I'm not sure what this picture is on this patagonia tee but I like the shirt. Fits well. True to size.

I love the fit of this stoic down jacket. Especially like the cuffs at the ends of the sleeves. Good design choice there. This jacket is so light weight and compressible that you can just keep it in the bottom of your pack and when you need it, it's there. I've also worn it under a shell as a final base layer on cold days.

Merino is where it's at. This is stoic tee shirt is the ideal base layer for any outdoor winter activity but it also looks sharp. I also wear it to the gym, yoga, etc.

These native polarized sunglasses are great for all forms of recreating. The lens is far enough from your face that it doesn't fog up easily. They wrap around a bit farther than the comparable smith sunglasses (ie less sun coming in around the sides). These sunglasses are light and they stay on your face well (like if you're skiing, playing tennis, whatever).

I got a pair of S7s when they first came out. I think that Rossignol has (wisely) kept the shape the same. I used to get a new pair of skis every year but I don't see anything better out there. These skis are SO much fun on a powder day. They have the perfect amount of rocker and the wide tip floats nicely. I love to just point 'em and open it up. Oh yea, and despite the shape, believe it or not they actually ski reasonably well on groomers (but who needs groomers!).

These Dragon sunglasses fit me well. I probably have a small-medium sized face. They are light weight and stay on my face when I'm playing tennis or trail running.

Love this mountain hardware soft shell jacket. It's omfortable and quite light weight. I use it for skiing, mountaineering, and just hanging out. Handy cell phone pocket in the chest. Keeps you warm and dry.

This is a comfortable, stylish shirt. I like the material. Cool on a hot day. Looks good untucked (some shirts are way too long but this quicksilver shirt is fine).

Just spent 5 days skiing on the justices outside of Revelstoke BC. The slightly rockered tip is the ticket. You can pretty much point 'em and blaze through all snow conditions. The Justice is also fairly light and comes right around quickly. This is definitely my powder and touring ski of choice.

An interesting array of reviews on these arcteryx shorts. These shorts fit me well. I like the cut. The pockets are handy (although the one on the upper right is a little odd as it's narrow -- maybe good for an ipod). Material dries fast and seems quite durable. I wear these shorts hiking, at the gym, in the water, at summer barbecues, whatever. They work for me.

I skied on these Black Diamond Push tele boots for a full season. They are incredibly comfortable. I never unbuckle them and when the end of the day comes I'm not dying to take them off (as most people seem to be!). The boa system on the inner liner is spectacular. Love it. Put both boots on, tap the boa knob, and turn clockwise to tighten (I do both at once). This keeps your foot nice and snug in the liner. Great design. The boots themselves are well designed. They squeek a little but I'm sure I could address that with a little cooking spray or something. Walk mode works well and the flex is excellent. I skied on the T1 prior to these -- also a great boot -- but the liner on the BD Push is definitely better.

I think that the lace up system that Salomon uses in their trail runners is the best (better even than the boa which I've managed to break on some TNF trail runners). These XT Wings are very comfortable, light weight, and pretty breathable. A good choice for trail running on fairly smooth / consistent trails. They may be a little soft for trail running over rocky and more varied terrain.

This fleece sweatshirt / pull over is true to size. I normally wear a medium and this medium fits me perfectly. This is a really versatile fleece. I wear it to work, as a layer under a shell on especially cold ski days, or just hanging around the fire when camping. The chest zipper pocket is perfect for your ipod or phone. The sleeve cuffs are well designed -- not tight but they keep the sleeve from sliding down over your hand (which I find annoying with other fleece sweatshirts I've tried). Thumbs up from me for the Horny Toad McQueen Pullover.

This TNF Hydrogen shell is so light weight and it scrunches up so small that I don't think twice about taking it with me when climbing in the mountains (you can stuff it in the smallest of camelbaks). If you don't need it, you don't know it's there. When the temperature drops and the wind picks up, it's real handy. The rest of the time I leave my hydrogen shell in my golf bag for the same reasons.

I'd say that the Backcountry Stoic jacket is one of the best backcountry brand products. The Stoic breathes well and is waterproof. I just layer under it to varying degrees and can use this jacket in all conditions. If it's super cold (ie below zero), I just pull my Montbell ultralight down parka out of my pack and throw that on underneath (get one of those too -- an amazing light weight down jacket -- I always have one in the bottom of my pack. Never even realize it's there ... until it suddenly comes in very handy!). If it's warmer I may just wear a merino baselayer underneath the Stoic, or if it's in between I go with a merino tee, a backcountry prime power stretch top, and maybe even a marmot dryclime windshirt. If you have all these things, you are good for any and all conditions... by the way, the chest pocket on the stoic is great for your phone or digital camera.

I like the fit on the north face mammatus. The chest pockets are great for cell phone and digital camera. You don't even need to take your gloves off, just yank the pull. With the right layers, the mammatus is good for most winter riding conditions. I've done some ski touring with it and works for me (my buddy observes that there's no powder skirt -- but my last couple of jackets haven't had powder skirts and I ski blower all the time -- no issues unless maybe you're doing lots of endos. Jackets without powder skirts are also a bit lighter as is the case with tnf's mammatus).

Norrona makes great jackets -- definitely in league with arc'teryx -- possibly even more core. I like the fit of this Norrona Falketind jacket. It's super light and minimalist -- you could stuff one of these jackets in your pack and not know it was there. Definitely a high end well thought out jacket. A couple pros and cons: if things get ugly, the hood really closes in tightly to protect you against the gale (been there). The down side is that the hood design isn't ideal for skiing as you can't just yank it up over your head when you're all the way zipped up (you must unzip a few inches first). Arms are longish and roomy at the cuff which is handy as it's real easy to pull the sleeves over your gloves or mittens (with your mittens on), and then just adhere the little goretex rubber piece for a tight fit. All in, the Norona Falketind gets my thumbs up for a high end mountaineering jacket (and I'm impressed with Norrona in general).

Thumbs up for the backcountry prime power stretch. This is an excellent layering piece under a goretex or event shell. You'll also get the chicks apres ski when they see you've got it going on.

As one of the founders of Backcountry.com, I'm very fortunate in that I can sample lots of gear. I've skied with pretty much every make of ski goggle available. I've concluded that Smith stands above them all. They've been at this for awhile. Smith goggles have the best fit, the best look, and they are the least likely to fog up... and among Smith's goggles, the Phenom is the one. 'Nuff said. Look no further.

I think I've arrested myself a couple of times with my whippets while trying to skin up something that was firm and a little too steep for skinning (not like I was going to fall into the abyss but I was definitely headed for a good long slide). When you're booting up something steep, these things are the ticket -- you can charge. You know there's a good adventure on tap when the whippets come out of the garage.

I disagree with all these guys. I like this ortovox shovel. It's super light weight yet has decent extension. Metal blades are nice if you're shoveling out your car but they're heavy in your pack... and this fits perfectly in my 1200 cu in dakine pack (handle goes on the side, blade in the front pocket, badabing).

I always keep one of these Arcteryx headbands in my pocket or pack. They keep your ears warm when the wind whips up. Unlike with some headbands I've had, you can still hear with this Arcteryx version. Sometimes a hat is too hot but it's still a little cold on your ears.

This is a very comfortable trail running shoe. I use these La Sportivas for both trail running and fastpacking / light backpacking. I don't get any hot spots with this trail runner and I've found this to be the grippiest sole of any trail runner I've ever had. When scaling some of the 14ers, I feel like I have a rock climbing shoe on as I smoke through the boulder fields. If you're hiking in wet conditions, get a different shoe as the high water mark on the la sportiva exum ridge is less than a half inch (ie step in a 3/4 inch puddle and you've got wet feet). Great trail runner though all around.

I wear these patagonia ultra shorts running, mountaineering, and simply going to the gym. They fit well, have a comfortable liner, and handy pockets. Thumbs up.

This is the first time I've tried Keen trail running shoes. In the past I've been a fan of La Sportiva and Salomon but I thought I'd try something different. This is a well designed trail runner. Very comfortable (I don't get hot spots and the insole fits just right). I have a pretty standard foot. The only negative I see is that they're pretty warm. Probably ideal for trail running in cool or even cold weather.

I like to bivy on top of mountains (makes for a great view in the morning!). I always take these mountain hardware down pants with me. They compress down quite small and they're obviously very light (hey that's the nature of down). For winter mountaineering I actually just bring a light weight Marmot Hydrogen (30 degree) bag. When I combine that with these mhw pants and a TNF nuptse and a 1 lb 6 oz Black Diamond bivy, I'm plenty warm. The bonus is when you get up in the morning you can roll out of bed and make some jo and you're a lot warmer than you'd be with your gore-tex ski bibs.

This is one of the best pieces of gear you can buy. Someone recently turned me on to this montbell down jacket. This is the ticket for fastpacking. Stuff it in the bottom of your pack and you don't even know it's there. Then when the wheels fall off, this montbell jacket can save your ass. I also sleep in it if my down bag isn't quite cutting it.

These smith factor sunglasses are light and don't slip. I use them for mountain biking, skiing and mountaineering. The photochromatic lense is handy as you might think. When it's super bright you aren't squinting but when the clouds roll in and you're biking through the trees you can still see.

And that's saying something. I paired these up with the Voile Switchback binding. Suffice it to say you can let 'em run. A choice powder ski. Reasonably light for touring. Also concur that they're well put together. I've ripped over some rocks with minimal damage (was expecting some deep gouges). Great ski for telemark or Alpine touring.

This Da Kine Pilot is a really well designed pack. There's a adjustable wire loop that you can dial in to fit any ski width. Comfortable carrying skis (diagonally across the back). This is just about the perfect size pack for day time hiking & skinning in the backcountry. Room for a spare jacket, gloves, platypus hydration bag, shovel, probe, skins and a couple Probars.

This la Sportiva shoe is one of the best trail running shoes I've ever owned. They're really stable and they have far better traction than some Salomons I owned previously.

I wear this Mountain Hardwear tech tee for mountain biking, trail running, and as a base layer for skiing in the winter. Simple and it works.

I wear these "midweight tights" (fancy term for long underwear) as a base layer in a wide range of winter conditions. I'm warm in all but the most frigid temps wearing these and an unlined Gore-Tex ski bib. I'd say that the word "tights" is misleading. This is really mid-weight techie long underwear.

...and I've owned a lot of jackets. This the North Face Diad jacket is unbelievably light weight yet it keeps me warm and dry. On super cold ski days (ie single digits and below) I go with a 3 layer Gore-Tex jacket. Love the left chest camera / cell phone pocket. This jacket packs down small.

These arc'teryx alpha sv bibs are super well made. I've had mine for about 3 years (and have put in a lot of days). They fit comfortably, and you don't look like a dork apres ski. I wear a medium weight base layer underneath (ie long underwear) and I'm perfectly warm even in frigid conditions.

This Petzl harness is light weight, durable, and comfortable. It also comes with a handy little bag to stow it in. I'd recommend this harness.

These smartwool socks are comfortable and your feet stay cool. Great socks for trail running.

Edelweiss makes nice gear. I like the different weave patterns on this rope - a helpful feature. This rope is also pretty light.

I wear these The North Face shorts when trail running, going to the gym, windsurfing, whatever. These shorts dry fast and the adjustable waist band is key.

This Salomon tech tee fits well, it's comfortable, and it drys fast. Ditch all your cotton tee shirts.

I've tried several different backpacks for carrying my laptop to and from work. This Dakine laptop pack is far and away the best. Laptop sleeve is perfect. There's padding at the bottom so if you drop your pack your computer won't get damaged. There's also a side zipper pocket were you can stow power cords and such. Cell phone pocket is easily accessible on the top. Side zipper pocket where you can stash your magazines as well. Love it.

Whoa! This absolutely one of the best pieces of gear I've ever owned (and that's saying something). I can wear this mountain hardware top with a thin arc'teryx soft shell over it and I'm good to go backcountry skiing when it's 25 degrees. The featherweight zip is also great for trail running or any outdoor activity. This shirt breathes really well yet it's wind proof, insulates you amazingly from the cold, doesn't overheat. I could go on and on. Well worth the money. I may get another one.

I used to have a Burton Fish but I definitely like the Malolo better. Given the slightly set back stance and the shape of this board, the nose stays up on deep powder days and you can rip. This snowboard also carves really well on hard pack and riding switch feels much better than with the Fish.

This Yakima hitch mount bike rack is the way to go. We have a Subaru Outback and can still open the hatch without even swinging the rack down (it has a mechanism for this). You get better gas mileage with your bikes on the back vs the roof, and your bikes don't get plastered with bugs.

I'd say this is the best designed telemark binding out there. The toe plate holds your boot really snugly (more so than other bindings). The cartridges have just the right tension and I like how they go under your foot.

These Black Diamond poles are the ticket. Great swing weight and the locking mechanism works really well.

I like the feel of the black diamond kilowatts. This is a good side cut for an all around ski (if you live out west). The Killowatt carves well on hard pack but it also performs really well in powder and skied out crud.

I ditched all my cotton boxer shorts and went with these. These marmot boxer shorts have a comfortable fit. I prefer them to the Patagonia Capilene boxers. Cotton sucks.

I'd definitely recommend these The North Face Arnuvas. This is a really light weight shoe that's well vented so your feet stay cool. The boa lacing system is super slick. Just crank the dial on the heel & pull it out to loosen.

I use this platypus hydration bag for traveling (you can get through security with it so long as there’s little or now water in it). Unlike other water bottles, it doesn’t expand when you go up in an airplane or up in elevation leaving your other belongings wet. These are also great for backpacking where both weight and volume are concerns.

This is the lightest weight pad I could find. Great for fast packing. You can hike so much farther if you can shave a few pounds off of your pack. This Z Lite is a good start. It's perfectly comfortable. I still sleep fine on this pad. You really don't need a full length pad (unless weight is no concern).

My nephew loves these kids DC snowboard boots and he definitely rips on them. The lacing system is super simple and works really well. It's also easy for him to pull the boots on with the straps at the top.

I've found that this sunscreen stays on better in the water than all the others out there, and it doesn't sting your eyes. Great for windsurfing and surfing.

The Tad Pole Tent sets up really fast (which is handy when there are 10,000 mosquitoes swarming around you as was the case on Murdock Peak last night). You can see the stars through the roof. Lots of mesh which is great on hot nights.

The Cross Roads has good support on rocky, uneven terrain. This shoe also has much better grip on wet rocks than other trail runners. I have a fairly regular-sized foot(maybe slightly wider than normal) and they fit just right.

I love these Horny Toad Brio shorts. They're made with an especially soft, yet seemingly durable material. Very comfortable. You have a little leeway on sizing as you just adjust the simple belt (give it a yank) and you're good to go.

I like the fit on these Kavu moat shorts. They're made of a thick durable cotton. Good casual shorts for summer barbequing and what not.

I disagree with the previous comment regarding Merino. I would prefer the Salomon Moto Tech Tee to a merino tee in really hot weather (although I also recommend having a merino tee for cooler conditions). If you're running or hiking with a CamelBak or other hydration pack on your back, the Salomon Moto is great to have. This synthetic T-shirt doesn't chafe, and it dries super fast.

This Salomon short is a good lightweight short for trail running, hiking, and swimming. There's a small pocket in the back which is about big enough for a digital camera (although the zipper can be a little hard to grab reaching behind your back). I just went swimming with these shorts. They seem to be made of a hydrophobic material. They don't seem to soak up water at all.

The Camelback Hawg is ideal for longer day hikes. It has the perfect amount of room for a jacket, extra layer or two, a camera, and a big lunch. This hydration pack also stays with you quite well when you're hiking fast (I just always try to make sure that there's no air in the hydration bag so the water doesn't slosh around).

I used to wear cotton socks. A few years ago I tried some Patagonia Capilene socks, which prompted me to ditch all my old cotton socks. I have since tried Bridgedale and a few other synthetic socks. These Lorpens are the best—they’re comfortable, just the right thickness, and less expensive than the others.

I've spent a fair bit of time dialing in an ultra light weight fast packing setup. If you can shave a few pounds off of your pack, you can hike SO much farther into the backcountry. I've tried several different light weight shells. The North Face Diad is the lightest and of the best quality among the options out there.

The Go Lite race pack is really light weight yet it's comfortable and has just about the right capacity for light, fast overnight backpacking or mountaineering. If you spend a little time (and $) shaving the weight off your pack, you'll see a lot more of the backcountry.

These are some of the best mittens (or gloves) I've ever had. This is one of the best pieces of gear sold on this site. I use them for backcountry skiing and resort skiing. It's easy to pull your jacket cuff OVER these mittens. Most are designed to go over your jacket which is less comfortable. The lobster-style mitt allows you the dexterity to pull zippers, hold your skis, adjust snowboard bindings, etc. They are not waterproof. This is the only downside (but is only an issue if you're skiing in really wet conditions). They are also really lightweight. I leave a spare pair in my backcountry pack.

I've had a lot of fun on this ski. This is a good sidecut. The Hippie Stinx actually does pretty well on hardpack despite the width. In any kind of new snow conditions it's a goer. You'll be a tele god with these skis. Just let 'em run. The ski patrollers will never catch you.

Nordic-schmordic. This lobster mit / glove is great for skiing snowboarding winter hiking or even cold weather biking. I telemark ski, snowboard, and backcountry ski. Whenever I'm fishing through the closet on the way out the door, I always seem to grab these lobster mitts. These Swix Membrane gloves are super warm yet light weight and breathable. They work well across a big temperature range. When it's in the single digits, my hands stay warm (and you still have decent dexterity as well with the lobster design). When it's in the 30's, my hands aren't hot. Look no further, just get these gloves!

Using a $10 topo map of the Uinta Mountains and my Brunton MNS, I easily navigated to a pristine lake in the middle of nowhere at 11,300 feet. Toggling between menu screens is very intuitive. Push a button to mark the trailhead (or your car or whatever) and rest assured you'll find your way back. Mark waypoints along your route as you go (or mark them before you set out while looking at a topo map). Unlike most GPS units, this one has a digital compass which you can use without sapping the batteries (just turn the GPS part off). Shows you how fast you're going as you hike. Tells you sunrise & sunset times. Calibrates your altitude for you & displays temp. Unlike most GPS units, this thing is actually really durable. I suspect you could play a hockey game with it and it would still work. Supposedly it's waterproof as well. I've used it in the rain without any problems but have yet to drop it in a pond.

There's no other shoe that breathes like the Salomon Tech Amphibian. When it's hot, there's no better shoe. Great for just going to work, playing golf, or any activity around the water when it's hot as blazes out.

I've paddled about 10 different touring kayaks. The Sonoma is FAR AND AWAY the nicest. This boat slips through the water effortlessly. Not only is Perception's Airalight material super light weight allowing you to cover much more distance, but it also has a much nicer feel in the water than you get with plastic hull boats. It's hard to describe - sort of like the difference between a finely crafted glass surfboard and a foamer. This is a SWEET kayak.

I have the men's version of this jacket. I use it for mountaineering, ski touring and skiing. The Alpha Comp is really light weight yet very breathable (soft shell). For this reason, it's good in quite a range of temperatures (I usually wear the Mountain Hardwear Transition Zip Tee underneath). This is one of the nicest jackets I've ever owned.

I've used my airboard in both hardpack and powder conditions. It's fast and quite maneuverable. Because the air board is inflated, it stays on top of the snow. The air factor also makes for a much smoother ride than you'd get with a regular old lame sled. The airboard is also much easier to jump than a common sled as you have a cushioned landing. When the resorts close you can hike up and rip it. The airboard comes with a runaway strap and a hand pump that easily inflates it in about 2-3 minutes. There's a one way valve that allows you to inflate it without worrying about air escaping. I always inflate it at the top as it's so quick and easy. The airboard stows handily in a pack or in the small carrying case. These things are great fun. -36 yr old guy from Utah.

I've tried several different laptop backpacks. The Da Kine Terminal is far and away the best. The sleeve actually fits bigger laptops and it leaves your laptop suspended just off the bottom of the pack so if you drop it on a concrete floor or something, you won't need to buy a new laptop. Lots of handy pockets for your power cord & spare batteries. There's a pocket on the top for holding sunglasses. It's lined with a soft material so you don't need a sunglass case. Dakine makes great gear. I also recommend the split roller - best duffle bag I've ever owned.

This is a well made glove. It's referred to as the spring glove but is plenty warm enough for most winter conditions in Utah. I've used these for a full season without any problems (although if I did have a problem, I know that Marmot would take care of me).

I love my Oakley Minutes. These sunglasses wrap around your face well - the light does not come in from the sides. They're light and work well for tennis, mountain biking, running etc. On a sunny winter day when the glare from the snow is especially bright, the minutes are the best.

I put quite a lot of effort into getting my pack weight down. Obviously for the lightest possible pack, you just don't bring a chair. A comfortable chair is pretty crucial though. Since you always need a sleeping pad, this is the lightest way to go (previously I used a Sunnyrec inflatable camp chair but I've dropped a lot of weight by going with the Thermarest Lite 20).

I've skied on many tele skis over the years. The Rossignol Megabang is it. Look no further. This is obviously a new snow ski but it preforms fairly well on hardpack as well.

Be sure to get one of these. These gear lofts are super handy for stowing all sorts of things in your tent. It keeps stuff out of the way just below the tent ceiling. Great for drying out socks or gloves. I also stash my watch, toothbrush, headlamp, magazine, etc...in my gear loft. I no longer have to search around in the dark on my tent floor for these things.

I love my Patagonia R2 fleece jacket. I wear it under a shell for skiing or snowboarding in cold weather. I always bring it with me when I go camping. It's lightweight and makes a great pillow (just bring a pillow case).

The North Face windstopper high point hat is the best hat I've ever owned. The windstopper material is key. I always bring my high point hat with me when I go camping, and it serves me well for skiing and snowboarding as well. It covers your ears well when it's frigid. When it's warmer you can pull the cord over the top making it more like a beanie. I've endured some serious wind chill with this hat.

The North Face Nuptse is one of the best pieces of gear I own. This jacket is amazingly warm. I always stow my Nuptse in my pack when I'm heading out backcountry skiing. It's so light I can't even tell I brought it. Down is great because it compresses really well too. The Nuptse compacts down to little bigger than a grapefruit.

I bought a pair of Salomon Raid Race 2’s for fast packing (i.e. backpacking with a lightweight pack). It was a great call. These trail running shoes offer really good support and a well-built sole. I bravely broke them out of the box and headed right out on a 17-mile trek. At the end of the day my feet felt great. Salomon has been at this for a while and they make a great shoe.

I used to compete in skiing and for years did nothing but travel. I've been through a lot of duffle bags and suitcases. This is the best bag I've EVER owned. The DaKine split roller is super durable. It's also unbelievably handy for organizing your stuff. If you're in a hotel room and can't (or don't want to) transfer all your clothes into a dresser, this duffle bag makes life much easier. Just flip it open and you've got a portable dresser. Closes up easily to stow out of the way (without your clothes dumping all over the room as is the case with most others).

This tent sets up fast. 1 small pole, 1 big one. No confusion. It's not free standing (translation, you need to stake it or tie the strings to some small stones if you're on rock) but I guess that's the price you pay for the ultra light weight (for an overnight, my pack was just 13lbs - I literally ran up the trail). Good shaped footprint for minimum weight & maximum elbow room.

The cut of this sleeping pad makes it much more compact than my Thermarest Camp Rest. I had a great night's sleep on this big agnes pad. It doesn't self inflate like the thermarests but no biggie as I've got plenty of air. Thumbs up.

These are sweet ski poles. They're lightweight and balanced. Easy to plant with a mere flick of your wrist. To make a probe out of them, you just stomp on one of the baskets and yank it off. Then flip a lever under the grip and yank the grips off & join them together at the grip end. I've had a pair for a few years now (they've changed very little). I haven't had any problems. Very durable.

This is the best binding going for touring. It's reasonably lightweight yet very reliable. With the pins, your energy is supposedly transferred to the ski better (hard for me to tell). The up side is when you're skinning you can just leave the cartridge resting on the ski and it's much easier going (no resistance). If you ever were to have a problem with one of the cables, you're not post-holing out of the backcountry with this binding as the pins will hold you in. The cartridges are easily adjustable (just spin 'em).

I've skied on many tele bindings and I think the hardwire is the best. I use the 3 pin hardwire for touring and the regular hardwire for resort skiing (although it also works fine for touring). The hardwire cartridges give good tension and the binding is well designed and bomber. *The Voile hardwire cartridges don't squeek like so many others do!

The Scarpa T2 is an excellent ski touring boot. They're as comfortable as my tennis shoes. When you put them in walk mode, they're really easy to hike in. Plenty of support in soft snow conditions (although when it's crust or ice on treacherous descents, I'm wishing I was wearing a T1). Put these together with the Black Diamond Mira and the Voile 3-pin hardwire and you're dialed with the best lightweight touring setup out there.

I wear these boxers for hiking, rock climbing, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, tennis, etc. They're super comfortable. Say no to cotton. Capilene is the only way to go.

I can't believe how small I can compress this cold weather bag. I guess that's the beauty of down. I've used my col in some pretty nasty weather and have yet to get cold. When you zip it up all the way, it closes up comfortably around your head. No cold air down your neck, yet there's a good space for breathing and checking out the stars.

Most visors I've had are just a little too long or wide making them just a bit foolish looking. I'd say this A5 visor is just the right size and shape. It's also washable which is handy (I'm guessing that the material inside is some sort of plastic polymer as it doesn't affect it when you wash it or get it wet).

The Black Diamond Mira is super lightweight yet it has a good cut and decent surface area making it a great performer in soft snow conditions. Because they're so light, you can also whip 'em around really quickly when you're in a tight spot on an icy or wind blown ridge. I use the Voile 3 pin hardwire on my Mira's for the most choice touring setup out there.

The Gerber MPT has all the tools I need. The needle nose pliers lock solidly. I bring my Gerber MPT with me on backpacking trips and the rest of the time I leave it in the glove box of my car. It often saves the day.

I use this North Face shirt in all seasons. In winter, I ski quite a lot and I've gotten to the point where I'm able to gauge just the right number of layers. When it's warmish, I wear my El Cap as my first layer (followed by a marmot driclime windshirt and the Arc'Teryx Sidewinder shell). In the summer, the El Cap is great for backpacking and mountain biking as it wicks water and dries really quickly. Cotton is your enemy.

For longer tours, this is the ski. The TG 10 Super Light is one of the lightest weight AT skis out there (in fact it may be the lightest). I've found that a little less weight on your feet has a HUGE positive impact on your energy level over the long haul. I've used it mainly for spring skiing and have found that it carves really well corn.

This is a well designed light weight pack. The sleeve in the strap insulates the hydration hose well. I haven't had any freezing problems at all. My shovel fits neatly inside. It's small, but on most days that's just what I need (it's also very light weight).

The Sidewinder SV is really well designed. The zipper doesn't get you in the chin or flap in your face, as do so many others. I can't believe nobody thought of this before. The hood is also fantastic. When you turn your head, it turns with you and doesn't obstruct your field of view AT ALL. Amazing coat.

The Yakima Roc 2 is the way to go. It's super easy to put this rack on and take it off (especially if you lube up the receptor). I have a Volvo XC and can still get into the back to access gear in the back of my car without even swinging the rack down. If I want to open the hatch all the way, I just pull the pin and the rack hinges out of the way. Accessing your bike(s) is MUCH easier than with a roof rack... I usually put a bungee around the rear wheel when I'm road tripping to Moab. Sometimes if you left your rear derailer between gears, the wheel will spin in the wind on the highway and may torque on your chain a bit.

This watch is super cool. Lots of great features. I often find myself hiking farther than I might otherwise as I see myself within reach of a vertical goal. The thermometer, as simple as it may be, is also pretty handy. I was surpised when I immersed it in a spring mid-summer in Utah on a 95 degree day and discovered that the spring was 33 degrees.

The Arbor S Series has a great feel. I've never felt so comfortable going so fast on a snowboard. Great control. I found that I was carving much better turns and didn't have to worry about catching my outside edge. Nice board!

I've owned (and checked out) many backcountry ski / snowboard packs. This is the best. Perfect size. All the right features. Stays tight and close to your body on the way down.

I've checked out many snowshoes and the Crescent Moon Gold 9 is definitely the best. It's got a little crampon on the toe that allows you to climb real steep banks. Very stable binding. Comfortable to hike/walk as the back of the front shoe never hits the front of the back one (due to the shape).

These are comfortable boots. The heel pocket holds my heel down firmly. Quick easy cinch-up lace system works great. There's a handy elastic thing on the side that holds the excess lace. Hoop at the top of the boot (in the back), makes it easy to pull 'em on. These boots were a big improvement over my Morrows... and they arrived 2 days after I ordered them!

This is a great headlamp. It emits a curious blueish-white light (as do all LED headlamps I suppose) and it lasts forever. My Tikka is so lightweight, I almost always throw it in my pack. You hardly even realize you have it on your head. Excellent for setting up a tent or just rummaging around in the garage at night.

Kicker stickers are super handy for touring around undulating terrain. They provide MUCH better traction than a waxless base but also give you much better glide than a full skin (though a full skin does allow you to climb steeper inclines). You might think there'd be an issue with them staying stuck to your base, but not so. I just leave them on for the downhills since they glide so well.

This is absolutely the best piece of clothing I own. The DriClime wind shirt is very versatile. I wear it under a shell for skiing and snowboarding in the winter. When I'm backcountry skiing, I lose my shell and hike in my wind shirt. It's also great for running or hiking on cool days. Light weight, breathable. If you get wet, it still keeps you warm.

I love these socks. They're super comfortable. Pitch your cotton socks. When my feet get wet, they don't soak up the water like cotton does.

I've done lots of traveling and I've gone through at least a dozen duffle bags and suitcases. This is far and away the best one I've ever owned. With most duffle bags, your gear is just all in a big heap. The split roller allows you to organize your stuff. No need to unpack so that you can find your socks which are buried somewhere in your bag. I just flop it open in the corner of my hotel room and it's almost like having a dresser. Wheels are bomber and handle extends far enough to keep the bag from hitting your leg when you walk.