Grant Ayres

When I was first planning on buying a new pair of goggles, I wanted some that would be dark enough to make riding in the daytime comfortable, but not so dark as to fade out the light when riding at night. The fact that the Feenoms come with two lenses was perfect. The Fire Chrome lenses are awesome for distinguishing between a jump and a ditch on those usually blinding winter mornings. The Clear lenses are flawless when it comes to riding under the lights, and let you keep the goggles on your face when riding in somewhat dark areas. They are also very warm, and if you have a large head, the Feenoms are the goggles to choose. They can easily be adjusted to fit around a helmet also. You really cannot go wrong with this pair of goggles

If you're looking for a mid-level backpack that will store whatever it is you think you need to bring on a trip, this is the pack for you. Once you get the hang of the strap system, it is a very customizable, comfortable pack also. I've used this with a good 30 pounds in it, and I'd have to say the only back pain i had was on the next day from sleeping the wrong way in a lean-to. A great buy if you are just getting into backpacking, as I am. It has a fairly large capacity, and is adaptable to almost any body size and shape.

This pair of hiking kicks has it all: a combination of lightweight comfort and the durability of premium hiking boots twice the price. I purchased a pair of these in Sand/Brown in August 2009, and although they haven't been on my feet enough to really see, I'm sure they'll stay in one piece for a while. They have not shown any signs of stress or tear, and they are sure to keep your fragile feet from getting too busted on a casual hike. If you are willing to pay this price for a shoe you may or may not wear every day, it is a great buy and of exceptional quality.

This is my primary snowboarding beanie, and it has kept me warm through those 20° days on the slopes very well. It is not too thick, and is quite breathable. The only concern I have with this beanie is its itchiness, but I'm sure it affects people differently. It is also not the tightest beanie I've worn, and is somewhat easy to fall off if you take a tumble, but this also makes it more comfortable when you keep your head off the snow. Overall a great buy, and will last several seasons.

If this helmet didn't have a chinstrap, you could easily mistake it for a lightweight beanie. The Red Avid helmet is probably the lightest I've used. While sacrificing some durability, it is very useful for those days when you just feel like hitting the kinks without busting your brains open, and not having to worry about a bulky helmet slowing you down. I wear this helmet over a beanie, so I took the velcro adhesives off, although with the pads on this helmet is very comfortable and supportive. I am just one of those people who sacrifice comfort for warmth. Overall, you will not be disappointed with the Avid, it is a great buy for any experience level.

I'd have to say I was a little bit disappointed the first time I plugged these bad boys into my iPod and started playing music that usually drowns my headphones with bass. These failed to deliver that punch that gets inside your head. I use them snowboarding, so they're over my beanie, but nonetheless I had a hard time getting them loud enough to drown out the ambient noises, and the sound of the air whizzing by my head is sometimes louder than my music with these headphones. However, they do stay on my head pretty well, and the cushioned ear pads are quite comfortable. Also, the pause button is very useful (if you don't feel like putting them around your neck, which is also why I prefer headphones as opposed to earphones). For the price, I think they're a great buy, but if you're looking for superior performance, you might have to spend a little bit more money.