3/4 length is definitely the way to go for skiing. I was always just pulling up pants legs and the bunch would sit somewhere between the knee and the boot top. Great length. I like that Stoic put a wide waist band on these. For some reason a lot of companies put thinner waist bands on women's long underwear than they do on their men's long underwear. The wool is super soft and stretchy. I am planning on buying another pair soon.

I have a few 32 oz Nalgenes kicking around and they are for water and only water. Okay I mix emergen-c or an electrolyte pack in them once in a while. I drink a lot of water, so the 32 oz is great for that. This little guy is just over 16 oz.....just like a pint glass. I actually use this one to take cocktails on the go. The widemouth allows you to put ice cubes in as well. Works great on river trips when you need to cap off a drink. Always rinse after making cocktails though. Makes a good measuring cup when camping too.

Not the easiest gliding or the lightest, but they work great. And that's what I want. The STS tail clip stays put on twin tips really well. I like the minimal length adjustment you get moving the clip around. It keeps the skin tight on whichever ski I have it on. The glue is holding up really well too. It might seem silly but, the bright orange bag is great when digging through a pack of black jackets, layers, and gloves.

These aren't my main touring set-up. I have a few others better suited for long tours and frequent changes between ski and tour mode. These see most days inbounds, but I can tour on them if I want-no problem. I like every pair of skis I own to have touring capabilities, half my quiver is tele. If you're looking for a binding that won't break the bank and tour go for Barons (or Dukes if you're bigger). I am 5'5" and 130, so no matter how hard I ski, I just don't put the force on gear like some people. These feel close to an alpine binding. I don't care for the ice skate/pedestal feel of Fritschi's. I have these mounted on a pair of the '09-'10 Obsetheds. I haven't had any major problems with these, just a little icing here and there, but that happens on any binding at some point.

This is my new favorite shirt for summer time. The fabric is super thin and breezy, but is still durable. Doesn't get soggy in the summer heat if you're doing stuff. I really like the pattern and stitching. It does have kind of a weird cut towards the bottom. It flares out quite a bit. Only reason it doesn't get 5 stars. The size chart seems on with the note that the shoulders could be a little snug.

This is the best cutting saw I have ever used. It would get 5 stars if it folded up a bit, but I guess that's part of the reason it's so strong. This thing glides through firm layers compared to some other saws out there. It's a lot thicker and the teeth much sharper. I use it mainly for snowpits and stability tests. I support its heavy duty claim.

When you need this stuff, it's every bit worth 12 bucks. It really works and is a spring touring necessity. Save yourself the misery of dragging around another 15 pounds of snow on your skins and get glop stopper wax. I always have a block in my pack.

favorite pants. I work outside and spend most off time in the outdoors. I wear these most of the time. The women's Carhartts fit SO much better than the men's version. They are really women's pants and not smaller sized men's ones. Not a techy pant at all, but it is a solid, time-tested, burly pant. I have both colors. The lighter ones I have had 3 years, and I have had the dark brown ones a few months. These aren't my first pairs and they won't be my last. Starting to see a lot of wear after a few years around seams and the pockets, but I expect that as much as they get used and abused. The 7 belt loops rock too.

Great deal for 4 pairs of wool socks. Like the cut, just enough tab to keep from getting pushed down by a show tongue. They're medium cushion. Thicker than Smartwool PhD running no-shows for sure. The merino keeps crunchy sock syndrome at bay. Great purchase. The socks have a left and right (there's a little more padding on the big toe side of the sock).

It's pretty similar to polartec power stretch fleece. I think it's a lot warmer and it dries really fast. It doesn't hold a ton of water like some fleece items do. I am not warm by nature so something a little thicker than a standard rash guard is nice on a cooler day. Fits snug and doesn't bunch under your PFD. It's an awesome layer to wear under a short sleeve dry top or splash top.

Voile straps are up there with duck tape in saving the day. I'm never on the snow without at least one. There are 101 uses for these things I'm sure. They're the right mix of stretchy and stiff. I find the BD ones a little too stretchy. Saves the day when you snap a strap on your bike rack or have a skin that just won't stay attached at the tail. Makes a great small gift or stocking stuffer.

I really like how simple and light these bindings are. The free pivot is great. The mechanism that switches between ski and tour mode is kind of wimpy. I guess that's why they're light but I am always afraid it will break. I haven't had the durability issues that some reviewers have mentioned, but know folks who have had them, and they've had some pretty major breakdowns. But, Voile and BC.com are always happy to replace. I have a newer set (purchased in 2011) and the heel throw is a lot beefier and made of black plastic. It looks like the metal cut outs on the toebox have gotten a lot smaller than a pair I had that were a year older. I have the short rod version and it fits my 23 Scarpa T-Races with the right amount of pre-load. I like how these ski for the most part. I don't mind where the pivot is because I have such a small boot. I ski these and 22 Designs Axls.

I wish they had more colors in these! these are the first boy shorts I've found that the legs don't ride up on. Waist is comfy and soft. I agree with the other reviewer about the waist band. It is free floating and sometimes gets twisted around inside the fabric. This doesn't bug me too much. The merino is oh so soft and doesn't get the weirdness about it like Capilene. I wash with regular detergent and dry flat with my bike clothes. Can't afford the wool detergent every time I wash my clothes.

I have owned T2's, T1's (lady's), and T-Races (both Candycane and the new Red). This is hands down the best if you're into skiing hard and still want a walk mode. The walk mode is improved over the T1 walk mode from a couple years ago. I haven't had issues with it going into walk mode on its own. The new tongue-style liners have a snugger fit around the ankle IMO. The ankle buckle is an improvement for sure over the ratchet-style buckle of years past. I think the pebax is softer than the previous plastic. My duckbills seems to have gotten "chewed up" quicker than previous boots. I do tour in these as well as ski resort, so the walk mode is nice to have. I found these to fit narrower than the T1's.

I bought these to use as a soft snow/pow ski originally. I was forced to ski them everyday for a month after loosing my "everyday" skis, and the Seth's kill it! They are on the softer end, but the camber underfoot helps make this a playful ski in any condition. Of course they're not awesome on groomers but they are fun, rather than a chore, on hard pack. As for powder, the powder rocker gets the job done. No tip dive here. The ski is stiff rnough underfoot to handle chop really well. The obSETHED's are really just a fun ski overall. I end up skiing these most days in the Wasatch. I have the 169cm's (pink base) mounted tele with bellows at +3.5 (size 23.0 T-Race).

I have never been able to find a traditional EPS helmet that fit as well as the Hard Hat. It sits low and doesn't shift. Most importantly, it is comfortable. I wear a helmet for several lesser impacts. I switched to Brock foam after realizing my EPS helmets that I wore were probably already damaged from an impact, thus making them quite useless. This Hard Hat has withstood several glancing blows from trees and the ground. I have the Matte Grey with plaid, and it looks different from the picture. It is much darker, and has black straps instead of white. That's what I got when I ordered it this season from Backcountry. Oh yeah, this helmet doesn't look ridiculous with the liner taken out making it great for warm days and spring skiing.

Nothing standout about the O2 for me. It gets the job done. I have a pair of O1's and they seem to have a slightly different pivot point. Even after adding plumbers tape to the threads and properly preloading, my cartridges just spin loose all the time. The binding feels sloppy on hardpack. It's a fine binding and all, but there are better choices for your standard telemark binding. A lot of it is preference. I have friends that love the O2, but I am not crazy about mine. The BD warranty is pretty good though. Cracked a heel throw and they just gave me a new free one.

I was a fan of the PhD ski socks, so I figured I'd try these. This sock fits great, and the wool definetly resists the funk and quick wearout that is common for synthetic socks. Good moisture management, too. I like the extra bit of material in the rear of the ankle because it keeps the sock in place and guards against shoe rub a bit. These socks stay put pretty well for a low cut sock.

This is my first eVent shell. I was a bit skeptical of the fact it didn't have pit zips, but I couldn't pass up the deal on SAC. The shell actually breathes much better than other waterproof shells I have owned. Stoic seems to run a bit small. I wear a small in Patagonia and Mountain Hardwear, and the Medium in Stoic fits nicely. So if you're going to be wearing a couple layers and a transceiver size carefully. Construction is bomber, and the pockets are well-placed. The elastic cord around the waist is flimsy, could be thicker. The sleeves are long enough and the offset cuffs keep snow out. If you're looking for a light, no-frills, waterproof/breathable shell to tour and hike in, the Stash is a good choice.

This fleece is the best fitting fleece I have owned. The cut is athletic and layers with a shell very nicely. I'm 5'5" and 125, with long arms and a long-ish torso, and the Small fits perfectly.. It looks great, too.If you are looking for a windproof fleece look elsewhere. This jacket is not meant to be windproof, so it's not. I prefer this for touring, hiking, and layering because it is so breathable and stretchy. It is very warm if the wind is blocked by a shell or if you're wearing it separately in a low wind day. If you're moving, the breeze actually feels nice and you don't have to shed this layer every single hike. Take care of your Monkey Fur and look at Mountain Hardwears cleaning and care note on it. Your Monkey Woman jacket will last much longer in a nice fuzzy and correctly sized state.

This belt is great. It's thick enough to hold up ski pants and looks good enough to wear with jeans everyday. The buckle is solid and the engravings on the bc belt buckles are a nice addition. It is removable though if you want to alternate buckles. The sizing on the small is stamped on the inside, 26"-30".

The Quickdraw system is easy to use, just throw out the probe and pull the cable til it locks. The numbers are easy to read when using in snow study pits. It's very durable and lightweight. I prefer the 265 length over the 190.

I've had the Heli Pack for a few seasons and it has it's uses. It's good for those inbounds or slack country days as it is not the biggest pack. It holds a shovel, probe, extra shirt, goggles, PB & J sandwich, and a couple PBRs just fine. I don't fill a hydration bladder all the way up, as it does take up space. The fit is very nice, too. Bomber construction. If you're looking for a backcountry pack or something bigger, Dakine has plenty more great models. I use a Dakine Blade for backcountry days and when I'm working at the resort and have to pack more gear, skins, avy gear, and food.

I have the S6's in the 174 length set up for tele skiing. The skis are big enough to float in the deep with very minimal tip-dive. They're fun in crud and choppy stuff because you can turn quickly with the traditional twin-tip shape and camber. They're not the most nimble on groomers and bumps, but they ski surprisingly well. There is definetly a fair bit of sidecut. It's a very forgiving ski and has a mild flex. I've had problems with Rossi's delaminating in the past, but so far the S6's are holding. At 106 underfoot, they're not too much of a best to take touring if you've got free pivot bindings. They're a great ski on the down, so I don't mind dragging them up.

It's not on backcountry.com, but the dimensions are slightly different for the 174cm length. They are stamped on the ski as follows: 134/106/129.

I had some custom foot beds in my Scarpa T1 Tele boots that were breaking down and just not cutting it. I didn't want to spend that money on seomthing that wasn't going to work that well again. A few people I worked with suggested the Green Superfeet insoles. Wow, I was quite surprised by how well these are actually working. I feel like my foot actually has some support. I have really high arches and the support is there. They aren't affecting the flex of my foot while skiing. I want to get another pair to trade around my shoes now.

The Phenoms are the best fitting goggles I've owned, and they work great with Smith Helmets. I use these with a helmet helper from Smith. Even with a small helmet, your goggle strap will take a beating and the helper actually helps. The ignitor mirror is a great lens for most anything. I have a sensor mirror lens for those really flat light days. The goggles are durable and I've only had fogging issues when I forget to open the slider at the top when I'm hiking.

These flip flops are very comfortable once they mold around your foot. The webbing is soft and doesn't rub. The 3 star rating comes from a couple things. First, no traction. The foam-like sole doesn't have much traction if the surface is wet. Think wet wood steps at your house. Second, they don't last much more than a season. They're cheap, so you can buy a pair every spring. After a lot of wear they lose comfort, support, and still don't hold on wet surfaces. Good flip flop for cookouts and hanging out. Want grip or long lasting support, look around.

A sock made in Vermont=awesome. The sock also has a lifetime warranty. Probably won't need it-these things last. This sock (1/4 cushion) is an awesome hiking sock. The wool regulates temperature and holds up. Warm, dry feet are always nice. The fit of the sock is very good and doesn't lose shape. My few pairs of 1/4 cushion socks really don't show much wear after a couple years. Some might say these are spendy, but they last. As far as sizing, I wear a women's 8 and the medium size fits nicely.

My primary rack is a Yakima Hold Up, and this one on my roof only gets used for a 3rd bike if there is one. I don't use it every day because I love my hitch rack and I don't worry about incidents with it. Roof Racks that don't require front wheel removal are great, because you don't need to have multiple pieces to address the fact that you want to use the same rack for a trail bike with a thru axle one day and a road bike the next day. I've driven long distances (2000 miles) on the highway and short ones on rough-ish roads. It's definetly not the most secure. You'll have some wobble, and it never hurts to throw on an extra camstrap for piece of mind. If it's a long drive, always re-check how tight you have the red knob for the front wheel. It holds the bike though, and that is the goal. For some reason my King Cobra holds 700c cyclocross and 29" mtb wheels better than 26" mtb wheels. The 26"-wheeled bikes move around more it seems. If you want more piece of mind and a more stable bike rack for the roof, shell out the extra for the High Roller (Yakima) or the Side Arm (Thule).

I bought this watch from backcountry in May. Loved the style of the watch, and the webbing band is really comfortable. It's ment to be a smaller version of the Block watch, and it fits nicely on a smaller wrist. However, In September I was swimming in a lake, and the watch stopped working. It looked like water had gotten into the case as there was condensation in the display. The 100m claim didn't live up to surface swimming, handwashing, and showering. I saw a similar issue in reviews, so maybe Nixon should beef up the case a bit. Backcountry rocks in these situations. Instead of dealing with warranty with Nixon, I just talked to the nice folks at backcountry and they took back the watch and gave me a refund. Watch = 2 stars (it was ok when it worked), Backcountry.com = 5 stars.

Simple wire-gate clip design is easy to use with your gloves on. Huge plus. I use them with O1's and O2's with Scarpa T1 boots and the length is just right. The leashes don't get in the way. However, The plastic coating has gotten brittle and come off the cable on one of them, but this doesn't affect how well they work.

I have two pairs of Hudsons, with one being the polarized tortoise pair. This pair has held up for two and a half years so far, which is pretty good considering the abuse. The fit feels medium, not too big, but big enough to give good coverage. Great for the river (just use some straps or chums) and driving. These things have survived class V swims, being buried in the snow in a friend's yard for 5 months, banging into chainrings working on bikes, and falling off my head. the only thing that Smith could improve on is to make an interlock version of the Hudson.

This shovel is durable and light for the price. The telescoping handle makes it easy to dig with and even easier to carry on your back or in your pack. The pre-drilled holes and slats in the grip make setting up webbing straps a piece of cake. The shovel has held up through drills, dog holes, snow pits, and deck projects. I've had a couple issues with the spring pins in the handle getting jammed a few times, but not where it hooks to the blade.

have the 171's set up with BD's O2 bindings. It's got enough width and a big enough tip to stay on top in powder, but it does have enough sidecut to turn on groomers and ski bumps. A smaller ski would be nice on the groomers, but this ski handles them well and then works great off piste in the trees on the same run. The skis have nice pop and hold an edge pretty good. I got in over 100 days on these skis and they held up. They're soft enough for pow, but stiff enough to bust through spring crud. It's not as fat as I'd like for huge powder days, but you can still have fun with it in the deep without your tips going under each tele-turn. Rossi's tend to ski short, from what I've read and noticed. I have some K2 167's that have the same effective edge as these 171's. Overall, good all-mountain ski.

These socks hold their shape well and stay up around your calf. I can hardly tell the toe seam is there. The heel fits nicely, too. Nice warm, wool socks, that wick very well. Just enough padding in the shin area. These are my favorite ski socks. I have a few pairs of PhD midweight socks, and they're always my first picks after laundry day.

These kneepads fit great, keeps your knees warm, and don't restrict movement. The 3 piece shell design works great to protect your knee, the top of your shin, and the very top of your knee. They shift around side to side though. You never know when a whipper or log is going to pop up, so protect your knees.

This helmet is one of the best in it's price range. It doesn't have a ton of vents, but the intake vents in the front do their job of circulating air through the whole helmet. It has a nice low profile design, with a slight lip brim to keep snow from getting jammed in your goggles. Have only used Smith goggles with it and the fit is great. It's lacking some adjustments found on higher end Smith Helmets, such as the retention system in the back of the Variant helmets. The ear flaps pop out which is nice for spring days. I have the matte finish, which doesn't scratch easily, and the shell takes some abuse in the rocket box with other gear.

These flip-flops have the awesome footbed of a Chaco sandal, with the convenience and style of a flip-flop. Most flip-flops are soft, spongy, slick, and flat. Not this one. It has great arch support, and a super grippy rubber sole. No weak,slick foam here. I wear the same size in the flips as I do in the Z/1's and Z/2's, but I sized from 7.5 up to 8. It's a flip-flop that's actually good for your feet. Nice colors and patterns, too. I wear these year round (snow on the streets permitting).

So far this bottle is holding up just as well as my old lexan Nalgene bottles held up. There's no plastic taste, but I still don't put hot liquids in it. It has survived some falls, being strapped in a raft, getting thrown around truck and 6x6 beds, and stayed in tact. The .75 size fits in my Subaru's cupholders, too. This plastic seems to be a little weaker than lexan, because I can flex the sides of this bottle a bit.

This base layer fits well. The sleeves and torso are long enough, which is tough to find in smaller-sized base layer. The inside pattern of the fabric wicks very well. The zip-neck gives you some climate control. Great base layer that looks good enough to wear with jeans to the bar.

I've worn many brands of ski helmets, and the Variant Brim has been my favorite thus far. The helmet fits great with Smith goggles. I've only tried Smith and Anon with it and Anon fits great as well. The ventilation is very good, and when it's closed the helmet keeps your head toasty. The brim is solid and keeps snow off your goggles. I haven't had an issue with fogging because of the brim. The adjustment in the rear holds the helmet in place. Only one small quirk I've found; When you take the ear flaps out on a hot day, there's some velcro that catches your hair, if you've got long hair. Bottom line: Fits great, works great, looks great.