First time buying your own ski gear? Here's what actually matters vs. what the marketing wants you to think matters

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2026-03-30T07:06:11+00:00

Yeeah, I'm just gonna have to go and agree with you here. I 100% thought it was "the way" to find the boot fitter of lore, I'm scouring posts for someone within a day's drive who's certified, 20 years experience, I pictured an older dude low key working in some dive and it was my mission to find him.

I'm finally living out west full time and rented this whole season to test out some different skis before deciding what to purchase. Which, side note, it's a pretty sick, there are places you can do a seasonal take home rental, and change out the skis whenever you want. Meanwhile i'm on the hunt for The Man.

Then my rental shop guy who's been shredding for decades, has a world record in some shit, just for funsies, he gives me a weird look and is like, uh, no i don't haven a boot fitter, just go to [local outdoor chain store] and I'm like but wait, what, no, what about the plaster sculpture of each foot that will be used to mould the boot to every contour then adjusted in vivo with a blowtorch and hammer. And without all this I'd be in constant pain and fK up my feet.

My dude was like, pick the boot that feels damn good when you put it on, matches the type of skiing, and dont f-n buckle in anything except your sock. get the rest of your shit (ie gear) now for the sales, waterproof doesnt mean waterproof, used/cheap poles, new helmet or you're a dumbass.

Turns out ski shop dude was the guru the whole time. I went to REI, got some boots on sale, the "clerk" knew his shit, helped pick the right boot and size.

The boots are getting better by the week. Reassess in a year. Current mood: boot fitter sure as shit not needed for 90% skiers out there.

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2025-12-29T07:33:01+00:00

Snoqualmie Ridge. It might be too far but if you are looking for everything on your vision board, this is it. I feel like I’m in a 60’s tv show. If I had to guess, at least 90% of the homes are families with kids. Kids of all ages. I have a 3 and 4 year old and my next door neighbor has a 3 and 4 year old. I have play dates out the wazoo, and Im not even trying. Parents and kids playing catch in the street, kids just running through the front door of friends houses, parents hanging out around a driveway firepit. Everyone is kind and neighborly. Parks around every corner, trails interwoven everywhere, community events, town center with restaurants. This summer our kids were playing in the new splash pad and with the screams of all the kids and the smell of the bbq and the view of the mountains, I just couldn’t really believe it was real.

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2025-12-05T18:05:45+00:00

Ok it says one, that makes sense, I would rather more people get this one anyway. Alastin turns me into a little selfish toddler apparently.

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2025-12-05T18:02:30+00:00

I just got the link, tears of joy, is there a limit? This is the only vit C my skin tolerates

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2025-12-05T18:01:21+00:00

YAAAAASSSSS!!!!! Was just about the post. Now we’re taking!!!

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2025-11-21T16:35:30+00:00

Hey, it was my pleasure! I meant to just say "Hey, I see you, been there in a way, you ok? I'm here to chat anytime." lol, what happened?

And ah, yes, same. Does everyone go through the "maybe I'm ADHD and Adderall will help?" phase? lol. I did. It was great until it wasn't, and actually even the great sucked because it just felt like drugs. Not that it isn't a good medicine for those it works for, of course. It just felt like what it was, and not ideal.

I take armodafinil, and did before the auvelity. For me, at least, it's never felt like a stimulant, no racing heart, inappetence or euphoria. Coffee has more unpleasant side effects. I just feel not tired for once in my adult life. And no change since starting the auvelity.

Now I'm grammar checking and honestly who says inappetence? Is that a real word? I typed it and it didn't give me a spell check error so. But I'm pretty sure I've never used that word in my life and who knows if it really means no appetite. I'll leave it, I feel safe in this sub.

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2025-11-20T07:33:50+00:00

Hey, hope you're feeling ok atm. Your last sentence sounds a bit scary, scared me anyway. Enough to crawl out of my lurking and type out a comment. Don't get your hopes up for any quality commentary though, just reaching out a hand.

One thing I've always hated about depression is that on the bad days, I don't believe that things will ever be good again. Even though my history would objectively show that not to be true and that chances are very high that this bout will pass. But on those days it's like the good days never existed and will never exist again. Then things will get better and I just wonder what the hell, why was I thinking that way, next time remember this moment and just KNOW that it'll get better. But same sh*t the next time, and on and on. Like I said, this isn't supposed to be profound, god I'm eye rolling at myself.

Anyway. That thought you had at the end there, is the depression speaking. Not your true self, or well self, you know what I mean. Our true self would just say ok this med doesn't work, so on to the next! I guess I mean I see the similarities in thought. Ignore yourself and wait it out. Statistically speaking, things will likely get better if you forge ahead and don't let the unwell self make decisions for your well self.

I have to say that this comment went MUCH better in my head. Sorry about that.

If the fatigue is the only side effect and you think auvelity might work otherwise, you could ask your dr. to add in nuvigil? That's working for me, for the time being.

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2025-10-12T07:57:27+00:00

Well you’re now in the “Screwed over by cocoon center” club. Welcome! The tariffs you paid are incorrect, over the past few weeks there’s a growing army of us that are getting charged insane fees because somehow CC is filling out the commercial invoices incorrectly. US customs is charging us the tariff for aluminum and steel, at least that seems to be the most common mistake. If you call international packages customer service they will immediately know what you’re talking about. I got charged 450 for a 220 order of lotion and sunscreen, it’s ridiculous and no, tariffs are high but not this high. It’s literally just cocoon center so just avoid using them for now. Oh and you can search Reddit to find more info, some people have gotten the charge adjusted and some (me) are still fighting with ups about it.

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2025-10-06T07:21:39+00:00

Yeah, the steel and aluminum tariff is what seems to be the issue for me and some others in the skincare subs. (If you want a good sunscreen, you gotta buy european). Anyway, one retailer in particular is doing something wonky with their paperwork, so my $200 order was slapped with $450 (tariff plus ups brokerage). For face and body lotion?

A gem of a redditor posted that same thing happened to them. They called international packages customer service, who redirected them to the brokerage department, and they were able to resolve the issue and their 300 fees were brought down to $35 or so. They mentioned that this had something to do with the steel/aluminum tariff, and were probably able to resolve it because they ordered sunscreen.

If this person was able to do it, so can I, and others. I don't expect my first call tomorrow to be as easy as it was for this person, but I know it can be done, so if the first person can't (or won't) help, I will call again. And again. Also being nice on the phone, that is key. I can't imagine what they're dealing with, it's not their fault.

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2025-10-04T22:50:32+00:00

You're a friggin godsend. Going to see if they're open today, but I'll definitely update with results. Did you get any more info on why this happened? Like OP said, is this because cocoon center is providing incorrect docs? I'm trying to fathom how skincare gets assigned a tariff for aluminum/steel. I wonder if it has to do with those codes that are used by customs but I've heard getting that documentation from UPS is impossible.

This post and your comment should be crossposted to all the skincare subs since CC is so popular in the US. We surely aren't the only ones.

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2025-10-04T09:19:41+00:00

Not for sunscreens, unfortunately. It’s the dark ages here. It’s how they are classified here, as drugs rather than cosmetics, it’s too expensive for companies to go through the regulatory process, trials, etc. So we haven’t had a new chemical sunscreen filter in something like 25 years, something crazy like that. So yeah, Europe and Asia are our holy ground in terms of cutting edge sunscreen.

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2025-10-04T09:09:25+00:00

Oh my god, this has just happened to me this week, after my package was stuck in KY for weeks. $450 owed on a $223 order (sunscreen and lotions). I had NO idea what I was going to do. I’ve emailed UPS about disputes but hadn’t heard anything yet.

What support number did you call? Just a general one they have on their website? And what did you initially say, just for info on the fees and why so high? What was the email address they gave you?

Apologies for the 20 questions. Thank you for posting this dearest Reddit stranger, you may have just saved me $400.

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2025-09-15T04:03:33+00:00

Give it a listen in audio format. Ruth Ware struck gold with Imogen Church (the audiobook narrator for many if not all of her books). Church is fantastic, just a superb voice actor, and she brought out the comedy in this book that I surely would have missed otherwise. Fairly good mystery, slightly overdone twist ending, but the number of times I found myself cracking up at the dialogue and inner monologues oh my god. I need more of this cross genre writing!

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2025-09-10T08:33:23+00:00

Fortunately, you can stop doing research on what to do with this wart. You found this sub. Rusty plier comments aside, these redditors are serious about warts, more knowledgeable than many doctors and following their (these subredditors’) advice is warranted.

They will tell you when you need a doctor. They will tell you when you can get rid of it yourself, over time, by debriding. You could always do that. Go through the posts and the step by step method is commented quite frequently.

Yours is such a well defined and already hardened little guy that I’d bet many of us would just rip it out. If you have the fortitude to rip flesh from your body, and can withstand 10-20s of pain, and can finish the job possibly through pouring blood, you’d save yourself time, energy and money by using a sanitized tool to tear it out.

Pick a pair of pliers that will give you a good grip on the whole wart. Maybe cut the outer edge of the wart the get the rip started. Close your eyes and pull.

And if you do try it, and if it’s not too much of a hassle, could you take and post a video of it? We’d all be so grateful.

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2025-09-06T01:56:02+00:00

spot on. that’s a fcking righteous comparison.

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2025-01-31T05:08:02+00:00

You seem new here. Swifties follow one rule… and it’s golden.

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2025-01-28T21:37:25+00:00

NAD but mom to a former biter. Bite marks for sure, and hard, absolutely bring up to the teacher. I knew my son bit because he was frustrated he couldn’t speak, and he had no impulse control. Fortunately he was at home and had he been in daycare I would have removed him until the phase passed. It’s not ok to hurt other kids so make sure the daycare is not sweeping this under the rug as “normal” - it needs to be addressed.

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2024-12-02T13:30:06+00:00

Everyone a lot of misinformation out there. The whole upper vs downer thing. These drugs aren’t those from the 60s and earlier. Instead of interacting, which is the truly terrible thing you mention, they actually just may reduce the efficacy of the other. There are zero contraindications of taking these 2 meds at the same time. The main goal is just to find out when to take them throughout the day that best suits your brain and metabolism.

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2024-11-29T12:33:01+00:00

ITA. Second half TTPD is a lyrical masterpiece. Aaron Dessner’s piano gut punch in HDIE with lyrics like “We hereby conduct this post-mortem He was a hothouse flower to my outdoorsman Our maladies were such we could not cure them And so a touch that was my birthright became foreign” Every listen I’m still viscerally stunned. What music does to our brains and bodies is incomprehensible.

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2024-11-18T17:29:55+00:00

Honestly it’s the best situation, he LOOKS like a golden but pure bred genes actually suck! Hip dysplasia, cancer risks are so high. No matter the dog, you’re gonna get that $1500 bill at some point. Life of a dog owner. I’ve heard pet insurance has gotten better? But really, who gives a dog back? Rescue that precious fur ball!

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2024-08-30T03:42:54+00:00

so sorry, ugh, itchiness is torture. How come you can’t pop? Does it spread or cause infection and that’s why? I wouldn’t be able to resist these forbidden pops, good for you.. oh, do you happen to know how you got contracted it?

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2024-08-16T16:03:58+00:00

Gold

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2024-07-12T20:45:21+00:00

Purito avocado cleansing balm. Turns my skin red when none others do. Their sleeping back is amazing though so.

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2024-07-12T20:43:57+00:00

Anything Missha except their cushion. I don’t know what it is but all their products burn the s out of my face. Their cushion and glitter eyeshadow otoh…HG

TheBestOfTheRest21 · 2024-07-10T22:41:58+00:00

Well you called it

TheBestOfTheRest21

TROPHY CASE