This is a great alpine pack where the priority is comfortable carrying and features for your mountain tools. All the tool attachments are perfect: ski slots, leashless or leashed axes, space to add crampon straps. It is not a light pack, and is a bit too stiff to be an ideal leader pack (although I've not tried removing the internal frame which might do the trick), but it is ideal for cragging, backcountry skiing, ultralight overnights, ice climbing, and will last many seasons of all of that. Side zip may be excessive in a 35 L pack, but you use it when it's there. Pack is slim in the woods or couloirs and overall a pleasure to carry with excellent lumbar weight transfer and Deuter's signature well ventilated back padding. I've had or used most top rated alpine day packs in the past decades and 'love' many others, especially Cold Cold World and CiloGear, as well as Black Diamond. I prefer those for leading or use while climbing almost exclusively, but use this more due to the comfortable carrying it offers.

When these arrived at my local ski shop, the employees were all stunned. I think the comment was 'sorry they're so wet, we've all been drooling all over them.' The more meaningful indication of their quality was that the 2 skis measured exactly the same in grams: basically unheard of. These are a tremendous ski for the weight, and even without that consideration they are an excellent item.

I used it out of bounds in UT, at Solitude, and in the backwoods of the Adirondacks. Therefor they had a chance to play in 1+ foot power, and on rain hardened ice, and everything in between. They did just dandy on all of that. I went relatively short - I'm 6'2", ski these with a 25-45 lb pack and am 180+ - and the 178 was great. I am not a super aggressive skier, and at higher speeds on groomers there was very little chatter - although the light weight was notable. An excellent item and if on sale a great value.

I will admit I was suckered into these by Andrew's post about their magic qualities, but they are unfortunately all they're cracked up to be. I've used them for all day ice climbing in the Northeast and didn't touch the other pairs of gloves one invariably brings. They have decent dexterity (can place screws & clip), they are warm, they stay dry, and the wrist closure is the best I've used (one hand can open or close). I've also skied and scraped my car down with them, and they work well for those tasks too. Tapered fingers might improve dexterity, but it's pretty good given how warm they are.

Apologies for cross postings, I seem to have been commenting before, not reviewing. Editors - feel free to delete these 2 sentences and the earlier comment.

These are an outstanding match for a light ski, fat or thin. I have them on Trabs, but the more serious backwoods crew I take tips from in the Adirondacks likes them on some heavier BD wide skis. There are a few things I noted in terms of differences when skiing on them with a nameless but incredibly hospitable Park City guru: they do not have the little channels on the pins which allow the other Dynafit binding pins to clear ice from your toe insets if you step in slightly and then run your foot forward and back (a useful thing to have, as ice often builds in there and we don't all carry roofing nails with us); and (obviously) they do not have ski brakes, so you need to wear straps on piste and/or not lose track of your skis on steep or deep ground. Otherwise they are everything you might need, just less of it. A very light and elegant package.