Ben Zonon

I've always been a fan of layering underneath a technical shell, so this jacket was absolutely perfect. The Gortex soft shell exterior is 100% waterproof, but also breathable. The best park is that the lining is fleeced unlike Gortex Pro shells so its much comfier. Hand gaiters with thumb holes, huge chest pockets, and a google cleaner are all super great to have. But the best thing about this jacket is the fit. I'm 5'11 and like my outerwear baggy so I got an XL. Even though it's pretty long (about mid-thigh) its slim so you don't like a huge tool in the backcountry with baggy stuff. Orage and JP have a real winner here...I got it in green with black orage pants...super clean combo

Well, ultimately this boot didn't work out for me (ended up packing out and being too big...my fault for buying the wrong size), but while it did fit is was insane. Everyone knows about the pros of full tilt, super easy to get into and very lightweight. But what I didn't expect was the incredible control this boot gives you. Its super snug (but not tight) and the #10 flex is super super stiff. I used this boot from park to big mountain in the Alps and it performed great everywhere. Bottom line, if it fits your foot its a fantastic option for anyway looking for an alternative to 4 buckle boots.

Took this ski out for the first time at a 10 day trip at Alta. Had hard pack groomer days, 4-5 inches of powder, and straight wet ice and this ski destroyed everything. Took me about 2 runs to really get it dialed in, but you can make any turn you can think of. You can smear the turn, rail on edge, and even straight-line. Durability is not the best, but thats ok. They're also super light for such a fat ski. And the graphics, beautiful. I get complimented almost every other chair lift ride. Overall, these could be a perfect one ski quiver for people who live out west/a powder ski because of the nice rocker (no chatter with these). Btw, I'm 6'0 and got the 182. Definitely the right size for anyone above like 5'8.

Don't really have any complaints. Its the coolest base layer I've ever seen and does a good job of keeping you dry and fairly warm. Never were cotton again with this shirt.

For me these pants are perfect. I don't like a pant too insulated and not waterproof enough cause I get hot and wet. But really waterproof shell pants normally aren't warm enough in winter. Well, the 20k on these pants kept me dry in a legit rainstorm at Alta, and warm enough in below zero degree weather. The fantastic thing is that even though these pants are insulated lightly, there are four huge vents to keep you cool. If you want both waterproof and warm pants, look no further. Also, they fit fairly loose compared to more technical companies like North face, etc.

I normally always get cold hands, and I mean always. I took these out in 0 degree weather and was fine. What a relief to finally have gloves that are fairly dexterous, warm, and dry as a bone.

I like my pants a bit baggier so I went with an XL (I'm 5'11) and for some reasons the bunched up really really strangely. Can't describe it really but for some reason the side zippers made the pants sit really weird around the knees. Too bad, they seemed like great material though.

I like my outerwear a bit baggy (not huge) and I'm only 5'10 so I got an XXL. It literally seemed like a medium in other companies sizes. Seemed like a fantastic jacket though and the material was super cool, very waterproof while remaining ultra stretchy. Overall though it wasn't long enough for me...

What separates this pack from all the other's is first of all the absolutely killer design. Eric Pollard created another winner here and the yellow and blue straps really pop. Second of all, there are tons of straps to create a nice tight fit around your waist and chest so it doesn't flop around as you're skiing. Add in tons of nice pockets, water sleeve, and a super easy ski carrying system and you've got a fantastic backpack.

These pants were pretty good hiking pants...lightweight, fairly waterproof, breathable. Unfortunately they had a really weird cut. I always were a medium and that was the right size waist with these pants, but they were soooooo long. Dragging in the mud is not fun. They also got really baggy towards the bottom, like 70's pants. Also could've used a zipper to make it easier to zip off over boots.

Personally I did not like this bag at all. I have to admit that the hip belt and cables running through the pack did do a good job of displacing weight, but there are two major design flaws.
1) If the backpack is not filled all the way with whatever, the top cover keeps falling off. For example, I put my camera and glasses and things i need quickly in the top pocket, and instead of resting on the clothes that should fill the pack, it just falls off to the side or on my head. Very annoying.
2) The grey areas of the pack are like an elastic material allowing you to put rain jackets or something you might need quick in it, but after a few weeks the elasticity wears off and things keep falling off.

Alsoooo, the shoulder straps are just a bit too narrow for my liking, and do not allow enough pressure to be distributed along your shoulder blades.

Got this to go with the Patagonia Torrentshell jacket, and it keeps you dry as can be. Not super warm, but thats not really what its for. Good fit and the zippers at the cuffs allow you to pull it over and off of your hiking boots.

Just used this jacket on a 15 day trek though the Himalayas and unlike most down jacket it kept me super dry. I was also the steeziest hiker in all of India. The jacket will not keep you warm in extreme conditions if your standing still. But if its a cold, snowy day and your moving around this thing will keep you toasty!

Took this bag for a 15 day trek through West Sikkim, India, and it definitely kept me mighty warm through some colder than 10 degree nights. Unfortunately the outside shell is not very good. Now I know that it is a down bag not synthetic, but my other buddies down bag stayed much dryer. Never really affected the warmth of the bag, but wasn't too fun when it froze in my bag.

Absolutely hated this shirt. Super super super super itchy, and very tight fit. Ironically, I used tons of other Icebreaker products for pretty much all my baselayers. Just didn't like this Atlas Top very much. Would suggest going with the Icebreaker 200 series or 260.

I have to say this sunblock is pretty amazing. ABSOLUTELY NO GREASY FEELING WHATSOEVER. Wore it for 15 days on a hiking trek in India and didn't get burnt at all. Unfortunately since there were no mirrors, I didn't notice it also made me look soooo pale. This stuff is super white. Be careful if your going to the beach or something for a casual day, but for high activity people who want the best in skin care and sun protection, Beyond Coastal is the way to go.

Wide mouth bottles are best for hiking trips to allow for easy pouring into it, and these Nalgene bottles no longer have that weird plasticky taste. Wish I could say the same thing for the tap water.

I always used to get blisters with hiking shoes, but these socks are just the right thickness to provide enough protection and warmth but not be too sweaty. Also the merino wool is super soft, non-itchy, and best of all doesn't smell after even 3 days of heavy usage.

Just used this bag on a 15 day trek to West Sikkim in India and it simply performed the way any bag should. Very very durable, fairly easy to carry short distances, and most importantly waterproof. I had zero worries that any of my cloths would get wet on the back of the horse when it started down pouring. Would definitely recommend the extra large for long trips...I didn't pack that much and still it was tight.

I purchased last year's model as I wanted a pair of skis that would rip all over the hill but also but sick in the park. And boy was I really surprised how well this handled outside of the park. It turns on a dime, has a nice predictable turn radius, and best of all the stiff flex allows you to absolutely speed down the groomers and even crud. I haven't used it in powder at all, but the 92mm waist should allow some flotation. Oh, and of course these skis absolutely kill it in the park...fantastic flex that allows you to go big but still butter...nice and light...even swing-weight. I highly recommend to even expert all mountain skiers who also want a ski that can go in the terrain park no problem.

Great shirt for spring skiing, running, hiking, and even just casual wear. It's pretty soft, but not nearly as soft as the 200 (which I'd say is a bit more versatile). This shirt isn't very warm, but its very good as a baselayer underneath some layers. Merino Wool is the best!!

I got the small, and trust me, it is definitely the right size. It's small enough the pack into anything, but when you fold it out it is more than enough room for you head. I've used this from everything from airplanes to sleeping bag to 4 star hotels. It's also really comfy, and very firm, which I like.

These pants are great for skiing because the merino wool is super soft, warm, and non-smelly. If you have heavier ski pants, then these should be perfect in keeping you from overheating. Be warned though, if you have more a technical shell type of ski pant, then you might want the heavier 260 icebreaker for winter.

These are great underpants. The merino wool is super soft, and after a full day of skiing or hiking doesn't stink for about 3 days (although you still might want to change them). Highly recommend.

These are great underpants. The merino wool is super soft, and after a full day of skiing or hiking doesn't stink for about 3 days (although you still might want to change them). Highly recommend.

I bought these poles for park skiing because of the skinny grip, but I actually ended up loving them. The smaller grip feels more natural almost, and allows for easy grab. They are light weight, and after about 20 days of heavy park abuse they've held up. I've heard complaints of the bolt at the top coming off, so when you get them just take some pliers and really crank it down, and it definitely won't come off.

Fantastic glove for spring/warm weather skiing. It is actually very waterproof, and has a nice tight fit. Runs a little big.

I just to be scared to death to even make a hard turn on my old bindings, now I'm more confident than ever. Even when just clicking in you hear a big snap and you know you're ready to go. I landed a 540 very very nose heavy and before probably would have double ejected and slammed my face. But my marker bindings allowed me to stay on my skis and actually made it look like a huge butter out of my landing. The ride height is a little high. My only complaint is that it is difficult to clip into the bindings when it is at an angle, so if you fall on a steep slope it may be a little hard to get your skis back on.

I was expecting a lot from these boots. I previously had the Dragon 120's, but wanted more of the freeride options that the agent comes with. What I left with was horrendous shin bang (worse than ever before), and extremely bad toe bang. Basically, my feet just absolutely killed me. The one fantastic thing about these boots though is that the fleece liner allows a super easy entry and exit into the boot. Maybe my feet just don't like Tecnica, but these boots did not work for me at all. Besides the pain they did perform pretty well though.

The one reason I never wore sweatpants was because they are all cut for huge fat people with gigantic legs. this just looks super baggy on skinny people like myself. These sweatpants are almost cut liked relaxed jeans. Not loose, not tight. In other words, perfect. The drawcord is nice, and there is even velcro on the back pocket to keep it closed. The only bad thing is that it is a little long for me (I'm 5'11 and got the medium) besides that is the comfiest and most stylish warm sweatpants I've ever had.

This jacket is perfect for spring weather and especially if it rains. I mean, no water gets through, none at all. It's super super bomber. Has a nice athletic cut and blocks out wind fairly well. One of the nicest looking items Patagonia makes. I got mine in black, but it's a nice dark/jet black. Fits true to size.

Solid, super light weight binding that I feel safe in. Sometimes pre-releases more than I would like it to...

I've had these skis for 3 years now and I still love them to death. Light-weight, snappy edge to edge, and the stiffer flex helps on cliffs and big park jumps. They do float powder pretty good, but if you live out west they may not be fat enough as they tend to sink pretty easily in the deep stuff. Also, the recommended mounting line is pretty far back, so if you do a fair amount of park you may want to mount it closer to center. Only problem I've ever had is that the top sheet chips very easily, but that is just cosmetics. The bases are durable as hell!

These skis are absolutely incredible. I was a little nervous on how they'd perform on groomers, but that quickly went away when they were snappy edge to edge and carved just like my 90mm line blends. Also, they really do float the pow great, but aren't so fat that you can dive them in for a quick face shot. The stiff flex also helps with landing cliffs. I personally would of liked a bit more rocker in the tip, but that's just me. If you live out west where the snow constantly dumps, this could be a one-ski quiver.

This jacket is near impenetrable. No wind, no snow, no rain. I went with the black, looks great, and the bright-white zipper gives it some style. It has a pretty nice cut, and little baggy but that's always a good thing. This is the perfect shell, event technology really is the new gortex except much more breathable. Another good idea was to have the pit zips on the chest instead of under the arms, makes it easier to do while hiking and lets more air circulate through you. It's pretty warm too, most of the days all I have is a softshell hoodie underneath, and then an insulator if it gets a little chilly. Great shell jacket!

These boots just didn't fit me right. I was able to wear them all day, but by the end my heel was really hurting badly (I didn't expect my heel to hurt). Anyways, for some reason the hot dogger seemed to fit me better so I just went with that and bought a stiffer tongue. That's what's so great about full tilt, find a boot that fits and then you can customize it to your specific needs.

This is a really nice hoodie from the North Face. I use it mainly for layering, underneath my shell on a semi-warm day or also under an insulator on a really cool. It's light weight, has room to move, and is even a little water-resistant and wind-resistant. Cool layering piece...

This is an extremely high performance boot and makes you feel like a king on bumps, groomers, and backcountry. Just be careful on jumps such as cliffs or in the park. I know that's not what it's made for but still, I've gotten some beyond painful toe-bang and shin bang from small cliffs in the backcountry. I might switch over to the agent 110...

This is an absolutely incredible piece. First of all, it's very very warm. An added benefit of having synthetic insulation is that if it gets wet it stays warm, unlike down. But the jacket is also waterproof (not just waterresistant, but basically waterproof! I held my arm under the faucet and it didn't even get wet). This jacket is also super windproof. The fit (like most underarmour stuff) is pretty tight, but I would suggest sticking with your true size cause for me this is a layering piece. Another great thing about this jacket is the cuffs. It's hard to explain, but basically their is an elasticized cuff underneath the jacket so it keeps the wind out, but the actually jacket cuff doesn't look weird. It's great. The only bad thing about this jacket is that the zipper is very annoying and the neck is a little tight.

I was looking for a great all-terrain, all purpose, all year boot for college next year, and the stores rep at Paragon sports informed me that this was an employe favorite...and I was not disappointed. They have a very very nice fit, required no breaking in time for me, and are extremely light (like pretty much my sneakers weight). Haven't used them in any really tough terrain or multi-day hikes, but as far as relaxing hikes or even a heavy rain in New York, these are perfects. They can get a little slippery on wet pavement, but what hiking shoes don't?

Got the black iridium lens which i found to be absolutely perfect for any conditions. These things hardly ever fog and if they do, just remove them for your face for a second and they clear right up. No nose pinch, they are kinda big, so make sure your helmet fits them without any gaper gap (my fits perfectly with the smith maze). Got caught in a huge blizzard at Vail and while I'll my friends were complaining they couldn't see a damn thing, to me it looked as though it was blue bird...

Best helmet on the market period...it's so damn light it's not even funny. I always try and wear the lightest stuff there is whenever I ski or hike, and this helmet is far and away the lightest helmet (and certified as well). More so than the weight however, is how small the helmet is. Not small like you need to be a size big, but try your normal size but the SHELL is small...I finally don't look like a bobble-head. And it's cheap!

This is one of my best buys of the season! Extremely lightweight, but soooo soo warm. Wore it on a day in New York about 30 degrees with just a t-shirt underneath and didn't feel a thing. It even comes with it's own bag so you can stuff it down and pack it without worry of weight. Two things that bug me a little:

1) the hand pockets don't have zippers. Not a problem if you only use the pockets to warm your hands, but kind of annoying if you want to use it for keys or a wallet or something valuable
2) The elastic cuff on the wrist is not smooth at all, and is a little irritating

So if you want a warm down sweater that is both a slimmer and longer cut than the patagonia down sweater, look no further

There's a reason why some of the best freestyle riders in the world wear this boot. In short, it's unbelievably light, easy to get on, and has the most natural flex in the world. The flex of this boot is so nice and smooth, and you really do feel quicker cause the boot is so light. I only had a problem or too the first day, but after that they were perfect. I haven't even gotten them heat molded yet, so I assume once I do they'll be even better. Overall, I might have to get a stiffer tongue (8 flex) for more big mountain but this is the comfiest and lightest boot and should be owned by anyone if you have anything but really wide feet.

This is a fantastic helmet, mainly because it's one of the safest and most protective helmets on the market and protects against multiple impacts. The ear flaps are also very good, and keep your ears warm while allowing you to hear also. Comes with a goggle lock, and a "bankers brim" for some extra style and to block snow on your googles. Fits a little small, I normally wear a medium helmet and had to get this in large. The chin strap also takes some getting used to, but most people don't adjust it that much anyways. Vents also do a great job of keeping your head at perfect temperature whether it's 15 degrees or 50. I wear this with the Oakley Splice and they fit perfectly.

I got these pants in Cyan and absolutely love 'em. The colors pop hard (similar to orage) and the pants are well crafted and seem fairly durable. They have everything you need: ample pockets, vents, belt loops. The one con is that they are fairly heavy and warm, which is great in the winter so your ass doesn't get cold but in the spring they might be too much. I'm 5"11 and 150, and got the medium. The length was perfect, but the waist was a little too big. Good thing they have belt loops...

This jacket is pretty amazing. The insulation is warm enough so that on those cold winter days you'll be fairly warm, but still light enough that in the spring you can use the jacket with just a t-shirt underneath. I feel like it fits true to size also. I'm 5'11 and 150 and the jacket is just a tad big (but in the good kind of way). It was also brilliant to include less insulation in the arms so the sleeves don't feel too bulky and difficult to move. Overall, this is a very warm, super waterproof, steezy jacket that is extremely cheap for the tech it uses. I got the lime green personally, and it pops really hard!