These sunglasses change quite well in response to outdoors brightness, especially when there is direct UV light hitting the lens. They change less when behind UV blocking window glass, so if they are not dark enough, leave them on outside for several minutes, and then put them on when you drive. I've used them at Steamboat when the light has been blindingly intense getting on and off the chairlift, and have been very happy with their eye protection and darkening ability. I have walked into the house when outside in bright light and then looked at the lenses and was suprised at how dark they get. I am a bicycler and skier and don't leave home without them. They are my favorite all around Oakleys so far.

These easily removable sunglass lenses are very light and are excellent from twilight to bright reflected sun thanks to the multiple lenses supplied in a convenient kit from Smith Co. My wife likes the simple design and the light weight. The only thing she says takes getting used to is the visible bottom edge of the frame, which has become less noticeable. We will be traveling to Alaska next week and will give our eyewear a run for its money.

I have purchased these bindings for my Rossignol BC 190cm skis and am impressed with their ease of use, mounting template, and sturdy design. They hold my Alpina backcountry boots without worries about alignment on the skis. I have been used to Salomon racing boots and bindings, but am impressed with the range of motion of the bindings even with reasonably stiff boots. Thrashing through the rough stuff in northern Michigan with this combination actually feels fun, even with sharp turns and stepping and twisting over deadfall and rounding moderately steep hills where edge control keeps my expensive outerwear and my priceless braincase intact while I duck branches and hop out of snowmachine tracks.

I have used Salomon racing boots and Scarpa T1 boots, and have searched for a pair of XC boots that fill the impossible gap between a fast and light racing boot and a bombproof Tele boot. I live in Michigan and have metal edged backcountry skis and metal edged semi-skinny skis with NNN bindings. I purchased these boots to match the more rugged XC skis and I am very satisfied with them. They are warm and have an easily adjustable power strap on the ankle. I have a medium to wide foot and have found that it takes several days of vigorous skiing to soften the boots a small amount. Once softened you can tightening the toe of the boot since they’re a little wide from midfoot forward. Lacing is easy and secure and the boots have a good balance between weight and stability. In the woods, the boots will crank the skis around and medium hills seem manageable with boots' stiffness. I might need a slightly higher boot if I decide to get more aggressive and try to run longer downhills in the powder, but for now, I enjoy off trail skiing with a midweight XC boot.

These boards stick well on hard pack and turn as fast as I can lean them. With the Karhu releasable bindings with risers, I carve as fast as I can think, precisely and furiously. I slide to a stop and laugh out loud. I used to do a lot of backcountry in Alaska, and this arctic Stella found his grove again!

I have used Voile release plate bindings, Skyhoy bindings, and now the Karhu releasable bindings with riser plates. I have hit binding edges before when in the Goat mountains in WA and was worried about laying the boards over too far on hard pack, kicking the edges out when skiing fast and turning as hard as possible, especially when rocketing from edge to edge. At last, I have found a great releasable binding that is easy to set up and use. I bought the ski brakes and the heel latch strap to keep everything where it needs to be and I love the combined effect. I can feverishly turn from edge to edge, putting torque and chatter on the bindings when turning fast on steep hard pack. They release only when they need to, which is what I want. It is glorious to have these work so smoothly, staying put in the wild outback. After each run, I stop, breathless, and laugh out loud. This is true love.