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Reviews
Reviews
09-10 GoLite Moon Lite Review
0Grippy, amazingly snow-proof, and definitely a must for the uncoordinated who needs a cute slip-on shoe that makes you smile 365 days a year.
One might think that wearing slip-on shoes outside after it has snowed 8 inches is not very sensible. I would normally agree, except in the case of these Go Lite commuter-inspired outdoors shoe. Apparently they have superpowers to repel snow and to keep you upright…or maybe they just have a thicker, grippier sole than some others so you are actually higher than you may think while wearing them…either way, I will continue to wear these awesome shoes, no matter what the weather (well, with 8 inches or less of fresh on the ground), with confidence of keeping my socks dry and not falling over. They run true to size, and did I mention that they are super cute with a painted fabric upper and supportive arch? They are a highly recommended addition to all wardrobes.
09-10 Smith Optics I/OS Review
0Modern, chic goggle which says no to smeary lenses from sticky hot chocolate covered fingers
This baby sister of the I/OS rocks! At first it looked kinda funny, having spent the past 20 years of my life having only worn goggles with frames around the lens. Then I realized that they actually look pretty cool and ultra-modern, not to mention ultra-comfy and ultra-easy to change lenses. A lot of ultra’s in one sentence I know, but this goggle is ultra-great. I did have to follow the instructions the first time I attempted the lens change (after standing there for a minute or two before conceding that the goggle was smarter than me); but it was a cinch and no greasy marks on the lens from the sunscreen residue on my hands. The integration with the Smith Maze helmet was seamless – no gaper gap for me!
The only possible improvement would be the placement of the strap length adjustment piece to be placed slightly off center for us helmet-wearing folk. It would make it easier to position the goggle on the helmet with equal tension on both straps and without my nose being squished on one side.
09-10 Smith Optics Maze Review
0This helmet is sooooo light that I kept reaching up to make sure it had not fallen off while I was in the Gondola headed up for its test drive.
This helmet is sooooo light that I kept reaching up to make sure it had not fallen off while I was in the Gondola headed up for its test drive. Once I was strapped in and moving, however, I knew that it was on my head…it was a 10 degree day and the cold air raced through the front vents, reminding me that it was a 10 degree day. While effectively waking me up from the lazy gondola ride, it would have been a more pleasant experience on a spring day when the apparently unobstructed airflow would have been a welcome feature.
As is, it is a great helmet, but has room for improvement due to the insufficient interior vent covers. Once Smith has masterminded a thicker, more effective block to the cold air, this helmet will be the best of the best and I can save the ice cream headache for Ben and Jerry’s couch sessions!
09-10 Nobis Burgers Review
0This hat provides one way to mix up your everyday look.
At first glance, the Burgers hat makes me think of Fargo or Grumpy Old Men or a lumberjack. From a distance it is a solid colored brimmed hat with earflaps. But up close, and paired with sweet outerwear, it really stands out on a male or female. It is the little things that make Nobis hats stand out. The chunky knit pattern is angled in an upward curve, it has the expected Nobis bling in the form of a plaid square of material and a Nobis medallion, and the inside is lined with extremely soft velvet. At first, I wondered why it didn't have ties from the ear flaps like most hats of its kind have. It would be nice when it is colder to be able to secure it to the ears. However, the lack of strings hanging off it causes the earflaps to slightly flip out from the ears for a pleasantly whimsical look.
09-10 Buff Merino Wool Review
02 years ago
by Maggie
in Face Masks
This lightweight layer will keep you warm but has the possibily of being a bit rough against your face.
This Merino is warm, even though it is very thin material, dries quickly, but is a bit scratchy. The neckie is a long tube that goes over the head and around the neck and it doesn't have much weight or bulk. It washes well and is useful on cold mornings when you need a layer for your face that you know you are going to want to shove in a pocket later (it folds up a lot smaller than a fleece neckie). The only drawback is the itchiness because of the wool; it becomes rougher as it is dampened by snow, breath or sweat. It is tolerable and doesn't prevent me from wearing it (as it is such an easy, warm layer to keep in a pocket), but definitely a downside in its functionality.
09-10 Burton Custom Review
02 years ago
by User Review
in Men's Snowboards
I agree with everything positive that people have said about the 2009 Custom, EXCEPT . . .
I agree with everything positive that people have said about the 2009 Custom, except that the board is just not going to hold up for more than a season. After 5 days on the mountain, the top sheet is delaminating at the nose due to standing on a lift line. Yes, I watched it happen as someone shifted their ski back into the nose of my board.
How many times have I been out on my Never Summer over 5 years, and while it has it's fair share of lift line scrapes, the top sheet has never just been pulled off like that.
Never buying another Burton board again. Nice to ride, just too expensive to keep buying each season.
09-10 DC BFF2 Review
02 years ago
by Maggie
in Women's Snowboards
I would suggest this to new buyers who want a board that will be used to cover a lot of varying terrain, in addition to girls who are already on boards that sound similar because the transition is really easy.
The BFF2 is a fun ride for all mountain and works well in a range of conditions. I like a reliable ride that isn't going to buck me around because it is too soft all over but also doesn't feel like a dead fish or a gangplank. Sometimes getting on a new board makes you have to think about what you are doing for the first few runs, but I felt at home straight away on this one. The BFF2 eases smoothly into turns while holding a solid edge. It is great in powder and rides well through choppy snow. It has spring for jumping off things and enough support in the tail that I was super comfortable landing.
It rides true to size and as a firm believer in shorter boards, I wouldn't go over a 148 if you are between 5'5" and 5'9 because it is plenty of board. It has cute graphics on it that look like a bunch of bubbles and remind me of a colorful aquarium. All it needs is fish stickers.
09-10 DC Lotus Review
02 years ago
The ideal for this comfortable boot would be to add an additional Boa that tightens the heel area for a better overall fit.
The Lotus boot is stiffer at first but has a really soft, comfortable liner and breaks in easily. The cushion under the heel sort of squishes when you walk, which is great because it absorbs impact. Looks-wise, they are gorgeous. The royal purple with a near-electric turquoise color, combined with a very subtle outside pattern (looks like flower petals) is all very attractive and I got several comments about them.
The boot is not heavy and tightens with a Boa system instead of laces. A single Boa is responsible for tightening the entire boot from a wheel at the calf, rather than a double Boa that allows for tightening the general boot/ upper level and the heel/ lower half. The challenge with these boots is that with only one Boa I am limited in how precise I can be in pressure management, espcecially around my ankles. Though the boot is very well crafted, provides support through ample cushion in the heels/ liner, and has inner laces, it is hard to get a specific fit around the heels. What this means is that I am fine walking around, but riding hard all day long every day without the heel restraint sometimes makes my toes shove up into the front of the boot more than is normal. However, my suggestion would be to not discredit this boot and to actually try them on and see how they fit to your specific foot. At the expense of not getting a more tailored fit, you do get a really quick on and off boot and in the interest of convenience, I really like how easy it is! It is great to not deal with laces, and it is such a quick tightening process while on the hill.