OUTERWEAR

[Spenser]

It's not a brand I would choose, but I have a good friend with an OR gore kit that looks pretty sweet on him. Don't know the models.

[scrub]

My dudes, I may have been hasty.

I tried the OR bibs on again with my boots and wore them around the house for a bit, the pocket layout (including the beacon insert) and the stretchy soft shell are pretty darn nice. The bottoms aren't any wider than my Airblaster bibs. The weird waist is still a bit iffy but the material feels burly. I may just have to ride them and see.

[kimchi]

Man these Outdoor Research Kulshan bibs are fucking horrible. Skinny in the waist, big in the chest and massive bell bottoms I guess I have to return them.

I’m continually surprised that my fellow EZ homies give money to kooky ski brands like OR when there are great options with 686, Burton, and Volcom haha.

We've had some version of this convo a few times, but just wanted to chime in I feel a bit more validated with wearing Arc'teryx after they signed Jared Elston and seem to have designs of expanding their snowboarding footprint. We'll see whether they stick around, but I'd bet on them much moreso than the Adidas and Nikes of the world.

And I maintain they have a higher build quality than anything from from a snowboard company. Been discussed that they may use the same factories as other brands, but I can see from quick visual check the materials and construction methods aren't the same.

That said, I'm impressed with the 686 Dispatch bibs so far, and I'm taking the AK Cyclic out for first time on snow next week, and that fit seems way more dialed in than I remember AK fit being. I'm hopefully if nothing else the additional pressure from the high-end ice axe brands has lit a fire under some butts that maybe got a bit complacent.

(And as I said above I think Outdoor Research is far from the top tier in the ice axe category, pointedly doesn't support snowboarders, and is generally probably more ski dad kooky lol)

[michaelangelo]

Been wearing the Cyclic for two seasons, love em

[g3greg]

Potentially more than any other aspect of riding I think I nerd out the most over…. Layering.. super lame I know but if I’m gonna have a great day out there I need to know the weather and what I’m in for. Riding in Quebec it can hit -30 with windchill pretty easily which is no joke. So wondering how you guys like to layer for back country, resort, spring, winter, the coldest days and where you’re riding? For the most part I’ve gone merino base layer, usually the baker wool AK stuff, AK mid layer, bibs over top then shell. That seems to work for all but the coldest of days.

[Spenser]

I top out before it gets to 0°F... maybe in part because my toesies get cold, but we still have higher humidity at cold temps, so you feel it more. Dry cold is different. That said, if it's in the low teens or sometimes single digits, I usually go merino ninja first, then ak expedition pant, and either the same top or volcom puff puff insulator depending just how cold. Puffy pants would be sweet to have, but so rarely needed here. Mitts are good in any temp for me, and I use a coal knit clava instead of standard Airblaster terry, as it's a knit outer with fleecy inner layer - blocks wind/air much better, and is just warmer in general.

Boots are the only real challenge for me. My circ is good, but when it's real cold, hard for the toes to keep up & cold wins. I grabbed a box of toe warmers this year, but haven't tried them yet.

Ninja pro, onesie puffy layer & onesie suit w/ hood up would be my ultimate cold layering, if I had to pick. Or that north face Everest suit Austin Smith has.

[scrub]

My wife uses battery powered heaters in her boots and swears by them.

[benjinyc]

anyone have a good resort/side-country backpack recommendation?, the closest I'm seeing is a Dakine Helipro 12L. I wore my 25L AK backpack in Taos last week which was a bit much as I only was carrying a shovel, probe.

[scrub]

I really like my Mystery Ranch D route

https://www.mysteryranch.com/d-route-pack

It doesn’t have a dedicated tools pocket but the inside pocket works great. It also doesn’t have board straps which may be a deal breaker.

My friends love their DaKine and Volcom vests which are probably the best plan of action.

[g3greg]

anyone have a good resort/side-country backpack recommendation?, the closest I'm seeing is a Dakine Helipro 12L. I wore my 25L AK backpack in Taos last week which was a bit much as I only was carrying a shovel, probe.

I’ve been eyeballing the one ball baker.. but also the dakine vest looks solid.