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Dan Ralston

Camper/Hiker // Backpacker // Mountaineer // Paddler // Ocean Kayaker

Dan Ralston: #196 of 91,883 Top 200 Gear Guru More Information

15 Reviews:

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40 Yes | 10 No

0 Questions:

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1 Answers:

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2 Photos:

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0 Gearlists:

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  • Stomping Grounds:

    Homebase is VA
  • Bio:

    Get me outside! Anyplace, anytime, anyway just get me out.

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My favorite Arc'teryx jacket for all seasons.

My favorite Arc'teryx jacket for all seasons.

Arc'teryx Beta SL Jacket - Men's

November 25, 2008

Winter camping on Mt. Rainier.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes | 0 No

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Arc'teryx Beta SL Jacket - Men's

August 25, 2009

Ben, I have another opinion for you. I am 5'9" and 165#. My picture is shown wearing the jacket on this page as a review. My guess is at 5'9" and 165# you have a bit of a chest. For a 5'11 at the same weight he would be very slim. This is a slim cut jacket as are most ArcX items. If you wear it alone the Medium would probably be ok but if you wear a base layer or two under or you do activities that require you to reach you should get the large. This has been my go-to jacket for a couple of years, I really don't take my pack out of the house without in being in there. My picture above was at Rainier and the one here is climbing in the Tetons last month and we got a downpour in the middle of the climb. The large gives me room to reach and wear a base layer or 2. I say go with the large.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

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Never leave home without it in my pack.

Arc'teryx Beta SL Jacket - Men's

Arc'teryx Beta SL Jacket - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 November 26, 2008

I used to carry the marmot but I wanted something that breathes a little better. I have worn this in hours long total downpours, winds at 50 mph and with a wool layer underneath down to 0F. If it ever wears out I'll buy another. My picture is attached wearing this jacket during a winter camping trip on Rainier.

Helpful Votes: 10 Yes | 0 No

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Perfect all around jacket.

Patagonia Guide Softshell Jacket - Men's

Patagonia Guide Softshell Jacket - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 November 26, 2008

It's a nice fit and true to size. The velcro cuffs keep the warm air in and the clod wet out. I am a jacket freak but this one is my favorite softshell. With a good mid-weight layer this will do 32F easy.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes | 0 No

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Perfect cool water sock.

NRS Hydroskin Sock

NRS Hydroskin Sock

Rating for this product: 5 November 26, 2008

I've worn these canyoneering in UT and white water rafting during late fall in WV. Water both times in the 40s and my feet never got cold. With good river shoes they make the perfect combination.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

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Have 2 of them.

Mountain Hardwear Super Wicked Shirt - Short-Sleeve - Men's

Mountain Hardwear Super Wicked Shirt - Short-Sleeve - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 November 26, 2008

Best all around hot weather shirt I own so I bought 2 of them. I backpacked the summer months in UT and NV with these and loved them. I'll feel bad when I wear them out. Perfect fit, kept me cool & dry and made me look better too.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

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MH Sub Zero Parka is Sub-Standard

Mountain Hardwear Sub Zero SL Down Parka - Men's

Mountain Hardwear Sub Zero SL Down Parka - Men's

Rating for this product: 1 July 18, 2008

This is one of the worst MH products I have ever owned and I have a lot of MH. I used this parka for a winter summit attempt on Mt. Rainier. #1 the hood snaps on - not zippers. In a 'real' winter mountain wind the wind will blow through every snap gap and freeze your neck. #2 everytime you try to zipper the pockets the zippers get material in them and jam-up. Then you have to remove your gloves to fix the zippers. To me these are both show stoppers for a coat designed for as the name implies Sub Zero. Don't buy this parka and MH should either fix these issues or pull it off the market! Of course if you are just wearing it as a puffy jacket to the bar go ahead just don't wear it for its real use.

Helpful Votes: 8 Yes | 6 No

2 Comments

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Fantastic but not wind proof with a kewl pocket.

Arc'teryx Rho AR Bottom - Men's

Arc'teryx Rho AR Bottom - Men's

Rating for this product: 4 February 11, 2008

These are fantastic layering pants or worn alone. I wore them alone in 40 degrees with high activity and they were great. Wicking was the best of any layering pants I own including wool/poly. However they are not wind proof. If its windy you need shell pants. And the pocket is kewl! I would buy them again and would have rated them a 5 if they had been windproof.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 2 No

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Need a companion to go with the cup

Jetboil 1 Liter Companion Cup

Jetboil 1 Liter Companion Cup

Rating for this product: 5 November 15, 2007

The extra cup is fantastic and works like it should; it's also a good place to store an extra fuel canister and a couple of treats. I've had the JetBoil for a long time and never hit the trail without it being along. Now I just need a companion for my companion cup.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 0 No

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Fantastically warm but the liners seem a little long fingered

Outdoor Research Super Couloir Glove

Outdoor Research Super Couloir Glove

Rating for this product: 4 November 15, 2007

Great gloves, tremendous warmth and I would buy them again without hesitation. However the liners seem a little long fingered. I wear right on a size medium in most everything, just your average guy I guess. But while just wearing the liners I tried to tie some knots in my tent’s guy lines and the finger tips of the liners were too long and I had to take them off to manipulate the cord. I’ve written OR and hopefully they can exchange them for a small liner. I think with the stretch capabilities of the liner a small liner in a medium shell would be a good combination for me. But if you have long finger these would be perfect.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 0 No

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The best balaclava ever.

Patagonia R1 Balaclava

Patagonia R1 Balaclava

Rating for this product: 5 November 5, 2007

Perfect fit and stayed in place. This is the best balaclava that I have ever worn.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes | 0 No

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Buy from this site but don’t buy this!

Outdoor Research Baffin Balaclava

Outdoor Research Baffin Balaclava

Rating for this product: 1 October 8, 2007

Buy from this site but don’t buy this! The hood is good but the face shield sucks. It took forever to position it correctly across my nose and mouth. And I was in the comfort of my warm house not at 19,000’ with mittens. Even then the hook and loop closure and seams scratched the crap out of my face and neck. I can only imagine how it would be to adjust at altitude with the hook and loop closure sticking to my mittens while my big nose is getting frostbite. Worse piece of gear I have bought in a long time. HOWEVER, the guys at site took care of me. As the always do. The ‘best of the best’ customer service I have ever found! Also proves the point of not test driving new gear at the point you ‘need’ what it is supposed to do.

Helpful Votes: 14 Yes | 0 No

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These pants are hot!

The North Face Paramount Insulated Pant - Men's

The North Face Paramount Insulated Pant - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 June 5, 2007

Not only are they hot they kept me warm too. i should have bought 2 pair.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 1 No

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perfect chill fighter

Mountain Hardwear Micro Chill Zip Tee - Men's

Mountain Hardwear Micro Chill Zip Tee - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 May 10, 2007

I loved this tee. It is very light weight and has a trim workout fit. I just came back from a camping trip where unexpectedly the temps hit in the low 40's. I wore it over a short sleeve tee and stayed cozy. A very good deal!

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

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everything is true

Columbia Omni-Dry Silver Ridge Convertible Pant - Men's

Columbia Omni-Dry Silver Ridge Convertible Pant - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 May 10, 2007

Every thing written about these pants is perfectly true. I have 5 pair and wouldn't change to another brand or style. Somewhat trim fit, zip off length is exactly correct, light weight and packable. Buy them, and you will want more.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

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it works

The North Face Bones Beanie

The North Face Bones Beanie

Rating for this product: 5 May 10, 2007

Low price, looks good, fits well and keeps my head warm. What else would you want in a beanie - it just plain works!

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 1 No

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Best trekking socks I have ever worn

SmartWool Mountaineering Xtra Heavy Mid-Calf Socks

SmartWool Mountaineering Xtra Heavy Mid-Calf Socks

Rating for this product: 5 May 10, 2007

Very nice cushion and warmth. Wore them all day climbing in my heavy hiking boots. I wore out way before they gave out. Nice heavy sock.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 0 No

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