Believe the other reviews of Kaenon sunglasses. I have many pairs: Smith, Anon, Spy, Oakley, Gucci, Electric, etc. and the Kaenons have distinctly better clarity. I've been a vocal booster of Smith for a long time, and while I still like and wear several pair, I'm now always on the lookout for a deal on a new pair of Kaenons.

The Gauges are wide. I would say they're more of a large fit than medium-to-large. They're the widest sunglasses I've found so far. It would be nice if Backcountry actually gave dimensions the way some other sites do- I always have to go to another site to check... They fit larger than the Jettys, which I also have. The style is a little different. The Gauge have a more retro look; think Ace Rothstein in Casino. Pretty sweet. Mine are walnut, and as always with a translucent frame, they look much darker when they're on your head than in the photo.

I have been paddling the 2006 model for several years (10.5 length). I really like the way it paddles. It's not as efficient as a touring boat, or as manueverable as a whitewater boat, but that's the point of the recreational class. I have been happy with it on flat water, but it shines on easier rivers. I've floated Class II rapids confidently in it, and I'm not much of a paddler. Tipping means a wet exit; you're not going to roll it with a spray skirt anyway. The hull compartment isn't waterproof, but it works to keep spray or waves out. The ability to raise/lower the skeg from the cockpit is a very nice feature. This boat may not have all the bells and whistles of some competitors (cupholders, dashboard compartments), but much of that can be added with aftermarket accesories. I have a Canpanion cupholder that I clip over the coaming, and it works fine. I'm 6'3" and ~230, and I've been very happy with the 10.5. Incidentally, the product info here disagrees with the Dagger website. They give a max load of 295 for the 10.5. One caveat- with plastic boats like this, careful storage is necessary to prevent deforming the hull.

When I put them on for the first time, my buddy said "Very David Lee Roth!" Really nice optics and finish quality. Nice case and sleeve, too. I've had many pairs of Smiths over the years, and an Oakley and Anon here and there. I'm pleased with my first Kaenons.

I like the knife a lot. But the sheath led me to put a different knife on my PFD. The sheaf is fairly big, but that didn't bother me. However, the clip sticks out far enough that I would hit the knife while rowing. Also, the clip is flexy and soft. It gradually bent open enough that the knife was flapping around on my PFD. I had the clip attached to the sheath as pictured above: clip open towards the tip of the knife. Perhaps reversing that would have been more stable and less likely to bend the clip. It was never likely to come off; the clip has a little hook on it that makes it pretty difficult to pull off a belt or PFD tab, but it didn't feel secure. If you can mount the sheath with straps, then it would feel a lot more secure.

Pound them in with a rock, and you won't bend them. They hold surprisingly well in sand. They pull out pretty easily. I'll buy another set for every new tent I get.

These are EXACTLY what I want in a pair of softshell pants: Dryskin body, WB400 knees, removable suspenders and internal gaiters. I thought about having Beyond make me a pair, but why bother when Cloudveil has already done it?

These are the ticket for spring skiing (with a lightweight pair of merino tights), XC skiing anytime, and any other shoulder-season activity. I took them along on a Desolation Canyon float in April and wore them pretty much all the time around camp.

The suspension is pretty awesome. It's a very comfortable pack for trips where I'm hauling more than I need to. I haven't tried using the top as a lumbar pack, but I have pulled out the bladder sleeve to use as a basic hydration pack for side hikes. Good design, works well. Lots of access to the main compartment, and it has just enough pockets. Not too many so you rummage all over, but enough that you can compartmentalize efficiently.

Definitely not a light pack, but it's the one for more than a weekend, for winter trips, or trips where I need the volume for a bear canister. I'll probably pick up a lighter pack for weekend trips, though. Got my eye on an Exos.

As long as it's not about to rain or too cold (below ~30), this is the one. I like the understated look and color. I got the coffee, and have gotten a number of compliments. I'm 6'3", 230, and XL fits perfectly.

Wind comes through it somewhat. Think of it as a wool version of a fleece. With a tight-weave merino top underneath (Ibex, Icebreaker) it's a pretty warm combination.

I gotta disagree with the other reviews. I had high expectations for a knife from SOG, but the construction and materials just don't cut it. I have owned a lot of knives from CRKT, Gerber, Kershaw, etc. The plastic handles on the Flash II look and feel like cheap plastic. Nothing near as substantial as the zytel on a cheaper CRKT. The blade isn't the greatest either, but I'll admit that my regular knife is the big CRKT M-16, so I'm used to a beefy blade. The overall construction just feels weak. And the triangular shape to the handle just feels weird in your hand and pocket. I bought it on a SAC deal, so I'm not out much, but it's getting 'spare' duty and l leave it in the truck door box.

Noticeably better than other brands'. They just work and work well.

I've used them on a couple of (lift-served) ski days so far, with temps at 8 and 20. I have cold hands, and they've done OK. I noticed slightly chilly fingers on the colder day, but once I started moving, they warmed up fine. What really impressed me was after getting snow into one of the gloves (set it down), my hand was wet and cold for about 5 minutes. The liners dried out really quickly and my hand was warm again surprisingly fast. Construction is good, the gloves look and feel great, and the idiot straps are really nice. They're fastened inside the gauntlet, and are wide elastic straps you slip over your wrists. No wrestling them over your jacket, and nothing to snag. One thing I notice: the gauntlet isn't insulated, so getting the cuff snugged down over your jacket is more important than with some over gloves I've had. So far, pretty happy with these.

I see some varying opinions here. I bought this in Jan 2008, and have generally been pleased with it. I've skied in in MT at temps ranging from 0 to the low 30s. I wear it over a T-shirt, and if the temps are below 10, with a fleece. For me, anything above the mid 20s is too warm in this coat, at least if moguls are involved. Once temps get into the teens, this is generally my around-town coat, too, and down to -20 so far without complaint.

The biggest beef I have is that the pit zips are impossible to manipulate with gloves: no zipper pulls. To their credit, Cloudveil CS immediately volunteered to mail me some. Twice. Neither set arrived, so I gave up.

I'm 6'3" and 230. A large fits fine with room to layer.

Backpacker gave this pad a good review, but noted that the pump isn't much help. I couldn't get it to do much myself, and if there's a trick to it, the enclosed guide isn't much help. But my biggest beef with the pump is that it makes the rolled pad much thicker than it needs to be (but only on one end). So it's a pain to cram it into the stuff sack, b/c it rolls up asymmetrically. Comfortable pad, but the pump (which I wouldn't use anyway) is a pain. No thanks. I'll be returning this one.

Well-built, handsome, and well thought-out. I think Westcomb crammed this thing full of features to help get make a name. MSRP is competitive for a high-end shell, and THEN it has iPod controls! It has pit zips, even though the eVent site calls them relics. I'm not a weight weenie, so I kinda like the option. There's what I assume is a pass/ticket pocket on the sleeve, although the vinyl is hard to see through. No internal pockets, except for the iPod pocket. And finally, it's very easy to get someone on the phone at Westcomb to answer a question.

It's lightweight, comfortable in a wide range of temperatures, and looks great on the trail and in town. I have the tobacco colored version, and have gotten many compliments on it. The silicon nanoparticles are the icing on the cake. Fortunately I didn't have to squirt ketchup on my own jacket, as you can find online gear reviews from people who have. Reportedly works as advertised.

I walk my dog on about 2 miles of trail daily, and in winter, the snow quickly becomes packed sheet ice. Yaktrax work well until the ice gets steep, but I can go through a couple pairs each winter when rocks start coming up through the snow and ice. No worries on that score with the STABILicers. They grip better, too. They do take a little more fiddling around to get on the boot or shoe, and you can't slip them in a pocket, but for grip and durability, they can't be beaten.

I go through a pair each winter, since a thaw means that my trails are a mix of ice, snow, mud and bare rock. Rock is pretty tough on these, but they're cheap. I keep a spare set in my SUV for friends. Yaktrax work best on packed snow, but if you're careful about your footing, you can get up and down icy slopes without too much trouble. The grip isn't as good as STABILicers, but you can slip these in a pocket for around-town use. In my experience, they fit on shoes better than on boots, since the toes are higher on the latter.

I've been really pleased with this sweater. Like others have noted, it really covers a wide range of temperatures and conditions. I wore it kayaking on a 70-degree day in March, and was perfectly comfortable. It's a ski staple, and is warm on the slopes (under a shell) and not too warm in the lodge. I've washed mine several times; lay it flat to dry. It shows a very minor amount of piling. It's enough that it's not quite as crisp as new, but not enough to stop me from wearing it to work in the winter.

The idea is pretty cool, but I'm not as thrilled with them as I'd hoped. They are pretty wide, and look a little like clown shoes (at least my 13s do). They're wide enough that it can be tricky to drive with them. Also, I can't swear that I feel the footbed has molded to my foot. It takes a little work to pull the cord tight, too. I like the integrated booty, and that makes these my cold-water shoes. When it's warmer, I wear shoes that are slimmer. Mion's customer service is good, though. I lost a cord anchor in the river, and they replaced it very quickly. Finally, the soles are pretty grippy, and work well on wet rocks.

And I hate to see them slipping from the market for some reason. I have three pairs, and they are my everyday, just-got-home-from-work shorts. The material is good, they look great, and not being 15, I love shorts that are cut above the knee. They're incredibly comfortable, and look good around town as well as on the trail.

I love these sandals, and put them on the minute I come home from work. But I discovered that the fit is less forgiving than with Keen's shoes. I have several Keen shoes that I wear regularly, and am happy with the fit. The Newport sandal, however, does not have a heel adjustment, so you want a closer fit to keep your foot stable fore-and-aft. In my case, a size smaller than I wear in Keen's shoes (13) is appropriate.