salomon escape plus prolink cross-country ski boots - men's The simple yet performance enhancing design is ideal for any skier who wants long lasting comfort to get the most out of their time on snow. Men's cross-country skis Salomon Escape

In other words, know what gear you are going to carry on the majority of your trips

You can get much more of a skate like feel and a little more boot support with the very thin 5mm footbed but the bed it comes with is pretty close to this and in our opinion better

Soft armor vests usually have pockets for the insertion of (hard) armor plates that can upgrade the vest's level of protection (plates are discussed below)

it has a rain cover that is discreet and tucks right into the bottom

Bottom line: Although the weight difference is only a few ounces, that extra mass becomes noticeable during allday rides or quick head checks on the track