lost in montana

I'm hugely impressed by these. Reviewers have pointed out that the explorer's aren't very lively. I agree. They're not nearly as snappy as wood core skis without metal laminate...but that's what you should expect from this type of construction. The explorer's are very stable and smooth at speed as well in tight turns straight down the fall line. The wide shovel makes them very friendly in pow and crud. The stiff tails are forgiving enough to recover if you get knocked into the backseat. I've been skiing 23 years, [did the patrol thing back in the day], and still these skis inspire confidence to try rowdier lines. If there's a shortcoming, it may be that folks who really like the quick feedback of a more wood design will be a little underwhelmed.

narrow heel and wider at the ball of the foot always seemed to equal "lousy fit"...until I got into these boots. Seven years later, after several long backpacks and countless peaks, the goretex insert finally began to leak. Ordering pair number two in a few days. Let the wood gnomes and faeries rejoice.

This boot is advertised for mid to wide feet. I got an excellent fit with my narrow in the heel, wide in the ball feet. The toe box and instep of the shell are somewhat lower than the Raichle, Dabello, and Nordica boots: which works for my skinny ankles and low instep. The liners are firm and very well made. I noticed several pressure points when I tried them on, but after baking they disappeared. They remind me of aftermarket custom liners that I've skied in the past. The boots are light, have a firm flex, and are stiff from side to side. This translates into a pretty precise ride, but its easy to oversteer, too. If you enjoy efficient movement and effortless powder skiing, this boot can help make it happen.

For people who are tall and have a lot of leverage over their skis, the go to ski is the BD Verdict. I used to patrol on 204 cm GS skis back in the day, and push them into slalom turns. The verdict is stiff enough for big skiers driving them with big boots. They float through powder, but when the mountain turns into crud and hardpack you can turn them on edge and cut through it. If you push them on groomers you get launched into your next turn by their snappy personality. Can you tell I'm a ski hedonist? I ski on the 190's, and find these skis to be very fun, stable, and rewarding as long as you stay on top of them.

In NW Montana where powda is chowda these skis get bounced around in the crud. In short: they're too soft. I skied all year on these and will be selling them this fall. In CO or UT powder they would be another beast, entirely. I don't recommend them for the groomers, either. A bit of speed causes them to noodle-even though I drive them with big plastic garmont's. The tails are too soft. Decent enough BC ski.

Just got back from a five day trip that included 3 days of torrential rain. No condensation issues, either. This tent kept me dry, period. I can't imagine living under a tarp or a shelter without a floor. There are so many variable in solo hiking in remote wilderness areas. Its a constant tension balancing weight and your margin of safety. This tent is now a permanent part of my solo gear. I'm also 6-4", but I find the tent spacious enough to enjoy reading and writing in the evenings. Boots fit well down in the narrow end, while extra clothing and water bottle fit will above the head. The storage pocket is a perfect fit for a can of bear spray. The set up is simple and clever with only two poles. While not free-standing, staking out the head and toe is all that necessary.

Nice garment that does the job. In 40 degree rain it kept me dry without making me clammy while backpacking-which is saying something. The pit zips and mesh lined pockets provide good ventilation. The light weight is my favorite feature. I give it four stars only because long term durability is a question.

After my new MSR filter malfunctioned, our entire party depended on the vario for six days: about 48 gal of filtered water. The faster flow option does exactly what it claims, , and required only a 30 second scrub of the prefilter during the trip. My only con is that its a bit heavier than average-but maybe the reliability and longevity cancel this out. Thea "funny taste" from a previous review can be avoided by pumping a weak bleach solution before putting it away after the trip.

I just got back from a seven day trip in the Bob Marshall wilderness in NW Montana. I started with a 55 lb load and was TOTALLY IMPRESSED by this pack's performance. The suspension on the Argon has a level of adjustability that eliminated my usual pressure points. After a day of dialing it in, it became an extension of my body: very helpful when walking narrow game trails on scree fields. I also noted that there was no "internal frame sag syndrome" regardless of the terrain. As a professional guide I carried a number of internal frame packs, but nothing on the market IMHO can tough the Argon. My only wish? Just one more external pocket!

Special thanks to Justin and the crew at Backcountry. After an oversight in the order they went way beyond the call to not only get me my gear on time, but to satisfy me. I'm now a life-time BC customer...

After filtering 8 liters of water from a clear mountain stream this thing clogged. No amount of backwashing per the directions could fully restore it. It never pumped 3 liters per minute as claimed. The best thing I can say is that I got a good bicep workout trying to push the plunger down. Someone else in my party carried a Katadyn Vario which functioned perfectly. This is junk...don't waste your money.