Arc'teryx calls this piece a hardfleece, which is perhaps a better description. It's got a smooth nylon exterior that is wind and water resistant. The waffled fleece on the inside provides a bit of warmth. The yellow color is super cute, and I know this will be a great midlayer on days when hiking and skinning. Wear a shell for the down and hike/skin in the Epsilon SV.

I got these gloves for my dad for Christmas. He's an avid skier and suffers from Raynaud's phenomenon. The gloves are very well made, and are keeping his fingers warm which is more than I can say for some really nice mittens. The gloves are rather heavy with the battery, but are a worthwhile tradeoff for being warm and happy out skiing.

These are my go to bindings for lighter weight skiers who want great value. I prefer the FKS/Pivot for the skis I use most often, but it's not always in the budget to have those on every ski in the quiver. This design is still really reliable, and a good DIN range for lighter weight expert skiers.

I was really excited to get these skis for my mom. She's a strong skier who was in need of a pow ski. I love the Katana for myself and knew this similar but lighter and narrower option would be perfect for my mom.

I'm happy with this helmet. It's relatively low profile and reasonably light, with all the good features like easy venting and adjustable fit. I like the subtle hint of a brim. It's got almost all of the top end features without the highest price. Definitely recommended.

I've been out on this ski a handful of times and am having a ball. I have not done much x-country skiing and was not looking for the fanciest thing out there, but do consider this to be a very good quality ski. The Alea 53 is narrow enough to be used in classic tracks/grooves on nordic groomed terrain, but there's also enough to it that you can ski in untracked snow as well. The skis have a bit of shape to them that help keep them more stable and from running away/outriggering on you. I've come down some steepish pitches on these and they've done well for x-country skis. All in all I'm very pleased. They seem to have good grip going up steeper pitches, and being waxless they're nice and easy. A final thing to note, these seem to be sized shorter, which will make them more manageable, and may also be a good ski for someone who is beginner a beginner to x-country skiing who has not done alpine skiing either.

These skis are not intended for skating as they have a waxless "fishscale" grip pattern on the bottom.

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Sizing specific to Atomic Xcruis Alea 53

Skier Weight Ski Length
88-121 lbs. 163 cm
110-143 lbs. 173 cm
132-165 lbs. 183 cm

Get a little extra glide and a bit of protection for your bases waxless bases. This wax is super easy to apply. Just sponge it on with the integrated applicator, and head out skiing.

I've worn this jacket just a few times, and so far I've been really happy. For it's light weight and decent compressibility it seems quite warm. The jacket blocks the wind well except for the fleece side panels. Yes, they make sense to keep you from overheating, but if you're on the verge of being chilly and do not have a shell on, they are not so sweet. This jacket isn't too much bigger and heavier than something like Patagonia's Nano Puff, and seems like it's noticeably warmer, which is great for a chilly girl like me. I think this will be a great piece for layering under a shell for skiing on colder winter day, and a super insulation layer to have on your pack for any of your outdoor adventures.

I wear a medium and occasionally small in most outdoor jackets. The medium in the Atom LT is a good fit for me.

I bought this softshell to replace one that was just a bit too warm for what I wanted. The Gamma MX is far lighter and more compact than the one it's replacing. So far I've been very pleased. It blocks the wind and breathes beautifully. It seems to regulate temperature quite nicely when I start to warm up. It has the high quality construction and attention to detail you expect from Arc'teryx. I love the elastic cuffs which fit trim with no velcro. I wear a medium and occasionally small in most jackets. This piece in a medium fit well with room for some layers underneath.

I am very excited to ski in this jacket this upcoming season. The jacket is incredibly light, but you can be confident it's going to be totally waterproof with the GoreTex membrane and seam taping. The pit zips are pretty long and I know this will be a great jacket for touring. It is sized generously for layers. I find I often feel like I'm between small and medium in Arc'teryx, and in most items I need to wear Medium. (In some pieces Medium fits perfectly.) In the Scimitar the Small will fit great even with some warm layers underneath. The Cascade color has a hint of blue and is not quite white. The blue zippers help the blue to pop a bit.

UPDATE - Very Helmet Friendly - Now that I have finally skied some days in this jacket, I'm even more obsessed. The collar comes up nice and high, even when wearing a helmet. It's great for hiding from the wind and cold. I find that many jacket collars don't zip up well when you're wearing a helmet and a few layers, not so with this one. The hood will also fit over a ski helmet pretty well. It does not completely cover the front of my size medium helmet, but does a pretty good job and I can still turn my head to the side, unlike with other ski jackets with supposedly helmet friendly hoods.

This set contains a lot of items that are helpful in your camp kitchen, and it's great to have a self contained pouch. Not a recommend product for ultralight backpacking, but great for car camping or those not so concerned with taking up a bit of extra space and weight in their packs.

These things are tasty. I am guilty of eating them at my desk sometimes, though I figure they're better for me than something out of a vending machine even if I don't need an energy product. I love both the honey and vanilla flavors, and they taste pretty similar to me. The vanilla is slightly less sweet tasting, and my preference.

I bought this shirt for the long sleeve sun protection. The fabric is nice and light, soft against the skin and not too hot. Sometimes I don't feel like dealing with sunblock. Sometimes camping in the dessert I feel I just can't expose myself to any more sun yet can't escape it. This shirt fits the bill.

There's also a tab and button for holding rolled up sleeves in place.

This shirt is relatively cute for the button down, sun blocking, technical shirts out there. The gathering under the bust gives it a bit of shape and makes a bit more flattering. I do find the crew collar a bit strange, but it works well enough. (For those wanting more coverage on their neck though this may not be the shirt for you.) The fabric is nice and light and not too hot. Definitely recommended for someone looking to escape the sun or skip the sunblock in hot weather.

The ruching on this shirt is a totally different look for a button-down, and I think it's pretty fun. It also makes for a more feminine, flattering look than your average boxy button down. The fabric is nice and light and wears well for cotton on a hot day. The shirt is cut fairly long and probably wouldn't work so well on someone under 5'4". The sleeves seem cut a bit funny, but all in all I'm a fan.

These just happen to fit me best when it comes to technical underwear. For everyday wear I prefer cotton, but these are my go to when I want something wicking or quick drying. They seem to stay put pretty well.

Honestly I'm skeptical that this will add 15 degrees of warmth, but that's coming from someone who sleeps and generally runs quite cold. This liner definitely adds some noticeable warmth, and it's soft and nice to sleep in. It's also great for any time when you're sleeping in hot temperatures, or to keep your sleeping bag clean.

I find a lot of lightweight, minimalist bras for smaller cupped women have a gathering in the middle which tends to pucker if you do not fill it out sufficiently. No pucker with this design! I felt the top squished me a little bit more than I would like, but it is still a great choice for low impact activities like road biking, hiking, and travel. The bra is nice and light and feels good against your skin. The racerback design stays put.

This is a great bra for any smaller cupped women looking for a lightweight, comfortable bra and are not in need of much support. I wore this bra for 5 days at sea on a sailing trip/race, and it was perfect, drying quickly and wearing comfortably. I do agree it runs very small. My band size is 32 and I went with Medium. In Isis's Peony Day Bra I wear the Small. There's not too much pucker compared to other similar styles with the gathering in the middle.

I ate this meal at sea on a trip where we were not really cooking on the boat. The single generous serving eaten straight from the pouch was perfect, and the meal tasted great.

Easy, tasty, organic. What more can you ask for from compact freeze-dried food? I really enjoyed getting a bit of green spinach in with this.

I got this shirt for my dad for his birthday to wear sailing. It has UPF 25 protection, and looks nice and is quite soft. The polyester jersey has a bit of a cotton feel to it. I'd say the sizing is typical men's more technical sizing (versus their more casual fit).

I got this shirt for my dad for his birthday, and he's very happy with it. It is definitely a bit nylon looking (which is hard to tell from the photo), and it looks quite nice. I'd say it's typical Patagonia casual sizing. This is a good looking shirt with UPF 40 sun protection.

First off, a disclaimer. At home a prefer to sleep on ancient, worn out down pillows. I dislike fluffy pillows, and like the old dead ones that are relatively flat. So with that said, this is a great pillow for me. You can stuff it into any position, and it's nice and soft. For some, it will be too small and not puffly/fluffy enough. For the lightweight and good compressibility though, I would certainly recommend this pillow for those who aren't looking for the superfluff. For those who want something more, check out the Nemo Fillo Pillow, Backcountry item# NEM0020, http://www.backcountry.com/nemo-equipment-inc.-fillo-pillow.

I bought these boots for a winter/spring yurt trip, and was thrilled with them. I have terrible circulation to my feet, and they are always cold. These booties were light and took up extremely little space in my pack. They were quite warm, and stayed dry in the damp spring snow. I walked around in them outside more than I thought I should have, and they seemed to stay perfectly dry. They also have a decent amount of grip in the sole, and was a bit tougher than others I've seen. There's also a good amount of insulation in the snow so that walking in snow you don't feel the cold in the soles of your feet.

Getting the right size was an issue for me. I'm a women's 8.5 to 9 shoe, and ended up being an XS in these. (According to the sizing chart, I should be a Medium, which was huge, and even the Small was too big.)

I got these boots primarily for a pirate party, and for "dress up" in general. I'm not sure I'm someone who could pull off wearing these boots seriously. They are nice enough looking and reasonably comfortable. There's not really any arch support. They worked great for the party and I'm pretty psyched to have them in my "dress up" collection.

I've had a handful of Sigg bottles over the years, and I'm a fan. I prefer a metal bottle, and this one is a nice size, holding plenty of water, but not quite as big and heavy (when full) as a 1 liter bottle. It also fits in my car cup holder. The wide mouth will work with a SteriPEN.

I'm really pleased with these slippers. They are every bit as cozy as they look from the pictures. EMU products seem to be well made, and these have a good sole on them should you need to pop outside for a moment. I'm usually a size 8.5 or 9. While I would have preferred a size 9, it was sold out and the 8 is still doing the trick. The leather seems to stretch just a tad and the sheepskin packs down a bit. Because they don't have a back I can get away with the smaller size. I like these enough to keep the slightly small fit.

This is my first Columbia piece, and the jacket seems well made. The jacket is quite warm, and the cut and detailing is actually kind of cute. The "pizza box technology" thermal reflective lining seems to do the trick. I usually wear a Medium or Small in jackets. I'd say my shoulders are Medium and my torso a Small. I got this jacket in Small and it fits nicely, though I would not be able to fit much of a mid-layer underneath.

Pulling off your ski boots and putting your frozen pups in these Emu boots is wonderful. The sheepskin is cozy, and the boots are well made with a good sole for boots of this type. The buckle design makes them more fun looking than some of the other more plain designs out there. These work great as extra warm slippers, and look okay with a skirt and leggings or skinny jeans.

I'm normally a size 8.5 or 9 and went with the 9 on these which seems like the right choice. They stretched just a bit. They walk kind of on the clunky side, but I also have really narrow, low volume feet, and expect any non-laced boot like this to fit similarly.

Nothing is more durable than Gore-Tex for staying waterproof. I got these for my dad after he decided his similar 8+ year old Arc'teryx pants were ready for retirement. These pants are thoughtfully designed and well made, and he's pretty excited about them.

This pack keeps things organized, and is a good size for day trips. I do wish that it had one smaller compartment besides the soft lined pocket intended for goggles. It's nice to keep a little point and shoot camera, chapstick, and a bit of food handy in a smaller pocket. Other than that I'm pleased with the construction and organization, and the helmet carrier is pretty nifty. This is a great choice if you want an Avalung pack for day trips touring or some slackcountry runs.

I'm a huge merino fan. This top is great for skiing and other cool weather activities. The fit and support levels were as expected, and I'm pleased with the finish and quality.

I always have one of these water bottles by me at my desk. I love the convenience of being able to sip on something without removing a cap, and not worrying about spilling on my computer and papers. I do find that these bottles will leak if you leave them on their side, but for working at a desk or table they are perfect.

Kaenon lenses are top notch. They are hands down my favorite. I got these for Christmas mainly for cycling. I have yet to wear them riding, but I love my other Kaenons. This frame and lens were a bit bigger than I was expecting, but I think they'll still work well for my small face. The wrap design seems like it will stay on well, and I think they will vent quite nicely.

I love the collar on this jacket. Unlike the jacket it replaced, it comes up nice and high and you can tuck the bottom of your face into it. The pit zips are pretty decent, and actually open at your arm pit, unlike other jackets I've had that have something more like sleeve vents that are not nearly as effective. They could be a little bit longer on this jacket, but they do the trick. The jacket fits nicely, and has a more feminine cut than many other puffy jackets out there. I wear a medium jacket in most brands, and the medium in this jacket fits great. The Limencello color is definitely bright, though I did end up liking it better in the flesh than in the photo.

I tried this jacket on in a Medium which is what I am in most outdoor brands and in Marmot jackets that I have. When I put my arms straight out in front of me, the edge of the sleeve was a 2" to 3" from where my wrist meets my hand, not acceptable in my mind. My arms are maybe slightly longer than average, but I by no means have monkey arms. Otherwise this seems like a nice puffy for skiing, except for the fact that there are no pit zips.

I was getting tired of plain,boring black pants, and thought these looked cute and fun. Normally I wear Medium in ski pants from most Outdoor brands, but in my experience Oakley clothing has run big. I tried these on in a Small. They were indeed cute and fun, but would not have worked for me for actual skiing. While I don't have huge, bulging quads, I do have perhaps bigger than average thighs and apparently a big butt compared to my waist (a common problem with jeans). These felt too tight in the upper leg for skiing, and there was a huge gap at my waist. The pants were tight in the butt, and then the waistband stuck out about 2" or 3" from my lower back. That just wouldn't work for keeping out snow and cold air. I think the Medium would have fit better in the upper leg and butt, but it probably would have sat too low for being practical for skiing. These would be a fun choice for those with leaner legs, but they are definitely not made for a skier butt.

I had been eyeing the Tour Water Lilies tank top from Icebreaker's Superfine line for ages. Sadly, it fit me really poorly. I had loved the Titanic color, so I decided to give the Retreat Canopy tank a try as an alternative. The Titanic coloor is a beautiful dark blue. It's almost Navy, but somehow with the slightest hint of purple. The blue print is fun, and the gathering at the neck is cute. I love merino for how well it dyes and holds it's color in addition to its strengths as a natural performance fabric.

I usually wear medium in Icebreaker, but I bought this top in Small and it fits well. It's fitted but not tight. I wouldn't say to size down, but if you're in between sizes (like I often am) I would order the smaller size on this particular piece.

You cannot go wrong with Icebreaker in terms of quality merino, and Superfine 150 is their lightest weight. Merino cannot be beat for breathability and no odor. The Retreat Tank Top is comfortable and cute. The gathering at the neck is cute. The back is cut high, right to the base of your neck, but that will protect your upper back from the sun. I love how well merino dyes and holds vibrant color. I got this top in Abyss and it is a pretty cornflower blue with a hint of purple.

All of my Icebreaker tops are Medium, and I bought this top in a Small which fits nicely. It's fitted but not tight. The Small shirts would be too small for my shoulders, I think, but that's not an issue with a tank. I'm usually a small or medium in tops, depending on the brand and the cut of the specific piece. An Icebreaker rep said that she wears their tanks a size smaller than their shirts, but this was last year and Icebreaker may have updated their cut and sizing this year. I'd say order your normal size, and if you're in between sizes then go for the smaller one.

I had been eying the Tour Water Lilies Tank Top for months, and finally decided to get it. I really wanted to love this top. I liked the gathered hem and the keyhole back. These details plus the beautiful Titanic color and water lily print really drew me to the top. Unfortunately, the puffed out, gathered hem just looked pear shaped. For me it was a really unflattering cut, and I had to return this top. The Titanic color was gorgeous. It's a dark blue with a hint of purple. I love this color and how well merino holds die. The colors in the lily print also complement the blue color really nicely. Yes, I was really bummed out that the cut just didn't look good on me. The top also didn't seem very bra strap friendly. I ended up with an Icebreaker Retreat tank which is cute, but I really wish it came in the Titanic color and with the keyhole cutout.

I'm an Icebreaker nut, and the Superfine 200 merino in this piece is top quality, soft, and breathable. It's pretty lightweight, though not the lightest weight from Icebreaker.

All of my Icebreaker shirts are medium, and I bought this top in Small which was the right size for me. I heard from an Icebreaker rep last year that she wore the Icebreaker tank tops in the next size down. I usually am a small or medium in tops from most outdoor brands, depending on the brand and the shirt's cut. Often I'm in between sizes. If you're kind of in between sizes, I'd opt for the smaller size in this particular top.

I love the Lole Opal dress. With the flowing bottom it's very comfortable, and the gathered smocking and low cut V neck are really flattering. This dress makes my small boobs look good. I usually wear a medium or small, and the small in this dress fits perfectly. All of my Lole shirts are a small. There's a bit of stretch to the smocking which helps to achieve a good fit. For those with average boobs you may have to size up if you're on the edge, and this may not really work for those who are big. I often have a hard time filling out dresses, but this one looks great. The straps will cover your bra strap, and have a nice gathering detail. I'm 5'4" with a bit of change, and the hem hits at the top of my knee. The fabric is thin, but there is no problem with it being sheer or see through for me in the Sea Blue color. Perhaps the other reviewer bought the Jasmine yellow? I'm so happy to have found this dress and know that I will be wearing it a ton.

This is a nice thin hoody. It's a great layer for when it gets over slightly cool outside, or sitting in over air conditioned buildings. I wouldn't quite call it tight, but it's pretty fitted. I have the medium and it fits just right. I think the small would have been too tight in the shoulders, even though I have other Carve Designs tops in small that fit fine. The hoody does have a lot stretch to it though, so I may have been able to get away with the small. Anyway, the top is cute. The Hydro color has designs on the microfiber hood (which is great for wet hair) and the zipper is quite shiny, bright silver.

I really wanted to love this top. The Carve Designs rep raved about the Bondi top, saying that it made even smaller chested women look great. I agree to a point. Past a certain point, I think it's not so great. The Bondi is not all that much coverage which makes it sexy, and has a bit more support than a triangle top. The middle part of the bathing suit looks more cut away than other tops of a similar style. This is what makes it sexy, but if you're too small, then I think it just looks like it's cut away where there should be more of you to look at, if you know what I mean. I found the Rodeo and Maui tops to be much more flattering, and cute.

Carve Designs has some good, helpful photos of the suits on models on their website http://www.carvedesigns.com/shop/product.php?productid=16564&cat=320&page=1.

I'm a big fan of Sigg bottles, and love this Wide Mouth Bottle. The wider opening makes for easier cleaning, and will fit a Steripen unlike my old regular one liter Sigg bottle. It still has the smaller opening for easy drinking. It's also pretty lightweight. While the double screw caps definitely makes this bottle a bit bigger (taller) it's worth it for the versatility.

This shirt is soft, comfortable and pretty cute for being semi-technical. Unfortunately the color feels a little faded. One hundred percent merino dyes nicely and holds color really well, but this doesn't seem to be the case on the Lys 2 Top. The swirly design is fun, but I'm not in love with it. I do like the neck line, and the gathering on the sleeves is cute, though I'm beginning to think that this is not a good look for those of us with slightly big shoulders. The shirt definitely seems well made, and fits well and is nice and soft. I usually wear medium or small shirts (34" chest). I've been wearing small in Lole, including this top. It is fitted and a bit clingy, but I wouldn't quite call it tight.

I really like the double V neck on this top (front and back). The nylon material is quite shiny, which you cannot really tell from the photos. It's also hard to see that there is a pattern to the fabric. (Definitely take a look at the fabric detail photo before ordering.) The fabric detail is fun, but unfortunately it makes it so that you cannot really wear the shirt with a skirt or shorts that has a pattern (but it's fine with a solid). The pattern stands out much more in the flesh. For being a slightly technical shirt, this one is really cute. I usually wear a medium or small shirt, and this one in small fits me quite well (about 34" in the chest). This shirt is at the very fitted to tight end of the spectrum, but it is not skin tight.

This shirt is a little bit stiffer than I was expecting. The gathering at the bust, back, and sleeves is cute, and is flattering. The shirt is pretty cute, but I'm just not a huge fan of the bits of nylon looking fabric, and the stiffness. I usually wear a medium or small in most shirts, and the small in this top fits me quite nicely. I'm about 34" in the chest with slightly bigger than average shoulders.

I'm really pleased with the Peleton Bike Mount. It's quick and easy to put it on a Thule rack with with square bars or round Yakima bars, and the mounts do not take up much space. This is nice when you're mounting it close to the foot of the roof rack. (I have another bike mount from another brand that I cannot get as close because one of the screw pieces has such a long arm that it hits the foot when you try to screw it on). This Thule design allows you to maximize space on your roof it you're carrying multiple bikes and a roof cargo box. I really like the low profile design of the Peleton and easy adjustment to different width forks. It's also great that the lock also locks the bike mount to the rack (unlike some other designs out there). It seems that this mount will also have the Thule durability.

I love this cargo box. The Thule Atlantis boxes are really well made and attractive with glossy finishes. They are pretty streamlined and the wind noise was not as much as I was expecting, nor was the decrease in fuel efficiency (which is definitely noticeable). In my mind a box like this that you can easily but on for your longer or more gear intensive trips is better than a bigger car that always uses more gas. This box is incredibly easy to take on and off. The box opens on both sides so you can easily reach all four of the knobs to screw the claws that wrap around your crossbars, and it takes only a few minutes to tighten or loosen them. I do need a friend to help lift the somewhat heavy, and bulky box on and off, but I can do the rest on my own. The 1800 XT is pretty big, and will take up most of the roof of a station wagon. I had about 48" bars on my car and could fit one bike rack along with the box. I've since bout 58" bars and can fit two bike racks, and maybe even three (but I haven't tried yet). The box is wide enough that I think you could fit reclining camp chairs (something on my personal gear wish list) and you can definitely fit a lot of gear in it. You cannot remove the key unless the box is locked, which helps keep you from forgetting or worse yet driving off with an open box. All in all, a superb product.

I got the Lani Sandal as a dressier pair of flip flops with a slight wedged heel for wearing with dresses and skirts when I want to look a bit nicer but still be comfortable. The entire line of Olukai sandals seem well made, and they have some fun designs (though this is one of the plainer options). The leather between the big and second toe is kind of thick and needs some breaking in. However, once they've been worn a bit these sandals are actually quite comfortable.

I highly recommend all of the Nikwax products for cleaning high tech garments. The TX Direct will bring life back to DWR treatment which is what makes water bead (and takes away the sensation of feeling wet even when you aren't). Using a bit of heat after spraying this on really helps. Either throw your gear in the dryer, or use a hair dryer or warm iron (with a layer of clean cloth to keep the product off of the iron). While putting your expensive jacket in the dryer sounds wrong and scary, the heat helps reactivate the DWR finish. This stuff does smell a little funny, but it will air out quickly enough when you're outside using your gear.

I picked up this dutch oven for a river trip, and it cooked just as well, and at pretty much the same rate, as the cast iron dutch oven we also had, but at a much lighter weight and with easier cleaning. Lasagne, enchiladas, and brownies were delicious, and unlike with a cast iron oven, we could wash it with our soapy dishwater. Because it's hard anodized aluminum, things didn't stick to badly, but we also weren't afraid to use a metal scrubber.

This kettle is impressively light, and I know it will be perfect for short overnight backpacking trips for which I just want a bit of hot water. I do wish GSI made a bigger version for when I'm car camping with a bigger group of people or for river trips, but I guess I could also pick up an old kettle at the local thrift store. I definitely recommend this kettle for those looking for a lightweight kettle at a good price.

I used a 5L See Dry Bag from SealLine for the few things I wanted easy access to on a river trap. It's helpful to be able to see through the bag to find what you're after quickly. With the 5 L size I could fit my extra layers (midweight fleece and lightweight fleece vest) and sunblock. I'd highly recommend the 5L or 10L size for this purpose. The bag seems well made (and kept my stuff dry) though I would not call it the most durable dry bag out there by any means. This bag fit the bill for my "day bag" needs perfectly, and at a reasonable price.

The Eagle Creek Pack-It items are great for keeping your stuff organized so you can find items in a big duffel bag. I find they can also help you to pack more into your bag when you roll your clothes. Anyway, I like the Medium Gear Box to keep my plates, utensils, and mugs together when I go camping. The Gear Boxes are also great for things like hiking boots which won't fit into the Shoe Sacs. Yes, it's just a zippered case, but it comes in pretty handy and allows much easier access than a ditty sack.

This Pack-It Shoe Sac is certainly a straightforward item, but it does come in handy. Why would you want to throw dirty shoes straight in with your clean clothes in your bag? Yes, plastic grocery bags will accomplish the same task, but they start to fall apart with use. I admit to dorking out on Eagle Creek's Pack-It systems, but the cubes and sacs help to keep things organized so you can find what you're looking for in a huge (or not so huge) duffel bag.

The fit on this bag is a bit tight. You definitely wouldn't be able to fit ankle-high hiking shoes in these, but a single pair of sneakers or dress shoes will fit. I'm able to squeeze a pair of flip flops and sneakers in together, but someone with a larger foot probably wouldn't be able to.

The NRS Pelican Micro Cases are perfect for the little items like your camera that you want to keep waterproof but have easy access to. I recently used mine on a river trip for my little point and shoot camera and chapstick. My camera stayed safe and dry. The case was great because it's so easy to close when rougher water is coming up. I would not have taken any pictures if I had to deal with re-rolling a dry bag each time I wanted to get a quick shot. I definitely recommend one of these to any kayaker or rafter.

This is a nice, relatively light day pack with a bit of structure to support the load. The back panel seems it will do a good job of keeping your back a bit cooler and drier. (I did not get the opportunity to hike strenuously in heat with it.) I'm partial to top loading packs with a lid, so this fits the bill. The side mesh pockets are perfect for water bottles (and there's also an internal sleeve for a hydration reservoir to be added separately) and there's a zippered pocket on top of the lid for easy access to the little things. The back felt a bit overly curved at the waist, but perhaps it takes a bit of getting used to. All in all, this is a nice pack and relatively light. Personally I prefer the Osprey Stratos packs. They are about $10 more and slightly heavier, but I'm willing to give up a little more money and weight savings for the more substantial suspension and a few more features (like hip belt pockets). That comes down to personal preference though, and this is certainly a really nice pack .

So I'll admit, I haven't had the chance to use this pack, but I tried it on unweighted, and had to note that Osprey nailed it with this women's specific hip belt. It was angled perfectly for women's hips. The shoulder straps are set closer together than a men's pack, and they go around your neck so nicely. I also love having zippered hip belt pockets. I have a different pack with the ventilated back panel like this, and I love it. The suspension is definitely effective in comfortably carrying weight. I also have one of Osprey Pack's hydration packs with the BioStretch foam hip and shoulder straps. The foam has cut-outs along the middle for ventilation, and is encased in mesh. It's hard to convey how comfortable the hip belt is and the upper shoulder and neck area! Like all Osprey packs, this one seems well thought out in terms of pockets. This pack is a great choice.

This bladder is well worth the bit of extra weight versus the other bladders/reservoirs out there that have no structure. The Hydraform Hydration Reservoir will lie flat against your back, even when it's full. Personally, I hate it when your bladder is full and bulges back into your back making your pack feel funny. Not so with this one! The frame and handle also makes it much easier to put the bladder into your pack, especially when it's full of stuff so you don't have to unpack. The handle also helps to protect the connection of the drinking tube, and makes it super easy to hold when trying to refill the bladder. The tube is nice and wide, delivery plenty of water on one sip, and the valve is very easy to drink out of. At first kept trying to bite down on it like a CamelBak or Platypus, but all you really need is a little suction. It may take a tiny bit of getting used to if you switch over from another brand's bladder, but I think drinking from this one is actually more natural. The bladder is BPA and PVC free, and has an anti-microbial treatment. The only thing I would change on this is add water level markers for those times when maybe you don't need to lug around a full one, or you're curious as to how much water you drank. Of course that can always be estimated, but I like that feature on the Platypus bladders.

Oh yeah. I do indeed dork out on gear, and the magnet to attach it to the sternum strap of Osprey Packs' hydration series (Manta and Raptor packs) is pretty freaking cool!

I love this day pack! It is constructed with the quality you'd expect from Osprey Packs, and while it is not ultralight, it is pretty light for the amount of structure and features to it. I'll take a slightly heavier pack that carries well any day. The Airspeed suspension in the Stratos series is excellent. The LightWire alloy frame does an excellent job supporting the pack's load, and having the pack up off of your back does wonders for ventilation. Coming in three sizes really helps with the fit. Personally, I'm partial to the a top loading pack with a lid (verus the panel design on the Stratos 24). I like having the two largish pockets in the lid. The shoulder strap pocket will hold your chapstick, and the hip pockets are great for easy access to a point and shoot camera. (Hip belt pockets are a must for me because of this reason.) It's also very handy to have the built in rain-fly. The compression straps do a great job reducing the volume of the pack for carrying lighter loads efficiently.

As always, Osprey has come up with a pack with lots of thoughtful features and excellent comfort, while keeping the weight reasonable.

The Ariel 75 will hold a lot of gear, and it carries the load very well. The pack definitely felt like it had a women's specific fit, and I love Osprey Packs' attention to detail. The ventilated back is wonderful, and the hip belt fits nicely, as do the padded shoulder straps which are a bit closer together for women's narrower shoulders. I've done multi-day solo trips in late fall/early winter and fit everything, including a very warm, rather bulky synthetic sleeping bag. What wonderful is the compression straps on the pack work really well for packing smaller loads in this largish pack. Obviously, I would highly recommend this choice!

This stacking cutlery set from GSI Outdoor does the job. The knife does a pretty good job cutting for being plastic and the tines on the fork are pretty sharp. The set is certainly lightweight. I agree with the other reviewers in that they don't stay snapped together very well, but that's not really important to me. They're short, probably about 6.5", but they do the job. So far they seem durable, other than to heat perhaps. I've thrown them in the dishwasher without any problems.

I got this Reef dress to wear for a dance party. The shiny pinstripes make the La Lana dress fun. The dress was comfortable and pretty basic. The elastic is in kind of a funny place, and I think it may be unflattering on those who aren't lean in the torso. What's nice though is you can kind of pull it up and have it hidden under the top flap if it isn't working for you. I'm 5' 4" and 130lbs and the small fit just right.

Icebreaker did a great job making this cute dress. The SuperFine 200 merino cloth is soft and breathes well. The belt, which you can barely see in the photo, really makes the dress. (You can see the belt better in the striped version http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Icebreaker-Superfine200-Stripe-Villa-Dress-Womens/ICE0488M.html.) Without the belt the dress would be kind of a boring, but the belt helps give the dress some more shape and makes it more interesting looking. The dress is definitely pretty fitted, especially on the bottom half. It clings to my booty for sure, but wasn't too tight. The neck line seemed a little funny on my small chest, but it works. You can really dress this piece up or down. Wear heels and a necklace and be ready for a dressy evening out, or throw on some flip flops for a more casual look. You can also play around with where you tie the belt, which wraps around three times. It's pictured tied in the back, but I also find it fun tied on the front off to the side. The main reason why I didn't give the Villa dress 5 stars is because I don't love how love the neckline and how it fits on my chest. It would probably look great on women with bigger boobs than me.I wear a medium in Icebreaker shirts, and a small in Iceberaker tank tops. I'm usually a medium in tops and bottoms from outdoor brands (though sometimes a small), and am 5' 4" 130 lbs. I went with the medium on this dress. I think the small may have fit me slightly better on top, but I think it would have been too tight in the hip, thighs, and butt.I think this would make a great travel dress. It's easily washed and will hang dry relatively quickly. It also shouldn't wrinkle much. Merino doesn't get too stinky, and when you air it out, especially with a bit of a breeze, most odors will go away.

I got this altimeter watch so I could keep track of my total ascents for a hikes or bike rides. I like that Highgear made the Axio Mini actually pretty mini. It is a good size for my small wrist. I did need to reference the manual, but after a bit of review, use of the watch seems pretty straight forward.

I admit to being a sock snob, and I was really happy with these socks as soon as I put them on. They are soft and breathable, and have a great fit. With flat toe seems you don't get the bulge of excess fabric where you least want it, and they nicely hug your arches. The socks stay up without being too tight on your lower leg. They definitely make my picky cut! These socks are just as nice as SmartWools and Icebreaker. The Sedona is a good looking, plain sock, but definitely very comfortable and recommended.

I finally took a pair of these out for a morning to see what all the fuss was about. Sadly I was unable to ski them in powder, but I imagine they do it quite well. They were quicker edge to edge than I though they'd be, and were silly easy to turn. I normally ski a 176 (though I wish they were closer to 180-182) and the 188 S7 was no problem. Compared to a traditional camber ski, I'd say they ski about 10 cm shorter in feel. I was worried that the big fat tip would feel grabby to me (compared to my fairly straight Dynastar Legend Pros) but the tip wasn't floppy at all.

Frankly, I feel like these are the skis that any Joe off the plane from New York can hop on to ski pow on his vacation and not flail on the traverse and groomers back to the lift. The traditional camber under-foot and side cut make them stable, though I imagine that comes at the cost of the infinitely variable turning radius of a full reverse side cut, continuous rockered (reverse cambered) side cut ski. They do not perform as well as more traditional skis in shallower snow or chalky snow, and certainly not on groomers (though you can get by just fine). The S7 seems like they would not be the best of fatty pow skis. To me the S7 feels like a compromise of a fat ski that is easier to ski everywhere else, but fails to excel in any particular category. It never felt bad, but it just never felt all that good either.

While I would not call this hat "warm," the Wool Nut Cadet Cap is a fun design, and a bit smaller than the average unisex cadet/military style. I guess it would not be as cool in the heat as a hat made from other materials, but it will not keep your head warm in the cold. I have a pretty small head and this is still a bit big on me, but it just barely works so I kept it. It seems to be well made, as you'd expect from Mountain Hardwear.

The Shimmy T-Shirt is comfy and pretty lightweight. The gathered fabric at the sleeve is very cute and a fun touch. I'd say the shirt is fitted, but not tight, and that this sizing chart from Stonewear Designs is accurate for it.

The Netty Skirt is cute and straightforward. I'm about 5' 4" and it hits a bit above my knee. My sister thought it was kind of preppy looking for Patagonia, but I think it looks nice. In my opinion it runs slightly big. I wear most other Patagonia bottoms in size 8 and have about a 28"-29" waist. I have this skirt in size 6 (27" waist according to the sizing chart) and it still sits fairly low on my waist. I bet I could get away with the 4 in this, though it would be shorter.

The ISO bottle does the job in maintaining your drink's temperature for a few hours. While it is not nearly as insulating as a proper thermos, it is a huge improvement over a standard bottle. I think the bottle will keep my water from freezing when ski touring, and it seems to keep cold drinks from getting hot while traveling in the car. While I haven't tested it yet, I think it would do a good job of keeping drinks hot when you're inside or in the car, but probably not for too long when out in the cold. The bottle is definitely big compared to the volume it holds, but it has to be. I'd say Laken did a nice job making the ISO a hybrid between your standard bottle and a bulkier, heavier thermos.

I'm guilty of getting downright giddy about this jacket. The Sapphire Blue color is gorgeous, and the jacket is very warm and cozy, and just as importantly, very well made as you'd expect from Norrona. The down fill printed on the inside of the jacket is 750, and the jacket is pretty lightweight with a more durable looking material than some ultralight type down jackets. The fit is definitely generous. I'm 5'5" 130lbs. with about a 34" chest and 29" waist. While I most often buy medium jackets in most outdoor brands, I went with a Small on this jacket, and it is still roomy. I think the XS would have fit me still. I can definitely wear some layers underneath my small. I love the longer cut. My puffy that this is replacing was a shorter cut, and I always seemed to get cold around my lower back. I'm certain this will not be a problem with this jacket. Also, the collar comes up nice and high, and you can really burrow in. The front inside of the collar has a soft, brushed fleece lining which is a great detail. The hood on this jacket is serious. There is just as much down in it as the body, and there is a bit of a brim, which probably helps keep the hood from drooping down over your eyes. The jacket is light enough that I wouldn't hesitate to throw it in my pack when ski touring on cold days for some warmth just in case something when wrong. In my opinion it is too warm for skiing, and I would be worried about tearing the fabric. Overall I'm thrilled with the Falketind and know I will be much warmer hanging out in the evening on my next camping trip, and walking the dog and around town.

Norrona makes some of the highest quality gear and I love their bright colors and contrasting zippers. I think Norrona and Arc'teryx are some of the only companies still making ski pants with GoreTex, and I really wish more companies would do so. While the other brands' proprietary waterproof and breathable membranes seem to do the job when new, they just don't seem to have the durability of GoreTex season after season in my opinion. For those of us who get to ski over a hundred days a season, GoreTex is worth the money. With the GoreTex and solid Norrona construction, I'm confident these pants will last me three or more seasons.

On to fit. I debated a lot on the sizing. I'm 5'5", 130lbs. with a 29" waist about 39"-40" hips. Normally I wear medium jackets and pants in outdoor brands (such as Patagonia, Cloudveil, Marmot..) and occasionally I am a small. I went with the Small for the Narvik. The Small fits me, and I have room for my long underwear underneath. That said, I think I personally would have preferred Medium as I prefer a looser (though not baggy) cut. I would not call these pants tight on me, but they are just more fitted than I am used to. I consider myself to have somewhat of a ski butt and bigger thighs. Someone with my waist but slimmer legs and a small butt would probably find the small perfect.

In regards to the venting, the pants I bought have the vent on the outside top of the leg, and along the outside bottom. I will note that the internal gaiter goes up quite high. I have them in Caviar/Blue, and the bright zippers in the photo make it quite clear where the venting zippers are. I'll also say that the "powder skirt" is a bit odd. I imagine it works well when zipped to a Norrona ski jacket, but not so much on it's own. It's quite baggy and there is no drawcord. If there was a drawcord I think I would use it, especially on deeper days, but without a drawcord it's floppy and useless.

I skied these for a morning and was very pleasantly surprised by them. They are reasonably stiff and felt stable. I've also tried 4FRNT's VCTs previously, and did not care for them at all, finding them floppy feeling, but not so with the EHP. My everyday ski is the Dynastar Legend Pro in 176 (though I really, really wish Dynastar made these in something around 180-183), and I took the EHPs out in 186. I was a little worried about skiing the longer length, but after a few turns I realized I was going to be just fine. With the rocker design they skied shorter and I had no problems at all. I really like that these skis are relatively straight, and that they have narrow tips and tails. I think these would be a nice quiver ski for the West. Call me old fashioned, but I prefer something a bit narrower and more traditional for my everyday ski (about 100 underfoot with traditional camber). The EHP doesn't really carve on the groomers, though is just fine for the runout back to the lift. I was more buttering my way down. I also would prefer something more traditional in chalky snow too. In my opinion, the EHP would be a great choice for deeper days and chopped up snow.

To me, full, continuous reverse camber and reverse sidecut is the ultimate for deep snow, but such skis can be not so fun for traversing and sidestepping, and are not nearly as fun once the pow is tracked out. Something like the EHP would be a really nice compromise for something that skis better once the pow is tracked out, and is much more friendly for traversing and sidestepping. With 0 camber and the rocker, the ski seems to be a nice compromise for more versatility.

This is a top of the line ski shell. It is the quality you'd expect from Arc'teryx with nice ski features. The pit zips are nice and long (unlike some that are so short they barely do anything) and there are two internal zippered pockets so you can keep your cash or wallet separate from your music. The Goretex Softshell is more of a hard shell in my opinion in that it is completely waterproof and has a bit of a compromise on breathability (though arguably a worthwhile one for certain conditions). This is still a highly breathable jacket relatively speaking. The inside has a soft brushed finish.

I'm pretty impressed with the thoughtful design and construction of this jacket. My favorite part is the tall collar with a soft fleece finish on the inside, very cozy for chilly, windy lift rides. I think this Stoic Insulated Welder may have the best collar out of all of my jackets, and that's really saying something for a gear freak (one may even say gear slut) like me. The cuffs on the wrists are really nice and soft, and you can get them tight around your wrist. I would not say that the hood is ski helmet compatible. I have a small head and wear a size Small women's Smith Intrigue helmet which is pretty low profile. If I put the hood up over my helmet, I cannot zip the neck up all the way. It's probably about 1.5" short of zipping all the way up. This would be worse with a bigger helmet. I think the hood would be just fine with a lower profile climbing helmet. Personally I wish this jacket had a powder skirt as I'll mainly use it for skiing. Other than that I will mainly just use it for wearing around town on milder days.

I'm quite fond of the cut of this jacket. It has a more feminine look to the cut than many jackets, without being overly tight or fitted. I find the sizing to be pretty standard. I wear a medium in most jackets (and occasionally a small, especially in more recent Patagonia pieces). The medium in this jacket is a great fit for me for some room for layering underneath.

There seems to be a lot of discussion as to whether or not this jacket is "warm." There is definitely a noticeable difference between this and an uninsulated shell. Personally, I have to wear a mid to heavy weight mid layer with it for skiing lift accessed terrain in temperatures in the mid twenties, depending on the wind. I'd throw this on over just a base layer for temperatures in the upper twenties and above, but that's just what works for me personally. In teens and lower I still opt for my down puffy, but this would do well with a thick fleece or down sweater underneath, I think.

All in all, I'm impressed with this jacket for it's good looks, fit, and good construction.

These socks are a nice compromise between a performance fit and warmth. This Skier+ line from Icebreaker has a great anatomical fit, and this midweight offering should do pretty well for warmth considering it's still not too thick. As always, this is a well made piece from Icebreaker, and I would recommend these for someone looking for midweight warmth with great fit.

Icebreaker never seems to disappoint. These Skier+ Lite socks have a great anatomical fit, and the thickness is a good performance fit, and is comparable to other brand's lightweight offerings. The socks are warm for their weight/thickness, and are some of the best fitting options I've tried. They are a little taller than most brands.

Warning: People may pet you when you wear this jacket. This "high loft" Monkey Phur fleece is very soft and silky. The fleece is also very warm for its relative light weight. I don't think the fleece will do all that well in a breeze though. The collar comes up nice and high, and the wrists have Power Stretch cuffs that hold the heat in. The inside front does not have the soft silky fleece exposed, but the back ans sleeves are the soft silky fleece. The panels on the inside front are still soft and smooth. I wear a medium in Mountain Hardwear and most jackets and shirts from other brands, and the medium fits me well. The Air/Fresh Blue color is a little bit lighter in color than in the picture, but is nice looking. This is a nice, warm piece of the weight, and is also great for casual wear in cooler temperatures.

While I agree with some other reviewers that Backcountry Access could have put a little more into the quality of this tool, it does the job and is small and lightweight. Judging slope angle is much harder than you think. Eliminate the guess work in avalanche terrain and keep one of these in your pack.