Early storms have dumped plenty of snow in the Rockies and Sierras, kicking off what should be an epic year on the slopes. Many die-hard skiers and snowboarders have already hit the slopes and some of us are itching to get our chance.

But what should you do about gear?

There are so many new skis, snowboards, jackets and helmets, each with its own technology, its own claims, that it's hard to tell what's for real and what's just hype.

That's where we come in. With the help of Colorado Ski & Golf, asap is running down the hot items for winter from this year's Ski and Snowboard Expo, which was held last weekend at the Colorado Convention Center. Here's what we found, with averaged prices (and word to the wise -- a lot of the gear is cold-repellant for non-skiiers):

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K2 PONTOON SKIS

The lowdown: Powder skiers like to talk about floating on top of the snow. Now that feeling is more attainable with K2's Pontoons, which use some of the same technology as water skis. The Pontoon has a reverse camber, meaning the skis bend in a U shape with the tip and tail raised, allowing the skis to float on top of the snow instead of plow through it.

Price: $1,000

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LIB TECH MAGNE TRACTION SNOWBOARD

The lowdown: With seven points of contact on edges that are serrated like a steak knife, the Magne Traction system helps riders keep an edge even in icy conditions. It also works well at high speeds, making the rider feel as if the board has fingers gripping the snow.

Price: $529

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NORTH FACE SEDITION II SOFT SHELL JACKET

The lowdown: By now, you should know all about Gortex. It's waterproof, it's windproof, it stretches for a perfect fit and has breathability. There's not much not to like about Gortex, making the soft shell jacket the way to go. And instead of stitched seams, it's sonically welded so there's no room for the wind to seep through.

Price: $499

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B BY BURTON ONE-PIECE SUIT

The lowdown: Remember the ski bibs of the '80s? Well, they're making a comeback. Like other fashions, ski attire is cyclical and the one-piece suit is the way to go this year. Whether it's the full-on snowboard suit or the throwback bibs with the overall-style straps, you'll look cool in a one-piece.

Price: $375

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GORDINI SOFTSHELL GLOVES

The lowdown: Soft shell is the way to go in jackets because it's breathable and stretches for a perfect fit. That same technology works in gloves, too. These bad boys are waterproof, windproof and feel like they fit your hand instead of like some kind of puffy cast.

Price: $80

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GIRO FUSE HELMET

The lowdown: It's super lightweight so your melon won't wobble around like a bobblehead and has a hand-operated vent (it slides back and forth like a switch) that'll keep your dome cool while working up a sweat. There's also removable earflaps and an audio component. A very nice bucket for your brain.

Price: $129

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VOLKL QUEEN ATTIVA SKIS

The lowdown: One of the newest trends in snow sports is creating products specifically for women. Volkl makes its mark with Attiva series. The skis are lighter and have more flex than regular skis, and the Attiva Motion bindings move the skier's center of gravity forward, easing the transition into turns.

Price: $695

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RIDE SLIMEWALL SNOWBOARD

The lowdown: The sidewalls are made of urethane (the same thing as skateboard wheels), creating less impact when slopestyle riders launch onto boxes and rails. The construction also makes the sidewalls much more durable, preventing cracking from cold weather and slamming rails. Slime on!

Price: $429

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John Marshall is asap's sports writer, based in Denver.

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