Okay. this board kills.

It took me half a day to get used to the BTX, and now I can't see riding anything else. I ride Crystal Mountain and Alpental near Seattle, and this thing handles the crappy PNW non-powder like a champ. First day was a little squirrely when flying down the groomers, but once I got the feel it was super-responsive and FAST.

Up top, it rode the chunk, powder and ice with good control, and I landed my drops without fear of snapping it. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because I'd still be sketchy hard-charging some chunky doubles, but I guess it can't be awesome at everything.

If you're big (I'm 6'-4", 230, size 13) and like riding all over the mountain, and only want one board to do it with -- get this one.

...but it just didn't work out between us.

I would definitely suggest trying them on before purchasing. The stiffness is completely awesome, responsive and bully.

The fit is good -- tight on the heel, solid around the ankle. But the toes are where I ran into trouble.

Maybe it's Burton's Shrinkage Tech or whatever, but I got these in a 13 -- which I normally wear -- and after a full day on the mountain, my toes felt like they were being squeezed in a vice. It was excruciating. I couldn't walk once I got to the lodge. I would have traded for a size up, but I got them on clearance and they were out of 14s.

So, great boot if you get the right size, I guess. Just beware.

I bought this bag for the same reasons as others -- warmth, weight and price.

I backpack and needed a warmer bag to replace my Slumberjack I bought 10 years ago. This bag served all the criteria without breaking the bank. I don't get out enough to warrant spending $400 on a bag.

I am also a synthetic die-hard, because I have gotten my bag wet enough times to forever swear off down.

I took this to the Olympic Coast in July, and normally you would think that it would be too warm, but with the wind blowing in off the ocean, it kept me extremely comfortable. The foot zips are great for dumping heat when needed. The zippers occasionally get snagged, but isn't that the case with all bags?

I'm 6'-4". 230lbs and I got the long. I also like to move around when I sleep, so this bag is a little snug at times, but overall, it's a great addition to my gear. I was dumb and decided to take the old one on a car-camping trip to Wentachee in September, and I was sorely missing my North Face.

I am a huge Oakley fan, and the Flak Jackets are the best pair I think I have ever owned.

I bought a pair of the Seattle Mariners MLB ones becuase why not, and the next thing I knew, I was wearing them for everything. Playing baseball, golfing, mountain biking, snowboarding, walking on the beach, etc.

I was worried at first because I didn't want my expensive sunglasses breaking, but they stick to your face really well, are super-lightweight, and can take a beating.

The lenses are distortion-free. Completely. I now have a pair of Black Iridium lenses for the baseball diamond and sunny days, and VR28 lenses for the golf course and lower-light/contrast conditions. I like the XLJs because I have a larger face and I like the extra protection. Plus, they look cooler.

Get 'em!

I gotta agree with the other reviewer. These blow. I'm a huge, huge fan of Oakleys (these are probably my 10th pair), but whoever designed these was on some strong hallucinogens. This is the first time I have been seriously disappointed with an Oakley product.

They are very flat across the front, with no wraparound. They're meant for style, not protection, but it still is a terrible look. It wouldn't be bad if you could manually bend the frames in for some wrap, but the temples are so damn tight, they pinch even in the out-of-the-box settings.

Because of the lens configuration, they reflect your eyes back onto the backs of them, making polarization completely stupid.

The Iridium coating is the crappiest I've seen, with minimal mirroring.

The nose pads are super-tight, too. I wore these to work today and when I got out of the car, I had to basically dig the nose pads out of the little holes they dug in the bridge of my nose.

If you want an aviator style from Oakley -- go with the Inmate or Crosshairs. They're much, much better.

Boo. Boo I say.

I've been riding these for 3 seasons now, and they have never failed me.

I originally went in for a set of cheapies, because I was just making the transition into intermediate riding, but since I am 6'-4" and 225 lbs., the guy at the store recommended I go with something with an aluminum base instead of the poly.

That being said, they're great for tearing down the mountain at neck-breaking speed, quick adjustments and rapid input transfer -- but definitely stiff for rails and landing 20-footers, although I would feel confident that they wouldn't bust on me if I did.

If you're a hoss like me, then get 'em. If you're smaller and/or park rat, go for something softer.

I bought this off a guy on CL, and it's definitely a stiff board. I'm 6'-4", 230 and ride a 160. It's my first advanced-intermediate ride and it took a bit to get used to the stiffness.

The other thing that I have trouble with is the base. I don't know if this is standard with the sintered 7500, but it seems that I cannot hold a wax for more than a day. When the wax eventually rubs off, the base sticks something awful and makes a sound like nylon being rubbed together. I've tumbled a couple times just from the base sticking to the snow. Not cool.

All told, it is a very fast board, and floats like a dream in pow. After getting used to how much to boss it to turn, it's a great ride. Get a wider one if you've got gigantic feet like me. I wear a 13, and my toes hang over.

I bought these goggles hoping that they would be compatible with my Smith Triads I got a couple years ago (strap broke). Unfortunately, they are not, but Smith still makes the best goggles out there. The Gold Sensor lens is fantastic in almost all light conditions. I took them to Alpental at night and had awesome visibility, field of vision and no fog at all in some very poor conditions. The following weekend, I used them at Crystal Mountain under bluebird skies and despite some initial squinting from the amount of light they let in, they again worked amazingly. I've got a pretty big face, and they do not pinch my nose or ride high like my Oakley Wisdoms. They also work great with my helmet unlike the Wisdoms. (Giro Encore) The frames seemed a little cheaper than the Triads, but they are flexible and resilient. The added contrast in the Gold Lens is a godsend.

This jacket is massive. I'm 6'-4", 225 lbs, got the XL, and this thing wears like a tent. I imagine it is good for the baggy look, but I think I could have achieved that with the Large. The pit and pocket zips are definitely sticky, and hard to manage with gloves. The interface with the liner is clunky, too -- using buttons and loops instead of hook-and-loop or snap fasteners. Plus, the sleeve buttons are about 6" up the sleeve, making it difficult to insert the liner without taking the whole thing off. I personally don't like wearing liners when I ride, so it's not that big of a deal to me, and I got an extra jacket out of the deal.

Overall, the jacket is definitely sweet and bomber, and as long as you plan on just wearing it together or in layers and not making a lot of changes. If you can pick it up for a deal and like Oakley equipment, then go for it. But unless you like your shell super-big, get it a size smaller than usual.