Contributions by EJ Cruz (6)

I am an avid snowboarder/skier and prefer bibs to pants. Bibs offer better warmth and prevention of snow up my back. I searched high and low for a quality set of bibs to replace my 7 year old Sierra Designs. The Foundation bib is a roomy cut - not snowboarder loose or snobby Aspen ski lodge tight. The bibs use a single side zip for entry/exit and have plenty of pockets and vents. I am a big guy (6"2, 245 lb) and am comfortable in a L, including bending over to strap in and out. The pants are warm, but not hot. I use Outlast long underwear and some dacron pants (a little thinner than 100 weight polarfleece). They are definitely waterproof and the DWR is extremely effective in repelling water from wet ski lift chairs or extended periods sitting in the powder The pockets are roomy and most are zippered. I didn't find the pants to be heavy. They are lined and made of a substantial material, so don't expect flyweights. I have owned several different The North Face products and have been pleased with most of them. The lower end products tend to be heavy but well made. These feel like my old Mountain Light jacket in terms of quality and relative weight. I think they will last quite a while and represent a good value. I rate on the basis of value, so I think these are consistent with the price.

I have about 25 days on my P1s and really like them. They are very adjustable - I couldn't think of any adjustments that they don't have that I would want. I find them to be a nice, medium-stiff binding with lots of padding in the sole and straps. They are comfortable and provide great control and feel. I use them with a Head Intelligence iCT and like the combo a lot. The downside? The capstraps need to be cranked down to hold on my boots. I also suffered a weird binding buckle 'inversion' where the capstrap binding latching mechanism flipped around in the most bizarre way possible.

I am an avid snowboarder/skier and prefer bibs to pants. Bibs offer better warmth and prevention of snow up my back. I searched high and low for a quality set of bibs to replace my 7 year old Sierra Designs. The Foundation bib is a roomy cut - not snowboarder loose or snobby Aspen ski lodge tight. The bibs use a single side zip for entry/exit and have plenty of pockets and vents. I am a big guy (6"2, 245 lb) and am comfortable in a L, including bending over to strap in and out. The pants are warm, but not hot. I use Outlast long underwear and some dacron pants (a little thinner than 100 weight polarfleece). They are definitely waterproof and the DWR is extremely effective in repelling water from wet ski lift chairs or extended periods sitting in the powder The pockets are roomy and most are zippered. I didn't find the pants to be heavy. They are lined and made of a substantial material, so don't expect flyweights. I have owned several different The North Face products and have been pleased with most of them. The lower end products tend to be heavy but well made. These feel like my old Mountain Light jacket in terms of quality and relative weight. I think they will last quite a while and represent a good value. I rate on the basis of value, so I think these are consistent with the price.

I'm a big fan of Oakley products. The Crowbar goggles do not disappoint. They offer exceptional clarity, almost no fogging, and a great fit. I used A-Frames for 4 years before getting these. My son is using the A-Frames now. The Crowbar is a more traditional style than the A-Frame and feels better on a big face like mine. The Crowbar is well ventilated and comes with a helmet-capable strap. The iridium lenses are pretty good in a wide range of conditions. I have never wanted to trade them out for anything other than night skiing. You will need to be careful with them because they are scratch prone. I don't know if it is because they are iridium or because the coating shows scratches more than other types. Minor scratches aren't too bad from the inside view, but lenses are not cheap to replace. The frames and foam are very durable. The A-frames have weathered over 100 days of boarding/skiing and still look like new. There is every reason to believe these will go at least that long. Much like all the Oakley goggles I have owned, they are very good at keeping fog free. They are comfortable and stay put, thanks to the ribbing on the strap. Don't know how that would feel on my head, but they like the helmet just fine. I don't find myself adjusting them like I did the A-Frames - just run and gun. Oakley is smart about the material they put on the foam and they never get sweaty or sticky. I still get goggle lines. Ski/Snowboard goggles are ridiculously overpriced. There are MANY goggles that cost half as much that look as good or better than their peers; however, Oakley goggles continue to stand out in my experience. Are they cheap? No way. Smith and Scott make some pretty good goggles, but I haven't found any that I like as much as Oakley. I would own more of their stuff if it was 15% less. These goggles will appeal to the enthusiast with a little extra pocket change. Are they $20+ better than competing products? Maybe. The non-iridium lens versions are every bit as good with a significant savings so if you want good goggles but are stretched at the price point, look that way. You can score iridium lenses later anyway. With Oakley, you get what you pay for, but be prepared to pay!

I have the 2006 iCT - the jet black one. Believe it or not, but you can tell the difference with the intelligence system. On spring corduroy, the board doesn't chatter. When you are riding slow, it gently flexes through your turns. As you build speed it holds a tight edge and runs hard without chatter. The downside? Certain conditions - like pushing the nose down in wet powder - can cause the board to stiffen in response to a deep flex. This has resulted in my traveling over the nose of the board on several occasions. Base is tough, holds lots of wax, and rides really fast. Feels pretty light, but I didn't weigh it against other boards. It appears well constructed and still looks good after 30 days. After living with it for a season, I think it is a good value all around.

My son is a good skier and improving boarder. This board has been the catalyst for some really impressive gains in his riding. The board is light, durable, and holds wax very well. I would recommend the board for riders of all skill levels, especially compared to other kids' boards I have seen. Great overall value and performance.

My son is a good skier and improving boarder. This board has been the catalyst for some really impressive gains in his riding. The board is light, durable, and holds wax very well. I would recommend the board for riders of all skill levels, especially compared to other kids' boards I have seen. Great overall value and performance.

It performs as advertised. Corners like its on rails - never chatters. Very quick side to side and flies down the hill. Light and has been very durable so far (4 hard days). It is a little spendy, but you can really tell when the system is working. Fair warning - it can stiffen up under certain conditions and can bury the nose unexpectedly. Otherwise, it's wonderful.