Pete G

Taken this jacket canoeing on Isle Royale, flyfishing on the Big Horn, hiking up Kings Peak and even riding my bike on RAGBRAI. Great as a windbreaker and even better as a rain jacket. Easily packable (I can fit it in my jersey pocket when I ride) and light weight with enough room underneath to add a layer underneath in case the mercury drops. Only downside is that breathability is slightly lacking. Pit zips help a little to combat this problem and a little sweat sure beats being soaked and cold.

I've had these goggles for 7 years and don't have a major complaint yet. That's 7 years of sweating, stretching, crashing and they're still in one piece. Could do a little better at defogging, but it's not a major problem.

I have owned this jacket for four years and it still works just as well now as it did when I purchased it. What I am most impressed by is the water-proofing and breathability. I have stood in the rain for 3 hour long football games and remain dry and warm. I have skied huge storms in Colorado and remain dry and warm. I've even used this jacket during summertime rainstorms in Europe and remained dry and cool. As long as you maintain the jacket as Mountain Hardwear suggests(use some sort of water proofing spray, or do what I do and use Nikwax's Techwash) this jacket will be very good to you for years to come.

I use to judge people who wore packs and were obviously staying front side. I thought they were nerdy, but this season I decided to get a pack for myself because I was gonna do a little back country and I must say, I'm a ski pack convert. I don't get dehydrated anymore because I can carry my camelbak around. When I go into the summit house at lunch my feet stay warm because I can carry my slippers and my ski boots stay warm because I can trow some hand warmers from my pack in 'em. I can also carry extra snacks so lunch isn't so expensive, sunscreen, pain relievers, anything, but the kitchen sink. And when the day is over, instead of awkwardly fumbling with your skis, just throw em on the straps on the back and your on your way. Overall a great buy. (Note: I bought last years 20L Heli Pro so some features are different from this years model)

Starting wearing this helmet a few years ago after too many crashes forced me to upgrade to it. Very comfortable and very stylish. Solved the whole goggle/visor issue by wearing my goggles inside the helmet. When I'm inside I just pop it off and put the goggles inside of it. The easily adjustable vents are also a plus.

I used this helmet for a couple of years until too many hits forced me to upgrade to the G10 MX. The helmet saved me when I nailed my head on an ice covered mogul and then again the following year when the crash was so bad that I herniated a disc in my back(I was only eighteen at the time). After the latter of the two crashes I was seeing spots n was dizzy, but still managed to ski the rest of the day. Had it not been for this helmet my day would have ended with a ride down the mountain in a patrol sled. This helmet is definitely worth the reduction in hospital bills (and pain!).

I've used black diamond and reusche gloves for years, but I finally decided to try the Hestras. I'm sold! Won't buy another brand again. I am a big time sweater and it use to be that my gloves would get wet and then cold and break down faster. Not a problem for the Hestras. They manage moisture and heat beautifully!