These are by far the cushiest boots money can buy. I've tried on or demo'd about 30-40 pairs of boots, so I can say this with confidence. I originally wanted something easier to lace, but I quickly got over the fact that these don't have a speed lacing system (BOA, etc). They fit beautifully, and hold the heel well. There are only two other boots available that are even close to comparable to these. The Thirty Two Lashed, and the Northwave Legend SL. For those of you who like a very soft boot, with very little support, you might like the Lashed better. The Legend has a speed lacing system which is nice, but don't have quite as much cush as the Grails do. I do recommend the Legend's, but they are damn near impossible to find in a local store since Northwave is a smaller company and ships all their boots over from Italy. I've already hit the slopes 3 times with my Grails and have no complaints. I get just enough support, yet a lot of comfort with this medium flex boot.

I got this jacket for $130 at a local sniagrab sale. The outer material feels almost like rubber and is extremely waterproof. I was a little worried about overheating because of this, but the pit-zips do a great job in removing excess heat. I had previously owned an Arcteryx Stingray jacket ($550, yikes!). I sold it on craigslist so I could pick this jacket up. I ended up making 200 on the sale and took the new Severson home for cheap! I have to say that I've noticed no difference in performance between this jacket and a technical shell. Save yourself the money!

The rocker is amazing in powder. You can ride much more as if you were on hard packed courderoy, without having to lean back as much. This board is PERFECT for those of us who have size 11 boots, who do not want a clunky wide board. This board is only a smidge wider than a regular size board, which provides a more responsive and lighter ride than a wide board. You can also ride these boards just a little shorter than a traditional board. I was riding a 162, and I've downsized to a 159. Never summer makes a great product.