I love this thing. When I bought it, it didn't come with the sporks in the picture above.

Pros: Lightweight, compact, nests well, insulated bowls/mugs with lids save fuel, does not add that metallic taste to water/snow melt/food, can grab handle and lid at any time because they never get too hot, handle folds over the top of the lid for storage which keeps things from moving around, there is enough room for a pocket rocket stove inside if you arrange the bowls properly (but not the whisperlite internationale), tall & narrow means that it melts snow pretty efficiently because the rising heat stays in the pot, strainer lid could be useful (though I've never used it)

Cons: narrow pot makes it hard to mix foods if you're making a complex meal, clear lid is nice, but because the pot is so tall and dark, and because you're cooking with water that condenses on the lid, you still can't really see your food (that will be the same with every backcountry pot though), because it is tall the stove can become top heavy and off balance (this is something to be aware of with every stove though), not as non-stick as the teflon coated pots and pans

I like it and I use it when gourmet meals are not part of the plan.

Adirondak Park requires that backpackers use bear canisters because the smarter than average bears have figured out that when they see a bag in the air there will be a rope nearby that they can bite through. There are two main manufacturers of bear canisters, Bear Vault and 'Backpacker Food Cache'. They weigh the same. They cost the same. Buy the Backpacker Food Cache. Backcountry doesn't sell it yet, but they should. I've used the food cache for years in Adirondak black bear territory and never had a problem. They make great seats too. Make sure you leave the canister 150 feet from campsites. Bears will find it, it's kind of funny to hear them whomp on it for a while. Don't leave it next to a stream (if the bear knocks it in, you'd be screwed). Don't leave it next to a cliff... They are not waterproof, so package your food properly (this will also reduce odors and decrease the chances of bears visiting). Even the NYTimes is cashing in on this story.

My pic is from the Marcy Dam shelters.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/nyregion/25bear.html?em

I use this thing for ice climbing, backcountry skiing, resort skiing, i've even bouldered in it mid feb. in vail. This thing is technically not considered waterproof by W.L. Gore, but with all the ice i've done in mine I've never gotten wet. W.L. Gore will not allow us to call windstopper garments 'waterproof' because they do not require manufacturers to tape the seams. The windstopper laminate itself is waterproof and breathable, but moisture can seep in at the seams. Mountain Hardwear has welded the seams on this piece so no moisture can seep through anywhere. Arc'teryx has done essentially the same thing with the Venta (they taped the seams on a windstopper garment) but it's way heavier than the Dragon. The Dragon has a nice cut and it moves with me as I climb. Check out my pic on this page. I'm 6 foot and 215 pounds.

this is just an addition to the review i posted below - the pockets on this thing are PERFECT. they are huge, knife, camera, lighter, snacks, glove liners, sun screen all fit perfectly well. they are super easy to get into even with a pack. i've never used pockets as much as i do with this shell.

This was a pretty good piece, but I'm not convinced that it's worth the money. Yes it's totally waterproof, and it's lightweight, but I would much prefer the jacket to fold tightly into it's own pocket, which this cannot do. You can stuff it into the kangaroo pouch, but that doesn't compress it all the way, it's still double the size it needs to be, and the zipper is only a single sided zip. The full length elbow to hem side zip is a nice idea, but they only put that on one side of the jacket. I think they should have put the full length zip all the way down to the hem on both sides of the jacket.

I ended up giving this one to my dad to wear around town. I've just ordered the alpha sl jacket instead.

Unless you're being deployed to Afghanistan, this jacket is all the bomb proof you'll ever need. By far the burliest shell I have ever seen. Excellent breathability (and by mountaineer's standards I'm a fatty who sweats way too much). It's cut pretty big so you can definitely layer underneath it. I'm 6 foot, 215 pounds and wear the XL comfortably over all my layers.

The hood is excellent with a helmet, but a little awkward without one... the reality is that if you need this jacket, you generally need your brain bucket too, so it's not a big deal.

It would be nice if it packed down a little smaller, but it's not like it's overly bulky.

This thing has been to the top of a few 14ers in Colorado with me and it held up it's end of the bargain. An awesome feature for climbing is the foam in the hem to stop it from riding up under your harness.

Attention all men: This is the one that'll keep her warm enough to kick your butt on your yearly xmas trip to the backcountry.

She says: great fit, not too bulky, the hood actually keeps her ears nice and warm, her starbursts don't freeze in her pockets. It's windproof (haven't tested the waterproof yet, but will update when we get back from RMNP in Jan) packs small and she even wears it to work.

This is the one she wants for xmas.

I've always believed that there were walking crampons and climbing crampons, but that combining the two would always compromise performance. BD did it, and they're amazing. I wear these with my La Sportiva Nepal Evo GTX slippers and have incredible toe placements. These crampons will make you climb harder if you let them. Worked great from the trailhead to the summit every time. Kicking steps, mono pointing for some tricky mixed, and walking around high camp, these things are ready to go.

As always, you have to keep them sharp and you have to make sure they fit your boots properly. A friend of mine cut the straps short on his to save weight and to avoid having to tuck the loose ends under his gaiters, but then the strap wasn't long enough to get around his double boots. Don't do that. Also, if you're new to crampons, try putting them on at home in the dark with gloves on before you hit the mountains. I can get mine on and snugly adjusted in under a min with gloves, but it took practice.

Pros: Super light, incredible warmth to weight ratio, warm when wet, dries reasonably quickly, packs down to nothing in a compression sack.

Cons: Washing it totally messed with the high pile fleece - it lost a lot of loft (warmth). Just don't wash it (you're gonna smell on the mountain anyway). If you're a serious clean-o, handwash with a very mild soap.

This thing is designed for the top - so don't slow it down. Lightweight, moves freely, hood fits nicely UNDER the helmet, thumb loops keep your sleeves where you want them. A really cool feature is the thinner material around the waist - it means you can layer without compromising the fit of your harness. This is an all year all mountain layering piece that eliminates cumbersome bulk. Washes easily. Pair it up with the patagonia houdini shell for a super light all weather system. Either they fit a bit slim or I'm getting fat.

Bag is lightweight, the shell is bombproof. I'm a mountaineer and when I'm outside, I beat the hell outta my gear. This bag loves that, as long as you treat it nice when you get home.

I'm 5'11 and got the regular size bag. I just barely fit in, which is not good enough. When you're mountain climbing, the only way to dry your stuff is inside your sleeping bag at night. there was not enough room in this bag for my shell and boots to dry while i sleep. I also like to throw some hot water bottles in the bag with me - pre warms the bag and means I have nice warm water to drink in the AM.

Great bag, well made - the only construction problem is that the zipper snags like crazy. Will do the job, just make sure you order big.

Pros: fit right out of the box (literally did not need to break them in), Soft leather is extremely comfortable, the extra inserts help with warmth and custom fit (and you can take them out at night and throw them in your bag to dry fast, hold my BD Cyborg crampons very well (approach hiking & technical ice climbing), stable footing with great tread when not using crampons, lacing all the way down to the toe is great for a custom fit that lasts all day, the lace locking mechanism is really nice when trying to lace up with cold hands. I put these boots on and immediately forget about my feet so I can focus on the summit. Super Warm, took them out for a presidential traverse in February 2008 in NH. Mt Washington never got above -30F and I was toasty warm the whole time. Can't wait to take them out to Vail Colorado with me for the ski season!

Cons: lace locking system took a bit of practice before it became second nature.

I don't see how this really adds 15 degrees of warmth, though I still use it as part of my down system. Like any other liner, it helps keep the sleeping bag clean, packs small, and weighs little. Soft material feels great. It is honestly so thin that you can see through it, though I took it to the smokey's in TN this summer and used it alone as my sleeping bag.

Pros: Really light, completely water proof, packs small, bug screen is a nice touch.

Cons: Pole does not stay up so the bivy collapses on your face, stake loops are too small (fine for low altitude & soft ground, but not great for alpine bivys or deadmanning), not breathable at low altitude & when it's warm outside.

I took this for some extended trips through the Adirondacks and it was great. The pole does nothing to keep it open though, so you don't really get the stargazing experience one would expect with the bug screen. I've spent some storms in it and was as comfortable as one can be in a bivy, but the goretex doesn't really breath when it's warm so you get some serious condensation buildup.

All in all a great light weight solution for soloing in the mountains - I'm taking it out for a season on colorado's 14ers.

Super light weight - lighter than most of the -19C/0F down bags I was looking at. It lofts up instantly when you take it outta the stuff sack after a long day in the mountains. This is the first bag I've ever owned that didn't get zipper snags - honestly, not one! Perfect fall bag for the ADKs.

I'm a mountaineer and I beat the hell out of my gear. this piece is no exception.

Pros: comfortable, warm, big enough that you don't have to worry about rolling off, lightweight, durable.

Cons: very bulky - has to be strapped to the outside of your pack - a friend of mine had his ripped off his pack by wind on an alpine ascent - he blamed the pad for being too big - I told him he should learn how to tie stuff to his pack.

I trimmed mine down so it fits inside my bivy and doesn't catch on rock and overhanging ice as im climbing.

It does the job it's designed to do - there's no excuse for being surprised at the size when it's listed under specs...

This is a great lightweight, packable, itch free shirt for mountaineering. Breathes well and dries fast.

The only thing that could improve this shirt is some sort of odor control - but even in that respect its better than most techwicks.

This is the one you want when you're looking for something on a cool summer morning, when the temps drop as you climb high, or as a no-nonsense piece for barely there layering.

Lightweight. Comfortable. Dries very fast. Does not restrict movement at all... you put it on and it's like it's not even there. Comfortable with a pack on and great for summer mountain climbing. Layers well. Perfect shirt, price can't be beat.

Pros: lightweight, pack small, cheap, waterproof.

Cons: no venting system, ankle openings make it tough to put them on over top of shoes. (To be fair, I have size 13 feet - might be easier in a size 9 shoe)

It'd be better if they packed into a pocket instead of the bag they come in. I've already lost the bag and wouldn't want to carry the extra weight anyway.