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Matt Oliver

Sport Climber // Hiker // Alpine Skier

Matt Oliver: #240 of 91,775 Top 500 Gear Guru More Information

24 Reviews:

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1 Questions:

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3 Answers:

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  • Stomping Grounds:

    Stuck in the class room...
  • Bio:

    I'm a Utah native who loves all she has to offer. I love pretty much anything out doors. I grew up out doors, when your dad is a 20 year scout master you spend more then the average child's time hiking and camping. I taught myself to ski at 12 and got into climbing pretty heavy at 20. At 24 I'm no expert, but I can get down (not always beautifully mind you) anything on the mountain and on site more 5.10's then not.

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St. George Crags

St. George Crags

Sterling Marathon Pro Rope - 10.1mm

April 3, 2009

Breaking in my new rope doing some spring climbing down in St. George.

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St. George Crags

St. George Crags

Metolius Rope Ranger Bag - 1368 cu in

April 3, 2009

Mike, my rope bag and I having some fun down in St. George.

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Slickist thing since snot!

Metolius PAS Personal Anchor System w/ Element Locking Carabiner

Metolius PAS Personal Anchor System w/ Element Locking Carabiner

Rating for this product: 5 October 29, 2009

Easily stowed with one beaner, easy selection of length with its large loops, and the added safety of individually sewn loops; I wouldn't use anything else!

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Tall shirt for a tall guy.

Backcountry.com Backcountry Logo T-Shirt - Men's

Backcountry.com Backcountry Logo T-Shirt - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 October 29, 2009

I love this shirt. The heavier fabric is great outdoors compared to other organic shirts the feel so thin that I am afraid to wear them anywhere outside city limits. The length took some getting used to but I like it. I'm 6'1" and fairly slender, anything but a medium just drowns me. So it was odd to have a shirt actually come past my belt. But once I got over that it might be the best fitting shirt I have ever owned.

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Super comfy

Mammut Mica T-Shirt - Short-Sleeve - Men's

Mammut Mica T-Shirt - Short-Sleeve - Men's

Rating for this product: 4 October 29, 2009

This is quite possibly the most comfortable shirt I have ever worn. The fit is great and the fabric feels heavy duty, but soft as can be. My one and only complaint is after a few go rounds in the wash (hang drying mind you), the fabric has started to collect those little balls you get when polyester wears out. I would still by it again, just be a little more careful with how much you wash it.

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Great lamp

Petzl Tikka 2 Headlamp

Petzl Tikka 2 Headlamp

Rating for this product: 5 October 29, 2009

This is a great little lamp. I've had mine for about 5 years and it is still going strong! Sure there are lighter or brighter lamps out there, but I find the Tikka's balance of brightness and battery life to be the perfect combination. My only complaints were that my old one did not have a dimmer switch or a tilt-able housing, which have been fixed with newer versions. So I'm going to have to say it's perfect.

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It's the little things that count.

DAKINE Pro 2 Backpack - 1600cu in

DAKINE Pro 2 Backpack - 1600cu in

Rating for this product: 5 October 28, 2009

Every decent ski pack has fleece lined goggle pockets and insulated sleeves for hydration. What made me fall for the Pro II were all the little details. The storable ski carry, with a cable loop rather than just nylon. The separate pocket for shovel and probe makes for super easy access when trying to go for your avi gear in a hurry. The back panel access and top access to the main pocket is slick. Most of all is the price, buying backcountry I got it 47% off. There is no argument; this is the best pack for the price.

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Slickist thing since snot

Metolius Rope Ranger Bag - 1368 cu in

Metolius Rope Ranger Bag - 1368 cu in

Rating for this product: 5 April 6, 2009

This bag is great! The two shoulder straps make it super easy to carry to and from the crag. The two compression straps and drawcord make it easy to jam in all my extra tidbits, I can fit my harness and a good sized sport rack; plus chalk bag, lotion, hand sanitizer, band-aids, sun screen and tape. Granted I bought a little eagle creek travel organizer to hold the last several items, but they all fit. But the best part of this bag is the rope tarp it's self! The two end tie off and roll up tarp make putting my rope away the easiest part of cleaning up! I truly love this bag.

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Offset gate is great

Omega Pacific Jake Carabiner

Omega Pacific Jake Carabiner

Rating for this product: 5 April 6, 2009

I know you don't always need that extra 5mm but it is nice to have when you do.

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Pretty good for the price.

Skullcandy Smokin' Bud Headphones

Skullcandy Smokin' Bud Headphones

Rating for this product: 3 April 1, 2009

They are pretty much your middle of the road ear buds. The sound is ok, I can't turn anything up all the way or they fuzz out. The ear pieces are pretty comfortable and they stay in ok. My only complaint is the in-line volume control has to soft of an adjustment. I turn my music off on myself all the time.

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Really slick.

Eagle Creek Pack-It 2-Sided Half Cube

Eagle Creek Pack-It 2-Sided Half Cube

Rating for this product: 5 April 1, 2009

I love that one side is open mesh and the other has a nylon film on the inside of the mesh to hold whatever in. Which would be handy if you were trying to keep your stink sock from stinking up your clean one. I on the other hand use it to keep my chalk bag from getting chalk all over my rope and harness. Which in its self makes it a great buy, but the other side is great for car keys or band-aids which I love.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 0 No

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Amazing Fit

Rip Curl  Von Danger Short - Men's

Rip Curl Von Danger Short - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 April 1, 2009

I'm what you would call a skinny guy. My ideal jeans are 31x34, which just don't exist. So needless to say I have a hard time finding shorts that are long enough and aren't a freaking tent on my slender legs. A conquest I have been most unsuccessful at, until now. These shorts are great. A narrow leg opening and a 23 inch inseam, means they have a very comfortable fit and more or less reach the bottom of my knee. Plus they are just plain old good looking.

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Sold Out

Petzl Spirit Carabiner

March 26, 2009

That is incorrect. Anodized is the orange one. I bought the Bright thinking it was orange and had to trade it for the Anodized.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes | 2 No

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Slickist thing since snot

Metolius Rope Ranger Bag - 1368cu in

Metolius Rope Ranger Bag - 1368cu in

Rating for this product: 5 March 26, 2009

This bag is great! The two shoulder straps make it super easy to carry to and from the crag. The two compression straps and drawcord make it easy to jam in all my extra tidbits, I can fit my harness and a good sized sport rack; plus chalk bag, lotion, hand sanitizer, band-aids, sun screen and tape. Granted I bought a little eagle creek travel organizer to hold the last several items, but they all fit. But the best part of this bag is the rope tarp it's self! The two end tie off and roll up tarp make putting my rope away the easiest part of cleaning up! I truly love this bag.

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Quick and Easy

Petzl Am'D Locking Carabiner

Petzl Am'D Locking Carabiner

Rating for this product: 5 March 26, 2009

I have got to say, out of all the biners I've own or used over the years, this is the quickest and easiest one I've seen. The Ball-Lock is great! Only having to twist about 25 degrees, rather then the 45 on any other twist lock, means I can get it open even at odd angle where I don't have an ideal grip. Something that can be more then a little annoying when you finally topped that 70 foot lead. Plus the simplicity of just having to visually check for a green dot to know that the gate is locked is a real turn on for me.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 0 No

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Quick and Easy

Petzl William Locking Carabiner

Petzl William Locking Carabiner

Rating for this product: 5 March 26, 2009

I have got to say, out of all the biners I've own or used over the years, this is the quickest and easiest one I've seen. The Ball-Lock is great! Only having to twist about 25 degrees, rather then the 45 on any other twist lock, means I can get it open even at odd angle where I don't have an ideal grip. Making it super easy to get on and off belay. Plus the simplicity of just having to visually check for a green dot to know that the gate is locked is a real turn on for me.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 0 No

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Heavy duty sling

Petzl Express Quickdraw Sling

Petzl Express Quickdraw Sling

Rating for this product: 5 March 26, 2009

It you want something says "Yeah that will hold me no matter how wicked I fall!", then this is your sling. Having a noticeable amount of more width to them then any other slings for only a gram or two of extra weight, I have to say it's no contest.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes | 0 No

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Awesome for quickdraws

Petzl Spirit Carabiner

Petzl Spirit Carabiner

Rating for this product: 5 March 26, 2009

I have to say having the ability to choose one color for rope side, one color for bold side, bent gate, strait gate... It all makes picking a carabiner all to easy! This is the only biner for me!

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 0 No

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Light and cheap

Metolius Inferno Wire-Gate Quickdraw - 5 pack

Metolius Inferno Wire-Gate Quickdraw - 5 pack

Rating for this product: 4 March 26, 2009

If you want light or cheap these are for you. I can't say they are my favorite quickdraw, but they are pretty darn good. And at $4.91 less per draw then my Petzl's, well you know why I own quite a few.

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Works just fine

Black Diamond ATC-XP

Black Diamond ATC-XP

Rating for this product: 3 March 26, 2009

I like my XP just fine, it works just like it is suppose to. But after I bought it I read an article that said the longer friction channel and sharper V shape of the BD ATC builds more heat from friction and is harder on your rope's sheath then others like the Reverso 3 which has half the channel length and a more rounded trough.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 0 No

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15 years going strong

Black Diamond Super 8 Belay/Rappel Device

Black Diamond Super 8 Belay/Rappel Device

Rating for this product: 5 March 26, 2009

I have one of these that I inherited form my paps when he threw in the climbing towel. Admittedly I never use it belay, my ATC-XP gives me a lot more holding power with less effort. That said there is nothing like a super 8 for flying down a 90' wall on a single line rappel!

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 0 No

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Great shoe

Columbia Boren Shoe - Men's

Columbia Boren Shoe - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 March 5, 2009

These shoes are a great all around shoe. They look nice, but are surprisingly comfortable. I bought them for a good looking leather shoe I could waterproof and were out in the light snow that covers salt lake from December to February. I was concerned when I got them because they fit very narrow and I have an extra wide footprint due to planters fasciitis; but the shoe really molded to my foot rather quickly and now fits like my favorite old trainers. I am quite pleased with these shoes.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

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Best rope for the price

Sterling Marathon Pro Rope - 10.1mm

Sterling Marathon Pro Rope - 10.1mm

Rating for this product: 5 March 5, 2009

I did a lot of research when it finally came time to buy my own rope for the first time. I got a tip from a local shop (IME, great guys!)that the Sterling Marathon had the thickest sheath on the market. So when looking for a rope I could justify on my lowly college budget, durability and price were huge for me. Once I looked into it I found the Marathon 10.1 was just as light or lighter per meter then many 9.8s and had a higher impact force rating and higher fall rating. With the exception of one, the Mammut Tusk, but since the Marathon was 50 bucks cheaper I was sold.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 0 No

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No more wet shirts. :D

CamelBak Better Bottle w/ Bite Valve - .75L

CamelBak Better Bottle w/ Bite Valve - .75L

Rating for this product: 5 March 5, 2009

I have to say the bit valve was a huge step forward from the huge void of other sport bottles. With the straw reaching all the way down, I no longer have to tip the bottle up and fight gravity over exactly how much water is going to come out. My only turn off is that the functionality of the leak proof top hinges on the bit valve staying locked down, but once the bottle has exposed to extreme heat that very bite valve no longer locks in place, voiding any reassurance of a leak proof cap... So no mater how dirty... Never boil you bottle!

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Finally some design on my bottle

CamelBak Better Bottle Back to School w/ Bite Valve - .75L

CamelBak Better Bottle Back to School w/ Bite Valve - .75L

Rating for this product: 5 March 5, 2009

Got to love a bottle finally having some design. Not that I didn't love covering every Nalgene I ever owned with stickers. It is just nice to not have to for a change. Plus the bite valve is great!

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Fit great and look better

Evolv Elektra Climbing Shoe - Women's

Evolv Elektra Climbing Shoe - Women's

Rating for this product: 5 March 5, 2009

I bought these for my girlfriend who is just starting to enjoy climbing after I've been forcing her on dates to the gym for years. Having more then your average beginners experience with climbing shoes, and after trying on a lot of different brands, she fell in love with these. A side from being "The cutest shoes I've ever seen!" They fit amazing and the rubber grips like a pro. I don't know if it is the shoes or not, but she as started out climbing all my guy friends.

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prAna Celtic Shirt - Short-Sleeve - Men's

December 11, 2008

I love my prAna shirt. Yes the cotton holds water more then some of my other micro-fiber shirts, but it really makes it wear better. I have been wearing this one like none stop for more then a year now and it is still in great shape, it hasn't got all staticy like other polyester shirts after you wash them a million times.

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Love IT!

prAna Benchmark Shirt - Short-Sleeve - Men's

prAna Benchmark Shirt - Short-Sleeve - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 December 11, 2008

This has become my like all time fav shirt. It looks great, it feels great, it wears great, mine is over a year old and it almost looks new. The Dri-Balance keeps you smelling good, even after your fourth day in the gym this week; Plus it is decently long to prevent that cutie on the problem next to you from seeing those ridiculously embarrassing underpants you have on. It's laundry day, I get it, isn't it always?

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 0 No

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Scott Tartan Ski Pole

December 3, 2008

How do I pick the right length? When I was 16 I just picked what looked good at sniagrab and I have been using the same size ever since. Now that I am older I the right poll for me.

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DAKINE Covert Pant - Men's

December 3, 2008

If you look at the size chart, 31 to 33 is a size small. And the inseams only very by a half inch so you should be fine if you are tall and skinny like me.

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