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Originally Posted by Graham
Does a higher price necessarily mean a better product? I'm not going to pay money for a name, but I'll pay it for quality!
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Usually, or it can be just a name.
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Is "water resistant" ok or should I get "water proof"?
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*shrug* Water proof is better as far as I know. Water resistant is probably fine.
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Does "improved wicking" actually *mean* anything?!
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Yes, it removes sweat faster from your skin. Kinda important if you sweat a lot.
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What does "one hundredweight" mean on a fleece (that's damned heavy!)
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Weight of the wool? I think.
Don't get wool socks. They itch. Polypro is good. Same for underwear.
Wear a headhand or toque... Frostbite hurts.
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Are zips under the arms of a jacket useful or just a gimmick?
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Perhaps easier to get the jacket on? Mine doesn't have any.
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Probably. The only pair of ski boots I have are almost 25 years old (I used to grass ski as a teenager, gods, I feel old now!!). Is that a good idea? Are boots for Skiing and Snowboarding completely interchangable?
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No. Skiing has special boots. You can use your regular winter boots for snowboarding.
I'd go with renting equipment unless you plan on using it every year.
When picking boots, rear-entry is easier to get on, but suffers in performance, and overlapping shell is harder to get on, but better in performance. Don't let that the deciding factor be though... try both.
When picking skis, stiffness refers to how hard it is to bend the ski, sidecut refers to the cut pictured from above, and the shovel is the pointy tip of the ski. GS refers to giant slalom, a course set for high speed smooth runs.
Recreational skis are usually soft and have a GS sidecut. They're gentle and forgiving and flexable. Not good for high speeds though, and not good for quick turns. Good for beginner or intermediate.
Generally, the stiffer the ski the more skill you need. They are generally used for higher speeds.
Slalom skis have a strong sidecut and are narrower. They're stiff at the back and are excellent for quick short turns.
GS skis are for speed. They have a softer shovel.
How long? Try 160 to 180 centimeters. Generally the heavier you are, the longer you want. Also, the better you are, the longer you go.
I myself don't own skis. I usually rent. I do own my own snowboard though, because I find it far more fun than skiing. I also own my own clothes, but then, I live in snow country and it is pretty much to be expected.