TNF STH

TNF STH

The North Face S.T.H. II Softshell Jacket - Men's

January 5, 2011

Skiing in the STH, standing at the top of Kirkwood.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Scattered about

Scattered about

Sea To Summit Lightweight Dry Sack

December 22, 2010

Keeping things safe and dry in S2S sacks

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Blueprint

Blueprint

Black Diamond Squall Tent 3-Person 4-Season

January 21, 2010

Dimensions for those interested

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes

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Viperine 2 Dimensions
Interior Space

Interior Space

Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 Tent 2-Person 4-Season

December 29, 2009

Set the tent up inside and threw a couple bags in there to get an idea of how much space I'd really have. Definitely a roomy 2 man tent. There's also some nice gear storage on the walls and overhead.

Helpful Votes: 4 Yes

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Size Comparison

Size Comparison

Sea To Summit Reactor Thermolite Sleeping Bag Liner

December 8, 2009

This liner packs down in size somewhere between a Campbells soup can, and a nalgene. It's slightly larger than a Campbell's Chunky soup can.

Helpful Votes: 3 Yes

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Fun in the snow
23 Degrees
Great for light[er] Hikers

Great for light[er] Hikers

The North Face Ultra 104 GTX XCR Trail Running Shoe - Women's

November 10, 2009

Using the 104's as a light hiker on a 4 day backpacking trip

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Slept like a baby

Slept like a baby

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Sleeping Pad

November 10, 2009

Side by side and sleeping peacefully

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes

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Green with Envy
Dinner is Served

Dinner is Served

Jetboil Classic Personal Cooking System

November 10, 2009

Another successful meal thanks to my Jetboil

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes

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Terra'ing it up in Yosemite
Trio in Yosemite
Fuse and A-Frames

Fuse and A-Frames

Giro 2008 Fuse Helmet

November 10, 2009

Just a picture of me wearing A-Frames with my Fuse helmet

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Guadalupe Peak

Guadalupe Peak

Mountain Hardwear Canyon Pant - Men's

September 29, 2009

Standing on top of Texas [8,751 ft] in the Canyon pants. These pants adapt to weather extremely well.

Helpful Votes: 4 Yes

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Light up the Night

Light up the Night

Black Diamond Orbit Lantern

September 29, 2009

The Orb lighting up my 2-man tent after the sun goes down.

Helpful Votes: 13 Yes

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Fuse w/A-Frames

Fuse w/A-Frames

Giro 2008 Fuse Bluetooth Audio Helmet

September 29, 2009

Keepin' my mellon safe before heading down some tricky stuff at Tahoe. I love how light this helmet is.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Cool Mornings

Cool Mornings

The North Face Trooper Down Vest - Men's

September 29, 2009

Stayin' warm with the Trooper vest on a chilly Yosemite morning.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Almost full

Almost full

Osprey Packs Aether 70 Backpack- 4000-4400cu in

September 29, 2009

The 70 wasn't quite packed to capacity in this picture, but it was getting close. There's about 40lbs worth of gear in there, including a bear canister. I had a little room left to go up, but not much more to go out. The bear canister took up a lot of room.

Helpful Votes: 3 Yes

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Shoulders after 4 days of backpacking

Shoulders after 4 days of backpacking

Icebreaker SuperFine 200 Hopper T-Shirt - Short-Sleeve - Men's

September 29, 2009

This picture is less about the burger in my hands, and more about the slight pilling on the shoulders. That's what the shirt looked like right after finishing up a 4 day backpacking trip. It really didn't look too bad, but it was noticable. It looks better now after having washed it a couple times.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes

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Cool and Comfy

Cool and Comfy

prAna Stretch Zion Short - Men's

September 29, 2009

A shot of me hiking the Strech Zion shorts. These shorts are great for hiking and high energy activities. I love the mesh pockets, the sand and dirt just sifts right out of them.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Bivy on the AT

Bivy on the AT

Black Diamond Lightsabre Bivy Sack

August 11, 2009

A shot from one of my trips on the AT. Here you can get an idea of how big the opening is that you have to squeeze through to get in this bivy.

Helpful Votes: 4 Yes

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Unity Suit

Unity Suit

The North Face Unity Suit - Men's

August 11, 2009

Here's a shot of me in the Unity suit. As you can see from where I have my leg up, the crotch does hang unnaturally low.

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5^2

5^2

Oakley Fives Squared Sunglasses - Polarized Peggy

August 11, 2009

Just chillin' by the ocean in my Fives Squared

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Bottom Side

Bottom Side

Volkl Gotama Alpine Ski

August 11, 2009

In case you were wondering what the base graphics of these ski's look like, here they are in action at Kirkwood last winter.

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Salomon Sentinel Ski

September 6, 2011

More than your height and age, your weight will help people with determining weather you'll be able to float this ski for big powder days. That said, I'd be a bit hesitant about pulling out any ski that's less than 100mm at the waist for big powder days. If you really want a big fat out west ski, look for something with at least a 105-115mm waist. I'm an east coaster and I have a pair of Volkl Gotama's that I take out west (105mm at the waist).

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Suunto Core Altimeter Watch

September 6, 2011

I have a Core that I use for Alpine skiing, as well as backpacking. The Core has pretty easy to access logbooks, which also include total ascent & descent as well as average ascent & descent rates. You can check your progress throughout the day as well. There's no way to check the average inclination that I've been able to find. Overall its a great tool for keeping track of your vertical while skiing.

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Backcountry.com Siphon Street Full-Zip Hooded Sweatshirt - Men's

September 6, 2011

Not going to happen. The Backcountry.com brand is now sold as STOIC gear.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Yakima Outdoorsman 300 - Full Size

August 19, 2011

One tower. Buy two if you want a pair.

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GoLite Badlands Trinity 3-Layer Jacket - Women's

August 19, 2011

This is the hardshell, no fleece inside (except for some soft stuff near the face).

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K2 Revival Ski

July 19, 2011

They'll work. although they're going to stick out about 3/8" extra on either side, so if you're REALLY laying these ski's over on edge you may drag the brakes. Depends on your skiing style. You could also just order narrower brakes, pretty easy swap.

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I/O Bio Merino Contact Glory Hooded Zip Top - Women's

July 19, 2011

I/O Bio's Contact 1 line is all 160 gm/m2, it's safe to assume this is as well.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Volkl Mantra Alpine Ski

June 24, 2011

This could definitely be a solid ski for vermont (I'm an east coaster as well - most of the time).
I'm 6'0 185lb ski patroller and I ski a 183 Gotama, which is a little wider. Given you described yourself as an advanced intermediate, I'd recommend the 184cm for you. However it won't provide as much float if you ski a lot of powder, or if you're already on a ski that long and looking to step up, then the 191 could be doable. I'd err on the side of the shorter ski for you though, it'll be more controllable and still plenty stable.

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Mountain House Beef Stroganoff - 2 Serving Entree

June 24, 2011

There's some nutritional information on Mountain House's website: http://www.mountainhouse.com/nutr.cfm
The beef stroganoff is listed there as well.

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Big Agnes Edna SL Sleeping Bag - -5 Degree Down - Women's

June 24, 2011

You'll have to buy a pad separately. This has a sleeve for the pad, but not the actual pad.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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KEEN Coronado Sandal - Women's

May 17, 2011

No, the Coronado is 11.7oz and the Whisper is only 8.8oz

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes

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Merrell True Glove Shoe - Men's

May 17, 2011

The Trail glove is 6.2 oz, vs 5.9 oz for the True Glove. And judging from seeing them in person, it seems like the trail glove is a little sturdier. They're both pretty lightweight though.

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The North Face Paramount Explorer II Pant - Men's

May 17, 2011

I'd also consider the Mountain Hardwear Mesa Pants, or their Canyon pants (if you can find them). They're also great lightweight pants.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Nikwax Glove Proof

April 14, 2011

I would buy the glove wax. I use glove proof on the gloves and wax on the palms, that's just my preference.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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The North Face Khumbu Fleece Jacket - Women's

April 7, 2011

Small. My 5'2" better half wears an XS and it hits at her hips.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Kelty Yukon Backpack - 2900-3000cu in

March 15, 2011

You'll have no problem going 7-10 miles with this pack as long as it fits comfortably.

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The North Face Denali Thermal Jacket - Women's

March 15, 2011

XS would fit you, but if you're going to grow some more before next winter I would buy a small.

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Tough to beat

Icebreaker BodyFit 260 Legless Bottom - Men's

Icebreaker BodyFit 260 Legless Bottom - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 March 10, 2011

I picked a pair of these up before ski season this year. Now that I have 3+ months in them, here's my thoughts;
I've worn them under a pair of Patagonia Powder bowl ski pants for skiing temps from 5 to 50 degF. I have not been hot or cold. Granted, when it was 50 deg and I was skiing hard I did vent my pants a bit. I was initially concerned that these might be a little too warm, but that hasn't been the case. They breathe incredibly well, and when I did get heated up, they wicked the sweat rather effectively.
The legless design is awesome, as you don't have any overlapping under your boots. The only issue being that with a 32" inseam I had to make sure that my socks were pretty long. I had one pair of ski socks that barely overlapped with these and about midday I could feel a cool spot on my shins where the socks and pants were no longer covering. This was easily remedied by not using those socks anymore.
Everyone knows merino wool is king of the funk (if you don't know, now you know). So after multiple days of skiing in these, they still didn't stink, it's awesome. You can go on a ski trip and only pack one pair of long johns/base layers. Not to mention my ski buddies were jealous of the sweet 3/4 length cause they had that classic bunching/overlap of sock and pant in their ski boots.
$75 is a lot of coin to spend on a pair of base layer pants, but I think these pants are worth every penny of it. You could buy 2 synthetics for the price of this pair - but then again, you'd actually NEED to buy two if you're going on a multiday ski trip.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Oakley A-Frame Goggle - Polarized

March 10, 2011

Check out the Smith I/O. I picked up a pair this year for skiing and they are excellent. There's more room around the nose than my old A-Frames and they flow more air as well, which helps prevent fogging. I also noticed that they are significantly cooler than my A-Frames, they don't keep my eyes as warm. This is probably a good thing, especially for backpacking, where you won't be moving as fast to help prevent the fogging.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Therm-a-Rest Dream Time Sleeping Pad

February 15, 2011

You could lug it for a couple miles, but I definitely wouldn't want to thru-hike with it. It tips the scales at almost 7lbs and doesn't pack down very small. For the short hikes you're talking about you could just roll it up and lash it to the outside of your pack.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes

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The North Face Khumbu Fleece Jacket - Women's

February 10, 2011

The sleeves and collar are a dark brown color.

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Mountain Hardwear Twin Arch 2 Footprint PL

February 7, 2011

I don't have a diagram, but it's a pretty simple process. Lay the footprint down first, then when you put up the tent, the end of the tent poles go through the grommets in the footprint. You can see one of the grommets in the product picture above. Also notice the orange loop, when you set the tent on top of the footprint orange goes to orange.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Smith Holt Skullcandy Single-Shot Audio Helmet

January 11, 2011

Yeah man, just plug it in and you're good to go.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Smith Variant Brim Helmet

January 11, 2011

Yeah, they're simple to install. Like you said, if you want a color other than matte black, you're gonna have to buy the audio kit separately.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Backcountry.com Overhang Pant - Men's

January 10, 2011

Backcountry.com gear is now sold under the Stoic brand name.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Smith I/OS Interchangeable Optic Goggle

January 6, 2011

Backcounty is sold out, so checkout http://www.smithoptics.com/products/#/Replacement+lenses/Snow+Goggle+Lenses/

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Oakley A-Frame Goggle

January 6, 2011

Yeah, the VR50 is definitely a bit darker than the persimmon lens. A persimmon lens isn't dark enough for me on a sunny blue bird day, just too much snow glare for my eyes to be comfortable. On the flip side the VR50 is a bit dark for night skiing. The lenses in A-frames aren't that tough to swap out, so I'd suggest picking up a clear lens for about $40 if you plan on doing a lot of night skiing (if it's in your budget).

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Smith I/O Interchangeable Optics Spherical Series Goggles

January 6, 2011

I just got a pair of these. The new goggles have the clip at the back of the strap and DO NOT come with a hardcase. The older goggles ($180 version) came with a hard case, these just come in a goggle bag with 1 extra lens and you save $15.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Stoic MDWT Sleeping Pad - Long

January 6, 2011

R value is 5.5, can't help with the rolled size though. Also, this is pretty narrow for 2 people (it's only 38" wide). You'd be hard pressed to fit two adults comfortably on there, unless they're spooning. It's about the size of a twin bed.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Smith Knowledge OTG Turbo Fan Series Goggles

January 6, 2011

I don't think Backcountry carries them, but you could order direct from Smith; http://www.smithoptics.com/products/#/Replacement+lenses/Snow+Goggle+Lenses/Knowledge+Turbo+Fan+OTG+Replacement+Lenses/view/ or try to find them somewhere else online.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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DAKINE Ski Sleeve Single Bag

January 5, 2011

You can definitely fit a pair of poles in there. Can't answer your question about airline travel though, sorry.

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Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Solo Trekking Pole

January 5, 2011

These are sold individually (like it says in the product description).

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Suunto Core Altimeter Watch

January 5, 2011

Big number is your current altitude/elevation above sea level - assuming you calibrated your barometer. Smaller number could be a variety of things, but is most likely your difference in altitude from a prescribed point (where you pressed the upper left button)

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K2 SideStash Alpine Ski

January 5, 2011

I definitely think it sounds like a good recommendation, considering your size/weight, ability, and how you feel on the Mantra's. Going up 4cm from your Mantra's equates to less than an extra inch on either end of the ski, so you probably won't notice it too much. These are a bit wider than the Mantra as well, so with the extra length and width I think you should have some nice float in the pow.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes

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prAna Mojo Short - Men's

January 5, 2011

Ask a backcountry employee in the livechat pop up window, you'll get your question answered way quicker than waiting for an employee to find this question and answer you.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Icebreaker BodyFit 260 Crew - Long-Sleeve - Men's

January 5, 2011

You've probably bought one by now, or completely given up hope on anyone ever answering this question, but...
I'm about your size 6' 175lb and I wear a medium. It's snug, but not restrictive. I like it that way because I wear it as a base layer anyways.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Columbia Thermodynamic Softshell Jacket - Men's

December 29, 2010

This would be great for spring skiing - when it's a bit warmer. Softshell's aren't the best insulators and if you tried to ski wearing this jacked in the dead of winter you would be pretty chilly. The omni heat liner will help, and if you layer up a lot under this jacket you might be able to get away with skiing in the 20s and 30s while wearing it.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Marmot Destination Jacket - Women's

December 23, 2010

It's in the specs above on the right - 527gm (.5kg)

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Apex Bionic Softshell Jacket - Men's

December 23, 2010

I'm 6', 175lb, but fairly narrow - 40" chest, 32" waist and a medium fits me well. I'm not sure how big "kinda built" is for you, but I think you'd probably fit in a medium, unless your chest is huge and you've got some really broad shoulders.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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The North Face Arctic Down Parka - Women's

December 22, 2010

Vous ne savez pas si l'un de service à la clientèle de l'arrière-pays parlent français, ils doivent avoir un Canadien français ou deux dans leurs rangs ... Désolé si le mien est un peu rude. Chaque fois que j'ai acheté quelque chose d'un autre pays ma compagnie de carte de crédit automatiquement convertis de leur monnaie à l'USD pour moi Je devine que le serait de même, votre compagnie de carte de crédit vous permet de convertir les coûts de dollars en euros au taux de change actuel. Désolé je ne peux pas répondre à votre question sur les délais de livraison. Bonne chance!

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Salomon Lord Ski

December 22, 2010

Your weight, ability, and skiing style/where you ski will help everyone in recommending a length to you.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face TKA 100 Microvelour Glacier 1/4-Zip Top - Men's

December 22, 2010

If it's from backcountry.com just give them a call. Their customer service is top notch and they're awesome about returns. Better yet if you're in the SLC area you can just stop in. They hooked me up a couple years ago when I was on a trip out there and stopped in to return an item.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Sentinel Thermal Jacket - Men's

December 22, 2010

I'm 6', 180 and I wear a medium in TNF jackets. I'd recommend the same for you.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Black Diamond Lightsabre Bivy Sack

December 13, 2010

I camped out in this bivy with a 30 Degree back (Sierra Designs Nitro) and the temp got down to 23. I was a little cool in the morning but still alright. I would say that this MIGHT add 5-10 degrees. Depends if you're a warm sleeper or not as well.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Hestra Army Leather Gore-Tex XCR Glove

November 4, 2010

My Hestra's were a little tight the first few times I wore them as well. You have to give them a little time for the liners to pack out. Just to make sure they're not too small, take the liner out and put your hand in just the shell. If that's tight then they're definitely too small. If you have some wiggle room you're good, just need to pack out the liners.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Marmot Helium Sleeping Bag: 15 Degree Down - Women's

November 4, 2010

Unzip it part way and start by stuffing the bottom of the bag in first. Just keep packin' and stuff the hood last. If you stuff the hood first it traps air in there and makes it a little more difficult. Hope that helps.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Volkl Gotama Ski

November 4, 2010

The only reason I can see that you'd want to go up to 178's is if you're worried that the 170's won't be stable enough at High Speed, or won't provide enough flotation in pow. At your size you're probably fine with the 170's, especially if you never noticed any chatter on your MSP's at high speeds.

178's would provide more flotation in the pow, but the 170's will be more maneuverable in the trees, and easier to spin in the parks.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Yakima Q Towers - set of 4

November 2, 2010

This may seem like a stupid question - but do you have the crossbar running between them or are you setting them up first and planning on putting the crossbar through next? If you don't have the bar in there you'll just be able to crank way down on them. If you do, and you're still cranking way down, trying moving the towers a little further in (toward the middle of the car) on the crossbar and locking them in place there. Good luck.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Petzl Grigri Belay Device

November 2, 2010

Yes, much better than an ATC or a figure 8, as far as being dummy proof goes. It's not as easy to pass rope through as an ATC or 8 though, so if you climb fast, he may have some trouble getting enough slack out for you. And if you fall you'll probably jerk to a stop quicker, since Grigri's catch immediately. But all in all, it would certainly be safer.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Base Camp Duffel Bag - 2560-4395cu in

November 1, 2010

It's 5 in round x 10 in long.
Pretty small, works well as a toiletries bag.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Rossignol FKS 140 Ski Binding

March 9, 2010

Yeah, you get one or the other, not both.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Rossignol X-Tour Escape NIS AR Ski

March 5, 2010

The drop down is whats in stock. Try talking with one of the live gear guru's to see if they plan on getting any more shipments of this skis. I'd say it's doubtful though, since spring is fast approaching. Good luck.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Marker Duke Ski Binding

February 25, 2010

You may also want to be sure that the DIN settings go low enough for you (if you're pretty light or short it may be a close call). For example, if you're under 5'5", even if you're a type 3 skier, the highest your DIN would be set is 7.5. If you're not a type 3 it could be set as low as 4. These bindings only go down to 6, so you may want to make sure you fall in that range before you spend all your money on the Dukes.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Black Diamond Lightsabre Bivy Sack

February 24, 2010

That's definitely the toughest pole. You have to pretty much try to bend it in half with a hand on each end and just shove it up in there. At least that's what I do. It is by far the tightest fitting pole of the 3.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Salomon XT Hawk Trail Running Shoe - Men's

February 23, 2010

Here's the picture of the Autobahn/Black.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Rossignol FKS 180 Ski Binding

February 22, 2010

Tech specs: 5lb 6oz

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Terra 40 Backpack - 2450cu in

February 17, 2010

Yeah, you shouldn't have any problems passing this pack as a carry on.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 Ultra Light Tent: 1-Person 3-Season

February 16, 2010

This thing couldn't really be much easier to set up, it's one hubbed pole (I don't know why the description says it's 2 poles). You can verify it on Big Agnes website if you want to see for yourself: http://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Detail/Tent/FlyCreekUL1
As for whether or not it's really free standing - it is, but there's only a single pole going into the point at your feet. So it's going to work out much better and keep the tent body away from your toes if you stake it out. Likewise if you really want to keep the fly off the tent body (especially at your feet) you're going to have to stake it out. You can get away without staking it out if you have to though (like if you're sleeping on a boulder).

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Marker Jester 16 Ski Binding

February 16, 2010

Mounting these up on a pair of night trains would be a sweet setup! Moment ski's rock, a big shout out to Casey over there in Reno. I wish I had known about Moments before I bought my Gotama's. I can't speak for the Armada's. I have Jester's mounted on my Gotama's and its my favorite setup in my closet full of ski's. One thing to note on my Jester's - the heel was pre-releasing and had to be set 2 Dins higher [12] than the toes [10] to release at the same pressure. So if you get them I'd make sure the shop that mounts them test's them out for you.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Hestra Ski Cross Glove

February 12, 2010

The leather is tougher than I expected it to be. I've had a big ice bit for a drill spin up in my hand while wearing a pair of hestra's [forgot to lock out the trigger] and it barely tore up the leather. I'm a ski patroller and my gloves have seen some pretty rugged use over the past two seasons. The leather is a little dirty, but it's still in good condition.
I wouldn't worry about tearing them up throwing grabs, I've never had that issue with mine when I decide to throw down in the park.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Head Skis USA Mojo 15 Ski Binding

February 9, 2010

Yeah, you're good. If it's really that close, they can bow the brakes slightly to make sure they clear without any issues. Buy 'em.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Classic Denali Fleece Jacket - Women's

February 8, 2010

My better half is the exact same size as you [Victoria] and has an XS Denali Fleece that she loves! So I would have to suggest the XS for you.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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DAKINE Apollo Glove - Men's

February 4, 2010

It's the soft part on the back of your thumb.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Mountain Hardwear Typhoon Jacket - Men's

February 2, 2010

This jacket is pretty awesome and packs down to about the size of a grapefruit or softball. Paclite is definitely more packable than performance shell.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Dynastar PX 12 Lifter Wide Ski Binding

February 2, 2010

On 105mm skis you could just bow/bend the brakes enough to clear the skis. It's pretty common practice on in-between size ski's like that.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Smith Variant Brim Bluetooth Audio Helmet

February 1, 2010

Bluetooth is wireless. The regular audio you still have to run a wire to your helmet from whatever Audio device you're using.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Marmot Scree Softshell Pant - Men's

February 1, 2010

Inseam on the L is 32.5"
on the XL it's 33"

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Oakley Radar Range Sunglasses

January 28, 2010

No.
Polarized are here:
http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Oakley-Radar-Pitch-Sunglasses-Polarized/OAK1311M.html
and here:
http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Oakley-Radar-Path-Sunglasses-Polarized/OAK1313M.html

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Black Diamond Lightsabre Bivy Sack

January 27, 2010

Not really if you want room to put your head. I say that somewhat facetiously. I'm 6' and definitely don't have room to put a pack in the head area while still maintaining room for myself. If you're a shorter guy, say 5'8" or less, you might have room to sneak a 20-30L pack in there.

Check the picture I added last month, "fun in the snow" that should give you an idea of the actual size of the head area, in comparison to the length of my torso. Also, the plastic bag in front of the bivy are my trail runners - size 10. I probably could have stashed them in the bivy, but there really wasn't all that extra much room.

For summer trail runs I have a 25L bag I pack, bivy, pad, sleeping bag, water and a little food. I can fit in in there with me, but it's basically empty at that point.

That's a lot, more then I intended on writing, hope it helps.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Black Diamond Focus Speed Adjust Harness - Men's

January 27, 2010

I'm the same size and I went with a medium after trying them on. It's pretty tight getting it past my quads/thighs (40"), but fits good at the waist (33"). I couldn't get a large to fit snug enough around my waist. I'd go with the medium, worst case, you'll have to undo the belt to get it past your thighs.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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DAKINE Concourse Double Ski Bag

January 26, 2010

I've flown with my Swix Coffin (Wwich is pretty huge) on Continental and Delta several times and never had any issues. I had 2 pairs of skis, and a ton of gear in it, tipped the scale at an even 50lbs each time (after I took some gear out of it). What airlines are giving you issues?

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Giro Tuneups w/BT Link

January 26, 2010

The little black psuedo triangular piece you see in the main photo above contains the mic. The skull button is to answer calls.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Dynastar PX 12 Lifter Wide Ski Binding

January 26, 2010

You got it - you get 2 bindings, one for each ski.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Sleeping Pad

January 25, 2010

This sleeping pad is lung powered, you get to blow it up. It takes me about 3 minutes to blow mine up without getting light headed, it's a the regular size. Another guy said it took him 17 breaths for a small.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Stoic Welder Insulated Softshell Jacket - Men's

January 24, 2010

Here's a good setup for you. This is what I used on my TNF softshell and it's working pretty well thus far.

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Nikwax-Tech-Wash-Softshell-Proof-Wash-In-Twin-Pack/NIK0054M.html

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Anon Realm Replacement Goggle Lens

January 21, 2010

Go with the yellow - helps bring out the contrast, and makes it seem like a brighter, sunnier day than it actually is.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Arc'teryx Fury SV Softshell Jacket - Men's

January 21, 2010

It all depends on what you plan on using the jacket for. Fill us in a little bit more on where and how you'll be using it and I'm sure you'll get some great feedback and suggestions.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Black Diamond Squall Tent 3-Person 4-Season

January 20, 2010

From Black Diamond's diagrams it looks to be about 90" long and 80" wide (at the widest point). I'll upload the diagram, hopefully it helps. Maybe someone who owns the tent can bust out a tape measure and chime in.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Aconcagua Down Vest - Men's

January 19, 2010

The Nuptse vest has 700 fill power down, while the Aconcagua has 550 fill power down. Basically the Nuptse has a higher quality (more expensive) down in it.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes

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Black Diamond Bombshelter Tent: 4-Person 4-Season

January 11, 2010

Design wise they are almost exactly the same. The guiding light is made of "Epic" fabric, while the Bombshelter is made of Todd-Tex fabric. The Todd-Tex is a heavier, more rugged, and more waterproof fabric than Epic. Because of that the storm shelter is heavier (by 3.5 lbs). Part of that weight is also because the Storm Shelter comes with vestibules for both end. They are optional [and cost extra] on the Guiding Light. I hope that helps.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes

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Bolle Quasar Goggle

January 11, 2010

I would go with the Amber gun in those conditions.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Mountain Hardwear Ultralamina 32 Sleeping Bag: 32 Degree Synthetic

January 8, 2010

Stuff size is 7" round by 10" long. You can compress it slightly smaller than that in a good compression sack aka "smaller than a loaf of bread" like Kellen said.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Oakley Tanner Hall Signature Crowbar Goggle

January 8, 2010

The fire lenses are mirrored, the persimmon lenses are not.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Skullcandy Ti Stereo Headphones

January 8, 2010

3.5mm is a regular plug. You're good to go, no adapter needed for your pod.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Patagonia Powder Bowl Jacket - Men's

January 8, 2010

Yes and no. The zipper pull is metal, the teeth are not. It IS a waterproof zipper though (and I'm pretty sure they don't make those in all metal).

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Mountain Hardwear Viperine 2 Tent 2-Person 3-Season

January 7, 2010

This is definitely a long tent, it measure's 85 inches from head to toe. More than enough for someone who's 6'6" (78 inches). I'll try to post up a picture of the dimensions for you.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Mountain Hardwear Taurine 2 Tent 2-Person 4-Season

January 5, 2010

If this thing is half as good as it's bigger brother the Trango 2, it will be awesome. I love the Trango, but it's $100 more. Mountain Hardwear stuff is no joke, top quality gear, but you're looking at this tent - so you probably realize that.
A note on Black Diamond Tents - you have to seam seal them yourself. And I can assure you, even with a beer in your hand, it is not the most fun way to spend an afternoon. Plus then you're left questioning whether you did a good job or not. It really isn't that hard, just time consuming. My lightsabre bivy took about 2 hours to seal.

Both companies make bomber tents. The Storm track weighs less, and has more floor space.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Arc'teryx Sidewinder SV Jacket - Men's

January 5, 2010

Yes, go with a Large. I'm 6' 175lbs and wear a medium. Sounds like you have more bulk than me, so I'd definitely go with a large.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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SmartWool PhD Ski Ultra Light Sock

January 5, 2010

Not right now. Keep an eye on this product though, eventually more will probably come back in stock.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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K2 Coomback Ski

January 5, 2010

If you're skiing icy conditions, you definitely don't want these skis. Typically narrower ski's are better on ice, wider skis get used for backcountry, and lighter skis get used for touring. I'd look for a light ski with a width around 85-90mm. So when you look in the tech specs at the dimensions it should be 1XX/8X/1XX.

Check out the All-Mountain Carve Ski's: http://www.backcountry.com/store/group/100000001/All-Mountain-Carve-Skis.html

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Patagonia Ascensionist Softshell Jacket - Men's

January 4, 2010

From the sounds of it, I think you could fit in a small. I'm 6'/175lbs and wear a medium in Paty Jackets. Your chest, neck, and sleeve measurements would be helpful in suggesting a size as well.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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The North Face Mountain 25 Tent - 2-Person 4-Season

December 29, 2009

I know exactly what you mean, I set one up at a store near my place when I was looking at mountaineering tents. Same thing happened, so it must just be the way the tent is constructed. It will go away when staked out.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Hestra Heli Glove

December 29, 2009

Absolute warmest - I'd say the Hestra Heater:
http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Hestra-Hestra-Heater-Glove/HES0094M.html
I have a pair of heli 3-fingers and in 3 years of skiing and camping, my hands have never once been cold in them.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Mountain Hardwear Lamina 20 Sleeping Bag: 20 Degree Synthetic

December 23, 2009

Check the Tech Specs Jim.
It weighs 3lbs in regular length, 3lb 3oz in long length.
Packs down to 7.5" round by 15" long.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Patagonia Powder Bowl Jacket - Men's

December 23, 2009

I have this jacket and it is just a shell (read: No Insulation). I'm ok skiing in it if it's in the 30's. I usually layer a fleece under it, for REALLY cold days (single digits or below zero) I throw a Paty Down Sweater under it instead of a fleece. If you're just walking around town in it, and not that active, you'll probably want to layer a fleece under it in anything below freezing.

I do absolutely love this jacket though. Lots of pockets and it's made of some tough fabric that's not going to snag and rip when skiing trees!

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Stoic Merino Bliss 150 Shirt - Long-Sleeve - Men's

December 23, 2009

Yeah, I'd say a medium would fit you pretty well.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Elan 1010 ALU Alpine Ski

December 22, 2009

The brakes on the STH 16 aren't wide enough. They're only 100mm (this ski is 110mm at the waist). 10mm is a little much to be trying to pry the brakes to fit. If you could find some wider brakes to swap on the STH, then you'd be in business.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Oso Hooded Fleece Jacket - Girls'

December 22, 2009

No it can't, it doesn't have a reversible zipper or tabs on the cuff.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Mountain Hardwear Lamina 20 Sleeping Bag: 20 Degree Synthetic - Women's

December 22, 2009

I'm pretty sure BC goofed on the specs here. MH women's bags typically fit approx 5'5" (regular) or 5'10" (long).

Hopefully someone from BC corrects the specs here.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Mountain Hardwear Cohesion Jacket - Men's

December 22, 2009

The difference is primarily in the fabric and laminate used on these jackets.
The Cohesion uses Conduit DT laminate over 40 denier Ark Ripstop fabric. Something the Cohesion has that the Epic doesn't is an Ark Stretch panel on the back and arms of the jacket, to allow for more fluid movement when skiing or climbing.
The Epic has a Conduit SILK laminate over a 50 denier, 2.5 layer, Ark Ripstop fabric. This is a slightly heavier fabric than what's is used on the Cohesion.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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The North Face Caribou Down Jacket - Men's

December 21, 2009

Yes. I'm 6'/175#/15.5" neck/35" sleeve/40" chest/32" waist and the medium is a great fit on me.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face ST Transformer Jacket - Men's

December 21, 2009

This is Steep Tech! Zip in liners need not apply. In other words, no, it won't. You could however, just wear a fleece or down jacket under it.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Pro-tec Ace Freecarve Audio Helmet

December 20, 2009

You sure can, just plug this into the headphone jack on the touch.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Giro G10 Helmet

December 20, 2009

Yeah, these ear pads are pretty simple to take off. Same as other Giro helmets (if you own any others).

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Freedom Pant - Men's

December 19, 2009

The medium shorts only have a 29" inseam, so you may want the regulars, which have a 31" inseam. Depends if you'd rather have your pants a little long, or a little short.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Mountain Hardwear Tierra Pant - Women's

December 18, 2009

Depends on the size, but here they are
M - 31.5/32"
M Tall - 33.5/34"
L - 32.5/33"
L Tall - 34.5/35"

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Arc'teryx Scorpion Jacket - Women's

December 18, 2009

This is an awesome jacket, but it's not going to keep you warm in extremely cold weather. This jacket doesn't have any insulation, so if you plan on wearing it in extremely cold weather you're going to want to layer a fleece or down jacket under it. However, it will keep you dry in the nastiest weather you can find.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Salomon SPK Kaos Ski Boot - Men's

December 18, 2009

I would whole-heatedly suggest you take your son to a reputable nearby ski shop (if there is one) and have him fitted in boots. Ski boots can be pretty finicky when it comes to sizing.

I'd recommend checking the listings here: http://skibootfitters.com/FIND_SHOP.htm, find a shop near you, and take your son.

I know that doesn't really answer your question, so here's the answer- Size 10 = 28 and 10.5 = 28.5. On the bright side, backcountry has a great return policy, so if the boots don't fit you can always exchange them.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Freedom Insulated Pant - Men's

December 18, 2009

I really doubt the large is going to be long enough. You gotta sneak a peak at your man's jeans to see what size he wears. If he's 6'5" his inseam is probably somewhere around 34"-36". The large's only have an inseam of 31.5" and the XL's are still only 32.5". I'd suggest finding some pants that are available in a Tall size for him.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Buy. Watch. Cry. Repeat

MSP Films In Deep Ski DVD

MSP Films In Deep Ski DVD

Rating for this product: 5 December 16, 2009

Another classic ski flick from MSP. Lots of awesome skiing, crazy tricks, and innovative camera angles, but none of that matters.

This should be required viewing for anyone who truely loves skiing, and that has nothing to do with the first 58 minutes of this movie. It has everything to do with the last 15 minutes and the outstanding tribute to Shane, his life, his legacy, and the undeniable impact he has had on the sport of skiing. One of the true pioneers of our sport over the past decade, it's a sin not to watch this and pay tribute to him. If watching the tribute to Shane doesn't bring a tear to your eye, you must have pure icewater running through you viens.

I agree with everything Steven G had to say in his review.
RIP Shane.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Big Agnes Dream Island Sleeping Bag: 15 Degree Synthetic

December 15, 2009

You've got several options.
I like Sea to Summit waterproof compression sacks for my sleeping bags:
http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Sea-To-Summit-eVent-Compression-Dry-Sack/STS0002M.html
A large may work, an extra large will definitely fit this bag.
For a non-waterproof (cheaper) option:
http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Sea-To-Summit-Compression-Sack/STS0062M.html
Again, large may work, XL will definitely fit.
These are just a couple options, there's plenty of others out there.
Just remember to never store your bag in a compression sack.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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The North Face Elysium Down Jacket - Men's

December 15, 2009

I'm 6', 175lbs, and wear a medium in TNF. You should go with a Medium,a large would be way big on you.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Patagonia Continental Pant - Men's

December 14, 2009

Never heard of Backcountry hemming pants for people. You could certainly take it to your local tailor when they arrive.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Black Diamond Momentum AL Harness

December 14, 2009

No they can not, please don't try to suspend yourself, or anyone else by the side (gear) loops. A further point of note (since I'm guessing your new to climbing) - the front belay loop is that big white loop on the front. Be safe and climb with an experienced partner your first dozen or so times out.

Helpful Votes: 4 Yes

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Red Total Impact Short - Men's - 09/10

December 13, 2009

Yes. It says so in the description and the tech specs. There is padding for the tailbone. Also confirmed on Burton's website:
http://www.burton.com/mens-red-helmets-protection-protection-total-impact-shorts/217226,default,pd.html?dwvar_217226_variationColor=017&start=8&cgid=mens-helmets-protection-protection

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Stoic Welder Insulated Softshell Jacket - Men's

December 13, 2009

I'm almost exactly your size- 6', 175, 39" chest, 33" arms, 32" waist. I have mediums in Paty, TNF, MH, etc. I recently picked up a Stoic in Large and it is still a relatively trip fit. There's enough room to layer a fleece under it, but I would by no means call it baggy. Definitely still a trim fit.

Go Large.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Black Diamond Demon Backpack - 1831-1953cu in - 2009

December 12, 2009

There is definitely a waist belt on this pack. Check here for more details:
http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us/shop/mountain/packs/demon

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Smith I/OS Interchangeable Optic Goggle

December 12, 2009

I think you answered your own question - the I/O S are smaller. They're not a whole lot smaller. What other goggles fit your face well might help us figure out which would be better then you. But if you have a large noggin (helmet), I'd think the regular I/O would be a better fit for you.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Backcountry.com Stoic 2.0 Shell - Men's

December 12, 2009

You're going to have a tough time finding one. The "Backcountry.com" brand is now being marketed as "Stoic" brand. All the new stuff is being made as Stoic gear, so there won't be any more of these made. Your only chance might be to snag one on geartrade.com, if there's any left.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Marmot Matterhorn 30 Backpack - 1850cu in

December 11, 2009

30L you could fit a sleeping bag, bivy, Jetboil (or other small stove), and a little food. Assuming you pack smart, but don't expect any luxury. I've fit a summer bag, food, jetboil, sleeping pad, and Lightsabre bivy in a 25L pack for overnight trail runs before.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Pumori Fleece Jacket - Women's

December 11, 2009

Yeah, you're really going to want an XS. My fiance is a little bigger than you, and she wears an extra small.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Burton Baker Mitten - Women's

December 10, 2009

Check out Hestra's Gloves. Their Heli mittens come with liners that have individual finger slots (like a glove). They're warm and super comfy. I have a pair of their Heli 3-finger's and I love them.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Hero Triclimate Jacket - Men's

December 10, 2009

They zip together, so you can put them on as one.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Mountain Hardwear Canyon Pant - Men's

December 10, 2009

These pant's are made of some tough fabric, but it's pretty thin. They aren't going to provide much warmth. However if you're just wearing them under the shell so that you can take off the shell and wonder around town without looking like a stooge in your baselayer - they'd be perfect for that. You'll barely notice them.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes

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Black Diamond Havoc Ski

December 9, 2009

Yes, these ski's are woodcore. What ski's use should get your boyfriend varies greatly depending on his style of skiing/where he skis, skill level, and height & weight. A few of those details and the community here could really help direct you to a great pair of skis for him.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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The North Face Mammatus Jacket - Men's

December 9, 2009

Yes, it's just a shell. If it's cold you're going to want to layer underneath of it.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Black Diamond Covert with Avalung Winter Pack - 1343-1953 cu in

December 9, 2009

This is last years model, which is why it's on sale, and the only size left is the 22L s/m. Being 5'10" the s/m may be a bit short for you, unless you have really long legs and a short torso. It depends how you're proportioned. But it's likely to small.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Marmot Strato Jacket - Women's

December 8, 2009

It sure does - "Attached Adjustable Hood that Rolls Into Collar gives you the option to tuck-away when not needed" from Marmot.com

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Dynastar NX 12 Jib Med Ski Binding

December 8, 2009

These should fit without any issues. If it's close you can just bend the brakes out slightly. I doubt you'll even have to do that though.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Apex Bionic Thermal Jacket - Men's

December 8, 2009

This would definitely work for skiing. Keep in mind it's a softshell, so it's only water-resistant. It will be warmer than a standard softshell, which is a good thing unless you're skiing in REALLY nice weather.
It's recommended for a lot of high output winter activities (snowshoeing, trekking, backpacking, hiking) so I doubt it will be too warm for skiing.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Big Agnes Pine Island 4 Tent: 4-Person 3-Season

December 8, 2009

The review says it easily fits 4 sleepers, but I'm always weary of that. So has anybody slept in this with 4 full size adults? We're 6'3", 6', 5'11", 5'9" - all athletically built? I'm sure we'd probably wouldn't have much extra room, will we have to sleep head to toe?

Lastly - can anyone compare this to the Sierra Designs Lightning XT4? (Besides being a little bigger and heavier)

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Marmot Halo 4-Person Tent

December 8, 2009

How well will this tent fit 4 guys? We're 6'3", 6', 5'11", 5'9" - all athletically built? Will we have to sleep head to toe?

Also - the spec's say it's not seam sealed (taped?). Anyone had issues with water finding it's way through the fly seams during extended periods of rain?

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Marmot Den Tent 4-Person 3-Season

December 8, 2009

How well will this tent fit 4 guys? We're 6'3", 6', 5'11", 5'9" - all athletically built? Will we have to sleep head to toe?

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Double Headed Toad 44 Bx Tent 4-Person 3-Season

December 8, 2009

How well will this tent fit 4 guys? We're 6'3", 6', 5'11", 5'9" - all athletically built? Will we have to sleep head to toe?

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Coleman Insta-Clip 4 Sided Screen House

December 8, 2009

I wouldn't call it waterproof. The top will shed water, but if it's windy it can come in through the screens. As for cooking inside of it, I'd be cautious. You could use a camp stove inside of it, but i wouldn't try lighting up a grill and cooking some burgers. That's a bad idea.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Surge Backpack - 2150cu in

December 8, 2009

20" x 13.5" x 9.5"
(51 cm x 35 cm x 24 cm)

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

Sold Out

Backcountry.com Siphon Wool Hooded Jacket - Men's

December 8, 2009

It's unlikely they will. Keep an eye on Stoic brand gear, it's the new brand that backcountry.com is marketing their gear under. They aren't making anymore backcountry.com gear.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Rottefella Rottefella Cobra R8 Binding

December 7, 2009

I'm not sure if they do, your best bet might be to email them - post@rottefella.no

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Columbia Nordic Babe Parka - Girls'

December 7, 2009

Sure is. Skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, etc.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Low Twenties!

Sierra Designs Nitro 30 Sleeping Bag: 30 Degree Down

Sierra Designs Nitro 30 Sleeping Bag: 30 Degree Down

Rating for this product: 5 December 7, 2009

I can't believe no one has reviewed this awesome bag yet, so I'll try to give a pretty thorough one.

I've had this bag for a month now and finally got a chance to put it to the test. With a weekend trip to my folks, the forecast calling for snow on the east coast, and an overnight low around 30, I couldn't think of a better time to try the Nitro out. So here's the results of my little field test.

I'm not entirely sure how companies rate sleeping bag temperatures. But here is my experience with this bag. First off - I am typically a warm sleeper, as in "sleeping next to you is like sleeping next to a heater." That said I set out deep into the backyard to make camp, threw on a midweight base layer (IB260 top, paty Cap3 Pants), some [lightweight] running socks and crawled into my bivy and the Nitro.

The hood cinches down nicely around the face, however it would've been great if they had given up an extra ounce to add something to make the opening a little softer against the face. Where the cords were drawn tight was stiff. However, I did have this thing cinched down to "blowhole" size around my mouth and nose.

I was warm when I crawled into the bag and stayed warm through the night. It was definitely cold when I woke up and I was still pretty comfy - I could feel some of the coldness coming up through the ground. I was sleeping on a Therm-a-rest Neoair, and should've had a Z-lite mat under it, but didn't. So my insulation from the ground wasn't quite what it should've been. The only thing that was cold were my feet. I blame that on the lightweight running socks, had I been smart and put on a pair of midweight wool hiking socks I think they would've been fine.

There was plenty of frozen condensation inside the bivy – a testament to the freezing temperatures, but the down stayed dry. I certainly wouldn't call this bag's liner waterproof, but it did its job against the condensation. Even after being woken up to the sound of my father's laughter as a snowball exploded against my bivy and I was showered in frozen condensation, I was able to shake the ice off the Nitro.

I got up and went in the house to find out that it had actually dropped to 23 degrees overnight! No wonder my feet were a little chilly and I could feel the cool ground through the sleeping pad!

A few other thoughts and notes - The stuff size say's 17 x 7in. That's the size of the stuff sack that comes with this bag. It can actually be compressed much smaller than that, probably around 12 x 6in. Maybe less, I should've measured. It also comes with a nice mesh storage bag, like any sleeper in this price range should. The foot vent is nice, although it was unnecessary in my latest experience. There are also nice stiffeners along the main zipper to prevent snagging which work well.

The flex baffles are awesome. I'm convinced this is one of the things that helped me stay warm despite going well below this bag's rated temp. I had been looking at Montbell's bags for this, but their regular bags are only good to 5'10" (I'm 6'). So I was really excited when this bag came out. Eliminating the dead air space, while still giving me the ability to move around a bit in the bag was definitely helpful in keeping me warm.

I would recommend this bag to anyone without hesitation. It’s light, warm, packs small, and certainly earned it’s 30 degree rating with me.

Helpful Votes: 3 Yes

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MSR Reactor Stove

December 7, 2009

MSR's IsoPro is an 80/20 blend of Isobutane and Propane. Snow peak and Jetboil canisters are also an Isobutane/propane mix. Some others probably are as well. I'm not sure what is in coleman's canisters, although if you can get your hands on one it should say. Anything that's an Isobutane/propane mix should work, although it may not burn as clean or as efficiently as MSRs canisters, since their stoves are designed specifically for them (the 80/20 mix).

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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The North Face Deception Insulated Jacket - Men's

December 7, 2009

It's sold out/out of stock right now. Good luck finding one, TNF's tibetan orange seems to be a pretty popular color this year.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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prAna Julia Sweater - Women's

December 4, 2009

It's in the dropdown menu - click on "select options"
Pumice - Small and Large
Expresseo - Small, Medium, and Large

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Stoic Welder Insulated Softshell Jacket - Men's

December 4, 2009

Well you asked two questions and unfortunately they don't have the same answer;
Waterproof - the Bombshell, no doubt
Breathable - the Welder
So it's going to come down to which is a priority. The bombshell will still be somewhat breathable, but not nearly as breathable as the welder. Likewise the welder will provide some water resistance, but I wouldn't want to wear it in a prolonged storm.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Look Ma, I'm bulletproof!

Backcountry.com Stoic 2.0 Shell - Men's

Backcountry.com Stoic 2.0 Shell - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 December 4, 2009

Alright, so maybe I would wouldn't stand in front of a loaded weapon with this jacket, but it definitely feels bulletproof. I put it up against some lofty (and expensive) competition and it holds it's own. Backcountry put their name on it, so you know it's no slouch. You could buy Patagonia, TNF, MH, Arc'teryx, sure - if you want to spend twice as much.
A note on comparing it to those other companies though, the sizing is a little smaller. I wear a medium shell in basically everything else. I'm 6' 175 and I picked this jacket up in a large, which is basically perfect for fitting a fleece underneath.
The lining is comfortable against the skin. The welded seams save weight and make it uber-waterproof, the angled cuffs are an awesome touch, and the summit blue looks great in person. I've spent some time in the rain with this jacket and stayed nice and dry. It also breaths well.
My only possible complaints - it only has 3 pockets, which is the least of all the ski shell's I have. It's probably a good thing cause I won't be weighting myself down with a bunch of crap that I don't need. On the flip side of that, it's good for fast and light. If you're wearing a backpack the lack of pocket space doesn't matter anyways.
The only other thing is that it doesn't have a powder skirt. Obviously it says this in the specs, so I'm not docking it any points for that. I have a one piece for all the deep days, but this would be a really unbelievable ski shell if it had a powder skirt. If I were expecting some really nasty weather I could also stash this jacket when I go backpacking, it packs small and only weighs 22 oz (10 more than my Precip).
Overall this is an excellent all around jacket; skiing, backpacking, climbing, it's capable of keeping you comfortable regardless of the pursuit.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Marker Griffon 12 Ski Binding

December 4, 2009

Check out the Marker Baron
http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Marker-Baron-12-Ski-Binding/MRK0010M.html
Awesome touring binding.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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DAKINE Boot Bag - 1800cu in

December 4, 2009

It has a main compartment for boots, and a smaller pocket accessed from the outside for your other stuff, like goggles or gloves. It's not that big, but you could probably fit a pair of goggles and one pair of glove in it. I usually just pack my gloves in with my boots though.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Stoic Bombshell Jacket - Women's

December 4, 2009

I wash my waterproof shells about twice a year, unless they get too dirty and need washed more often. Although I do alternate between several different shells. I've never had any issues with water-proofness. That's with a variety of manufacturers and different waterproof fabrics - including a Stoic (bombshell fabric) shell. Whatever you do, do not wash it with regular detergent!

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Percolator

December 4, 2009

6 or 9 cups, but only the 9 cup is in stock right now.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face S.T.H. II Softshell Jacket - Men's

December 4, 2009

I wore this jacket with just a T shirt on underneath, skiing with temps in the upper 40s, that was enough to break a sweat. I love the jacket and it's got style points to spare. But just walking around campus with a light shirt on underneath in the 20s or 30s I think you would be cold. This jacket has a nice fleece backing, but it is really thin, and is definitely not insulated. It's really better for more aerobic activities in cold weather (skiing, running, etc).
For just wondering around campus in cold weather I'd suggest something insulated. Although that doesn't leave you with many options under $200, especially in white.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Hestra Heli Glove - Women's

December 4, 2009

I agree with AC that about the only glove that's really going to be completely waterproof in pouring down rain for hours is probably one of those lovely yellow rubber kitchen gloves.
That said, you should be good in quite a bit of rain with some gore tex gloves, here's a few:
- http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Hestra-XCR-Short-Glove/HES0092M.html
- http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Hestra-Army-Leather-Gore-Tex-XCR-Glove/HES0023M.html
- http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Marmot-Randonnee-Glove/MAR0067M.html
- http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Norr%F8na-Narvik-Gore-Tex-Short-Glove/NRA0034M.html
- http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Black-Diamond-Guide-Glove-Mens/BLD0767M.html
There's plenty of other gloves out there as well that use some form of gore-tex for waterproofing, these are just a few. Many of them probably come in a womens version as well, I know the BD Guide glove does.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Sentinel Thermal Softshell Jacket - Men's

December 3, 2009

With the Gore Windstopper this will definitely be warmer than your Denali. You should be fine going with an XL in this as well.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Arc'teryx Stinger Bib - Men's

December 2, 2009

These do come in tall sizes which is a good thing for a tall thin dude like you. Waist wise a Large would fit you well. The large Tall has a 34.1" inseam, the XL Tall has a 34.8 inseam.
Bomber pants.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes

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Voile XLM Shovel

December 2, 2009

You could definitely use it to build a kicker, it's got a meaty 13 1/2" blade. You may want to check the measurement to make sure it'll fit in your backpack if that's how you plan on transporting it. Packed its going to be about 13 1/2" x 14". If you're less worried about packing it, you may want to look at some shovels with longer handles so you don't have to shovel from your knees. Here's a few:
-Voile Telepro Shovel
-Black Diamond Transfer 7 Shovel
-Backcountry Access Chugach Pro EXT Shovel
-Ortovox Grizzly 2 Shovel
-Mammut Alugator Light Shovel
Have fun hucking!

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes

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The North Face Mica 12 Footprint

December 2, 2009

No it does not. It only covers the tent floor.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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The North Face Elkhorn Bx Sleeping Bag: 0 Degree Heatshield

December 1, 2009

That's really going to be up to you to decide, and also depends on what you plan on using it for.
The Marmot bag weighs 4oz more, but also has a water repellent finish, which is key when camping in cold weather due to all the condensation. Both aren't going to pack down very small, so be aware of that if you plan on doing any backpacking or mountaineering with either of them.

Helpful Votes: 4 Yes

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Marmot Exum Work Glove

December 1, 2009

I picked up some Hestra Leather Balm at my local ski shop to take care of the leather on my gloves. http://www.hestrausa.com/prod.php?p=HES9170&k=5
I'm sure other companies make similar stuff, but like I said, they had this locally for me so I picked some up. If it's half as good as Hestra's gloves I'm sure it'll be great.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Thule Universal FlatTop 6 Rack

November 30, 2009

Getting a fairing may help with that. It has to do with the airflow over the rack. Any way to adjust how air flows over it may help. I used to have a flat top 6 on my Subaru and having a fairing on the front helped with reducing wind noise.
Check one out here: http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Thule-Fairings/THU0063M.html
Luck you - they're even on sale right now.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Terra 30 Pack - 1850cu in

November 24, 2009

This pack is
24 in. x 12 in. x 6 in.
According to The North Face's website

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Mountain 25 Tent - 2-Person 4-Season

November 23, 2009

I'm considering this tent for some winter/alpine camping. How cramped is it gonna be for me (6' - 175lbs) and my brother (6'3" - 210lbs)? I've read some reviews that say it might be tight for someone over 6' - any taller guys out there tried this tent? Unfortunately outdoor stores in my area don't carry many 4-season tents. Thanks!

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Hestra Heli Mitten

November 23, 2009

I have the Heli 3-finger mitts - so I can't speak to the XCR's. Like you stated, obviously they'd be more waterproof. However in 2 years of patrolling and skiing I've never had an issue with my hands being wet OR cold in my Heli's. My hands actually are usually TOO warm and I and up taking the mitts off and letting them hang from the straps for part of the lift ride up. That's in the 20's and low 30's. I haven't had any issues with cold hands down to around zero degrees (Fahrenheit). I would buy them again in a heart beat, best gloves I've ever purchased.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Classic Denali Fleece Jacket - Women's

November 23, 2009

You're about the same size as my fiance and the XS is a great fit on her. Should fit you just fine!

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Stoic eVent Stash Shell - Women's

November 23, 2009

With a baselayer and midlayer underneath this would be a great jacket for skiing. If Stoic's sizing is like Backcountry's sizing it runs a little small. So if you plan on layering underneath of it, I'd suggest you go a size up from what you would normally order. You could also to talk to one of the gear guru's on live chat to verify this before ordering. They're extremely helpful.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Marker Griffon Schizo 12 Ski Binding

November 16, 2009

Looks like right now you can only order them with a 90mm break. You can definitely get a wider break from Marker and throw that on though, it's a really easy swap.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Backcountry.com Stoic eVent Shell - Men's

November 12, 2009

I don't think so. The "Backcountry.com" brand is now being marketed as "Stoic" brand. All the new stuff is being made as Stoic gear, so there won't be any more of these made. Bummer cause Rapids was a cool color.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Stoic Luft Insulated Sweater - Men's

November 10, 2009

Less warmth. Down is the best pound for pound insulator you can buy and these jackets are roughly the same weight (.05lbs different - less than an ounce). On the bright side, this jacket will provide insulation when wet, down doesn't insulate at all when wet.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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The North Face Mica 12 Tent: 1-Person 3-Season

November 10, 2009

I think you could do it. It says it's 6" diameter by 18" long when packed. You could definitely manipulate that to fit in a medium sized backpack (20-30L)

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Arc'teryx Stingray Jacket - Men's

November 10, 2009

I just tried one of these on this weekend. I'm 6' 175lbs (16" neck, 34/35 sleeve) and a medium fit me nicely with just enough room for a layer underneath. Since you've got a few pounds on me I'd recommend a large for you. The jacket hit slightly below the waist and the sleeves were long enough. This is definitely an awesome jacket. The copper looks great in person.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Almost Indestructable

Nalgene Wide Mouth Tritan Bottle - 32oz

Nalgene Wide Mouth Tritan Bottle - 32oz

Rating for this product: 5 November 10, 2009

I have a few of these bottles and I take one of them with me where ever I go. I couldn't break one if I tried.

My little brother and his friends actually tried to destroy one as part of a school project gone horribly wrong a few years ago... They filled it up, ran it over with a jeep, threw it off a roof onto a concrete driveway, tossed it out of a moving car, and nothing seemed to stop it. They bottle did unfortunately meet it's end when they filled it with gunpowder and shot it with a rifle.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Giro 2008 Fuse Helmet

November 9, 2009

Just confirming that A-Frames fit well on this helmet. I have one that I wear my A-frame with on an almost daily basis in the winter. I'll try to put up a picture when I get home tonight. Great helmet though.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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The North Face Apex Bionic Jacket - Men's

November 9, 2009

It's in the drop down menu. Below the price, "Select Options"

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Volkl Gotama Ski

November 6, 2009

These are some pretty stiff boards. Being that light, even a 178 will probably be a lot for him to handle. I'm 175lbs and picked up 183s last year. I have to be on point when I ride these, if I start slacking off at all they let me know it. Definitely not a forgiving ski, which is why I wouldn't recommend them for a lightweight. At least for last years model. I know they rockered the tip and tail this year, but I'm pretty sure it's just as stiff.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Giro Encore 2 Helmet

November 6, 2009

Yeah, you can pop the ear pods right off, it only takes a couple minutes.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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IB260 vs Paty Cap3

Icebreaker BodyFit 260 Crew - Long-Sleeve - Men's

Icebreaker BodyFit 260 Crew - Long-Sleeve - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 November 5, 2009

This is an awesome mid weight base layer. I've been using Patagonia Capilene 3 as a base layer for the last couple ski seasons. That stuff is great IF you're not worried about how much gear you're packing for a 10 day ski trip and tippin the scales at the airport. A couple of hard days skiing in the Paty and the stink on that shirt is kickin' like an NFL punter. In Paty's defense, the IB piece is definitely more expensive.

With the Bodyfit260 being Merino wool I can get away with wearing it for 4 [or more] days, which means I only have to pack 2 of them for a week+ trip. The wool is soft against the skin and super comfy. I'll definitely be picking some more up. I just picked up a wool Patagonia base layer, but haven't had a chance to compare the two yet.

On sizing, I'm 6' 175lbs and picked up a medium for a snug/baselayer fit. If you wanted it to be loose and hang off of you a little, get a large.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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LEKI Pro Carbon Cross Country Ski Pole

November 4, 2009

Yeah, you shouldn't have a problem. You just push down the button on top and you can disconnect the wrist strap from the pole. Then just snap back in when you're ready to get going again.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Patagonia Down Sweater Jacket - Men's

November 4, 2009

I've tried to avoid brushing up against anything too rough because the outside of this jacket does feel pretty thin. I haven't had any issues with it ripping, but then again, I've been pretty careful with it. I've brushed up against brick walls and not had any issues. I've never worn it skiing without a shell layered over it though.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes

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Thule Passage 3 Bike Strap Rack w/Cradles

October 29, 2009

I'd say that kind of depends on how "small" your spoiler is. Let us know what kind of car it is, chances are someone here has tried.

This rack should fit over a little lip spoiler, but if it sticks up above the trunk very much, I'd be hesitant.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Oakley M Frame Heater Replacement Lenses

October 29, 2009

Yes, all of the iridium lenses are mirrored.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Adventure Medical Heatsheets Emergency Bivvy

October 20, 2009

No zipper. This bivy is bare bones for emergencies.

Helpful Votes: 3 Yes

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Black Diamond Fitzroy Tent: 3-Person 4-Season

October 19, 2009

It's seam sealed after you seal it. Black Diamond sells their tents with a tube of sealant that YOU get to go over the stitching inside and out with. It's not super bad, just a bit tedious and time consuming. Set it up and seal it, it'll probably take a couple hours if you're good. If you're not, you will be by the time you're done. There was a noticeable difference between the seams where I started and the seams where I finished when I sealed my first BD tent.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Patagonia Down Sweater Jacket - Men's

October 1, 2009

Mine spends a lot of time under my Patagonia Powder Bowl jacket. Although, that's only when it get's really cold. I like how the blue and green look together too. Honestly the Down Sweater is going to be awesome under any waterproof shell. Nothing beats the warmth to weight ratio of down.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Science Lesson

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Sleeping Pad

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Sleeping Pad

Rating for this product: 4 September 30, 2009

4 Stars cause it costs more than spending a night in a 4 star hotel.

With that said, I love this thing. Definitely the most comfortable I have been sleeping outside. I didn't slide around on it at all, in fact it made rolling around in my sleeping bag a little more challenging. I had no issues with being cold down to 35 deg. I haven't gone colder than that with it yet, not sure I'd' want to go too much cooler without adding something else underneath.

Blowing it up isn't too bad. There is one thing to be aware of though, some people have complained that this thing leaks, or deflates on its own. This is wrong, to debunk this - little science lesson coming up... PV=nRT (That's pressure x Volume = moles x constant R x Temperature)
Don't worry about n & R they're constants. So Basically Pressure x Volume = Temperature. What that also means is that PV/T = PV/T in the same closed container at two different temperatures, obviously. So basically, what I'm getting at is the air you're putting into this thing is 98 degrees. Let it sit out at camp for a while before you go to bed and it's going to cool off. Pressure inside isn't going to change, but you better believe the filled volume is. Based on the geometry of this thing, it's about 3000 cu in. So if you fill it up with 98 degree air, and then let it cool to say, 60 degrees, it's only going to be about 1800 cu inches - yeah, it'll look like it lost 40% of its air!

Some of you may have followed that, some people’s eyes may have glossed over reading it, but if it made sense to 1 person I'm happy. Hope it helps.All in all this thing is awesome and I recommend it if you can afford to spend all that money on it. You just might have to top it off with a little more air before you go to bed.

**Since there's been a few comments and my memory of the ideal gas law was a bit rusty...
Temperature must be expressed in Kelvin, so 98.6 deg Fahrenheit = 310K and 60 deg Fahrenheit = 288K.
What this means is that the bag will look like it lost 7% of it's air, not 40% (that did seem like an awful lot). Obviously the colder it gets, the more air it will seem to have lost. At 0 deg Fahrenheit it will have "lost" 18% of it's air.**

Helpful Votes: 51 Yes

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Black Diamond Trail Shock Trekking Pole

September 30, 2009

There's a couple ways you could lash these poles to the Baltoro;
1) horizontally across the pack using the lower compression straps
2) vertically along either side of the pack using the compression traps

You could get creative and try some sort of crazy diagonal setup, but the above two are the easiest and most obvious. And of course make sure you collapse your poles before strapping them up.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

Sold Out

The tough get Bloks

Clifbar Clif Shot Bloks - 18 Pack

Clifbar Clif Shot Bloks - 18 Pack

Rating for this product: 5 September 29, 2009

Finally got a chance to put these to the test on a backpacking trip. I'm not sure if it was the awesomely fresh air on the north rim of yosemite valley, or the fact that I was eating Shot Bloks, but there was some extra bounce in my step. Black cherry, Mountain Berry, and strawberry were all delicious. Black cherry was my favorite of the group. I'm not a coffee drinker, so these bad boys gave me the mid morning boost I needed to kick it into gear when I had trouble getting my legs moving.

My girlfriend was super stoked on how tasty these are. That's the worst part about bloks- you're going to have to share them. Unlike the powerbar gel shots we took along (I couldn't pay my girlfriend to have another one of those things), she wouldn't let me have a pack of bloks to myself. Can't say I blame her.

When the going gets tough, the tough get Bloks!

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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The North Face Apex Pneumatic Jacket - Men's

September 29, 2009

I'm 6' 175lb and wear a medium in TNF softshell's. I prefer a technical fit, nothing too baggy. Depends on how you're proportioned. Check the sizing chart, but I think you would probably fit in a small pretty comfortably.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Patagonia Ascensionist Softshell Jacket - Men's

September 29, 2009

Nope. Pit zips seem to be less common in softshells. This one definitely does not have them.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes

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Marker Griffon 12 Ski Binding

September 25, 2009

Very Unlikely since tramdock is usually just overstocked/discontinued items and Backcountry will almost certainly sell out of these bindings.

At $229 this is an awesome binding, especially if you don't need to push your din's past 12 (not many people do).

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Great way to spend a Jackson

Black Diamond Gizmo Headlamp

Black Diamond Gizmo Headlamp

Rating for this product: 4 September 24, 2009

This thing gets 4 stars from me not because it isn't a great deal, it's just not the end all - be all headlamp.

I have a Tikka XP that I use a lot, I picked the Gizmo up for my girlfriend to use on a recent hiking trip. I actually ended up using it a little bit too. This headlamp was perfect for what she needed it for- mainly wondering around camp in the evening, cooking, reading in the tent, etc. The headlamp puts off a good deal of light, it just doesn't travel very far, it's not a design shortcoming, it's just not designed to do that.

One thing I would't want to do is hike in the dark with the Gizmo, it doesn't have any sort of spotlight mode to watch for blazes on trees, or cairns on the ground. I go to my tikka XP for that.

If all you're looking for is a headlamp to cook with and wonder around camp, the Gizmo is an awesome deal and more than enough to get the job done. Just don't expect to light anything up that's very far away from you. All that said, I still may pick up an extra one just to keep in my car.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Kelty Lightweight Fleece Sleeping Bag Liner

September 24, 2009

Are you taking this instead of a sleeping bag, or in addition to a sleeping bag? I'm assuming the latter.

This is almost more of an alternative to a sleeping bag for warm weather, although it weighs more than my summer bag. There's 30 deg bags that weigh less than this thing. Think about the thermolite. Yeah, it's $15 more, but it weighs a pound less and packs down the size of a cambells chunky soup can [a little smaller actually]. I just put one through it's paces in Yosemite and it was awesome, still way cheaper than a new down bag. It added a solid 10 degrees of warmth and was super comfy against the skin too.

It's really going to come down to whether or not you mind the extra weight and space that this will take up. The zipper is a nice feature, but then if it's too hot, you wouldn't be using this as a liner in the first place. IF you're just using it as a sleeping bag and not a liner, go for it.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Oakley Half Jacket Replacement Lenses - Polarized

September 24, 2009

Sure will, the only difference is that the XLG has more coverage below and to the outside of your eyes. The way they fit into the frames exactly the same.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

Sold Out

Ninthward LT Pro Model Ski

September 22, 2009

This is going to be a stiff ski. You're 130lbs and this is only available in a 176cm length. Honestly that might be a lot to handle. If it were a softer ski, I'd say go for it, but it's not. If you can handle spending a bit more coin (like $50) you may want to check out the Volkl Ledge. It's a little softer, which is good since you're a lighter skier, and it's available in some shorter lengths. Check your local shops for some leftover's from last year too.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Who Pood? I pood.

Sea To Summit Pocket Trowel - Reinforced Nylon

Sea To Summit Pocket Trowel - Reinforced Nylon

Rating for this product: 3 September 4, 2009

I finally replaced my old E-tool (24oz) with the iPood (2.6oz). Obviously it takes up less space and weighs a lot less. The spade worked great in the sandy soil at Yosemite, I'm not sure how well it'll work in tougher soil since the blade isn't as pointed as most.

Pressing the button in to collapse the shovel can be difficult, and I didn't bother using the handle to store anything. It's too much of a pain to pop the top in and out of the handle. The shovel does feel pretty tough though, I can't imagine it breaking anytime soon. It'll probably last through the whole i-etc trend and still be going strong.

It gets the job done, but there are better (and cheaper) options with less catchy names.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Warmer than a can of soup

Sea To Summit Reactor Thermolite Sleeping Bag Liner

Sea To Summit Reactor Thermolite Sleeping Bag Liner

Rating for this product: 4 September 2, 2009

I threw this in my pack for my latest backpacking trip. I have a 45 Deg bag and didn't have the coin to go buy a 30 Deg bag for my trip to Yosemite. Obviously this was way cheaper than buying a new down sleeping bag (hello Christmas present), but it still did the trick! I woke up cold my first night, rummaged around in the dark, grabbed this liner and quickly slid into it. I didn't go to sleep without it the rest of the trip. It's really comfy too, feels a lot better against the skin than my sleeping bag.

Like most have said - it is thin, you can see through it. That didn't seem to stop it from adding that extra bit of warmth I needed. I would've froze my cajones off if it weren't for this thing. I didn't have any trouble fitting it in the stuff sack it came it, just stuff it in there! Don't bother trying to fold and roll it up - you'll have trouble getting it back in that way. It packs down about the size of a can of soup.

For me it was definitely worth the $50 to have that extra bit or warmth. It'll probably find its way into my pack whenever I'm going on trips and I'm not entirely sure of just how chilly the nights will be. It's a great addition for those "just in case" excursions.

Helpful Votes: 4 Yes

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Salt Stains - no stink

Icebreaker SuperFine 200 Hopper T-Shirt - Short-Sleeve - Men's

Icebreaker SuperFine 200 Hopper T-Shirt - Short-Sleeve - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 September 2, 2009

I just returned from a backpacking trip in Yosemite where I put this shirt to the test. It was basically the only shirt I wore (I did don a long sleeved Paty Cap3 in the cool morning making breakfast a few times). I hiked 4 straight days in this shirt, and sweated so much it has salt stains! There's salt stains all around the back and on the front of the shoulders where my straps came around. After all that you'd think you could smell this shirt from a hundred yards away! That's not the case though, it doesn't smell at all like sweat or BO!

Aside from it killing odor like an angry team of Navy SEALs, this shirt was super comfy too. You really wouldn't know it was wool unless you read the tag. I did notice that the fabric pilled slightly where my shoulder straps were rubbing on it, but nothing too major. This stuff is so awesome I just picked up a long sleeved shirt from IB for skiing!

Sizing note - 6' 175lbs I went with a L for a comfy (not snug) fit.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes

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Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Sleeping Pad

August 19, 2009

While there's no way to pump them up, there is actually a little bit of a trick that I found. When you unscrew the valve you have to actually press it back in towards the pad to make sure all the air you're breathing goes into the pad itself. Keep it unscrewed, but press back towards the pad. Basically - while you're inflating the mattress, make sure you're not pulling the valve away from the mattress, or a lot of the air will escape before it even makes it into the mattress. I hope that makes sense, maybe I'll try to put some graphics to a picture and upload it later. I can inflate my regular pad in about 3 minutes without getting lightheaded.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Sea To Summit Alpha Light Utensils

August 18, 2009

No, you just get one. The Spork, the spoon, the short spoon, or the long spoon. I'm not sure why it even mentions a knife, guess maybe it's sold out.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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X-Bionic Energy Accumulator Short Pant - Men's

August 18, 2009

X-Bionic is the name of the company. Here's their website; http://www.x-bionic.com/

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Volkl Gotama Alpine Ski

August 17, 2009

A lot of that depends on how good of a skier you are, and if you're used to skiing on long sticks. If you're an expert skier and used to longer ski's, go for the 190s. I'm 6ft 175lbs, and I'm on a pair of 183's. I ski primarily in the east, so these only get used on days it really dumps here, and on trips out west. The first couple days I was on them they were a handful, after that I loved them. At 175lbs I had plenty of float on powder days. The Katana's are wider, and would be better on deep days. They're not as versitle as the Gotamas, which you will have no problem ripping down groomers on as well. I hope that helps, maybe someone else who's a little heavier than me can chime in. The live gear guru's could probably help you out too.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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X-Bionic Tracksuit Medium Leg - Men's

August 17, 2009

http://www.x-bionic.com/
The suit should be under Mens: underwear

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes

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Therm-a-Rest Prolite 3 Sleeping Pad

August 13, 2009

The prolite 3's were a 3 season sleeping pad, where the 4's were for 4 seasons. The 4's were slightly thicker and had a higher R rating (ie more insulation from the cold ground). The 4's were also heavier and more expensive.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Mountain Hardwear PCT 2 Tent 2-Person 3-Season

August 13, 2009

This tent is no longer for sale. If I remember right, I think it was around $200 new, back in '06.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Marmot Kaos2 Shirt - Short-Sleeve - Men's

August 13, 2009

They're all short sleeve.
The long sleeved version is here: http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Marmot-Kaos2-Shirt-Long-Sleeve-Mens/MAR1407M.html

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Canyon Killer

Mountain Hardwear Canyon Pant - Men's

Mountain Hardwear Canyon Pant - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 August 11, 2009

I've had these pants for about a year now, and they are definitely my favorite hiking/climbing pants. They don't weigh much, so they make their way into my backpack pretty often in case cool weather blows in. The built in belt is definitely handy and means there's one less thing I might forget on my next trip.
While these pants are nice and lightweight, they have taken a beating and still look almost new. They are typical MH quality, and I have a feeling they'll last me a while. One last note - the back pockets are not at your typical "jean" location. They're lower and moved out towards the hips. It makes sitting on your wallet feel a little funny, but it also make them WAY more accessible if you're wearing a backpack or climbing harness.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Is that a salt shaker?

Black Diamond Orbit Lantern

Black Diamond Orbit Lantern

Rating for this product: 5 August 11, 2009

No mom - it's not a salt shaker, it's a lantern. That's right, in ultra white this thing could easily be mistaken for a salt shaker it packs down so small. You have to really see it to appreciate it.
For something so tiny this thing puts out a massive amount of light, the secret has got to be in the dual reflectors and frosted globe. This thing will easiy light up a 3 man tent. I mean, it's enough to light up my entire 11' x 17' bedroom! The dimmer function is pretty ingenious, just hold the button down and it dims, blinks at its lowest setting, and starts getting brighter again.
I'm not one for carrying around a bunch of extra, uneccesary gear, but something the same size and weight as a salt shaker that can light up my whole camp?! Buy it for your next backpacking trip and leave the extra condiments at home.

Helpful Votes: 3 Yes

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Thunder Thighs Rejoice

prAna Stretch Zion Short - Men's

prAna Stretch Zion Short - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 August 11, 2009

These are definitely my new favorite pair of shorts. I've got some "athletic" thighs which makes finding hiking or climbing shorts that fit both my waist and thighs a challenge. These shorts have a roomy cut through the thigh, especially compared to some TNF shorts I tried on at the same time. I'm sure the extra stretch that these shorts have helps too.
Hiking or climbing, these shorts are fantastic. The built in waistbelt works pretty well, the zippered cargo pockets mean I'm not going to lose my stuff if I take a nasty fall, the casual style and 12" inseam means you'll still look normal wondering around town when your adventure ends. If you're looking for a comfy pair of technical shorts that you can wear around town too, the Zion's are for you.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Don't Demo

La Sportiva Katana Climbing Shoe - Discontinued Rubber

La Sportiva Katana Climbing Shoe - Discontinued Rubber

Rating for this product: 5 August 10, 2009

Save your money - don't demo these shoes. I demoed a pair a few months back and went out that week to buy myself a pair. These things are just a great all around shoe for guys with skinnier feet. I use mine for bouldering, top roping, and lead climbing. Like others mentioned, the heel hooks extremely well (assuming you sized your shoes right) and the toe smears well too. I've been able to confidently stand up on some pretty small holds with nothing but a toe on these shoes! Definitely a necessity for tough bouldering problems. As for durability - so far these shoes have held up great, no complaints there.

If you've got skinny feet and are looking for a shoe to step up to some tougher routes look no farther.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Driving your sled

Volkl Tigershark 10 Foot Power Switch Alpine Ski w/ Motion iPT 12.0 TS Binding

Volkl Tigershark 10 Foot Power Switch Alpine Ski w/ Motion iPT 12.0 TS Binding

Rating for this product: 5 August 10, 2009

These are my go to sticks for daily use ski patrolling in the icy east. These ski's edge like nothing I've gone downhill on before. I can lay down perfect arcs on the iciest manmade snow you've ever seen riding the 'sharks. And that means when I'm driving a sled with a 250lb patient downhill on boilerplate snow, they can rest easy cause I'm on the 'sharks.
These ski's are so much fun on groomers all I want to do is turn. My favorite part of the day is opening the mountain on fresh corduroy riding my sharks and looking at my tracks on the way back up the lift. I wouldn't recommend them in the pow though. They're just way too narrow for that.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Go Big or Go home

Volkl Gotama Alpine Ski

Volkl Gotama Alpine Ski

Rating for this product: 5 August 10, 2009

I picked these up at the beginning of last season to serve me on my trips out west and for freshies in New England. I even tried them out on ice just to see how they'd do. While they did better than expected, I would definitely reccomend something skinnier for the really hardpack we see in the east. I'm 175lb and went with the 183s and mounted Jester's on them.
Out west these ski's are just plain bomber. You can ski deep stuff, drop off cliffs, ski switch, and pretty much do whatever you want. These skis will push you to be a better skier. I wouldn't reccomend them to a timid skier though, when it says expert, it means it. Also, my topsheets showed quite a few scratches and scuffs after about 10-15 days of using them. Nothing major, just cosmetic.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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It'll never give up

Leatherman Juice CS4 Multi-Tool

Leatherman Juice CS4 Multi-Tool

Rating for this product: 5 August 10, 2009

I've had this thing for over 3 years now and I'm pretty sure it's nearly indestructible. Mine has seen multiday backpacking trips, backcountry skiing, days out on the range with the Army, and even working on my car in a pinch. It hasn't rusted, broke, or otherwise given up on me. At 5.5oz this little guy is always in my pack. It's got all the essentials and not a bunch of extra crap I'll never use.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Holding power

Black Diamond ATC-XP

Black Diamond ATC-XP

Rating for this product: 5 August 10, 2009

The ATC XP is just plain awesome. There's not much more to say than that. Thread it in high friction mode if your friends plan on hanging out on the wall for a while to give your hands and arms a break. If they're just running some quick routes and you're not going to have to hold anyone up for an hour you can use it just like a regular ATC. It doesn't get much simpler or more effective than that.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Patagonia Lightweight R4 Jacket - Men's

August 10, 2009

You would probably fit in a small, assuming you are fairly trim. If you've got a big waist (over 33") you might want to bump up to a medium as this fleece has more of slim fit. I'm 6' 175lb, 32" waist and wear a medium. I bought it to wear under my ski shell, so I didn't want it baggy.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Lightweight Vest

Marmot DriClime Vest - Men's

Marmot DriClime Vest - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 August 10, 2009

If you want a great lightweight vest, look no further. This vest is perfect for early spring and late fall when I need a little bit more than a long sleeved t-shirt to keep me warm. The driclime also works well as a light layer under a spring jacket, or even a ski shell. I wear it under my precip jacket when I need just a smidge more warmth.
The only thing that would make this vest better is if there was a little hole from the chest pocket to the interior of the vest, so that you could run headphones for your ipod through it. If you're creative and don't mind cutting a little slit in the pocket of your vest, that'd work to.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes

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You look like an Alien

Oakley Gas Can Sunglasses

Oakley Gas Can Sunglasses

Rating for this product: 4 August 10, 2009

First off - I'll admit, I probably should've gotten the Gascan smalls. These shades are a little big on my face. The minute 2.0 and Fives Squared (which are for small to medium faces) fit much better. These glasses fall off my face if I lean over to tie my shoes. Maybe they'd stay on a little better if I had a bigger noggin. My girlfriend always says, "You look like an alien" when I wear these glasses. I like 'em, but the style definitely seems like you love it or hate it.
All in all, a solid pair of shades if you have a big head and like blocky glasses. I just wouldn't reccomend them for any high energy activities.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Stuck on you

Oakley Minute 2.0 Sunglasses

Oakley Minute 2.0 Sunglasses

Rating for this product: 4 August 10, 2009

I like these sunglasses a lot, but not quite as much as my 5s squared. The Minute 2.0's fit my face really well, I just don't like the look of them as much as the 5S's. What these glasses do really well, better than my 5S's is stay on my face. You could be playing volleyball at the beach, running, riding a roller coaster, just about anything, and these things will stay stuck on you.
They're heavier than my 5S's, but that's probably because of the rubber nose and ear pads, which add some extra comfort. All in all a great set of shades, especially if you prefer the rounded look.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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I make this look good

Oakley Fives Squared Sunglasses - Polarized Peggy

Oakley Fives Squared Sunglasses - Polarized Peggy

Rating for this product: 5 August 9, 2009

I picked a pair of these up earlier this summer. I think my face is probably medium sized, and while I like my Gas Cans, the 5s squared look way better on me. As with all of Oakleys shades, the lenses are top notch and the optical clarity is second to none. The polarized lenses are great if you plan on spending a lot to time around water. Whether it's at the beach, sailing, or chilling by the lake, these glasses are at home everywhere. They may not be ray-bans, but Will Smith could make these look right at home wearing a black suit too.
These shades are tough, mine have already gotten blasted with rocks, dirt, etc and don't have any scratches yet. The O matter frames are equally rough as well. Best of all, these glasses weigh next to nothing, so they're super comfy all day long.

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Look Mean. Ski Fast

Giro 2008 Remedy S Comp Helmet

Giro 2008 Remedy S Comp Helmet

Rating for this product: 4 August 9, 2009

I picked one of these up on super sale this past winter cause I've always wanted a full face helmet. For my daily duties I wear a Giro Fuse. This helmet is reserved for big lines, big air, and scary speeds through the trees. And it is awesome for all those things. You definitely won't look right skiing timidly in this helmet though, it is big and slightly intimidating even. Aside from it's overall size, it's surprisingly light, and keeps my head pretty cool. The vents are not adjustable at all, so if you aren't hot headed keep a helmet liner with you for cooler days.

My major gripe, which was expected, my Oakley A frames don't really fit in it or work well with it. I picked up a pair of Wisdom's to wear with this helmet.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Gr8 Pl8

GSI Outdoors Infinity Plate

GSI Outdoors Infinity Plate

Rating for this product: 4 August 9, 2009

All in all this is a pretty great plate. Like Merebea mentioned, it's got nice deep sides, so if you were really in a pinch it could almost double as a bowl. It definitely does the job for rice and camping meals. The biggest downside for me is it's size - it's too big and too tough. That may seem like an odd thing to complain about, but when its nearly impossible to get this plate into a bear canister, it's too large and rather inflexible. For that duty I resort to my squishy bowls.
If you're just going car camping, or on a backpacking trip where bear canisters aren't a requirement, it is a great plate. Mine has taken quite a few beatings over the last few years.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Arriba Arriba!

Black Diamond Focus Speed Adjust Harness - Men's

Black Diamond Focus Speed Adjust Harness - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 August 7, 2009

I use this harness primarily for sport climbing at the gym. The speed buckles are awesome for moving between bouldering and top roping. Like others have mentioned with the speed buckles, you could have this harness on faster than Speedy Gonzalez,and be tied in before your friends are done double backing their webbing.
The focus is pretty comfortable too, granted I wouldn't want to hang in it for a couple hours. Hanging around at the gym and on normal climbs I've never had any uncomfortable pinching, or hot spots. I wouldn't wear it if I was planning on climbing El Capitan though. If that's your thing, you probably know better than to be looking at this harness anyways.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Don't Toil; Boil!

Jetboil Classic Personal Cooking System

Jetboil Classic Personal Cooking System

Rating for this product: 5 August 7, 2009

This is my go to stove for backpacking. It's even taken up residence in my pack for some out of bounds skiing. Being perfectly content packing meals from mountain house and backpacker pantry, all I ever have to do is boil water. The best part - I never have any cleanup. I think I've cleaned this thing twice in the three years I've owned it. And that was when I made some lipton minute noodles in the mug.
If you're boiling water and dumping it in freeze dried meal packs you'll be eating way before your friends. Its also great for making a mean cup of hot cocoa on cold mornings. So while your campmates are busy toiling with their stoves, you'll be done boiling and enjoying a warm meal and a cup of hot chocolate!

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Likes the funk

Patagonia Capilene 3 Crew - Long-Sleeve - Men's

Patagonia Capilene 3 Crew - Long-Sleeve - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 August 7, 2009

I got this to use as a base layer, but found myself wearing it a lot more often. It works excellent for skiing, although I wouldn't suggest it for multiday trips. Polyester holds onto a little too much funk to wear it repeatedly without washing. While the cap3 works for hiking, I'd suggest going for a wool shirt if you're going to be out for more than a couple of days. Wool won't smell after a day or two. With that said, you could buy 2 of these for the price of 1 wool shirt.
So if you're just using it for skiing, or lounging around in, it's perfect. If you want somehing for for long backpacking trips, get wool.

Helpful Votes: 0 Yes

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Osprey Packs Aether 70 Backpack- 4000-4400cu in

August 7, 2009

I use a 3L camelback omega bladder with mine and it fits with no issues. There's a sleeve for the bladder along the backpanel of the pack, and a little piece of nylon webbing to hang the bladder from. Any of the bladders that are more of a long thin/tube shape should fit without a problem.

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes

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Trim and Slim

Patagonia Lightweight R4 Jacket - Men's

Patagonia Lightweight R4 Jacket - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 August 7, 2009

This jacket sees a lot of winter use, whether it's walking around town on a breezy winter day, or layered under my shell for skiing. And the jacket does it all. It's definitely enough to keep me warm on a windy 30 degree day and the stretchy side panels allow some extra mobility when you decide to be a bit more active in it.
They're not kidding when they say trim fit either, beer bellies need not apply...

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes

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Hot Suit

The North Face Unity Suit - Men's

The North Face Unity Suit - Men's

Rating for this product: 4 August 7, 2009

I picked one of these up on sale for deep powder days, so it's not my go to daily skiwear. It is waterproof and great for the powder though. Another thing about this suit, it is hot! Most of the time I ski with just a t-shirt and shorts on under it. If I were going out in some really cold weather, I would grab this suit. On the flip side, the venting on this suit works pretty well at shedding heat when it's opened up. And I love the billion pockets that it has.

Like many have said, the crotch on this suit does hand low. It falls midway between the knees and my crotch, so I guess I can't really be throwing any old school spread eagles in it. Also, the hood doesn't fit over a helmet, which is a major bummer for me. I'm 6' 175lb and the medium fits pretty well.

I wouldn't pay full price for it, but at 65% off this is a great deal.

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No night time worries

Petzl Tikka XP Headlamp

Petzl Tikka XP Headlamp

Rating for this product: 5 August 6, 2009

I've used this headlamp looking for blazes while hiking after the sun has set a few times. It's also pulled duty for getting me down off a mountain in the Wasatch range after the Utah night snuck up on me.

The lamp packs up small, and doesn't weigh much, which is why it's always in my backpack. The spotlight works great looking for blazes on trees in the distance, slide the diffuser over and this lamp is perfect for wondering around camp. This is an awesome all around headlamp with long battery life, I still haven't replaced mine.

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Best Gloves ever? Best Mittens ever?

Hestra Heli 3-Finger Glove

Hestra Heli 3-Finger Glove

Rating for this product: 5 August 6, 2009

I'm not sure if these are the best gloves ever, or the best mittens ever? Maybe both.

I've tried a lot of different gloves skiing, none were as versitile, tough, and warm as the 3 fingers. I use these a lot patrolling and the extra finger lets me point at kids who are misbehaving on the slopes, can't do that with a mitten. Makes using a drill easier too. The leather palms have held up well, despite carrying around and using some rather large drill bits for getting through ice. My previous gloves weren't up to the same task, and the palms got torn up rather quickly.

Are they waterproof - no, I wouldn't suggest wearing them in a rainstorm, your hands will get wet. Get the XCR mitts for that. But who wants to ski when it's raining? I would buy these gloves again in a heartbeat.

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Super Duper Party Trooper

The North Face Trooper Down Vest - Men's

The North Face Trooper Down Vest - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 August 6, 2009

I agree with a lot of the reviews here, this vest is probably better suited walking around breck on you way to the bar, than as an insulating layer.

With that said, I love this vest. Yeah, it can be a pain to take on and off, but it's different. If you don't want to be like every other poser rocking a puffy vest- this is the one for you.

And despite what I said earlier, I have actually used this as a layer skiing, and found it to be pretty effective. It helps block any drafts that might have snuck through your shells zipper because it's zippers are on the side. Sure, an 800 fill vest would be better, but I wouldn't look as cool in the bar when I'm done skiing. Lastly, the pockets are well placed for warming up your hands on the long walk home.

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Lightweight for hotheads

Giro 2008 Fuse Bluetooth Audio Helmet

Giro 2008 Fuse Bluetooth Audio Helmet

Rating for this product: 5 August 6, 2009

I've been using this helmet for a couple of years, primarily for patrolling. It's also seen a lot of use skiing trees and jumping off things I probably shouldn't. I usually leave the front vent plugs out (guess I'm a hothead) and adjust the rear vents as conditions necessitate. It would be great if I didn't have to take the helmet off to adjust the front vents - if you want that, buy an Omen. I'll deal with that sacrifice for the low weight. The weight isn't listed in the specs, but this thing weights next to nothing. It's a cool helmet, so if you plan on skiing in frigid conditions, buy a helmet liner to help keep you warm. I'm usually hot anyways, so it's perfect for me.

My only complaint - the audio isn't the greatest, and the white fabric that covers the headphones came loose on mine after about a year of use (just glue it back in).

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Doesn't Blow

Therm-a-Rest Prolite Sleeping Pad

Therm-a-Rest Prolite Sleeping Pad

Rating for this product: 4 August 6, 2009

That's right, the pad doesn't blow, and niether do you. There's nothing worse than a long day on the trail, only to finish it up by having to blow up your sleeping pad. I've used this pad for a lot of nights on the AT, it's light, packs down small, and all I have to do at the end of the day is unroll it and make sure the valve is open. By the time I'm done making dinner I can close up the valve and this pad is ready to go.

It's not as comfy as some of the inflatable pads, but for a minimalist that doesn't feel like blowing hot air at the end of the day this pad is for you.
4 stars and shame on thermarest for making me buy the stuff sack seperately.

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3 years and still smiling

Osprey Packs Aether 70 Backpack- 4000-4400cu in

Osprey Packs Aether 70 Backpack- 4000-4400cu in

Rating for this product: 5 August 6, 2009

I've been using this pack for 3 years and leave the trail with a smile on my face every time. Even loaded with 55lbs of stuff and going 43 miles in 2 days, my feet were the only thing that hurt. The Aether swallows gear like Kobayashi swallows hot dogs. This pack is super comfy and very tough to beat at this price. No, it's not waterproof. Don't expect it to keep your stuff dry in a rainstorm, thats what waterproof stuff sacks or packcovers are for. I paid full price and don't reget it for a second.

A note on the sizing, being a tall thin guy, I had to get a Large, but swap in a medium belt.

Helpful Votes: 4 Yes

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Throw that crap away

Sea To Summit eVent Compression Dry Sack

Sea To Summit eVent Compression Dry Sack

Rating for this product: 5 August 6, 2009

The crappy stuff sack that came with your sleeping bag - throw it away. Or use it for something you don't mind getting wet. If you really care about keeping your sleeping bag dry, buy one of these. If you don't like rockin' a pack cover on your backpack in the rain, buy one of these.

I gave up on pack covers a couple years ago, seems that when it rains, its usually windy too. And who wants to stop to put on a pack cover in the rain and wind while they're hiking? Use this and you can keep on trekking without worry about your sleeping bag getting wet in a sudden rainstorm.

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Is that a loaf of bread in your backpack?

Black Diamond Lightsabre Bivy Sack

Black Diamond Lightsabre Bivy Sack

Rating for this product: 4 August 6, 2009

This is a great bivy for fast and light treks. I've used it for long trail runs where I plan on staying out overnight, and for regular backpacking trips. It packs down smaller than half a loaf of bread, and presumably weighs less too. The 3 pole setup (2 hoops, 1 spine) is easier after setting it up once or twice, but not difficult to begin with. It's great to be able to lay in there and look out at the stars through the mesh screen - find another bivy that can do that...

The reason it gets 4 stars - if it unzipped another 6" it would make getting in and out of the lightsabre way easier. Are you listening BD? Yeah, it might add half an ounce, but for anyone over 5'5" it'll make getting in and out of this bivy worlds easier. Seam sealing it after I got it wasn't exactly the most fun I've ever had either.

Helpful Votes: 5 Yes

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Solid. Like a toad

The North Face S.T.H. II Softshell Jacket - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 August 6, 2009

I bought this jacket on a whim before a spring trip to Tahoe. Man am I glad I did as it was my go to jacket for the week. With temps hovering near 50 on the slopes most of the week it was perfect with just a t-shirt underneath. It also sheds water like a toad in a spring rainstorm. A few spills in mashed potato snow and I stayed nice and dry. The fleece lined interior is top notch. Another awesome little feature that isn't mentioned in the description - the zipper is offset just enough that theres no rubbing your chin against it!

I didn't even get to how stylish the slate grey looks with the red zippers. When you're done skiing you can wonder around town looking good in your STH with your google tan, expecting a few compliments or second glances coming your way.

Helpful Votes: 3 Yes

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Knee Time

Patagonia Powder Bowl Pant - Men's

Rating for this product: 4 August 6, 2009

These pants saw a lot of use last year on casual days skiing, big trips, and weekly as a patroller. The pants kept me dry through some lovely east coast winter rainstorms. The knees held up while spending a lot of time on them tending to patients on east coast ice, which will tear up lesser fabrics. The cargo pockets are great for storing snacks, or medical supplies when patrolling (and skiing with crazy friends).

So if you plan on spending lots of time on your knees - these pants are for you.
If you don't - buy 'em anyways, they're bulletproof.

Sizing - I'm an athletic 6' 175lbs and went with a large. Fits good through the hips, but they're a little big in the waist. Medium was just too tight through the hips, but good at the waist. That's why I they get 4 stars instead of 5. They're perfect for anyone that doesn't have big quads.

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Tougher than me

Patagonia Powder Bowl Jacket - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 August 6, 2009

This jacket replaced my Descente jacket that had seen some very rugged use over the past 5 years. I spend tons of time skiing the trees on the east coast and catch/block a lot of small branches with my arms. So snags and rips were definitely a concern for me. This jacket lived up to the hype. It also survived some spectacular crash landings on east coast ice. This jacket held up extremely well through a very wet spring snowstorm out in Tahoe while keeping me dry as a bone. Yeah - this jacket is tougher than me.

Sizing - I'm 6' 175lbs and the Medium is perfect. I would definitely say it's an athletic cut though.

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes

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