Replying to Negative Reviews?

I may be cracked out of my head since I just pulled an all nighter, but thoughts.

Too many gear reviews are abundantly positive. If you ask for a honest to god review of almost any skiing related product out there, all you hear back is, "Ya, sick" or "I love mine". Its great that people are stoked on stuff, but in the end, I guess I dont find it helpful. If everything everyone says about anything ends up being different shades of awesome, I'm stuck in the same place with no way to pick one over another. Same with most magazine buyers guides, though they're a bit more critical, to give them small credit.

So lets try something out here. Criticism. Of the things you own and love, look on the downside. What could be better? What was a letdown? How has it lasted, and what cant you stand about this thing that annoys you every time you get on the hill?


For the sake of maybe a little impartiality, lets avoid "It broke on the first day, piece of crap" responses, I dont want to hear about the gear you hate - I want to hear the negative things you have to say about the gear you love.