head out on short(er) hikes to hit kickers and gnarly lines out in the backcountry. Think snowmobile access or that cliff across the street. Definitely strong enough to be used full time at the resort. If you're thinking about dabbling in some bc skiing this year and don't want to commit to a whole new kit, there is no better product on the market. I love BCA gear (beacon, shovel, probe, and pack in my kit), but I've never seen anyone happy on their Trekkers.

I've booted and skinned with my Asterisk braces. Not going to lie to you - it is not the most comfortable way to travel. Now that my post-op knee is nice and strong, I leave them at home on touring days. They only time I'd think of using them in the bc is if I'm looking at a high consequence line or shredding mini golf terrain.

These are not sport specific. You will get superior protection and support if you wear these all winter. Perfect for helping to prevent knee injuries.

In general (and in my opinion), 4FRNT skis are going to be much stiffer than the freestyle oriented Line skis. The twin rockered Line skis are purpose built for creative trickery on natural terrain and soft snow whereas the 4FRNT boys are looking for more of a hard charging type of ski experience. If you prefer slightly softer and lighter skis for buttery tricks/powder surfing then you'll probably prefer Bacons. But if you're more into rallying high speed lines and don't need softer skis for your freestyle bag-of-tricks then 4FRNT skis might be your ticket. Check the Turbo for a similar sized offering.

The biggest brakes I've seen are 130mm. At 149mm in the waist, I'm assuming that even bending brakes won't be enough to wrap around the edge of the Mutant ski effectively (not to mention where are you going to find the 150mm jig...?). I've seen the occasional brake-less super fat ski, so that is what I would do here. Let's face it - if you pop out of these skis on steep, deep snow they are taking off. The brakes likely won't be helping you very much anyway. Crank the DINs and stay on your feet!

I am exactly your size and I have been using the '75 as a touring ski for a few years. I cannot recommend them at all to you. You have to go with at least the 185cm version. It makes a huge difference. More edge to ski on when the snow isn't soft, and more surface area to plane on when the La Nina storms roll in again. Do it, don't wait, get that '85 and you'll be fired up.

Yup - this is my touring ski (dropped my Dynafit bindings on them) and I can't think of a better rig to get around on. Fluid turning pow ski, doesn't weigh very much, great edge hold for sketchy and icy traverses, and plenty of surface area for good traction on steep skin tracks. Love them!

They'd be perfect if you're going to def go tour a few times. The added height of the Baron will also help get better leverage on these fat skis and help get them on edge really quick. They'll ski extra nimble.

Yes for sure in the Lady's - but they sell out quickly. Keep checking back!

Can assume 'yes' as Asterisk has had pro surfers on their team. Mine get soaked regularly and there's never been a problem. Just dry them out as you would any piece of gear.

I wear merino base layers under mine. Snug fitting 3/4 length pant. Should be good-to-go with Under Armor.

I used to fit boots in a few different retail shops. Sounds like the 'too narrow' problem that feels like a cramp may be sorted out by a footbed with improved arch support. My feet pronate (arches flatten out, pushing a bone too close to the surface of my skin. Painful in performance footwear) a bit and all I need is a little extra arch support. Skiing, biking, everything is better.

A wider tail would make it ski more like a JJ/Bent Chet/etc. The deliberate pin-tail of the Super7 and its variants is for a couple of reasons. First and foremost it makes the ski very nimble for it's size. You can easily go full throttle anywhere (and hit the brakes when needed!) but also bounce around in really tight trees without eating any of them. But the secret sauce is that a large amount of taper towards the tails makes the S7 family very Everyman friendly. I see out-of-towners every day at Snowbird on S7 demos laughing and firing around the whole mountain, having a blast.

So yes, a wider tail would cater very well to freestyle oriented experts and help save the day if/when you land backseat going big. But I think the S7 family is more supposed to reward directional big mountain skiers as well as get more peeps going on more of the mountain...for better or worse.

Think Pontoon with more sturdiness and versatility, and less JJ/Bent Chet clone and you've got the S/Super7.

Have fun!

Also new size. Super7 construction now available in 188cm.

Hard Hat will drain well, but honestly I wouldn't take this helmet on the water. The EPS liner option from Bern would be better than the Hard Hat, but for whitewater I'd definitely lean towards a Sweet helmet or something more specific to that activity. Rocks and whitewater is a pretty serious business and I wouldn't skimp on pro there. My two cents.

Not trying to be a brand loyalist here, but I'm still loving my G3 Alpinist Climbing Skins (GGG0126) and have been on the same pair for 2 1/2 years. They are super tough with solid grip, a decent glide, and are a cinch to cut with the included Skin Cutter. No problem pulling them off of my skis, but they can be a bit of a wrestling match if stuck base-to-base without the Skin Saver.

Awesome for park if you dig big fat airs and loooooong jibs. Super light and almost no swing weight. Fat like a freeride ski makes them stable for landings. I think they're more comfy for switch skiing than the Bent Chet thanks to a mellower shape. Buttering the soft tip and tails is effortless.

Since they are fatter than a typical park ski, I'm not sure if multi-change-up rail tricks, super techy tricks, or mini-shred would be easy to pull off but on big jumps the Blog is a blast. Lots of ski to land on.

I personally don't like touring with a rocker on the tail of a ski (currently run Armada JJ w/ Baron - upgrading from that this year). You need some tail to help grab snow when skinning. If the skin track gets steep or icy at all, I'm suddenly on a treadmill watching my friends get smaller and smaller in the distance. My two cents.

Me: 5'8" dude weighing in at 140lbs. Snowbird pass holder/employee.

I put mine +1 from the old school freeride line since I'm not all that big and I wanted to stay well ahead of the tail rocker. I love to ski switch - but NOT on the Super 7. This is a Go Forward, Go Fast ski for sure.

Hello eeelaine. BD did not make a lady's 4 buckle version for 2010/11. There is the Swift, which is a 3 buckle, 100 flex, Pebax touring boot. Check it out at:
http://www.backcountry.com/black-diamond-swift-alpine-touring-boot-womens

These are actually pretty dope in pow. The rocker helps keep your tips up despite how skinny they look compared to pow specific skis.

These can be tricky to ski on if you're a beginner. They feel pretty 'loose' and you have to pay a bit more attention to your balance and stance compared to a traditional cambered ski. Otherwise you may find your self washing out of turns or stumbling at higher speeds.

I'd recommend 162cm for an intermediate or 170cm for advanced to expert at 5'4" and 129lbs. These skis are pretty fat and pretty stiff, so you don't really need to over do it on size. Hope this helps.

Dude if you like Line and you'll be next door at Alta - get the Mo' Ships. No joke. You're going to want that stiffer ski when you start hammering around with the locs. Welcome to the Wasatch dude, it's gonna be killer this year.

I'd drop your bindings right on the recommended 'freeride' line. I'm a little smaller than you (5'8" - 140lbs) and mount all my fat twins about 1 to 1.5cm forward of the freeride line. I don't think you would need to make an adjustment. Have fun.

Awesome on rails. Check out the Poorboyz flick to see 'em in action. Nice and light in a 176cm. You're stoked.

Dukes on these would be a pretty natural fit. The Volkl Bridge is noticeably stiffer under foot than on the tips and tails so you wouldn't necessarily be messing up the flex of the ski very much by opting for a Duke instead of a Jester. Also, the really mellow rocker means more surface area for your skins to stick to the skin track on the way up when you go for a tour.

Hi, I'm on the Ski Hardgoods Buying team so I thought I'd shed a little insight.

192cm is coming later in the production sched. Might be end of Oct or beginning of Nov before they're available. Worth the wait!

192cm !!! I have the 195cm Super S7 (5' 9" and 140lbs) and those things are no problem to ski at all. Remember, the tips and tails of both the Bent Chet and similar skis are well off the snow when you're skiing groomers so your running length is much smaller than your overall length. Super easy to turn quickly. They when you get into deeper snow the rocker keeps your skis loose enough to pivot and smear, but the bigger platforms become real stable when you point them straight down the fall line. Good times.

Unless you're skiing east coast trees, go big on this and any similar styled ski.

Hey Neale, these would make an outstanding all-day, every-day ski for resort skiing. They are light for touring but are not flimsy at all and excel at the kind of diverse terrain and conditions that you describe. We here in Utah see them all the time up at Alta and Snowbird. Buy them up and have a great winter.

We'll hopefully have profile pics of our rocker skis in the coming weeks. In the mean time I can tell you that the ObSethed has a nose rocker that looks a lot like the Hellbent, but the tail is the same as last year's. That way you get more ski to land those big airs on. They can be a handful on hard snow but in variable snow (and of course pow) you'll be loving it.

The snow version has a little less ventilation than the dirt one to help keep snow out and warmth in.

A skeg is kind of like a small keel near the stern of your kayak. Not quite a rudder (which pivots), your skeg helps to keep your kayak tracking straight. Helps beginner paddlers, like me, to keep going straight.

With the adjustable foot pedals and the widest point of the boat being just about 25", I do think that 6'3" person would be okay in this kayak. Your knees sort of bow out against the hull and thigh braces to help steer and control the boat; you don't usually stretch to your full length.

More are on order and should arrive soon.

Scupper plugs are sold separately. Enter JOP0127 into the search bar. We are running low as of this message but more are on the way as I type. Check the following link to NRS' great breakdown on paddle sizing using your size as well as your prospective boat's.

http://www.nrsweb.com/inflatables/paddle_sizing_guide.asp?deptid=1116&tn=76

I'm at +2cm. I moved the binding up from the 'traditional' mount spot because of my rather small stature vs these huge skis (I'm 5'9" 140lbs).

In my experience, Prophet skis have a pretty snappy flex (wood + metal construction) and turn super quick for their width thanks to a shorter turn radius (~17m). Thanks to my gig here at Backcountry.com, I have the unique opportunity to ski dozens of ski/binding combination's each year and I honestly cannot tell the difference in a ski's flex when comparing one binding to another. Maybe it's me? If the Baron does in fact increase stiffness of a ski, I see it as a good thing. Stiffer equals better edge hold which can be clutch on wind scoured, icy snow above no-nonsense terrain. The mellow early rise nose on your Prophet ensures fun pow performance, stiff ski or not.

I do notice the weight of a demo vs retail vs touring binding as well as the lift provided by each. Higher lift equals more leverage over your edges which in turn creates a quicker turning ski. While your Baron's will sit lower on the ski compared to a Fritschi, you still get a ~cm+ of lift greater than a retail binding. Your Prophets with Barons will turn super quick, hold an edge on anything, stay put on your boots, and absolutely smoke couloirs, glades, and variable snow. The usual Baron downsides remain their weight and the rather clumsy transition to/from ski/tour mode.

For the record I'm 5'9", 140lbs (w/o all my ski and tour stuff), and have a Baron + hand-me-down Armada JJ 175cm slackcountry setup. Looking to upgrade the ski to something w/o a rocker tail.

Enjoy your new kit!

Definitely re-up your batteries every year, whether you leave them in over the summer or not. Pulling them out now means backup batteries for the remote during the hockey playoffs - that is good.

Hello, I'm the Asst Buyer for Ski. We've got skins for the Stoke on order and they should arrive in time for next winter. Unfortunately, we won't have them available for the current spring touring season. Lo siento.

Hey cmelo, if you are looking to tour in the backcountry with your new EP Pros you should get the Duke. If you're going to be using your new skis mostly at resorts then stick with the Jester. Same DIN range, much lighter. Dukes can break, it's true but rare. Know that both Backcountry.com and Marker have a great return and warranty policy so you're covered in case of a rare but possible busted-binding scenario.

Yes, they'll fit perfect.

I'm 5'9 140lbs and rock the small. I prefer my impact pro to be super snug so it stays in place if/when I eat crap. Therefore, I'd opt for the smaller one. Or pick up both and return the one that doesn't measure up for you. We've got that 100% guarantee return policy. Feel free to use it!

I'm sorry but the bindings aren't included. I've updated the copy to help with the admittedly confusing image.

Pick up the XXL size and be ready to give 'em a bend. Worth it!

The short answer is, mmm not really. I have two different boots that I wear, one at 295mm the other at 293mm. I step into the bindings without worry since that's pretty tiny. But if you've got another boot that's a whole shell size different, I don't think you'll be able to adjust these far enough. You trade off the ability to adjust these bindings for their rock solid hold.

You'll need a 22.0 or 22.5, unless you're buying for next year and then I'd grab a 23 if available. Yup, add the first two numbers of the Mondo point system together to get a rough translation to US uni/men shoe sizes. Cool huh?

Hello! Hey I think if you are happy with the performance of your Griffons, consider the Marker Baron. It's the touring version of your existing binding. It is a little heavier than the BD binding here, but will have the same performance that you're used to. Especially considering that you'd tour only a handful of times per year, you'd likely appreciate the in-bounds performance of the Baron. Also, drilling skis for a second set of bindings doesn't do much damage. Once you've drilled for 3-4 bindings or more, you might start to see some problems. Check out the Barons and if you get them, drop them into new holes (even though I think the binding screw hole pattern is the same). Re-using holes has led to many a shredder to pull a binding out of the ski during a big crash.

The Salomon Suspect will be a solid upgrade over your Threat skis. The full length sidewall holds up WAY better than the monocoque construction of your beat-up Threats. Check your local mountain and see if they have any demos. You'll dig 'em.

You'd be good-to-go with either. I'd take the 130mm brake since you'd only have 7.5 'extra' millimeters (less than the width of your thumbnail) on each side. Besides, bindings last longer than skis so a 130mm brake means that those Jesters might end up on a mega-fat ski in a few years.

Upgrading from the 'ol Pocket Rocket, huh? Well the Jah Love here is a pretty huge departure from what you're used to. The Rocket featured a super-light foam core and cap construction. Not only is the Jah Love HUGE compared to your current setup, but its burly wood core and stocky sidewalls are going to be far less forgiving than what you've been shredding on (in anything other than perfect snow). If you're looking for Nordica skis, I'd recommend the Girish (NOR0080 in our search bar) in a 185cm. Same rock-solid construction as the Jah Love, but a more versatile size and shape. One of our favs during the ski tests last season. Check 'em out!

We sell the 'Rapid' version of Garmont's liners. They are more featured than the 'Pad Lock' versions. Updated toe-box liners and Pebax material for the tongues are just a few of the tweaks made to the 'Rapid'.

Yes, the black dial under the handle is used to regulate the temp.

I've used these for years, no prob getting them under the cuff. Super trim. Super warm too!

Hello,
A lot goes into picking bindings. I'm assuming that your Future Shred is a younger guy if he's packing 85-90 lbs. I'd aim for any bindings that have the number 10 or 11 in the title. That denotes the top of the DIN range. Bindings that top out at these numbers tend to be less aggressive and are more likely to release during a crash. You start to get more aggressive retention and heavier bindings when you start to look at any bindings with a number 12 or higher in the title.

As for brakes, all of the bindings that we offer should easily accommodate an 80mm waist. If it's a tight fit, any shop will gladly bend the arms enough to wrap around the ski. Standard shop-stuff there.

Here are a few SKUs to punch into the search bar to get you started:

MRK0017, SAL1822, DYN0281, HEA0220

I hope this helps!

Get the Large. It's much better to be more in the 'meat' of a bindings range (both sole length as well as DIN) than to be so close to either end.

The Afterbang looks sweet when it's beat up a bit. Like your skateboard.

189cm ! The Pontoons feel super short in powder. An '89 Pontoon looks huge and can be awkward and heavy to carry around, they are very nimble to ski on.

50 yards? Just boot it, unless you want the Alta locs to be all laughing at you!

Pick up some skins if you start eyeing lines across the street on Flagstaff or Superior. You definitely won't need 'em for anything at the resorts.

A good Rossi option for you would be the Rossignol S3 Koopman.

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Rossignol-S3-Koopman-Alpine-Ski/ROS0387M.html

It's a blend of park shape and all mountain performance. You get a similar rocker profile as the S7 here, but a more piste oriented shape. The S7 is pretty fun on groomers, but is definitely more suited to deep, natural snow. If you spend most time on groomed terrain, the S7 may feel too wide (less agile). Rossi sets up dozens of resorts with demo fleets. Go try out the S3. You'll end up pretty stoked!

Great binding for this price. At 225lbs you'll be on the high end of the DIN scale of this binding, but there should be plenty of retention for you. Enjoy!

Get the 125mm version. This would give your wider tips and tails better coverage. Just trim the excess. Have fun!

Yo in order to turn the heel screw, the binding has to be in the boot-in position. You'll strip the screws if the heelpiece is down. An old repair shop tip.

A bigger version of the Afterbang with some carbon fiber is in the works for next season. Will likely be in the low 180cm's range though. Most park boards are pretty short since agile is the name of the game. You may want to check out some bigger fat skis that are twin'd. Something like an EP Pro, Prophet 130, K2 ObSethed, or 4FRNT, Moment, and Armada offerings.

Hard to say for sure, but I would suggest the 160cm. There is rocker on the nose of this ski, but it isn't very drastic. I don't think you need to size up with this kind of ski because of rocker like you would with a Hellbent or MissBehaved.
The added width compared to the PayBack will give better stability, but may also make the 167 feel cumbersome and heavy. When I'm anxious on the mountain, I tend to make more and shorter turns. The 160 will help your wife with that style when needed.
The GotBack's 102mm waist and solid wood core make it very stable at higher speed and deep snow, even in a 160 length. This is a very popular lady's ski here in Utah due to it's combination of float, stability, and nimbleness in all conditions.

I'm not a snowboarder, but if you can't rig your deck to this pack, BD makes a more board friendly version called the Outlaw for only a few dollars more. Check:

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Black-Diamond-Outlaw-with-Avalung-Pack-1831-1939cu-in/BLD0381M.html

Yes it is and I plan on putting those two items together myself. May have to bend the brakes but I'm okay with that.

Yup. Improved liners too.

Yup. Improved liners too.

Shogun is a rockered nose, twin tip, all mountain fat ski with a super light bamboo core and regular camber underfoot.

Gotama is a fully rockered (tip and tail), twin tip, all mountain fat ski with a sturdy wood (can't remember the species) core.

Your Gotama is going to have that loose, surfy feel in powder thanks to the long reverse camber profile, but loses some edge length on groomed or hard snow. It doesn't ski anything at all like Gots of yore.

Your Shogun's rockered nose keeps it up out of lousy, cruddy snow and the more traditional tail shape means better stability at speed on/in inconsistent snow and on groomers.

It is in my opinion that this year's Gotama is better suited as a quiver ski or a ski for someone that prefers a full rocker everyday while the Shogun is better suited as your all-day everyday, all mountain ski.

'95 for sure. The rocker tip and tail and slightly tapered shape keeps the S7 really nimble. With your size, you would really benefit from the titanal reinforcements found only in the Super 7. While aspen groves and east coast trees would be a lot of work due to how tight the growth is, your standard mountain west pine forest runs are going to be a lot of fun and the spaced out glades around the Tahoe resorts are going to be a total blast. \

Yes, absolutely, and without a doubt. I skied the '75 last year and wish I had the '85. These skis rip all over the mountain with ease. The sidewall underfoot really helps with edge hold and they don't weigh a thing, which makes them super fun in tight trees and chutes. I used them on pow days, high pressure/inversion days, park, touring, trees, on and on. Here's the thing though: they have a snowboard-esque turning radius on harder snow. The running surface is quite small considering the length due to the twin/rocker design. These won't carve like you've been trained (your race background) and you'll have to develop a more 'loose' stance to really take advantage of the sidecut. Driving the tips of these skis doesn't do much on groomed since much of the tip is off the snow. As for durability, my first run involved a cliff-drop-to-buried-rock landing and I only dented the base, no core shot.
A last thought for you; it took a few days to really get a feel for these and similar skis (also skied the Bents, Alpha2, and Blog skis last year - best part of the gig!). They are SO light, and turn SO quick, all with a non-traditional stance. So give them a few days of hard skiing and you'll really dig them, even though your first few runs may feel a little funny. Cheers!

I toured with Marker Barons on mine (I ski at around a 10 DIN so I didn't want to shell out all the bucks for Dukes). I thought it was an okay setup for short trips and such, but the rocker tail makes it hard to get a grip on steep or icy approaches and the overall weight of the bindings kind of drained me on long days. If most of your touring is going to be quick jaunts out to fun lines, a Duke/Baron and JJ setup will be really fun. You won't lose any downhill performance when you're at the resort either so that's a major bonus!

Dude if you had these in your quiver, you'd use the rest of your quiver a whole lot less. These are a top all-everything ski.

85s. Without a doubt. These turn so quick and most of the front and back of the ski is off the ground on groomers. If you really like to 'rip groomers hard', you may not like the reduced edge length of a rocker-style ski. Check out the Armada ARV or AR6 for a great riding ski that will hold a better edge on the way back to the lift.

I'm the same height as you but you've got me a bit on the lbs. Not knowing what you ski on now or where you're living, it's hard to say. If you live in the east and like trees/bumps, you may prefer the '72. If you live out west and like all mountain terrain, you might like the longer one. I would ski this in an '84, but ski at Snowbird where we have lots of wide open areas to go fast in. Go for the longer one!

Rossi has a much lower profile than Nordica. You'll benefit from a Rossi if you have a narrower ankle and lower instep. Nordica traditionally has a pretty big toe box, large volume calf, and taller instep. I love the Nordica Dobermans...but they are just too big.

I wear a 25.5 and you are looking at a sole within a mm or 2 of 295.

I'd hook him up with the Bacon due to it being a shade stiffer (for airs, steeps, and rough terrain). The Bacon is also a little fatter and not quite as park ski-ish as the 'Liz. Either way, he'll be pretty stoked, but if he's a side country shred, the Bacon may be the way to go.

I'm a another 'guy with advice' so I may not have the info you're looking for, but I can tell you that you'd love a ski like this for all-mountain, east coast to west skiing. The Mantra has a great snappiness and edge hold for a wider ski, turns quick and easy, and thanks to the metal layer won't wuss out when you're going fast on hard or crappy snow. I've spent years working in demo shops and these skis were on the mountain every day, and every day people came back with smiles. There is a sharp looking ladies version, the Aura (VKL0070) which is another great ski. Pick up a pair, I can guarantee that you'll love them and, of course, you can always send them back to us if you don't!

The '77 may be pretty small for you. It's a true twin, center mount ski and is pretty soft way up at the tips and tails. If you want a Line jib ski, I'd say check out the Chronic as it's more solid and still super good for freestyle skiing. Line is batting around the idea of a bigger Afterbang ski for next season, so keep an eye out.

I wouldn't sweat the durability of the Griffon. I skied dozens and dozens of times on Barons (tour version of Griffon) with no durability issues whatsoever. Yes they are plastic components, but they are well constructed and going to last.

I'm not exactly a PSIA guy, so I can't speak to the power transmission of any binding.

If you want super light, look into the Salomon Z12 Ti binding as it's listed at 3lbs 11oz for the pair.

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Salomon-Z12-Ti-Ski-Binding/SAL0968M.html

I hope this helps!

Fixed. Have a great winter!

That's roughly a 25.5 shell (296mm), which would be in the 7.5 range. Buy 'em up!

We won't be carrying the extra tongues except for the #10 (stiffest). They were the last thing to be produced and will be in stock shortly.

I used a similar boot to this last season as a Snowbird local. It was this year's 'Radical Race' plug with a really thin liner. The liner in this boot is a bit more padded, but still really thin. I've noticed fewer pain problems with thinner liners as long as the shells are fit properly and my footbeds are dialed. Smooshy liners allow my skinny shins to float around a bit more which leads to more instances of shin-bang when I goof a landing. In my opinion, padded heels don't do anything but give shop dudes something to point at when selling boots. I have a Salomon SPK Pro with a big gel pad and have never noticed a benefit. My feet, ankles, and toes have never had a pain problem due to thin liners used while skiing hard on crappy snow. I'm confidant that once the fit of your boot is dialed, you'll really appreciate the performance of these boots.

More recent Lange models have a slightly taller instep and a roomier feeling toebox. It's a subtle difference, but helps to relieve the old Lange crush-your-feet feel. I used to have the Comp 120 in a 25.5 and I can stick with that same size in the newer Banshee models with less work needed on my shells. Since Backcountry.com has the 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can order a few sizes and return the ones that don't feel right.

Get on those 79s Gumba. Twintip and tight turn radius. These are a quick turner, so you'll benefit from a bit more ski under you.

Pick up the xShort length. Get a width that is close to the widest part of your ski, then open a beer. Trim the width with the included Skin Cutter. It's super easy.

Def yes on the trim tool.
I got last year's and they came with Savers too, so I'm pretty sure that's a Yes too.

Just the graphics.

Hey 9094. This is the same ski as last season with an updated graphic. It has a moderate flex underfoot which helps to grab hard snow and keep it from getting too chattery at speed and in crud. Where the rocker starts, it gets real soft real fast. So the tips and tails ride up over soft and cut up snow. This also helps to make the ski really nimble despite its wide platform. The 195cm version (coming soon!) has a bunch of metal in it and is significantly stiffer than the three smaller sizes.

You'll need to bend the brakes some to get around the waist of the JJ, but the performance of these bindings awesome. You can't go wrong with Look. Simple, tough, and they hang on tight!

I stand corrected. We took a look for ourselves at last year's vs this year's Duke bindings here in the BC.com Mega-Core Office and Margarita nailed it....SS, DD. So yah, despite the claims we heard at SIA, there is no structural change (height from ski). Just the new color. I've checked a Green Thumbs Up on Margarita's answer and given my original "nah dude it changed" answer the dreaded Red Thumbs Down. Still a kill binding. I love my Barons.

Whoa not so fast there Margarita! There have been two cosmetic 'updates' to the Duke and one key structural change. As you can clearly see, the colors have been changed up. What's harder to see is that the toe of the binding is less stubby than last year's. It kinda curves back towards your boot instead of being straight up and down. That's all pretty-points though...the important thing is the structural change. The new Duke/Barons sit lower on the ski than in years past. There is less lift and a closer-to-the-ski feel.

This binding's price hasn't changed for this year. If you've seen smaller prices in the past...they were on sale. These are mad expensive. I work here and I can't even afford them! I picked up the Baron last year, saved around $100, and lost a pound/pair of weight. You could also try my ski bum plan: work nights at a resort part-time for a (free) half week pass and tour the rest of the week. There's always a way man!

We are going to carry the different liner options as a stand-alone item. Keep checking back for availability!

195cm Super 7s are going to be a late release from Rossi. We're looking at another month or two. I've seen some prototypes and they're worth the wait!

The new Big Dump is an AK gun with a rockered nose. The XXL has a bit of an elongated nose. These are unchanged. Not as fat as most, but still a big mountain dominator.

We offer the flat versions of this ski. Specifically so that you can put whatever binders you want on them. You'll have no trouble with mounting them. I'd suggest demo-ing a ski with a rockered tail and tele binders before you buy though. The shorter contact area behind your heels may enhance the 'wash-out' feel that you sometimes get with this style ski.

1. Yes, camber underfoot. Rocker on tips and tails only.
2. No, we are not offering the pre-drilled. More options this way.
3. Yes, these are way nice for buttering. Mellow flex and rocker'd tips/tails beg for it.
4. Fresh edges, wood cores, sidewalls...you'll carve 'em.
5. Not sure if rocker helps/hurts landings. Skills and de-tuned edges will.
6. Sturdy cores and mellow rocker mean stable and nimble.
7. Not a bad word heard about Schizo binders. They're solid.

No Variant Brims in a blue color for this year. We've got every color that they offered. There is a dope looking Maze that is kind of neon blue and yellow...

First off, I'm of dude-ness so I can only compare the uni versions of the skis you're asking about. I also used to ski the 185cm Karma, so I know that ski very well. The new Kiku shown here is a different design than last year's. This one has a mellow nose and tail rocker which makes this ski (and it's brother, the Gotama) extra surfy and floaty in soft snow. Perfect for the 'dreamy' days that you mentioned. The Pandora from last season is the same as this year's and also has a mellow rockered shape on it. Volkl traditionally has a more stocky construction than Line and this year is no exception. While these Kikus aren't going to be anywhere near as stiff as your Karmas, they do have a more sturdy feel underfoot than the jib-first Line skis. The early rising tips of both skis still feel soft since they ride a bit higher in deep snow. If you've always liked Volkl's construction before, you'll probably appreciate the stability that these skis will offer once the early morning dreamy pow has inevitably been cut to 1pm chop suey.

The Bent Chet is just a bit wider in the waist (123mm) and only comes in a 183cm length. Otherwise, you are looking at very similar skis. Both have the whole rockered tip/tail, camber underfoot thing going on. Both are super light with wood cores. Both have sidewalls under foot. The Bent Chet has a dope looking tie-dye base graphic. If all goes well, we'll have our Bent Chets by early October.

Griffons are great. Get the Jesters if you ski at a higher DIN though (anything more than 10). I have a similar style of skiing that you describe: park is good, but most of my time is spent elsewhere. I'm smallish (5'8" - 135lbs) and I generally mount my skis 1.5cm forward of an 'all mountain' recommended mounting line or 2-3cm back of a 'freestyle' line. That way my smaller self can still drive bigger, directional skis but I'm centered enough that I can still ski switch. Fun stuff.

If you were to carve a complete circle on your skis, the turning radius would be the distance between your tracks and the center of the circle. This measurement is used to roughly judge how tight the ski wants to turn. Take the measurement with a grain of salt though. How many times does anyone really carve geometrically perfect turns? As a rough guide: A snowboard usually has a turn radius in the 9-15m range, a slalom ski will be in the mid teens, park/all mtn skis are usually in the 20-25m area, and big mtn shred skis go from 30m up to 45m (!) in some cases. A ski that is this light with a 20m radius is going to be very nimble in tight spots but still able to float lazy turns in open areas without constantly trying drag you across the fall line. I hope this helps some. Tough to describe this stuff without drawing a picture sometimes.

A bigger dude like you would like the Volkl Bridge if it came down to those three. It has the stockiest construction, is the stiffest w/o being a full-on plank, and can take a beating. This ski doesn't have the pow performance of the other two on your list once the snow gets deeper than boot-top though. Just so ya know.

Dude buy them now. This ski is a total winner. It can handle lousy, icy snow with ease and is a cinch in pow. Much sturdier and snappier than what you'd expect with a Salomon ski. Seriously.

Umm, Im pretty sure most/all Alpine ski bindings have a little fore-aft play in the heel pieces. When mounting them, you have to adjust the fore/aft tension for the specific boot sole length using the tab under the heel piece. The travel is down to the scale of mm, but it is there.

Check out our Paddle Sizing Guide for a good start:

http://www.backcountry.com/store/sizingchart.html?sizing_id=222&sku=WER0052&pg_id=100000028&subcat_id=100000001&cat_id=100000005

The Potomac 100es is the Dick's Sporting Goods boat, right? I think that boat is a re-named Pelican Kayak and therefore has a 19" wide cockpit, making this skirt too wide. The Potomac has kind of an unusual shaped cockpit with how narrow it gets towards the bow. Not a great answer, I know, but hopefully this gets you pointed in the right direction.

You know the difference between waterproof and water resistant? That's what we're dealing with here. This will help keep flying insects from swarming you, but ground dwellers and really ambitious, clever mosquitoes will find their way in through the bottom. It is a whole lot better than nothing.

You know the difference between waterproof and water resistant? That's what we're dealing with here. This will help keep flying insects from swarming you, but ground dwellers and really ambitious, clever mosquitoes will find their way in through the bottom. It is a whole lot better than nothing.

You're stoked on that 176cm. While they don't look real long compared to your 5Star, keep in mind that they are way fatter. You'll have plenty of ski under you!

You're stoked on that 176cm. While they don't look real long compared to your 5Star, keep in mind that they are way fatter. You'll have plenty of ski under you!

I used NRS's Paddle Fit Guide [http://www.nrsweb.com/inflatables/paddle_sizing_guide.asp?deptid=1116&tn=76] and came up with a recommended size of 90in for this paddle. I hope this helps!

Yeah you'll definitely want the 180cm at least. Backcountry.com is stocked out for the season. If you can't find 'em anywhere this spring, it would be worth it to hold off till next season. Same fun ski, dope graphics.

No dice dude. Save your pennies for the 09/10 Super S7 (rocker tip and tail, 197cm, metal reinforced). Ultra sick!

So sick, it's terminal. So sick, it's dyin'. So sick, I just threw up in my mouth a little...

Perfect for boozing it up at the 'ol ballgame!

I don't know how you're trying to get it done so I'll just describe my technique. Fold 'em in half over the skin saver first (tip to tail). Then fold again, and again, as flat as possible until they're about a foot long. Then roll 'em and squeeze 'em and they should stuff in their bag with a bit of work. I was taught to not store skins in the sack and to keep 'em flat and in a cool spot. I generally only bag mine if they're going to be tossed into the trunk of a car. I don't bother with the sack when out on tours. Too much to fiddle around with when my hands are cold. I hope this helps!

Fishing boats have an excellent blend of stability (so your hands can be free to fish) and agility (so you can wiggle into some tight spots). The Ride 135 will easily accommodate someone of your size. Have fun!

I'd get on the Mantra if you liked the Prophet 100 and just wanted something stiffer. The Katana is a big departure from the Prophet that you already like. It's much fatter and much stiffer. The Mantra is more similar in shape to your Lines, albeit with a longer turn radius and the same metal construction as the Katana. Hope this helps!

Yes but the brakes would be overkill.

Pads? Like footbeds or extra shin protection or what? Throw out some specifics and let's see what happens...

Yup, grab the Small size.

It's not an exact fit, but the Small version of this is closest to the listed dimensions of your cockpit (35.5 x 16.5in). The Small would be a shade too big, but use the bungy cords to tighten it down. The NRS Nylon Cockpit Cover is a bit closer to your cockpit size and might be worth taking a look at too. Remember, if it doesn't fit you can send it back to us. No sweat!

http://www.backcountry.com/store/NRS0062/NRS-Nylon-Cockpit-Cover.html

No dude.

It'll handle plenty easy with one person since you'll have a lighter overall load. But you'll get further, faster with a partner to help paddle...unless they're lilly-dipping up there.

According to the Black Diamond site, a 23 would translate to a 277mm sole. Check it out:

http://www.bdel.com/images/Boot-Size-Comparison.jpg

Hello! Yeah the images are a bit tough to decipher. As a three season tent, you can be sure that once this is fully set up with the fly, it will be all closed up. Gotta keep the rain out, ya know?

Wilderness Sys and Harmony are related companies. Check the Clearwater Spray Skirt and get the larger of the two to fit your boat.

http://www.backcountry.com/store/HAR0097/Harmony-Clearwater-Spray-Skirt.html

Have fun!

It sure is, hence all of the sweet features that a fisherman would be stoked on. Rod holders, tackle box, etc. Get one and go bang some dinner!

As comfy as Tecnica boots are, if you have a narrow foot you may want to look into Lange/Rossi (same shell) boots. Check out the Rossi B-Pro 90 Sensor3 Ski Boot. Lame-o name, I know. But it has a narrower last than these Tecnicas and we still have plenty of sizes in stock. Oh, and don't pay tooooo much attention to the flex rating on ski boots as they aren't consistent from brand to brand. Anything between 80 and 100 will be perfectly fine for a self described intermediate. It's at 100 and above that boots start to get noticeably stiff. Beware of cranking down on your forefoot buckles to take away space in a too-large toe box as that is the number one way to make your feet unnecessarily cold. It'll mess with your circulation. Also, if your boot is too roomy anywhere, you may find yourself skiing backseat more often than you'd like. Who needs that? Here's the link to that boot:

http://www.backcountry.com/store/ROS0421/Rossignol-B-Pro-90-Sensor3-Ski-Boot-Womens.html

Good luck and shred 'till it's gone!

Nice catch! Specs were correct. This paddle weighs in at 28.5 oz for the 220cm length. The content had a typo and has since been fixed for y'all. Thanks!

The liner in the picture? Yup.

I'm a huge fan of Look/Rossi/Dynastar bindings. Absolutely the best toe retention of anything going in my opinion. If those things pop off...you deserved it! I have a pair of Barons on my touring skis, and although I'm not real nervous of a pre-release, I have popped out of 'em a few times at the same DIN I use for the Look/Rossi/Dyn binders. I prefer a more solid retention without feeling the need to max out my DINs. Hope this helps!

Not really similar at all. Gots/Kikus are pretty stiff, big mountain oriented shred sticks whereas these are more buttery and playful for freestyle skiing.

All depends on how you like to ski. If you're a directional big mountain kinda guy who dabbles with switch riding and park stuff, it'd be worth it to pull the bindings back a little bit. If you're all freestyle, all the time; drop 'em right in the middle. After skiing several skis with similar shapes as this (Nordica Zero, Volkl Chopstick), I prefer to pull the bindings back at least 5 - 6cm. You can still land and ski switch, no problem, but they're way more nimble feeling and versatile with a shorter tail and longer nose in my opinion. Hope this helps. These are fun!

Definitely different hole patterns. That's a good thing. You don't want to re-use holes. Un uh! You'll pull your binders out on the first day! Go new every time unless you're using heeli coils.

Stretching these brakes to accommodate a 105mm waist is easy-breezy for any shop guy. Damn, you could just wrench 'em with your hands; it's so close. You're in business!

Yo! You'd add about a pound to the binding weight by going with the Baron. They are heavy for a touring kit, but if you want the higher-DIN, it's worth it. Definitely easier than bootpacking! Skiing switch doesn't feel weird at all. I have a pair on my JJs and cruise just the same. Pick em up!

I don't know if you have your heart set on the skis listed above, but you might also want to look at the BD Megawatts.I second thatI third that, but with an asterisk. Megawatts are way easy and fast in soft snow, but can flop a bit (a lot) in beat up heavy snow and don't have the greatest edge hold on ice. As a guide, you're going to see a whole lot of tough snow. Of your choices I wouldn't hesitate to get the EHPs. Of all the rockered skis I've tried, it was hands down the stiffest and most stable in crappy snow. Hellbents and Pontoons can be difficult to handle on hard snow and suck for skinning. ARGs, Pontoons, and Megawatts all have a mostly cap construction which isn't as durable and more difficult to repair if you beat up your edges. EHPs are stiff, zero camber skis, with a stocky sidewall. Sounds like a good guide ski to me...

If you're referring to brakes that'll fit the 135 waist, probably not. You can ask on Live Chat, but I'd get bindings here and bigger brakes from the manufacturer.----------------------------------------------------------Not only that, but most skis this wide will need even the biggest brakes to be literally bent to fit around the waist anyway. In my experience, brakes on skis this wide don't do much to stop your skis from flying down the hill in soft snow. They may help a very little bit on the groomer, but who falls there? You pretty much need brakes just so you can ride the chair at a lot of spots (liability thing) so don't worry if you need to mangle 'em a bit to get them to fit.

I sized my skins so that there would be plenty of edge showing for side-hilling and such. That being said, subtract roughly 10mm from the widest part of you ski (the nose) and keep the length of the skins as close to the length of your ski as you can find. You'll trim them to fit once you have 'em. As for models, can't go wrong with either my roommate's Black Diamond Ascensions or my G3 Alpinists. Have fun out there!

BD Ascension Skins 110mm, 179-186cm. You're stoked.

Check out the Volkl Bridge, K2 Kung Fujas, and the Rossignol S5.----------------------------------------------------------------Man, you're looking at a good one right here. The SPK kills park and bumps with ease and will be a super fun ride in pow as long as it's not more than a foot deep or so. If you need a similar ski for deeper days, check out the Prophet series from Line or (as GreenMan said) the fatter half of the Seven Deadly Sins from Rossi. You'll appreciate the lighter, softer skis for their versatility. Hope this helps!

I've not used this model, but if you are skiing inbounds only this would probably be overkill. An alternative that you might consider is purchasing clothing with the RECCO logo (several items on this site have it) or purchasing a separate tag made by RECCO ($20 or so). The RECCO system is used by many ski resorts to locate avalanche victims. You can go to http://www.recco.com/resorts/north_america.asp to see if your favorite ski resorts use the system and how it works.-------------------To directly answer your question, although I do agree with what has been said above, the Pieps Freeride does an excellent job at sending a signal. So this will work for you, however this beacon does not do well searching for others.-------------------The Recco system is essential a body recovery system. It takes too long to get the equipment on site. If someone is caught in an avalanche, they have a 92% chance of surviving is recovered within 15 minutes. Those chances drop to only 30% after 35 minutes.The first thing a patroller will do when arriving at an avalanche site is do a sweep with their beacon. As such, this is a good beacon for wearing in bounds, where you won't need to look for someone. ---------------------------------------Agree with the last point. Every patroller carries a beacon and can search immediately upon arriving at the scene whereas they will have to send for a RECCO detector (top shack?). Waiting for the RECCO detector to arrive on-scene would be a bummer if you were buried. RECCO is cute, but it's a better 'sales pitch' than practical avie survival. Please keep in mind that despite this winter's unfortunate accidents, it's tremendously unlikely to ever be buried in an in-bounds slide.

Oops! That Blue one that you saw is actually the Tsunami, not the Pungo. We do have the Blue version of the Pungo in stock (2009 model!) and it's accessories/cockpit will match what you see in the Orange and Yellow Pungo images. We'll get a pic of that Blue version ASAP. Sorry for the confusion!

The scoop with the Otter kayaks is that they are very stable and easy to maneuver. Combine that with their light weight and you have a great boat for anyone in the family.

If you end up grabbing these skis, you might not use your Stockli's much anymore. The El Ray is a fun ski all over the mountain and its wood core will give you plenty of edge hold and durability. For someone your size, I'd aim for the 178cm. The skis are light enough that you shouldn't have any trouble getting some park tricks figured out.

Any ski binding will work on any ski as long as the ski is flat on top and not part of a ski/binding system. Systems will have plastic rails on them. Hope this helps!

They sure do. I'm looking to get s'more in right now. Let's hope they're available. Check back in a few days!

I'd stick with these even though I'm a big Volkl fan. The true twin, center mounted Wall will be KILLER in the park and not-too-steep groomers, but will likely struggle in variable snow, trees, etc. To me, a true-twin, true-center ski has tails that feel too big and tips that feel too short when off the groomed. The Salomon Suspect is still very park oriented in design, but will have a more versatile shape for everything else. Hope this helps!

Grab the smalls. You'd rather be in the middle of any sizes and settings than near the ends.

Here's the understanding that I came away with after meeting Bern at the SIA trade show: All of Bern's shells are top notch. The different liners have different performance and protection properties. The 'Hardhat' has a multi-impact liner that is lightweight and breathable. Because of their unique multi-impact design, the 'Hardhat' styles are not currently certified by the usual suspects (CPSC, ASTM, etc). It is still a super safe lid and it's great for cruising the mountain, park riding, and keeping on your head during warm spring days. The EPS liner is a more traditional single-impact design that IS fully certified. If you're more in to the big mountain style of riding where high speed gets mixed into rocky, tree covered terrain or you're stoked on the mega-kickers in the parks then you may want to aim for one of these liners. Luckily, Bern has made both 'Hardhat' and EPS versions of their most popular helmets. We don't have all of them represented here on the site, but the option is out there. I hope this helps!

JJs !!! Super reverse camber skis like the ARG are awesome in deep, soft snow but the JJ is tremendously versatile. You'll still get top notch pow performance with a JJ but you'll also have a ski that is super nimble in trees and even carves well and handles parks. I've skied Jay a bunch and the JJ would be perfect!

This ski is the bomb for all conditions as long as the snow doesn't get too much deeper than about a foot. The edge hold is way confidence inspiring on ice and these will turn super quick in the trees. You and I are about the same size so I'm gonna steer you towards the 177cm so that you can snake all those tight tree lines in NE.

The stockier construction of the Kiku will help to keep it more stable when ripping around. If you're looking for a crud-busting ski, get on a pair of Kikus.

The JJ's are about a pound lighter per/pair.

I buy a lot of clothing/items that are black. Whenever possible, I view the other colors to see more detail. Or even go to other websites and search for the same item to get more detail. --Nope, no fly. BUMMER !!! Check out: http://www.backcountry.com/store/ICE0110/Icebreaker-BodyFit200-Legging-w-Fly-Mens.html for a dude-friendly version.

I couldn't find an exact answer for you, but skis with similar dimensions are listed as having a roughly 17m turning radius. With the drastic taper from 126mm at the tip down to 88mm underfoot combined with a foam core, you'll be able to swing these skis real tight. Not a perfect answer,I know, but hopefully this helps some.

The Intuition liners that come with these boots are top flight. You'd be best served to have a ski/boot/tune shop help you get these set up just right. Any top shop in your area will have a coupl'a peeps that have done this dozens of times and can get you sorted out. They have the proper ovens and technique whereas if you baked them in your own oven you could easily mangle these things. A major bummer. I'm not saying you can't give it a try, but damn you've got some good boots. Have a skilled pro help you out for best results!

Skis come with a factory wax which should last you a few days. After you notice a white-ish color on your bases (especially near the edges under foot) you'll want to get an iron wax for em.

Check this out:http://www.backcountry.com/store/dc/498/Backcountry-Ski-Size-Guide.htmlThat should help to steer you in the right direction!

You could easily get away with the 90mm brake option. In the good ol days, I paid my rent by wrenching away in a ski tuning shop at a Tahoe resort. With only a three millimeter difference on each side of your ski, it would be easy for any shop dude to simply bend the brake arms a bit in order to clear the sidewalls. You'd never notice it. If 100mm brakes is the best option for you, I'd recommend the Dynastar PX 12 Lifter Wide Binding in that price range. Same DIN, 100mm brakes, similar price. Check em out at: http://www.backcountry.com/store/DYN0196/Dynastar-PX-12-Lifter-Wide-Binding.htmlRock and roll!

Nope! No changes were made between the two seasons. You know the old saying: If it ain't broke... . If you're looking to save on some weight, check out the Marker Baron. Same idea, lower DIN range and about a pound lighter per pair.http://www.backcountry.com/store/MRK0010/Marker-Baron-Ski-Bindings.html

12m or 13m are Slalom Race Skis = super turny41m like dynastar legend xxl - are for straight-lining in AK18 m is a nice radius that can do it all, some may even call this turny still.Hello. I thought I'd add a bit to the breakdown already provided. Turning Radius refers to how big a circle would be traced in the snow if you carved a complete circle using the whole edge of the ski (no skidding). The radius would be the distance between the arc you skied and the center of this circle. For skis and snowboards, the radius is measured in meters (roughly 3 ft per m). As already described, the bigger the number, the bigger the circle would be and, therefore, the straighter the ski wants to track. Big radius skis tend to be very stable at speed and handle beat up snow with ease while smaller radius skis are agile and turn quickly but may feel 'chattery' when pointed straight. 18m to 22m makes a nice compromise between the two extremes.

Dude these will be plenty good enough for your plans. You may even want to cut weight by going with the Black Diamond Fritschi Diamir Freeride Plus bindings if you'll be in the backcountry more often than the front side. They cost a bit more, but you'll lose a pound of weight. Check 'em out:http://www.backcountry.com/store/BLD0926/Black-Diamond-Fritschi-Diamir-Freeride-Plus-Binding.htmlSick bike pic by the way. You sure you won't be hucking?

83.97 refers to the price. Your 7 3/8 in size equals 23 1/8 inches in circumference (Circ = pi x diameter). That translates to roughly 59cm (in x 2.54 = cm). That makes you a size L in this Boeri. Bummer. I know, I know. The sizing chart for this helmet is pretty weak.

You would get a 26.5mm boot and possibly a 26mm. you get at least the same as your shoe if not a 1/2 size smaller depending on the boot. When you put the boot on your toes sould touch the end and when you flex foreward your toes sould pull away, also make sure when you flex foreward that it holds your heel tight and that is does not move.Hey what's up. Go down a size in these boots for sure. I'm a street 8.5 and picked these up in a 25.0. The super cush liner is gonna pack out and you don't want to be floating around inside your ski boots. They'll feel pretty snug at first, but by the end of your first day everything will be dialed. Willie###'s fit technique breakdown is spot on.

Hello. This is the version for the Fall and Winter of 2008. This design will carry over to Spring of 2009. Latest and greatest gear!

I'm the exact same size. Hit up a Men's small fo sho!

You're right these skis are crazy. I haven't skied the Alpha 1, but have spent quality time on the new JJ. Both models feature a similar design called Elf Shoe Tech. The skis track and carve very well, even on hard snow and they don't weigh a thing. Most park skis don't have a very big running length in the first place, so you won't notice any shortcomings with an early rising tip and tail. What you will notice is that in variable snow that you can still jib and butter around as if you were rocking a groomer thus making the entire mountain your jib park. Hope this helps out some!

I'm no ski expert but I was looking at all three of those skis for myself, all three are really good skis. The 100 is stiffer then your average twintip because of the metal metrix cap, floats well in powder, busts crud apart and very stable at high speeds and on big mountain lines not to mention very quick for a midfat ski. The mantra is a very stiff ski. It rips on groomers and ice, you could ski some powder with it but it's way to stiff to be a true powder ski. It's also not a full twin tip only a slightly raised tail if it makes a difference to you. The gotamas are more like the 100, holds well on hard groomers but skis great in powder. So all great skis but if you want my opinion I'd go with the 100. They are perfect for how and what you want to ski. Hey, wanted to throw in my two cents. Keep this in mind when picking out a big mountain ski: sidewall or cap? The Volkls you've mentioned have a sidewall construction which I find easier to fix if I bash something funky under the snow...which happens a lot at a place like Bridger Bowl or Big Sky. Cap construction helps to provide a quicker edge-to-edge feel, but can be a tough fix if you blow an edge stomping that big hit. No brand loyalty here, I love my Lines and I love my Gotamas!

Great choice! Salomon skis are known for their crisp smooth turns and light weight. Pick em up in the 184cm and head out west twice this year!

Beacons default to a 'transmit' mode when you're wearing them. In the event that someone becomes buried, all non-buried humans then switch their beacons to a 'receive' mode so that a search can be performed. Hope that answers your question and remember: practice practice PRACTICE or these won't do anyone any good!

If you like binders that DON'T blow off your feet, these would be a great choice. I weigh ~135 lbs and ski these at a 10 or 11 DIN and rarely ever come out of 'em. They're not the lightest things out there, but they hang real tough. If you want to lose some weight, check out the Look PX 12 Ti Jib Wide (Dynastar/Look/Rossi are all the same thang!)http://www.backcountry.com/store/DYN0219/Look-PX-12-Ti-Jib-Wide-Ski-Binding.html

Hello. They fly is integrated/included. "with a fly welded to the floor". The price is marked down because it is a 2007 item that Mtn Hardwear has discontinued. Snag it!

Here's the scoop: As mentioned in the text above, this years shapes are all based on last season's 186cm. It's a zero camber ski w/ early rise tips and tails. The 'rocker' isn't as exaggerated as say a Pontoon or the ARG, it's more mellow (think ObSethed). Also, it is a bit stiffer than what you'd expect from a flat camber/rocker/whatever kind of ski. I skied it last season at Snowbasin, UT late on a pow day and was really impressed with its stability in chopped up, skied out snow. This ski isn't a lazy surfer like my Pontoons, rather you'd be better off getting forward on these and really driving them. Oh, and if you're into it, mach 10 switch turns feel way safe on this rig. For the record, I'm 5'8" and 135lbs and was feeling sassy on the 186cm. I got to try quite a few of this season's skis last year and the EHP was definitely one of my favorites. Git some!

You're looking at a little under 4lbs for the pair.

'Fraid not. The occasional Roxy image shows a binding, but the ski is sold as a flat. The binding in the pic is the Dynastar PX 12 Lifter Wide aka:http://www.backcountry.com/store/DYN0196/Dynastar-PX-12-Lifter-Wide-Binding.html

Dude you'd be all set with the 110mm skins. For your ski's dimensions, a 120mm setup might be a little overkill. Hope this helps!

Best bet for a non-head-smacking pack would be any of the dozens of winter packs that offer a diagonal ski carry system. Drop any of these SKUs into the search and check them out: BLD0947, DAK0769, OSP0116, BCA0066, GRE0047. There are plenty more but that should be a good start for you.

If it came down to this or the Switch 36, I'd take the Switch. It's design is more specific to backcountry ski use with separate pockets for avie gear, wet gear, etc. Also the Switch has more dedicated ski and board straps for easier carrying. Since you said that you're taller, also check into the Gregory Targhee. It's a little longer than a Switch and has a great form fitting back panel as well as all the other features crucial to a backcountry ski pack.http://www.backcountry.com/store/GRE0047/Gregory-Targhee-Backpack-1900-2200cu-in.html

What's up? You're looking at the 07/08 model. The shape and core are unchanged for 08/09, making this a smokin deal. Hope this helps and have fun this winter!

Just the brakes. The wrong image is up.

Welcome back to the fold. Skiing missed you! Your boots are a classic design that has made a strong comeback thanks to die hards ripping on Flexons since their inception. Stick with them if they're still in good shape. All Full Tilt boots and the new Dalbellos are all based on the design of your Flexons. Some, if not all, Full Tilts are actually made on the same machines as the original Flexon. If you ski around for a few days and aren't stoked, no worries as any new boot you pick up will have virtually the same sole length as yours and you'll likely be able to adjust your bindings; no re-drilling necessary. Your boots are probably perfect though. Hope this helps and get after it this winter!

A pack of this size should be perfect for her. The tough 600 Denier Poly will take whatever beating an 8 year old will dish out too.

All right...the dimensions for the 70oz are 6.75"w x 15.2"h versus 7.5"w x 15.2"h for the 100oz. It weighs less than a pound when empty.Yes you do have to put the gel packs back into the freezer after use. You remove the hose and any water from the bladder and toss it in. It should be ready to go in roughly an hour, depending on your freezer. Your water should stay cool for at least six hours according to Polar Designs, but most reviews that I've seen state that your water will be chilled for even longer than that. Hope this helps!

You just described the founding days of pretty much every ski manufacturer since the dawn of time.Like it or not, most every other ski you'll pick up today is now made by robots in China. At least these guys shred on the stuff that they build. Big ups to the little guys!

What's up? Yeah the size mentioned is the size of the bag itself. There is some give to them, so your skis would likely fit, but I agree with your snowboard bag idea. I like to cram my outerwear, helmet, spine protector, etc in my ski bag when I travel and keep my boots in sight at all times. Snowboard bags tend to be a lot roomier in my opinion. Check out DAKINE's snowboard version of this bag in a 175cm.http://www.backcountry.com/store/DAK0914/DAKINE-Low-Roller-Snowboard-Bag.html

Weight: 3 lbs. 9 oz. / 1.6 kgDimensions: 33"h x 15"w x 12"dVolume: 5000.0 cu in / 81.9L

The shipping weight is about 5 lbs. for the pair. They feel super light once you're skiing on em.

It looks like about 6 hours...

You'll rally groomers pretty casually as long as things aren't too icy. This is a pretty dedicated freestyle board so the design is going to give up some all mountain stability in exchange for a soft, nimble ride. Basically, you'll get around Park City just fine but probably flounder at the Bird.

Yeah, this is a twin ski, but too stiff for most pure freestyle minded skiers out there. But since it is intended for that style of riding, the factory mount point is more forward than usual, but not quite centered. This is the type of ski for peeps that love to ski the whole mountain, like to ski switch, and dabble around in the park when all their friends insist on a few laps. Pull those binders back a bit and you'll dig this ski. If you're more stoked on true freestyle, aim for something softer flexing. Peace.

For bumps and groomers a 169 would be better. In powder the 177 will be better because it will help you float. It will also be better for skiing crud. Keep in mind that twin-tip are short for their length. A 177 will be more like a 170-172 non twin.Yo for your size you should absolutely stay away from the 169. You'll over-turn that thing. I'm 5'9" and 135lbs and swear by the 185cm, mounted a bit back. This ski rips the piss out of every condition...as long as the snow is less than boot-top deep. It's a little skittery in deep snow. Mounted back really helps w/ all mountain performance as this ski is a bit stiff for true freestyle. Even w/ them mounted back a few cm, you can still rally around the mountain switch a-okay!

They will serve as some protection, but they are not made for snake protectionNo non-venomous snake (in North America) has teeth any where near long enough to get through this material. The only (only!) thing that would be of any concern would be very large pit vipers (read: big ol rattlers). Snakes that big are tremendously rare in the wild and, trust me, they do not want to tangle with you. Herpetologists that stomp into rattler country on purpose wear loose fitting long pants over regular ol hiking boots and carry a long stick. You are good to go!

Scarpa F1: 2740 grams in 27.0Dynafit Zzero 3: 3190 grams in 27.0You'd take on ~500 extra grams with the Zzero, but you'd get a great deal more high speed stability too.

1. I wear a 25.5 and my sole is 295mm. That puts a 26.5 at roughly 305mm. Depending on brand there may be +/- 2mm difference, but most bindings adjust easily to such a small variation.2. Yes, ski boot shells are made in 'whole' sizes only. Usually the only difference between the .0 and .5 variants is the thickness of the stock footbed. Any shop kid will tell you that the only reason .5s were invented is to create a placebo for those trying on ski boots. "Do you have this in a half size?" Hope this helps!

Volume. The 500 has a 700cu inch volume vs. the 440cu inches available in the 450. Everything else is the same (materials, opening, etc). Cheers!

This stove's shipping weight is roughly 14lbs. Hope this helps!

The footprint is sold separately.

This harness is intended for long, long climbs. That being said, the extra loop is just for extra organization of gear, ropes, etc while up on a wall for an entire day. That area of a harness can get a little crowded, ya know?

These would work very well in wet snow. The narrow 'tail' helps to make them more nimble. It will also help things easier while hiking downhill in deeper snow. A more deep snow specific design would have a wider 'tail' for more float. According to the Redfeather site, get the bigger size for more performance in deep snow. Hope this helps!

Naw, paddles are sold separately.

Pretty much. There's always a few new routes at established places that aren't in the book as well as local only joints, but this is my go-to for every trip throughout the state. A great starting point and easy to follow road directions.

It's not mentioned in the Tech Specs, but you can carry skis diagonally as well. The snap at the top of the loop will free it so you can stuff the tails of your skis in there.

Lying on your back a left hand zip would be to your left, yeah.

I don't have an exact answer for weight, but the tips and tails are a honeycomb construction so it skis light and spins real easy. I've skied the big one and was impressed with how agile it was for such a fat ski with a real mellow sidecut (~40m in the 192cm!).

They're a bit heavy for carrying, but so nimble that they don't feel heavy while ripping around. My brother thought they were clunky feeling until he opened it up some. Ski these fast and they'll turn on a dime. I'm 5' 8" and only 'bout 135lbs and I ski the 189cm so don't be afraid to go big on the sizing.

Gotamas. Flat set-up instead of a system ski. More versatile with the twin-tip and way more agile for trees and technical descents. The Titan reminds me of stock car racing; way fast and fun as long as you're not turning much.

Yes you can. Just select the 'Womens' version and you'll get the Berry color. Cheers!

Includes 12 ft cable, vehicle cable, battery clamps & link adaptor cable

Can't say specifically since I wasn't there, but you could assume that a year on the Amazon is a tough life for any product. If the solar panel was ever stored while damp, stored with the solar panels facing outward, or folded/creased through the solar panels themselves then the product's performance will indeed suffer. I can't imagine spending a year in the jungle and having this item never get wet. According to Brunton's online manual, this item is water resistant, but it also stresses that it should/must be stored dry. Hope this helps!

The big difference is that the Earlylight has twin doors and vestibules whereas the Limelight has only one. A more subtle difference is the shape of the doors. The Earlylight has D shaped doors, which helps to keep them off of the ground when open. These extra features do add some ounces to the final 'carrying' weight of the Earlylight.

Yes, according to Marmot's site the footprint should be included with this tent.

Yup. One on each narrow end. Each has its own vestibule too.

That might be pushing it some. You're basically looking at a shallow tupperwear container's worth of space...minus the interior pockets. You'll probably have to carry less or grab a bigger bag.