Sean Mumm

This bas is amazing! It's large enough to carry everything you could possibly want for a week long excursion into the deep without breaking your back. It's super sturdy with a hard capped nose and tail which add to it's longevity. The wheels are standard skate wheels so they are easy to replace when they call it quits. The bag comes with 2 internal bags (each one big enough to fit a pair of bindings and then some) that clip into place allowing you to compartmentalize your gear. All the seams are super reinforced so you know it's going to last forever. I was told this is the bag of choice for Burton Team riders and I can easily see why. Burton knocked it out of the park with this one.. as far as I can tell there is no other bag on the market that touches this board bag. $$$ BUT WORTH IT!

If I didn't pick up my Gore T Rice shell I would have swooped this up in a heartbeat. The fit and finish of this jacket is top notch. It's loaded with cool features like the wrist gaiter wiper, trash pocket, and offset zipper. A huge plus is the fact that Bond is a carbon neutral company that is run by some really cool people. A worthy addition to anyones kit!

I will at some point pick this pack up to replace my Dakine Pro 2. I have tried it out a few times to make sure it's the one I want. The fit is superb, the best fitting winter pack I have tried on. It even has a rod support system that helps distribute loads and keep its shape no matter what you have in/on it or how it is synched (something the Dakine pack utterly fails to do). It has all the storage you need with appropriate compartments including a very handy zippered back panel flap (which does not effect comfort or fit). It fits all my avy gear with ease, and it has a vertical snowboard carry (which the covert does not) but does not have a horizontal snowboard carry.

THE DOWN SIDE (why this is not a 5 star pack):
The airbox that brings in fresh air is literally a box with 90º corners. Normally this would not matter, however this box is positioned right ontop of your shoulder where allot of weight and pressure is held. The positioning of this makes for a very uncomfortable hot spot. WHY DID BLACK DIAMOND DO THIS??? Im my opinion this is a HUGE mistake in the design of this pack that could easily be fixed with a better location or an ergonomic shaped box. FYI - you can but should not move the air box due to its required interaction with the mesh material it rests inside of (moving it can restrict air intake and nullify its functionality)! The only other gripe I have with this is the back panel's lack of good air flow between your back and the pack (same goes with 99% of the winter packs out there) giving the user a sweaty back.

Got some of these to help get through log hikes as well as extend the day (backcountry snowboarding), and that it does. Better if consumed when warm (I put one in my glove for a good 5 min while hiking) as it becomes more like a drink and less like a gel. I tried all the flavors and Mocha is my fav. These really give you kick in the pants with little to no crash. Love the litter leash as well, keep it clean out there! Stock up on em as once you use em you won't leave for a hike w/o em.

I mainly got this for cornice bombs, and it does that job with ease, but I also use it for block testing. It cuts through layers of crud and ice with minimal effort. I decided to do a little modification to the crimped copper stoppers that hold the coils in place. I took a small jewelers file and rounded the edges so the cord would be less harsh on my probe. I didn't mind doing this as the coils are what cuts the ice and snow and as I said above it still does that with ease. It come with a nice clip to keep the cord coiled and the bad can be filled with snow to give it some swing weight. A great tool for you back country kit!

This review is for all A-Frame lenses.
I've come to the conclusion that there is an issue with the foam lens sandwich in all A-Frame lenses. I have had an issue with the foam in between the 2 lenses getting a crack in it letting moisture in which causes a terrible, unfixable, fogging issue in every A-Frame lens I have owned. I am fed up with it and am looking to get new non Oakley goggles soon. Sad really as I had loved the A-Frames up until this last straw. Oakley has been good at replacing the defective lens in the past, but every season I end up needing to send one of my lenses in for warranty.. really?!? Oh and even though the outside of the lens does a great job of resisting scratches.. however the inside does no job at all in resisting scratching.. i.e. only wipe the inside with a clean baby bum.

The optics are great, the tint choices are great (especially FIRE), but this issue makes all that greatness.. well.. useless!

I currently have a pair of Salomon F22's and love them.. but over the years they have broken down and are not as stiff as I would like so I tried out the Malamutes. These boots are for riders that like to charge big lines at high speed and need the stiffness to maintain maximum control. These things are tanks! Very well build, especially when you have them next to another boot you will see how compact and designed they are. They have some nice bells and whistles such as a moldable toe-box and adjustable internal heal strap. My next pair of boots will be these, hope I can find a pair in my size at the end of the season.

BTW my F22's are old, very old and they just keep truck'n. I am 100% sold on Salomon boots!

A great google. Great field of vision and with a superior fit. These are ideal for those who ride with a helmet. Fogging is very rare, mostly when I hike and sweat like a pig. Build quality is great as well. I have been pretty hard on my 3 year old pair, which includes the occasional face to tree plant. The lenses are easily interchangeable and there are a wide variety to choose from. The only downfall is the price of a replacement lens.. OUCH! The only thing keeping theses from a 5 star is the outrageous price of the frame and lenses (you can get a new frame and lens for the same price as a replacement lens).

For the people who prefer not to ride with a helmet I would suggest the crowbars over the aframe as the crowbar as a wider field of vision.

Just the same as the previous 2 years this board has been out.. the name says it all, SICK! Don't be confused people.. just because it's a pintail does not mean it cannot ride switch, because it can and I do! I am serious when I say that I now only have 2 boards; a 156 park board and a 162 Sick Stick and that is close to all I need out here in the Pacific NorthWest. There is a reason the Sick Stick is listed in the All Mountain section and not the Powder Board section; it kills is all over the mountain and not just the pow. The 162 rides like a 159 thanks to the pow rocker'd nose, which due to it's shape never stay buried under the snow. I have sold this board to 2 (soon to be 3) of my riding buddies who are all super stoked on it. If you live in an area that has lots of snow, you want this board. Just find a demo and ride it if you don't believe the hype. Just be warned, you WILL fall in love!

For the record I am 6'2 170lbs and I could get away with the 160 but I love my 162!

This board is made for the deep white powpow. Keep that in mind when you ride it because out of the powpow, more so at the end of the day when you are tired, it's like driving a train off the rails.It's obviously not as bad as a k2 Gyrator or Lib TR Banana Hammock, but it's still a bit of a handful out of the pow. When this board is in the pow, WOW, it handles like Bentley! It's fast and very responsive. It initiates pow turns with ease and stay afloat with little to no effort. I'm 6'2 170lbs and I rode a 164 which rode great for me, it could probably support even more weight before you'd have to jump up a size. This is saying allot because when the snow out here in Western Washington gets wet and heavy.. float is hard to come by. Not a problem for the Ride SC. I highly recommend the this board to anyone who lives in and rides pow. Also check out the Salomon SickStick for another pow slayer option.

This is a great board from a great company. It keeps up with the typical K2 build quality. The reason I saw it's a Pacific North West quiver killer is because of the type of snowboarding that happens 80% of the time here.. freshies. The Turbodream preforms well on all surfaces and excels when you are in deeper snow. When there is no fresh snow to be had it still rides great all over the mountain. A problem most pow designated boards (like the Gyrator) have are that they become handful on your way to and from the powder, not a problem the Turbodream has. It really does turn the whole mountain into a playground. But.. as someone said on here the Turbodream is not the best choice for areas like the midwest where fresh powder happens 5 days a year and the rest you spend on groomers and ice.

This is a small easily packable shovel that will do the job it was designed to do. That being said I have a few issues with it.
1) It has a pretty small blade so moving snow will take a bit more time.
2) Although the shaft extends to a nice length and the fact that the shaft stays attached to the blade is great, but how it slides out from the blade is not designed to my satisfaction. The tolerances between the blade and shaft are so tight that the shaft can become sticky and requires allot of force to open.
3) The number of pins you have to push to get it fully extended is confusing the first few times you use it, which to me could become an issue when the user is panicked.
4) The design on this shovel is on the right track to a great system, but again it's not fully developed. An easy change to the blades design would allow the user to extend the shaft out to it shorter setting with one quick pull. How it is now the user has to push in a pin in order for the pins to clear the blade. Something so simple yet BCA over looked it.

Don't get me wrong, this is still a good shovel that will work when you need to preform a rescue. It's built strong and will last a long time. With a few small tweaks this could be one of the best shovels on the market, it's just a shame they didn't, and it isn't.

One of my bc ridding partners has this probe and he loves it. The speed at which this assembles and locks in place is bar none. It's a great size and seems to be well built and sturdy so it should last the test of time. Since this is something that might be used to save my life, I want the best and I approve of it. I am glad he chose this one.

A buddy recently got this probe to add to his bc kit. It packs really small and is very very light thanks to the stronger than steel cut proof Dyneema cord! This probe should not have any problems fitting into any winter pack. It locks into place via a pin that pops out from a blank attached to the cord that pulls out the top. Once the blank is pulled out the pin pops out and you let go of the cord and the pin prevents the blank and cord from going back in the probe, locking the probe in place. As mentioned with the review by ale3639619, the small pin is very hard to push back in thus requiring the user to remover their glove and almost loose some skin if not done carefully. That is the only fault I can see in this probe. It is very sturdy when assembled, has a good length to it (280), and has a mushroom tip which aids in the probes movement in and out of the snowpack. A worth probe for sure, but not my choice probe.

Although this shovel is what I would consider an average shovel that does the job is was designed to do, I feel that it does not do the job as well as others. Build quality is great (it should last you a lifetime with minimal pin issues). Where this falls short is in the way you assemble it. In a situation where you have to use this to unbury an avy victim you want to be able to assemble it fast and without the need of too much concentration. The fact that the shaft is round means that the pins are not always aligned and time is needed to rotate the shaft to get the pins to snap in place. The shaft also goes a few mm past where it should for the pins to line up with the holes, taking more time to align the pins with the holes. For these reasons I give this no more than 3 stars. In fact I plan to replace this shovel with something better suited to time sensitive emergency situations. So if you are looking for a shovel to add to you avalanche kit, look elsewhere.. but if you are looking for something to build booters or have in you car, this will work fine.

I got this to replace a lost SW Burton helmet, which I later found, lol. The fit of this helmet is absolutely top notch, much prefered over the Burton! The weight is nice as well, light enough for me to forget I even have it on. The lip is really clutch in keeping you googles in place. I went for the baker because I will be moving to colder, much colder weather than we get here in the PNW so I opted for no vents. To be honest I have only gotten hot while wearing this when I was hiking on a bluebird day, in a situation were I really didn't need to have it on anyway. I have never gotten cold in this, not even in -20ºC. My only complaint is that I wish the liner went further down the neck, but that is a minor complaint. I also don't buy the whole, "removable liner so you can use this in the summer" sales pitch. I have separate lids for both biking and skating and don't know why anyone would want an all in one, I don't want my IT guy to also be my cook.. i just want him to be the best damn IT guy out there.

I had a hard time justifying spending the extra 100 odd $'s on this over an Ortovox or BCA.. but I am glad I did. I have gotten to play with the BCA Tracker and Tracker 2 and much prefer the Mammut Pulse in every way, from size to ease of operation. After doing some quick searches I found that I was (and this is to each their own) more proficient at locating and pinpointing a buried beacon with the Pulse Barryvox over the others. That harness size and how the harness fits you is better with the Barryvox than with both the BCA beacons. The pulse feature and multiple burial capabilities as well as an advanced and novice modes make this the Beacon for me. Either way you go.. get yourself a beacon and know how to use it!

UPDATE: I still LOVE my beacon, but the harness is really pissing me off. It does not stay where you put it. I'll tighten it so it is centered on my torso (in between the hip bel and chest straps of my pack) and while riding the harness loosens up, which isn't good as it should always be tight agains your body. Still a 5 star because this beacon rocks!

I did allot of research before getting this probe and came up with a few criteria:
1) Fits in my pack? This it does but with no room to spare. At 20.25" (51.4cm) in height (collapsed) it will not fit in my avy gear pocket of my Dakine pack (ProII) so it resides in the main compartment. Only a slight drawback.
2) Min of 280cm? At 320cm this is one big probe.. let's just hope none of my buddies is buried that deep!
3) Rigidity? With a larger diameter size than most coupled with thicker aluminum walls this thing is a tank and can hold up to Rouche block testing, unlike carbon probes. In comparison with my buddies probes this has allot less deflection.
4) Ability for fast visual depth finding. This is where the alternating color comes in real handy. You can easily tell if you hit something at a shallower depth just buy visual reference alone, something solid color'd probes fail to do. It also has fine markings for accurate snow study/ science.
5) Speed! This is where one star falls off. Speed is of the upmost importance here, and the spindle lock top just does not work fast enough or is as easy to use as other designs.

Over all I am very satisfied with this purchase, especially at the deal BC.com gave me on it. I would recommend this probe to any and all pow lovers.

I absolutely LOVE this jacket. Being from the pacific northwest you have to be able to deal with allot of moisture! This jacket handles it like a champ. I love all the features it has (wrist guitar, audio pocket, powder skirt, pass pocket, and of course the very clutch vile and vile pocket cough cough to name a few). The extra chin zipper is super useful, especially when throwing a hood over your helmet cuz you don't have to expose your chin and mouth to the elements to get it over your lid. Oh and the offset main zipper is nice as wall as it keep the cold metal away from your chin and lips, another big plus.It's got a great fit as well as great movement, and to top if off those graphics, yeah!

Conclusion: $400 is allot to pay for a jacket, but this time.. WORTH IT!

The Positive:
I have been riding with this pack for almost 2 years now (I have last years model, same pack in different colorways). It is just the right size to fit all my bc gear plus some extra goods such as approach gloves, food, hydration, and and extra midlayer top. Great for day trips in the backcountry4. The various pockets keep things organized and ready to go in a flash, which is very important in an emergency! The little fanny pack on the hip belt is super handy. They even thought to add elastic rings on the straps to keep them from dangling around. I'm 6'2" and this pack fits well, does a great job of supporting heavy loads.

The Negative:
The back panel has no ventilation at all which makes my back super hot (kinda odd as you would think venting isn't needed on a winter pack, but it is). There isn't much support to help the pack keep it's shape so the zipper on the back panel is a p.i.t.a. when you have everything synched tight. The fact that this pack does not keep it shape also makes it a MAJOR FAIL when packed with stuff (like an extra midlayer as well as your avy gear) and you attach a board to the vertical carry system as the stowed contents makes for an oddly shaped ill fitting back panel that will give you a major back ache while hiking!

I just picked these up last week to replace a pair of Burton Cartel LTDs. My old burton bindings used to give me a slight cramp in my foot and were way too soft for me (expected as they are for freestyle). The CAD binding solved that issue and got rid of all the hotsopts from having a tight binding.They are mounted to a Salomon Sick Stick 163 and seem to be right at home there continually interacting with the lively bamboo and doing everything I ask of them. I'm a pretty hard charger and wanted something stiff, light weight, and if possible environmentally friendly. I found everything I wanted in these. They do take some time to set up as they have have an infinite amount of adjustments. I am absolutely in love with them.. money well spent!Best part of these (as if the whole binding wasn't killer) has to be the footbeds. I have had a pretty nasty knee injury/ surgery and being able to dial in each of the for corners so my knee does not hurt is beyond gold! If you have not looked at the website to learn about all of the unique features these have, you really need to (www.ridesnowboards.com)!

$175 for a 20k pant would make one wonder if they are any good. Well this guy is sayin YES.. BUY THEM! Great fit, love the pockets.. they even worked in a drawstring in the cargo pocket to pull up the back of them if/when needed to keep them from dragging on the ground (they will now last allot longer). The 20k held true in a 4hr day riding in the rain.. legs stayed bone dry. The ONLY drawback is the back pockets.. as the flaps love to collect snow and by then end of a powder day you will a few inches of snow crammed in there. Well worth the skrill!!

EDIT: After a seasons use they are still holding strong. One major thing though that makes these pants a bit of a pain.. and that is the flap for the back pockets! Every time I go riding I have MAJOR issues with the back pocket flaps getting jammed with snow to the point I can't sit w/o picking my butt. -1 star for that. Other than that I still love em, but I need some goretex. TRive gore pants here I come!

First off the only reason they are not 5 star is because of the lack of a long cuff for an under glove (which is no longer a problem as I made a ninja guitar for my jacket). Other than that these gloves preform with the best of them. They are a replacement for my Burton Guide gloves that wore out in less than a full seasons use. I have used the Cobra in 36ºF rainy conditions for over 4hrs straight and my fingers did not prune nor were my hands too hot. I have also used in 20ºF and my fingers did not come close to being cold. They might not have some of the nice whistles of other gloves (goggle wipe and so on) but I am very happy with them to date and will likely be purchasing another pair. Highly recommended :D

UPDATE: Almost 2 seasons down and the only sign of wear is the soft thumb pad; it is starting to deteriorate. The rest of the glove (material and stitching) is holding strong! Still as waterproof as ever. DOWNSIDE.. my buddy has a pair of the new ones (main dif being the zip cuff v.s. my velcro cuff) and he hates em as they are hard to get on and when he manages to get the zipper to close, it does not stay closed. So I keep my 4 start for the older velcro version, but would give the new ones a 2/3 star.

The best way to sum up the Sick Stick is this:On a deep Pacific NW pow day everyone was complaining that the snow was too heavy and sticky, that they had to straight line it to keep momentum and stay above the snow. Not me, not the Sick Stick. I flew past most of the straight lining people on the mtn while making glee inducing surf like turns, all while keeping my speed and the board above the snow. Even when the board got submerged it kept on flying, and popped back ontop of the snow with minimal effort. That in itself is enough to warrant this a great board.. but it gets better. The super responsive bamboo took all my input without fuss and was able to power through tacked out areas almost as if it was still fresh pow. I have a 163 yet I am able to spin 3s with ease, maneuver it in the trees like it was a 159, and I am currently learning to ride switch in pow which this thing can do. To top that all off this board can even give you a smile of regular groomed runs, or even in a freestyle induced session as it still rides great in all conditions in all riding styles (well perhaps not the best for the icy midwest or east coast, not to mention urban assaults.. but that is kind of a given). So I give the SS 8 out of 5 stars!