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Brian Muller

Brian Muller: #143 of 91,688 Top 200 Gear Guru More Information

30 Reviews:

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48 Yes | 23 No

1 Questions:

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4 Answers:

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  • Stomping Grounds:

    Salt Lake City
  • Bio:

    Skier, Hiker/Backpacker, Backcountry Skier, novice climber, love Snowbird/Alta in the winter and Moab in the summer

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Scarpa Boots

Scarpa Boots

Scarpa Spirit 4 Alpine Touring Boot

November 29, 2008

Scarpa Spirit 4's with my k2 coomba's and g3 alpinist skins also

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Decent Jacket

Mountain Hardwear Epic Jacket - Men's

Mountain Hardwear Epic Jacket - Men's

Rating for this product: 3 April 20, 2009

Purchased this in January. Just returned it today. Waterproofing dies off fast because it is just coated with water repellent spray as opposed to being a durable water repellent, which you do not need to reapply. This jacket is not breathable, contrary to what the product description says, and I would have to undo the underarm and full front zip in order to make it breathable. Good for price, but I would pay a bit more for a better product. Also, hood is not compatible with a helmet

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

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Nice pant

Mountain Hardwear Epic Pant - Women's

Mountain Hardwear Epic Pant - Women's

Rating for this product: 4 April 20, 2009

Super good pant. Just got these a little bit ago because they were on sale for 40 bucks in Moab. Got the womens small, which wasn't that good of a size fit being a 32 waisted man, however it totally does the job. Very light and pretty breathable, but don't expect the water proof/resistant coating to last too long, you will have to reapply it

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

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Amazing jacket

Mountain Hardwear Phantom Down Jacket - Men's

Mountain Hardwear Phantom Down Jacket - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 March 23, 2009

super light, super compressable, and super good price. Bought the vivid blue at 135 dollars, which was a down jacket finally in my price range, and I feel like, and know I got a top of the line jacket. Superlight, only downside is its not waterproof or resistant, however wear a good waterproof shell with a hood and you will never have a problem. Love this!

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

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A bomb.com pole

Black Diamond Traverse Ski Poles

Black Diamond Traverse Ski Poles

Rating for this product: 5 December 8, 2008

Used to use poles that would telescope for backcountry skiing, but after bending a pole, it could never change. These are so awesome and have the ability to attach a snow saw on the end of the pole for safer cornice cutting. Always remember to rope in though!

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 1 No

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Pretty decent ski

K2 Mt. Baker Alpine Touring Ski

K2 Mt. Baker Alpine Touring Ski

Rating for this product: 4 December 8, 2008

Rented a pair of these from REI last year when I was taking my Avy 1 course. Decent ski that can handle crud. Pretty lightweight, although my coombas are more of a pow ski at 102 and lighter, these handled moguls and adverse conditions better

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 0 No

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Excellent Resort

Utah Avalanche Center Brighton Single Day Adult Lift Ticket

Utah Avalanche Center Brighton Single Day Adult Lift Ticket

Rating for this product: 5 December 8, 2008

Definitely worth the price, especially with the discount! If you want Snowbird esque terrain without the lines, or getting tracked out as fast, give Brighton a try!

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

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K2 Apache Coomba Alpine Ski

December 4, 2008

Im 5 11' and ski the scratch ghetto on a 174 but thats park. Iguess its personaly to what length you want I generally want my ski to be about up to the top of my nose or near the bottom of it. Ive never gone any longer than 174 amd don't have back country in the east so....A 174 you would have more control but from what i hear in powder a longer ski is better than short also wider obviously but for me it personal usually from what others tell me. You would have more control with a shorter ski but it would help float a bit with a longer ski....sorry i just found this out. Sorry man i dont know much about Back country apose to park and pipe skis.Edit by Brian.I'm 5'9 and I found the skis at 188 so i decided to get them. I had no problem directing them in good conditions, but found that as soon as you get into crud, breakable crust, or less then ideal conditions, the noodly nature of the ski makes them torque and become longer then you would like in those conditions

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

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Prevents rust and attacks

Yakima Bar End Caps - Set of 4

Yakima Bar End Caps - Set of 4

Rating for this product: 5 December 1, 2008

another necessary piece for your roof rack. Unless you want mileage to beat on the bars and possibly rust them, get these. Also banging your head on them would definitely hurt and is never good

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

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Saves Gas mileage, whistles

Yakima Fairings

Yakima Fairings

Rating for this product: 3 December 1, 2008

Not sure exactly how the gas mileage thing worked, but its obvious, more wind resistant, less gas mileage, and with all that wind getting trapped under your skis or boards or whatever, it definitely helps. I believe this is also the part of my roof rack that whistles when driving over 40-45 mph. Its a real killer when you drive 10-15 k miles a year with it on, so if your not as patient as I, make sure to plug up even more holes where wind rushes through

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

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Get your right size

Yakima Q Clips - 1 Pair

Yakima Q Clips - 1 Pair

Rating for this product: 5 December 1, 2008

Get your right size for your car and it will do the job. Never had a single problem with my roof rack. Don't skimp and buy some old ones or ones that aren't designed for your car. It could be bad news

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 1 No

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Will do its job

Yakima 58 Inch Round Bar - 1 Pair

Yakima 58 Inch Round Bar - 1 Pair

Rating for this product: 5 December 1, 2008

Does exactly what they're supposed to, and they're durable. Get the end caps.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

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Super Lightweight yet durable

Scarpa Spirit 4 Alpine Touring Boot

Scarpa Spirit 4 Alpine Touring Boot

Rating for this product: 5 December 1, 2008

Bought these skis for use with dynafit, so incredible. Lightweight yet durable enough to use with dynafits for resort groomers the past few weeks. Wouldn't necessarily pay full price though because I did buy them used at the UAC sale but still an incredible boot. Also works very well with regular alpine bindings

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 1 No

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Extremely durable

Black Diamond Fritschi Diamir Freeride Plus Binding

Black Diamond Fritschi Diamir Freeride Plus Binding

Rating for this product: 5 November 30, 2008

Best AT binding that I have skied that works with all boots. Use these bad boys for both backcountry and inbounds skiing. Even though you think the rise off the ski will be a big deal, its really not and it is barely noticeable. Dropped cliffs of small/moderate height, up to 25 feet to powder with no problems at all, and the ability to change to AT without taking your boot off makes it easy to switch when you hit flats while with other AT bindings you'd have to take your foot out and then clear all the snow off which on a deep day SUCKS, with these, its no worries all day.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 0 No

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Gets Job Done

Yakima Q Towers - set of 4

Yakima Q Towers - set of 4

Rating for this product: 5 November 30, 2008

I dont know what this person is talking about the Q towers falling off. They come with grips that keep it on your car, plus when attached with the CORRECT q clips for your specified car, and are tightened down and locked, I have never had a problem. I have a low profile, Chevy cobalt with these on them and as long as you install correctly, make sure there isnt slack in the bars when you install them, you should have no problem. I've put about 10k miles on my coupe with these on and never had a single problem. Furthermore, the ease of taking these off to make a quick couple hour trip without skis or board, but wanting the extra gas mileage is so easy its ridiculous.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

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Necessary and good

Yakima SKS Lock Cores - 4 pack

Yakima SKS Lock Cores - 4 pack

Rating for this product: 5 November 30, 2008

Without these, you can unclip the q towers or ski rack or what have you off your car. I have never had a problem with these after riding over 10k-15k miles with them on including 3 2150 mile trips with them on. Never had a problem with them opening up or anything

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

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Scarpa Spirit 4 Alpine Touring Boot

November 29, 2008

Not really. The Spirit 4 has a rocker sole (little curve) for walking/touring instead of a flat sole. Spirit 4 also doesn't have an anti-friction device under foot to best work with alpine bindings. Check out the Tornado or Typhoon.In my opinion I think it works fine. It depends on the clearance of the binding but I had no problem popping these boots in to my old race tigers today. It depends on the binding, but I believe some bindings with low clearance would be a problem but thats about it

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

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Freaking sick skis

K2 Apache Coomba Alpine Ski

K2 Apache Coomba Alpine Ski

Rating for this product: 5 November 17, 2008

Bought these skis a little while ago as to mount with dynafits for my backcountry setup. Went up to alta when we got 48 inches and these things ripped. I'm a small guy too, 5'8" and I got the 188 as well and they rip. This is possibly one of the lightest setups ever and I would definitely recommend getting them. Best of all, I primarily bought them as a tribute to one of my icons, Doug coombs, and it has definitely lived up to what I thought they would be like. Definitely worth the purchase.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes | 0 No

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Innovative Product

Pieps iPROBE Probe

Pieps iPROBE Probe

Rating for this product: 3 November 13, 2008

After seeing a demonstration from Pieps about this product at the Utah Avalanche Center lecture, it is apparent that this thing, while expensive is groundbreaking, however serves basically the same purpose as a probe. If you are without a beacon (stupid) than this would help, but the accuracy of a beacon is good enough to allow you to begin digging, and to be honest some stupid people will use the iprobe to then begin to dig directly on top of another person, causing more problem than harm because the beacon is located at the chest number 1, and number 2 people need to learn proper shoveling techniques. Very cool device, but until the price comes down, invest in a good beacon because its not worth it

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 2 No

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Amazing

Dynafit TLT Comfort Alpine Touring Binding

Dynafit TLT Comfort Alpine Touring Binding

Rating for this product: 5 November 13, 2008

Very light, extremely dependable, and simply the best binding for touring out there. If you are looking for something that will hold up and allow you to go on all day tours without weighing you down, this is the binding for you.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

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A necessary purchase

Dynafit TLT Vertical + Comfort Ski Brakes

Dynafit TLT Vertical + Comfort Ski Brakes

Rating for this product: 5 November 13, 2008

While expensive, don't buy dynafit's without the brakes, its just plain stupid. If you would like your ski to torpedo under the snow and spend hours probing for it, then don't buy these, however to save time and money it is worth the purchase

Helpful Votes: 3 Yes | 2 No

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Excellent Skins

G3 Alpinist Climbing Skins

G3 Alpinist Climbing Skins

Rating for this product: 5 November 13, 2008

very awesome skins, compared to the black diamond ascension skins, not really a huge difference for me other than the way it attaches to the tip, which comes off a little bit easier (when loosened), not inadvertently, and definitely perform very well in the field

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 0 No

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Will Keep you Safe

Giro 2008 G10 MX Helmet

Giro 2008 G10 MX Helmet

Rating for this product: 5 September 30, 2008

Excellent Helmet. I got this helmet from a friend who won it at a snowboarding competition, and boy has it been great. After taking many falls on it you realize that it is a beater helmet that will not let you down when you need it the most. Best of all, if you put on the visor and schralp the trees, you don't have to worry about getting your goggles scratched by an overlying tree branch. Definitely would buy this!

Helpful Votes: 3 Yes | 1 No

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Definitely Recommended

Eureka Alpenlite 2XT Tent 2-Person 4-Season

Eureka Alpenlite 2XT Tent 2-Person 4-Season

Rating for this product: 5 September 25, 2008

Excellent tent, bombproof for me, has never let me down in downpours or anything. However this tent says its out of stock right now, but once it is in stock, make sure the price is much less, because eureka sells them directly from their website for 239.

Helpful Votes: 10 Yes | 0 No

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Excellent Buy

Backcountry Access Tracker DTS Beacon

Backcountry Access Tracker DTS Beacon

Rating for this product: 5 September 25, 2008

After taking an avalanche class last year through Exum mountaineering, I decided to purchase A BCA Tracker. This beacon is extremely affordable, allows you to locate multiple burials and hone in on one, and is very easy to use as long as you know how to use a beacon. Batteries last a long time, the strap to wear the beacon is very comfortable and you almost don't notice its there. Definitely a great buy

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 1 No

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Buy a longer probe

Black Diamond QuickDraw Tour Probe 190

Black Diamond QuickDraw Tour Probe 190

Rating for this product: 2 September 25, 2008

If you are doing backcountry skiing and need a beacon, definitely get something longer than a 190. I own this and after using it for one season you realize if you ever had to use this probe other than in drills, the extra little money for a longer probe definitely makes you and the people you are skiing with feel a lot more comfortable

Helpful Votes: 3 Yes | 1 No

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Excellent Tool

Black Diamond Raven Pro Ice Axe

Black Diamond Raven Pro Ice Axe

Rating for this product: 5 September 25, 2008

Great to have while doing Backcountry skiing in chutes such as Y couloir or others in Little Cottonwood. This is not an ice climbing tool, however most people looking for that equipment should know what they are looking for. This is for mountaineering, such as self arresting and glissading. Make sure to get the correct length, I would even go one size longer because i like it to be more stable, but thats more preference

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 0 No

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Good Cookset

GSI Outdoor Bugaboo Cookset

GSI Outdoor Bugaboo Cookset

Rating for this product: 4 September 25, 2008

I bought the small set, which is very lightweight, compact for camping trips, I even store my stove, the handle for the pots, and a fuel canister inside, however they wear down fast and become permanently stained quite easily when used over a fire as opposed to a stove

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 0 No

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Great Bag

ALPS Mountaineering Desert Pine Sleeping Bag: 0 Degree Synthetic

ALPS Mountaineering Desert Pine Sleeping Bag: 0 Degree Synthetic

Rating for this product: 5 September 25, 2008

Low price that I bought this on Steepandcheap made it great, however if you are looking for a light bag, pay the extra money because this is very heavy to bring on a camping trip. Also, ratings are not based on how cold it can be for you to use the bag, but more a scale, and I would definitely want a warmer bag if I were camping in anything under 20 degrees.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 0 No

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Black Diamond QuickDraw Tour Probe 190

September 22, 2008

Buy the 265 or even the Black Diamond 300. Read my above review, its always worth the extra money to have a longer probe.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes | 0 No

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Black Diamond Fritschi Diamir Freeride Plus Binding

September 6, 2008

you have the Medium and XL in stock, what are the mm measurements for those 2 sizes?

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Suunto S6 Altimeter

Suunto S6 Altimeter Watch

Suunto S6 Altimeter Watch

Rating for this product: 5 August 31, 2007

I'm going to have to say the same thing as the other person. Its a great watch, has tons of functions, but you always need to switch the screen to see different things and it takes some time knowing where everything is, and the altimeter ALWAYS needs adjusting, I think I am going to return it. Its not a bad watch though, because as I understand altimeters have to work off the barometer, but I have to get one that doesn't need so much adjusting.

Helpful Votes: 3 Yes | 2 No

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Great Shovel

Black Diamond Transfer 3 Shovel

Black Diamond Transfer 3 Shovel

Rating for this product: 5 July 24, 2007

I used this shovel when hiking Tuckermans Ravine, it was a great first shovel for me, it does the job, very small, lightweight, and easy and quick to assemble. Great for the money

Helpful Votes: 6 Yes | 1 No

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Where is the shovel pocket

DAKINE Guide Pack - 3000cu in

DAKINE Guide Pack - 3000cu in

Rating for this product: 5 July 24, 2007

This thing is great, I already wrote a review for it, I just want to know where they recommend you put your shovel head. There is no external pocket that comes close to fitting it, the only place I see is like the outermost pocket on any backpack.

Helpful Votes: 7 Yes | 10 No

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Dakine Guide Pack

DAKINE Guide Backpack - 3000 cu in

DAKINE Guide Backpack - 3000 cu in

Rating for this product: 5 June 5, 2007

Great first pack for me. I used it a few weeks ago to hike tuckermans ravine on mount Washington with all my gear, it fit all my stuff great and It did the job well through the rain and kept everything completely dry. Although this is the only pack I have owned, it is great and I would definitely recommend it

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes | 0 No

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