What with the on-going lack of snow situation here on the east coast, any skiing I've been doing has been on my knife sharp, front-side technical skis. However, this last weekend, as I again walked by my brand new Bushwackers in the garage on my way to the car, I changed my mind and threw them in the Thule. What a revelation! Everything the press has been saying about flipcore is true. Varying turn shapes, carve, (as well as my Kastles), stable, ice, etc., etc. Do you know that feeling when you find a piece of equipment that just seems so right? That was me this weekend. So, knowing how light they are, as soon as I returned home from the hill, I bought the last pair BC.com had in stock, with the plans of mounting them with touring bindings. I'll just have to file a little notch in the tail of the skis for my skins. Perfect! Do yourself a favor and demo, or just go ahead and buy any of the flipcore models, you won't be disappointed. Thanks Arne. Cheers.

Based on Mr. McLean's glowing review on his site, (http://straightchuter.com/2010/12/outdry-testimonial/), I bought these gloves just before the holidays for a Canadian ski trip. True to form, they kept my hands perfectly dry, better than my leather work gloves that are slathered in Snoseal. However, jalapeno-like warmth? I don't think so. Really no better than any other ski glove I've ever worn. For the temperatures we were experiencing though, I should have had mitts on. Too excited about having new gloves I guess. The gauntlet does an excellent job of keeping cold and snow out. Did I mention that the Jalapeno's also look good? All in all, very highly recommended.

I'm a huge fan of eVent fabric, seems to breath even better than G-Tex Pro. The construction of this jacket is amazing, "Made in Canada" quality. I read somewhere the designers are ex Arcteryx people and, if so, it shows. Very well thought out. Bought the matching pants as well.

This is my 3rd Ibex 17.5 wool polo shirt. These fit as if they were tailored for me. Super soft and stylish, they look great at the office or on the street. Perfect when riding my bike to work and back as the stink doesn't linger like a cotton or poly shirt. These can be worn in any temperature. Cheers.

Just got this before the wind started blowing in New York last Saturday night and, I pretty well haven't taken it off since. Great layering piece for cooler weather and even my 16 year old thinks it looks good on her old man. Athletic fit, 90/10 wool/nylon blend for durability. I plan on using it this fall/winter as a ski layer. Cheers.

Finally got around to washing my family's ski stuff at the end of the season last month and went through 3 bottles of Tech Wash. This stuff is the greatest; removes all signs of chairlift grease, mud, funk, dirt, food, etc. Finish off your wash with Nikwax's wash-in in waterproofing, http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Nikwax-Softshell-Proof-Wash-In/NIK0024M.html, and you're good to go. After spending $$$$ on tech clothing, don't use supermarket laundry detergent to wash it. Pleasing after wash scent too. cheers.

Sorry it took so long to write this however, as the season finally ended, I realized how much I loved these gloves. From super cold days at Kmart to thigh deep at Alta, these gloves rocked! Velcro wrist keeps out the cold and snow and the Gore Tex keeps everything dry. And the wrist straps keep idiots like me from losing their gloves on the lift. Cheers.

Sweet Dreams. Cheers.

Use this mounted to the waist belt of my ski pack. The Velcro attachments are super solid, (the camera bag stayed on even during a hard crash I had this year), the lining is really plush, and my digital point and shoot fits like the bag is from the camera manufacturer. All in all, a great purchase. Cheers.

My daughter wanted a pair of dedicated alpine boots for the park, (although they worked, she was tired of hitting the trick ditch in her Scarpa Divas) and these looked to be the ticket. Nice, close fitting 98mm last, and all the shock absorbing bits do what they were designed to do. But most important for her, they are the best looking boots on the mountain. To me, used to nice Italian made boots, the buckles seem a little cheesy, but no matter. The liner is beautiful and warm with the Primaloft footbed. Cheers.

I'll let her write the review... "Super comfy and stylish. Almost look like running shoes which is kinda cool. Feet never get cold or wet. All my girlfriends think they're cool too." Cheers.

I run all year in some sort of compression gear, so it only made sense to ski in it as well. The insulated version of these tights are super warm; just returned from a trip visiting family at Tremblant in Quebec where we skied in -27F windchill, (it's a Canadian thing). Never got cold. If I lived out west, I'd probably opt for the non-insulated version as I think these would be too much. However, your experiences may vary. The compression panels up around the waist really help stabilize the back, and my knees felt great all day. Buy 'em and you won't be sorry. Cheers.

Gave this to my daughter for the holidays and we promptly went on a week's ski trip with it. There was plenty of room for her DSLR and an extra lens. Plenty of room for accessories as well. The upper compartment has space enough for an extra layer, water bottle, snack, etc. The cool feature about this bag is that you can swing it around in front of you, and the camera "pocket" folds out like a tray allowing quick access to the camera without laying the bag on the snow. It's stealth factor is good too, looks like a regular ol' bookbag, not a pack holding $$$ worth of camera gear. Cheers.

If you downsize your ski boots by 1 or 2 sizes you're not going to like these socks. With all the padding, they fit more like a medium weight ski sock and take up way too much room in the boot. If you're looking for a real lightweight ski sock, some better choices would be the Bridgedale Micro Fit or the Smartwool PhD Ski Ultralight. Cheers.

For some reason, I haven't had much luck fitting into BC.com clothing. Either the article was too big/small or was just plain weird fitting. Along comes the Overhang pant at 50% off. Fits like the tailor around the corner made them for me. That being said, I usually wear a medium, for these I sized to to the large. Perfect. Although it's too hot in NYC to wear these right now, I'm looking forward to a lot of use when hiking come fall. Fabric feels light and right. With a layer underneath, I can even imagine wearing them while spring skiing. Cheers.

Perfect for resort accessed side/backcountry missions. No straps to hang up on the chair, ski carry straps disappear and will carry my 100cm waisted skis fine, room for your hydration bladder with an insulated hydration sleeve on the shoulder strap, plus room for your avy tools, an extra clothing layer and lunch. Very clean and functional design. Cheers.

Perfect resort/side/backcountry pack. I was looking for something that didn't suffer too much from "strap-itis", had rear panel access, separate avy tools pocket to keep the wet shovel from my dry fleece, and an insulated hydration sleeve. For a day long excursion, you'll have to pack carefully as this bag is only 25L. I really like the way the ski carry system disappears. And it holds my 100cm waist skis just fine with little or no movement or swing. Very happy camper. Cheers.

I skied these all last season and I'm just now getting around to writing about them. Loves... the funny smell when you first get them, (sort of like a barn with hay), the BOA system, (I've never had a boot fit as well), they're sized accurately, the swappable AT/Alpine soles, the fantastic ski/walk mechanism, (a solid confidence building click when going to ski mode), the adjustable forward lean, (I tried all 3 positions and the most upright worked best for my skiing style, your results may vary), again, the BOA system, the natural walk mode, a beautiful liner, (although the Factor's liner is burlier), the boot is cosmetically low key and, best for last, the BD customer service department. You have a problem, those guys are right on it. Not so loves... the AT sole could be more durable, mine got pretty chewed up. A lot of people have reported hassles with the BOA liner or cold feet or the durability of the walk/ski switch, I experienced none of these issues. I did remove the Velcro strap and replace it with a Scarpa "booster" strap, the great people at BD walked me through the swap. Not as easy as one would expect. I also ran a pair of Factors this season; I cooked the liners on them and found they packed out too quickly afterwards, so I avoided this step with the Method's liners and was much happier with the results. In addition, at the risk of insulting my manhood, I found the Factor's to be too much boot for me. I always ended up reaching for the Method's. A little lighter, just that much less stiffness. I've heard there's no changes to either boot for the '09-'10 season so feel free to buy now. Cheers.

Like most guys, I've got a dozen or so ball caps, from freebie "gimme caps" to my Mets and NYRangers hats. However, it seems that whenever I want or need to wear a cap, I always reach for my North Face hat. From running, biking, walking the dog, hiking for turns, keeping dry in the rain, going out for brunch, etc., etc. this cap does it all. And the best feature is, it's washable! Adjustable strap at the rear is attached with a small piece of elastic so you can a nice fit. Strangely enough, BC.com does not carry the khaki color. Wonder why? No matter, I'm sure another color will look good on you. Cheers.

Nice tight fit, quality workmanship. These are called the "Dexterity" glove in Europe and, after wearing them, I see why. Never have to take off the gloves when adjusting a buckle or setting up the camera for a shot. This is my second pair. Cheers.

I got this for my kid who's off to camp in a few days. Great size, love the ability to clip it to your pack with a 'biner. Pretty nice graphics too. I'll let everyone know how it stands up to the abuses of camp life. Cheers.

Our office recently banned plastic water bottles and after trying several hydration bottles in different sizes and materials, I think I've hit upon the perfect one. 16oz. is a great size for your desk, no one wants a litre and a half of water staring them in the face daring them to drink it. The narrow mouth is comfortable to drink from and the diameter is perfect to grip. As a matter of fact, I'm drinking from it as I write this. Get your own and you won't be disappointed. Cheers.
P.S. As an added bonus the bc.com logo is on the side of the bottle!

I bought this for in-area and side-country skiing down south this summer. It has everything you'd want in a ski pack; convenient ski carry system, (both a-frame and diagonal), a pocket for a small shovel and probe, a pocket for your hydration bladder and a nice fuzzy pocket for goggles. Definitely too small for anything more than a 1/2 day trip away from civilization. That being said, I'm probably ordering the 35l version of this pack to compliment the 22l model. Cheers.

I put these on my German wagon with the Rapid Load bars. Fit perfectly onto my car's roof rails and when driving, are much quieter than my old rack. Be sure to buy the 6 lock kit so no one runs off with your rack in the middle of the night. Check Thule's website to make sure these will work for your vehicle. Cheers.

I put these on my German wagon using the 450R Rapid Crossroad footpack. Super aerodynamic making them much quieter than my old square rails. Be sure to go to the Thule website and use their configurator, (is that even a word?), to ensure you get the right size bar for your vehicle. My Thule brand ski box fit right on, no hassles. Bike rack goes on just as easy. Cheers.

If you want bomber retention with tour-ability, look no further. I wouldn't want to do the Haute Route with these, but if you're accessing the side country from your resort, the Dukes are the ticket. I've been using these for 2 seasons now and not 1 problem. They work great with either my alpine or AT boots. Make sure you get the right size for your boots as the Dukes, unlike the Barons, come in 3 sizes. The only drag is the need to take off your skis to change to touring mode and back. Would buy them again in a heartbeat. Cheers.

I bought this for my wife for a trip out west last season and she loves it. Sized for a woman, the pack fit her perfectly. It's not a large pack, so there's really only room for a cell phone, sunglasses, a snack and an extra layer. One feature I liked and that I wish was on my pack is the reservoir access from the back of the pack. That way you don't have to pull everything out or risk getting things wet when you re-fill. Well thought out. Cheers.

Been meaning to write this review for a while. I cannot say enough good things about the Mithril. It is my everyday winter jacket in NYC. Absolutely wind and waterproof and on super cold days I pop the fleece lined hood up and it's as good as wearing a hat. I wouldn't want to wear it while doing any kind of winter aerobic activity as there are better breathable jackets out there.
If you're looking for something that will protect you as well as Frodo's Mithril shirt protected him, you won't go wrong with this jacket. Cheers.

Great baselayer for aerobic winter sports. I even wear it alone for those early morning runs where the air is still cool in the higher elevations. Fit is athletic, size up if you're looking for a looser fit. Cheers.

This product is a must-have along with the Camelbak brush and reservoir drying hook accessories. Super easy to use and, the results are outstanding. Seems to work with all reservoir brands. Cheers.

If you're tired of saying that to your buddies as they jump in and poach your line because you're fumbling with your fogged up goggles, get the No Fog cloth. As I wear glasses and OTG goggles when skiing, I keep the cloth handy in my pack and use it everyday before heading out. Keeps everything nice and clear. Cheers.

After years of suffering in inferior gloves, I finally stepped up and got these. If you measure your hand like Hestra recommends, (length from wrist to longest fingertip and circumference around fattest part of palm), and average the 2 measurements out, you'll end up with a great fit. If you're in-between and like a tight fit, go a size down, otherwise, size up. The padded knuckles help to protect when you're pushing those tree branches out of the way and when you're fighting for your spot in the tram. The neoprene wrist really works in sealing in the heat. Cheers.

Bought this for my kid before we left for a trip to Europe. We planned on doing lots of guided side country stuff, no real extended tours. The Bandit pack and Avalung was the perfect thing for just such a task. Held a snack, goggles, an extra layer, sunscreen, avy tools and a small Camelbak. Thank God we never needed the Avalung feature. But like any old Boy Scout will tell you; be prepared. Cheers.

Used these for a Europe trip in March with plenty of hiking and warm temps. These are not heavy duty work gloves, but great spring skiing/lightweight gloves. Plenty tough as the edges of my skis didn't destroy them while waiting for the tram. Dry really fast too if they get wet. I even used them changing a flat while I was there. Got them in brown, great looking. Cheers.

She received these for Christmas and after a season of use where they travelled halfway around the world, they still look new. She's pretty hard on her gear and, these did the job. To answer LynnLs question below, with a pair of synthetic long underwear they were plenty warm through a cold eastern winter. And during spring skiing and hiking she found them very breathable. It doesn't hurt that they are very flattering as well. Cheers.

Our second one, she outgrew the first. She loves the fact that your goggles fit UNDER the helmet for a clean, low look. Im happy because it protects her noggin. Cheers.

OK, I know I wrote a while ago about the Reya helmet and how great it was and how much my wife liked it. However, no matter how good you might think you look, the truth was the helmet never fit right. Along comes the beautiful Giro Ember... with the plushest liner, the most adjustable fit, the right color of Titanium with special graphics. My wife is sooo happy with her new helmet. Comfy and warm plus designer looks, what more could you ask for? Cheers.

Got these for my daughter for our annual Europe trip as her skis had grown along with her and she needed new skins. I'm a believer of the straight skin approach, it makes the care and folding of the skins much easier and, the loss of contact surface from a trimmed skin is negligible. The no glue area (rip-strip) down the middle of the skin is cool too, easy off. And the attachment system at the tip of the ski is second to none. Cheers.

If you're like everyone these days, you're probably trying to get more mileage from your gear. Nikwax Tech Wash turns stinky, nasty, dirty shells and turns them almost new again. Never use powdered detergent on your tech wear, it never fully dissolves and renders the garment un-waterproof. I trust this stuff with all my family's gear. For heavily soiled stains, apply directly and then throw in the wash. Cheers.

I bought this as a replacement for my other insulated reservoir. I took a hard landing on my back while skiing and the Camelbak burst and I had a rucksack full of Nuun, http://tinyurl.com/nuuntablets. Ugh. Anyway, the Platypus is MUCH easier to clean than the Camelbak as it has a mouth that opens full width and the drinking tube detaches from the bag. I replaced the Platypus drinking tube cover with my old Camelbak one as it has a smaller profile. Now my wife and daughter want new reservoirs so it looks like I'll be buying a couple more. Cheers.

my kid likes the driclime so much that when she grew out of her old one, we had to re-order another. this jacket does it all; in the school yard, skiing, at the baseball or soccer field, walking the windy streets of NYC, it never fails to keep you warm and dry. a classic piece of gear.

i bought this as an alternative to all the plastic water bottles i was going through at the office. nice finish, perfect size, feels good in the hand and, the mechanism for drinking is really smart. a quality product from a quality retailer.

the first time i put this on, the wife said i looked "totally hot". fit is athletic. once again, the goat rules the closet.

i bought this for my wife before we left for our christmas trip. it took me 2 tries to get the size right; she wears a size small in a regular burton helmet but with the "women's sizing", she's a large, and it's still pretty tight. the goggle holder strap is too small and you really have to force the snap closed, my wife can't do it herself. all that being said, she likes the helmet and way it looks on her. and i guess thats all that's important in the end.

great glove! i wear mine in the city and in the mountains. this is my 2nd pair having worn out my pair in 2 years of hard service. cheers.

the goat rules!

i thought the chopper glove was good. that was until i got these babies right before a frigid trip to the mountains. kept my fingers warm and toasty and made my friends in lesser gloves wish they'd sprung for a pair.

The straps stop my telemark bindings from flopping all over the place when I carry my skis.

My kid wears this from early March to late October. From freezing sleet on NYC’s streets to cool evenings at the lake, this jacket does it all. Buy one and your kid will thank you.