13 cool, high-tech gadgets for the slopes

Looking to incorporate some new, high-tech gear into your skiing adventures? Use the latest technology to cruise easily down the mountains, track your paths, stay warm and even make phone calls from your helmet. Cat Schwartz, eBay's gadget and toy director and founder of HiTechMommy.com, lists her favorite picks for the season:

VholdR Action Sports Video Camera by Twenty20
$350
This TV-quality video camera is easy to mount on pretty much any piece of action sports equipment and houses new technology that captures steady shots of the action when the terrain gets really rough. It records onto mini SD, has a USB connection and comes with editing software so you can be the latest YouTube sensation with your perfect 10 face-plant action.

Shiver Helmet by Roxy and Plantronics
$249
When I'm cruising down the mountain, I like to jam to tunes — it makes the whole experience that much more intense. A little Beastie Boys or maybe some Lenny Kravitz can really get me going. With the Shiver helmet, I can listen to my favorite tunes as well as make and receive calls because its Bluetooth enabled. The controls are located on the outside of the right ear and are accessible with your gloves on. 

Supreme Heated Boots by Burton
$429
Burton makes some great gear and now they've heated things up! The night before you shred things up, simply charge the boots' batteries. Just before your cold little feet enter the boots, clip the battery into the top of the boot and within minutes, the toe area will warm and keep things toasty for several hours. If things get too hot, you have control over the temp via a dial on the boot. 

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ThermiControl by Thermic
$350
If your boots don't have the heating tech in them already, this will take them to the next level. These are based on the same concept as the Burton boots (which actually use a heating mechanism manufactured by this company), but these can be placed in any boot. Charge them up, clip them to the boot and feel the warmth rush to your feet. The major difference with these is that they can be tweaked by a wireless climate thermic controller. Pretty fancy.  

Sportsdo.net by tu
Prices vary; Software + GPS device is $145 (free demo)
Simply download this software onto your cell phone and sign up for an account on the Web site to make your own activity page. Spend all day on the mountain (or on a bike, running, hiking) and the program not only tracks your location in real time, but also displays how far you've gone, how fast, what elevation you reached, how many calories you've burned and more. Once you're done for the day, you can access your Web page and watch an animated re-enactment of your day! 

UVEX Goggles
$230
When going downhill, you know that the sunlight can practically blind you. With these goggles, you simply hit a button and sun protection goes from high to low in a second! 

Pieps Avalanche Beacons
$450
If you're doing some serious back-country skiing, then you know you need to have some sort of avalanche beacon that will help find you should you have some bad luck. This device not only sends out signals to EMS workers, but also sports a compass, a thermometer, an altimeter and much more!

HotGearBag
$149
There's nothing worse then putting your cold body parts into freezing-cold gear. This backpack feels your pain and helps you out — by warming things up. Simply plug the bag into your cigarette lighter or home wall socket, put in your essential gear (like gloves, boots, goggles and socks) and the bag warms them up! The bag will stay warm for several hours without being plugged in.

Alternative ways to get down the mountain:

LTR Program by Burton 
Prices vary depending on location
Burton has made a program — at locations all around the country — for people who are learning to ride (hence the name "LTR" program). These boards and instructors make the whole daunting process of repeatedly falling on your butt a little less painful. The snowboard has slightly beveled edges that help keep them from catching in the snow and forcing you to fall. The instructors are fully trained to get you down the mountain. 

Grizzly by Volkl
$1,525
The latest in ski technology, this ski is shorter than I've ever seen. It actually has Marker Wide Ride bindings that make it a wider ski, allowing it to carve turns easily, and carbon rods along the sides that can be adjusted for a totally personalized ride. Go from dynamic to chill with the twist of the power switch — and you can actually see the little springs move as you're adjusting! 

Swiss BikeBoard 
$998
Get ready to have some fun with this thing. The base of the board looks much like a narrow snowboard split in two with a small step on the back and has handlebars that are connected to the front half of the board. Jump on and go! Also, if the seasons change you can adjust this bike to work on snow, land and even water. Add wheels, water ski or electric motor for more fun!

Switchboard
$652
This is a totally new and innovative way to get down the mountain! This is another one that has a base that is snowboard-esque but cut in two. This has a handlebar as well, but this one is more like a full bar, not two bars like a bike. Your stance is much like a snowboard and you maneuver the board mostly with your rear foot. The board can be folded down in seconds, which makes for really easy storing, so it's the most portable of the three.

SnowBike
$1,400
If you know how to ride a bike, then you'll be able to take this bike down the mountain. It has a seat and handlebars, much like a bike, only under the handles and seat are skis. Attach your ski boots to the short skis, sit on the seat and away you go. 

For more helpful tech tips and ideas, visit HiTechMommy.com.