Of course I tried crowbars...this is gonna be long again, for sure:
Its all about you. Crowbars might not pinch you, they may pinch others. Oakley developed the splice (duh duh duh duh duh duh Batman, I mean leader) because people complained that their goggles pinched noses. They also have a Japanese fit that is wider and will pinch your nose like crazy because Japanese people tend to have lower smaller noses. At the end of the day, its about the bridge of your shnoz. I'm a hockey player and have broken my nose several times, never had it fixed, and I think this has lead to an enlarged bridge...maybe?
Goggles' anti-fog properties only work if there is a tight fit all the way around your face, thus the reasoning for the tight nose. Some goggles hit the cheekbone instead of the nose and seal off there (read Smith), but Oaks hit the nose, for me (and others), a little. Not terrible, but just a little. Also, the bigger the goggle, the more air between your face and the lens, the hotter it has to get to fog...so bigger gogg less fog.
I have the Smith Phenom, Dragon DX, and Electric EG2 goggles (and Oakley A-Frames, but they are out of the rotation like a fourth pitcher in the playoffs). Here's my advice...
If you are looking for the most technologically advanced goggles that won't fog, do yourself a favor and just get the Smiths, especially if you're 30+ because by then you no longer care about looking that cool, but you probably slay pow on your 168. The tech in Smith goggles is unmatched, even by Oakley (less airflow, smaller goggles=more fog).
Otherwise, if you are into looking cool, riding park, and matching your boots to your flannel, like I sadly admit that I am, try EG2's (I couldn't fog them in blistering Bear Mountain Heat). If your budget is lower, which I doubt because you're trying on crowbars, try Dragon DXs (or DXSs my girl loves them). They are the original park goggle, and now Oakley owns Dragon, so you're killing mad birds, right?
Support your local shop, but save a shitload of money by googling whichever goggle you end up getting. Mad sales on last year's colorways, yo!
Want me to help with the rest of your questions, sigh, okay.
Boards? Melvin, magnetraction is the balls like Ron Burgundy. Banana Tech? Oh yeah, you float like a boat in a moat.
Bindings? Rome, that's right-check em out-they have this bitchin thing that keeps em open so you can just step right in without stepping on the straps, plus cushier than kush...and purpler than kush too.
Boots? Sadly, Burton, but not speed lace. Try a pair of Hails, and tell me they aren't the most comfortable. I know I hate burton too, but you can't argue with what works, and lasts...
Outerwear? Hit the sales! Simon Chaimberlain must be rich, because everybody at Bear was wearing Nomis, uh oh, better find some hot new brand jib dizzles.
Skinny Jeans? Not for me, I have my mother's thighs.
Secret to life? Do what makes you happy. For me, its family and friends, surf, snow, and golf. Golf is so similar to snowboarding its crazy, I'm gonna post on that soon enough...
Look bro, I don't know. If crowbars fit you good, get em. I don't have all the answers...I mean, I do have most answers, but only because I'm way gear obsessed, and I've tried it all.
For me, gearing up for each season is all about fun...it gets me stoked on riding...sometimes gearing up is more fun than the first day where half a run is open and I split my time between encouraging my girlfriend to hit a box, and hiking a C-box or down rail ten or twelve times, til I nail down a trick on camera that is so 1997. If new crowbars get you more stoked on the season, buy em! Then buy some more! The economy needs some spending right now anyway, and as much as I wish it was just slashin snow, its also fashion show right? I digress, but whatever makes you feel good do it (but wear a condom, especially if you try on some smiths, because if nose pinch is your issue, you will jizz yourself).
I always make fun of bloggers, this doesn't make me a blogger does it?
Be happy and have fun brosephs.
Your boy,
Mingus
