I got these after trying the "interchangeable" Smith Prodigy goggles. Those are nice goggles, but you need a workbench and about 15 minutes to actually get one set of lenses out and another set back in, and the little pieces are probably easy to lose. Not something you're going to do on the hill, or probably even in the lodge at lunchtime.

These, on the other hand, have a lightning-fast quick release system that lets you swap in a new set of lenses in a hurry. Need to deal with changing weather conditions? Just tired of the lenses you've been using? About 30 seconds and you're good to go.

The frameless design is a little different, but actually looks really good with most helmets. (I have a Giro G10 right now, and it works perfectly with it.) No problems with fogging for me, even in springtime conditions.

These come with *two* lenses, "Ignitor Mirror" (all-around) and "Platinum Mirror" (bright conditions). The full line of replacement lenses are available from Smith or some other online resellers. I also picked up "Sensor Mirror" (flat light) and Clear (night skiing), which should cover just about anything.

A solid, well-made helmet from Giro. Pretty comfortable, adjustable fit, adjustable venting. I added a wired Tune-Ups kit for audio; works great. Seems like it will do a good job protecting my skull from rogue snowboarders or my own stupidity.

If you're questionable about size, order up. You can adjust the size down quite a bit. I was on the border of XL/XXL and got an XL (XXL was out of stock...) It fits me pretty well, but I have to have the adjustment all the way out and it's still a little tight sometimes in the back.

Ordered one of these and some Smith Prodigy goggles to replace my stolen helmet and goggles. :-(

The helmet looks pretty sharp, and fits well. It is very well-ventilated (which, as a ski instructor, is a key feature lessons in warm weather.) I have a big head (~24.5", at the high end of the range for the Large), and the Large size fit right. There's a nice little adjustable dial that can tighten it up if you need to, so better to go a size up if you're questionable.

The goggle-holder system on this helmet is definitely unique. Works pretty well -- UNLESS you have goggles that have one of those snap-together clasps right in the middle of the strap. Then it doesn't really hold the goggles solidly.

A bigger problem, though: while just trying it on in my living room with a few different pairs of goggles, some of the plastic 'rivets' near the front started to come loose, and the plastic piece at the front was popping loose near the rim. Not cool for a $150+ helmet. Maybe I just got a lemon, but I decided to go with a different model.

These are some well-made, sharp-looking goggles, with a nice selection of lenses available. Also larger than average, so people with big faces/heads will be happy. (Although the strap seemed unusually small; it was awfully tight going around a Giro Omen helmet.) The wide selection of colors/patterns means you can probably find something to match your outfit, no matter how steezy.

The lenses are nice. The problem is, I really wanted goggles with easily interchangeable lenses. And while the lenses in these ARE interchangeable, it's NOT easy or quick. You have to pry out SEVEN little plastic pieces from around the frame, then wrangle the lens out, then reverse the whole process with the new lens. Good luck doing that with gloves on, let alone on the slopes. (Also, extremely poor/nonexistent instructions on how to actually remove the lens.)

If you only rarely want to swap the lenses, or just want them with a single all-around lens, they'd probably be awesome. I'm gonna try the Smith I/Os instead.

I've been evaluating a few different ski jackets/soft shells -- this is one of the few that are available in tall sizes (although not through Backcountry, at least right now.)

This is a decently constructed 3-in-1 shell. It definitely feels less well-made than the other Columbia jackets I looked at (the 'Whirlibird' and 'Lhotse' models.) It also lacks ski-specific features such as underarm vents and a powder skirt. Ironically, though, I liked the fleece that came with this jacket better than the other Columbia zip-out liners. It seems fairly waterproof, but is not as warm/windproof as their higher-end shells.

For casual around-town use, or light ski duty, this will do just fine, and it looks pretty sharp. For serious mountaineering, look elsewhere.

This is one of Columbia's higher-end 3-in-1 shells, part of the "Titanium" line. It is very solidly constructed of their 'Omni-Tech' material (basically, off-brand Gore-Tex), and has fully taped seams (so it should be VERY waterproof, but still very breathable.) The material feels somewhat heavier than on their cheaper shells, so it will probably be more windproof, a little warmer, and last longer. It has a snap-back powder skirt and pit zips, and a waterproof zippered chest pocket. The hood actually *zips* on, unlike the cheaper Columbia shells that only use snaps/velcro, so if you like to use the hood that's a big plus. The zip-in liner also seemed to be a little higher-grade than on the other shells, but I didn't care much for the styling. This uses the standard "Columbia Interchange System" for the zip-in liner, so you could substitute in any matching liner. (Also, as with other Columbia shells, you lose access to the powder skirt and all the internal pockets when the liner is zipped in. I actually prefer not zipping the liner into the shell when wearing both.)

I had two problems with this shell:

1) I wanted it in a tall size (Backcountry doesn't carry this, but some other sites do), and the tall version comes in any color you want -- as long as it's solid black. I don't normally care too much about how my gear looks, but since I also have solid black ski pants, and a black helmet, I'd be rocking the Darth Vader black-on-black-on-black look. That's pushing it. :-/

2) Inexplicably, the XL Tall size of this jacket fit differently through the shoulders/upper body than the other two Columbia shells I tried in the same size (the 'Whirlibird' and 'Bugaboo' models). Those two fit great; this one was tight on me through the shoulders and upper chest.

This is a midrange to higher-end jacket in Columbia's 'Omni-Tech' line, designed for outdoor winter use. It seems well-constructed, is wind- and waterproof, breathes well, and offers a good selection of pockets. The jacket features a snap-back powder skirt, removable (snap/velcro) hood, and a zip-in liner. The liner is more of a 'down-filled' style (but uses polyester fill, not actual down), not like the typical fleece liners that come with most Columbia shells. This uses their standard "Interchange System" for liners, so you can use any comparable Columbia zip-in liner. As with most Columbia 3-in-1 shells, you lose access to the powder skirt and all the internal pockets of the jacket with a liner zipped in, although you can still get at the liner's pockets. (I actually prefer not zipping the liner into the jacket when wearing both.)

This isn't the very best in ski jackets, but it is well-made, affordable, and comes in tall sizes (if you shop elsewhere, at least until Backcountry orders some more tall shells from Columbia.) Unless you plan on going into some really extreme conditions, this jacket should hold up well to ski and snowboard use.

I checked this jacket out because Mountain Hardwear shells/jackets tend to run a bit long, and I'm a big/tall guy (6'6", 265 lbs.)

The XXL size had long enough sleeves, but was baggy throughout, especially in the upper chest and neck. Based on trying on a few of their other shells, an XL would probably be about right in the chest, but too short in the arms. YMMV.

The material seems extremely water/windproof, and is lightweight. Construction quality seems pretty good overall, although definitely a step down from high-end shells. It is not extremely warm by itself (which is actually a good thing; this lets you control warmth better by layering selectively.)

The pocket selection is limited; the chest pocket is actually quite small. This shell also lacks ski-specific features like a powder skirt, hood, or underarm vents. Vents *should* be less necessary with a soft shell, since they normally breathe better than hard shell jackets.

As casual-wear, or for light athletic duty, this is probably a great jacket (if it fits you). For skiing, I'd look for something a little higher-end, or more ski-specific.

I grabbed one of these to compare with a few other jackets/shells -- and I ended up keeping this one and sending the others back!

That said, I'm planning on using it mostly as a midlayer for skiing in low temperatures, or on its own as casualwear when it's moderately cold/windy/raining (and maybe for skiing in warmer spring weather.) This is not warm/waterproof/windproof enough to be used as a true 'shell' most of the time for skiing, although it breathes extremely well and is very comfortable.

In terms of fit -- I'm big and tall (6'6", 265 lbs), and the XXL fits me great both in the chest and the sleeve length. The torso could be a *little* bit longer, but it's very good for a jacket that is not explicitly a "tall" size.

Construction quality is good (but not exceptional). The material seems fairly waterproof and wind-resistant, but doesn't have much insulation on its own. The material is slightly stretchy, which makes it comfortable and easy to layer over or under. The inner cuffs with thumb loops are actually pretty slick; they act kind of like glove liners if you wear gloves over them, and completely seal any water/snow out of your sleeves even with lightweight gloves. You can tuck them back into the sleeves if you don't want to use them.

If you want to stay warm, you'll need layers underneath -- and in bad weather, you'll need a real shell over it. As long as you don't expect it to be a waterproof shell, or to keep you warm in bitter cold by itself, it's a great piece of equipment.

Warm enough for temps down to about 35-40 degrees F. Much colder than that, or throw in a stiff breeze, and these gloves don't keep your hands warm for very long. And I generally have pretty warm hands. Not really waterproof, but they are very breathable and dry quickly.

Also, they are fairly slick, making it hard to grip things like cellphones, or take money/credit cards out of your wallet, etc. There is a grippy leather patch between the thumb and forefinger; this helps for, say, driving, but not gripping small electronic devices. The gloves would be improved IMO if they had more of the grippy stuff on the palm and/or fingertips.

On the plus side, they're very comfortable, seem well-made, and do work well as long as it's not absolutely freezing. XL size will fit people with big hands. I cut off the little D-ring/clip for attaching the gloves together, as it looked kind of silly and I generally don't use those anyway.

Skied the last two days with these, and I can vouch for their awesomeness. Nice fit, looks great, very very comfortable. Not cheap, but you get your money's worth. I look forward to using these for a long time.

I wear 42"x34" mens' pants, and the XL Tall fits well. It doesn't have a ton of extra room in the seat/thigh, but I can wear it with a layer or two underneath with no problem. Arcteryx XXL Tall pants are practically falling off me and are WAY too big through the legs.

Somewhat warm and fairly windproof, but only has a very thin lining (which is a good thing IMO; you can layer under shell pants, but you can't make really warm pants cooler.) Breathes well, and you can sort of vent them through the pockets. (If you want insulated pants with full zip vents, try the Sidewinders instead.) No problem with water even when I had to ride a chairlift up and then ski down through active snow guns, nor when falling down a few times while trying to get my ski legs back. Ankle gaiters work well; the grippy elastic holds tight on ski boots.

One minor concern for skiing is that the insides of the legs aren't really as reinforced as some other ski-specific pants. There's a double layer of fabric on the lower 12" or so, but not the sort of "armor" material that some pants have. If you tend to catch your pants with your edges a lot you might tear them up after a while. I don't usually have issues with this, but just something to be aware of with Arc'Teryx softshell pants.

These definitely run large -- I'm often an "XXL" in other clothing categories, but the XXL/Tall size was WAY too big through the leg and almost TOO tall for me. That's tough to do, since I'm 6'6" and about 265 lbs. I need an XL/Tall, but they don't have it in stock in the closeouts of last year's model.

No actual field experience to report, but seem very water/windproof. High quality construction, laminated seams, 'snagless' interior that won't catch on base layers or gear. NOT insulated (which is good IMO for a shell pant). The bottoms of the legs are reinforced, but not as heavily 'armored' as I've seen on some other ski pants.

Pricey, but if you need high-quality big+tall ski pants, Arc'Teryx makes the best.

I ordered these for comparison with some other ski pants -- I'm a big+tall guy, so the options are somewhat limited. Sizing runs big -- I normally wear a 40x34" or 42x34" pant, and the XL/Tall (listed as 39x33.75") is just about right. XXL/Tall would be falling off me.

Very solid construction. These are 'semi-insulated' soft shell pants, with a thin fleece lining.

I eventually decided to go with the Arc'Teryx Stingray pants instead, because of the following:

1) The 'Stingray' pants are lower-bulk/less insulated (they use the "Low Loft" GoreTex softshell material, compared with the "High Loft" in the Scorpion.)

2) The 'Stingray' pants have elastic ankle gaiters (instead of just a drawstring on the Scorpion).

3) The 'Stingray' pants have normal hip pockets instead of the thigh ones. The thigh pockets are kind of useless IMO.

As a downside, the 'Stingray' pants don't have the zippered thigh vents (but with less insulation, that should be less necessary.) They are very similar; the choices come down more to personal preference and if you want more or less insulation.