Yung Lee

If I could afford it, I'd wear these every day (almost) because how comfortable they are. The elasticity of these briefs are that of nothing I've tried before, they stretch and conform to your body so naturally in ways that literally make you forget you are wearing them. With its ability to wick moisture and resist odor, they are my go to pair for hiking/backpacking. Wish they were less expensive but hey, you get what you pay for.

Weighing merely at 1.2 oz, a basic compass with a magnetic declination adjustment (able to set east and west at 5° increments) isn't bad at all. The construction (material and build) certainly isn't something to write home about, but it'll get the job done when your primary navigation fails. Keep it with me with my survival kit. Got in on sale at about twenty percent off MSRP....probably would not have gotten it at full price.

at less than 5oz, this kit comes with an extensive array of items to address the typical wound care, medication, and blister needs. The kit comes with a superlight rip-stop like zippered bag, and a dryflex waterproof zip lock bag inside that tolds all the items. The zippered bag is big enough to also hold AM's pocket survival pak and a Gerber Ultralight LST Knife, and some rubber bands. All together, they make my survival kit. The items seem to be all of high quality.

first thing you'll comment on when you see it in person will be on how light it is. then you'll be surprised how sharp it is. sure, it won't hold its edge as well as "normal" sized knives....but for the size and weight, it's better than most. A great backup/survival kit item.

This survival pak in combination with "Adventure Medical Ultralight & Watertight .5 First Aid Kit" and "Gerber Ultralight L.S.T. Knife" turns into a mere ~8.5oz SOL kit for me. The included instructions, though quite basic for most outdoor enthusiasts, is a good summary of necessary skills, and the included items are of high quality for how light they are. The only two items that aren't quite up to par in my humble opinion are the magnifying glass and the compass, which are both flimsy and not very effective (nonetheless, they're better than not having them). My favorite item is the fire starter, it works so well that I'm tempted to use it for my normal fire starting applications.

The orbit lantern truly does light up your world, and it also lightens it up! At about 4.8 oz with four AAA batteries, this little pocket rocket packs a lot of punch (or light). And it's so easy to use, click the power button once for full power, then you press again and hold to adjust the intensity (initially gets dimmer then it gets brighter). I use it mostly on camping/backpacking trips in my Big Agnes Fly Creek UL3, and I don't need much above the lowest setting to read. There are hooks at the top for easy hanging. AND, feels kinda weird saying this, but I think the lime green version is cute.

Durable and super light materials, ease of setup, and attractive design is what sold me on this product, and they proved to be true in practice. It's an amazing balance between simplicity, functionality, and adjustability (is that a word?). I'd say you gotta be one close 3-some to be comfortable in this tent, but for 2 people looking to lighten their load on a multi-day trip, I really can't say there's a better tried and true option. Despite the added cost, I'd highly recommend the separately sold footprint. I'm contemplating getting the UL1 for solo trips.

I was really really looking forward to these poles. I won't waste your time talking about how light, how short when folded (my 110cm folds down to ~14.75" and the included mesh stow bag is about 18" although the slack can be folded over) and how easy it is to fold (and unfold them) these poles. It's everything I was looking for on a ultralight backpacking trip. Well, too bad the wrist straps were way too small for my hands. I have large hands (I wear mostly XL gloves - Hestra size 10s I wear), and the straps attached to my 110cm poles were small/medium! I could not get the strap to fold over enough to velcro it down. I chatted with Backcountry's online help, and found out all pole sizes come with small/medium wrist straps. What sadness.... Update: He (from Backcountry's online chat) suggested I contact BD directly, and they sent me a medium/large strap for free, which arrived in just couple of days! Upon closer inspection, it was pretty easy to swap out the straps. What gladness....!

I tried 3 other bags in its class (Boreas Buttermilk, Osprey Pack Exos 58, and Mountain Hardware Thruway 50) before deciding on this kick-a$$ bag. Sure this is one Spartan bag and I'd love to have some simple convenience features like hip-belt pocket, and maybe a stow on the go feature that Osprey packs do, but you know where this bag (to me) excels in one thing that matters the most to me? The suspension! The most customizable, comfortable set of support, ventilation, and straps I've had the luxury of imposing on my back. I remember reading Backpacker magazine saying it has a "class leading hip belt," and it really does by a mile. I also love the bomber Cordura, and also the line-loc cord and how easy it is to loosen and tighten it to compress the bag quickly and evenly. One minor gripe? It's kinda ugly....but it's growing on me because it fits so well.

Now Osprey is a tried and true, trusted brand and I got a lot of respect for their products. I truly admire how they were able to jam in so many convenience features while keeping the weight at a minimum. One feature I'm quite enamored with is stow-on-the-go trekking pole attachment that works quite well. Its lid and small compartments in addition to its main packbag are all great conveniences that I appreciate. The issue for me ended up being its suspension, which to me is the most important factor in procuring a backpack. The mesh back panel of its modified airspeed suspension is very comfortable and it should conform to all types of body types; however, in an effort to facilitate ventilation, the main body is separated a bit from that same back panel, pulling the bulk of the weight away from your back. I felt a quite a bit of weight swing as I rotated about my hips. I like the weight to stay as close to my body as possible, and the bag was not doing it for me. For reference, I'm 5'11" (21.5" torso, a bit long for my overall height), 170 to 175 lbs, and 31" waist. However, it doesn't mean this bag won't be a gem for you.

I was in the market as they say for a light backpack (trying to keep my total load around 25lbs), and a bag that weighs less than 2 lbs sounded very promising to me. I wasn't too concerned about its virtually non-existent individual compartments/zippered pockets/lid/etc. In fact, I found its Spartan setup quite refreshing. The issue for me ended up being its suspension. Now the shoulder straps and the hip belt, despite their thin composition are very comfortable, but its frameless design made the load lifters ineffective in that the frame wasn't strong enough to properly lift the load off my shoulders. In fact, the top of the frame just curled towards my shoulders (and this was with about 20 lbs of load. I'm not sure whether it's technically correct to call it a frameless suspension, but it's essentially a combination of light plastic frame sheet and a foam pad - offers nowhere near the rigidity that other backpacks in its class offers (e.g. Granite Gear AC 60, Osprey Exos 58, Boreas Buttermilk 55). Additionally, the pack has absolutely no provision for a hydration system, and it's also more expensive (not by much but nonetheless) than its competing models. I do love the idea/intent of the bag, hopefully I'll have a better luck with it in their future models. I believe it may have still worked for me for loads under 15 lbs. And just because I had issues with it doesn't mean it won't work for you, everyone has a unique body and propensity. For reference, I'm 5'11", 170-175 lbs (depending on whether I'm lifting or not), 31" waist with 21.5" torso (I do have a long torso for my height).

I got the Backe edition and in my humble opinion, it's the best looking design/color of all available Bug options. The design is so slick and clean, the only downside is since the shell has more of a shiny finish than the matte finish of others, the scratches seem to show up quick(er). As for the helmet itself, I love the simplicity in its construction (not to say the design isn't sophisticated, the double overlapping shells do seem to work very well controlling the heat inside the helmet without compromising its ability to protect against penetration), the durable materials, and lightness. My only gripe is the detachable clip for goggle straps (poor design, flimsy, etc.); I just do without it.

This is Lowa's top selling boot, and for good reasons. You could be pushing these boots a bit if you are typically doing a serious through or section hiking through major trails, but it's a relatively light and easy to break-in boot that is perfect for the weekenders. The liner is lasted to the boot so everything feels smooth and seemless inside; the minute you step in, it's hard to believe a hiking boot can provide this much comfort. The monowrap construction of the midsole does a great job providing stability. I tore some ligaments in my ankle 4 months ago that I'm still recovering from, so the lateral stability of the boot helped me tremendously through a moderate 6 mile hike on my first day out with these boots. The derby lacing gives a great and snug wrap around your feet, and it's so easy to get in and out of the boots once they are untied. The outsole provides great traction as well, but they aren't "stiff" as the heavy duty hiking boots, so you do get a pretty direct feedback from uneven/rocky terrains (so definitely some pros & cons) - and I'd imagine the outsoles may not last very long because of this, but I'm just speculating at this point. As always, before deciding on any model, try them on and make sure they FIT right! Reviewers may say these run small or large, but that's based on their unique foot shapes which means they won't always apply to you. Some key tips for hiking boots:
1. make sure you lace them nice and tight (but you shouldn't feel any hotspots); when your boots are laced completely there should be no slack in the laces near the toe area
2. make sure your heels don't move up and down much as you walk
3. walk down a steep slope and ensure your toes aren't hitting the front.
Summary of 2&3: snug fit through the ankle, heel, and forefoot, and plenty of toe room
HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU!

There's not much to not like about Sorel boots in general. They are typically burly in construction with style to boot (pun intended). The Mad Boot follows the same tradition with stylish upgrade of a classic winter boot, with rich burnished leather and classic snowboard boot like outsole. It's also pretty darn comfy. Only design feature I'm not quite sold on is the way the laces are setup...the lengthier lace hooks make it a bit of a pain to adjust the lace lengths...but it's something I can live with. One thing to watch out for is the color. I can't vouch for others, but I got them in Chipmunk, and the color on Backcountry's website is a bit off (but the ones on Sorel's site are a bit off too...although there is one large picture of it with a guy wearing it that's pretty close). The "brown" is couple of shades darker than it looks on the website. The color of this particular boot is pretty difficult to generate accurately in pictures; it's very tough to get the white balance correct. I'm posting 3 pics, and the 2nd and 3rd pic is as accurate as I could get to the actual color of the chipmunk model. The first one is off in color, but shows you the whole boot in hopefully better detail than the one on the website. Also, due to the nature of the leather finishing process, one batch will look a bit different from the next in color, shade, and texture.

The Falketind Gore-Tex Pro shell is a great jacket. I ordered it in orange crush and the color and fit is nothing like anything else out on the market - though it may be subtle to some, Norrona have a clearly distinct style in their cut and design of the apparels. I'm 5'11", ~170lbs, with 38.5" chest and ~31" waist, and the medium fit me pretty medium/slim but still enough room for layering (base layer plus a decent sized polartec midlayer). The shoulder was a bit cramped, which ultimately led me to return it (along with the fact that I didn't have any pant that went well with the orange), and I knew the large would be too "baggy" around my mid-section for my liking. But if it fits you right, this could be a great all around jacket for general alpine and snow sport applications. One thing that really stood out for me was how "light" the 3 layer Gore-Tex pro felt. I have other Gore-Tex Pro shells, and this jacket felt noticeably relaxed without sacrificing the durability that the pro shell is known for. And don't let the "simple" appearance fool you, it has most of the design features to make it a versatile jacket. One other thing worthy of mentioning is if you have a big head and had issues with jackets with hoods that wouldn't go over your helmet, this jacket has one of the bigger hoods I've seen. One downside (for me, but may be not for you) is there is no powder skirt if you're buying this for skiing - I'd look at Lofoten pro shell instead...but alas, they're mostly sold out.

I've worn these over a course of the season last year (about 20 days of skiing on these) and they are the best socks I've ever worn. I use them for skiing in my Full Tilt Seth Morrison with intuition liners, so naturally, thick socks are out of the question. They keep me reasonably warm throughout the season, and that is saying a lot considering how thin they are. They are also very robust and still haven't lost any of the elasticity (hence its performance). Sure they are expensive, but you get what you pay for.

The craftsmanship, material, fashion and ingenuity of this pant is second to none. The moment I saw it, I deemed it worthy of its price tag. The only downside (for me that is) was that the pants run a bit smaller (in waist) than those of other brands. I'm about waist size 31~32, about 170lbs and 5'11" and the small ended up being a bit too tight. I'd definitely size up from what you normally wear (especially if you wear those sizes for TNF or Burton shell pants). I'd say the sizes run more closely to Arc'teryx shells. Additionally, the pants are quite baggy. I have relatively thick thighs and calves and they were baggy on me...which isn't an issue, more a matter of your personal taste. Ordered the small, and by the time I needed to exchange for a medium, it was already sold out. Oh well, I'll get one early next year.

It's simply a joy to put on a pair of these Seth. Here're my reasons for liking it so much:
1. Super easy to put on and off.
2. Super easy micro-adjustment of buckles.
3. Slightly wider than the other 3 piece design manufacturer.
4. Multi-laminate Pro Intuition Liner that provides a thin layer of cushioning providing comfort without sacrificing much performance.
5. The 3-piece design of course! The flexing feels sooooooo natural, it's a joy to make every turn with it.
6. Lighter weight
7. Bad-ass design
8. And of course, the NOT so Ordinary Skier - SETH.
I got about 102mm width, so it did take a custom boot fitting to blow out some areas. Also used an aftermarket foot-bed. Rock-solid, will never go back to two piece designs.

I wanted to get a set of gloves that has shorter sleeves than those of my Hestra Heli's, so the Seth was just what the doctor ordered. Can't beat the Hestra quality (fit, quality of material, assembly, warmth, and removable wrist cuffs), and the cool design. The previous readers are correct in that they seem to run noticeably smaller than the Heli's, and it's quite a bit stiffer (I have the Heli's in 10, and the Seth in 10 as well). I applied a lot of the supplied wax and that softened up the leather a bit, which also alleviated the "tightness" I felt. After about 3 days of skiing, the gloves loosened up even more and now, it doesn't feel all that different from my Heli's. Overall, I'm very satisfied with the product; I recommend it to anyone looking for a quality pair of skiing gloves.

If you're a dude (or even a dudarett), the Dakine Travel Kit is just about all you'll need for carrying your travel toiletries. I got the Kernigan version which is funky cool in its design (the look just seems right for my ski trips), and comes with enough space for all your essentials and then some. There are two zippered inside pockets, one large open pocket, and one detachable (via velcro attachment) plastic bag with zippered entry. There's a hanging hook inside so you can hang the bag in its opened state (which I don't find all that useful...).
In my case, I can carry shampoo & conditioner (two 8.4 oz bottles), five ~2.5oz bottles (toothpaste, aftershave, deodorant, sun block, and hair paste/gel), a 5.1 oz bottle of hair styling treatment (yeah yeah, I got lot of hair stuff and I'm a guy....don't hate), a floss, a toothbrush, and few smaller containers (o.5 oz bottles) in the travel kit without much difficulty. The construction seems pretty durable, definitely a high value buy in my opinion. Hence, I highly recommend it!

The Orage JP Auclair is a pretty slick looking jacket with a good number of external of pockets that are strategically placed. I especially like the idea of the front right pocket (or trail map pocket) with velcro'd hood. Sometimes, you just want a storage place without the hassle of having to open up a zipper. This front pocket is made with an additional layer of the Gore-Tex soft shell, which is pretty cool. The fit is indeed regular; not too slim fitting or loose fitting. I'm 5'11, 175lbs, with 38.5" chest, and the medium fits me pretty comfortably without being too baggy. I have a little wider shoulder, so it's a little snug there, which accentuates the feeling of extra room around my waist (~31"). The fleece lining makes the jacket a bit thicker & heavier than a traditional technical shell. In the end, it gets the job done and you look pretty decent wearing it whether you're on or off the piste.
Now why only 3 stars then? Couple of reasons: A - several discrepancies from the product description - the shell is Gore-Tex soft, NOT Pro, the jacket does NOT have internal media pocket & the hydration pocket. B - The wrist gaiter is a pain in the butt if you have large hands (I wear size 10 Hestra's); the fabric that sits between the forefinger and thumb feels tight once you put on your gloves (so I just decide not to use the gaiter by not using the "thumb hole"). C - The aforementioned thickness and heaviness of the jacket (due to the fleece lining) engenders a noticeable difference in ease of arm movements compared to my Arc'teryx Sidewinder.

I really really really like the I/O's (not to be confused with I/OS), so much that I bought them even though it doesn't fit me (I'll get to this later). To the good - two excellent lenses for the price of one goggle is a bargain. I got the chrome max frame with Green Sol-X Mirror for bright sunny days, and of course the sensor mirror that comes as the second lens for the low light. The sensor mirror is a gem. Transmits about 70% of light: if you're into photography, I'd say wearing it is equivalent to (well somewhat) quarter stop reduction in exposure with increased contrast. (translation: great for those cloudy days and adequate for night skiing) With these two lenses and my Oakley Crowbar w/ Gold Iridium lens, I got just about all lighting conditions covered. The near frameless design is elegant in its simplicity (and also seems to provide greater peripheral vision because of it), and the goggles are quite light, and hence comfortable in that sense. Now to the bad (for me that is): If you are an East Asian, hence suffer from a less pronounced nose bridge, you'll be left with a gap in that area. And if you have a wider face, then it's doubly(? boy that's poor English) worse.... I suffer from both, so I'm left with about 1/2" gap. I mitigate this by wearing my Seirus MASQUE, which does the job of sealing up most of that gap. So awesome goggles, but if you have any of the aforementioned facial features, I'd suggest trying it on first to make sure you like it (of course I'd recommend this for any type of goggle purchase).

before i got this bad boy, i wasn't too fond of applying the F4 because the buffing process was a bit "strenuous." Using the cork not only enhances the effectiveness of the wax application, but makes it easier as well. i wasn't expecting much from it, but ended up really liking it.

By far, this is the best looking ski bag I've ever seen (and definitely owned), and it holds skis (duh....), so 'nuff said, it's awesome! Well, I do have couple more things to say: The bag is definitely big enough to hold two skis (the spec says skis up to 191cm [total length] and it sounds about right after inspection in person), and couple pairs of poles too. There are four zippered interior pockets to store whatever else you'd like. The "heavy duty" wheels do work better than i thought it would, though I wish it'd protrude a little more so the edge of the bag (at that end of the bag) doesn't drag on the floor as much. The outer fabric looks and feels pretty durable, so it should be able to withstand the perils of normal use. I just have one issue with the design: The zippers....not very smooth at all (especially the ones for the interior pockets)...it just feels like one of those zippers that don't last too long (my eighty dollars Dakine backpack has better zippers than these - though I realize I'm not comparing apples to apples). Overall, I think this is a great ski bag and I highly recommend it.

This is the best fitting soft shell I've ever bought (prior to this, my favorite softshell was the maverick ar). It's quite trim fitting and the arms are cut longer than the body (even more so than other Arc'teryx soft shells), which is great if you have a relatively lean body with long arms. I'm about 40" chest, 34~35" arm, 31" waist, and about 5'11" tall, and the medium gives me a trim fitting look that I like. The weather proofing is what you'd expect from a polartec fabric; this particular power shield seems very thin yet durable...facilitating more ease of movement. It repels moderate rain quite well too. I feel pretty warm with just a thin t shirt underneath until low 40s F (but anyone who drops the cash to purchase this jacket knows he/she'll need to layer it [i.e. pro shell, etc.] under inclement weather - whatever that may mean for you will vary I'm sure). Plan to put it into my mid layer rotation for the skiing season...the longer arms will be a joy to use I'm sure. When you receive it, you might say to yourself....hmmm...doesn't quite look to be worth money...but the more you wear it, you'll see that it's worth it. That's what Arc'teryx is for me...simplistic and modern in design, durable and high performing in use.

So I got the Griffon Schizo to be used on my first twin tip/park skis (2010 Armada Pipe Cleaner) because I simply had no idea where I should mount the bindings. For that purpose alone, this does a great job and overall, I'm satisfied with the purchase. The bindings feel very solid, and I like how the binding clamps on to my boots with authority when I step into it. Edge to edge transition feels just as smooth as my mid 70s waist Volkl Tigershark. However, there are couple of things that did bother me after first day out with the new setup:
1. Adjusting the binding position on the fly isn't quite as glorious as it sounds. Snow/ice get stuck in the screw of the toe piece (which you rotate to slide the binding) making it a pain in the XXX to insert the provided plastic screw driver to make the adjustment.
2. Sliding the binding all the way back essentially exposes 6+ cm worth of white base plate, which isn't aesthetically pleasing. Overall, the presence of all the extra pieces (base plate, steel cable, etc.) takes away that clean look you get from traditional bindings on flat waists of twin tip skis.
3. The Pipe Cleaner I got has a waist of 84mm; however, the brakes end up being too narrow the further I slide the bindings back (which just comes with the territory of having such a binding, so not a negative for the manufacturer...just a caution for the potential buyers).
4. This binding makes me paranoid about making sure both bindings are at the same position.

Got the Pipe Cleaner (176cm) to be my 50/50 ski to have the versatility split my days between the terrain parks and the on-piste runs. First off, the race base is the real deal; the skis pick up speed so much faster than my 08' Volkl Tigershark 10ft (168cm) that it took me half a day to get adjusted to it. I was passing most people on the flats without even having to skate. There's plenty of pop at the tips, and the skis feel very solid landing from jumps (which is what this ski was really built for - especially the pipes). Super stable with speed and easy to butter/switch ski. The edges held pretty well in east coast (PA) icy conditions, though I found myself needing to consistently use proper edge holding techniques (hip angulation, countering, etc.) to ensure I'm maximizing the edge angle, which isn't something I do all the time since my Tigershark allows me to get lazy now and then. So it isn't quite ideal, though more than adequate, for on-piste runs in the icy east coast conditions. The graphics aren't as bright as it looks on the monitor; the reds you see on the screen look more dark purple, which doesn't really bother me but doesn't buy it the extra star it would've gotten. I'm a little concerned about the durability of the skis; took it out for 3 days (only about 15% of the time spent in the park) of skiing on it and already some damage (mostly cosmetic) on the base and the top sheet whereas the Volkl that I used for ~20 days of skiing this season showed less damage.

I got the Team Pollard edition. The 20L pack is a bit on the short side, which was expected and stated in the description (recommended for riders 5'7" or shorter). I'm about 5'11" and the bottom of the pack is 2~3 inches from my waist line (which doesn't really bother me....probably a good thing). The pack comes with so many straps that are all adjustable (but kind of loose)....if they indeed designed this for someone 5'7" or shorter, they certainly designed it for someone who's very "thick" for the height....the shoulder straps had so much adjustable straps left after I tightened them around myself (I'm about 38" chest/31" waist) that I'm contemplating cutting them out. The fleece lining of both the camera and goggle pockets are low quality...I wont' put my goggles in there without the bag that it came with . There's a key chain hook inside the camera pocket, which is a bit annoying....what's the point of having fleece lining if you got a piece of plastic in there to potentially scratch your camera? Thumbs up for design and functionality (the intent of at least), and thumbs down on the execution and the details. Overall, burly construction...and for the money paid, I don't regret getting it.

it's easy and kinda fun to apply the wax, then not so fun to buff it.... it took me good ten minutes to do a pair of skis. it does improve the glide and it is indeed a good alternative to traditional waxing....however, doesn't last more than a day (maybe two) on the slopes....

got this for night skiing in sub single digit nights, the adhesive side wasn't strong enough for me to stay in place while i was putting on my boots. I wear boots with 98mm last, maybe that's the issue. I've also given one to my friend who was able to put her boots on with the warms in place; however, she said it didn't seem to warm her toes up at all....so overall, pretty bad (not really bad, but waste of time) experience with these.

I love Arc'teryx but I'd never been too happy with the fitting of their mid-layers. I have a broad shoulder and long arms despite compared to my ~38" chest, which kinda falls in the "small" size range (albeit being on the larger side of that sizing's range). So I've had the toughest time finding a good fitting mid layer fleece that hugs my chest and especially my waist in modern fitting fashion. The maverick does this better than any other fleece midlayer I've tried in recent years. The cut is modern (chest around 40" and the waist cut doesn't balloon up like most jackets), design is simple and sophisticated, and polartec fabric kicks butt as usual - keeps the heat while wicking away the sweat (it's amazing how fast the moisture transfers out the exterior of the jacket). I wish the sleeves were a tad longer, but like i said, my shoulders are a bit broad and my arms are disproportionately long (i prefer ~35" from center back to wrist...i think these are ~34"), so it shouldn't be an issue for the general mass. Got it in abyss blue, the color contrast between the blue fabric and Arc'teryx print in white looks pretty slick. Why no five stars?!?!?! well, both of the hand pocket zippers don't go all the way up, leaving a small gab at the top when zipped up!!!!

i have these in both raisin and coffee bean, surprisingly warm for such a thin material. and it really doesn't itch! it's a tad tight for my head (but I have a big head...wear XL Bern Baker hard hat just to give you a comparison). I love the simplistic yet sophisticated design as it is the case with most Arc'teryx products. since it is a bit tight on my head and there's really no excess material (like the beanies Tanner Hall would wear), I feel a little awkward wearing it for skiing cause my head looks pretty small with my skiing goggles on....so I use it when I'm going to and leaving ski resorts.

I have an '09 Sidewinder AR jacket and have loved it for the most part, so it was a matter of time before I decided to open up my frequently abused wallet and get the pants. As with all high end Arc' technical shells, the craftsmanship, simplistic design, smoothness of waterproof zippers, and Gore-Tex Pro is great....so I really really wanted to like it...but I couldn't....and ended up return it. Here are the reasons:
1. I wear size small pants from TNF (Liberation Pant - Gore-Tex Performance) and Burton ([ak] 3L Hover Pant - Gore-Tex Pro) and they fit very well without requiring a belt, which I love. The smalls on these run about an inch smaller. I was able to button it up, but it was too tight for my liking. I thought this was odd.....because the Sidewinder AR jacket runs quite large...well, although the neck is too tight, but that's off topic....
2. I bought coffee bean loving how the brown tint looked from the website...in person....there's a lot of green tint that I hadn't notice on computer....again, a negative for me since I was trying to match it with my teak Sidewinder AR jacket.
3. there's a seemingly permanent fold line on each leg that runs down vertically in front and back....I looked like I'm wearing an old fashioned pleated khakis....I still give it 3 stars because if you don't mind the aforementioned characteristics (which were negatives for me but may be positives for you), this is still Arc'teryx and they are one of top snow sports apparel producers....even if they're being made in China for the most part now....

I was looking for a Gore-Tex Pro shell, and after weeks of research, bought Arc'teryx Sidewinder SV Pant, but ended up not liking it at all. The size ran a bit smaller than I thought, and I just thought it looked too "formal." (I have a review written of it) I wanted something that isn't as form fitting as my other skiing pants, but not as baggy as the Armada pants. To my surprise, the AK Hover pant seemed like a decent fit (they call the fit of these pants the "sig fit," which is between their "team fit" and "slim fit" fits), and it did serve that purpose for the most part (it could be a tad slimmer, but still pretty damn good). I got size small in resin, and it looks pretty distinctive with my teak Arc'teryx Sidewinder AR jacket (09). My understanding is that it's not completely Gore-Tex pro shell, but actually a mix of Pro and Gore-Tex Soft shell, and the combination produces a much more comfortable fit that follows your movement very well! It almost feels like the pants isn't even there! The wind protection is awesome ,which is a given with such material. Had this been a skiing pants, I would've given it 4/5 stars because it doesn't have a scuff guard. Got some action in it for about 5 hours of skiing today and no cuts or damages yet, so hopefully it stays that way! This is my first Burton product purchase since I'm a skier, but I must say I'm impressed with their quality! Only real negative note: It's made in China, but they all are these days....

So I suffer from a relatively lean core with a long torso, wide shoulders, long arms, which makes buying modern fitting winter clothes nearly impossible. One of the upside of buying a vest is I just need to worry about fitting my chest and that the vest isn't too long nor too short. The small fits pretty nicely and tight (not too tight of course) to my ~38" chest, and doesn't do too bad a job hugging my waist (~30"). It is a bit long as others pointed out, which works well for me but may not for you. The construction of the vest is very good, the 3 zippers work very smoothly, which is something that I've always liked about Arc'teryx products. One major downer...it's made in China as about 10 Arc'teryx products I've bought during the past year have been...

I wanted a comfy and cute looking (I realize this sounds suspect, but I assure you I am very masculine) winter shoe to wear before and after skiing, and the bota bag is exactly what the doctor ordered. As an all around shoe, I'd give the bota bag no more than 3 stars; however, the shoe stays true to exactly how it's advertised...comfy shoe for around the house and outside in the snow to grab the mail or take out trash. It is very comfortable (cushy, hugs the sides and bottom of your feet as if you were stepping on the snuggle bear), and getting in and out of the shoe requires no hand assistance. This isn't however something that you can walk a long distance in nor something that'll facilitate any sort of "athletic" move. It is very true to size; however, it is high in volume vertically (or perhaps it's the front slit that's tricking me into thinking it is), which causes your heel to slip up and down quite a bit. Finally, the Delta version doesn't look as dark as you see in the picture...and I've seen some pics of it on other sites that seemed too light. In reality, it's somewhere in between.

I love this hard hat for the following reasons: good looks, better than expected audio quality, and more sizing options. This helmet is available in various colors and in special editions. I myself have the TJ Schneider version with a funny drawing of a skeleton man :P Being a pseudo audiophile, I'm usually pretty picky with my audio equipment...so I didn't expect much from the 8 tracks system, but I've found it to be more than adequate for the day on the slopes. Sure, you won't find the vibrance and clarity of a 300 dollar Sanheiser headphone, but the 8 tracks system outputs consistent sound throughout the entire range of the volume without noticeable static. And I love the fact that it's available in five sizes as opposed to Smith helmets that offer only 3 (maybe 4 at most) sizes with their pinch/pull system that is a pain in the butt if you ask me...why should I get a bigger helmet than I need just because I can tighten the straps to my head? One drawback is the fact that this is a hard hat (not a helmet)...the difference being that this hard hate "does not meet ASTM or EN standards for protective head gear for use in non-motorized land action sports." I frankly did not know this when I purchased it because every site calls it a helmet nor do they disclose this warning. So minus one star for that. Anyhow, it looks strong enough to be adequate for resort/front side mountain activities.

With endless combination of frame/strap/outrigger colors and more importantly around 20 different lenses (with varying light transmission, protection index, contrast capabilities), Crowbar offers something for majority of your snow sporting needs. Historically, I myself, having a less pronounced bridge of the nose had issues due to the gap between the bridge of nose and the corresponding part of the face foam. Crowbar can be procured in Asian fit and that provided a better fit for me. As for its performance, the face foam provides a comfortable fit with even distribution of pressure throughout the contact area, and the clarity of the lens is what you'd expect from a 100+ dollar goggle. The top of the frame is a bit rounder than that of many competing models and it did pose some helmet compatibility issues for me. I'd say the best solution for that is to use a helmet liner or something comparable (e.g. velcro strips). Despite the thickness of the foam/frame, the peripheral and downward vision is more than adequate, but don't expect to have as good a upward vision. As for its anti-fogging capability, it's no better than my 40 dollar Uvex goggle that I use for night skiing - if you wear it with a face mask, the steam from your nose/mouth will fog it up - which is expected...I'm just saying, don't expect that it'll be better in that regard.

I adore this hard shell for many reasons: simple yet elegant design/cut, gore-tex pro shell, offset zipper, and let's face it, I'm a sucker for name brands and Arc'teryx is the best in the business in my humble opinion. Of course these are straightforward facts you could've read from any site selling this jacket. So to speak to its performance, it is simply awesome. Gore-Tex Pro is simply phenomenal when it comes to it's ability to shield the wearer from the elements while being exceptionally breathable. And the articulated elbows and shoulders really did wonders for me who typically has issues finding the right outerwear due to 38.5" chest (which is usually considered small for men's size) while having pretty wide shoulders and long arms. Unfortunately, i had to move a size up to medium because there wasn't enough room in the neck region of the small (but this may not be an issue for you, I have a pretty athletic build and my neck is I guess a little thicker). The stowable hood doesn't do much for me...I usually don't wear a helmet, and without the helmet, the brim of the hood kept falling below my eyes and I'm not in the business of skiing blind. And just to be super picky, I'm not fond of the clear radio pocket because condensed perspiration builds up on the inside of the clear pocket.

This is definitely one of the best ski gloves out there in terms of product quality (fabric, stitching, design, etc.) and the fact that there are 6 different sizes to choose from allows the user to find the optimal size for his/her hands. The snow lock and velcro enclosures are designed so that one can tighten them easily with one hand. The gloves feel a bit stiff at first, but they do loosen up (not in a bad way) after a day on the slopes. My one major complaint is that it's being advertised as the glove for extreme weather. I was skiing last night between 10~15F weather, and my hands did get cold...not as bad as my toes were feeling and I'd say it was bearable...but for the money, you'd think they'd throw in a liner (but considering some Hestra liners will cost you up to 40 bucks...I guess that's too much to ask). And why isn't backcountry selling Hestra glove liners?

For the money, this is a high value pants. I'm not even gonna touch the water repellent and wind stopping qualities of Gore-Tex which is a given. The gaiter with velcro and snap enclosure is a good convenient for quick wrapping over the boot (vs. zipppers). The cut/design of the pant is simple yet highly functional. The issue is the fit, which seems to run on the larger side. The size chart says medium is 32-34 inches. I wear 32-33 pants (from the usual banana republic, express, jcrew, etc. brands)...and the medium was too large for me even after pulling on the velcro waistband to the max. So I ended up getting the small, which fits but is a bit tight on me (the snap enclosure pops out sometimes). I'm sure this shouldn't be an issue for most people though...and I just need to loose some weight.

To me, the traverse is a good set of poles for the following reasons: quality (from top to bottom, the qualities of the material and craftsmanship are outstanding), adjustability, and low weight. There are couple of annoyances yes...for me, my hands are on the large side (i.e. I wear size 10 Hestra gloves), consequently, with a gauntlet type gloves, the grips end up being a bit short for me. This isn't an issue when I use my Marmot spring gloves. And I noticed when I was skiing at night below ~15F, the poles will sometimes make some sort of whistling noise. Lastly....the 3/4 baskets don't maintain their correct orientation...which makes one wonder....what's the point of having 3/4 baskets? In conclusion, this is one of the best poles you'll get for the money, and it will make you stand out (which isn't very appealing to me personally but if you need some boost for your self esteem), and your cheaper buddies will ask to borrow it for a run or two.