Chalie B

I have used most other beacons except the new Ortovox and have been delighted at the Pieps ease of use and their reliability. Best range of all currently available, especially when tested with other popular brands BUT who in their right minds would be getting out their beacon from its secure location every 500m to check altitude and compass heading? This is surely a big time marketing gimmick. A better add on would be a 457mHz PLB or GPS.

Lightweight, breathable, warm, BUT seams started separating on second day of normal alpine use. Obviously being made in a factory that uses the cheapest glues and has no quality control. I know that MH is a big company with lots of responsibilities but their reputation has suffered big time in my eyes because of this quality issue. Will think twice in future....

Imagine climbing up a steep icy slope, just hanging on with the ski crampons, then it gets really icy and you start to slip. WHAT ON EARTH DO YOU DO?? If you take off the crampons you fall. If you turn around you will fall. Very difficult to back down a slope.....This is what happened to me. I had to dig a hole in the ice and flee. Cool looking, durable, funky, looked good on the pack and I got plenty of glances from other tourers but really I should have used real boot crampons and not these strange substitutes. Buy them for a easy ride to serious trouble.

I put them on some Dynastar Legend Pros with Garmont Adrenalines and have never been happier. The good old Fritschi wobble is gone. They release well (I can attest to this up to DIN10) and tour well. Never released the touring mode unintentionally and relatively easy to get in and out of. Bit on the heavy side. Front DIN should be half a number higher as they seem a bit soft there like all prevous Fritschis.

Just got these skis, put on some freeride bindings and used adrenaline boots for spring skiing in New Zealand. The 186's feel like 196's. They go seriously fast, turn when told to and can ignore the worst storm rime and ice blocks. Short turns on ice? No problems. High speed GS turns on powder fields? No worries. Heavy to carry up the hill, but what a ride! Not for the faint hearted or those used to soft turning noodle skis. If you only resort ski, don't bother. Kinda sorry I didn't get the XXL's. I do have one concern, however, in that I am totally mystified by the strange metal plates at front and back. What on earth do they do?

Awesome grip but average glide, these trendy looking skins are good value for money. Easily on and off - I think I save about 3 minutes in transition time - thanks to the BD design sticky side. Awesome attack angle to the slope - you can go straight up. The fasteners work well and don't fall off when stressed. The durability jury is out, however, as they tear and lose fur pretty quickly. Hard to find a skin with better grip.