I'm sorry to say that I've switched back to Scarpa T1's and BD 01 bindings. My scarpa TX Pro boots cracked, and the Crispi's were stiffer than I like, so I switched back to T1's and BD 01's and couldn't be happier. They're lighter and they tour better than the NTN system. I really like the concept of the NTN (step in, releasable, ski brake, torsional stiffness, tour mode), but I just don't think it's there yet. The binding skied downhill incredibly well, and uphill ok, but if the boots crack or are too stiff, then the complete system doesn't work yet. I'm hopeful that Garmont will add an NTN boot next year and that Scarpa will fix their TX Pro plastic issues and that it will all be ready for primetime next year. In the mean time, it's back to 75mm for me.

I just spend a week touring in BC with a new pair of STS Custom skins fitting to my Volkl Gotamas. They took a bit of trimming (easily done with the enclosed trimming tool), then they were good to go. With "wall to wall carpeting" the traction was amazing. Better that any of my prior skins. Couldn't be happier with them.

I need to add to my prior comment. I just spent 7 days touring in BC 8 hrs a day and I didn't get a single blister. I couldn't be happier with the Scarpa T1 and BD 01 combo. I was a Garmont boot wearer for years and Scarpa's new Intuition liner won me over.

I take this pack on all of my epics, and any rides where I'm schleping armor. Dakine did a great job of putting in straps under the pack for carrying armor as well as plenty of big pockets for a helmet or layers. Also, the internal pockets are well organized for tools, etc. and side pockets for GU's and food. Heck, it even has a slightly padded pocked for the camera or iphone. The bladder is ok, but come to think of it I replaced it with a CamelBak bladder right away. That said, the dakine one works just fine. I'm just more used to the Camelbak bladders and had an extra one.

I have a set of 183 Gotamas mounted up tele, and they rip! First off, they measure 179cm, and are the exact same height as my 179cm K2 Hippy Stinx, but Volkl calls 'em a 183. Go figure. They float in powder, slam through crud & sierra cement, and are generally a pleasure to tele. My quiver of other skis (BD Crossbows, K2 HippyStinx, G3 Reverends) are all wall fixtures or being sold off to buddies now that I have these. Get some.

I'm on my 3rd set of boots this season, and I have nothing but good things to say about my T1's. In particular, Scarpa's new Intuition liner is fantastic. I loved it in the Scarpa TX Pro (NTN boot) until I cracked those (warranty - thanks Scarpa!), and once I went back to my old Garmont Squadra's I had been sufficiently spoiled by the Scarpa Intuition liner that I decided to pick up a pair of T1's. Also, back in the day, 5 or 6 years ago, my feet would only fit in Garmont boots. Scarpa boots would crush my toes. Not the case any longer! It seems that with properly molded liners, just about anyone can wear these boots now. Enjoy!

I've logged 6 days in my polarized smith prodigy goggles and couldn't be happier. They're fantastic at cutting glare on a bright day, and they seem to give just a bit more contrast on low light, overcast, and super heavy snow days. They work well with a helmet. Ordered a 2nd pair just in case I break the first.

Amazing boots. Great control, fit, power, etc. Absolutely loved 'em until I broke the toe/bill/bellows on day 6. After some research online I found out that lots of the TX Pro's have been cracking this year. So they're fabulous, except that they break. If they fix it, I'll be back on 'em in a heart-beat. But in the mean-time I'm SOL.

I took 'em out for a day of skinning, and the NTN binding were good uphill, but not amazing. It's a heavy binding, and the tour mode doesn't pivot as freely/effortlessly as I would like, nor does it have the range of motion/pivot that I would desire. That said, they're much better than a binding without a tour mode, but I've found that others with a tour mode like the G3 Targa Ascent do go uphill better. However the downhill performance of the NTN is 2nd to none, and you couldn't pay me to switch back to my G3 Targa Ascents now that I've skied NTN's.

Pulling up the tour mode level takes some doing, and in cold, heavy CA snow I had to stomp on it with my boot to get it to go back down. But I think that will soften up over time. As a side note, my TX Pro boots broke (crack around the toe/bellows) on day 6 and are on their way back to Scarpa, and my new Crispi NTN EVO boots should arrive today. :) So although isn't not perfect yet, there's no way I'm going back to traditional tele boots & bindings.

I have 5 days in so far on my '09 NTN bindings and Scarpa TX Pro boots and I couldn't be happier. The combination is a good predictable, stiff set-up with great control. It's a smooth progression between the flex of the binding and the flex of the boot. I love the step-in set-up and wow is it nice not to have to deal with a leash for once. While I haven't released from them yet, I think I will love the release function when I crash hard enough to pop out. On first glance, the tour mode looks great, but I'll update my comments after I take them uphill for a full day or two in the backcountry. So far, I'm very happy. I've skied them on hard-pack, Sierra cement, and a foot of WY powder, and they were great in all 3.

Fantastic telemark knee pads! I've been using various hard-plastic two strap knee pads for years (Arc'Teryx, Black Diamond, etc.) and these are a great step up. They're decidedly more comfortable, and because they have material around the entire knee, they actually help keep my knees warm when I ski, which is fantastic. Once they're on, I more or less forget that I'm wearing them since they're so comfortable. The only downside is that putting them on over long-underwear takes some doing.

They also seem to do well with impacts. I haven't whacked 'em too hard yet, but so far so good.

I haven't had this jacket in the snow yet, but so far it's proven to be extremely light, and even warmer than my other, heavier down jackets. It fits a bit tighter too, so there isn't extra space to heat, which is nice. I've worn it on cold & windy Tahoe and San Francisco evenings and it's kept me extremely warm. So far I'm very impressed and I'm pretty sure this will be my go-to extra "warm layer" for back county skiing. 6'4", 170, and a size L is perfect.