Contributions by Anonymous (15)

My three-buckle -- five year old -- Lowas just weren't cutting it anymore. With Utah's epic 07/08 ski season, my style became more aggressive and the length of my AT skis grew faster than Pinocchio's nose during one of his lying sprees. So, I made the decision to crack open the wallet, release the moths, and purchase some new touring boots. I'm no trust fund baby so I didn't take the purchase lightly; especially with the cost of new AT boots well north of $500. My criteria, the new boots had to be -- stiff and supportive, light and comfortable, stylish and non-neon. Pre-purchase the Dynafit compatibility wasn't important but, in retrospect, it is a nice feature that offers me a whole new world in touring. My research naturally lead me to Garmont's Axon. But, I will say, I wouldn't have ever considered the Axons at Garmont's full asking price. Well, the Axon's fit is amazing (even without heat moulding which I argue is more of a marketing, not technical, feature). The boots are stiff and supportive enough to steer any of today's big skis. At the same time they are light and comfortable, even in "ski" mode. My only complaint, and it is a big one, is that the Axon's liners don't allow your feet to breath. Allen and Mike, in their book, 'Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book,' describe putting your feet in plastic bags to keep them from perspiring -- aparently feet stop perspiring once they're entirely emersed in sweat. Yeah, gross. Well, this concept is what comes to mind while I'm wearing these boots and my feet are stewing in their own juices. Overall, the best and most versatile ski boots I've ever owned.

I fully expect to still be wearing these gloves in 30 + years -- making the cost, on an annualized basis, just $1.67/year. Much less than a pack of Lucky Strikes. With a stylish two-tone leather construction, I also expect them to take on a nice patina over time; a functional reminder of all the chutes, hucks, and travels I've experienced over time. Seriously, these gloves rock! They breath well and retain natural body heat. What more can you ask from a glove? The Fall Line's short under-the-sleeve elastic cuff and minimalist design will sell you on the idea that good handwear doesn't need to be bulky and should never involve battery packs. I'm convinced that Hestra has fully mastered the art of glove making during the company's 70 year history. In my granddaddy's words, those are some "handsome" work gloves. WTF?

Pair these bad boys with a set of Marker Duke bindings and Garmont Axon boots and you've got the ultimate, shred-anything, setup. Yep, spend Saturday in the terrain park brushing up on the tricks and Sunday testing them out in the deep POW of the backcountry. The noses of these skis taper up gradually over several cms; lifting you straight to the surface of the snow. The tails turn more dramatically. A well-designed sidecut ensures a fun ride on the groomers without taking away from the ski's float; 98cm underfoot suddenly feels easy to maneuver on the hard pack. Nordica offers you a choice of mounting "air" or "ride." I went for more of a center (air) mount and I'm glad I did. Oh, the Enforcer's attention-grabbing graphics are an added bonus.

The length of these skis are enough to intimidate anyone. But I suggest you show these girls who's in charge if you do make the commitment to click them on to your feet -- if you don't take them for a ride, they'll certainly take you for one. The Pimp is designed for a classic mount but, at 193, the ski's long tail takes some getting used to. Atomic's kinetic core -- I'm assuming "kinetic" is a fancy word for foam -- makes for a light ski that rocks in the fresh stuff and glides through chop. However, the Pimps lack personality on the groomers; where the ability to store and release energy is everything. A great novelty ski for those of us lucky enough to have a nearly full quiver.

These skis are like a good woman -- no matter how tempted you are to ride something else, something just keeps you coming back. I find every excuse I can to slide these sleek boys out of my quiver. With almost a 30m turn radius, the Gotamas aren't meant for tight spaces; they are in their element in wide open terrain, preferably floating several feet atop the untracked white stuff. But don't think these skis are afraid of the groomers. Sure, they aren't lighting fast; but they're a blast arcing powerful GS turns on the cords. It is amazing how much power can be stored and then released in Volkl's solid wood core. And with so much meat underneath, you feel confident in all your landings. My only complaint with the Gotama is that, similar to a boy on bris, this ski doesn't like to hold a skin. Don't bother looking any further; these are the ultimate boards for surfing the white horse!

I only wear a helmet to keep me warm and as a way to blast my tune; given the way I ski, no helmet is going to protect my noggen. This helmet is very warm and breaths nicely when you're pumping tricks and need to open the vents. The helmet is stylish and makes me look like a jet-fighter when my Oakley's are down. My only complaint -- which is a big one -- is that the integrated speakers on this helmet suck; big time! I've come to prefer listening to posers on the chair lift over the intolerable sounds generated by these speakers. And as far as I can tell there is no way to replace them. Bottom line: poor quality speakers not justifying the cost of this lid.

Nobody does down fill like MontBell! The materials used in this jack stretch to fit one's shape exactly. When you first put it on you feel all puffy like that little fat kid from South Park, CO but, within minutes, you are truly one with your winter layer. As others have stated, at first I thought this jacket was short in the back. But this no longer bothers me; I actually like the shorter fit. I'm assuming MontBell made the shorter back so the jacket could be used under a weatherproof shell (no need to have your insulating layer hang out). I checked out this lesser-known brand after owning a MontBell hugger sleeping bag. This jacket contains the same quality and warmth as MontBell's bags. The only downside is I never want to take it off; even indoors. Nothing quite compares to the natural warmth captured by real goose feathers! And it is nice not wearing the same brand name (Arc'teryx, Marmot, Patagonia, Mountain Hardware, The North Face) garment as everyone else at the cafe and lift line.

These Crescent Moon shoes blew me away! The binding system is absolutely brilliant -- they fit snug on my boots, are super easy to get on and off, and are perfectly integrated with the rest of the shoe. The Gold 10's crampon system is amazing too. But you won't notice the stainless steel teeth underfoot until the going gets tough. Sheer rock and tree roots are no match for these rugged claws. CM's Gold 10 is probably overkill for the casual hiker looking to log a few miles. However, they are the ultimate backcountry tool -- where lightweight and foolproof equipment is absolutely critical. These snowshoes truly earn all five stars in my book!

This high-quality soft shell is packed with features but wears like an Ernest Shackleton reindeer parka -- very heavy and bulky. The jack has more pockets than a pool table; very annoying if you're trying to find your PB&J on a short lift ride. Don't consider this product if you're content with your minimalist shell; no reason to lug around extras you don't use or need.

The quality you'd expect from Bibler/BD but not at all spacious; getting in and out of the tent requires advanced limbo moves. The vestibule also uses a single pole which adds weight but not a whole lot of support, given that the shelter is so short and gets a good anchor to the solid Fitroy tent.

I could have easily paid twice the amount for the same quality AT boot. These boots are stylish, warm, and supportive. They perform equally well in the backcountry and at the resort. Complaints: the boots are a bit difficult to get on and off and the middle buckle would offer more uphill support if it were placed differently. I haven't owned a pair of thermofit boots so I can't speak to the difference in fit compared to the lace up bootie. My overall opinion; quality boot at a killer price.

I'm a hockey coach and I purchased this jacket to wear while I'm out on the ice. I wanted something that was light, windproof, and breathable. The Gamma SV jacket is everything I needed plus it is sytlish and more flexible than other jackets I own. I wouldn't want to rely on the Gamma SV when the temperature really dips; in extreme weather I'll take my Patagonia any day. I'm probably not comparing apples to apples here and I'm not exactly sure what this jacket was designed for (ice climbing?). I guess I was just expecting more jacket for the price I paid.