Jean-Yves Couput

Oups, sorry for the late answer, but I've been a lil out of the BC.com website for a while. Here are the answers to your questions by our Alpine GURU Mike Aicher:

The boots have the exact same shell lasting and fit, but the liners are a bit different. Ghost will be a bit more comfortable for all day fit, and the X3 will feel more like a race liner (more precise)
Either boot will allow for some bootfitting over the instep, if necessary, to fit the arch area precisely.
The shogun will be lighter (2 buckles) and will therefore be a bit more nimble, for skiing in trees and bumps, but a X3 will feel more like a top performing race boot, with power and precision. It depends on the skiers preference. As for which shell size, you should have a bootfitter take a look at your foot inside the shell, and determine which is the proper fit.
Both the Shogun and the X3 have a Boot Sole Length of 326mm in size 28.5, and 336mm in a 29.5. It is likely that you will be most comfortable in a size 29.5 from us.

...and regarding the bindings, these are the same, so no worries, the Z12 are one of the best for the category

Hi Rob, not the exact same sidecut, the 09 version is a lil wider underfoot, and having skied both, the 08 execution provides a more radical carve feeling on groomers while the 09 is a lil more forgiving and versatile on various conditions with its wider footprint. But both of them are "groomers machines" and their differences are very subtle

Technical fabric that's providing moisture management and freedom of movement while being a very light material, Actilite is a Salomon's proprietary fabric developed by textile suppliers on specific requests from Salomon's R&D team

have a look on this article, you have an interesting conversion chart and all the explainations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoe_size

I'd say that the accuracy is more in the 10/15 feet range, which range isn't depending from the device but from some limitations of the administrators of the satellite network

Great product! It will suit perfectly the needs of your wife. We use it to follow our trail runner Kilian Jornet when he's attempting his ultra distance records

I forgot to say that this is not specific to Suunto, but this is the same for almost all outdoor wristop computers

I wouldn't use them for this type of activities where you need to have an extreme accuracy. Due to the fact the altimeter is linked to barometric pressure, there is some variances if you don't calibrate it regularly

Hi Josep, BC can't send shoes to espana.

yes of course! Those above are sold with a 90mm brake. Ask BC or any specialty retailer if they don't have

Good move, Breck is a great place. If you go for the Shogun (or the GEISHA) exactly the same with a different top sheet design, go for the 173. Longer than your Armada, they are still very responsive in the trees. You'll love the rockered tip which provides you both great flotation and quick turnability in tight areas

No,It's a great question but I don't think so. The change is minimal. I have the small frame and i never get fogged

If you mostly enjoy short turns, go for the 152cms, if you look for more high speed stability, go for the 159cms. Both should give you a blast!

For air travel, if you mean protective enough, yes, a friend of mine has one and didn't have any issue with his board

Yes, padded and tarp bottom

Yes 100% compatible

A friend of mine who had the same issue headed down to the local sewing/fabric store and bought two items. 1: Some black spandex material - stretchy and very cheap. 2. A bottle of what was called "fabric glue" - unsure of brand name. Then she cut a piece of the spandex to fit the hole, folded the edges of the patch over over, put a bead of the fabric glue around the edge of the patch and stuck it down. She says you have to be careful not to use too much of the fabirc glue because what it does is basically "melt" the old and new spandex together. From her perspective, better to use to little than too much. A couple of days later one seam started to give way in one spot so she just put a drop of fabric glue in that spot and no further problems. Slightly less "stretchy" there because of the glue is the only downside.

Hi, I'm the marketing director for salomon and all the skis you tried are good, although very different. Based on your type of practice, I'd recommend you to give a try to the Salomon Czars as well. With 111 underfoot and their rockered tip, they are beasts in powder but still handling well on on piste transitions thanks to their traditional camber on the rest of the ski.

a little but it's not at all limiting the freedom of movement

I can tell you that the image shows a Gore Tex version

I can tell you that the image shows a Gore Tex version

In 08, our Fury was mounted with Z12, this one is with Z14

And the titanium layers is new as well. More responsiveness.

When you say "strap" you mean with the cuff strap or do you talk more generally about "buckles and strap"

You should try the Salomon Ghost as well. They are 98mm and they are built on the Salomon race last. The stiffness is 130 and the 2 buckle construction may be better for your forefoot issues

our boots fit any type of alpine bindings.

If yes, the Coral won't match. It's kind of 'dark pinky' but not plain red such as the display crown. I do recommend you the black strap

You mean the 'display has a red crown' right?

Not developed for that, but I would say yes, and you'd appreciate its lightweight

John,
another possible cause you should look closely at. Bill, our Nordic ski director says:
"If this is a Auto binding is it mounted on a NIS plate without an adaptor? This can cause a auto binding to Freeze. BC.com does sell NIS plated skis"
Could you describe your skis?
Thanks

One of our nordic guru, Curtis says:
"The Profil auto is an automatic binding where the boot steps into the
system. The pole is used to release the boot from the binding. There is
no need to "open" the system to get into the binding, just step in and
ski. You may be confusing the auto binding with a manual version that
requires the skier to open the binding and manually close it to be
secured"
If you're doing well the procedure, which I guess, it's maybe linked to the way you stored your skis in between the two seasons. Was the storage location alternating wet and dry?
We're still digging to try to help you

In the Salomon range, you have the Shogun which is a 110 flex. The Shogun is the little sister of the Ghost, our top of the line Freeride boot which is a 130 flex. Outstanding boot, two buckles with a 98 width which provides great control.

Just be very careful with the seal when you put back the cover piece. Otherwise, it could compromise the waterproofness of the watch. But yes, on this topic, Suunto is definitely way better than Polar, you can perform the change of battery in less than 1 minute. Possible to do it with a quarter coin, but better to use the small dedicated tool.

...but the grey case is definitely better readable with daylight (at least for me)

No, they are not compatible. Did you check the battery of the Suunto belt?

But don't forget to recalibrate the watch to capture the right distance for every turn of wheel. If you measure the actual distance with two marks on the ground, pay attention to put some weight on the tire, or to deflate it a little because of the compression effect that you have with the usual low pressure riding with MTB tires which is not existing (or very few) with road tires.

The road pod sensor that's integrated into the quick release skewer allows you to change easily your bike if you have several while keeping the Suunto distance measurement functionality (if you use the same wheel, or if you have an other wheel with an emitter in place). This sensor integrated in the skewer is the same than the ones you find in Mavic bike computers. This is a shared technology

As most of altimeters, try to set up/check the referential altitude on a regular basis when you can. Use a map, use road signs, other topographic indications. Even if the Suunto barometric pressure analysis is very accurate, some repetitive changes in the weather conditions can lead to a small loss (few meters) of accuracy

Under certain conditions, such as when in the water, the Suunto Heart Rate Monitor does not transmit to your Suunto t-Series wristop training computer. Suunto proposes the Memory Belt to collects accurate heart rate data without the wrist unit when you're swimming, or under extreme conditions where data won't transmit properly. The wireless heart rate transmitter can also record up to 24 hours of beat-to-beat heart rate information on an memory chip for later downloads and analysis.

But don't forget to keep your datas updated. Weight, and fitness level are both influencing the calories calculation and these two datas can change a lot after a few month of training. i.e. the difference between the start of a training plan in January and the NYC Marathon in November. Age, gender and height are definitive datas (I guess...0

If you want both the heart rate measurement and an altimeter, look at the T6 model

To be a little more precise, it won't record neither show the heart rate. This is the principle of all the heart rate monitors, and the most accurate reading is with a chest strap. In the past, some were taking the heart signal at the tip of the finger, but it wasn;t comfortable and not very accurate. But don't worry, you barely feel the new generation straps, and the Suunto on is amongst the best

This same watch can come with the G3 GPS unit or with the S3 footpod sensor. However the RS800 system are G3 compatible and you can buy it separately

No, but you can read the coordinates afterwards on the computer if you use GoogleEarth

Additional comment to the strap. If you excercise indoors during winter, double check the compatibility of the strap with the treadmill / bikes / elliptics cardio sensor systems. Most of them aren't on the same frequency than this watch

No it comes with the GPS unit only, not with the footpod sensor

This boot has been developed to answer Simon Dumont's specific needs. When you know how powerful Simon is, you understand the need of having something guaranteed "anti-collapsing" when landing. This is the Park&Pipe boot for powerful jibbers

AgentBristow: are you sure about your comment regarding the comparison between sneakers and skiboots. This is the first time that I hear that. Cris, I recommend you to go true to your size. If you're jibbing, there's nothing worse than having your nails knocking on a too short shell, even if the SPK has this amazing feature which is the cushioned toe box. Notice also the SPK is wide and proposes a 104mm last.

PastaLipa, the answer is yes, this is searching and transmitting and there's a very user-friendly search-transmit switch. This is the new generation of the world's best seller Backcountry Access tracker beacon

Pastalipa, if you are a "go charge" powerfull skier, which I guess, I'd recommend you the Salomon STH16. I'm working with Salomon, so you can maybe consider that I'm not neutral, but read what Seth Morrison says about Salomon STHs on BC.com, I think you'll be more than convinced. Enjoy your winter!

your initial choices are all good, but I'd recommend you to consider the Salomon's Lord or Shogun as well. The Lord, with 85 underfoot is more on piste oriented, but have a short rocker on the tip which provides an excellent feeling in Powder, if not "hip deep". On groomers, the Lord as a great stability at high speed and is very quick on edge to edge transition. On the other hand, the Shogun suits better "western states" skiers. Wider with 100 underfoot, it's definitely the one quiver ski which excells in powder, on groomers, in crud. Very responsive with its bamboo top layer and very absorbing (high frequency vibrations) thanks to the basalt layer used in its construction. If I had to make a single reco, i'd say Shogun, size 182, or 173 if you privilege tight turns in the trees and quick handling

and to complement Jamey's comment, if you live in Utah, you can try my 182s
Go for the 182s Ali!

Sam, sizewise, definitely the 174, I'm 5'8" as well and because I'm working with Salomon, I've the chance to try a lot of sizes. I you like big turns and ski fast, I'd even recommend the 182, you'll get more stability on groomers at high speed and even more flotation in powder. If you're more on the cruising side or if most of your powder days are in the trees, go with the 173, but FORGET the 164. For bindings and if you privilege durability in addition to safety, the STH16 is a great choice and with a DIN 16, considering your weight, you've plenty of room. You'll love the control and the precision provided by the stiff toe piece which perfectly matches the personality of the Shogun.

Perfect shoe if you are a forefoot runner. Light... and fast, the SpeedCross 2 is ideal if you are not a long/ultra distance trail runner and is the shoe the most capable on road of the Salomon's trail running range (XA Pro, XT Wings, XT Hawks...). Regarding the lugs, you'll probably wear them on the road than on the trail (especially since we use a different, softer Contagrip), but they are quite high and you'll make a lot of miles with them.

Hi Enzo, look at the window "select option" on the left of the picture and you'll see the available sizes. Regarding the question "how do they run?", the answer is "Great". However, and to give you a more precise feedback, the XA Pro 3D is a shoe for very technical terrain, with a high level of protection and stability (low to the ground profile, toe bumper and chassis integrated in the midsole). But if you want a true runable shoe, I'd recommend you to go for the XT Wings which is more runable and provides more cushioning than the XA Pro 3D

Yes, conflicted... That being said, with the 182 if you're a good skier, it shouldn't be an issue in the trees, and the Czar is a very easy ski, but tell a little bit more about you. What's your size, your weight, are you a strong skier?

They're great and much easier to bend than the Simon Dumont Pro model which is stiffer.

With 100 underfoot, the Geisha, which is the exact same ski than the Shogun, should make you the happiest ski patroller of Winter park. No kidding, this ski is amazingly versatile and if you aim to use it on a mix of terrain, I don't recommend you to go over this footprint. They'd be too wide for 50% of your skiing time (bumps and groomers). Cherry on the cake, with its Basalt and bamboo layering system, the Geisha is one of the most lively ski of the market. Easy, fun and playful on all terrain, and any conditions.

Hello, I'm working with Salomon, could you post a picture, just to evaluate the damage? Thanks

Oups, forgot to ask about your skiing style. Which type of skier are you? Do you like charging or do you prefer to cruise?

Considering your size, I recommend you the size 191. But if you are looking for versatility, you'd better look at the Shogun, same size, much more usable on groomers than the Czars

Just one, on the chest. We deliberately chose to not put pockets on the side, or internal pockets, to save as much weight as possible, the result is an outstanding 210grs, very packable jacket

I'd describe the Schrew as a color similar to "Taupe" = a light brown with touch of grey, very nice looking. And for the second part of the question, no, the Orange or Yellow do not exist

If you don't ski under heavy rain, the softshell is a good choice and this one breathes very well. Don't forget that it's an insulated piece as well.

Hi Jeff, there's no insulation on the Sideways, this is just a shell.

Liz, there's just one width for the Switch. You should first ask your dad to try them on.

Yes the Z12 is an excellent binding for this type of all mountain ski. The din (from 4 to 12) gives you a great amplitude of tuning and works for every type of skier from beginner to advanced. Regarding the width, the 90 or 100 refers to the width of the ski underfoot. This information is necessary to make the brake choice, if too narrow, it wouldn't fit. For the Payback, this measurement is 92mm, so I recommend you to take the 100mm brake with the Salomon Z12 bindings.

If the Fisher boots have the SNS standard, the answer is yes. Fisher changed some years ago and Fisher boots are not anymore compatible with Salomon nordic bindings. What's the year of your boots?

Wow... Do you speak of the "original" Scream? From late 90's? If it's this one, we are not anymore in the same era. Skis evolved a lot, especially regarding their width. But if you compare the use the Scream was designed for and let's say a similar use nowadays, I'd recommend you to try the Lord or the Shogun if you mix on and off piste skiing, or the Fury and Tornado if you're more of a skier on piste. The two first one are wider and provide a better flotation in powder (they even have a rockered tip), the two others are carving better and provide a better edge grip on hard snow. There are more differences, but I think it's good to begin. Feel free to ask if more questions.

No if you rinse it well. To get rid of odors and tastes you can put salt (rough salt) and shake very energetically the bladder half full. It doesn't solve the issue of taste coming from the tube but definitely clean the bladder

I don't recommend the 3L bladder.
First reason, with the 3L full, you can't put anything else in the bag (probe? shovel?)
Second reason, the platypus isn't insulated and if it's OK for the bladder inside the bag, it's not for the tube.
Of course you can do it, but it's not ideal and I'd recommend a 2Ltrs max bladder

No problem, it would fit even if your laptop is in a protective sleeve

very easily since you can put it flat in the tub and brush it with any type of soap/detergent. The material is very sturdy, even the mesh. You just need to make sure the velcro remains clean. The velcro is another reason to not clean it in the washing machine with other garments

I'm 5.8" and use a M size. It fits very well