 Poster: A snowHead
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@KSH, agreed, icebreakers are superb. Best winter base layers I've ever had. Walking, cycling, skiing or just general use. We've just bought some more in Icebreaker's own sale.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@rogg, what did you buy to replace the F22s? I'm still using some old Salomon Tenth boots from 2008.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Harry Flashman wrote: |
| . This year, I have an outfit that is (trousers and jacket) entirely hot pink. Tasteless, yet distinctive. |
Accurate. 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Harry Flashman wrote: |
| This year, I have an outfit that is (trousers and jacket) entirely hot pink. Tasteless, yet distinctive. |
Mods, please change his username to Harry Fleshman.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Quote: |
| ...Fell into the 'buy cheap, buy twice' trap here |
How about the buy cheap or buy 20 times trap? 
I'd happily take my chance with the Decathlon trousers, but would ski naked before entertaining prices like Kjus! 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Ive absolutely no idea, since i have a constant case of gear churn. I've bought plenty, tried and sold on. Some I've even sold on before using it. Lots I like , and keep , only to move it on when something else comes along that I like better. Im certain that "my gear" gets well used wherever it ends up .
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@Harry Flashman, can we have photos of you in your new pink kit?
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Jacket - Colmar 12 years old and going strong.
Salopettes - Nevica 10 years old £30 new and going strong although i did catch them last year on the lift so a small hole developed.
Skis - Fischer 4 years old serviced each year, going well.
Boots - Lange 4 years old and comfy, few scuffs and a broken part on one of the clips. Maybe change next year.
Goggles - Red Bull 4 years old and brilliant
Gloves - cheap shein thermal ones, 1 yo, buy new pair each year for £4
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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My kit lasts as long as it takes me to see something "I really need" on Sport Pursuit!! 
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| Gordyjh wrote: |
| @Harry Flashman, can we have photos of you in your new pink kit? |
No.
It's distinctive enough that some random SHer may ski up to me and the family whilst on the slopes, and having to explain that this is someone I effectively met online after posting photos of myself would be far more embarrassing than my actual outfit.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| dunc999 wrote: |
| My kit lasts as long as it takes me to see something "I really need" on Sport Pursuit!! |
Pretty much.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@Harry Flashman, spoilsport!
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Keeping gear as long as possible and getting use of of every penny of it seems to be more of a sport to some than actually skiing. On the flip side getting new gear seems to be more of a sport than skiing to some. I wonder if any snowheads actually get the balance right..?
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You know it makes sense.
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I feel that brand new kit whilst skiing ARS (Aggressive Racing Snowplough) is all I need out of the snowsports hobby.
That, and posing in a bar somewhere telling everyone that I smashed that black, mate.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Harry Flashman,
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Legend., me, obvs!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well Ive had some good kit and some really bad kit.....................
Berghaus Goretex shell jacket bought in 1991 for about £180 from Ellis Brigham lasted me years. That was a hell of a lot of money for a jacket in those days. This was when Berghaus were UK made and a really good product. Great jacket but i was always cold in it and had to be careful to layer up. I used it skiing 1991 to about 2005. It started to fall apart along the tapered seams and leaked. I sold it on ebay for £25 to someone who was going to a ski themed party. He was well happy - so was i. Wife hated it. 90s colours which by 2005 looked v dated. I wont touch Berghaus now, just rubbish quality. Same goes for Karrimor that used to make great rucksacks but quality is no good these days.
Had various cheap goggles and gloves and they were always a bad buy- but id break a pair of Oakley Googles on the first lift knowing me ! Best tip i had was thin merino socks - they are warm and just work. Used various makes but Smartwool seem the best for me. Helly H lifa thermals - they work well too - but Ive been recommended merino is better. Good for biking in as well
Boots - rented and in agony each year so when able bought nice brand new Dynafit boots that looked great but wernt the best fit and lasted about 10 years and then a buckle broke and the boot fell apart. Then rented for 3 years and on the third year at the end of a week bought the boots for 50e from the shop as they just worked. Still using same boots 15 years later (new power strap and heels) but they fit my narrow feet.
Gloves - i get mixed views but most people say the best are Hesta ? At £150 you dont wont to leave them on the bar at Happy Hour. But im after a new pair as my Scott ones are worn out so will get some of these if people recommend ? Cold wet gloves by 1030 am is a big no no for me. I carry 2 pairs on bad days so nice warm hands after lunch
Rucksac - i use a Daking 12L and its great cos its thin so i dont have to take it off on chair lifts. Its got a lot of straps and extras which for proper off piste trecking to get to yr start would be v handy - but i use it to carry stuff i need and kids need. It fits a bladder inside which is great (unless you get a leak)
Final recommendation - god this is an essay sorry - i really do recommend using a dry bag inside yr rucksack. They are cheap and make a massive difference
Any recommendations please do let me know Thank you 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Quote: |
Same goes for Karrimor that used to make great rucksacks but quality is no good these days
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Karrimor was really badly managed as a business from the late 1990s and went into receivership in 2004. The brand was bought by SportsDirect and, like a number of other famous British brands like Slazenger and Dunlop, is now used to sell cheap tat. For some reason, SD seem to think Karrimor is best used as a label for running gear.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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You can never have enough new kit!
Generally buy muted colours (black / khaki / mustard / sand etc) so that previous season ski jackets get demoted to fishing / walking the dog / the pub etc. The journey ends when they're either sold on or stuffed in the boot of my car for emergency use only . .
Constant search for the perfect mid-layer as I seem to wear these out more quickly than anything else - have currently settled on Rab Nexus Hoodies and usually take all 6x (pretty much every colourway) for a typical week so I've got a fresh layer daily, but these also double as evening clobber the night prior . . .again these are multi use so wear them for tennis / cycling / gym as well
Just bought another pair of Mountain Equipment Couloir gloves (my last pair were 10yrs old) as I annoyingly lost one in Jan . . .worried that the newer versions may not perform as well
Have also re-invested in softshell for my imminent Spring trip (the excuse being it may be warm, but also because I like shiny new things) . . .that and the fact that Norrona Lofoten Flex1 was on a major discount deal! 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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1st went skiing about 30 years ago on a school trip - just borrowed from a friend.
Started skiing regularly just over 20 years ago. Bought kit. This mostly did first 9 years. But updated lots about 11 years ago when moving from insulated ski wear to shell - which I much prefer. Also started wearing a helmet, got much better fitting boots and bought my own skis.
Current kit is therefore all about 11 seasons old. Jacket and sallopettes still waterproof and function fine. Jacket colour even got re-released last season so back in fashion colour wise! Some of my mid layer jackets are a bit newer (4/5 years old) but wear these outside of skiing so get more wear. Some socks and base layers are even older but smart wool and icebreakers seem to last forever - except for moths!
However it is time for new:
Gloves. Seams now splitting and limited loft so no longer warm - liners have increased their useful life.
Helmet. Noticed on last trip it has a small crack. Plus at 11 seasons old imagine its well past safe life.
Googles. Oakley A-frame 2.0's have served me well despite now looking a bit dated but the replacement lenses (maybe 4/5 season old) are starting to loose their finish so not fully effective. Model discontinued so might as well update whole google as find foam does perish in time (this happened to my first pair of googles).
Boots. Mine have done 143 days in last 11 years and liner is well compacted. I love how they fitted though (tbh it's not so snug anymore) and afraid I just won't get such a good fit next time so almost loathe to update.
Skis. I'm sure my old bindings won't work with new boots. Plus at about 160ish days they are well loved but definitely past their best. Not as much pop (or maybe my skiing has got worse) than yesteryear.
Time to bring hit the shops!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Goggles are important, skiing off-piste in a snowstorm. Consequently just bought new ones because I was getting fogging between the layers, so probably cracked. However it took getting a broken rib through colliding with a branch stub I failed to see to prompt me to do it. Similarly do I need a proper avalanche backpack? Always half meant to, but haven't done it yet despite being buried in an avalanche in December.
I change my ski clothing when it gets too tatty with several patches, or duct tape on gloves, though I could afford to spend more. Similarly I can only carry one pair of skis so only have one on the go, and change them when they start to wear out (except when I changed to touring bindings). Am I aiming for the gnarly image without realising?
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A search on here finds I bought my goggles, whose frame has cracked in several places, in February 2015. So I’m estimating their very peaceful life at 12-13 weeks.
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Salomon jacket. Bought 2007. Maybe 20 to 23 weeks skiing, but a lot more on top. Zip will need replacing. Still fantastic and just won't die. Cost well over £200 at the time.
Skis. Bought some atomic redster GS new in 2013 end of season. They've been great, and going strong. See no reason to change, but after the pds snowfest this year really need some fatter skis also. The atomic were bloody tiring to ski in all that snow.
Salopettes. Cheap orange/pink trespass. 2011 ish. Faded. Inside ankle sections sliced to %#&@. Have bought 2 others over the last couple of years. Just not right. Crotch went in L2D this year. Sewed it up with a carrefour sewing kit and they've just done another week in the pds.
Salomon boots. Bought and fitted in Val d in 2008 after 1 day of terrible hire boots. 20 weeks skiing at least. Feet changing with age. They need to go.
Wife surprised me with Hestra mittens last year. I love them and they should outlast me.
Goggles...... some amazon £25 odd kit. Coppoz? So good i bought 2 extra pairs after using them a week.
Helmet. Wedze.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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My ex told me I was 'very cheap to run.' I think he meant that as a compliment, but am not sure. I do have a fair amount of ancient but serviceable gear, I guess, but interspersed with shiny, new bits and pieces. This probably goes for most of us, doesn't it?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I would happily wear my gear from 15-20 years ago….except I have gained too much weight! I do manage to wear the base layers I bought 2002-2008: Patagonia longjohns, a wicking t-shirt that I wear year-round for all sports, a quarter-zip capilene base layer, and an R1 quarter zip fleece that was designed specific for skiing with thinner material in the tails for tucking into ski trousers. The jacket + trousers from that era are waiting in storage for 10-15lbs of menopausal weight to be shed, they’re still in perfectly good condition (or would be with some Nikwax)
Of the current kit, I’ve worn the same Peak Performance jacket since 2017 for about 15 days a year, with another ~5-7 days a year going to my other jacket from Lole - a Quebec-based brand. If I won the lottery I would commission custom ski wear from a local tailor - in Vancouver you can actually buy Goretex fabric at the local fabric shops - using my favourite old jackets as a template.
Boots go for about 10 years before replacing - my old pair bought in 2012 were demoted to town-only skiing around Vancouver. I did a session at a ski simulator outfit in North Vancouver and the proprietor was horrified at the age of my boots…but as their primary clientele seem to be local racers, no wonder she thought a pair of bog-standard intermediate boots >10 years old were beyond the pale.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| ste_B wrote: |
| @rogg, what did you buy to replace the F22s? I'm still using some old Salomon Tenth boots from 2008. |
Sorry, only just saw this, Salomon Echo dual boa. Can’t recommend enough.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Peter S wrote: |
| Surely time to bring back a modern rear entry update of this Salomon all round classic ? |
Nordia HF110s
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FAQ
