I bought a 3 pack of these socks off bonktown, and I wear them all the time on my road bike. Pros: They are very breathable, dry quickly, light and not at all bulky. Cons: Since they are so light, durability may become an issue. I've already put a toe through a pair on a hard ride. They stripes on top aren't my favorite either, but they're kinda retro if that's your thing.

I bought a 3 pack of these socks off bonktown, and I wear them all the time on my road bike. Pros: They are very breathable, dry quickly, light and not at all bulky. Cons: Since they are so light, durability may become an issue. I've already put a toe through a pair on a hard ride. They stripes on top aren't my favorite either, but they're kinda retro if that's your thing.

I love this shoe. I've gone through 3 or 4 different runners in the past year and this is my favorite. The grid (for which the shoe is named) has plenty of stability while remaining flexible, it has just enough stability for my mild pronation, and they just plain feel light on my feet. My feet also seem much more secure in the heel of these shoes than other models/brands I've tried. One note, the toe box is a little smaller than some other brands so keep that in mind when choosing a size. If between sizes, you may wanna go up.

I use these for cycling when it's sunny out. They do a great job of cutting down glare, without impairing my vision. Depth perception is still good. The have a medium face and they fit well, but would certainly fit a face larger than mine. The styling is really aggressive, so they wouldn't be my every day sunglasses, mainly just sports. Also, these glasses are INCREDIBLY LIGHT. I couldn't get over it the first time I picked them up. If you tie them to a helium balloon they would float away. Durability is good so far, but I've only been using them a week.

I own 4-5 pairs of oakley ski/snowboard pants. I keep coming back to the brand because they consistently pack the most important features into their gear at a reasonable price, and as always they do it with classic Oakley Style. The Ampiler pants are no exception.

Best Features:

Very Waterproof/Breathable - I got these pants just in time to see some end of season snow. Stayed dry all day, and comfortable despite the warmer temps. The thigh vents do a great job of dumping heat. These pants would probably be comfortable anywhere from about 0 to 45 Degrees without anything more than a baselayer, but would probably best suited to days under 40 because they pants are lightly insulated. They do breathe great though. I put them on indoors and did some jumping jacks to test them out, and I didn't even sweat.

Pockets - These pants have tons of pockets, and they all have water resistant zippers which is a nice touch if you're have cash or other things you need to make sure stays dry. If zippers annoy you, they all have snap flaps as well, so you can skip the zipper if you need easy access.

Construction - These pants seem bombproof like all higher end oakley gear. They have critically placed thinsulate insulation which will keep you warm without the need for a midlayer. They also have a really nice mesh lining on the legs which feels great against the skin and serves to enhance the breathability. They also added tons of little features like adjustable waist flaps, boot gaiters, no drag pant legs, belt loops, and mesh lined pockets. The seams are fully taped for maximum water defense. The pants can also be clipped together with compatible oakley jacket models, to prevent your jacket from flying and exposing you to snow when you're zipping through the fresh powder.

Fit - I have about a 33-34 inch waist. The Medium's fit great without adjustment but you could fit a waist by adjusting the velcro waist straps. I'm a skier so I like my pants fairly snug at the waist. The cut of the legs is on the baggier side, but not overly so (judging by the graphics, this model is geared toward boarders and freestyle skiers).

The other models of oakley pants I own are: Timber, Extraction, Mystic, and Brigade, and I would put these right near the top of all of them.

For bibs retailing in the Sub $200 range, these are a solid value. I have several bibs from castelli, 2xu, and pearl izumi with prices ranging up to $250, and these bibs hold their own.

Features:

Construction - The bibs are made of a strong, but breathable mesh like material. It breaths well and is pretty comfortable (and pleasing to the eye I think). It's not as soft as some higher end bibs, but I like the feel, with just the right amount of stretch. The shoulder straps are a white mesh that is comfortable but pretty strong. It will stretch out over time though if you're tall like me. The legs have rubber grippers on the inside to keep them in place. They were secure without being overly tight. Generally, the construction quality is top notch. There were no loose threads anywhere and the seams have all stayed solid.

Gel Chamois - This is the only gel chamois in my shorts collection, so I don't have alot to compare it too, but it breaths pretty well, stays dry, and is comfortable. My longest rides are about 40-50 miles and it's great for that distance, but i'm not sure about comfort for longer rides.

Pockets - It's got a rear pocket which is nice if you don't have any pockets in your jersey or just need some extra space to stash an energy bar.

Fit - I'm 6'2" with a 33-34 inch waist and the Large Fits me great. The fabric has a fair amount of stretch Large would fit someone smaller than me, but probably not much larger.

Bottom Line - If you can find these for $120-ish, it's a worthwhile purchase. The fabric seems very durable. The royal blue is a very nice color. If you don't like leg grippers, check out the castelli podium bibs on this site or realcyclist. They fit great without the grippers.

I bought these for my girlfriend before we went on a ski trip. They look great, and they fit her better than most of the goggles we tried on in stores. They work nicely with her Giro Helmet.

First off, this Jacket really is attractive. The design is great, and the fabric is a little bit shiny (perhaps because of the windproof membrane) which actually makes it look very high quality. It fits like a jersey, looks like a jersey, but blocks 100% of wind and actually sheds light rain. Just wore it in the rain on a 40 degree day with a compression shirt underneath and it was great.

If you're looking for Warmth from TNF, this is much better value than the Denali Jacket. It'll keep you warmer in anything stronger than a slight breeze, and you won't look like every other 20 something Dude on state street. Not only is it Windproof, but also pretty water resistant. Triple Threat!

I've owned this backpack for about 2 years and I take it everywhere: The beach, to work, extended cycling workouts, the Jungle. Everywhere! It's greatest strength is its versatility. Here's my list of pros and cons for your edification:

Pros:
- Very light, and comfortable as long as it's not overstuffed
- Laptop Sleeve
- The laptop sleeve doubles as a hydration sleeve and it keeps my water COLD even at the beach. Just through an over sized bottle in there and you're good all day.
- The Style is very sleek
- It's pretty durable despite the light weight (no rips or even rubs in mine. All Zippers work perfectly)
- It's pretty well divided with pockets, and the outer pouch (no zipper) is pretty useful
- The internal soft frame allows for airflow in the back, so you don't get crazy sweaty (BiG PLUS!)
- Dual external bottle holders are nice. A bit small for 32 oz drink, better for 20-24 oz bottle

Cons:
- I wish the front zip pocket was organized a little better. There's a shalllow section and a deep section, but the shallow section is REALLY shallow, and tends to cover the deep section so you can't easily see what's at the bottom (I've forgotten about granola bars for 6 months down there. Gross!

- The water bottle holders stretch out if you put a 32 oz nalgene in there, so be aware if you intend to put smaller bottles in later. The 20 oz Podium Chill bottle is a great one to use.

I paid full price ($100) which is double the second most expensive daypack I've owned, but I would do it again in a second if I lost this one. It's great!

I have the previous season's model of this ski and it is great. Snappy and responsive, it carves well at speed, has decent float, and can even do bumps. I like these better than the skis I replaced, which were my volkl bridges.

By far the best tasting energy gels I've tried. Great for triathlon's or long runs/bike rides when you gotta fight the bonk.

This is still the water bottle that all other bottles are judged against, and I'm sure it will continue to stand the test of time. I keep having to buy a new one each year, not because they break (they're virtually indestructible)but because my family members keep stealing them!

This is a decent sub $100 Light rain coat, but it's not that breathable and can soak through after a while. There are better options in the same price range (I'd recommend the north face venture Jacket).

I bought this when I started my triathlon training, but ended up quickly returning it in favor of my trusty forerunner 305 which can be had for around $105 new. The major negatives with this model I found were:
- The Bezel is an unwieldy control mechanism, and could be unresponsive when I was sweating (which is most of the time I was wearing the watch)
- I found the wireless sync feature to be annoying, I prefer to sync manually
- The battery life is worse than the 305
- The 310XT gives way more functionality at a similar price point.

The two major pros I found over the 305 were:
1. If you like the sleeker watch-like profile (as opposed to a wrist computer) this may be the watch for you
2. I live in Manhattan, and the 305 can struggle initially aquiring a signal on cloudy days, or when I'm in the shadow of a building. The 405 was definitely faster at getting and initial fix. The fix is easy though, just leave your watch on a window ledge while you stretch pre-workout and it'll be all ready to go by the time you're ready to head outdoors.

A friend of my family turned me on to Cliff Bars a few years ago when we were skiing in Jackson Hole. I fell in love and I've never looked back. They're made with mostly organic ingredients, have the same basic nutrition as competing bars, and they taste way better. My personal favs are Peanut Butter Choc Chip, Chocolate Brownie, Oatmeal Raisin and... Well, probably every other cliff bar I've ever tried. They're great, period.

If you're all about staying comfy, not just letting people know that yes you CAN afford to blow 170 bucks on a fleece, then this may be the Jacket for you. I actually own 2 Denali Fleece's and I wear my Khumbu at least as often. It makes an excellent layering piece under a shell on really cold days.

If you're all about staying comfy, not just letting people know that yes you CAN afford to blow 170 bucks on a fleece, then this may be the Jacket for you. I actually own 2 Denali Fleece's and I wear my Khumbu at least as often. It makes an excellent layering piece under a shell on really cold days.

For a sports drink with 4:1 Protein ratio, i think it's actually pretty tasty. It definitely helps me recover faster if I drink it on long rides. It's not as tasty as gatorade fruit punch, but you'd probably hate gatorade if someone dropped a scoop of protein powder in it. I've seen some complaints about Accelerade using sucrose instead of "designer sugars" like dextrose. Lighten up, simple carbs are simple carbs, and it's way cheaper than Cytomax. I've had mountain berry and lemon lime, and I think they're both decent but probably prefer mountain berry and it's frothy blue goodness. You can usually find a 60 serving canister on bonktown for $20 if you keep and eye out.

This bottle is one of the best Cycling purchases I've made (after my bike of course). It keeps your beverage of choice cold much longer than standard bottles. If i put ice in my water, there's usually still some left after an hour+ ride. The valve system works great too, no leaking if you hold it upside down, but just squeeze and it comes out eazy peazy! I own 3; everyone should own at least 1!

This is by far the most expensive shell I own, but it's also the Best. It is bombproof, stylish, and functional. I've skied in freezing rain in this bad boy, and was having a blast. I have the large which fit's a little bigger than some other shells I own, but the better to layer with...

This was the first high-end softshell I ever bought, and I still wear it even though I now have about 5. The fit is athletic, but good, it looks great, and it keeps me warmer than it's bulk would lead you to believe. It's also pretty decent at shedding water unlike some other soft shells. Marmot Quality delivers again.

One of my favorite tops for running on chilly days. It's warm, yet light and I like the half zip in front, which makes it useful up to the mid 50's. If it's 43 or lower I'll usually through my windbreaker on top. The fit is great though, i'm 6'2 175 and I got the large.

I love this Jacket. I got it off SAC in '10 in the light blue color. There's just enough insulation, it's super breathable, tons of pockets, tons of little ski specific tweaks, (especially the wrist gaiters which were great at ALTA). The fit is great, I could wish for 1" more length, but I'm tall and skinny (6'2" 170, got a Large) so i'm tough to please.

The Jacket is Warm enough by itself in most conditions. I wore it with just a LS baselayer on a 17 degree day with moderate wind and was perfectly comfy. Oh yeah, and it looks hot.

I own 2 Denali Jackets. I bought one myself and received the other as a gift. They are pretty warm and well constructed, but let's be honest, it's mainly the "must have" winter accessory for cold weather college campuses. I think 80% of the students had one at my liberal arts college in NY. If you want it for the label, it's probably worth the $160 price tag, but if you want the best function for you $$$$, they are way better options for less money. Get a windproof fleece, you will thank me later. A 200 Weight Windproof fleece is way warmer than a 300 weight Denali, and can be had for $150 or less.

I probably own 12 different models of "Performance" Socks. These are my favorite. They are hella comfy, the perfect shape, and barely smell after a 6 mile run. Unfortunately, quality ain't cheap.

I have these in Driftwood Frames and Ivory Frames with a gray 580 Lense in both. I love 'em, sick style and of course legendary Costa Optical Clarity. The 580's are a great polarized lens, but full price is hard to swallow. I got lucky for about $75 a pair on SAC. I have a medium size face, slightly narrow and they are just a little big on me, but they still look Hot!

I bought my first pair of 993's 2 years ago. I wear them every single day except in the summer when I spend days at a time in rainbow sandals. These shoes are the ultimate in comfort, and let's be honest, they look pretty bitchin'. I used to have 'em in gray, but now I have them in navy with the electric blue trim and laces, which I got off steep n cheap for about $70. I'm sure in a year I'll be buying my 4th pair. Keep 'em Comin' NB, nice work!

I bought this 2 years ago with Polarchromic Lenses (Adjustable Tint, Polarized). They are still my favorite glasses. The styling is just right for medium faces and the lenses are incredible. Unfortunately they don't seem to offer the polarchromic lens in this frame anymore, I wanted to snap up another pair.

I used to go through pumps like crazy, sometimes 2 a year. This one is a beast. It's a high volume pump, and can go to high PSI no problem. It's a little bulky, but very well constructed and the bleed button is a nice touch. I got it for about $40 on bonktown and consider it a steal, not sure if could bring myself to pay $100 for it, but that's because 100 bucks can by 200 gooey warm mcdonalds cherry pies.

I admired this jacket for months before I finally took the plunge when I saw it on SAC under $100. I got the black w/ green trim just in time for St. Patty's day. It looks sick, and fit's great (I'm 6'2 175 and got the Large)

It blocks wind nicely, breaths well, and has excellent workmanship. I'm a big fan of the welded seams. My only complaint is the sleeves are a little snug which makes it tough for layering and using as true shell, but that's not really what it's designed for. I use it as and around town outer layer, or sometimes for cycling. I own about 15 Jackets from Arc'Teryx to Northface, but this is definitely among my Fav's

These socks are Terrific. I'm always looking for newer and better socks, but these are some of the best I've owned. First off, they styling is great, the fit is great (11.5 shoes, size L/XL) and the construction is great. They are very thin and breathable, but still hold up under heavy use. I use them for running, cycling and sometimes just Chillaxin! Even better if you can find 'em on Bonktown at 50% off!

This jacket was a total disappointment. The styling is decent and the jacket is made of generally nice materials, but it is cut way too short. I am 6'2 180lbs and I sized up to large for length but it's still too short. On top of that, the double zippers on the side pockets are annoying and unnecessary and the opening at the bottom hem is way to big and looks ridiculous when I cinch it with the flimsy drawcords (located inconveniently inside the front pockets). You can find a better softshell at the same price, I promise. There's a reason marmot makes this jacket exclusively for backcountry.com. No-one else wants it.

First, I'm a compulsive gear buyer. I go through hardshells like nobody's business. This is about my 5th Shell Purchased this year, but it might be the last. The Jacket is SIMPLY AWESOME. First, it's gore-tex pro so you know you're getting the ultimate in breathability and waterproofability. Second, to my knowledge is the only Stretch Hardshell on the market featuring GTX Pro. I never knew how much I wanted a stretch jacket until I bought this. It's now my dedicated ski ski shell. It's got a nice athletic cut with long arms, but the medium still has enough room for my denali fleece under (i'm 6'2 w/ 40 in chest) and it's just long enough. This jacket is so good I picked up two for my dad and brother as well. Believe the hype, this jacket RULES!

This jacket is the one I always grab when I'm just stepping out of the house and it's 30-40 degrees. It's insulated, it's pretty waterproof, blocks wind nicely, and let's be honest just looks good. It holds up great in the snow too, I wore it christmas tree picking in a blizzard and stayed warm and dry. It doesn't breath as well as a hardshell, but that's not what it's designed for. The cut is athletic with really long arms, so you less lanky folk might want a different brand. I get complements on this jacket all the time. Even my girlfriend likes this jacket. Pick one up.

I've only used this boot for a couple ski days. I wanted something comfy with a decent flex and a little style. This boot has it all, especially the style (I have last years model though, which was clear instead of white. Way more steeze). This may be the most comfortable boot I've worn to date, but i decided that I need a bit more flex, so I gave these to my bro and picked up the atomic M90's at SAC.