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Steve Brain
Alpine Skier // Mountaineer // AT Skier // Mountain Biker
Steve Brain:
#159
of 167,234
85 Reviews:
Helpful?
28 Yes
1 Questions:
Helpful?
0 Yes
18 Answers:
Helpful?
1 Yes
14 Photos:
Helpful?
7 Yes
0 Videos:
Helpful?
0 Yes
8 Comments:
Helpful?
4 Yes
3 Wishlists:
Helpful?
0 Yes
0 Field Tests:
Helpful?
0 Yes
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Stomping Grounds:
Seattle,WA -
Bio:
Brit that decided I'd sacrifice access to good (warm) beer for access to great mountains by moving to Seattle. Ski tour in the Cascades & British Columbia - season pass holder up at Whistler (the 4 hour drive from Seattle seems short compared with the 10 hour flight from the UK previously). Mountain & road bike in the summer.
Rankings 
- #3 of 779 - Avalanche Safety
- #6 of 1,911 - Kids' Jackets
- #9 of 1,094 - Goggles
- #12 of 2,399 - Car Racks
- #15 of 1,564 - Winter Accessories
- #22 of 4,877 - Alpine Skiing
- #48 of 1,354 - Men's Performance Shirts - Short Sleeve
- #51 of 1,243 - Telemark Skis and Alpine Touring Skis
- #88 of 410 - Food
- #94 of 1,048 - Men's Casual Shoes
- #100 of 804 - Men's Hiking and Climbing Shorts
- #100 of 565 - Lightweight Gloves
- #100 of 2,226 - Luggage
- #102 of 2,621 - Sunglasses
- #103 of 1,238 - Women's Trail Run Shoes
- #111 of 845 - Climbing Skins
- #117 of 813 - Men's Lightweight Long Underwear - Tops
- #126 of 791 - Duffel Bags
- #129 of 761 - Women's Technical Shells
- #155 of 740 - Ice Climbing
- #163 of 1,068 - Men's Mountaineering Boots
- #168 of 1,284 - Climbing Accessories and Training
- #173 of 356 - Kids' Pants and Shorts
- #189 of 1,058 - Canister Stoves
- #215 of 2,553 - Helmets
- #224 of 795 - Stoves
- #225 of 1,365 - Backcountry Snowboarding
- #229 of 754 - 4-Season Tents
- #235 of 745 - Stuff and Compression Sacks
- #241 of 2,131 - Socks
- #252 of 2,141 - Ski Gloves
- #257 of 1,787 - Men's Winter Boots and Shoes
- #281 of 957 - Sleeping Pads
- #312 of 955 - Harnesses and Climbing Helmets
- #318 of 573 - Men's Heavyweight Long Underwear - Tops
- #336 of 562 - 0 to -40 Degree Down Bags
- #337 of 966 - Men's Accessories
- #349 of 1,173 - Lightweight Sleep Pads
- #359 of 540 - Belay and Rappel Devices
- #385 of 1,166 - Kids' Gear
- #390 of 567 - Avalanche Beacons
- #397 of 1,243 - Telemark Skiing
- #400 of 3,089 - Men's Technical Shells
- #419 of 1,123 - Alpine Touring Boots
- #439 of 842 - Altimeters
- #441 of 3,108 - Men's Ski Jackets
- #465 of 2,695 - Gloves
- #477 of 817 - Men's Underwear
- #517 of 741 - Alpine Touring
- #523 of 1,757 - Cross Country Skiing
- #524 of 1,939 - Winter Packs
- #572 of 1,092 - Overnight Backpacks (2000 - 2999 cu in)
- #573 of 1,082 - Men's Ski Boots
- #581 of 1,961 - Weekend Packs (3000-4500 cu in)
- #583 of 1,057 - 25 to 5 Degree Down Bags
- #653 of 912 - Men's Softshell Pants
- #711 of 1,789 - Alpine Fat Skis
- #739 of 1,335 - Alpine Touring Bindings
- #740 of 5,095 - Men's Softshell Jackets
- #861 of 1,850 - Climbing Shoes
- #893 of 2,520 - Men's Ski Pants
- #973 of 2,143 - Cookware
- #1,125 of 2,057 - Big Mountain Freeride Skis
- #1,337 of 2,630 - Goggles
- #1,858 of 4,475 - Men's Down Jackets
- #2,536 of 5,177 - Women's Down Jackets
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- Helpful Votes: 0 Yes |
See Full Wish List -
Steve Brain's Ski touring
Created November 14, 2009
Items I've used for multi-day ski tours in the Cascades and the BC Coast Range Mountains.
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Black Diamond ATC-XP
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Exped DownMat Sleeping Pad
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Mammut Ultimate Hooded Soft...
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Mountain House Scrambled Eg...
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Pieps DSP Smart Transmitter
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Dynafit TLT Vertical FT 12 ...
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Black Diamond Carbon Probe ...
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Black Diamond QuickDraw Car...
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Black Diamond Raven Ultra I...
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Osprey Packs Aether 60 Back...
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Garmont Axon Thermo AT Boot...
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Outdoor Research Latitude M...
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Marmot Helium Sleeping Bag:...
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G3 Alpinist Climbing Skin
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CAMP USA Alp 95 Harness
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Outdoor Research Vert Glove
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The North Face NSE Tent Boo...
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Sigg Traveler Water Bottle ...
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Julbo Micropore Sunglasses ...
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Helly Hansen Odin Guide Sof...
- Helpful Votes: 0 Yes |
See Full Wish List -
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- Helpful Votes: 0 Yes |
See Full Wish List
Preparing to hit Diamond bowl
Spyder Killer Jacket - Boys'
January 10, 2012
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
0 Comments
Spyder Truck Suspension Jacket
Spyder Killer Jacket - Boys'
January 10, 2012
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
0 Comments
Loosen the bolts on the left, if you want to be able to screw in the bolts on the right!
Kuat NV 2 Bike Rack
May 24, 2011
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
1 Comment
Sidewinder
Arc'teryx Sidewinder AR Jacket - Men's
April 9, 2010
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
0 Comments
Sold Out
Smith Upstart Jr Helmet below West Cirque
Smith Upstart Jr. Helmet - Kids'
April 9, 2010
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
0 Comments
Permanently Out of Stock -- View Product Details >
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Mammut Ultimate on Blackcomb Peak
Mammut Ultimate Hooded Softshell Jacket - Men's
April 3, 2010
Helpful Votes: 2 Yes
0 Comments
Permanently Out of Stock -- View Product Details >
See all photos for this product >
G3 in the Coastal Mountains (BC)
G3 Alpinist Climbing Skins
August 21, 2009
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
0 Comments
Permanently Out of Stock -- View Product Details >
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Phantom jacket at top of Mt Baker
Mountain Hardwear Phantom Down Jacket - Men's
May 8, 2009
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
0 Comments
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Aether pack in the Coast range
Osprey Packs Aether 60 Backpack - 3500-3900cu in
May 8, 2009
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
1 Comment
Permanently Out of Stock -- View Product Details >
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Alpinist Tent on Mt Garibaldi
Marmot Alpinist Tent 2-Person 4-Season
May 8, 2009
Prior generation of the Alpinist tent.
Helpful Votes: 2 Yes
1 Comment
Backcountry Access Float 36 Winter Backpack - 2197cu in
December 20, 2011
There's a leg strap on the right leg.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
Volkl Gotama Jr. Ski - Kids'
December 10, 2011
I've had two kids now ski on the Gotamas and they work great. We ski in the Pacific Northwest and they fit the mix of conditions here. Certainly would be good in Utah, though icy New Hampshire might be a different challenge.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
Backcountry Access Float 36 Winter Backpack - 2197cu in
October 27, 2011
Looks like Backcountry ship with empty cylinders... I just bought a Float 36 and was surprised/disappointed that it shipped ground and I got an empty cylinder. They really should make this explicit on their website (like BCA do).
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
Backcountry Access Float 36 Winter Backpack - 2197cu in
October 25, 2011
The video on the BCA website states it's vertical ski carry. Wild Snow back that up in their comments.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
La Sportiva Wildcat GTX Trail Running Shoe - Women's
September 21, 2011
My wife is normally a US 7 - ordered the EU 38 as the size chart suggested, and they run a little small in her opinion. Re-ordering for a larger size.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
MSR Reactor Stove
May 4, 2011
I bought a Jetboil and then upgraded to a Reactor last year. The Reactor is my preference for winter camping, when there is a lot of snow to melt. If you're just boiling water from a ready source then I'd go lighter with the Jetboil.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
Sea To Summit eVent Compression Dry Sack
March 26, 2010
Small is good for the Helium sleeping bag. I use that for both my 20 degree bag and also my zero degree bag. Unsure whether I'd put a tent in a dry sack though.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
Norrøna Narvik Gore-Tex/Primaloft Long Gloves
November 23, 2009
Yes they have idiot straps.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
Norrøna Narvik Gore-Tex/Primaloft Long Gloves
November 23, 2009
I agree - I would buy these rather than the Marmot. These seem to be better built, tougher and warmer than the Marmot gloves I had before.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
Rossignol Viper X1 Jr ZIP System Ski w/ Comp J Binding - Kids'
September 25, 2009
If she's a true beginner then I'd recommend renting. She'll hopefully progress quickly to intermediate and then you can decide on the ski which makes sense based on her attitude and ability.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
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Rossignol Viper X1 Jr ZIP System Ski w/ Comp J Binding - Kids'
September 25, 2009
Sounds a tad short - if he's 54" then he's 137cm tall. I suggest you check out the sizing charts. My daughter is 58lbs / 125cm and an advanced skiier and we've just bought her some 123cms.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
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Look Nova Team 7 Ski Binding
September 25, 2009
Can you fit wider brakes on these?
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
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K2 Mt. Baker Superlight Alpine Touring Ski
June 3, 2009
The 181cm Mt Baker is longer than it sounds. I compared it with my old 188cm Dynastar Legends and it is about as long. I am 195lbs, like longer skis, and was perfectly happy with the 181cm. Did have to be persuaded in the shop by comparing ski lengths, and it is scary how different manufacturers measure their skis.
I was advised though to skip the superlights and go with the regular bakers. I use mine with dynafits and have been very happy.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
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K2 Mt. Baker Superlight Alpine Touring Ski
June 3, 2009
I am the same weight and around 6 feet tall. I bought the 181cm regular Mt Baker, after receiving advice from a bunch of different people that the super-light would be pretty soft giving my weight and power. I have been really happy with the regular Mt Baker for multi-day ski tours.
The 181cm Mt Baker is the same length as my old 188cm Dynastar Legend's, and also as long as my 193cm 4Frnt EHPs. K2 seem to have a different approach to measuring ski length.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
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Marmot Alpinist Tent 2-Person 4-Season
June 2, 2009
I have the previous generation of this tent. Ventilation is ok in the winter/spring, but I normally leave the main door partially open to let air in from the vestibule. The vents in the top are small and there is only a door at one end. I think it would be extremely hot in the summer.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
Black Diamond Fritschi Diamir Freeride Plus Binding
May 17, 2009
Either the Marker Baron or the Fritschi Freeride.
If you already have an alpine setup though which you can continue to use inbounds, and you think there is a good chance you'll get deeper into backcountry then definitely worth considering the Dynafit bindings. You'd be glad of it in the longer run, though a steeper initial learning curve.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
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Exped DownMat Sleeping Pad
May 8, 2009
The photo shows the stuff sack from the old version where the pump is the stuff sack. I just replaced mine with the new version with the integrated pump, and I prefer the integrated pump one.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
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Osprey Packs Aether 60 Backpack - 3500-3900cu in
April 15, 2009
I'd get measured, rather than make an assumption. I'm 6' and bought a large pack. Since found out that because I have long legs, I am much better off with a medium. It's a lot more comfortable.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
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