Kellie Okonek

I ski the Shakas all winter long, and love their downhill performance for skiing big powder skis! While lighter AT boots can work, I love the feeling of power/support from the Shakas, which make them my go-to boot all winter long. I also like that they're easy to get on/off like an alpine boot, and are comfortable to tour in . . . I definitely recommend them!

Yet again this season, I am amazed at how well the Gea's do for ski mountaineering season - when the days are long, the approaches and tours get long, and it's so nice to have a boot that tours efficiently and then can get down to business and ski a steep scary couloir - I'm a huge fan!

This is absolutely my go-to jacket for almost everything! I use it regularly backcountry skiing (climb in a t-shirt or light layer, ski down in the micropuff) and it's the perfect amount of warmth to prevent rapid cooling when you stop, but not too hot to ski down in. It's also a great summer layer for wilderness trips, with the added assurance that it can get wet and still insulate (unlike down). To top it all off, it's stylie :-) I'm 5'7" with athletic build and the M fits best.

I really love this jacket as a non-technical coat to wear around town in the winter. It's plenty warm for most of what southcentral Alaska dishes out and is super comfy and cozy. I love the fleece lining and, as others mention, it's not itchy at all! It's a little too bulky to use skiing, backpacking, etc. and I think there are better materials for warmth (i.e. primaloft) when weight and space are an issue. The cut is fitted and feminine and I usually get compliments when I wear it . . . nice to feel both cozy and stylish!

I wear a women's 7 and have the S/M - I got the socks on a whim, but really like them and they've become my favorite day hiking/running/mountain biking socks. They come up fairly high, but roll down nice and don't cut off circulation when you wear them that way . . . but since they are a little higher than normal running socks, they're great for keeping out rocks, dirt, etc. on the trail. I find the socks comfortably snug and haven't had any problems bunching, or with abnormal wear.

These boots are my go-to backcountry boot for day touring to long ski mountaineering trips. I use the stiffer Tornado tongues to improve downhill performance and I don't feel like this sacrifices touring performance (definitely recommend swapping them out, especially since it's super easy!). I have bushwhacked, traveled overland, and skied well over 100 days on these and they are still in pretty good shape for what they've been through!