Pros: Well made, super light and almost perfect for weight concious high altitude ascents. Zippers are water proof quality. Adequate gear straps.

Cons: Price, single point of access to bag, zero back support, one ice axe/tools velcro strap

For $100, this is an expensive luxury to have as your secondary pack. This was made as a pack with climbers in mind. Though falling short. As a weight concious gearhead, no one would complain about the benefits of an side access zipper. The pack is light enough to allow that much. The shoulder straps are light, well made and comfortable enough and have gear loops for extra crabs, QDs etc. Though it falls short of expelling exess sweat and moisture.

My biggest gripe though is the part of the pack that comes in contact with the back. The pack itself is flimsy and sags due to the lack of back support. A piece of foam is all you get. The foam's effect is actually negated and doesn't come in contact with the back at all if you're sporting a water bladder. Once the bladder is inserted, the only thing between you and the bladder is the nylon material which the pack is made from. The bladder should be on the opposite side of the foam but isn't. If you're starting in the early morning, this leads to starting your climb/hike with your h20 bladder uncomfortably cold (sometimes frozen) and uncontoured to your spine. The hip straps could use some padding.

Despite the quality construction and intentions you could tell that this was a prototyped rushed into production and poorly executed. Where were the testers who objected to the lack of back design ?

Better luck next time. Hopefully the price won't go up.

Pros: visual design, weight, function Cons: Price. No hood, no waterproofing. I would have given this coat a 5 star rating, but original cost is pricey. Having a hood and waterproofing would make this coat phenomenal, though that's why you can sport a hat, beanie and etc and get a hardshell. I've taken this coat out deep in the cold Rocky Mountain ranges and outdoor climbing as well as hitting the pavement. Used during activities, you're bound to get hot and need to vent. This does that very well. Pit zips reach almost hipside and extend near the elbow. multiple pockets are deep and well placed. Given the weight to warmth ratio, this coat insulates well given its weight and thickness. I've been out in wind 45 mph plus and all i need to do is cinch the neck and waist and i'm feeling great. Since it is a fleece don't expect it to stop a barage of rain and insulate while wet. It does adequately against snow, but warmth drops a bit.

backcountry lists this coat as having 4 pockets, but there are actually 2 additional pockets on the inside, big enough to fit maps, journal, and or guidebooks. You'll appear somewhat bulky and unproportioned if you pack your pockets absolutely full. But you can hold tons of stuff. Function over fashion. Being 5'11'' 160 lbs., I got the medium and returned it for a large. Perfect fit there. As a reminder to keep your things nice, don't sit near campfires with this one, unless you don't mind marking this very sweet coat with from floating cinders.

Pros: An interesting blend of durability, function and design. Quality rubber Cons: Expensive. Not capable of being close to XC rider capabilities, though not all out commuter either. The shoulder treads could do well if they were just a skosh bigger on the shoulders as hitting corners can cause you to slide fairly easily. Off road and on a trail, I've been able to pick up speed surprisingly well, though traction is improved if you deflate the tires a bit. This rings especially true while hitting corners. And if you pedal up hill too hard, you'll easily spin.

On road, this does a pretty crazy job. Inflate the tires fully, and you can fly on your bike. A major change from my old kendas.

The biggest commitment is the cost. I've ridden extensively on and off road and the wearing suggests positive durability. This tire is not too extreme either way but you could get some rider specific tires for less. Too high priced for leisurely pursuits. Though I would say if you were a messenger/ or cop on a bike. This would do very well. I'd only buy again if it were cheaper.

This hoody is just something I enjoy wearing everywhere. The comfort and texture feels great, though as others have said there should be wind proofing / resistance for the price. If you've got the $200 to blow on this without any worries, do so, if you need a more technical piece, get what you need and don't be tempted by just the brand.

I bought this down coat last year and used it for a variety of activites. From hiking 14ers to a very cold winter in (0 C)Beijing, China - and Ulan Batuur, Mongolia. Positives: Lightweight and packs small and very compact. This coat will keep your body core warm enough for -56 C weather (Mongolia), lounging around a campfire and just extreme cold. If you were to be caught out in the cold and had to emergency bivy, you could do it with this jacket. I've gone in serious cold with this jacket and it has never failed to keep me warm. Negatives: I received this jacket with the pockets lined only on one side of each of the pockets. Both the the cuffs on the sleeve were sewn twisted and therefore makes it an awkward feel. Factory reject? This coat is so warm, it requires pit zips but does not have any. A big downer for anyone requiring the warmth and ventialtion at the same time. When it comes to wind, this coat is thick enough to stop the wind in most places. The wind stopping flap that's supposed to stop the wind wrinkled up, exposing the zipper permanently and rendering it's windstopping abilities almost as soon as i got it. As of date 2 out of the 4 zippers have broken including the main zipper, disabling the complete use of it. Since the first days of receiving this coat, down has continued to puff out of the coat itself. It comes out everywhere and taints my clothing. The thin outer shell is nowhere near to being waterproof and any water/snow soaked this through. Down feathers easily poke through and come out. Being wet makes the downing useless. On a good note, my g/f got a similar mountain hardwear coat with a thicker shell, so maybe they got their act together. I've gone through some detrimental conditions with this coat and the only thing it does well is keep me warm. If you require technical use beyond hitting the city streets get something with better venting.

I used this bag quite extensively in the Colorado Rockies and in China. First, this bag packs to a phenomenal size and great weight. This bag will definitely keep you warm when you need it, just stay cozy. It saves a great deal of space when packing your gear. Some dislikes are that the down comes out occasionally. The shell is thin, so don't get it wet. Due to its lightweight, it doesn't insulate against the cold ground too well. Make sure you use some kind of sleeping pad to insulate well. SIze, I'm 5'11 and got a regular size. No problem there.