Thread: a company's gem of the crown.....

I am more and more keen to believe that every good company has one (or maybe a few) gem of the crown, ie that product which is truly innovative, particularly well designed & produced and makes a huge difference.
I'll make a tentative list, and wait for comments..

scarpa maestrale
dynafit TLT5p
rossi S7
blizzard cochise
norrona lofoten pants
rab neoshell stretch jacket
scott pure
k2 sidestash
......

Nordica Dobermann
4FRNT EHP
Moment Bibby Pro
Rossignol FKS/Lange Pivot
Salomon S916
Marker Duke

sidestash? really? how come?

also curious re what makes the maestrale a stand out. is it simply an optimum weight/performance balance?

i'll put my vote in for the dps lotus 120. bear in mind that design is pretty old now, has been copied relentlessly and still kills it. was a game changer in my opinion.

also a shout out to bindingfreedom.com

Originally Posted by covert

also curious re what makes the maestrale a stand out. is it simply an optimum weight/performance balance?

Fit, weight, walk mode, downhill performance, price. It's an under-appreciated boot here on TGR because it isn't the lightest or stiffest. But it might just be the overall package.
I agree on Lotus 120's. Still the best I've used.
G3 Zen Oxide- great product after years of mediocrity.
CAMP Aluminum crampons.

Originally Posted by covert

sidestash? really? how come?

also curious re what makes the maestrale a stand out. is it simply an optimum weight/performance balance?

i'll put my vote in for the dps lotus 120. bear in mind that design is pretty old now, has been copied relentlessly and still kills it. was a game changer in my opinion.

also a shout out to bindingfreedom.com

mentioned sidestash (and should have mentioned moment bibby) because of the kudos received in the recent "quiver of one" blister gear review..... and - for sidestash - because I've seen so many of them in verb and cham lately. I've not used them intensively and have no personal opinion, but so many yurpers here like 'em.

mentioned maestrale because they're the best boots I've been on in decades, because they've been sold out in a few months for two consecutive winters in the alps, and because the new maestrale RS are even better. Moreover, the mixed cabrio/overlap design summarizes IMVHO the best of the two options.

bindingfreedom.com fully seconded.

I'd also add

patagonia guide pants
garmont G1 (and derivates like the G2-shaman)

Arc'terx Alpha SV and Sidewinder. Dynafit TLT Speed/Classic/ST/Manaslu. Lange RX 130. Dynastar Legend Pro skis (most of them). Black Diamond Flicklock poles (any of them).

forgot...

leki haute route speed lock poles

OR Crocodile Gaiters (not sexy, but a time-tested design.)

Maestrales
Flexons
DPS Lotus 120
Life-Link AEC Pole

honorable mention:
Fritsche Diamir (the gamechanger away from the damn securafix/trekker crap).
Marker Simplex Toe (ancient history 101)
goretex (no more 60/40 cloth or waxed egyptian cotton)

Armada JJ

+1 on the original Doberman's and the G1 derivatives

+
Patagonia's down sweater/vest
Intuition PW's

Like verbier said on Maestrales - the boot is great yes. But PRICE. Any other company would have raised the hell out of the price after Yr 1 and shafted its consumers. Scarpa chose to keep the price the same. Classy

I'm gonna deviate from the norm a little bit:

DPS Lotus 138 (game changer, IMO)
4FRNT Renegade
Tecnica Cochise
Voile Drifter

+1 to:
Rossi FKS/Look Pivot
Patagonia Guide pants
OR Crocodile gaiters
Lange RX 130 (debatable)

I don't think you can lump the TLT5 (or any Dynafit product) in this category of "crown jewel." Is it an awesome boot? Yes. Is it the ONE thing the company does best? No. Same with bindingfreedom. Jon makes some awesome stuff, but there is there one product that's the "crown jewel?" All of his products are pretty awesome/revolutionary.

Or is this just a thread about our favorite pieces of gear?

Originally Posted by auvgeek

Lange RX 130 (debatable)

I'd argue that the crown jewel here is the plug boot, which has not changed much over the years (RL1/RL11/R2006). Most of the high-end Lange boots are derived from these models.

my votes:
nordica dobermann
head raptor rd130 boots (best plug boots, ever)
look pivots
dps lotus 138
bca tracker
g3 alpinist skins
salomon 916
flylow ba puffy
patagonia primo down
tecnica cochise family.
volkl gotama
dynastar legend pro
rossi rc112
moment bibby pro
BD avalung / fliplock poles
mystery ranch blackjack / fuze
intuition powerwrap
hestra vertical cut freeride gloves
poc bug goggles/helmet

Another vote for Patagonia Down Sweater, but also the Nano Puff
Smith I/O - I/O's
Volkl Gotama
S7

Moving away from the skiing theme...

Subaru outback
CRKT M16 10Z
Weber 22.5" charcoal grill
Levi's 514



sent from the future using my mind powers

toyota tacoma

Back on the skiing theme...

PM Gear Lhasa 191
Praxis Protest

Biking...

Salsa - El Mariachi
Santa Cruz - Carbon Nomad
Surly - long haul trucker

sent from the future using my mind powers

toyota 4runner

edit: damn, was trying to have that immediatly follow the taco post!!!

Summit Dental Systems Biscayne E.L.



and ski product purchase I was happiest with this year was First Ascent BC microtherm down jacket. 20K/20K waterproof down jacket <20oz. Win.

I don't know how nobody has yet to mention these:

Volant Spatula or Praxis Powderboard
Dalbello Krypton
Dalbello Virus
Gecko glueless skins
POC spine protector
Kinco Work Gloves
Darn Tough Lightweight Ski Socks
TGR's - Deeper
Black Diamond Factor Boots

1997 Diamondback Sorrento - hands down the best budget bike ever.

Lesbostrap 9000.

alpine bod harness
chouinard original cable binding (note, same designer as the bod/alpine bod harness)
lotus 138
smith goggles