One-hundred-and-twentyseven. That’s how many millimeters of ski is underneath the boot of the guy in front of you. Three. That’s how many runs it’ll take him and his buddies to track this mountain out. The moral? Go big or go home. Lucky for you, fat skis have never been better, or more versatile. Time was, the fattest powder skis had waists of 70 mm. They skied great in fluff, but try to turn them on the groomed and you needed a siren and bullhorn to get people out of your way. Today, with wider bindings and sophisticated blends of rocker and camber, even the specialists— with waists around 120 mm—will tolerate transition runs. Almost all powder boards employ some degree of rocker. Many midfats (85–95 mm waists) use it only on the tips, where it prevents them from diving and lends an easy smeary feel, while traditional camber underfoot carves on hardpack. The big boards tend to be more aggressively rockered, with some utilizing reverse sidecut to add float. Remember, too, that rockered skis aren’t just for experts. In fact, they’re crucial learning tools for intermediates venturing into the deep. What waist-width is right for you? For deep and untracked, we recommend at least 95 mm underfoot. For buoyancy and all-mountain versatility, go for 85–95. So go big. It’s much more fun than going home.

Nordica's Jah Love is the widest ski produced by any manufacturer, measuring 140mm underfoot.

Other fat skis : 120 and up

Atomic Atlas 150-125-132 at 192 cm; $879; Wood core; 20 cm of tip rocker

Dynastar Legend Big Dump 142-120-132 at 192 cm; $940; Wood core; 29 cm of tip rocker; 5.5 cm high

Line Prophet 155-130-148 at 186 cm; $750; Rockered/tapered tip and tail; traditional sidecut/camber underfoot

Nordica Jah Love 167-140-157 at 185 cm; $1,299; Wood core laminate construction with rockered tip

Salomon Rocker 147-127-137 at 192 cm; $1,000; Wood-core cap construction; 72 cm of tip rocker; flat, notched tail

Rossignol S7 Freeride 145-115-123 at 195 cm; $900; Rockered/tapered tip and tail; traditional sidecut/camber underfoot

Volkl Kuro 164-132-139 at 195 cm; $1,065; Subtle reverse camber tip to tail; wood core

Face it: The one-piece is back. Aside from the fact that they look really cool, in a garage-mechanic kind of way, they make sense in powder: One zip seals out snow. Rossignol’s women’s Sky Suit has strategically placed Thinsulate insulation to keep your core warm without overheating your legs, and a removable fur cuff on the hood for fun. The men’s Stinger Suit features plenty of pockets for gadgets, leg vents and adjustable hood and cuffs. $500; rossignol.com

Yes. We know it’s basic. But it’s also easy to forget. Most poles come with those tiny disc race baskets, and if you don’t remember to switch them out before your trip to Snowbird, well, you’ll be postholing your poles— and really off-balance—all day. So do yourself a favor: Stash a set in your boot bag, just in case. $3–$10; available at ski shops everywhere.

Ever heard of the Brazil-nut effect? In a mixed bag of nuts, the big ones end up on top. Which is why the Float 30 by Backcountry Access can save your life in an avalanche. The only one of its kind produced in the U.S., the Float has a balloon, triggered by a ripcord in the shoulder strap, to keep you on top of debris. Unlike other Euro packs, which use hazardous and expensive nitrogen cartridges, the Float employs compressed air, which costs $10 to refill at any dive shop. It’s roughly half the price, too. $699; backcountryaccess .com

Remember why you fell in love with the iPod? It was simple, intuitive and stuffed a lot of technology in a tiny package. That’s how we felt when we tried the Tracker 2 from Backcountry Access. It has two buttons: an on/off switch and a tab marked “pull to search.” Like its predecessor, it points you in the right direction. But the 2 has a better range, a third antenna to pinpoint your search and real-time display (read: no more sluggish response at close range). $335; backcountryaccess. com