Reviews by User: WasquatchMonster (4)

MTX is legit. This board rips all over the mountain and grips hardpack and ice like no other standard edged board. There is definitely no downside to mtx edges-it's all on the up and up! This board is on the medium flex side. maybe a 6.5 or 7 on the Burton scale. I used to ride nothing but Burton 50+ days (and many of them UT pow days) but once I got the T rice with mtx, I'll never buy anything but a Lib. The downside to this board is that it is not as durable as a burton due to a softer base (which is also slow overall with fresh, proper degree wax), and the topsheet peels but generally this is only cosmetic and my board took a beating on the cirque for 1.5 seasons without coming apart as many boards have in my past. Last but not least, if you are a newer rider, mtx is much less likely to catch an edge that any snowboarder knows can be punishing when hauling $%#!!!

This is the only reasonably-sized hike-worthy camera backpack that will carry your camera and large telephoto lens without disassembly. Holds 70-200mm Nikon f/2.8 and 1.7X Nikon Teleconverter all connected with room to spare for an even bigger telephoto, and also has space for at least 3 other lenses (non-telephoto), or another big prime telephoto lens up to 300mm f/2.8. This pack is durable, very well made for the price, has plenty of compartments in intuitive places, and is very comfortable on your back even with 15 pounds or more of camera gear on your back. The laptop pocket? if that's what the pack is meant to hold (the large front pocket) is very shallow and can barely fit my macbook 13" notebook. This could be the only downside to this pack, although it does hold my macbook so I'm stoked. If you have a 15" laptop and like to carry it with your camera gear, you might be able to place it above the camera gear on the other side of the pack, but it will require some adjustment and hassle becasue you'll have to place it aside every time you pull out your camera.

I've been riding Cartels ever since the model was introduced 6? years or so ago and have owned 2 sets and am picking up my 3rd! These are the consensus favorite bindings and have held up to harsh beatings at the Bird season in, season out riding 50-100 days per season. They have perfected the Cartel over the years, and that's the only reason that I upgraded mine twice. Steep and cheap helps too -Cartels for $109 last year!! I have never had a problem with either pair, other than one of the metal buckle ratchets getting floppy/loose but the strap still gripped tight. These have the team skyback that is the tallest highback but don't let that scare you. These bindings perform on all terrain in all conditions. They're fairly stiff but this helps when hauling ass through a snowloaded gnarly chute!! I ride big mountain stylie in Utah and these bindings are perfect. Cartels are the best bindings on the market according to many and I've heard through the grapevine that a lot of pros ride these that aren't sponsored by Burton. All of my bros rock them and so should you-if you want to keep up!

Pros: Predictable board right out of the box. Magnetraction does what it says. No tendency to catch edges, unreal grip on ice and hardpack. The best innovation in the history of snowboarding. Board has awesome pop. Magnetraction makes groomers and even ICE fun again. Unfortunately we've had our share of that in Utah this year. Cons: board has a pretty soft flex. I'd compare it to a 6, maybe 7 flex Burton. The base is soft and prone to rock damage. The metal edge doesn't cover the tip and tail (I put a nice gouge in the tip on the 1st day riding it at the Bird. That is the Bird, I know, but my Burtons have withstood much abuse with less damage than in 3 days riding the T Rice. Summary: All in all, the pros defintely outweigh the cons. You won't regret your purchase after the first time you ride it. So far, it is defintely one of my favorite boards in 15 years of riding and 15 plus boards. If you like the soubds of this board but want something stiffer, i think the trs magnetraction may be stiffer