pnw_peter

Comfortable, lightweight, fitted. What more can you ask for from a piece of down clothing? I own the vest in pomegranate and the color really pops in person. I am 6'2" and 175# and I bought the medium and that still leaves room to layer a fleece underneath. Well thought out waist draw cord that hides the extra elastic cord when a more fitted look is desired. This vest is a great layer in cool and dry climates.

I bought these pants as a hybrid BC and lift ski pant. They have a slightly more athletic fit than many of the steezy ski pants out there on the market, which makes them practical for active usage. I have a 32" inseam and went with the Long (34") inseam to get the fit I wanted over my ski boots. The 3/4 zip is crucial for hiking when I need to dump heat and the pants have held up well to the elements so far. I have been happy with the DryQ Elite membrane and it seems to be a very breathable waterproof membrane. The pants have a brushed interior that is comfortable on bare skin, although it provides minimal warmth. The suspenders are a nice touch to help keep the pants up if you take a spill. I own the pants in Grill and was stoked to finally own a not-black color of ski pant. My only suggestion for making this pant better would be to increase the size of the scuff guard as they are intended as a ski pant.

Got these gloves after my hands froze on a day of skiing in mid teens temperatures. Super warm fleece and wool lining that is incredibly comfortable. The natural color looks really good in person, and I am excited to test the durability of the leather palms. The elastic cord for tightening the cuff of the glove is attached by a semi-flimsy looking nylon loop and doesn't provide great adjustability. I am concerned this area of the glove might fail after really yanking on the cord.

This jacket fits the old adage, "you get what you pay for." I have been looking at softshell jackets for some time and decided to pull the trigger on the Arc'teryx Gamma MX. The jacket excels in highly aerobic activities where it breathes well and has a good amount of stretchiness making it extremely comfortable. I am 6'2", 175# and bought the medium to have a more athletic fit. The length is perfect and the back drops down to cover your butt. I wear this jacket around town because it has a very clean appearance and a sweet color (I have it in cardinal). However, I am more stoked about the jacket for BC skiing. I layer it over a wool base layer and have been comfortable in temperatures ranging form 10-30 degrees. The pockets may appear overkill, but they allow some to be used for venting while others are used for storing gear / food. Huge hood that can cinch down if you aren't wearing a helmet. Last weekend, I was able to skin up in heavy snow with the jacket, then cinch down the hood and take off down hill without getting wet or cold from wind. My only complaint about the jacket so far is that the wrist elastic is very snug and can be annoying to get over a watch when taking the jacket off.

Pros:
-3 different modes of carrying: shoulder strap, back pack straps, and handles.
-3 pockets + 1 laptop pocket.
-Very useful internal organizer with 3 pockets in the largest pocket that holds clothes down.
-Large pocket zips open so that it can lay flat like a suit case and be packed easily.
-Very durable construction (zippers and fabric).
-Sternum strap on backpack straps very useful.
-Fits in any airlines boxes, even budget european airlines like Ryan Air, and Easy Jet.

Cons:
-No stiffness, so you need to pack accordingly.
-Back pack straps uncomfortable with loads >25 lbs.

Bottom line:
I used this pack for 1 month traveling in Europe and it worked very well. My travel included trains and planes and other forms of public transportation. This bag is superior to other more camping inspired backpacks because it can be carried on all airlines and because it has good pockets that are easily accessible for organization on the fly. I look forward to using this bag for my future travels. Wheelie suitcases are way too difficult to deal with if your travels take you off the beaten path or involve lots of public transportation or trains.

I have been using the Black Diamond traverse poles for 8 years and have been very impressed with how reliable the flicklock adjustment mechanism is. I have seen many other poles break or fail at the adjustment point, but my traverse poles have been bomber. Recently purchased the newest model of these poles and I really like the new rubberized grips on the shaft of the pole. It is very useful when traversing (thus the name of the pole) when I want to shorten the effective length of the pole. The rubberized grip on the handles are also a nice touch. Big fat baskets do well in powder, however I liked the old, asymmetrical baskets. I use these for skiing, both in bounds and backcountry and hiking.

I've only used this pack once so far, but it worked out very well. Brought the pack on a day in the back country and it fit a 2L camelback, extra layers, avy gear, snacks, and skins. The straps for the waist belt are extremely long and I trimmed mine much shorter. I really like the hip belt pockets for storing a camera and energy bar. The separate pocket with spaces for probe and shovel is a convenient way to organize avy gear. The strap system is pretty complicated and can sometimes get in the way when trying to get items out of the bottom of the pack.

I have this jacket in size large and color pool. The color is bold and I have gotten many compliments about it. I am 6'2" 175 lbs and athletic build and the large fits me well. My only complaint is that the jacket is pretty short in the torso if you plan to use it skiing. The length is nice when using with a harness though. Long sleeves are a plus and fit me very well. Overall I have found that Stoic gear is generally a very athletic fit with long arms. The hood is large enough to fit over a ski or climbing helmet and can cinch down to shield against the coldest of winds. The big chest pockets are a plus and can fit an entire 1 liter nalgene bottle.

I bought this jacket last may and it still beads well except along the shoulders where a backpack normally sits. I have washed the jacket several times because eVent requires regular washing. Great jacket and a great value if you can find it on sale!

Great ski socks with padding in all of the right places. Snug fit through the arch and heel. The Merino wool is very comfortable throughout the day.

Merino wool is the best! The Stoic Bliss long sleeve is a great base layer. I really like the long zipper that makes it easy to cool down on a hike or extra long pow run. I consider myself to have pretty long arms, but even still the arms are a little long. I'm 6'2" 175lbs and have a medium. Torso length is about right, but the arms are a little too long. I really like the thumb holes on the sleeves which give a little extra warmth when not wearing my gloves. I haven't had a need for the pocket yet as I usually am wearing something else with better pockets...

I bought this jacket as a lightweight alternative to my old fleece jacket and have been very happy with it. Compared to fleece, I like the Therma-wrap for 3 reasons: it is much lighter, it is much more compact-able, and it blocks wind. Warmth wise, I have found my Therma-wrap jacket is roughly equivalent to my mid weight fleece jacket. The jacket is great for 3 seasons of warmth in the Pacific Northwest, and is perfect as a back up layer to toss in my pack for a weekend outing. I was afraid that the light weight material of the jacket would tear easily, however I have had no issues so far using the jacket for a variety of different outdoor and daily activities. I'm 6'2" and 175 lbs and the large fits me well.

I searched for the perfect fitting boot, and the Scarpa Charmoz took the cake! I have a wider foot and looked for a boot with a wide toe box. I tried the La Sportiva Trango, but they were far too narrow for my foot. I have used my Charmoz for a variety of trips including summer camping, alpine climbing, glacier climbing, and winter camping. When standing on snow, my feet get a little bit cold because the boot has not insulation, however wearing two pairs of socks helps. The boot is very durable and has many different options for lacing in order to get the most comfortable fit. I took these boots on Glacier Peak, which included 30 miles of hiking including the approach and had no blisters or discomfort afterwards. The Gore-Tex liner has been bomber and not once have my feet been wet from snow or river crossings. I have pair my boots with the green Superfeet insoles and this helped improve the fit even more.

I ski in the Pacific Northwest and was afraid these lens would be far too dark for the normal skiing conditions of cloudy or snowing. However, I have been impressed with the versatility of these lens in less than ideal viewing conditions. When the sun comes out these goggles really shine, and I no longer have to squint like I did with my old orange lens. The amber tint not only looks great from the outside, but it also has good optical clarity that I have come to expect from Oakley Optics. If you are looking for some all around Iridium Lens to get the cool look, then the gold lens are a great choice!

I also own the Montbell ultralight thermawrap jacket and was looking for a warmer layer for PNW winters. This jacket adds a ton of warmth and weighs just under a pound. I am very happy with the fit and find it better than my UL jacket. I am 6' 2" and 175 lbs and the large fits very well. The micro-fleece lined collar and pockets are a nice touch that add a lot of comfort. I have not used this jacket in an active setting, but it performed very well keeping me warm in the low 20s standing around with only a long sleeve shirt underneath. Overall, this jacket is a great value and adds a lot of warmth, not to mention it compresses down and can easily be brought along as a back up layer. I only have two negative observations so far: the back seems to not have nearly as much loft as the front and arms of the jacket and the draw cord adjuster on the hood gets in the way when taking the hood on/off.