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kshowal

Snowboarder // Backpacker // Camper // Hiker // Sport Climber // Mountain Biker

kshowal

  • Backcountry.com Employee Backcountry.com Employee

20 Reviews:

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8 Answers:

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Best I've found

Patagonia Capilene 2 Bottom - Men's

Patagonia Capilene 2 Bottom - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 December 8, 2011

My husband wants a second pair of these. They're durable, versatile, comfortable, and warm. He wears them under shells for snowboarding and during the summer when camping at altitude.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Nice jacket

The North Face Pamir WindStopper Jacket - Men's

The North Face Pamir WindStopper Jacket - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 June 7, 2011

I bought this as a gift for my brother. He loves the color (red) and the fit (he's about 6 feet and pretty big--got him an XL). And it's WindStopper--works great in this crazy spring weather.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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GoPro Chest Mount Harness

January 17, 2011

Yes, of course it’ll work. But the footage might be at an odd angle since you’re mounted on a board with feet sideways as opposed to feet forward on skis. A helmet or board mount might work better.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Smith Sundance Junior Goggle - Youth

January 17, 2011

The short answer is yes. The long answer: these goggles feature what Smith calls a thermal lens. A thermal lens is actually two lenses, one outer and one inner, with dead air space in between them. That dead air creates a thermal barrier that keeps the inner lens warm and dry. (This is pretty much standard on goggles nowadays, BTW.) There isn't any additional tech to ensure fog-free that I'm aware of, but my son has these goggles, and so far, he has been fog-free.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Outdoor Research Alpine Hat - Kids'

January 17, 2011

There should be a sizing chart assigned to this item, and we’ll get that fixed. In the meantime, a M/L is recommended for a child age 3 to 12 and for a head circumference of 21 to 22.5 inches (53 to 57 cm).

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Columbia Kaibab Hiking Shoe - Men's

January 14, 2011

Yes and maybe--check BC's closeout site: http://office.departmentofgoods.com/columbia-kaibab-hiking-shoe-mens

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Solid work gloves

The North Face Hoback Work Glove

The North Face Hoback Work Glove

Rating for this product: 5 January 18, 2010

Bought for my husband for xmas. So far he has worn them this winter to shovel, clean snow off our vehicles, finish building a tool shed, and do other active projects in frigid weather (these gloves won't keep your hands warm in deep winter if you're just standing around). They'll also make great ski/ride gloves in not-too-stormy spring conditions.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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gloves

Burton Gore-Tex Glove - Men's

Burton Gore-Tex Glove - Men's

Rating for this product: 4 January 18, 2010

Bought for my husband for xmas. He had the older version of these, and they eventually got rips where he gripped his snowboard edge when hiking. The gauntlet on the newer ones is shorter, but they still seem to give enough coverage. They keep his hands warm and dry, as you'd expect from Gore-Tex products.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Review Title

Nixon Venture Watch - Men's

Nixon Venture Watch - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 December 21, 2009

Nice-looking watch. So far it's withstanding my husband's abuse of it. He wears it every day and hasn't experienced the negatives mentioned in other reviews. It is kinda heavy, but that doesn't bug him at all. The face is large but not huge, fyi.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Sleek and pretty but doesn't do the job

Backcountry.com Dawn Patrol Vacuum Coffee Tumbler

Backcountry.com Dawn Patrol Vacuum Coffee Tumbler

Rating for this product: 2 November 17, 2009

Bought for my husband ... who used it once while snowboarding and a few times while working outside. He was rather bummed that it didn't keep his coffee hot for the promised 6 hours (or even half that). And the goat logo is already wearing off, which makes me sad. On the plus side, it works fine for commuting, and it hasn't leaked, even when upside-down in my bag. And I like how it looks.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Review Title

Burton Chopper Snowboard - Youth - 09/10

Burton Chopper Snowboard - Youth - 09/10

Rating for this product: 5 September 16, 2009

I bought the 90cm for my son, who is 2.5 years old right now ... having not used it, all I can say at this point is that it's tiny and cute. I imagine we'll tow him around the backyard with it this winter. It does come with Burton's Learn To Ride lift ticket & lesson deal. I'll update this review after we get a chance to use it.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

1 Comment

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Review Title

Mountain Hardwear Wicked Tech T-Shirt - Short-Sleeve - Women's

Mountain Hardwear Wicked Tech T-Shirt - Short-Sleeve - Women's

Rating for this product: 4 July 21, 2009

Nice shirt. Lightweight, wicks well, fits well. It is cut kinda short, and I'm long-torso'd, so when I raise my arms, my belly button shows.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Review Title

Arc'teryx Velox V Neck Shirt - Short-Sleeve  - Women's

Arc'teryx Velox V Neck Shirt - Short-Sleeve - Women's

Rating for this product: 5 July 21, 2009

I agree with the previous reviewer ... it's so lightweight, it's like mesh (but not see-through). I wear it for summer hikes and workouts. Wicks really well, flattering fit. I'm 5'9" and 145ish, and a medium fits just right.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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fit great

Asolo Fugitive Gore-Tex Boot - Men's

Asolo Fugitive Gore-Tex Boot - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 April 8, 2009

I originally bought Montrails off this site for my husband (because I love my Montrails so much), but they were way too narrow for his C-width ape feet (and BCC doesn't sell wides). So we tried these. I bought about a half size up, and they fit him just right out of the box. No hot spots or problem areas. He loves how they look and feel, and they look sturdy, though he hasn't had an opportunity to test them on the trail yet. I considered heavier-duty all-leather Asolos but decided these'd be more versatile. They should work for long hikes on rough terrain and moderate backpacking trips. Bonus: these weren't made in China.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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not for wide feet

Montrail Blue Ridge GTX Hiking Boot - Men's

Montrail Blue Ridge GTX Hiking Boot - Men's

Rating for this product: 4 February 20, 2009

Based on the previous reviewer's comment that these fit his hobbit feet great, I bought a pair for my wide-footed spouse. But I had to return them (which of course was a cinch because this store is good like that). These boots are beautiful in every other way - they look burly, the outsoles look like they could handle any trail, they're beefy for backpacking, and they seem to fit true to size. Except they are too too narrow. Too bad Backcountry doesn't sell wide sizes.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Danner Talus GTX Hiking Boot - Men's

February 3, 2009

Check out Danner's Mountain Light II - US-made. Don't think BCC has them in stock though.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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slingsafe

Pacsafe SlingSafe 100 Purse

Pacsafe SlingSafe 100 Purse

Rating for this product: 4 January 2, 2009

Bought this as an xmas gift for my retirement-age mom for overseas travel. She hasn't used it yet, but she likes that it holds more than just a passport and cards/cash. It's quite sturdy and should work well for its intended use. Its muted style ensures she can wear it with almost anything.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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nice hoody

Backcountry.com Goat Organic Cotton Hooded Sweatshirt - Men's

Backcountry.com Goat Organic Cotton Hooded Sweatshirt - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 January 2, 2009

Bought one for each of my brothers. They're not small guys--one of them is 6'3'' and husky, and the XL fits him just right, even in the sleeves (I hope it doesn't shrink). So, I agree with other reviews that this runs a bit on the large side. The fabric is high-quality cotton--soft and organic and not bulky. I agree with other reviewers that the material is thinner than many sweatshirts, but by no means is it too thin. I want one of these for myself. I hope a women's style is in the works.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Thunder Down Jacket - Women's

December 10, 2008

This is a TNF Summit Series jacket. Not sure if it's comparable, though, because I haven't seen last year's.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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soft, fits fine

Backcountry.com Merino Zip T-Neck Shirt - Long-Sleeve - Women's

Backcountry.com Merino Zip T-Neck Shirt - Long-Sleeve - Women's

Rating for this product: 4 November 3, 2008

I am tall (5' 9") with a B-ish bust and long arms, and usually wear a medium top. I bought a medium, and it suits me fine. However, this top is form-fitting; I could be comfortable in a large, too. And I can see how it could be too tight in the chest for someone better-endowed than me. The fabric feels silky and soft and doesn't smell after wearing for a few days. It itches a touch when I just put it on, which doesn't bug me, but it might bother someone who's sensitive. I bought it for snowboarding and camping/backpacking. My only complaint is that when I washed it, the fabric panels shrank just a tad, which caused the front zipper to get pulled to the left. It's barely perceptible (it was two days before I noticed), but ... maybe this top should be hand-washed?

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Apex Bionic Jacket - Women's

September 22, 2008

I bought both these jackets for my sis-in-law to try on and choose from--she wears a medium, and the medium Windwall 1 fit her great while the medium Apex Bionic was too large for her.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Half Dome hoody

The North Face Half Dome Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt - Women's

The North Face Half Dome Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt - Women's

Rating for this product: 2 September 22, 2008

I bought this hoody as a gift for my sister-in-law. She wears a medium, but this hoody was way too small for her. Had to return it. She's not a big woman, either--5' 6"ish, thin build, medium-large bust. So, I'd recommend sizing up. Otherwise, it's a fine hoody.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Adorable

Outside Baby Merino Wool Top - Long-Sleeve - Kids'

Outside Baby Merino Wool Top - Long-Sleeve - Kids'

Rating for this product: 5 January 7, 2008

Not only does my 11-month-old look darn cute in his long johns, they keep him warm. He can hang longer outside when he has this top on under his snowsuit. The fabric is smooth and soft. I bought the dark color to hide stains because sometimes I have him wear the shirt by itself.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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little kids look adorable in long underwear

Outside Baby Merino Leggings - Kids'

Outside Baby Merino Leggings - Kids'

Rating for this product: 5 January 7, 2008

These leggings are plenty long - they'll fit my 11-month-old for a while, I think. The fitted cuffs prevent them from dragging too. They look really cute on him, and he definitely lasts longer outside when he wears these under his snow gear. They don't appear to make him itch, and the fabric feels soft.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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cute hat

Outside Baby Merino Wool Beanie - Infant and Toddler

Outside Baby Merino Wool Beanie - Infant and Toddler

Rating for this product: 5 December 27, 2007

This hat looked thin when I put it on my 10-month-old son's head, but looks can be deceiving - the merino wool is toasty warm. Plus, I think of this hat as a layer - plenty warm by itself on a cool day, great under a hood on a bitter cold day. This hat doesn't seem to make my son itch (merino is soft), and it stays on well. Note that the vanilla-colored hat is a creamy off-white, not a true white.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Booties for baby

SmartWool Booties - Infant 2-Pairs

SmartWool Booties - Infant 2-Pairs

Rating for this product: 5 October 31, 2007

Anyone with an infant knows that getting socks/booties to stay on his/her feet is difficult at best. Which is where these Smartwool Booties come in - they actually do stay on for a while. Elastic helps them stay put, yet they're not so tight that they constrict blood flow to our little boy's feet. The wool not only doesn't itch, it's downright soft - feels better than cotton, and they're warmer than cotton, too. Plus, they're really cute. I bought some as gifts for friends with new babies because I liked them so much.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Nice carrier

Deuter Kid Comfort II

Deuter Kid Comfort II

Rating for this product: 5 September 24, 2007

I picked the Deuter Kid Comfort II because it has a place for your hydration bladder, lots of room to carry the kidlet's diapers, clothes, and food, and it's a color my fiance is willing to wear (I like the Sherpani pack too, but the flower logo and colors didn't appeal to him). I wish it came with a sun/rain shade, but at least I can order it separately (though at the moment, Backcountry.com isn't selling any. Bummer.)
Overall, I'm really happy with this pack. It's comfortable to wear, even when the kid is squirming and it weighs 25 pounds, and it's easy to adjust. My fiance is only a couple inches taller than I am (I'm 5' 9"), so I can't speak to how comfortable it is for someone really tall or short, but it works great for us.
I wear it to walk around the park or at a festival just as often as I wear it to go hiking in the mountains. Our kid (he's 7mos), seems to like the ride.
It's got enough storage that we could possibly do a short backpacking trip - that's the plan, anyway.

Helpful Votes: 7 Yes

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