Aaron Courain

i bought this shoe for adventure racing duty. This past season ive used it in 6 races, and it does a great job for that purpose. I dont use it for a normal trail run shoe because i find it too big and clunky. but for spending long hours on your feet, and bushwacking through tons of mess, this offers tons of comfort. if you like cushion and support its a great trail running shoe, if you like a lighter more bare bones feel, I would look elsewhere.

pros: great quick lacing system, good comfort for long endurance events. can double easily as a lightweight hiking shoe. the sole is great on all types of terrain including mud and paved surfaces (no super large lugs that wear down quickly)

cons: too large and heavy to be a pure trail run shoe for my taste

I got this jacket as a gift...best gift ever. I was in need of a lightweight shell for adventure racing and this jacket does not dissapoint! the included stuff sack is a great addition and keeps the packing volume nice and small. its no nonsense and no frills. The event fabric is terrific and it has kept me dry in some serious downpours. it fits great while running or cycling, and ive also used it for backcountry snowboarding and ice climbing, when i didnt want to pack my heavier shell.
it is not as full featured as alot of other jackets, but thats because its aiming to be a simpler lightweight design while still utilizing a full on waterproof material for construction. I am 6'2", 175 lbs, and the fit is perfect (i believe i have a large) It is not too loose so its baggy when its just over a baselayer, but i can comfortably get a 800 fill down sweater with a fleece underneath it and not feel like a stuffed sausage.

owning this has definitiely turned me on to rab products

i had a pair of 5.10 galileo's that eventually got so painful i couldnt wear them anymore..not to mention the stink. I knew i wanted an aggressive shoe, but didnt want to sacrafice too much comfort. These are SURPRISINGLY comfortable AFTER the break in period. it took me about 3 weeks to break them in fully, climbing 3x per week. I know that not many stores carry them for try-on sizing, but many stores do carry the solution, which i also tried on...and i would say they have a similar fit. I wear a size 46 - 46.5 sneaker and got these in a 43.5.

lots of people seem to be skeptical about the funky edges and toe on the sole, but these shoes edge incredibly well. I also am pleased by the amount that they dont pick up stink like my 5.10s did. I wear a different shoe for all day trad climbs, but for the gym and for shorter technical climbs...this was a GREAT purchase.

know what you are getting in to if you decide to buy this shoe. This is my 3rd pair of inov8s and the name describes the performance of this shoe to the T. 1. its definitely a barefoot feel. there is NO midsole to this shoe, so you feel ever lump and bump and root under your foot..you actaully feel every individual lug on the sole on the bottom of your foot. all of the rigidity and stiffness of this shoe will have to come from your foot. The large lugs do offer a certain level of cushioning, but nothing like a normal running shoe. 2. this is some GRIPPY rubber. id say its on par with approach shoe rubber. when on rock surfaces, it feels like each lug is a suction cup on the ground. and on dirt, the lugs dig in nicely. the heavy toe cap is great to protect against nasty stubbed toes for such a light shoe. I love this shoe, but make sure you want a bare-bones shoe before you go for it.

the only con is the laces, IMO. the round style come undone easily, so i have to keep it double knotted.

Ive always hated having to sleep in a tent, being 6'2". Took this tent out for the first time in the adirondacks this weekend. it fit me and my brother (6'3") very comfortably. the pole design allows for alot of headroom. and this tent is super warm. my watch measured 50 degrees inside the tent when the outdoor temp was about 20. The morning yielded a bit much condensation, i guess next time i should vent it more. thats the only reason for 4 stars. otherwise, its super easy to put up and its an awesome design.

I cant compare the stickiness to any other approach shoe, as this has been my first approach shoe, but on the approach scramble on the sandstone of the red rocks in NV, these things didnt slip one bit. they stuck like glue on the smears and gave me alot of confidence going up with a large pack, and descending the gullies after a climb. Also was a very comfortable shoe for the hike in before the scrambling started

they are pricey though, and take slightly longer to put on and lace up because of the high top design. but I am definitely glad I spent the money.

Just spent 4 days climbing multipitch trad routes at the red rocks. This little pack was perfect for everything. The side pockets comfortably hold a nalgene, and for walk off routes, i was able to fit my lunch, extra layers, and my giant approach shoes in the pack no problemo. The material is pretty tough too, it did well against rough chimney walls. Very glad i bought this pack

I bought this axe for a mountaineering course in the north cascades. For an entry level axe I cant complain. Its not the lightest, but its comfortable to hold. The axe is meant to be held in self-belay grip (pick forward) the adze is large and good to grip, but it lacks and adze hole. The curve of the shaft is good for holding the axe in traction, and the included leash just makes the deal even better. The pic is using the axe for building a snow anchor

I love this watch. I needed an altimeter for adventure racing, and i didnt want to spend 3 or 400 bucks on a watch. during a race, i check the calibration 2 to 3 times, depending on the length of the race, and this watch stays accurate very well. I find the altimeter extremely reliable as long as its calibrated before use.

its also super durable. this has taken plenty of tumbles with me and it still looks awesome.

2 cons though -

1 is battery life. it seems to eat through batteries relatively quickly, but i do use it often, and battery changing is quick and easy.

2 is the bulk. its a thick watch, I understand that this is going to be an issue with most altimeter watches, but when on the moutntain bike, the watch bounces around on my wrist and often takes some skin off. when im on the bike, i usually turn the watch face to the bottom of my wrist to avoid this. A handlebar mount will also fix this problem.

great shoe, i replaced a pair of La Sportiva Nago shoes with these. This shoe is a great shoe for bouldering, it has a good amount of control in the toes and a sticky sole. It does fit VERY small. my toes are curled nicely, but i need to take the shoes off every 10 minutes or so. ill save my sportivas for long days and have these in the gym.

first off, this is not a great fitting pant for tall and skinny people. I am 6'2" and 180 lbs and wear 32/34 pants, the large are long enough but very wide in the waiste and through the leg.

on my first day riding in these, they tore on the right upper thigh, at the taped seam for the side zipper. Nothing punctured the pant, and i didnt fall or hit anything there. i just found a tear. Thankfully Backcountry.com has a good return policy. It is a nice pant, but im going to look for something more durable