What are /r/COsnow's favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

Trust in Joel: https://opensnow.com/dailysnow/colorado

As long as there is no snow between now and then, YOU'LL BE FINE with the shittiest of the shitty. If you really want the down low skinny on driving a car you're not entirely comfortable with:

• SNOW TIRES OVER ANY DRIVE SYSTEM. Seriously. Snow tires snow tires snow tires.
• Get a tow strap for your peace of mind. Folks will gladly help you out if you get stuck, and if you stand by your car with a tow strap in your hand, you won't be waiting long. Give them a beer or a nug for their troubles. Please just get a fucking tow strap and don't make my commute longer because you don't. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CF4UWG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 has saved my ass (and others) multiple times. 14 bucks. Just do it. Order it.
• Take i70 instead of Loveland Pass (again - if there's no snow, YOU'LL BE FINE)
• If the weather turns shitty (which means great skiing), you can always take a shuttle out there.

EDIT: and make sure you fucking shred the gnar at the Basin.

I thought it was 5 or 7 years since CO resorts opened early prior to this year...I couldn't remember if I read that or heard it but the closest article I found does say nearly a decade! I think OPs title is a bit bleh though. It isn't that surprising if you haven't been asleep since October :)

I got you fam:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013HSXKQ2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Way cheaper, but still well regarded. One modification that was recommended in the Amazon reviews is to glue a small LEGO or some other piece of plastic to the middle button so it's easier to differentiate when you're on the move.

What size are you looking for? I'm currently selling a set of 265/75R17 studded snow tires for $100 with some decent tread left on them. Too small for my now lifted FJ cruiser. Get a shop to mount them and you are probably looking at less than $200 total cost. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/760816244480535/

Buy one of these at a local auto store if you need it fast or Amazon..... Look for 6 or better to be legal. Lots of drivers out there are not legal.. but the reasoning behind the law is safety, not money-making... Higher is better.

https://www.amazon.com/GODESON-88702-Smart-Color-Coded/dp/B0793HMWP1/ref=sr\_1\_5?keywords=tire+tread+gauge&qid=1649634833&sr=8-5

I use this one https://www.amazon.com/Mizzuco-Trigger-Digit-Combination-Black1/dp/B082XMZ3BF/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?crid=1QK4KBGZKFC75&keywords=pistol+lock+combination&qid=1647813954&sprefix=pistol+lock+combinatiom%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-9

https://www.amazon.com/Kikkerland-Instant-Snow-Can-Powder/dp/B005T4X6VW#:~:text=Instant%20snow%20is%20an%20amazing,it%20back%20into%20the%20can.

Seller of these is gonna have "fuck you" money real soon

Buy and read this book if you want to do more touring: https://www.amazon.com/Staying-Alive-Avalanche-Terrain-Tremper/dp/1680511386/ref=nodl_

The reason why it is important to learn is because the only person responsible for your safety is you. You need to be able to assess terrain and conditions and make decisions for yourself. Having an experienced group is awesome, but they aren’t infallible (see the Loveland pass avalanche a few years ago for a prime example).

Kinda echoing all of what has been said here. If there's any one thing you can do, read avy reports from the CAIC (https://www.avalanche.state.co.us/) and avoid slopes >30 degrees. Meet people, especially those who know what they are doing, go to Friends of CAIC, Friends of Berthoud Pass, and other backcountry meetups. It is a very welcoming community and we want to share our knowledge because we don't want to read a report about one of our own gone because they did something stupid/were ignorant about avalanche danger. Fear is healthy and good. When you go into the backcountry with no fear/respect for the mountains, that's when you die. Certain ski areas (Loveland, A Basin, Copper, etc. all have uphill access where you can go early am and skin up and practice touring safely). Get your touring setup and take an AIARE 1 course ASAP, I recommend doing it through Colorado Mountain School. Read this book and study it, then apply that knowledge. It will keep you alive. Start small and if you don't know, don't go. The mountains will always be there, and you can always ski them another day. The backcountry is a beautiful, exciting, fun, and peaceful place, but it can have significant consequences if not respected. And lastly, if you really are getting after it, you just are gonna have to drop some dough. Name of the game unfortunately. Also P.S. please don't boot up the skin track :)

I'm old, have snowboarded for a long time and I'm out on the mountain a lot. For the last ~6 years I have been using the "Triple Eight Undercover Snow Wrist Pads" which came from Amazon.

https://smile.amazon.com/Triple-Eight-Undercover-Snow-Wrist-Pads/dp/B000LGK0M6/ref=cm_wl_huc_item

They work for me.

How was Loveland? Copper was insanely crowded for most of the day but my friend and I found a great stash of powder over on the far west side of Union Meadows.

On days where I don’t want to wear a full pack I pack a little 16oz water flask in my goggles pocket. They have them at the Christy’s in Dillon and likely elsewhere. It rolls up and stows away when empty, and I just refill it when I stop to warm up or to drink “not water”. Vapur Solid Flexible Water Bottle - with Carabiner https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BI9AM14/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_TKD014ZCGGX9AP6E22FW?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Get yourself one of these and a metal bucket. Heat it up with a small fire or on your engine block. I use it when I'm camping and it's perfect.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CZFQZQM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_9R0TP5N8HBYQD2Y0GDY3

Everyone's answer may work

But

I use this and it works like a charm

​

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R91W8JJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

For those that want to blame inexperienced or reckless people, Colorado's snowpack is significantly more unstable than the other states listed. Those 300+ days of sunshine that we like to brag about, that is the real reason. Colorado goes a long time between storms with lots of sun in the meantime. This causes the top layer to melt and then refreeze causing "sugar snow". Sugar snow is very weak, and after a few storms it just gives out.

If you are unable to attend an Avy 1 class due to COVID and the influx of people this year, at the minimum read Bruce Tremper's Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain. I prefer paperback vs the kindle because I find it easier to take notes, but do what you want.

It’s a series of poems/short stories about Summit County around the turn of the century, where the author, Belle Turnbull (sometimes called the Voice of the Mountains) retired in the 1930s. More info. . Here’s how it begins:

Needs must harry the Tenmile now:
Hot in the channels behind the bone
The words are up and the drum beats over,
The drum beats over, the words must go.

Never along that range is ease: Things are warped that are too near heaven,
Ink runs clotted down the pen, Verse has the twist of timberline trees.

The Great Divide is a full-sprung bow
About that country, and its arrow Is the length of the Tenmile, notch to tip.
Stark is the streamhead where the narrow
Careless snowrills stop and go, Atlantic, Pacific, freeze or flow.

Never along that range is ease: The rose of the winds goes wheeling over,
When there is peace and little woe
Dust devils rise and blow Sucking the air from the river valley.
Water and blood will boil too early,
Atoms cry for their release.

Set in dominion over these None has ruled them since the flow
That set their homestead solitaires
And spattered wire-gold filigrees.
Magistrate and forester Exist forlorn in those rude airs
Where dwell the ancient liberties.

There was meat and miniver,
Buckskin and beaver fur. When these had strained away
Goldflake sifted from the poke.
Twice raped and rough with scars
Freehold, gone lean and grey,
Stands at the end of wars.

Do your sons have any "toy" snowboards or snowskates? They can start getting used to the feeling on even something like this. I actually started snowboarding on a plastic snowboard at my local sled hill. One of the hardest things for beginners is getting comfortable pointing their board down the hill and getting used to leaning side to side to turn. "skating" with only your front foot to get around in flat areas is also a very important skill they can practice at home. If they're avid skateboarders this should all come more naturally but it's different enough that it can take some getting used to. I hope yall have a great time!

I mean... they're pretty cheap considering we're in a sport where you've got $600-1000 strapped to your feet and you're paying another $500-700 to access the mountain.

https://www.amazon.com/Toko-5547182-T8-Wax-Iron/dp/B001FEUCTY/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=ski+iron&qid=1598041877&sr=8-4

Not OP, but here's a link to the most common ones. Just got a set for my Birthday and can't wait to try them out next week.

if its sunny much at all you can get warm very quick. def go with layers that you can take off if needed. Especially if it is more of a tour and youll be spending more time on the sled itself instead of on foot.

outside of ski pants and a good winter snow/ski jacket with layers, the only thing we borrowed from the place was high boots, and helmets. clothing you should be good, but id look in to some at least knee high boots or so.

these are similar to the boots we borrowed when we went

https://www.amazon.com/Kamik-Mens-Canuck-Weather-Black/dp/B0036FT06Q/ref=sr_1_10?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1479441450&sr=1-10&nodeID=679307011&refinements=p_n_feature_two_browse-bin%3A679483011

These are the EG3s that I bought. It was an Amazon Gold Box sale just for yesterday, so it looks like nearly everything that was on sale has already gone back up.

Has anyone used the HD Goggles? I'm tempted to buy them...but I'm having trouble with good reviews the reviews (for the HD2) are good on backcountry.com but bad on Amazon

Edit: I see these are not the HD2, so I can't find any reviews for these...