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Overall The King Cobra is quickly becoming my favorite coat for everything, from walking to class or enjoying the deepest day of the year, because of its unique look and impressive quality. Well done, Saga, well done. Performance Over the course of this young season I have skied a 50cm blower pow day, numerous 15 cm days and an unfortunate selection of -15 dry days. With the King Cobra, I was careful to dress accordingly underneath, because it is more of a shell than a puffy jacket. That said, it was still well insulated and kept my temperature stable. When dealing with deep snow and even pounding rain, it became clear that Saga stepped up their game this year with their Anomie design. With 20K waterproofing and 3L taped seams, getting wet is not a problem. Design The look of the King Cobra speaks for itself. When paired with a set of Saga's new Anomie pants, you get that classic Saga matching look and stunning waterproof performance. One important note is that the jacket's color is more orange than red, which may be difficult to see on the Saga website. Regardless, the jacket pops like crazy and is quite photo-friendly, so fear not if you're nervous about color. Value The cost of the King Cobra is reasonable, and competitive with similar fitting jackets on the market; however, the waterproofing is more congruent with expensive, boutique brands such as Arcteryx or Mountain Hardwear. In short, the value of this particular coat is very good. Fit The fit of the King Cobra can be everything from ultimate sag to relatively normal. I personally fall somewhere in between these two styles, as a taller person who still likes an element of bagginess. At 6'1", a size L fit into the "mid-thigh" range, and didn't have excessive bagginess in the arms. Durability Thus far, over the course of this year the jacket has not ripped on wayward trees or lost its waterproofing, and it has yet to take on that infamous "wet jacket" scent.
Overall I was highly impressed with the 3.Zero, particularly with its versatility and playfulness. Having had some serious problems with a few competing skis, I was happy to see the 3.Zero hold up over the course of my use. I definitely recommend the ski for the all-around shredder who skis the whole mountain. Performance The 3.Zero is a pow ski, there's no doubt about it. Bring it into the for jumps and feel its magic; I have them mounted relatively close to center, plus 4 I believe, and stomping landings happened more often than it usually does. Even when ye olde wobbly-leg came into effect at the end of the day, I noticed the ski saving me time and again from back slapping. In the park and on groomers the 3.Zero is also fun; I prefer a stiffer, wider ski than many when I'm on jumps and rails, and this ski made me consider selling off my quiver of park skis as they went largely unused. Design The topsheets are neat and simple, nothing to complain about. Same goes for the bases. Like the design, but I wouldn't say it jumps out as much as others. In other words, it's not going to bring you the most attention when gapers on the chairlift are ogling your friends' Hellbents, I'll leave it up to you to decide if that's a good or bad thing. Value Definitely an impressively priced ski for what you get. It's manufactured in Europe, so you're getting a quality build for just over 800, quite a bit cheaper than the competing Rossi S7 or Salomon Czar. Fit I run the 183cm length, which features the same dimensions as all but the 191, which is slight skinnier at the tip and tail. I am just over 6' and like my skis near the top of my head; the 183 felt appropriate for my skiing. Characteristics The ski has a predictable flex pattern that, while stiff enough to maintain stability at speed and in varied snow, is playful on hardpack and has a springy feel. The 3.Zero excels when your shins are against your tongues and you're skiing aggressively. Durability As with most skis, the topsheets are susceptible to chips and some scratching, but the damage I inflicted was cosmetic. The bases managed to withstand my abuse, surprisingly.
Overall Very impressed and happy with mine. Violet iridium is not ideal for on-snow situations, so choose your lens accordingly, but if you want a beach-dweller that makes you look classy and cool it's perfect. The only real downside is the price, but if you've got some money to spend on quality, it's totally worth it. Performance I have the Holbrook in Matte White/Violet Iridium, and the lens is relatively light. It deals well with "cloudy bright" conditions and sunshine, but if you're on snow, especially on a glacier in the summer, I would recommend a darker lens. I love how light the frames are, it's a major plus in my mind. I like being able to forget that I am wearing them! Design You'll look like a super-smooth-fly-pimp for sure, I did! In all seriousness, the Holbrook looks good, it's got old-school styling with just the right amount of newschool influence. Value When it comes to sunglasses, you definitely get what you're paying for. The Holbrook will retail for over 150$ at most stores, which is pretty pricey for many people. Oakley has built its reputation on excellent optics that don't compromise, so expect to foot a decent bill for these bad boys. Fit First off, the Holbrooks are sunglasses, not goggles (there's no sunglasses category, just to clarify). Now that we've got that out of the way, on to my thoughts. The glasses are really comfortable and also very light, as you can expect from Oakley. I don't have a weird head shape (that I know of), so fit shouldn't be an issue if your head is of normal-ish proportions. Durability I always keep mine in a bag when they're not in use, and I don't have any scratches on the lenses. I am careful though, because I'd rather not treat them poorly. One thing that is notable is that the frame screws have not loosened at all, which I have seen happen in a few pair of Dragons and Anons. No one likes having to find a tiny screw driver every morning just to wear sunnies, and the Holbrooks have saved me on that front.
Overall In summation, the Airbrake is without a doubt my favourite goggle. I'm prone to the occasional yard sale, usually leading to very snowy lenses, so the new lens swap system is a life saver. With the high price tag, it's definitely designed for the no compromise rider, and it delivers for the bill. If Oakley could shave a few bones off the price tag to get this technology into everyone's hands, it would be an absolute 10. Performance The Airbrake provides a wide field of vision and the easiest lens changing system available. The lenses I use, Dark Grey and HI Persimmon, are some of the best I've owned. The grey lens gives off more of a gloss black look, and work surprisingly well in low-light conditions, despite being a high-performance sunlight lens. The Persimmon lens is perfect for foggy days, late afternoon and even night skiing in a pinch. Oakley has a ton of other options available for lenses, so you can get as specific as you like in terms of lens choice. Design My personal choice, the Red/White Shattered strap and frame design, couples well with numerous outerwear offerings from Oakley and other companies, so you're sure to find the right match. The Airbrake also comes in 13 other colorways so if Red/White isn't for you, maybe you have something against Canada, there should be an Airbrake to fit your style. The new lens system is as easy as 1-2-3, involving only the flip of an integrated tab and the swap. You could probably change lenses with the goggles on, it's that easy. Value The Airbrake is probably the highest performance goggle I've ever owned. Many can try to duplicate Oakley's notorious performance, but most fall short. While it carries a high price tag, the Airbrake's convenience in terms of lens exchange and the per Fit The Airbrake fit like a classic Oakley goggle: comfortable and the design experience is evident form the moment they're out of the box. Durability Thus far the lenses have been through some of the tightest trees at mountains like Red Mountain in BC and Monashee Powder Cats and no scratches have surfaced. I've seen no wear on the frame foam or the strap, and the colours haven't bled.
Overall Giving a ten is tough, because that would mean the ski would have to be absolutely perfect all over. The Blend compromises tiny amounts of performance everywhere to have huge amounts of performance anywhere. If you're looking for one ski to use everywhere, this is probably yours. If you like a wider, playful park ski, its also a fantastic choice. Performance I've dabbled in a lot of skis over the years, and it's always a struggle to find a ski that I'm comfortable on everywhere on the mountain. Obviously no ski will be as good on a 50cm pow day as it is on an icy park day, but the Blend is very close. My go to park/all-mountain ski, the Blend has yet to feel out of place. Design In pow, the ski gives enough float with the early rise tips to keep your weight centered, but it doesn't have a massive girth that won't let you experience the depth of the snow. Get in there, get knee deep and get smiling on the pow days. If park is more your gig, the Blend is an amazing tool. Early rise tip/tail makes surface switchups easy and knuckle tricks a pleasure. The graphics are poppy and appealing, but don't scare anyone away with something offensive or too loud. Value Line has been known for relatively reasonable prices over the years, and that continues through 2012. The Blend runs for 600$ on Backcountry, and might be a bit more expensive locally but everyone likes a local buy. Compared to some of the competitors offerings, the Blend is a steal. Fit I rock the Blend in a 183 and I'm 6'1. All of my skis run in the 180-190 range, and for my primary park ski the Blend is the perfect length. Also, at 100mm underfoot, the Blend is comfortable all over the mountain. Characteristics Ohhhh the flex. The Blend is derives its namesake from its "blend" of all mountain playfulness and park ski shred-ness. The tips and tails of the ski are quite soft, enabling butters and taps, while the underfoot portion of the ski holds quite stiff. Backseat landings on park jumps are not a worry if you can keep your side/side balance as the ski will hold, but the ski remains playful. The only knock on the flex is that in the event of a miscue, the tips/tails won't save you from washing out as well as stiffer skis. With every benefit though, there comes a tradeoff. Durability No complaints! Topsheets have been fine, no delaminating or edge separation and the bases have proven to be tough enough.
Overall I'd give the Vantage an 8.5. My brain is still intact, hopefully these paragraphs make sense and can attest to that, so the Vantage is doing its job well to date. Awesome venting and the optional earflaps let you rock the Vantage whatever your style preference is and in a variety of weather conditions. The knock on the helmet would be that removing/installing the earflaps is a little bit arduous, and the styling might be a little too "intense" for some. As far as function and fit though, it's my favourite so far. Performance With two-way venting, a functional brim that prevents that annoying chairlift-drip from getting on your goggles and keeps you looking like Sage, and a sweet dial that tightens or loosens the padding, the Vantage is a high performance helmet that doesn't compromise your steeze. Design Definitely targeted at the rider looking to shred the whole mountain in all conditions, the Vantage is versatile and stylish. The venting is comprehensive, and allows for either airflow through the lid or insulation when the vents are closed. They open/close through simple sliders on the exterior of the helmet, so you can adjust your preferences on the fly. Stylistically this helmet puts you in the Griffin Post/Sage CA category, while the Holt will be more of a Bobby Brown look. Value The Vantage is available online for around $170, and close to the end of the season deals will start popping up. It's a great performance helmet that keeps you safe and looking good. Fit I have a Large and a fairly average size head. With the earflaps attached, the cinching system keeps the helmet very comfortable and safely on board my brain. Without it, I throw a beanie or balaclava on underneath and it fits just as well. Goggles over the helmet or under, the Vantage is comfortable. Durability One complaint I often have with helmets is that the earflap systems pull out too easily after some use. The Vantage has held up well so far and hasn't suffered any serious damage despite my best efforts. I'd probably trust my first-born son in this helmet. __________________________________________________________ Buy 2012 Smith Vantage Helmet at evo.com or shop for all Smith Gear.
Overall The Booter gets a 9.5 for being affordable and awesome. Fitting in under the Wallisch/pro model range, but still providing top of the line performance is an awesome spot for the Booter. If you're a park skier or an all mountain shredder with a budget and sore feet, look no further. Performance The Booter stomps landings and keeps your shins from dying even after a long day of jumping and landing back seat. My feet have never been cold either, which is a first for any pair of ski boots I've owned. Design Red/Blue colours complement my setup nicely, so I have no complaints on styling! The translucent shells are a sweet touch, adding an interesting look to the toes as the Intuition liner shows through. Using buckles instead of cords, straps or ratchets, the Booter is a bit of a return to what we've come to consider as standard. They don't slip or strip, and they're solid. Value The Booter really shines in the value department. Retailing at $400, the Booter is much cheaper than other boots of the same quality. Original three-piece design and awesome fit for an affordable price, and it comes with Intuition liners, typically a feature of much pricier options. Fit The 102mm width makes the Booter one of Full Tilts wider options. Most offerings are closer to the 99mm range, so if you've got a fatter foot or like a bit of room, the Booter is perfect. My feet are an 11 shoe size, and I got the 29 shell size. Some would say this might be bit big, but after years of boots being too small I decided to go big. I have not been disappointed thus far; I crank the buckles and my feet stay warm, but never wash around inside. It took a bit of getting used to, moving from a very cramped 28.0 Dalbello Krypton, but I'm absolutely sold on the fit of the Booter. Characteristics The Booter is fairly soft, forgiving boot that allows you to ski hard but gives your ankles a breather. It remains stiff enough to handle big park jumps and back seat landings; the addition of a booster strap depending on the conditions might be necessary for some heavier skiers, but I've found the Booter to be awesome flex-wise skiing park, pow, and even on the odd tour. Durability No complaints! The buckles are dependable, shell is strong, and Intuition liners don't pack out as much as other boots' liners.
Overall The Flare is a solid 8.5. Reasonable price, good waterproofing, durability and good style are the major bonuses of this coat. The drawbacks are simply that the cuff gets dirty easily and the fit might be a little shorter than you expect, so order accordingly. Performance The Flare measures in at 15/15K waterproofing and breathability, which is less than Oakley's Goretex offerings and other higher ratings; however, I've noticed impressive beading in wet weather and have yet to end the day sweaty. Layering is important, as the jacket is more of a shell than an insulated, so keep in mind when setting out for the day that while it's windproof, it won't keep you toasty by itself in -30. Design With sweet old-school basketball styling and a newschool skiing flavour, the Flare is an interesting combo of styles. It works. The other Flare style is a plaid look, so if blue isn't your thing look to that one. The stretchy elastic cuff on the torso keeps the jacket cinched around your pants so there's no flapping material. Value It retails at $330, so the Flare is fairly average in the price category. It is durable and quite waterproof, and has that added incentive of being "one of the pro's" jackets. Looking like Tanner or Schlopy at this price is a bit of a bonus! Fit The Oakley jacket fits shorter than Saga or First Drop, but is still taller than most brands. You can tell Oakley took into account the advice of riders like Jacob Wester and Tanner Hall who like a taller fit. I'm 6'1 and have a large which fits very comfortably, but isn't a "tall jacket". The XL and XXL step up the sizing considerably, so if tall is your thing either of those will be plenty. Durability It has very durable coat material, no scratches or tears have happened. Over the season's use the waterproofing has yet to fade, which is a bonus. As the years go on it will probably need another waterproof coating, but it's been good thus far. One complaint is that the cuff, as it is white and made of a polyester/elastic material, picks up dirt and tends not to be totally white.
Overall The FD Virtika mantra has been simple from the beginning: make well styled, newschool outerwear that refuses to bend the knee to anyone else’s idea of “functional” or cool. With the V4 collection, they’ve certainly done that. Positives: Awesome newschool fit and look. Very warm, waterproof enough for *almost* every condition (excepting mega-wet snow), comfortable, very reasonably priced, durable. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a sick park/all-around coat. Negatives: breathability sometimes an issue, not Gore-tex (if you want to spend $500 on a jacket...). By keeping some of the classic FD look from the V3 series, and updating a few key features, it’s clear that FD Wear is moving in the right direction with their outerwear. Performance Waterproofing was good, I didn’t experience wetness on the inside of the coat as a result of waist-deep pow, but on days when wet snow came down heavily I did notice that the coat would get heavier. As a result of being thick, however, that moisture never made it through to my inner layers. So, take note, if you go stand in a river with it on, it will take longer to dry than some other coats, but for all intents from FD the coat is rock solid. Breathability is good, as long as you’re careful with vent usage. As a thicker coat, you’ll want to remember to undo/redo the vents as temperature changes. If you’re going to be doing a lot of touring, remember to pack a soft-shell for the hike if it’s a bearable temperature, because otherwise you’ll be more hot-boxed than the gondola at the T-Hall Invitational. Design I like the look! But it's all personal preference, you can tell design from the photos so I won't write too much here! Value Excellent. The V4 Coat retails for $275 but FD always has great sales, so don't expect to pay full price very often. Even at full price, it's an awesome deal because you get jacket and a vest for warmer days. Fit My initial impression was that the jacket was far more insulated than I had expected, which was a welcome change from the days of bundling up with a softshell underneath my outer layer. On cold days, I never felt Old Man Winter creep into my coat, and on warmer days I was eager to rock it sleeveless (a very attractive feature) as it looks even better as a vest when coupled with a tall hoodie or even a T-Shirt in the spring. It fits tall, I'm 6'2" and got the XL, which was perfect because I like a mid-thigh length. If you're taller, or like that "past the knees" look, the XL tall version should suffice. Durability Waterproofing stayed good throughout the season, no tears, no scratches even. I didn't notice any "Waffling" of the fabric due to water absorption either. Excellent in this category.
Overall A great goggle for everyday use, especially if you’ve got an all-black theme going on! Highly recommended, and if you have any problems, Smith's customer service is legendary, so you can buy without worrying about a defect ruining your day. Performance If you’re familiar with the I/O lens exchange system, then it’s easy to swap lenses, and if not, it’s relatively easy to get the hang of and do on-the-fly. The lenses refuse to fog while skiing, but I did manage to get some moisture in between the lenses on my fog-lens. It was the result of wearing my goggles out of the lodge on a cold day, going from hot to cold very quickly. After a chairlift ride in my jacket, the moisture had evaporated and the problem ceased. Design The frameless look is great, and provides a wide field of view that will have you spying trannies you never saw before; however, it can make it tough to keep your lenses clean if you’re swapping them often. Value The I/Ox retails for $190 USD, which is on par with any other top of the line goggles. They come with great low-light and sunlight lenses. Top of the line performance is worth the money. Fit You probably already know about these goggles because they’re pretty much the ultimate statement of badassery that one can have on the ski hill. All black errything, from the straps to the lens pivots to the lenses themselves, these won’t soon be forgotten. I've been looking for a sweet all-black goggle for a few years and finally found it. The I/Ox comes in a multitude of color options to fit your style, but black is hard to beat. Durability Aside from one lens fog incident (mentioned above) I never had a problem. If you're careful you shouldn't have any problems. I dropped them a few time and they didn't scratch, but I always held my breath because you never know with lenses. No problems thus far though!
Overall I was super impressed with the Opus, especially having owned noodly-EP pros in the past (which I loved, but washing out on landings got old). I definitely would recommend these to anyone who consistently skis pow and loves a playful ski! Performance Unreal. I was really happy with these skis in deep snow, onviously, as they're an amazing powder weapon. I was surprised with how they handled in "packed pow", I think that was actually my favourite conditions on these skis because they were so good for slashes and butters in snow that allowed for a bit more traction. Know ahead of time that these are a symmetrical ski, meaning you will have to be fairly dialed in your stance if you want to look like a "classically good skier" (which I know I fail at sometimes). With that said, be prepared to have a crap-ton of fun and butter around like crazy. If you like to sink into the snow and don't ever go switch, maybe look at a ski that has a pin-tail instead and will allow a more solid feel. Design EP's classic, simple and inspiring artwork never gets old. I love the look of them. Value Very good. $700 USD retails i very fair, and far below what you'll find some of the "boutique brands" selling similar products for. Fit 185, perfect for me!! I'm 6'2" so that's a pretty standard length, but if you're shorter and like a bit more stability then it's a rad length. If you like them more playful, drop down to a 178. If you want a super charger version, Line just came out with a 192. Characteristics I have owned several pairs of EP-designed skis in the past, and it’s clear his design philosophy has had a bend, don’t break strategy at its core (no pun intended). Instead of abandoning his efforts and adopting less symmetrical, stiffer designs like many others, Pollard and Line have stuck to their guns while adopting some new tricks. Compared to older editions of the EP Pro, the Opus are stiffer and handle better in just about every condition. Medium soft, symmetrical, consistent. That's how I would describe it. Durability The bases are standard, they don't scratch easily but if you ski over a rock field you're doomed, as with any pair of skis ever. The top sheets are where I had some issues with the Opus.They chip fairly easily on the sides and the graphics can get scratched. I for one am not very concerned by the durability of my top sheets because a ski well skied should look that way, but if you're the kind of person who really values pretty clean top sheets, it might be worth looking at a ski with a stronger top sheet. Overall though no problems with de-lam, de-camber or surprising scratches, so I give a thumbs up in this category still.
Overall The best binding, I say that with absolute certainty. If you're bigger or better, check out the FKS 180 XXL for pow, and the L for park. I honestly couldn't advocate for a product more, it's a night and day difference between these and others on the market. 10/10 for sure. Performance This often comes down to release characteristics for bindings, so again, I was really happy. If you're heavier or really charge, check out the FKS 180. You won't be disappointed as the DINS on those suckers go up to 18. Design Bright, bright orange! It's that classic FKS look that everyone loves. Steezy, noticeable, trademark. You won't find another pair of bindings that screams, "I'm the business" more than these. Value These bindings are expensive, there's no doubt about it. But I am so sick of breaking plastic pieces on Salomon or Atomic bindings that any price is worth a set it and forget it charging binding. So happy with the value of mine, you won't be disappointed. Characteristics I ran my DIN at 12, I am 190 lbs and ski aggressively. I never had any troubles with the bindings popping out unnecessarily. They did, however, release when I ate sh** or was too far forward and in knee-breaking range. I've been really happy with the FKS for years. Durability Rock solid. All-metal construction means that there isn't a small plastic ridge holding you to your ski like on some others. It also means you have less leeway once they're mounted in terms of forward pressure, so get it right the first time. I once had a pair of skis break in between my feet because the ski was less strong than the binding. You won't have an issue with these, I am confident of that.
Overall My favourite camera bag thus far. It's big, comfy, and safe. The only downside is the price, so it's up to whomever is buying whether you want to run the risk of buying something cheaper and having a strap break, zipper bust etc and lose potentially thousands in camera gear. I recommend this bag for anyone shooting snow sports because the zips are well sealed, the compartments are well-designed, and its durable. Performance I've had a Dakine Sequence for years, and I've been really satisfied with it. It's been durable and reliable, but it finally kicked the bucket and I needed a bigger bag this time around. The EVOC 25L was perfect. Carrying around a RED Epic, Canon 6D, full lens kits, batteries, etc etc requires a lot of trust in a bag. For the Legs of Steel movie this year we dropped in on 3 of these bags and they're not even a sponsor of the movie because we had seen them and they looked perfect. I haven't been disappointed with mine, to say the least. Design The bag comes with plenty of separators for your camera block section (accessed from the rear, like the Sequence), so you can customize the layout to fit your kit. The front of the bag fits all your Avy gear for trips to the backcountry, even with a full kit. It's also got a handy access top pocket and great elastic side pockets for water bottles. When you open the bag, there are 4 zippers that get you into 2 different compartments on the flap, perfect for lens caps, coins, intervalometers, cleaning cloths and tripod plates. The bag is soft on the inside, meaning your gear won't be scratching up against a rough surface or even that slippery plastic that other bags have. No slip, all grip, keeping your gear in place when you're shredding between spots. Great straps on the outside provide for easy carrying of tripods, glidecams, shovels and skis. You're covered on the heavy gear as well because the waist strap velcros to fit exactly how you want it (one of my favourite features). Value The bags retail for 300 euros, so be ready to get what you pay for. As they say, if you've got an expensive door, don't put a cheap lock on it. This bag keeps your gear safe and that's what counts. Good value, but a tad on the expensive side if you're running a small/cheap kit.
