I am not sure how to fix this - I had a friend who has this shoe who had the same issues and we couldn't figure it out. Assuming you bought the shoe from Backcountry, you can always return it and get a full refund and get another pair of the shoe or a different shoe.

Both jackets are excellent and very popular. If I had to choose one, I'd pick this jacket as it is 5 oz lighter (17oz vs 12oz) and packs down a bit smaller. You'd be happy with either, but I'd prefer the PreCip over the Resolve.

Yes, second the Smartwool PhD ski socks. I have the thin ones and they still keep my feet warm.

Hey Andrew,

If you buy through Backcountry.com you receive an 'unconditional 100% guarantee'. We guarantee complete satisfaction and an unlimited lifetime warranty. If at any time -- now, next month, in 30 years -- you're not 100% satisfied, send your gear back for a full refund. No questions asked.

- Greg

I agree with Jeff, get the regular hands down. Your size is perfect for the regular bag.

I agree with Jeff, get the regular hands down. Your size is perfect for the regular bag.

Haha - burned.

After all those years in Asia, I don't have to do promotion anymore. We just release a Jackie Chan movie and - Boom! - people go.

I highly doubt someone using this pad will be using it with a neo-air and vise versa. It's contradictory.

I constantly hike in my trail-running shoes, and I don't see these shoes as being any different. Good traction, nice support, I agree with what Dave has stated.

If you bought shoes from 2007 for $115, you got hosed. I'd return them.

Brad - the Osprey 70 has 3 sizes, the medium, large, and XL.

The medium is 4300 cu in, the large is 4500 cu in, and the extra large is 4700 cu in. Our tech specs on the right size of the page matches with the same information that Osprey provides on their site:

http://www.ospreypacks.com/detail.php?productID=123&colorCode=632&tab=specifications

Depends on where in Glacier, but I went there in August 2007 for a week long backpacking trip and I had a 20 degree bag. I was very happy with this temperature rating because it did get pretty cold at night (easily in the 30s). I never got cold at night with a 20 degree, but I think I would have been pushing it with a 30 degree. Some campsites were colder than others. Personally, I'd be hesitant on getting a 35 degree bag. I've seen websites that say the average low is 45 degrees in July and August, but that's for West Glacier. When you get more into the mountains (granted it's not the highest elevation in comparison to other parks in the US), you can get some cold spots.

Speaking from personal experience, I'd be safe and fork over the extra $ and extra weight and get a 25 degree bag.

Awesome protection... I feel like you can kick over a tree with these shoes. I've run in both Inov-8s and Montrails so I know where you are coming from. My personal opinion is that these shoes are more similar to Inov-8s. You feel more connected to the trail with these shoes more so than you would with Montrail CDs or Brooks Cascadias, but not to the point where you feel every rock like you said. You do feel the ground more-so than you would with the CDs, but there is still a good amount of cushioning to be comfortable.

David,

Check out this headlamp by Black Diamond:

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Black-Diamond-Icon-Headlamp/BLD1034M.html

It's about a third of the price and gives you two different types of LED lighting for different conditions. It's lightweight, water resistant, has 200+ hours of burn time, and very comfortable. Karl Meltzer uses this headlamp, and he knows a little bit about running 100 milers at night :)

My personal idea for this pack and the AT is this... you can easily thru-hike the AT with a pack half the size and half the weight. The beauty of the AT is that you have road crossings quite often, which means many different places for re-supplies: grocery stores, post offices, smaller outfitters. You don't need to carry a pack that is this large. Yeah, it's cheap and large, but you'll be wishing you got another pack before you even make it out of Georgia.

My suggestion: one of the more popular packs on the AT would be the Granite Gear Vapor Trail - rides like a king, extremely comfortable, easy to set up and use, and easily large enough for your AT needs:

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Granite-Gear-Vapor-Trail-Backpack-3300-3900cu-in/GRG0014M.html

Best of luck!

This pack is meant to go around your waist - hence a 'lumbar' pack. It also has a shoulder strap option. However, I am not sure how it would support his back... I also don't think this will hold a ton of books. If I had to recommend a pack, I would say check out the Jansport Kilowatt:

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/JanSport-Kilowatt-Backpack-2100cu-in/JAN0418M.html

Jansport packs are very durable with a lifetime guarantee. It's 2100 cu in meaning its pretty roomy and has an adequate number of compartments for many books. Again, not sure on the back pain though. From the item description:

"This pack provides ideal storage for a day hike or a school day. The fully padded back panel has molded foam cushioning pods that ease the load of heavy textbooks and the ergonomic AirCore shoulder straps keep your pack snug when you slog up a steep, rocky trail."

Hope this helps!

Red... definitely red.

I have a full length version of the CW-X pants and I don't really see that much support in the calves. I doubt there will be that much support on your calves with these pants, especially at the 3/4 length.

Have you tried the compression socks? I find that those help a good amount.

I've never slept in this tent, but I've seen it set up. Let's just say that you better be good friends with the other person you're sleeping with, because it's a tight squeeze.

From personal experience, Merrell shoes run true to size.

Yes, this is made in the US... just an error on our part.

Yes, this will fit into an overhead. You can count on it.

"Cast Away" - starring Tom Hanks - brought to you by FedEx.

Nah, these are easy to get into (unless if you have really cold hands). Unfortunately, you've probably figured out that bears sometimes get into these as well. I was in Sequoia NP a few weeks ago and some of the rangers weren't big fans of this particular canister. I prefer (as well as some park rangers prefer) using a different bear canister, but we don't sell that kind on Backcountry, unfortunately.

The maximum height for this bag is 6ft 2in.

Todd, its my opinion that you can use any trail shoe for running on the road. However, there may be some features in trail shoes that aren't necessarily needed for road running, such as a stronger toe-box area for when you kick rocks and roots, and extra grips/treads on the sole of the shoe to help you make those steeper climbs. Because of these features, you may find some trail shoes to be a bit 'clunky' or heavy for a road run.

While you may have that feeling of driving an SUV down a flat paved road, you can still run on the road with these. I am not sure about these shoes for heavier runners, but I do know that Vasque shoes are among the best in the business so I can't imagine you having a problem with these not being supportive. If they felt great, go for it!

This is a waist pack... I guess for those who don't like carrying bottles in their hands. Pretty simple design... a pocket in the front and a sling bottle holder in the back.

Ditto what Jeff said. Winter camping above treeline in the Sierras... you don't always know when the weather would turn for the worst.

The regular would be perfect and be pretty comfortable for your height. The large would probably be too big and leave you with some cold spots.

It certainly is.

I have several MontBell bags and find that their temperature ratings are fairly accurate (not to mention they are durable, light-weight, and very comfortable). I am not certain why this bag doesn't come in a women's version.

If I were in between sizes, I'd personally size up... I like the 'just-in-case' extra room. A good piece of advice if you get cold spots by your feet: heat up some water about 15-30 minutes before you go to bed and put it in a nalgene or a plastic gatorade bottle and place it at the bottom of your bag. Just make sure the bottle doesn't leak. The water will stay surprisingly warm most of the night. However, if you are 5'9", you would fit well in the regular-sized bag. It's preference if you want to size up.

Down is graded according to fill power—meaning the number of cubic inches one ounce of down will displace. The higher the number, the better the insulation.

So an ounce of 600-fill down will fill about 2.5 gallons of volume and the 800-fill down will fill about 3.5 gallons.

Hope this helps!

Hey Bev,

I've used this model in countless number of 5+ hour runs in the Wasatch and several 50k/50 milers:

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/LEK0081/LEKI-Carbonlite-Aergon-Antishock-Trekking-Poles-1-Pair.html

I've been very happy with their performance. They are easy to adjust, very lightweight, and in my opinion, give you an advantage in those tough climbs you may encounter in any mountain race.

Unfortunately, it looks like we don't have any left in stock. That said, I stand behind LEKI poles... I love their locking mechanisms and shock absorbing abilities. I don't know if there are any trekking poles specifically made for ultras, but I'd check out these other models by LEKI, as they are lightweight and are simple to manage:

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/LEKI-Diva-Aergon-Antishock-Trekking-Poles-1-Pair-Womens/LEK0084M.html

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/LEKI-Devine-Aergon-XL-Antishock-Trekking-Poles-1-Pair-Womens/LEK0083M.html

I've tried both the flip-lock offered by the Black Diamond poles and the twist lock offered by the LEKI poles, and I have to say I like the twist lock much better. Just a personal preference. Hope this helps!

Steve - yes, this would work for shorter road runs, but if that would be your primary use, I'd probably check out this camelbak:

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/CamelBak-Hydrobak-Hydration-Pack-15L/CAM0144M.html

It's a little smaller, probably more suited for runs under 120-150 minutes. Its 12 oz compared to 19 oz, has a smaller pocket, and carries 50 oz of water vs 70 oz. Hope this helps!

Andrew,

These are not cork grips... the description is wrong. I don't have this specific set of poles, but I have a very similar model of LEKI trekking poles. I cannot confirm if the the grips are smaller than standard trekking poles.

What I can tell you is that my poles have the twist-lock method. Every now and then, maybe once a hike, the twist-lock comes 'un-twisted' so you have to reset the locks. But other than that small complaint, I am in love with the twist lock method. Super easy to use, and very easy to reset the poles to a different height depending on the uphill/downhill terrain.

Here is a picture of the grips and locking system on my trekking poles. Hope it helps!

PS Here are the poles that I own: http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/LEK0081/LEKI-Carbonlite-Aergon-Antishock-Trekking-Poles-1-Pair.html

To make a comparison, the Wildcats are half way between the Fireblades and the Cascadias. They have more of the "softer" feel (but not as soft) that the Cascadia offers, but it also feels lower to the ground (but not as low to the ground) that the Fireblade offers. The soles aren't as flexible as I would prefer, but it didn't take me long to get used to that aspect of the shoe. When you try them on, they have the same feel as the Fireblades; a little more narrow near the toe than what you may be used to in the Cascadia.

Hope this helps!

If this bag is packed to the brim, it will be very tough to carry this bag on. I have carried bags on planes around ~3200 cu in, but ~3700 is where it starts becoming iffy. If it wasn't packed all the way, I think you could get away with it.

probably not... i've seen your nose and it's bigger than mine

Takes me about 17 breaths to fill it up all the way (I have the small sleeping pad). Just to make sure you know, this isn't a self-inflating pad.

Good observation... I am a big GoLite fan, and it looks like they went from the Jam to the Jam2 back to the Jam. It's almost impossible to find an original "Jam". I think they discontinued those in ~2006/7. Ditto what Matt said.

Yes, in fact I've done that before. Pack up my bag, put the pack cover on it, and then send it on it's way. Unfortunately, I've done this twice and the 2nd time, the pack cover got cut to the point where I can't use it anymore. But it does keep the straps and everything safe from being snagged.

Can I recommend the Granite Gear Vapor Trail pack?

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Granite-Gear-Vapor-Trail-Backpack-3300-3900cu-in/GRG0014M.html

It's one of the more popular packs on the trail... it rides well, it's relatively lightweight for a full framed pack, and can hold ~3800 cu in. This pack, in my opinion, is a little too large and clunky to use it for the 100+ days you'll be on the AT for. GoLite also makes some great packs... check out the GoLite Quest if the Granite Gear line of packs doesn't give you enough cu in of space:

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/GoLite-Quest-Pack-4400cu-in/GOL0155M.html

Hope this helps!

27

If the bag is checked, I think it is fine. Unfortunately I am not for certain, but I've traveled with stoves similar to it in checked bags without fuel canisters and have had no problems. Sorry I don't have a better answer!

At 4600 cu in, all bets are off. This past weekend I saw a kid having a hard time getting on with a North Face Terra 60 backpack, and that pack is ~1000 cu in less than this one.

Meg -

Check out this page right here... these are CamelBak reservoirs ranging from 45 oz to 100 oz. Hopefully this helps!

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/CamelBak-Omega-HydroTanium-Hydration-Reservoir/CAM0031M.html

- Greg

Yes, this can fit a sleeping bag, but keep in mind that @ 2135 cu in, its definitely a day hike/overnight bag. It'll be able to fit enough gear for an overnight trip, but probably a little too small for any adventures lasting longer than one night. The sleeping bag would fit at the bottom of the bag.

Depends, what kind of sleeping bag do you have? I own the Granite Gear Vapor Trail backpack which is very similar to this pack, and I have never had a problem fitting my sleeping bags in the bottom of the pack (I have 15, 25, and 35 degree MontBell sleeping bags). Still plenty of room to fit other stuff.

There isn't a compartment for the sleeping bag so-to-speak like you may find in larger packs, but I've never seen this as an issue. As far as this pack goes, I can speak from experience with the GG Vapor Trail pack that these are great packs. Definitely the most comfortable pack I have worn, and a great bang for your buck.

Yes, this does come with a red, triangular hard case. I just bought one last week. I don't think it came with a stuff sack, though.

Hey Mary - this pack is actually way too small for a 2 to 3 night trip. Even though it looks like it could work for an overnight pack, this is meant for a day pack. You'll have a lot of trouble fitting in your gear for that length of a trip.

I'd eye some packs that have between 3000 - 4000 cu in. My "weekend" pack is ~3300 cu in and in my opinion it's the perfect size.

If I understand your question correctly, you want to know if you can fit two 5'6" people in this tent at the same time? If that is the case, it would be very difficult to fit both people in there. It would be VERY tight. I'd recommend against it.

On the bright side, this is a great 1 person tent!

Hi Peter - this bag weighs 1 lb 15 oz.

I haven't carried this particular bag on an airplane, but I have carried on similarly shaped bags (both ~3200 cu in) and have had no problem.

I had my Baltoro packed almost to the rim when I flew to Montana several years ago. I had to check it... there wasn't any way around it.

I have no idea, but from a once maroon Volvo 240 owner, I am giving you a "thumbs up" for owning a Volvo 240.