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mtn maniac

mtn maniac: #4,733 of 167,234 More Information

10 Reviews:

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7 Answers:

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  • Stomping Grounds:

    Greenwood Village, CO

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I'm a Zealot zealot

Black Diamond Zealot Ski

Black Diamond Zealot Ski

Rating for this product: 5 November 15, 2010

It's stiff. It's light. It's got an early rise tip. It's fat...enough. It's turn radius is perfect. IT's perfect for what it's made for.

"Bwwaaaaah hahhhhhhh hah hah haahhhhhhh!!!" is the sound echoing off the mountains everytime these tips get pointed downhill. This ski makes me cry from pleasure...or speed...or both. This is one of those skis that you just point downhill and just go along for the amazing ride. Turns in big powda are nirvana, and it's stiff enough and has the right geometry to bomb thru/over crud, and right over crust and ice. Keep em pointed straight down on those sections and they will take care of you. The tips create beatiful turns in tighter trees as long as there's powder, but the ski demands a lot of muscle and fortitude to handle technical situations on anything less than soft (can be managed though). So do your squats at the gym, get some stiff bindings and boots, and let er rip!

I can't recommend these for anything inside the ropes unless a) it's an untracked powder day b) you're expert enough to control a fat, stiff, straight-down oriented ski; enjoy bumpy rides; and enjoy choking back a ski that needs to go fast. c) you can afford paying for a lift pass that will get revoked in 20 minutes, or lawsuits from others you can't avoid, whichever comes first

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Arc'teryx Alpha SV Jacket - Men's

October 7, 2010

Totally! outdoormoron, you've put my thoughts into words absolutely PERFECTLY. It's like poetry for my outrage. Seems like all the brands are heading that way. I tore my sleeve on my 7 year old MHW shell, and now they only sell this crap. I guess I'll just send it in to be fixed for $100... Hopefully they make the left sleeve the same size as the right...Or it's time to switch to European brands.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Arc'teryx Alpha SV Jacket - Men's

October 7, 2010

A Carhartt sprayed with DWR... Even though it looks it, mine's lasted 13 years now, through framing, ranching, drilling, working under my vehicle, CHOPPING FIREWOOD, etc. Unless you're saying you cut firewood under a dripping icicles to get the effect of being on waterfall ice, or maybe just while it's dumping soaking wet slush or rain even...rrrrrriiiiiiight... Or maybe you sleep in a snow cave in your back yard (do you have a back yard or just an apartment patio?) sometimes just for the mountaineering effect...even then you could get by with a carhartt sprayed with dwr...it's your sleeping arrangements that would need some forethought.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes

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Waste of Money

Swix Alpine/Jumping Ski Vise - Wide

Swix Alpine/Jumping Ski Vise - Wide

Rating for this product: 1 November 30, 2009

This two vise unit does not work. You can't access the edges, or run waxing equipment across the base of the ski when it's sunk in the vise. Which is a problem- since there're only two vises, you have to remove each end of the ski from the vise and place it awkwardly on top of the slippery metal part of the vise when it comes time to work on that specific end. Then you have to switch when you get to the other end and so on. I spose one could jerry rig a block into each vise so the platform is more stable when the ski end has to be placed on top of the vise, but then again, I bought this overpriced setup so I could stop dinking around with jerry rigs. Too add to the crap, this vise doesn't even fit all that wide of skis. About 1/3 the length of my Zealots won't even fit in this stupid thing. I'd be completely SOL if I owned the Megawatts. Back to jerry rigging for now. Maybe I'll consider a more traditional 3 unit vise in the future after I get over spending this riduculous amount of money, plus return shipping for such a simple design, or not.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Brunton Flex Canister Stove

November 30, 2009

For jet boil cans just pull the elastic cord through the strap on the other side and double it back over the canister lid. It's tight but works. If you don't have a non-stick surface in your pot, just save weight and eliminate the pouch anyway by throwing it in there. This is the Crux btw- not sure if the Flex has the same pouch.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Dynafit TLT Vertical ST Alpine Touring Binding

October 21, 2009

Will these things tip 102mm waisted skis efficiently, or would something with more contact area to the topsheet be better?

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Black Diamond Verdict Ski

August 31, 2009

I'm 5' 9" ish and a fit 175-180lbs. This ski will be strictly for backcountry touring- both below and above treeline. I'm leaning towards the 170's thinking it'll be easier to make turns in the trees that pretty much exist everywhere touring, but is 170 enough ski to float me in the powder and stay stable on high speed straight lines above the trees? Or should I get the 180's. FYI: I'll be using these in the CO Rockies and Southern WY snow. Any help is great- Thanks!

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Marmot Kitzbuhel Jacket - Women's

March 6, 2009

It and the denali are two different kinds of jackets. Other than that, this one fits nicely at the waste and is very feminine cut. The denali is an overpriced step above junk.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Marmot Sharp Point Softshell Jacket - Women's

March 6, 2009

My wife is 5'4" and 113#. Marmot small and MHW small are perfect proprotions for her. Extra small jackets are too short on the arms, too tight in the shoulders, and too tight right at the hips. Marmot seems to size very similar to Mountain Hardwear, but Marmot is cut more "lady-like" through the mid-section, therefore eliminating that "pouch" in the front she always complains about with many other brands. Also worth noting, her torso is shorter length.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Toko Base Brush

February 10, 2009

What are the dimensions of this brush?

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Unbelievable

Black Diamond Guide Gloves - Women's

Black Diamond Guide Gloves - Women's

Rating for this product: 4 February 5, 2009

I bought these for my wife. We do a lot of skiing in and out of bounds and I hope to get her into overnight winter backcountry. Her hands are endlessly cold despite proper hydration and calorie intake. Bottom line is these gloves are PACKED with insulation. If your hands are still cold with them on, you have issues other than the gloves. No other glove I've seen packs in insulation like this. If you're still cold, buy mittens because gloves just ain't gonna cut if for ya. The only reason they got 4 stars is because of the lack of wrist strap... However she says the elastic wrist feels plenty snug and secure.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Eh

Marmot Wasatch Jacket - Women's

Marmot Wasatch Jacket - Women's

Rating for this product: 4 February 5, 2009

I bought this shell for my wife. I'm a huge Mountain Hardwear fan for my own outerwear, but their women's line just wasn't fitting my wife. She's 5,4 115 and in great shape, but MHW outerwear was always either baggy in the stomach, and/or too tight in the hips and shoulders. This jacket is very form fitting with just enough room for a fleece or primaloft mid-layer, and delivers outstanding technical performance. The front pockets are high enough to fit above a pack belt or harness, all zippers are water resistant, and the hood is full coverage. The pockets are all a tad small and there is no interior water bottle pocket. The hood does not roll up, and it has a funky cinching system. The wire brim is also kinda funky and I'm a little concerned it will end up breaking or poking a hole through. There is no waste drawstring, but then again the fit is very trim. The velcro closures seem cheaper than MHW as well but work fine so far. Overall a great shell if you find on sale like I did, but it seems to lack a lot of bells and whistles MHW has for the same price range when at full price.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Just right

Petzl Tikka Plus Headlamp

Petzl Tikka Plus Headlamp

Rating for this product: 5 May 4, 2007

This baby's got enough light to find junctions to unfamiliar, seldom traveled trails, but is "light" enough to have no excuse for leaving it behind on an overnighter. The 06 model came out even brighter (30-some % ?) than the 04 model, so I upgraded, and it made a huge difference. Since most wear a hood when it's raining, the water resistance comes in handy if your pack gets wet in the daytime, or if using during intense wet snow. I wouldn't drop it in a creek, or use it for night scubadiving though.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Eggscellent

Mountain Hardwear Sub Zero SL Hooded Down Jacket - Men's

Mountain Hardwear Sub Zero SL Hooded Down Jacket - Men's

Rating for this product: 4 April 24, 2007

Used for so far: Twice at 12,500 dry windy base camp in Rockies at -0 at dusk, night, and pre-dawn.
Performance: 650fp kept me comfortably warm. Can feel the heat retention almost as soon as it goes on. Can't wait to test in some extreme snowier even colder weather. Pockets are placed correctly for use with pack if needed while pack is in use- ie. this is a jacket for non-active moments, except for crazy places like Everest, etc. There is not a shortage of pocket space in this thing, inside or out. Zip-off hood very warm and shapes to face nice. Draw cords really keep out the breezes. Appears down not quite 650fp in last two sleeve baffles, but this works good for fitting inside glove gauntlets. Never noticed any cold down there anyway. Thing could weigh a little less and pack smaller, if made from PacLite, but this is the best down/waterproof exterior combo out right now. A true waterproof down jacket would have welded baffles- this doesn't, but consequently is more breathable. Stay in your tent if it's a wet blizzard. The less weather resistant, yet much lighter weight option would be the Phantom, but it had no hood, and appears to have less drawcord options. The Tiger color is definitely a great emergency color if SAR is trying to find.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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best vest

Mountain Hardwear WindStopper Tech Vest - Men's

Mountain Hardwear WindStopper Tech Vest - Men's

Rating for this product: 4 November 10, 2006

This is the best vest out there. Windproof and lightweight it's a perfect supplement to a Capilene midweight long sleeve on summer backcountry overnights when it get breezy on exposed terrain, and will keep you warm at dusk/sunrise. It's trim fit is designed for the 33% of U.S.A. that's not overweight, and aids in efficient body heat retention and layering under a trim fitting superlight rain jacket. My only complaint is the placement of the hand pockets. The zippers end up under a hip belt. This is a bad thing access-wise and comfort-wise. (See the tech jacket for proper placement of hand pockets.) The Michigan skier in the first review nailed the other use of this vest too- high aerobic activity where you want the nips to stay thawed but need some real estate to evaporate moisture.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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perfect piece of work

Mountain Hardwear WindStopper Tech Jacket - Men's

Mountain Hardwear WindStopper Tech Jacket - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 November 10, 2006

I think only one other piece of clothing ever got a perfect from me. Windproof and lightweight it's a perfect supplement to a Capilene midweight long sleeve on really early/really late season backpacking when the temp dips or it gets breezy on exposed terrain. It works to keep you warm at dusk/sunrise too, but I also keep the compressor PL for really chilly, non-active moments. It's trim fit is designed for the 33% of U.S.A. that's not overweight, and aids in efficient body heat retention and layering under a trim fitting superlight rain jacket or Gore shell. Props to the proper placement of hand pockets on this jacket, which is one area a lot of jackets/vests flunk, and the last deciding factor for 5 stars.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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part II

Mountain Hardwear Tenacity Descent Jacket - Men's

Mountain Hardwear Tenacity Descent Jacket - Men's

Rating for this product: 4 November 7, 2006

I forgot to say that I have used this shell on several AT outings. Going uphill, it opens up very well/easily to ventilate. It's like turning the AC on when the extra long pitzips get opened up. I've also experienced some pretty violent blizzards with it, and it seals up awesome and won't flap around in the wind. Just cinch the hood and bring on the blizzard b/c it cinches perfectly around your head so you can turn your head and still see out- instead of seeing the side of the hood. I got this thing a week before going up into the Tetons, and it was a very wise choice. The only buyers remorse I have is not being able to wait b/c it went on a drastic sale barely a month after I got it.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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good stuff

Mountain Hardwear Tenacity Descent Jacket - Men's

Mountain Hardwear Tenacity Descent Jacket - Men's

Rating for this product: 4 October 12, 2006

Bomb proof materials and construction as always from Mountain Hardwear. I've made several rough runs through the trees and the jacket shows no signs of wear, except for some green stains. All the details show a lot of thought was put into the shell. Only one item is not well-planned for the true backcountry enthusiast; the jacket is jacket length (short) enabling use of a harness, but the pockets are not the usual Mountain Hardwear chest high slanted pockets, so they are not accessible beneath a hip belt, and actually rub like crazy underneath one. Otherwise the jacket is perfect. It's an efficient fitting cut, with enough room for a mid and base layer. In the pow, even with the skirt zipped in, you'll need some high back pants or bibs to keep out the cold stuff.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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