Jess McMillan

I'm not sure why the Jester was originally marketed as a park and pipe binding. It is so much more. It is one the lightest 16 din binding on the market. It will lighten up any set-up will stil havingthe intergity of a 16 din. Many people believe you must ski 20 din marker to prevent pre-releasing, not with the Jester. It does not have the biometric toe, so it will keep you in off any big cliff or gnarley line. I love the way it skis, it adds a little riser to your set up which helps you power through the turn. I would recommend this binding to anyone.

This ski is sick! It is great in the powder. Where it really accelerates, and I mean you will be flying past your friends, is the day after a storm. It is incredibly damp and will plow through any chopped up snow or crud. It is pretty good on the groomers/ice, but that's not what it is designed for. FYI - If you take to the shop, warn them about the powder channel, it will melt.

I have used this tool skiing in Yellowstone and also in the summer to climb Mount Owen. I am just getting into mountaineering and am not really familiar with what is good and what is better. All of mountaineering friends recommended this tool as the best all around tool. Even Stephen Koch thought it was a good choice. It was perfect for the two adventures I have taken it on.

I love this crampon. If you are going to own one pair of crampons as opposed to a quiver, this is the one to have. It is the best all around crampon on the marker. It is easy to use, durable, and relatively light. It also works with multiple types of boots; alpine, plastic, and soft boots. I'll say it again: if you are going to own just one crampon, buy this one.

I have been using the Ransom for the last three years and it is my favorite goggle. The frame is a little smaller than the Motive so it fits smaller faces. The Ransom offers great visibilty, rarely, if ever fogs, and fits well with almost all helmets.

The Down Patrol is my favorite jacket I own. It is incredibly warm, but also has pit zips to cool you down when you are working up a sweat. It is perfect for stormy days and those sub zero days. Cloudveil thought of everything in this jacket: huge collar with fleece on the inside, a powder skirt, mutiple pockets, an Ipod pocket, and its durable. I have skied in the Down Patrol for the last three years, one washing and it looks brand new.

The Koven is a very light-weight shell. It is a no thrills jacket. Perfect for spring skiing or hiking. It is very light and wind proof. The only thing I don't like about the koven it that there are no inside pockets to store a cell-phone or wallet.

The gotama is a must have ski. It will change the way you ski and the way you look at the mountain. The gotama is good for everything,; waist deep powder days, bumps if you take a wrong turn and are forced to ski them, crud, and it rails on the groomers! If I had to choose one ski to ski for the rest of my life, it would be the Gotama.

This bag is awesome! Super durable and plenty of room. I have traveled around the world for the last two years and the bag still looks brand new. The two compartments are great to keep my boots and stinky gear separate from my nice clothes. The only problem, is that it is so big that I end up filling it and having to pay extra on flights. The smaller version of the bag is probaly big enough unless you are planning on being gone for really long time.

The Koven is my favorite and most worn coat I own. In basic terms, it is a shell with a little extra. So on super cold days, I don't have to wear six layers under my coat to stay warm. And the pit-zips are great for regulating temperature on warm days or when I'm hiking. The cloudveil team also built all kinds of cool features like a place for your Ipod, googles, and ski pass. The collar is awesome. It is big enough to bury your entire face in and keep it shielded from the cold and wind. The stow away hood is great too for chilly days. The koven is perfect for women, a shell with a little more warmth.

Finally a binding built for going down, not just climbing up. I tested the binding last season in Europe and South America. It is bomber. It skis like a a fixed heal binding and you can huck on it. If you are a skier who only hikes becasue going down is going to be sick, this is the binding. The only draw back of the Duke, is that on cold days it will ice up and is hard to get back into the fixed position. It also only has one option for heal lift. If you only have one set up that you need to do everything get a Duke. It skis well inbounds and you can also take it touring.