Drew Tabke

I've been using a pair of these in my work shoes. I work at a ski shop, so I'm running around bootfitting, tuning, riding my bike to get El Salvadorian food from up the street, etc. The Alines definitely keep me supported during the day, my back doesn't get as sore as when I'm flat-footed ect.

It is a pretty aggressive design, very stiff plastic, lots of arch support. In the documentation that comes with the product you are told to expect some discomfort at first as your feet adjust to the shape, and they do indeed feel different than the many footbeds I've used.

I highly recommend giving these a shot if you like to use Superfeet or similar arch-supporting footbeds and feel like you could use even more support.

Also nice that they're a plastic-ish material, don't soak up odors like some fabric insoles do.

A really great design from BD. And most importantly, super burly and durable, too.
One complaint - is that it doesn't pack nearly as small and flat as a regular shovel, and I'm not sure if the time you save with the Deploy is worth it. Also would be nice to have an extending handle, this one is a bit short.

This boot is the sh**. Fits most feet really really well. Great heel pocket, not too high volume in the instep, and wide enough in the forefoot for most. Really bomber overlap construction means they ski like a champ, but they're still light enough to kill it on the up. Some durability issues with the liner, but other than that this is a winner.

I use a Garmont boot because I like the design. I think the buckles, the overlap construction, the sole, and the general design are the most simple and useful on the market. However, the fit is a bit weird on these boots. The toe box is very narrow, and the heel pocket is too large. I think next year's shells are supposed to be updated to accommodate this. If you have the patience to do the bootfitting required to get these to fit, you'll love them, but for an out-of-the-box fit these aren't the best.

If I had a dime for every walk mode that's broken on one of these things I'd be wealthy. They are easy to replace and easy to find, but it might be good to be proactive and track on down to keep in your repair kit before you find yourself on top of Capitol Peak in CO looking down the Landry Line contemplating skiing it in walk mode.

Love the Boa though, that thing is sweeeeet!

This boot is no doubt a real badass tour machine. Its stiff and performance-fitting. However I've noticed some serious durability issues with the liner. The shell plastic at the instep is so stiff that when you pull the tongue out to get your foot out of the boot, the shell can damage the liner. And the glue around the sole doesn't hold up to too much abuse either. Kind of strange to pair such a burly shell with a not-so-burly liner.

Still a totally awesome boot, just treat your liner with care.

Rossi/Look has had the Pivot design for decades, and people were rightfully saddened when they stopped making it during the last few seasons. Luckily its back, and its the best weight-strength binding out there. Ask yourself if you really need the 18 and if you do then buy yourself a drink. You deserve it.

This binding is good because: It has a huge range of adjustment. If you want to sell them or lend them to friends or your kids are growing like crazy, the binding will accommodate a wide range of boot sizes without needing to be remounted. Also, with the new rockered skis, I have found the mounting point to be more important than ever. I think this is because rocker causes the running length of the ski to be much shorter, and in turn the mounting point has a greater overall impact on the performance of the ski. With the Schizo, moving the binding forward and back to dial in the ski's sweet spot (depending on conditions, skier type, your general mood) is super easy.

I'm rockin' these sandals downtown, right, and I see my ex-Girlfriend. She's all "hey baby let's get back together." I just kept on walkin'.

They look so fly, and they sound pretty dope but its just a pile of plastic in the end.

They look so fly, and they sound pretty dope but its just a pile of plastic in the end.

Best looking skin around. The tip attachment is the best I've seen for not dragging in the snow or having any buildup. Its so low-profile there is no resistance. Easily packable because they are so supple, but that could also be a problem because the thin plush doesn't grip as well as the thicker plush found on some skins (such as Black Diamonds).

Best looking skin around. The tip attachment is the best I've seen for not dragging in the snow or having any buildup. Its so low-profile there is no resistance. Easily packable because they are so supple, but that could also be a problem because the thin plush doesn't grip as well as the thicker plush found on some skins (such as Black Diamonds).

Glen Plake's baby is an amazing piece of boot engineering. The ski-mode feel of this boot is reassuringly solid, way better than almost any touring boot on the market. The range of motion in the walk mode is pretty incredible as well.

Drawbacks: The boot is very high volume, maybe too high volume even for larger feet, particularly in the instep there is a lot of room. The buckles work well when they're engaged but the weird wire construction can take quite a bit of fiddling to get used to.

The craftsmanship and quality of this product is incredible, and you can tell how precise the construction is immediately upon making your first few turns with these skis. As with the Manaslu, because of the ultra light weight you can't charge through hard crud or extremely variable conditions. But for skiing smooth snow under your own power waaaay out in the BC these things are incredible.

I skied this binding recently. I found it to be noticeably more rigid than the Freeride Plus. I however still thought it was lacking in security. I still didn't feel like I could trust this binding for aggressive inbounds skiing or high consequence backcountry skiing.

The walk mode is much more efficient than the Freeride Plus. Way better.

I use these gloves on chilly bike rides and spring skiing missions. Not the warmest glove for their bulk, but for wind-stopping power and mild-temp days they are awesome.

I really have been digging the new Touchstone. And the new polarized green mirror lens is awesome. Its really hard to go back to a regular lens once you've been blessed with the polarized. I like mine in particular for being on my bike when the streets are wet in Seattle and the sun is glaring off of everything: puddles, cars, homeless people. The polarized cuts out all the glare and lets me carve the urban jungle with ease.

This is my favorite piece of outerwear I've ever owned. To be covered in TNF's three layer Gore-Tex head to toe is a godsend whether I'm at home (and wet) in Washington or with friends (and dry) in Utah.Tactfully designed vents make this usable even for touring or sweaty hiking when you need to drop the top layer, something that other one pieces can't handle.I guarantee if you get into a full contact snowball battle with a group of friends, you'll come out drier and more comfortable than anyone.

-the attached photo is in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia.

I use this in all seasons in the Washington Cascades. Nice to know that weather we're out surfing, hiking in the rain, or enduring some wet PNW snow my electronics are well-protected.

I love to style out my hiking and backpacking, and this seat is a great addition to my bone-handle wine key and picnic set.

Somewhat ridiculous, but very very comfortable.

Amazingly waterproof boot for tromping through slush-filled parking lots or up cold trails and coming out bone-dry.

My foot is wide, and I find this boot to be a comfy fit.

Highly recommended.

This is my favorite helmet-goggle combination ever. The Maze is Smith's new, super-lightweight offering, and the I/O sets the industry standard in goggles. The width of vision you get with the I/O matched with the light weight of the Maze means your noggin is protected and your vision perfect and the fit and interface is so good you soon forget you have anything on your head. Amazing.

F'n awesome helmet. Steeziest thing going for a couple seasons now. And it now comes with the summer-adaptable pads for warm days, beanie-under-helmet steeze, or summer use.

And its only $60 right now? Sick deal.

I got this jacket for my girlfriend. She was always cold before. No more. And the styling looks really attractive, too, an amazing feat of keeping it looking feminine while offering amazing insulation.

Anyone who has traveled to ski knows the battle of avoiding the airline's overweight fees. I took this bag to Chile this summer and it did the job perfectly. I would recommend a smaller bag if you only need one pair of skis, but for me I was competing in a freeskiing event as well as doing some ski mountaineering, so I had a mountain of gear. This fit it all and then some, and the burly design and wheels made throwing it around no problem once I was on the ground in Chile.

Its a bummer to see a 3-star review start out the responses on this one. I agree, its no Warren Miller movie. How could it be? That guy was in the business for decades! But for Powderwhore's fifth effort, this movie is incredible. The locations, the snow quality, the talent of skiers, and the lack of cooler-than-you vibe are a welcome breath of fresh air. I highly recommend this movie to any skier, alpine or tele.

Really awesome. I used to use the PX18, but I found that binding to be too heavy. The retention power of the 15 is almost always more than enough unless you're in the Verbier Xtreme or racing downhill on an icerink, and its lighter weight is a nice change.

I used to only bring packs on big hikes, but the Chugach 16 changed my habits. I consider this to be as essential as skis and boots for most days on the hill. You never know when you're going to want your avalanche gear to dip out of the boundary gate, and the hydration hose and sandwich carrying abilities are indispensable in or out of bounds. And the small size lets you forget you even have it.

This is the perfect shoe for me. For how comfortable they are, they are really high performance. I have a slightly wider foot, and they fit great. Rubber seems really durable so far.

As a Smith Athlete, I've tried most of their helmets over the last few years, and this one is definitely my favorite.
Its the lightest helmet I've ever worn - I love being protected but not feeling like I'm inside an armored vehicle.

Also, since I'm weight conscious when choosing what I bring on hikes and ski tours, I am really stoked to have this helmet available. Hardly even notice its attached to my pack.

This bag rules! The body-mapping anti-compression pads is no gimmick - the down is so lofty it seems like it won't ever fit in a stuff sack. But it does, and it is like 15 clowns getting out of a little car when you unpack it, filling up your tent with a warm cocoon of down. I got size Long, and is feels more like 7'6'' than the advertised 6'6'', so if you're wavering on the size I would go smaller.

I didn't know if I needed booties. Why not just put on some extra socks at the campsite, or wear my ski boot liners when I need to "step outside" of the snowcave? Well nothing compares to the incredible warmth your feet encounter inside these things, and the rubber soles mean you can grippily and dryly make the trek to any snowy lou. Once you use them, you won't ever go back to the barbaric past you came from.

I got these after I moved to Seattle. They let me maintain my mountain style while being accepted by hipsters in the city. Thanks TNF!

I got my Tikka Plus 2 right before I went to Chile for a ski trip, and it kicked major butt in a variety of situations. When the power went out in the village of Farellones, I had it in my pocket and lit up the bar we were in; amazing power for such a small, light package.

I especially like the red LED. It was really nice to use while camping in a small shelter with my ski partner as it didn't blind my friend when he was still awake, and it didn't keep him awake when he was trying to sleep. I also used the red LED in some low light situations such when we started hiking at 345am under a half moon, but the moonlight wasn't quite enough to show the way. Using my red LED gave the ground ahead of me enough definition to safely travel without decreasing my night vision (like a white light does), which let me still enjoy the benefits and beauty of the moonlight.

Battery life has been really impressive so far, too. Stays bright through the long life of the batteries rather than peetering out like some headlamps do.

So awesome for cycling. I forget I have them on they are so light. But somehow despite the light weight and comfy feel, they never shift when I'm looking over my shoulder etc. And eyes have yet to water, but maybe I'm not going fast enough.

Design offers good visibility for city running, while maintaining about 1000% more cool points than an orange reflective vest. L fits me well (6'1", 185lbs), and I dig the packable hood and media pockets.

Take this shirt, grow a nice beard, and get to chopping wood for the long winter ahead. Perfect pacific northwest style with North Face quality.

So comfy, so dry. And they're on sale!?

The only thing that worries me is what if I feel like getting new flip flops a few years down the road, but these things are still in great condition? Will I feel guilty buying more?

Love the shoes. If they're clean I can wear them around town. But normally I'm trail running or day hiking in them on muddy pacific northwest trails outside of Seattle and they stay impressively dry in these conditions.

Yup. Good price. Flashy and understated (is that possible? yes). This thing rocks. I won't mention the "chick magnet" thing. But since I mentioned not mentioning it, you get the point.

Love it. My every day in-bounds ski pack. Carries all you need for a comfy day (extra layer, sandwich, espresso in thermos), and well-organized avie gear pockets for big storm days. And a bunch of other bells and whistles too.

These gave me a great day of backcountry snowboarding. Really comfy straps and easy climbing, and with the light weight I hardly noticed them on the way down.

The Smith Slider sunglasses are indispensable for people who are active in all conditions. The Interlock Prophet offers a slightly more urban styling but with the same options, and the lenses are a bit easier to change in and out (not that it was hard with the sliders). Plus the same unlimited Smith warranty that people have loved forever.

I'm surprised to be the first one writing a review for this. It fits so well, and the pockets are so well thought out, that it makes the design behind other packs seem so rudimentary. Amazing product.

I have used this in so many situations over the last couple years. Some people feel more comfortable in a regular tent, but for me I love the minimalist feel of sleeping on grass or a beach or snow with just a roof over my head. So although its billed as a shelter or camp kitchen option, its really great for anything. And it sets up in a flash. Love it.

I used to ski tour with the BD halfdome climbing helmet. The Tracer feels much better though. It moves less when I move, and it seems less likely to catch its rim on snow or trees if I were to take a fall.

Bomber closure system, diverse fit (used with tennies and used with large boots), and durable materials. An all-time classic piece of gear, and mine are warrantied forever.

I mean, what else is there?

The technology for lighter and smaller purifiers is pretty widespread, but for easy of mind, reliability, durability, this thing is hard to beat.

Only cheaper. You'll be able to pass this down to your youngsters. Borrowed from designs of past generations, updated with modern materials, this thing is bitchin'.

I was some 20 miles from the car on a multi-day ski tour, and my friend's crampons punctured his CamelBack bladder. My friend and I didn't like him that much so instead of sharing one of our extra Nalgenes, we forced him to drink out of his pee bottle the rest of the trip.

Doesn't that convince you?

These are almost like a quiver item. You would need heavier crampons for anything more serious than a "likely snow crossing," but I think you could also fill in the bottom end with something like YakTracks or some sort of spikes that attach to hiking boots or shoes.

The product itself is great, as you can almost always expect from Black Diamond, but is somewhat limited in its application.

Basically this thing has gone with me to Russia twice, Europe twice, around the 48 and to Alaska. Its burly design has held up well to being tossed into the airplane luggage compartments, pickup truck beds, and lower sections of busses by many of the world's most ill tempered luggage check personnel. And its still fine - all zippers, fabric, pockets, etc intact and looking tough as ever.

If you want more organization, try another pack with more of those features. For my "throw it all in the same place" technique, this bag has been ideal. Only didn't give 5 stars because I'm not sure if those compression straps actually do anything but get in the way.

Basically this thing has gone with me to Russia twice, Europe twice, around the 48 and to Alaska. Its burly design has held up well to being tossed into the airplane luggage compartments, pickup truck beds, and lower sections of busses by many of the world's most ill tempered luggage check personnel. And its still fine - all zippers, fabric, pockets, etc intact and looking tough as ever.

If you want more organization, try another pack with more of those features. For my "throw it all in the same place" technique, this bag has been ideal.

I guess its just the nature of the beast when you design a stove this light and small, but I've beat the crap out of mine. Broke the auto-igniter on one, and I returned it, but the next one I bend the fold out arms pretty badly. I bent em back and its all good now, but for the price you should consider these issues. Maybe just get the regular "pocket rocket" model, its way burlier.

That said, when it wasn't breaking, it was really light and burned hot and efficient.

Basically this thing has gone with me to Russia twice, Europe twice, around the 48 and to Alaska. Its burly design has held up well to being tossed into the airplane luggage compartments, pickup truck beds, and lower sections of busses by many of the world's most ill tempered luggage check personnel. And its still fine - all zippers, fabric, pockets, etc intact and looking tough as ever.

If you want more organization, try another pack with more of those features. For my "throw it all in the same place" technique, this bag has been ideal.

I would use this bag if I were moving to Europe and needed to bring everything I own. I personally feel there is no reason to bring as much stuff as this bag can accommodate. If you really like to travel heavy then maybe its the thing for you. But definitely consider what the airlines are going to charge you for being 3,000 pounds overweight.

Everything else is bomber though, as you can expect from Dakine. Good zippers, great design, bomber nylon ect...

If you're skiing big mountains, freeskiing, freeriding, or any kind of aggressive terrain in exposed terrain, you should probably consider wearing a spine protector. I was using this one this year and it fit really well, and was almost unnoticeable under my jacket. You do need to learn to layer a little differently, as it does add some warmth to whatever you're wearing.

I love these gloves. The leather is super resilient so the white color stays surprisingly clean looking. The fit just gets better with time as a good leather glove should. Definitely continue to use the leather sealant cream that comes with the gloves (or something comparable). Its keeps them nice longer, keeps your hands warm. Hestra rocks.

This is an amazing piece of equipment, and I really trust it. But try not to need it, ok?

This thing seems like the ticket. Small size, good features, and Leatherman normally makes a really nice product.

Mine however basically rusted itself shut. Its not like I left it outside in the rain for a winter. It was in a slightly damp backpack pocket for a day or two. The pliers was nearly welded immobile, and now the small tools won't open unless I break a fingernail off prying at them, or use another tool. Weak sauce.

Tools like this are essential! So nice to have when they work. But maybe try one that is more corrosion resistant, and if you do get this on be sure to be dilligent with keeping it dry and lubricated.

These things have almost gotten me killed on more than one occation. OK, maybe that's a bit melodramatic, but when you're on a multi-day ski trip to some remote destination, a broken pole is a real buzz-kill. The aluminum BD uses on these does not stand up to much force. I have since moved on to their carbon or expedition weight poles and haven't looked back. Definitely worth the extra cash to prevent yourself the pain of trying to make a branch work as a ski pole for 25 miles.

So there I am in Russia, the police wondering why I don't have any money for them. "Well the dance club last night was costly," I pantomime. Luckily, these shades were on my head, and in no time I was looking at some fine peaks of the Caucasus instead of the inside of a jail cell. Now I just need to get another pair.

You can trust this stove. Which is important, especially in the winter when you need fire for water. And why wouldn't you get this one with the adjustable simmer? Does the little valve really add that much weight over the standard jet engine non-adjustable? I freakin' love this thing!

This is the pack I use for really big ski tour days, ie Mt. Rainier. Its big enough for a night or two out, also. Great weight distribution, not over tech with features, just a killer, basic design for climbing and skiing huge mountains. I would go smaller for just a day-tour pack, but when you need extra food, gear, and clothes, this is my ideal size.

Ideal for jumping off roofs, getting in snowball fights, and sledding. Its awesome to slip into this thing and remember how warm and dry a one-piece suit keep you while you're riding. So nice on pow days. And I detach the jacket to rock by itself too.

Really happy with my Hustle. It looks big but fits snug. This helmet = style plus function.

I use these constantly. Styling enough for the city, cool enough to be on the beach, and sufficient coverage to use in the mountains when the sun+snow is trying to char your eyeballs. Word!

Got this for my girlfriend. She got stoked and made me cookies. I think she looks smokin' hot in it. Four thumbs up.

I also live in a frigid house, and I'm poor so I keep the heat turned down. These things make even the chilliest wood floors seem welcoming. And definitely worth their weight in gold when winter camping.

These gloves rock. They are advertised as a spring glove, but I use them during most of the winter. As long as its not super stormy or cold, my hands stay warm in these. Also especially useful when ski touring. Stylish enough to wear around Seattle when its colder than a witch's....

I've been using Smith goggs since I was in diapers and this is my favorite one yet. They offer the biggest, most unobstructed field of vision I've seen along with the best style. I'm hard on my gear, and one of the things I had to learn was to keep my hands off the edges of the lens since its not as protected by the frame as in a conventional design. Easy lens change, hardly ever fog unless you mistreat them... I mean do I need to say more?

I've used the heck out of my Nylon STS skins and they still work amazingly well. Let me retrace their life. They were on a super-fat powder ski for a while and did their fare share of breaking trail through deep snow as well as walking through mud and pine needles. Then I cut them down for a lighter and skinnier touring ski and have been on that set-up for another couple seasons. I haven't even needed to redo the glue using the kit that you can get from BD for when the adhesive gets too old. To this I owe the STS system. Its a really easy to use tensioning system that keeps your skins in line on your base even if they get soaked and the adhesive gets compromised.

I used this helmet for freeskiing competitions last year. It is really amazing how well Troy Lee Designs has figured out that level of protection with such good balance and lightweight design. For a top of the line downhill MTB-style helmet, this is your only choice. My only complaint was fogging. If you're at a standstill and you're gasping for air cause you just outran your sluff through a chute and off a mandatory air, you might fog up the outside of your goggle lens. But since the fogging is exterior, all you have to do is start moving again and it clears right up.

This jacket is the perfect compromise between the warmth and weight. It is small enough to pack in anything and keep you going light and fast, but warm enough to get through some cold nights or mean storms. So nice.

You might look like an alien, but who cares. The design and the Hestra craftsmanship and materials keep you warm. Chicks dig leather. Sometimes when its too warm for this glove, its super-easy to pull out the standard liner and use a thinner liner.