Lovewool

It is a nicely designed emergency knife that weights almost nothing. As one reviewer noted, it IS possible to open this knife while it hangs on a carabiner. There are narrow areas at the gate hinge of most carabiners which allow enough room to open this knife. That being said, the chance of an accidental opening is close to zero under most circumstances. If you're outdoors, you NEED an emergency knife.

I lost this knife, and I now carry a Spyderco Ladybug 3 Lightweight Serrated. It weighs 18 grams (essentially the same as the Pirahna Trango) but is way more comfortable for use in the hand. It hangs on a carabiner through a lanyard loop. And the chances of accidental opening (as with most well-made knives) is very very low but probably higher than with the Pirahna. But its function a knife is far superior in both design and ergonomics.

If you're NOT a climber and want a weightless knife for your 10 essentials in your backpack, then definitely look at the Spyderco Ladybug.

I'm wary of blowing my moist breath into my Neoair mattresses. A plastic bag with the AirTap Pump works fine, but this 2.7 ounce sack is a much better solution. If you're an ounce shaver, you probably won't want an extra three ounces, but both my gf and I will carry a Neoair and it's good to know that I'm not blowing humid mold-fodder into my Xlite. This is the best solution yet to inflating a pricey Xlite or Xtherm. Two to three bagfuls of air takes care of a standard Xlite.

I picked up a few of these to give as gifts, and the cut on the 2011 down sweater is unbelievably generous. I am a true medium, 40 inch chest with 32-33 inch waist, and the medium fits like a large. I don't think this class of clothing is designed as an overcoat/belay coat but the cut of the torso sure seems designed so. Patagonia must be trying to move to cater to mainstream obese Americans rather than to the active outdoorsman or climber. It fits like a straight box. If you have some excess flab in the belly, this jacket is for you.

This jacket has about half as much thickness and loft as my Montane Nitro down jacket for only 2 ounces less in weight.

I would not purchase it again. I vastly prefer my Montbell Alpine light (much more loft due to fewer baffles) and a much better fit. Also, the two ounce penalty on my Montane Nitro is more than made up for the vastly improved insulation. (And Montane fits trim people much better)

I feel the need to combat all the negative reviews who claim this is a plastic trashbag. These buyers clearly did not know what they were purchasing. This jacket is 100% PERTEX MICROLIGHT. Nothing else. There is no lining. It is in the category of jackets that include the Patagonia Houdini or the TNF Verto jacket except that the fabric is more durable and slightly heavier.

This is the same fabric that is now used as the shell for the Marmot Lithium and Helium down sleeping bags. It is also used as the shell fabric for the Rab Microlight down jacket and vest and other down and synthetic insulated jackets.

There is no soft velour or fleece wicking surface inside. The shell fabric contacts your skin. The if you are wearing it bare-armed, it WILL FEEL CLAMMY if your'e sweating. That does NOT mean this jacket is not breathing. If you hate this feeling, buy yourself a nice Windstopper lined fleece to absorb the sweat rather than this lightweight shell. You can also buy something like a Rab Vapor-rise or a Marmot DriClime which is essentially a nylon shell (like this Montane Lite-Speed) with a second thin fleece lining to wick the sweat away. And then be willing to accept a jacket that weighs more and does not compress down into the size of an orange like this does.

This is an excellent and very durable jacket. If you know how to layer, you won't need a Vapor-Rise or a DriClime. I've abused my Lite-Speed for several years, and i'm ready to buy another.

There are very very few carabiners with a truly rounded bar stock. The standard choice is the Petzl Attache. This carabiner too has a truly rounded bar at the basket making rope-feeding and Munters nice and smooth. Because the Petzl's rounded stock is thicker, it would feed rope at a more gradual curve than this one. If you don't mind the 21kN closed gate strength, this is a fabulous carabiner. I can't imagine anyone reaching 21kN of force if any biner is used correctly. The overall dimensions this biner is similar to the Petzl Attache.

Yes, when it's below zero, you'll grab for your mittens, but if you need warmth and some finger dexterity, these are the warmest gloves you'll find.

They are made with a Gore-Tex shell rather than a liner. The only thing I could compare this type of construction to is MHW's Outdry technology. This construction is far far superior to the typical Gore-Tex insert seen in most gloves. You get an actual Gore-Tex shell with taped seams.

The insulation layers are identical to that of the Alti-Mitt. There is more insulation here than in the Alti Gloves, and the construction quality is superior. You get Primaloft on the back of the hand and fleece on the palm side for both the liner and the outer glove.

I bought these at a military supplier (originally designed for US Special Forces) before they were available at sporting goods stores. The cord stopper on my combat urban grey gloves broke, and I sent it into O.R. for repair. They sent me brand new black gloves. Sweet! OR customer service rocks.

These are the WARMEST and best constructed 2-layer gloves on the market. Yes, they are thick. Yes you lose tactile feedback. But you value your fingers in -25C weather with massive windchills. You will likely overheat in these gloves unless it's super-cold. But they work well with a thinner liner.

Buy them. They really do deserve 5 stars despite the steep price.

If you want lots of room for anchor building, this makes a great biner, and the screwgate comes at a reasonable price that is competitive with the identically sized Petzl William. The DMM Locksafes tend to carry a huge price premium, and you might as well buy the Petzl William Tri-Act.

This carabiner's basket size is almost identical to the Petzl William carabiner, and weights are similar. If you need to do some rigging with multiple hitches and ropes, this kind of carabiner is indispensable. If you climb in the winter, size does matter!

The strengths listed by Backcountry do not agree with DMM's website. The numbers are 25kN, 8kN (open gate), and 10kN (minor-axis).

This is a great carabiner. But so is the Petzl William. You can't go wrong with either.

For the weight, you cannot find a better draw. A draw with FULL SIZE carabiners for a mere 2.6 ounces! I won't repeat another raving review on how good the Wild Country Helium carabiners are. If you plan to climb for life, the cost is justified. There are lighter draws out there, but none using a full-size full-strength 'biner. If you want a set of high quality Helium carabiners, it makes sense to buy a set of these quickdraws and essentially get the dogbones for free.

The dogbone tends to twist because it is so narrow and backclipping becomes an issue. One star off for this, but it's a byproduct of trying to shave every bit of weight off this thing. I also own 20cm Helium draws, and the longer dogbone almost guarantees twisting. You could replace them with a Petzl Express dogbone at a minimal weight penalty. It's the amazing Helium 'biner which makes this quickdraw so great. Sorry, Petzl Spirit -- you are not the best.

It's light. It's durable. All the crampon bags out there add 10 to 14 ounces to your pack. This one weighs 1.9 ounces on my scale! Kahtoola's website says this weighs 3.7 ounces, but I don't think my scale is wrong. Once cinched down, my pneumatic BD Sabretooth crampons barely fit, but all points are covered and I have not encountered a puncture. The bottom is open mesh to allow melted snow to drain, but it's made of a tough plastic type material and my frontpoints have not punctured through. 5 stars! Why? I challenge you to find a lighter crampon resistant sack out there. Toss is in your summit bag and don't get weighed down! One of my guides recommended the OR durable stuff sack as a crampon resistant bag. She used it for an entire year until she found a puncture during our trip. LOL. The OR durable sack IS tough, but the fabric on this one is BURLY.

I own 7 TNF Base Camp Duffels (including an XL) but I wanted an even larger duffel to store away some of my gear. This XXL is CAVERNOUS. I own 6 backpacks (including two Osprey Argons), and I can fit all six of them (empty) into this duffel and zip it closed. It doesn't have the bells and whistles such as cordura bottom reinforcements or shoulder straps, but for pure volume, it's great. It seems pretty durable, but I don't abuse this bag -- it's for high volume transport and storage. For expedition and airport abuse, I use one of my many TNF Base Camp duffels.

I wouldn't take this on a plane because it DEFINITELY will be considered oversized and trigger extra baggage charges.

I own the men's version of this jacket, and I bought the women's version for my girlfriend. She loves it. It is a very flattering fit. Now.. she does not climb, and so she does not need the helmet-compatible hood or all the technical features on this jacket. But she looooves the warmth in the light weight package. This is one of the finest jackets you can buy in this insulation class (mid-weight down hooded jacket) and is a huge bargain compared to its competitors. The jacket seems to run true to size. She is 5'4, 105 pounds with 33" chest, and she usually runs between an XS and S. The XS (US6/UK8) fit my girlfriend, but she wanted a little extra room and shoulder mobility, so we went with the S (US8/UK10).

This is a great pack for lighter loads, but when the load is pushing over 35 pounds, my shoulders feel the weight. I own an Osprey Argon, and there is no comparison. The suspension on the Argon makes sure that the weight is pushed onto my hips, and the only my butt and legs feel the load.

If you can afford it, move up to the Argon and your shoulders will thank you. The extra weight from the pack is nothing compared to comfort of a pack that perfectly pushes the weight to the hips.

Bulky and heavy at 7oz, but very versatile! It's a bowl, mug, measuring cup in one, and when you're in the backcountry, just add some hot water, shake it up, and it's sorta-clean. If I'm not packing ultra-light, then I always pack my Fairshare Mug.

My only gripe is that the lid leaks unless it is very very tight. When I'm shaking up hot chocolate in the morning, I will leak some on myself unless I remember to get the lid super-tight.

OH! Forty Below (the company that makes overboots) sells an insulated cozy (Forty Below Mug Boot) designed for the GSI Fairshare mug at 1.5 ounces in weight and 10 dollars plus shipping in cost. I had designed my own insulation, but these are way snazzier.

This is my two-person tent of choice, and although there are a few extra ounces compared to the Big Agnes Fly Creek UL3, the full features and easier pitch make this worth the weight penalty.

There are only two downsides that I can think of. The first is the inherent issue with sil-nylon as it tends to sag when wet. You can still stay completely dry.

My biggest complaint is the configuration of the zipper door -- it would be much better if it zipped like a side-ways U rather than an upside down U. The door zip configuration is about the worst possible, as you'll eventually trip and step all over your door and possible tear some mesh. The Big Agnes Jack Rabbit SL3 and using Featherlite NSL poles rather than the lightweight poles would yield almost the perfect tent (only a tad bit smaller than the Copper Spur UL3) I don't understand why Big Agnes doesn't redesign the doors.

The Copper Spur is a phenomenal tent if you can swallow the price.

This is a great pack which I ended up returning. This pack follows Osprey's decades of experience designing functional and useful packs. There are plenty of pockets and straps and access points. The fit is infinitely adjustable.

My only complaint is regarding the amount of padding on the shoulder harness. Okay.. it's not a plush amount as that on the Osprey Argon, but I was hauling only 40 pounds, and by the second day, it was really digging into my shoulders. I guess I could have swapped out the harness for the thicker Bioform harness (that of the Argon), but I already own an Osprey Argon 85, I decided to return the Aether after I took it for a 3 day trip. The extra 1 1/2 pounds on the Argon is not a bad penalty to pay for the extra comfort. My legs can handle it.

I still think this is a superb pack. 60L is enough for any weekend backpacking trip, but it seems the 70L version is much more popular.

I'd pay more for a few ounces less in the jacket and a higher quality down fill, but this is a great jacket. The fabric, especially at the shoulders, feels much tougher than that of competing jackets. I'm glad they used Pertex Endurance for the shell. It is a nice compromise between weatherproofness and breathability. There's no comment on down fill, but this is warmer than a Rab Neutrino, so I'm hazarding a guess of 250 to 300 grams. The only downside of this jacket is its weight. A higher quality down fill would have brought down the weight by less than 2 ounces. If you want the most down loft for your weight, look at the Marmot Greenland. If you want a great combination of bomber construction and warmth and don't mind a few extra ounces, this is a great jacket.

What can you say? Good ole granola with blueberries and milk. It's simple and easy to make. I like that you can add either hot or cold water.

Natural High freeze-dried granola with raspberry (or strawberry) is a much better deal, as you get over 50% more at the same price... and the taste seems also to be the same.

I'm a big fan of Mountain House, but when it comes to freeze dried granola, milk, and berry, I buy Natural High.

Nice, but overpriced. When you look at gear, you look at fabric, cut, and build quality. This is a well designed and well made WindPro fleece at premium price. I tried it on, but it falls short when compared to my current go-to WindPro jacket which is the old version Montane Sabretooth (2009 WindPro hardface version) which can be had for much much less if you look hard enough and comes with raglan sleeves, adjustable wrist, hood, and waist cinch at waist and hood. Just like the current 2011 Montane Sabretooth (Polartec Powershield) is superior to the Arc'teryx Gamma MX Hoody with the same fabric but better design and details.

Even for a 3mm cord, this thing is stiff. It does the job to act as extra cord for various needs at a cheap price.

However, I recommend the softer hand of a 3mm PMI cord (not sold by Backcountry).

For the ultimate utility cord (at a heftier price), the 2mm Dyneema reflective cord by Exped is the best and lightest and strongest! It is the ultimate tent guyline.

I saw the PPX on sale, and since I already own the Detonator SPPX, I thought I'd get another pair. The fit is the same, the quality is the same, but there is definitely significant optical distortion with when I look to either side due to the lack of spherical optics.

There are very few goggle options that are SPHERICAL and PHOTOCHROMIC, not to mention POLARIZED. As far as I know, Zeal is the only option. The distortion with peripheral gaze might not bother some, but it really is annoying to me, and I returned the goggles.

Zeal makes excellent goggles. But from now, I think I'll purchase only spherical goggles.

I actually own the titanium version of the Kanpai 350 which shaves about four ounces off the weight in exchange for more than twice the cost. The Titanium version is hard to find, and hopefully hasn't been discontinued. For ultra-light mountaineers, every ounce counts. It's very functional, and a great lightweight addition to my 16 ounce Titanium Thermos (which was unfortunately discontinued). It seems like the best titanium vacuum insulated beverage cannisters are too expensive to manufacture. I wish the Kanpai 500 came in titanium, but alas, there's probably little demand for such a piece.

First my complaint - it weighs more than it should for the insulation that it provides. For 40g Primaloft eco throughout, the weight of 15.5 ounces (for medium size) is excessive. In comparison, the better insulated Patagonia Nano puff hoody (60g Primaloft One) is lighter.

In exchange, you get a super-durable Pertex Microlight shell with many bells and whistles including a wired helmet-compatible hood with hood cinch and volume adjuster, and chin lining. The hand pockets are great. If you stick your hand in the pocket, the layer in front AND behind your hand is insulated with Primaloft. Most jackets don't do this!

If it were 3 ounces lighter, I'd give it 5 stars. But it is a great versatile piece of insulation which ends up in my pack frequently.

Montane makes great products. My favorite hardshell jacket is the Montane Super-Fly XT --- the best waterproof shell in the world! (until Polartec Neoshell comes out)

I agree with the previous reviewer. I wear medium in most things, but this thing is very snug at the hips, and I'm pretty much maxed out at the velcro straps. I highly recommend sizing up based on waist size.

I have a short (29 inch) inseam, and I would prefer to own a full-zip eVent fabric pant for mountaineering. There are limited short-inseam options for breathable waterproof full-zip pants. It's the Precip for me. Doesn't breathe as well as the new offerings, but it's light, affordable, and gets the job done.

The best thing about the Granger's is the actual spray bottle. It provides a very generous mist, and you can cover the surface of any item of clothing in fewer sprays than with the stingy Revivex spray. One of my spray triggers did break, but I go through several bottles a year because I frequently reproof my hard and soft shells.

Fluorocarbon DWR treatment is far better than a siliconized proof for clothing.

Wash, spray, and 10 to 15 minutes in the dryer, and I'm done.

I have super-short 29inch inseams, but there is no short option in this class of gear. But the velcro adjustment at the ankles works great to make sure these don't slide below my boots.

Phenomenal and functional. No detail was spared. They do exactly what they are designed to do -- keep you warm when the weather turns cold or you stop and start getting chilly. The full length zips are essential for any mountaineer.

Such a great jacket with one annoying peccadillo -- the water bottle pocket inside the chest only holds a small half-liter bottle (or one of those disposable 16 ounce bottles). How many of you guys carry 1/2 liter bottles all day long? All my bottles are Hunersdorf or Nalgene, and they are all 1 liter size. For a TNF 'Summit' series jacket, this is a huge flaw.

Other than that, fabulous jacket! Toasty warm.

A medium size Patagonia Micro Puff hooded weights almost exactly 20 ounces, while the TNF Redpoint Optimus weighed in at 21.6 ounches.

Torso on the Redpoint Optimus is about 1 inch circumference smaller than the Patagonia and jacket length is about 1/2 inch shorter. The shoulder and sleeves of the Redpoint Optimus are definitely made of a more durable material -- and the weight penalty of 1 1/2 ounches is worth the extra durability.

A Rab Photon should also be looked at -- very full-featured, competitively priced, although it uses an inferior Primaloft sport which offers less warmth for thickness.

Fix the dang water bottle pocket problem TNF! It's so frikking annoying! They should make a nice loose mesh pocket rather than a tight little chimney.

The picture posted by Backcountry is a picture of the Super-Fly XT jacket (new version), and not the standard Super-Fly jacket. Based on the description, this must be the Super-Fly XT.

This jacket is PHENOMENAL. It's full eVent, and the fabric seems to have a 'softer' hand than my Rab Latok. It does not feel crunchy or make much noise. The fabric is not as burly as that of a Rab Latok, but the construction quality is higher. The stitching is akin to what you would see on a Westcomb or Arc'teryx jacket, with no overlapping seams. The higher price tag is justified by the build-quality and details. This jacket is better than any Rab jacket I've tried on. The fit is functional and accomodates layering.

This can be worn for any activity, but it was definitely designed for mountaineering with perfectly placed napoleon pockets and hand pockets. There are pit zips, but I never use them because eVent laminate fabric is so breathable.

The Alpine red version with reflective detailing is BRIGHT. I feel like I'm glowing.

Those people who complain about wind cutting through this fleece don't realize that this is a GOOD thing when you're at 21000 feet, it's blazing 90 degrees in solar heat, and you have to wear gear to protect yourself against sudden temperature and wind changes.

This jacket does what it's supposed to -- it's a highly breathable insulation layer with excellent ventilation.

I own all sorts of merino wool underwear, and this is my favorite. I prefer briefs over boxers. After falling in love with the Icebreaker Beast 150 briefs, I decided to try the Anatomicas. The fit is more supportive of the jewels, but this brief does not ride up my butt crack like the standard Beast briefs. Since briefs should be briefs and not thongs, I prefer the Anatomica. Pricey, but wears like iron!

It's really NOT an athletic fit. I didn't get a chance to try on the Cloudveil vest to compare it to the Marmot Powerstretch. I'm a true medium (40" chest, athletic, 155pound, but 5'8" in height) and this vest is LOOSE. Fit around the chest is comfortable. I wouldn't mind it an inch tighter. However, there is PLENTY of room around the belly to accomodate your a small buddha. Don't believe the athletic fit. It's cut generously. This vest will fit anyone unless your doctor is hounding you about your weight. Also, this medium vest is at least 3 inches longer than I need it to be. So I will guess than someone 6'2 or 6'3 would fit in it comfortably. In addition, the hem around the shoulders (armholes) flare away from my shoulders when I'm wearing it (like the end of a trumpet).

It's not a flattering fit for me, but it's warm and functional. At similar pricepoints, I'd go for the Marmot Powerstretch Vest based purely on fit. I just couldn't turn down this purchase at the 23 bucks I bought it for.

This is a fantastic shell. Lightweight, super-breathable, and 100% waterproof. The cut is awesome. Enough room to layer, and full range of motion at the shoulders! I never use the pitzips because it is so breathable. I noticed most eVent shells are coming out without pitzips. I guess I could imagine a scenario in 75+ degree weather where the pit zips might come in handy. I have a Rab Momentum shell (super-lightweight eVent shell) without pitzips and it doesn't need them. eVent fabric is for real.

My only complaint is that the lower pockets are placed too low and could get in the way of a harness. I'd use only the napoleon pocket with a harness on. I wish they made two napoleon pockets. I'm 5'8 with a 39-40 inch chest and wear a medium.

I wear products from Icebreaker, Ibex, Smartwool, Earth Sea & Sky. I was trying to get my girlfriend into wool clothing, and this looked like a simple stylish piece. She's a petite 5"3, and the XS fits her perfectly. I also bought her a NTS microweight shirt, but she prefers the softer feel of the NTS lightweight weaving. She wears it all the time now.

I've turned her into a merino wool fan.