Contributions by telejuneau (5)

These things are WAY bigger than the size chart indicates. I ordered the size that correlated to my waist size, and had at least four extra inches of material around my waist. Kinda funny looking, too.

I don't know about "waterproof," but I've also been loathe to try it out when it matters (and when it's pouring out). It's thin enough and form-fitting enough that it'll fit nicely under a shell, and it works wonders as a mid-layer in the most horrid weather I've tried it in (38 degrees F, 45-60 mph wind, and pissing rain). It's also been great for that first bit of a hike or tour when you want that extra warmth but don't want to overheat--and with the pit zips, it'll keep you comfy until you get so warm that all you need to hike in are your thermals. I'm usually a M, as I've got a pretty small frame, but the L fit me much better (172 lbs, 6' 2").

What can you say about the Targa other than that it's basically "industry standard" for telemarkers? Everybody (OK, so 3 out of 5) uses it because it works, and it works well. But I hope G3 staff read this, because they screwed one thing up in an incredible way. What the hell is with designing the heel piece to accept two climbing bars but only designing the ice-free heel plate to accept one? Come on guys--you even sell multiple length climbing bars, so you obviously meant for us to be able to use the bars with the heel with the plate. Oh well. I still own three pairs, and wouldn't buy anything else.

heh. heh. heh. these things rock. absolutely, without a doubt, the sickest skis I've ever owned. or borrowed, rented, or even heard of. I may have only skied on them for one run, and I may have been taken in by how easy it is to skin up a mountain when your skis are this big (yes, get the 130 mm Black Diamond STS skins and a releasable heel for them--you'll be glad you did), but with skiing everything from rime bearings 1" x4", tight chutes with breakable wind crust, windbuff, some moderately-sized airs into who-knows-what, and a little raincrust to finish things off, I'm pretty sure that I've tried them out in just about every type of snow they could possibly suck in, and they don't. Congratulations, Volkl, you did it again. Oh, the Buddha sticker is offensive on a mass-produced ski made by underpaid workers in China, but I chose function over form (and ethics?) this time.

Yeah, what StokedOnPow said. I must have looked at every helmet on the market, and this is the only one I drooled on myself over. (But if you think it's ugly, then hey, buy something else.) On its first day, I hiked and skinned an ascent for over two hours, and couldn't believe I actually had a helmet with me at the summit, it was so light. The dial-do-hickey at the back of the helmet allows you to adjust it to a wide variety of head shapes & sizes--although I had to exchange the L I ordered (due to the size chart--order small) for a M. Lucky me, a friend loved it so much he just took the L and ordered the M for me.