Contributions by kshowal (7)

I hadn't bought new snowboard bindings in a long long time. I'm so glad I updated this year. I've only had the chance to use these a few times this season, but I can't believe the difference. I go faster, turn better and with less effort, and feel more attached to and in sync with my board. More control, more response. Work great with the Emerald Boots. No heel lift, no discomfort. So far, so good.

I tried on another style of Burtons in a store, and they fit true to size, so I thought the Emeralds would fit the same way. But when I ordered these in my regular size, I had to send them back and get a half size bigger. Aside from size issue, these boots have been great. I've only had the opportunity to use them a few times, but they're really comfortable. The speed lacing gets me on the hill a lot faster and without killing my fingers. The Emeralds are a solid all-mtn boot. Stiff for support and response but not too stiff. They work great with the Lexa Bindings I bought.

Not only does my 11-month-old look darn cute in his long johns, they keep him warm. He can hang longer outside when he has this top on under his snowsuit. The fabric is smooth and soft. I bought the dark color to hide stains because sometimes I have him wear the shirt by itself.

These leggings are plenty long - they'll fit my 11-month-old for a while, I think. The fitted cuffs prevent them from dragging too. They look really cute on him, and he definitely lasts longer outside when he wears these under his snow gear. They don't appear to make him itch, and the fabric feels soft.

This hat looked thin when I put it on my 10-month-old son's head, but looks can be deceiving - the merino wool is toasty warm. Plus, I think of this hat as a layer - plenty warm by itself on a cool day, great under a hood on a bitter cold day. This hat doesn't seem to make my son itch (merino is soft), and it stays on well. Note that the vanilla-colored hat is a creamy off-white, not a true white.

Anyone with an infant knows that getting socks/booties to stay on his/her feet is difficult at best. Which is where these Smartwool Booties come in - they actually do stay on for a while. Elastic helps them stay put, yet they're not so tight that they constrict blood flow to our little boy's feet. The wool not only doesn't itch, it's downright soft - feels better than cotton, and they're warmer than cotton, too. Plus, they're really cute. I bought some as gifts for friends with new babies because I liked them so much.

I picked the Deuter Kid Comfort II because it has a place for your hydration bladder, lots of room to carry the kidlet's diapers, clothes, and food, and it's a color my fiance is willing to wear (I like the Sherpani pack too, but the flower logo and colors didn't appeal to him). I wish it came with a sun/rain shade, but at least I can order it separately (though at the moment, Backcountry.com isn't selling any. Bummer.) Overall, I'm really happy with this pack. It's comfortable to wear, even when the kid is squirming and it weighs 25 pounds, and it's easy to adjust. My fiance is only a couple inches taller than I am (I'm 5' 9"), so I can't speak to how comfortable it is for someone really tall or short, but it works great for us. I wear it to walk around the park or at a festival just as often as I wear it to go hiking in the mountains. Our kid (he's 7mos), seems to like the ride. It's got enough storage that we could possibly do a short backpacking trip - that's the plan, anyway.