Name an item you have which is unexpectedly awesome

[SundayRiver Yeti]

For me, it's my Turtle Fur helmet liner. It was cheap, it is super light and amazingly warm, plus it wicks. I keep my head shaved so the cold wind would blow under my helmet and freeze me. This tiny little piece of cloth prevents that. Fantastic! I used it in late fall, winter, and early spring under my helmets when I mountain bike too.

 

[Phillycore]

For me, it's my Turtle Fur helmet liner. It was cheap, it is super light and amazingly warm, plus it wicks. I keep my head shaved so the cold wind would blow under my helmet and freeze me. This tiny little piece of cloth prevents that. Fantastic! I used it in late fall, winter, and early spring under my helmets when I mountain bike too.

sticking with the turtle fur....

I absolutely love my turtle fur neck gaiter..... best $11 ever and it's like from the 90's
I've even tried to replace it with a seirus mask, balaclava's etc.. and nothing beats the old turtle fur neck tube....lol

 

[Warp Daddy]

yeah i got one too but my best unexpected pleasure was a heat exchanger wrap ( Polargard) which goes across your nose and mouth and has a filter which pre heats the air you breathe .

I ski at Tremblant and the Northern Dacks where wind chills can be very extreme at time e.g. worst i skied in was -75F . These two items together with full racing helmet and goggles makes me very comfortable and damn near bullet-proof

 

[Moe Ghoul]

Chapstick.

 

[Phillycore]

Everything else I've tried always makes my glasses fog up underneath my goggles...which just sucks because my gogs don't fog... my glasses do...lol

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

The dishwasher in my apartment..I had no dishwasher in my old place for 4 years which meant all paper/plastic plates and silverware..now doing dishes is a breeze..

 

[Trekchick]

My two favourite things I got last year that rank up there wtih unexpectedly awesome!

Powderfish gaiter. Its amazing, better than turtle fur by far.
Moisture wicks away and it never gets mankey. If you ever try a powderfish gaiter, you'll throw out all your turtle fur!!!

#2 was my Hot Gear Bag!
I fell in love with it on my trips west. Its a bit large for a carry on but works. What is amazing is the ability to dry boots, gloves and other stuff in the bag. Not to mention the fact that its large enough to haul a change of clothes with your carry on, just in case your bags get lost, and to top it off.......If you put your sticky buns in the bag with your boots on the way to the hill, you have a nice warm bun while you're booting up

 

[bvibert]

If you put your sticky buns in the bag with your boots on the way to the hill, you have a nice warm bun while you're booting up

I'm going to assume that you're talking about breakfast food...

 

[Trekchick]

I'm going to assume that you're talking about breakfast food...

You assume whatever you want, studmuffin.

Oh, that reminds me........Muffins are another thing that stays toasty warm in the Hot gear bag!

 

[Marc]

My down vest. I got a Mont Bell 800 fill power. It weighs about 8 oz, stuffs down to about half a Nalgene in size, and is very warm. Great for touring, just take it out of the stuff sack when I'm done going up, and I stay toasty warm eating and going down.

Now I'm lusting after the full sleeve version.

 

[drjeff]

My transpack. Love that thing! Makes getting to/from the lodge with gear and kids about 1000 times easier! +10

 

[wa-loaf]

I'm addicted to icebreaker insulation layers. I got one shirt last year. I now have 2 sweaters, 1 zip t-neck, 1 crew neck long sleeve, 3/4 length long johns, and a pair of ultra light ski socks.

 

[Beetlenut]

I would have to say heat for my boots. My feet never get cold anymore no matter how cold or windy the winter day gets.

 

[Mildcat]

I would have to say heat for my boots. My feet never get cold anymore no matter how cold or windy the winter day gets.

+1. My Hotronics are great. I want to buy the newer batteries just because they charge quicker though.

 

[Greg]

My transpack. Love that thing! Makes getting to/from the lodge with gear and kids about 1000 times easier! +10

Yep. I'll never go back to a shoulder strap boot bag.

 

[Warp Daddy]

My transpack. Love that thing! Makes getting to/from the lodge with gear and kids about 1000 times easier! +10

Yep I LUV mine too

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

SkiGee...a little rubber squeege for your goggles...the things are worth their weight in gold when its dumping wet snow or freezing $%#@, plain old r__n or getting blasted by a wet snowgun.

Marmot DriClime jacket/windshirt...windproof nylon outter with micro fleece lining...warmer than 200wt fleece, lighter and less bulky than 100wt fleece...great midlayer or spring skiing jkt

 

[Moe Ghoul]

SkiGee...a little rubber squeege for your goggles...the things are worth their weight in gold when its dumping wet snow or freezing $%#@, plain old r__n or getting blasted by a wet snowgun.

Marmot DriClime jacket/windshirt...windproof nylon outter with micro fleece lining...warmer than 200wt fleece, lighter and less bulky than 100wt fleece...great midlayer or spring skiing jkt

Is that Skigee the little blade you wear on your glove?

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

Is that Skigee the little blade you wear on your glove?

yup...but I keep mine on my pole strap...easier to share with friends that way.

 

[Greg]

yup...but I keep mine on my pole strap...easier to share with friends that way.

Doesn't scratch your lens? I've found just laying a bare hand on the lens for 10 seconds or so to melt the ice and then wiping it away with a finger works fine.