%-Star is right. Low volume sock that allows me to really feel my insole and boot. I have always loved really thin ski socks, and now that I can wear thin wool socks it's even better. Great wicking for long BC tours. Nothing like putting on a brand new pair, so get a few!

The Mogul is my favorite Smith Piece and is one of the finest pieces of eyewear I have ever owned. The optics are stellar, glass lenses and polarized, and the fit is amazing- perfect coverage for ski mountaineering and spring skiing.

you will not be disappointed by the Mogul... they rule

What more can you say- these glasses look cool! Love the TLT Optics and clear frames.

I used this bag for 16 days on Denali this summer and it's the best cold weather bag I've ever had. Not only was it really comfortable and spacious (I had a long)but was super warm, even at -20 a couple nights at high camp. The zippers worked flawlessly, no catching, and the insulated hood fit great and kept my dome real warm. and another great thing is this bag packs down in a compression stuff sack super small, so that leaves you mor eroom for gear in your pack.

I used a GoPro this winter and had great results with it. sure it's no HD camera but for filming ski lines for the web or sungle tracks its pretty much perfect. The buttons may take a little getting used to but once you know what to push it's totally straightforward. Light and easy to travel with- no wires or bulky recording devices. For the price a great little camera!

These little units rock. I wear them shoveling the driveway and then pack 'em for ski tours. Also great for hut trips and such. all in all a super positive item to have along.

For me these light-weight, affordable runners fit the bill for climbing and alpine/ glacier travel. I use them on my crevasse rescue kit and double them for long draws when climbing.

This jacket fits the bill as an awesome, warm piece for wearing around town in the winter and looking fly. Personaly I like the black one. Super warm and comfy!

I carry one of these in the car for car camping mission to the desert, climbing trips, and the odd hut trip. It's got the basics. Sometimes I take things out and replace them with other items that I need, but all in all this kit fits the job.

The Serpico's are one of Smith's most legendary eyewear pieces, and also among my personal favorites. They are one of Smith's best sellers, and the reason is the fit and performance is second to none. I use these specifically for driving and have been know to rock them at an outdoor concert or two. pick up a pair... you won't be disappointed!

I use these spikes primarily for ski mountaineering, and they fit great over my Garmont Radium boots. The lightweight and the ease of use make them a winner. I use the "anti-bot" snow deflectors to prevent snow from balling up on your crampons and that works splendidly. All in all a peefect set of mountaineering crampons for those not looking to get on the steep blue ice!

When it comes to "piolets" the Raven is pretty much perfect. Light, balanced, no-frills. The 50 cm version is perfect for ski mountaineering in the Alps when you need a handy tool on your pack but might not use it all the time. When spring steep skiing season hits don't be left wondering why you didn't invest in a proper tool... get the Raven!

All this talk about how you only get one... listen folks, the preeminent ski mountaineers out there now-a-days all use Whippets, and for a reason, they work. I have used the Whippet on all of my steep skiing mission over the past five years. I particularly love them for the ascents, when you may be climbing steep snow and need to get a little extra "ummph" on the pull up. They give you piece of mind on the way down, although thankfully I have not had to use them while skiing. You may only need one, but it will be completely worth the investment.

Although I haven't worn this jacket running or biking, I do wear it as a layer when leaving the house on cool or rainy days to walk the dog (he's 15) or take out the trash. I also wear it shoveling the driveway with just a t-shirt underneath and it breaths super well. I gotta take the Barrier on a hike this summer!

Just wore this shirt for the first time on Rainier and the material is fantastic. I had an issue with the fit though, it seems to pull across the chest on the seems at the shoulders, so I wasn't totally stoked on how it sat on my frame. but when a tourist at the White River Campground told me she liked my shirt I thought that was worth at least a mention.

How lucky am I, writing about the totally incredible SPORK! No, seriously, it's a spork, how great can it be? Well, as far as sporks go this one seems to function quite well. I'm trying to think of something it does poorly, and I can't think of one... dam you spork, your too awesome! It can cut through oatmeal so fast and rips through pasta as well. It can even hold your tea bag while it drains. and if anyone knows how to play the "spoon game" it can serve up some serious punishment.

Just got home from a four day jaunt up Rainier and the Dawn Patrol served it's purpose very well. This jig keeps drinks hot all day, and I mean all day. I poured hot coffee in at 4 a.m. and it was still hot at noon. I love the size, although it's just big enough for personal use, not for pouring drinks for your crew.. and, as J Antencio said, a thermos version for the car would be a bonus.

The Fitzroy is an all time classic 4-season shelter. I used this tent at 14,000' camp on Denali a couple years ago for a friend and I and it was perfect for two people for a couple of weeks. No issue with condensation inside the tent, and really warm as well. For three people it's a bit tight but totally fine for a few nights... just depends how close you are to your friends! I'm headed to Antarctica this fall and the Fitzroy is coming with me!

The Kingpin's have been my go to spring skiing gloves for the past couple seasons. I love the feel of leather on my ski poles, as well as on rock and simply just wearing around. They make for super work gloves and are really durable. I treat mine with water-proofing wax, which absorbs well after a few days. The Kingpin is one of three or four gloves in my quiver, and pretty much kicks ass.

The guide gloves are tough to beat.. bottom line. Despite being outside much of the winter and spring my fingers get cold. The Guide Gloves do the trick for me when it comes to warmth and even though they may feel bulky or stiff out of the bag they actually break in real nice and even seem to mold to your hand after a couple weeks of use. Durability wise they will easily last you a few seasons or more, so at that price they become very worthwhile. I take these gloves to Denali with me... and that pretty much sums it up!

Now that the spring ski mountaineering season is upon us my HH Guide Pants starting working overtime out in the mountains. This is my go to pant for long ski tours and spring ski mountaineering trips. The softshell construction is stretchy yet technical and the articulation in the knee area makes movement breeze, even with knee pads on underneath. The cut is definitely "ski touring" style, but that is why they wear so well. There are other competitors with similar products out there but the Guide Pant stands tall among them.

I have been using a GriGri for years while belaying sport routes, but am now stoked on the XP for a few reasons. It's light, really easy to thread, and the high friction mode makes controlling during lowers or rappels super easy. Love it!

You know when you get a cool new toy and it just feels right in your hand? Well this little bugger is clean and snappy and light and solid. I love it. I have a couple in my crevasse rescue kit and also use them at anchors on rock and ice routes. Not much not to love about the VaporLock!

The "beaters" are a great cross between a trail runner and a hiker and are my standard light hikers in the summer on the peaks as well as on my occasional short trail run. They are just a sweet all around shoe, and definitely worth the price when compared to other spendy trail runners

The Projekts are great and fit really well on my normal size dome. The polarchromatic lenses are always cool and actually work really well at dusk as the light is changing. Definitely a good choice from Smith!

When your hiking and it's stormy or humid, plus your are sweating, there is no better goggle on the market than the Phenom turbofan. While everyone else is fogging up and wiping (scratching) their lenses you are so well vented its actually cooling your eyeballs! Awesome fit and cool styles make this a winner. Just look at Julian's photo!

That;s right, packs so small and is so light that I could hall this one and another foam pad up the big dog. Super comfy and actually warm as well. It may give you a bit of a workout blowing it up... but hey we all need more lung power so chalk it up to training!

I bought a pair of these while on a trip in the Owens Valley last spring and really digg 'em. I use them almost exclusively for bouldering but on the occasional sport route as well. They wrap around my foot like a glove and my don't really smell as others have said. So all in all I'm totally stoked on my Katanas.

The Verglass jacket is an old standby. You can't go wrong with this no frills shell that is super comfy in sunny conditions and keeps you warm and dry when it's storming. I rock this jacket probably 50% of the time I'm out skiing and can't think of much wrong with it. The new Verglass Pant also kicks total ass!

When I got my Bootlegs I wasn't sure if I'd really love them. But now I've had a couple pairs and they are in my regular lineup. cool styling, great fit, and really clear optics makes these shades an excellent choice for style minded shredders.

Polarized sunglasses used to be for bone fishermen and water sportsmen but turns out they work remarkably well on snow as well. The Witness' look great and fit swell... so what are you waiting for? step up and rock 'em!

The Bombshelter is a classic 4 season mountaineering tent that gets the job done! I have used it in the Himalaya, Denali, Rainier, and around Colorado with nothing but great results. It's actually easy to set up for one person and the attached vestibule holds packs and boots for two or three folks without issue. Four people get a little tight, unless your just playing cards. For strength to weight ratio the Bombshelter is without peer. When Todd Bibler designed it he definitely knew what hard-core mountain people were looking for, being one himself!

If you like to go fast and far in the mountains, the RPM is an awesome choice. We use it for late spring ski mountaineering missions and speed hikes of summer 14ers. I strap a water bottle holder on the waist belt of the pack, and sometimes a camera body holder as well. the compression cords work well for a quick taking off of the rain coat or even for strapping your skins on. MY buddy Stian Hagen swears by this pack in Chamonix for everything from all day rock routes to steep ski descents.

Ok, I have been skiing the Radium since last spring, probably over 60 days in them now, and I can honestly say this is the best performance ski mountaineering boot on the market/ I say this for two reasons: first, the overlap construction provides excellent power and control in the cuff, and combined with the very light weight, gives an ideal power to weight ratio, which for A/T I think is paramount. Secondly, the Pebax material used in the shell is far more responsive to energy input, and also isn't as easily affected by warm or cold temps, meaning it doesn't get all soft when it's warm out or crazy stiff when it's cold.

Another bonus is the G-Fit thermofit liners are incredibly comfortable, and wrap snugly around the ankle, which adds to your power and control of the boot. The thin yet ultra durable rubber sole climbs like a champ on rocks, and mine are barely chipped or worn, and that is after a good beating in the California 14ers, the Alps, Colorado 14ers, and Antarctica. Also the boot buckle locks keep the buckles from flying around when they are open, and are nicely designed.

Also, the Raduim just well may be the first and only A/T boot featured in a Matchstick Productions film. I wore them skiing the Matterhorn, Eiger, Mt. Blanc, and Monte Rosa in "Claim"- check it out if you need more convincing.

We all love the nice feel of an insulating piece right? Something compressable so it fits easily in your pack, but can be whipped out and thrown on after a sweaty skin or boot pack? Well this Odin Insulator is the unit for you. Not only do I carry this with me on all my ski mountaineering endeavors because it provides the perfect amount of warmth under my shell, but I also throw it on over a t-shirt in the fall or spring when I'm headed to the gym or coffee-shop.

You know you are wearing something cool when people come up to you asking where you got it or who makes it. This jacket rocks.

There are a lot of avalanche transievers out there touting there technological superiority, but the bottom line and most important fact about the Tracker is it is the FASTEST! I have been involved in the real deal, avalanche searches with buried victims, and my experience with the Tracker has been nothing short of stellar. This beacon is intuitive and friendly and all my friends use them as well as my wife, a 17-year patroller who still kicks my ass in search contests.

Once you wear these pads you'll never go back to skiing naked-kneed! There is a reason there are so many great reviews for the Telekneesis Kneepad... they are light, warm, and extremely protective. I love the fact that they keep my knees warm on cold lift rides where your knees stick right out into the cold. i love the fact that they protect my ski-joints when I'm digging a pit, adjusting a binding, lighting a stove, gasping, puking, or inspecting snow crystals. If you are a ski mountaineer you will definitely bang your knees on rocks while you climb epic descents, so protect that shit!

I spent all last season in this boot when skiing lift served terrain and it's a stiff, burly alpine boot that skis with grace and poise. As an ex-racer I like a stiff "race boot" feel when skiing groomers or charging pow with my friends, and the Shaman delivers on all fronts. I use the Din sole with Marker Jester and Duke bindings and the interface is seamless. The boot is super comfy and I installed a Booster Strap to give it a little more power in the cuff. For a brand that has cut it's teeth with A/T boots, the Shaman can compete with any alpine boot on the market.

And BTW I use the incredible Garmont Radium for backcountry and alpinism and it is off the hook!

We all know that the three most important things with goggles these days are:
1. How they fit your face.
2. How they interface with your helmet.
3. How sweet are the optics.

Well the Phenom crushes it in all three categories. The fit is super sweet for men and women (my wife rocks 'em) and they fit seamlessly with Smith brain buckets like the Holt and the Variant Brim (which I use). I'm a freak when it comes to optics, so these goggs more than pass the test, especially with the Sensor Mirror or Platinum Mirror. (I love to Platinum Mirror for sun, Sensor for clouds/ snow) Plus they have so many dope styles you won't look like the other guy in the Gondi line.

Well it might not be as blingy as your diamond Piaget, but it can do a whole lot more. I rock the Core on and off the hill. Unless I'm trying to measure my vert and runs skied, or I'm on an expedition, this is my go to wristop computer. It's a great looking watch with easy to use features, not like those lame watches that are so packed with unnecessary features that the manual is a hundred pages long.

The bottom line with the Core is it looks great and works great, both on and off the hill.

After skiing for 15 years on Salomon 9-16's I am really happy to say I have found something better. The Jester is so stiff torsionally that you can really feel the ski bite on hard snow. Obviously this is less important in powder, but the security is excellent (I have popped out exactly when I thought I should have)

If you are considering a new alpine binding that not only works perfectly but looks trick the Jesters are no Joker!

The Jetts are dope and so are you, so pick up a pair now because as far as I know they only made a limited quantity and you don't want to be left out this spring during the season ending '80's party!

Seriously epic shades... seriously.

Pretty much the best telescopic pole out there in my opinion. They are super light, stiff, and easy t adjust in all temps and conditions. I have never broken a pair. (not that they can't be broken, but they ARE tough) The grips are grippy and the straps easy to slip on and off. (if you use 'em) This pole is way better than the Traverse and anyone who says they break easy should use a little softer pole plant.

These poles are worth the price if you are a skier that likes having the best quality product on the market.

... because I never leave home on a trip without it. I like to wear it a little slack, not too tight like the Germans, so order a size bigger than normal.