Less. Less tip means less float.

With the large base area on these skis, you shouldn't have any big problems skinning except on steep hardpack or ice.

184

Pretty heavy and definitely stiff. Not going to want the same ski for tight trees and 50+ foot cliffs. 187 for the trees and a tighter radius, 194s for the drops. At your height, I would say you could handle the 194s.

I would reccomend the 185. They may feel long to start but the 175 would be too short.

yes.

They are as strong as anything else on the market.

I am of the camp that believes you should buy skins for the widest part of your ski and trim from there. In this case, you would want to get a pair of the 120mm. The 110s will work but will not provide full coverage. You will want the 179-186 length.

What are you using them for? Chopsticks are as more dedicated powder jib stick while the elizabeths hadle power well but also feel at home on the front side due to their slightly smaller dimensionsActually thanks I just answered myself.. Thanks.I'm an east coaster that travels out west twice a year.. I want a backcountry ski with nice pop.. I like natural hits and deep stuff but want something more playful.. Is the chopstick a reverse camber? --- "The Chopstick’s reverse camber is less pronounced then other skis, allowing more of the ski’s edge to be in contact with the snow and giving you more control whether you're sessioning the park or riding a groomer back to the lift."

Given you height and weight, I would reccomend the 167s. Given that you ski 168s already, go for the 167s.

No major difference

Seeing as the rockered tip will make these ski a little bit shorter, the 174 would be a good fit for you and will handle the bc powder well.

If youre looking for a strictly powder ski it may be worth it to wait for a 190. You are currently on 184s and the 182 Czars are going to ski even shorter dues to the slight tip rocker.

185

I think so. They may feel a little big at times but performance around the rest of the mountain would make up for it.

185

you should have no problem putting your 160s in this bag

The dimesions on this ski are the same regardleess of length, so if you like the 175 in your current ski, go for the 177 in these.

I have the STH and love them. Would be a perfect binding for this ski.

I would reccomend the 149...possibly the 156 if you truly are progressing quickly and want a ski that you can 'grow' in to.

is there a question in there?

yes but you may have to remove the handle from the blade or else have the top of the handle stick out of the top of the pack

100

It depends a little on your skiing style. The AC50 is a groomer ski meant to be put on edge. The mantra is more of an all mountain ski that would feel more at home in some deeper stuff. If you mostly stick to groomers, I would go AC50; if you plan on doing a little more all-mountain skiing and throwing in some trees and some west coast trips, go with the mantra.

Of course you can, why not? Just get skins that come close to the dimensions of the ski and thats all there is to it . Youtube " ski skins" to find a good tutorial on how to trim them and how to put them on, ect.---The one thing these skis have going for them in terms of skinning is they are really wide, thus providing extra surface area under foot where skin can meet snow. That being said, with the rocker you are going to have a large portion of the tip and tail that will not have contact with the snow (unless you are in powder). I would not want to take these skinning on hardpack or steeps, especially where a fall or slide backwards could have some bad results.

ok

I like this ski better as an all-mountain tool

I'm more of a fan of the hellbent. Personal opinion though.

If you buy it online, it comes completely stock. Most boot shops will do mods to it for you at a price.

The 174 coombas will feel slightly longer than your PEs simply because they are directional and will have more effective edge. If the PEs feel just a tad short, then the 174 coombas will work. If you are looking for slightly more stability at speed and plan on doing some bigger lines, then you can go for the 181.

If you are looking for edge to edge performance, the Mantra is probably the best out of the group you mentioned above. The S5 is going to perform more like the bridge.In going down in size, you are going to loose some stability at speed as well as total effective edge. This may be why you did not like the Bridge in that length as much. Not sure of your height, so length reccomendation is tough, but if you're on 177s and are comfortable there, why change?

they'll do well

The 186s are going to feel real long your first couple of times on them. At your size, and taking into the fact that you are progressing and enjoy off-piste, they would work. But, if possible, you might want to go with the 179s now and step up to the 186s when you have a couple more days under you. Going too long too soon could hurt your skills and slow down your progression slightly.

Freeride bindings are simply going to be a little tougher and more geared towards harder skiing and landing airs. This will be fine for your fat powder skis as long as they are not much fatter than 110mm. Otherwise you will have to bend the brakes to make them fit around the waist of your skis, which is not that big a deal but something to keep in mind.

Not sure why your friend would say that. This ski is an excellent all-mountain tool.

For a new, current model year ski and binding package this isn't a bad price at all, even though it is definitely still a lot of money.You may try to find last years model or a used pair on other websites. Or be sure to check out steepandcheap.com or tramdock.com regularly for some sweet deals.

Check out the Rossi S7 and if you want reverse sidecut and rocker, the 4frnt EHP.

yup they should unless you've got a real small dome and helmet.

these. not even sure if dumont is skiing on the dumonts these days.

These seem to fit a wide array of face sizes, so they should fit. Can always get them from backcountry.com and return them no questions asked if they don't fit. If you are concerned about them not being wide enough, check out the Crowbars. Those are real wide.

This one, the Ortovox S1, and the Mammut Pulse Barryvox

Will they work? Yes. Are there better options out there? Also, yes. Anything that can effectively attach your boot to your ski will work. I assume you will have to bend the brakes to get them around the waist of the Prophets, but they will definitely work.

They are basically the same ski, except the Mythic Rider is a slightly wider ski. The Mythic Rider used to be called the 8800, which gives you a slightly better idea of how closely related the skis are. The Mythic Rider will provide slightly better performance in deeper snow as well as when blasting through crud.

Ignitor mirror is a good all around lens but doesn't perform all that well in real flat light. According to the Smith website, the only gold lens that comes stock in the Prodigy goggles is the Gold Sensor Mirror.

start a 'gear chat' to get a quick, accurate answer

No real benefit to having it on one side versus the other. Might give it a slightly 'cleaner' look if on the inside of the glove as opposed to on the back of the hand.

Great all around binding. Will work well on the mantras.

Can't go wrong with any of those skis. S5 going to be a little more playful than the other two. Only reccomendation is to demo as many pairs as possible. Since you haven't done a ton of skiing recently, you need to try as many pairs as possible and figure out what kind of shape and flex profile you prefer the most.

If you are not skiing much powder, there are better skis out there for you. Look for something with a traditional sidecut and camber. It is going to handle variable conditions better than this ski. If you do get it, the suggested mounting point would probably be your best bet.

The Apache Outlaw would be a better option if you plan on spending 40% of your time in Utah. It has slightly larger dimensions to better handle powder, but will still tackle the hardpack and groomers out East as well as the Xplorer.

I do not believe they will. These have a different hole pattern than the m1000.

You usually want to buy skins that match up with the widest part of your ski; 140mm in this case. That being said, you could probably use the 120mm size but are definitely going to sacrifice some grip on the way up.

Lengend Pros have no rocker; Megawatts have LOTS of tip rocker. Legend Pros are stiffer than the Megawatts and are more all mountain, while the Megawatts are a powder shredding tool.

I believe this is going to be a little lighter and not quite as stiff as the bridge. Any difference is not going to be THAT noticible though. This would be a better park ski; the bridge would succeed more as an all-mountain rig.

Depending on your size it is an option, but unless you plan on skiing and landing switch the majority of the time there is no reason to go true core center on them. They are meant to big a big mountain powder ski and should be mounted accordingly.

179 would be a good size. Go for Marker Griffon as a solid binding choice. Someone else will have to step in for a boot reccomendation.....

This ski really isn't wide enough to be considered a real deep powder ski. Heavier and stiffer aren't going to help either. Look for something with a soft/medium flex and some beefy dimensions. You will have to sacrifice a little in one aspect (hardpack) to gain in another (powder). It is up to you which balance is right.

They are similar in that they are both three antenae transceivers used for avalanche rescue. The 'selling point' of the two units is what differs. The Ortovox S1 has a screen that flips up like a cell phone. This screen then shows you the distance and direction of buried victims by placing icons representative of people on the screen. The Mammut Pulse is popular because it can actually detect small chest compressions and relay that information back to other Mammut Pulse transceivers. The downside of this is that it cannot transmit these vital signs to any other beacon but the Mammut Pulse. So, the victim and rescuer must both have the Mammut to use the feature it has become popular for.

These are a good binding for these skis. Can also look at Salomon STH and Marker Griffon/Jester.

The 130mm brakes will, although they might be a little wide. The Marker Griffon/Jester com with 110mm brakes that would fit (might need a touch of bending).

ok. doesn't look like backcountry.com currently stocks them.

Other than this new binding (http://www.kneebinding.com/), all bindings release in generally the same manner. No binding is going to be any better at preventing knee injury (if they are all set up correctly) than any other binding.

You do two completely different types of skiing, so sizing is a little difficult. It stability at speed is more important to you (big turns and hitting rollers), go with the 185. If the park and trees are where you are more at home, the 177 might work better. If you're truly stuck between two sizes however, I would always reccomend to go bigger.

It is listed. Click the pull down menu underneath the price.

I wouldn't go shorter than your current setup if you are looking for a ski for those fresh days. If you ski aggressively, I don't think the 184 will be too long. Coomba is a great ski as well and if you think that would fit you better then maybe it is the better choice for you.

If you are already skiing the brigades in a 178, it couldnt hurt to step up to the 185. With the rocker these will ski a little shorter than their length might suggest and a 175 will probably feel too short for you if you're already on 178s.As for bindings, the Jesters are a great option for a ski this wide.

Best way to find out is to start a chat with one of the resident gear experts.

The invaders are a little more of a traditional park ski. These are a bit fatter and could also be used as an all mountain ski. They will both handle the park fine; jibbing will probably be a little easier on the invader as they have smaller dimensions and are thus lighter.

Best way to get a quick answer is to start a chat with one of the 'gear experts'.

Its going to take quite a bend to make them fit, but that's not to say its not do-able. I would go with the 100mm brake if its easy to get.

These bindings are not reccomended for any ski with a waist under 76mm.

As good how? They are completely different skis. Kuro is truly powder oriented, Dynastar is more all-mountain.

The size is definitely big enought to fit all that gear. Might be a little tough to squeeze the helmet in but it should make it. Can always hook it onto the outside if its a big issue.

Pro Rider 190, in my opinion.

If you ski 174s and like them, then that is probably a pretty good size in this ski for you. Just remember, it may ski slightly shorter due to its rockered tip.

Should handle the crud fairly well. You might experience some tip deflection at higher speeds.

I would say the Pro Rider. Going to be the burliest and stiffest of these choices. Should handle whatever you throw at it with ease.

They are pretty durable skis. Bamboo is actually a really strong wood so having that in a ski shouldn't make you worry about the ski's durability. Obviously your edges and base will get beat up if hitting rails on a consistent basis.

What you see is what they've got. Start a chat with a 'gear expert' to see if more are on the way.

A little more than 14 inches long.

At your size, I would go with the 185. I think the 177s will feel really short when not on the bumps or in tight trees. That being said, the 185 should still handle that terrain just fine.

Yes it comes with a strap and holder for the beacon.

Torso length on the L/XL 22L is: 43-51 cm (17-20 in)Torso length on the L/XL 32L is: 51-58 cm (20-23 in)Anarchist has side access. Outlaw has back panel access.

They are bendable, and it is something you can do yourself. If possible, however, I would take them to a legit shop and see if they can do it for you just to make sure they dont mess up the bindings and retain their safety factor. But yes, brakes are bendable.

It will not be as good as your pipe cleaners. This ski is not a traditional camber or sidecut like your current ski. It is much more park oriented and will not carve as well as the pipe cleaners.

Sure. It is a fairly soft ski and in a smaller size it should work well for somebody that weight.

This skin would work well for those skis. Because the skis are so fat, you will want to get the lightest skin possible and this is it. Also because of the surface area of your ski, you will not sacrifice any grip by getting this skin.

Yeah, I guess you could think of the Chopstick as a backcountry jib ski that will have more pop off jumps and cliff drops as well as riding better switch. The Kuro is more of a balanced all around BC/powder stick.

You can't go wrong with a pair of the Black Diamon Ascension, although really any skin would work. If you want to save weight, check out the Black Diamond GlideLite as another viable option.

These would work, but if your focus is on resort skiing and some sidecountry, there are better options out there. Check out the Marker Duke/Baron as well as the Fritschi Freeride Plus. These are all much more suited to the demands of ripping down the mountain and not as focused on the hike up.

The Kuro is a true all-mountain deep day ski. It is going to have a softer flex and better float than your mantra.The Katana will fall somewhere in the middle in terms of flex and float.If you already have the mantra, and knowing how well it handles those cruddy days and days where you are on 6 inches of fresh or less, I would say get the Kuro. You will be glad you did when you get those epic 20+ days.

They will help cushion the impact if you take a direct hit to your shoulder, but in no way would they absolutely prevent a shoulder dislocation from ever happening again.

They should fit fine. They brakes are usually set slightly wider than the specifications state.

I would reccomend the 153. A lot of people like to ski slightly longer skis for more stability at speed or float in powder. If you are a powerful and agressive skier, go 163.

I've got the black, and even after some pretty solid crashes and tree branches catching me in the head it still looks brand new. Even rolling around in the back of my buddy's pickup truck hasn't put many scratches on it.Also, it is really warm so I would go without the hat.

These would be a good option for the type of skiing you describe. At your height I would go with the 174.

Current model year. '08-'09.

If you are used to skiing a 175, I would say try the 178. The 169 might feel a little short and you will lose some stability at high speeds.

I would absolutely say go with the 184s. If you are an expert, you will have no problem handling these in the trees. If you are only going to have one pair to use for all conditions, the 184 is it.

Coomba more of a big mountain/big lines ski. Will hold speed better than the gotama. Coomba will handle crud easier with its stiffer flex.Gotama is slightly more powder oriented. Is a twin tip (coomba is directional). Gotama will be a bit heavier than the Coomba.If you have Mantras already, I would say go with the Gotama. The Coomba is much more similar to the Mantra than the Gotama is.

This is a medium/soft flex ski.Your thoughts on the skiing are along the right lines but you shouldn't really have too much of a problem except on the really steep skin tracks or hard snow.

A longer ski is not going to withstand the beating you put it through any better. It is more a question of what you want to ski to do for you on the mountain.At your size, I would say the 175 would work but would not be ideal, especially if you're used to skiing a longer ski.

For BC use, I would say go with the 185. They will be able to handle the variable conditions easier (everything from powder to corn to crud to hardpack). However, if you really do enjoy skiing a shorter ski, the 175 will work as well. It is really a matter of personal preference.

That length will work although the Lord will ski slightly shorter because of the tip rocker. The 185 might be ideal but the 177 will definitely work.Either binding will work with the STH being a little lighter. There is no reason to go with the 100mm brake. The 90mm will do just fine.

About 1200g per binding.

Outlaw has been a highly regarded ski for a few years now. Sounds like it would work perfectly for everything you are tyring to do. Binding choices are endless but some Look PX12s would be a good bet.These skis are wider at all points (tip/waist/tail) than the Xplorers. For your size and ability I would consider going for the 177s.

Seeing as its a prett long pack, I would say it is turned upwards so it doesnt buckle around your 'boys' and instead buckles in front of your waist.Medium is probably fine for you. Depends on how much storage capacity you want. Can visit the following site for a sizing chart:http://www.thenorthface.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TNFSizingChartPOPWindow?storeId=207&langId=-1&sizeCode=EQP

Backcountry.com currently only has the small, but it comes in the following sizes:[S] 2000cu in (33L)[M] 2200cu in (36L)[L] 2400cu in (39L)

Avalanches happen when something (skier, ski patrol bomb, loud noise, heat) triggers a weak layer of snow. Snow has different qualities depending on the condition in which it fell, and if a heavy wet layer is separated from another heavy wet layer by a thin dry layer, it'll slide easily.Sorry, but loud noises triggering avalanches is a myth. Yelling at a slope is not a safe way to clear it before you ski it.

$289.95

From the Black Diamond Website:SHORT: 245–300 MM (4.5–9 MEN’S)MEDIUM: 280–335 MM (6–12 MEN’S)EXTRA LONG: 325–365 MM (11–13 MEN’S)

Dynafit website has them listed at 92mm.

I have this as my everyday ski. It crushes crud and groomers enough to make up for any lack of finesse in the trees or bumps. That being said, I think it can easily handle all but the tightest trees. Even then it still does a good job.If you want something a little softer for the bumps and tight trees, maybe check out the Volkl Bridge, Line Prophet 90, or Atomic Snoop Daddy. But for the variable East coast conditions and groomers, this is your ski.

I like the slight contrast in the black/green. Black black looks too much like a fighter pilot to me.

Yup. They will work just fine.

I would go with the 169 for tighter turns, bumps, trees. 179 for more stability at speed and powder performance.

I would assume they would. As long as the blades are wide enough to accomodate the binding (I would say as long as they are 70mm wide to be safe) you could screw these into the snowblades....if that's what you're in to.

All binding prices are per pair.

It is only slightly shorter. The difference is more in the width of the toepiece than the length.

They are not the easiest lenses to change (so you probably dont want to try while on the lift) but they aren't completely impossible to swap out. For clowdy or snowy days, the HI Amber Polarized, HI Persimmon, or Persimmon should do the trick.

They would do the job fine. If weight is a concern there are some lighter bindings out there that would work just as well, but that being said you should not have any problems with these.

Clear is the best, and some goggle companies do make clear replacement lenses. Out of these lens choices, yellow would be best followed by gold.

181. This would be the best option for your size. 171, since it is a twin tip, will feel too small.

I would look at the gotamas, prophet 100s, czars, and also to Scott P4s. They are all similar and would work just as well. Decision is going to have to be personal and based on ski feel feel. Rockered tip Czars might be better if you want to be slightly more biased towards a powder ski. Verdict will probably feel a little stiffer than the others and be a better crud/groomer ski. These are also directional; not sure if you want a twin tip since all the others mentioned are.As for bindings, the Marker Baron sounds like it would be perfect, especially at your size. If weight of the binding is a concern, check out the Diamir Freeride as it is slightly lighter but still geared towards the ride down.

Flat. This is a directional ski. Slight notch for easier skin attachment.

This would be a great ski for what you are describing. Prophets would be great as well and are a very similar ski. Going to be a matter of personal preference which you choose. Might reccomend going for the 184 though for better pow performance and stability at speed for someone your size.

The obSETHed are not as stiff as the Prophets and have slight tip and tail rocker. obSETHeds are more of a pow ski while Prophets will serve you better all over the mountain and on cruddy days.

With skis getting fatter and fatter, the mantra really isn't considered a "pure powder" ski anymore. It would fit more into the 'all-mountain' category in that it can handle crud and groomers effectively as well. If you want strictly powder performance and are a bigger guy, I would look for something closer to 110 at the waist. Check out the Scott P4 as another option.

If you are center mounting them, I would say the 185 would be the right size. The 175 would be too short for effective pow riding.

I would go with the HI Persimmon or the HI Yellow. They are pretty similar lenses. The Persimmon will do a little better on bright days while the Yellow will hander overcast/flat light days better. I feel like its easier to deal with brightness than flat light, so I would probably go with the HI yellow, but its up to you.