Great entry-level boot, comfortable after pack-out and warm, stiff enough to control an entry/intermediate board on the slopes rather than just the park with good bindings. The speed lacing system is a little wonky: once you figure out the best way to tighten / lock them they work great and get you out of the lodge fast as possible, but if you're careless the cables can come loose on the lift / hill. On the plus side you can tighten them easily with gloves on, so it's an easy fix.

For what the Freestyle bindings are designed for, I'm sure they're great: beginner park riding (where flex and feel are paramount). Unfortunately, because they're the cheapest of the Burton bindings, most beginner riders assume they are Burton's "entry level" binding and best to learn on. Bad idea. . . the highback on these is mostly for show, and soft enough that you can flex it in half by hand (practically Pool Noodle soft). My local shop told me they put kids in them who are too big for juniors bindings but too light to get any flex out of stiffer adult bindings. If you're only interested in learning park riding definitely try them out, but if you're looking to learn how to carve, go up the price range a point or two (Burton Customs are a great step up and shouldn't be more than $10-20 more expensive if you look around).

Bought these bindings to learn freeriding and I haven't been disappointed at all. Incredibly adjustable: strap length and highback lean are tool-free, get a screwdriver for highback rotation, strap placement, gaspedal, and stance of course. Straps are extremely comfortable, I use a large binding with 11.5 Burton Motos and the fit is excellent, the cap strap is very secure in comparison with an over-the-toe setup and hasn't given me any pressure points. Like other reviewers I found that the ratchets have a tendency to slip when you get them very tight, but I think there are two ways around this: (1) deal with it because when the ratchet starts slipping, it's probably tight enough and more is going to compress the boot and hurt your foot; (2) but if you're really desperate for more tightness, put your fingers on the body of the ratchet while you tighten with your thumb (pressing in towards your boot) so it cannot slip. Since all of the entry to mid level Burton bindings I've seen use the same ratchets, this can't be a Custom-unique problem. Anyway, I've found them to be all-around excellent bindings to learn on, and definitely suggest putting them on your board if you're in the same situation.

Decided on the Titans after comparing all the possibilities for this tier of glove. They come with everything (wipes, scraper, liners, GoreTex, you name it) you find on gloves costing $50 more. . . for $50 dollars less, and after wearing them for a couple months I don't know how the more expensive gloves could be better. Extremely warm and fully waterproof, and the rubberized palm is nice and tacky. The gloves fit fairly tight with the liners in, I normally wear a medium glove but went with the large, which fits perfectly with the liners (which themselves are nothing special, just soft cloth inner gloves). Only concern is that the gauntlet is fairly bulky, if you want your gloves to fit under your coat I'd go with the Titan Short version.

Color note: the "black plaid" doesn't look quite as navy blue in person as it does in the pic, which I guess you could expect from the name.