Backcountry reviewer: JWing

I like the small size and light weight of this shovel, but I always wondered how it would do in a real avalanche rescue. This year, I found out - it works just fine.

Washing your waterproof clothing with Tech Wash will make it look new; following it up with Wash-in Waterproofing will make it perform like new. Make sure you wash and treat your pants and jackets at the end of each season!

Does water still bead up and run off the surface of you waterproof clothing? Or does it soak into the top nylon layer? If the latter is your case, you are eliminating the breathability of your membrane. Wash your coat in Tech Wash, then apply this Waterproof - you'll be amazed how well your clothing performs.

I've restored old, abused, rain gear with this product, then went right on abusing. Quite durable. It works at least as good as the wash-in waterproof, but I think the spray-on is better. You have to apply it outdoors and allow a few days of drying.

Downhiking from Lone Peak in the Wasatch without poles, my knees were in excruciating agony. Coming off the Grand Teton with these poles, I was completely comfortable. Highly recommended. I reserve the "5" for the version of this pole with shock absorbers, which I have not yet tried.

In addition to being light and easy to set up, this tent has performed perfectly in the most severe conditions I have camped in: cold, wind, downpour. The lack of a fly is a great feature for weight and set-up speed. The only condition that I don't like this tent for is a hot, clear, summer night, but no tent is better than sleeping under the stars in that situation.

I like the size of this chalk bag - just big enough. I also appreciate that once it is cinched down, chalk will not escape.

The chalk ball is good for the climbing gym because it releases less chalk into the air. Ideally, this is a good reason to use it outdoors, but getting a good load of chalk is easier from loose chalk.

This 'biner has a permanent home on the front of my harness. The auto-locking gate assures that I am always in the safe mode. The gate action and the auto-lock are smooth and reliable. And the size is right for multiple connections.

The next time your friends are doing a beacon practice, try holding your hold your breath until they uncover your beacon. That should be enough to convince you to always use an Avalung in steep terrain. The Avalung is well- designed, weighs the equivalent of two feathers and is not noticeable when you are wearing it. It slips on or off in a second.

The venerable F1 has lost some respect due to the hype of new beacons clamoring for attention. I have used mine for many years - it has proven to be reliable, durable and easy on batteries. Most importantly, my practice rescues are faster than most other people's. One reason is that I DO practice, the other is that, as taught in a beacon class, I trust my beacon. Even though it doesn't point me directly to the victim, it arcs me in quickly and accurately.

While the three-pin cable binding may seem like an anachronism, it has a few advantages that the latest fashion bindings can’t match. First, my skis stay on without the cables. I climb for my turns, so I appreciate the lack of heel-lifting resistance every time I take a step. (Just don’t tell your friends – they’ll want you to break trail all the time.) I also like the redundancy – I don’t have to worry about spare part kits and field repairs. Second, this binding can be mounted on a wedge – which reduces the problems associated with the stiff plastic boots we all love.

I could never get a good sleep when camping until I bought the deluxe version of a Thermarest. I wish somebody had told me right from the start to get one of these - now I'm telling you!

This pad was a great improvement over the non-inflating pads I tried, but I still had pressure points when trying to sleep. I replaced it with the deluxe version and now I sleep pretty well.

If your bike has non-round frame components, don't get this rack, it won't hold the bike. Even if your bike does have a round downtube, make sure you install lock cores, and back the rack up with some kind of system that will pull the bike in to the middle of your car when the rack lets go of your bike - it's happened to me often. A better choice is the Yakima Cobra bike rack.

I love these shorts - very comfortable and durable. And stylish. They travel well - you can pull them out of a duffel and wear them to dinner at the yacht club, yet they don't scream "I'm rich - rob me" when you are touring South America. Beware that the high degree of comfort in athletic endeavors like climbing comes at the expense of no fly.

I like these pants for their comfortable and functional fit and for the superlight fabric which makes them comfortably cool in the summer or in crowded rooms.

These pants are comfortable for casual wear as well as for climbing. Soft and durable fabric. I have sworn off denim as long as Gramicci makes these pants.

These socks are as cushy as new after many washings and my feet are still dry and happy.

The Patagonia Thong is my girlfriend's favorite underwear to be in and my favorite to see her in.

Maybe not "bombproof," but everything else in the description is accurate. I love the wide opening for adding Accelerade mix and ice cubes, and for the cleaning. It has never leaked, despite hard falls off a fast moving bike as well as years of neglect and abuse. Frigid or hot temperatures don't affect it. And it doesn't impart a plastic taste. I wish it came with a locking bite valve, but they are easy to install.

Don't you hate it when you and your friends throw your packs in the car and when you get to the trailhead you've found that your bite valve was pinched open and now all your water is soaked into your friends' gear? It won't happen if you have this valve.

I love the wide opening for adding Accelerade mix and ice cubes, and for the cleaning. It has never leaked, despite hard falls off a fast moving bike as well as years of neglect and abuse. Frigid or hot temperatures don't affect it. And it doesn't impart a plastic taste. I wish it came with a locking bite valve, but they are easy to install.

My rope is nicer than your rope because I use my rope bag. The bag not only keeps my rope clean, but also tangle-free and ready to go on the next climb. Clever design makes using this bag easy and fun.

When I mountain bike in a cotton shirt or bare-chested, I’m sweaty on the climbs and chilly on the downhills. With this shirt, I’m always dry and comfortable. I like how the zipper goes down deep for great ventilation. Combine this with the Marmot Driclime Windshirt, and you’ll have a combination that will keep you comfortable over a wide range of temperatures.

I got this entry-level heart rate monitor and a book from the library on heart rate training, followed the program for summer and fall—the difference in my speed and endurance was amazing. I've always been fit and active, but now, in my mid-40's, I'm in better shape than I ever have been. Now if I can only get my friends to get on the program...

This chair is the lap of luxury on lightweight trips. Make sure your friends all have one or else you have to share.

1) The wide mouths are great for adding carbo-mixes, like Accelerade;
2) I have several in my freezer, full of solid ice. I use them in my cooler on trips—my cooler stays dry and I have extra water at the end of the trip;
3) Get your daily water dosage: Fill one with water in the morning and drink it all by dinner.

This book is informative in a casual and entertaining manner. The gems of wisdom are broken into short, easy-to-digest-and-remember bits. Lots of tips on winter camping. Even if you think you know it all, it's good to get the perspective of Allen's sharp mind.

Even if you have the original Wasatch Tours, this book is worth buying. Nice amount of history, avalanche info, and other anecdotes. The real value of the book is the photos and descriptions of safe routes. There's lots of skiing that the book doesn't mention, and that is good. It will get you close enough everything and leaves a lot of exploration up to the intrepid tourer. Minus one star for a binding that is not up to frequent use.

The Southern Wasatch is home to the range's largest peaks and fewest people. Lookng at the photos makes me drool. The tours make me collapse. This book should be owned by all who ski Utah's backcountry.

This shirt serves well as a base layer for aerobic activities such as skiing and biking on cooler days. However, the best application I have discovered is as a second layer for backcountry skiing. The combination of Patagonia lightweight Capilene and the El Cap shirt keep me more comfortably warm and dry than any other combination I have tried.

This jacket is one of my favorite possessions. I wear it hiking and biking and it actually works as advertised – keeps me warm but not hot. Lightweight and not bulky, it has a permanent home in my small hydration backpack. The Napolean pocket is a handy stash for a trail map. Highly recommended.

I have used Capilene base layers for years and they work so well that I have not wanted to experiment with anything else. The zipper adds a huge amount of value, since the shirt can be worn highly ventilated or as a turtle neck. On fast-paced, steep approaches, I usually overload even Capilene, so I keep a spare in my pack to change into at the top of the climb. The spare will keep me dry for the remainder of the day of backcountry skiing.

I have used Capilene base layers for years and they work so well that I have not wanted to experiment with anything else. Lightweight Capilene and a good pair of Goretex ski pants keep me comfortable in all but the warmest winter weather.

I enjoy the Mira in all conditions except super-hard or icy. The 188’s ski long – I found the 175’s to be better turning and still floaty enough for powder. (I weigh 190 pounds.)

The Tika is OK in a world of excellent headlamps. Its main weakness is the lack of tiltability. Also, Petzl’s burn time ratings are, um, generous. The LED’s may glow for 150 hours per set of batteries, but I doubt you’ll be reading with that light.

The Moonlight is the right headlamp choice for low light tasks like setting up a tent, reading in the tent, camp cooking, hiking in the dark, bar-b-q-ing in the backyard, changing a flat tire, and a million others. The tiltable head is a must-have feature. One set of batteries will last me an entire summer of camping. Great as gifts, and if all your friends have Moonlights, you won’t have to have the harsh light of camp lanterns diluting your campfire glow.

The best thing about this headlamp is the price, but when you add in all the batteries you will buy, it ends up being very expensive. Because of its design, the lamp can be inadvertently switched on while inside your pack. Carrying the spare batteries also adds weight.

This is a very impressive ski. It floated wonderfully in over-the-head powder and held perfectly on high speed groomer cruises. My choice for an all-around tele ski.

I love my Oakleys for these reasons: they fit my eyes and don’t let unfiltered light in, the straight arms don’t hurt my ears, they stay put on my face, the plastic hinges snap apart, so the frames don’t break when I mash them, and the Iridium coating makes my view sharp while keeping my sensitive eyes comfortable. The Iridium coating is well worth the extra cost. I also like that they are made entirely in the USA.

If you are a deep knee-dropper, this is a pretty good binding – it wants you to be way forward. It is also easy to get into and easy to release out of in case of an avalanche. If you are a free-heel paralleler, avoid this binding – it does not like to be in a mid-flex position: it tends to pitch you forward or backward. Also, the Riva toe plate holds snow under your boot. The riser adds weight, expense, and collects snow, and it makes skiing in soft snow trickier.

If you are a deep knee-dropper, this is a pretty good binding – it wants you to be way forward. It is also easy to get into and easy to release out of in case of an avalanche. If you are a free-heel paralleler, avoid this binding – it does not like to be in a mid-flex position: it tends to pitch you forward or backward. Also, the Riva toe plate holds snow under your boot.

Why don’t all telebindings have a wedge? I don’t know, but they should! The wedge compensates for the toe rocker and material stiffness inherent in plastic tele boots. The result is a more neutral foot position, decreasing tip dive and making your turns more natural, consistent, and quick. Essential for three-pin bindings.

After a few disappointing experiences with another famous brand of sport-utility sandals, I felt that I knew exactly what would make up the perfect sandal: strong, durable, light, good traction, a design that would stay on my foot with the straps loose in casual settings and would not let go when cinched down in challenging situations, and no Velcro. The Chaco sandal is all that and more. The contoured footbed is a wonderful refinement. I’ve had mine for five years of hard service and they are holding up great. They stay on when swimming class 4 rapids or mucking through class 4 quicksand. I’ve done all-day hikes with them and even surfed with them. Super comfortable in every situation, and I can wear socks if my toes get chilly.

I would give the Chaco Z2 five stars if I hadn’t tried the Chaco Z1. The Z2’s are everything that the Z1’s are, with the addition of a toe loop. The toe loop is especially helpful in wet conditions – it keeps your foot fixed firmly in place. The downside is a slight decrease in comfort – I love the unfettered feeling of the Z1. If you prefer a secure feeling, get the Z2.

I love Chaco’s Z1 and Z2, but I was a little disappointed with the Chong. I knew the Chong would not be as snug as the others, but I hoped it would be even more comfortable. Sadly, it is less comfortable. The straps wedge my toes apart. Still a good shoe for shuffling around the house, but not up to the outstanding quality of the other Chaco sandals.

I finally found a light glove that is as good as the rest of my gear – the Black Diamond Windstopper. The fit is superb, the comfort range is amazing, great dexterity and just the right amount of friction to take care of all those little ski-related tasks without having to constantly take off my gloves. Combine the Windstopper with the Black Diamond Guide Glove and you will have winter hand comfort that is unmatched by any other combination.

I’ve owned two pair of Frogskins and they both broke in the same place while I was putting them on. I switched to Eye Jackets and I am much more satisfied.

Accelerade enables me to go faster, venture further, and stay out longer. The only people I know who can keep up with me on long backcountry ski days and 6 hour mountain bike rides are those who also use Accelerade. Drink a mouthful every 15 minutes or so and you’ll be able to play hard all day. The taste is actually pretty good - considering this is a scientifically blended endurance drink, not Kool Aid. Tip: Accelerade is formulated for during exercise energy replenishment. For speedy recovery, I gulp a dose of Endurox R4 within 30 minutes of the end of exercising to aid in recovery so I’m ready to go the next day. If you see some gray-bearded old guy outlasting the young bucks at a kayaking play hole, it’s probably me, energized by Accelerade.

Endurox R4 is my choice for muscle recovery after a hard day of play. I make sure to drink it within a half hour of the end of exercising and I feel great the rest of the evening and I am strong the next day. I consider Endurox R4 essential for mutiday paddling trips and week-long ski adventures.