best way to spend $1200 on gear

[NuclearNachos21]

Hey all, tldr is I may get a grant of $2k through my college for a project and am spending it on taking an AIARE course/leadership in the backcountry. After the course fee and avy gear+new gloves, currently have around 1200 left in funds but not sure what would be worth spending on. I was thinking about buying a touring setup but not sure how much use of it since currently in the midwest so planning on renting a pair for the trip. Other ideas were a new pair of skis if possible or new pair of boots (rc4 zipfits for 7-800) since very zipfit curious, but have to justify how I would use the purchase towards the trip and can't really just justify the liners. Any ideas on best way to spend the money I'm missing? Already set on clothing for everything

[Caucasian Asian]

I would definitely get some Heritage Lab skis.

[m2711c]

Praxis Rx

[NuclearNachos21]

I would definitely get some Heritage Lab skis.

very interested in r110s so really tempting. also dabbling in putting inserts in my ripstick 96s and getting a second mount for touring bindings, anybody have experience doing the same? not sure how doable bringing 2 pairs of boots would be for travel though


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[flip]

<p>
What do you have now for hard goods, and are you planning to spend most of your time in resort or BC?</p>

[gaijin]

I predict skiing my ROneTens for the next couple of decades at least. Other skis might come out, obviously, but these things are intuitive, easy, bomber, etcetera. It's a cult ski. HL is a cult brand. Invest now.

[Judo Chop!]

what do your buddies do most of? What are your ski goals
Figure that out, then decide the biggest gap between Now and Then. spend $ accordingly to fill the gap.

[fleaches]

Yeah how about a fancy tent, backpack, climbing/ice climbing gear, etc? Whatever you could also use at home.

For the liners you could try to track down some GFTs, which would be totally justified for touring on your trip but I bet you could get them set up for your resort boots afterwards too.

[rudy]

Easy, hookers and blow!

[ticketchecker]

^rudy speaking the gospel of Splat right there


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[I've seen black diamonds!]

WFR training.

[gaijin]

HL Fanboy advice aside... I still use my tent, sleeping bag, and stove from 25 years ago, too. In fact, I slept in my -ThirtyC Marmot Gore Dryloft bag last week in my car a blizzard in northern JP. Love that thing. Was eight hundred new back then, adjust for inflation.

Shells come and go with fashion and wear/tear, but insulation lasts decades.

Cool note-- my mom is sending my Spyder wool apres sweater from thirty years ago that she found stashed in the closet. It might seem dorky when you're younger but when you're older and you can revisit your vintage stuff, it's quite fun.

Go find the late season sales and think longevity over trendy.

[Eastside]

It seems to me if you are taking a backcountry course, you should have backcountry gear (AT or 50/50 skis, boots, bindings) for the course. You have that correct? If you don't, I'd start there

[eSock]

If boots are on the table, I'd aim for getting a nice boot setup! Skis come and go, but getting a pair of boots/liners you love will last you for years and make everything better. Then you can probably find a pair of skis with the leftover anyways.

[singlesline]

Depending where in the Midwest you are, a touring setup could be moderately entertaining exploring dumb little spots.

You could also buy a CAST setup or some Dukes and make your current skis work for the course while not compromising the downhill (and you can always reuse that setup on new skis in the future).

What are your plans after college? Seems like if you are doing something like this, you might want to own touring gear in the future…otherwise why are you doing a backcountry leadership/avvy thing?