FWIW I took mine skiing all season long. Many many days.
No problemo. But then I don't faceplant much any more.

I wouldn't take it boarding, though, because I'd end up with
a Karma-shaped indentation somewhere on my body, and a $200 hole
in my wallet. But if I sucked less at snowboarding, I'd probably
consider it.

I actually like the little felt bag that has received so much
criticism. I just stuff it in the bag to prevent scratching,
and stuff the bag in an inner pocket. Then I wear a ski-helmet with
built-in headphones and clip the mute button on my lapel.
The inner pocket allows body heat to help prevent possible cold
temperature issues with the drive.

The real issue is with safety in regards to noise, and why skiing
with headphones is banned in some places.
With the Karma buried deep in my pockets, volume adjustment is impossible.
I have the choice of (1) muted, or (2) not muted.

So I just set the volume to a very quiet level. I can't hear it at all when I'm
boarding the lift next to the loud engines they always have there.
And I can't hear it when the wind is whizzing past my ears at 45 mph.

But when I slow down, or when I stop and view the scenery, I think
"Where is all that cool music coming from? Oh right, that's me. Rock on."

I can even use the joystick to skip a song (when I'm not moving), although
with gloves on I accidentally end up pausing the song instead about 50% of the time.

Your mileage may vary. Don't blame me if you have a close encounter with a
mogul or a rogue tree jumps into the trail in front of you and you trash
your sweet little player. Don't consider this an endorsement of this
type of behavior. DEFINITELY don't be like those boneheads that crank
their jams and swerve all over the slopes oblivous to all around them.

/music

P.S. Did I just say "crank their jams"? Damn, what decade is this again?