As a patroller, I don't get the option to go in when it's too cold or rainy or hot, so I need ski pants that can take on the weather and still keep me the right temperature and dry. The North Face Freedom Pants do that. They are breathable so when you're sweaty from skiing through the bumps or digging out fencing and you jump on the lift, you don't freeze, and the moisture just wicks away. The side zips are convenient and easy to open when you need to cool off in a hurry. I can sit on the snow working an accident or just hanging out and they keep me dry. The construction is rugged and can stand up to hard work on the slopes, yet they are a really nice looking pair of pants to wear on a ski trip. I LOVE the fact that I can hang a lift ticket off the side vent zipper down near my knee so that it is totally out of my way and totally visible. I like having multiple pockets. The cargo pocket is great, in particular, for stuffing something away in a hurry. Thanks, North Face!

Dreamy soft material, stretchy, fits right, moves with me. Unlike a lot of yoga pants out there that have such a huge waist band that you feel like a seventy year old woman pulling them up so high, these pants fit at exactly the right spot around the waist AND they have that cute little insignia on the back of the waist that I totally love. I can wear these pants to work out and then run into town and look totally dressed up. I even wear them to work.

They fit well everywhere and move with me rather than against me when I'm working out. They breathe well, too. Namaste.

I bought this water bottle when I trashed all of my Nalgenes for being non-bpa free. I like the size and the design of the bottle, but am withholding one star because I really liked being able to attach the Nalgene to the outside of my pack using the lid. I realize that I can just use a carabiner but that's extra weight and another piece of equipment to keep track of.

The XCR Trail Running Shoe is great for hiking. They have good grip and can get you through smaller streams without getting your socks wet. They're comfortable enough to wear all the time. They hold up pretty well to lots of abuse. The only improvement I'd like to see is a closer fit around the top of the foot when needed. That would make for the fit perfect.