Reviews by User: powder addict (12)

Remarkable in nearly every aspect: -sky high price -unmatched attention to detail -made in Canada -awesome color pattern (I have the green one) -amazingly mobile for a hardshell -the Stow Hood is three way adjustable(!) and big enough for my large helmet. I wish it were a Storm Hood though... pretty much anything Arc'teryx makes with a Storm Hood is worth buying. -longer length than most Arc'teryx jackets -simple and functional powder skirt My main complaint: I was very, very sorely disappointed to make this discovery: the description of the Stinger implies that it has an internal skin pocket... which it definitely doesn't. The consensus: four stars due to a variety of amazing qualities, but lacking a skin pocket and a storm hood. The price is also outrageous, but you get what you pay for in this industry.

I purchased a pair of half jackets four years ago, but have sadly outgrown them. The flak jackets are a little bigger than the half jackets, and simply amazing. i expect to get at least another four years out of these. their optical clarity, weight, and durability are unmatched; i frequently forget that i'm even wearing them.

I bought a pair of these from a boot shop last year and paid $600. The shop fitted me for a size that turned out to be too small, even after grinding. The snow demons have taken pity on me though, and I now own the WC 120 in the correct size. And I paid half the price. These are sweet boots; simple, great fit... Lange. At $300, I can't believe that these are still in stock.

Super light weight, phenomenal hood (seriously, the best hood design ever), very durable, and a perfect single pocket. Other companies that put 12 pockets on their shells are missing the point: it's a shell. It's supposed to be put on over layers in the event of nasty weather. If every layer you have has 12 pockets, then you end up with more pockets than a kleptomaniac would ever need.

Looks great, good venting, light weight, and the padding doesn't adsorb too much sweat. The roc loc system makes for an awesome fit, but it's a little on the fragile side. I'm having trouble adjusting mine after five days of hard riding, but it's still one of the best all mountain helmets on the market.

If Zeus had a pair of skis, these would be them. Incredibly fast, and blow through everything (including knees and ACL's). They're super fun on anything shy of a mogul field, and even then they are only reduced to normal fun levels. They also ski switch pretty well, and hold a remarkable edge on hard pack. The Supermojos can be compared to the Gotama's, which are also a fun ski, but unlike Volkl, these boards are still made in Austria.

Trashed a pair in 5 days out in Moab. The fit is fantastic and they breathe very well, but they are just too fragile for mountain biking. I would expect more durability for the price.

Pros: -lots of float (good for people with bad knees, like me) -simple design -mud/snow is never a problem Cons: -the cleats suck... I went through 3 pairs last year alone. -this one's the most annoying: the outer platform is so thick that it conflicts with the treads of all the mountain bike shoes that I've been able to get my hands on. Be prepared to file down the soles of your shoes. -you have to grease them frequently or else the egg beater won't spin freely from the outer platform

I've owned a pair of Alti's for two seasons, and they are designed for mountaineering, not skiing. If you're just sitting on a lift, they probably won't be warm enough, and the giant gauntlet cuff is overkill. They're great for their intended purpose though: activities such as building a snow shelter or setting up a tent in a blizzard. I'll also vouch for what the other guy said about BD ski gloves; they're some of the best.

I discovered eVent later this season, and it's really bad news for Arc'teryx. Although their gear is still the highest quality that I've ever found, Gore-Tex just feels like a plastic bag compared to eVent. I can't justify $550 for a really well-designed plastic bag... but I'll happily pay for it again next year if Arc'T gets their act together and drops Gore-Tex.

It has just enough wind resistance to work as an outer layer while skinning uphill, and it's warm enough to work as a mid layer for the downhill. It has Velcro cuffs so you can put your fleece gloves on easily, and an awesomely fuzzy neck that closes tight. It has a wind flap behind the front zipper, a longer cut with a draw cord hem, and well designed sleeves that eliminate lift-up. It's made by a fantastic American company, at a price that's hard to beat. It's damn near perfect... perhaps the only drawbacks are that the stitching is overly complicated, the wrist closers are bulky, and it would be nice if the pocket zips were 3in longer to double as core vents. I'm going to send Patagonia an email about the core skin; it's really hard to find, and they had better make it again next year.

Very warm and relatively light weight. Good styling makes for a coat that is equally effective at keeping you warm and presentable. Main complaint: face protection. The hood fits over a helmet, but the collar is too small to cover the chin and cheeks. If you're going to haul this sort of coat into the backcountry, you don't want to worry about frostbite: you want to be bombproof.