9 years ago I was a climbing bum working in a retail shop. I needed a new shell. I scrimped and saved and finally was ale to shell out for the Alpha SV. I have spend no less than 300 - 600 days in it. I work outside and foul weather follows me. Today this jacket is just as tough as the day it arrived. The zippers are perfect, the gore-tex breaths great (the new model works even better as it has a newer type of gore-tex), the bungies that cinch the hood and waist are also perfect. Knowing all of the abuse I have put this coat through I can not beleive how good it looks and functions. I expect it will last another 9 years and then if it needs replacing I will gladly shell out for the new coat from the bird. It might be costly, but it will last you forever and the fit is amazing.

Like the name says this is the skeletal verion of a multi tool. I carry a multi-tool with just about everyday. I have used Gerber, Leatherman and SOG. As far as construction goes, this tool is bomber. It is sturdy and tough...what you would expect from Leatherman. Where this tool really shines is in the BC. It is light enough to toss in a pack and then when you need it you have it. I would not use this as my everyday tool, while it is built well, I just dont think it would hold up to the abuse I dish out on a daily basis. But, like I said, if you are looking for a backpacking/backcountry tool, this is it.

Just dumb. Why would you ever spend 17.00 to limit yourself. Lets see, all this does is belay 1 rope, you cant rap and then pull the rope, and you cant use double or twin ropes. Just dumb. Why limit yourself. Buy an standard ATC and you will be much happier.

I am a sock nut. I have bridgedales, smartwools, icebreakers, REI brand, ect. Of all my socks these are the best. The way the 4 degree rit works is amazing. They are super comfy, wick sweat like crazy and never bunch or move at all. They may be pricy but these are the bomb.

The best thing about these socks and the sole feature that sets them apart from others is that the keen socks are asymetrical. Your feet are different shapes, why should your socks be interchangable. Keen has fixed that problem and these socks are awesome.

I work outdoors in the summer and it can get very hot. I stand and walk 12-14 hours a day. I will only use these socks. They make such a difference in comfort level. My feet stay dry and cool. These are the best.

The vector is a great go to watch/altimeter for every outdoor activity. I have owned 2 over the last 11 years, my first lasting 10 years. When it died, I sent it back to suunto and they sent me a new one for really cheap. The buttons are easy to puch, even when wearing gloves. It is easy to set the diffrent modes. The only thing I dont like about it, is the band. I use the suunto velcro band and love that.

I bought this fleece for my girlfriend and wow did I win some serious brownie points. She loves it and raves about it all the time. She says it is super warm and very cosy, it is currently her favorite in the worlds largest collection of fleece. The only downside is that it is in no way windproof at all. So, know that it is an isulation layer, and it is great for wearing around the house on cold days. My girlfriends has been washed a number of times and we havent noticed any "clumping" we dry it on low heat. Maybe that will help. Overall this is a sweet fleece and will look for more on sale.

I've owned a dozen pairs of snowboarding boots and these stomp the snot out of everything else I have ever had. They are super stiff (for a snowboard boot), they are comfortable, even if they took a few days to break in, and they are warm. I love my malamutes, I am a better rider because of them.

I have had my 50's a couple seasons and they are holding strong. The ratchets dont seem to be wearing at all and still work perfect. The plastic frame isnt cracked anywhere. The padding on the straps works well. These bindings are tough, they have held up to over 80 days with me.

I agree with Grove, I hate falling on these, but when a whipper is coming, I take at least a little reassurance in these things. Also they are way more durable than any other micro I have used. If needed you can lightly hammer them into a crack and they still remain usable afterward.

For thin sketcky nailing these rock. I dont know about using the largest size on mixed routes, but I love the small ones for thin seems. The angle on the hammer strike area really helps to maximize your swing and reduces the number of swings to tap em' in.

Bomber. Perfect sizes, color coding isnt bad, nice curve and tough wire. What's not to love about the stopper?

I have many models of cams, Wild Country are some of my farorite. They are easy to place, have a great camming range and are lighter than some other similar cams. The color coding is great. The only thing I dont like is that cam size numbering is not universal. But thats an issue for the manufacturers. Overall this is a great set of cams for someone looking to get into climbing or someone looking to buy a whole set of cams.

Every ice climber needs two pairs of gloves: one for leading and mixed routes, one for following, belaying and hanging out around the base of the route. This is that second pair of gloves. Trying to fire in a screw, place a cam or clip the rope is next to impossible with these. They are bulky, however that bulk keeps your hands and fingers very warm. The padding does help keep your little finger from screaming and the cuff keeps snow out. They are worth the high price tag because you will be using them about 80% of the time, while using a thin pair the other 20%.

This is not a replacement for your 50 degree sleeping bag. It is an "Oh Sh!t" back up for when you have to spend the night out. Knowing that, this thing is great. It is light enough to always bring along and sturdy enough to use more than once. This is way better than the blanket, dont waste your time with that thing, buy this, throw it in your pack and travel with piece of mind.

WHEELS! When traveling with all my crap I hate lugging bags, this guy has wheels, and is super tough. I load up my other bags on top of it and then stroll through the airport. Tons of room for multiple boards, boots, bindings, tools, waxing stuff, helmuts, ect... This is a worthy investment for anyone who travels with their gear. You will use it for many years.

I work outdoors, in sun, wind and rain. When it rains (which seems like everyday) I through my Iphone in this guy. You can still function the touch screen and hear/talk without any problem. It never leaks and keeps my phone dry.

I traveled for 2 years non-stop hitting a new city each week. I used these for everything and divided my wardrobe up into catagories. They are great. I would not try to travel without them. The only downside is that the little yellow closure tab can come off, but it is easy enough to put back.

Great little padded cube. I use it to pack camera and computer equipment. Worth every penny, they are light and very strong.

Over the years I have collected many packs and recently this is the one I go to when looking for a day pack. I take it climbing, snowshowing, and hiking. It carries really well, the suspension is excellent and this pack carries weight were it it should, on your hips. The top compartment has two zippered pouches for quick access stuff. The hip belt also has a small pocket on the right side for power gel or something like that. I carry my pack cover in that pocket. I have carried this pack over 100 miles and I love it. Lastly, the back panel is all mesh, so when it is hot outside, this pack helps keep you cool.

Great winter weather boot. If you live in the west you see these on all the mountain folk in the winter. These are not a technical boot and I dont try to do anything outdoorsy in them. I use these when getting the mail, going to the grocery store, running around town, shoveling snow out of my driveway, that kind of stuff. The only thing I dont like that they are sized big. I normally wear a 10.5 and the 10 feels quite roomy. Size down and you will be happy.

This is a standard messenger bag, nothing more, nothing less. The material is the best part of the bag. It is super tough and extreamly durable. But the rest of the bag is just standard. It is a great bag when it is on sale, otherwise it is too expensive for what you get.

This is best closed cell foam pad made, period. I use mine in conjuntion with an inflatable pad in really cold weather or on its own in moderate weather. I had one that I cut up to make square sitting pads for sitting on cold rocks or for standing on when belaying in cold weather. For the price, this pad can not be beat.

I have owned 2 leatherman and 2 gerber tools. The SOG is by far the best of all the multi tools I have ever owned. It is the heaviest, but it is also the most functional. This is a 5-star tool, except that the leather case is junk. I am having a leather worker build a new one (15 bucks). But as far as the tool goes, this is the best.

Maximizing your space in the tent will be the diffrence from camping in a small cramped space to living the life. These will help. I use these and a tent attic to gain all kinds of extra room when camping. They are easy to find in the dark and you wont knock your hot chocolate over on you $400 sleeping bag.

Burly, Burly, Burly. One of the toughest most relaible stakes I have ever used. I will never have a tent without these.

Burly, Burly, Burly. One of the toughest most relaible stakes I have ever used. I will never have a tent without these.

Burly, Burly, Burly. One of the toughest most relaible stakes I have ever used. I will never have a tent without these.

The sunshade is easy to set-up and does a great job of shielding its occupants from the sun without baking them via the hothouse effect that some shelters cause. Mine is very durable and has lasted years. Buy the large, the meduim is too small to stand under. Here are the downsides. 1. it is a bit short, i think it is designed for sitting under. 2. The poles are a little on the weak side. Other than those two issues, it works great. I like the irregular design because that allows you to but it up against trees or other fixed objects.

Great piece of "OH SH!T" gear. Light enough to carry everywhere, small enough to fit in any pack. When you need it you will be happy. The bag design is many times better than the blanket. Dont waste your time with a blanket, get this bag.

IF you want the tool that all the other ice climbing fools will drool over then this is it. The carbon fiber is such a sick material for the shaft. It absorbs and dampens all the vibration so you dont get as pumped when you though a sucky swing and it ricochets off. The picks as slick, I dry tool the hell out of them and then just hit em up with the ol file...good as new. Lastly these are durable, show me an ice climber that is gentle on equipment and ill tell you that your dreaming. These will hold up to all the abuse that can be tossed at em. They are pricy, but worth every penny.

The adze is moving toward history. I see very few climbers in the mountians with technical tools that have an adze on them. It really doesnt make the much sence anymore. If you want an adze carry your mountaineering axe, but on a tech tool, come on. Put a hammer on both of your tools, you'll use both hammers and you will gain a level of safety.

Unless you are swinging picks in a comp, you don't need this. Buy the standard hammer, it provides better balance and will help you more. This is only a part that should be used by people who only climb mixed routes and never swing the pick into ice.

This is a cool kit for folks new to glacier travel or mountaineering who dont have a lot of gear. It is also perfect for guides who may need to call on clients to assist in rescue. If you have any of the gear included in this package, keep working on your own kit, and know how to use it.

Great tool holster. It is easy to attach, doesnt get in the way of gear loops and holds the tool. I use it while ice climbing, mountaineering and on big walls for the yo hammer.

The ice clipper is a nice addition and it makes racking screws easy. Screws can be removed with one hand by twisting them to open the gate (kind of like your worst nightmare when sport climbing). The only thing that I dont like about it is that I dont think it will hold that many screws. Only a few will fit before they start to get in the way of each other. I usually rack a few on this and a few in the gear loops. You can only really fit one per each side of your harness, so unless you place pro with both hands, you only need and will use one.

This is a great down jacket. I have owned 3 down jackets and for the price this one is great. It is quite warm and the pockets on mine are lined, so when you stuff your hands in them the digets stay nice and toasty. Totally a great jacket.

When the mercury drops, reach for this guy. I love mine, my frinds fight me for it when it is my turn to climb and wont be wearing it. I love it while belaying during ice season. It stuffs fairly small into the inside pocket, however it ends up in a really strange shape that doesnt fit well into anything, so i use a small stuff sack and then everything is good. The hood is roomy enough to fit over a helmet. It is light enough that I can carry it on summer epics as an emergency bivy plan. I know it would keep me alive. I cant say anything bad about this other than people will fight over it.

Great pair of goggles. They dont fog when you are moving, They fit well with or without a helmet, and they look good. Plus you can interchange the lenses for about a million diffrent varieties. I use the "fire" and "persimmon". Between those two you can get through anything.

Scarpa does a lot of things great (ski boots, climbing shoes) plastic mountaineering boot is not one of them. These boots may work great for some, but in all my years of experience, I have seen many friends sell these suckers on ebay and either go to leather boots (like nepal extremes, Salomon super mountains, Trangos...) or they buy a set of Koflachs. The worst thing about this boot is the tongue. It bruises and beats shins like no other.

Simple design, works great. Drawstring closures allows stuffing of rope, zipper give quick access, nice adjustable shoulder strap, water resistant tarp build in, different color rope ties built in for easy set-up at the base of a climb. Nothing more than needed, nothing less, just right.

These really are the last set of gators you will ever buy. Super durable, they stay up well, and fit large boots. In summer you can roll the top down to get a little more ventilation. Gore-tex breathes well. I will never trade mine in for anything less.

Mammut makes great ropes. I have used just ropes from just about everyone (bluewater, edelwiess, sterling, and beal) and I think that the Mammut are among the best. They have a great hand, are not too stiff, dont kink or twist excessively and last through lots of abuse. This is a great rope and the 70 meter size is the way to go. Don't hose yourself with a 50 meter, you'll regret it. Also buy the superdry. Even on ropes I never plan to get water anywhere near, nature has a way of finding, and it always pays to have a "dry" rope.

These are some of the best cams on the market. I dont know a single climber (including friends sponsored by Black Diamond competators) that climbs trad routes and doesnt own some of these. These are the bread and butter of a cam rack. Buy a set of these and then fill in the gaps with others.

Best wire gate availble. Small and light, this biner clips easily and you can rack a boat load of em. I think the color coding is a little lame, but I am sure some people will really like it, either way the color has no effect on the biner, it is still the bomb.

Why? I dont trust crap other poeple have left in the mountains, including rap rings, slings, pins, ect. When I find rap rings on a sling, I cut em off and pocket them, then clean the sling and replace it with a new one I brought for rapping. Seeing as most other climbers do the same, why leave a new sling with a $5 rap ring when rapping right through the sling is perfectly safe. The only time I would use this would be on a big wall when you have hundreds of feet of rope to rap and it is resonable to see the rope moving back and foth a lot.

This is a very specialized peice of gear and does not need to replace all your dogbones. At what it does, it is so great. I have 4 that I use on super sketchy gear when aiding and climbing ice. The Dyneema is rad, these used to be made by Yates with standard nylon and they were super bulky. These are great. You wont want to ever use them, and when you do you will likely be crapping in your pants, but you will be really gald you have them.

I hate using this thing, but when I do use it, I love it. It sucks when placing in ice, it wont hold for crap. It is best when you fire it into a frozen crack, or frozen dirt, frozen moss. It is very durable, and not to hard to remove when using upward force.

These should stand for "Realized Ultimate Rectal Puckering" as that is how you feel when you bash one in. But time and time again they hold. As amazing as it is that weighting a postage stamp is possible, what is more amazing is how durable they are. You can bash the hell out of them (and you will) and when cleaned they still look pretty good. A worthy addition to any big wall rack.

This shovel is great and is the best available. Heres why: 1. collapsable, this makes it easy to pack. If you dont bring it, it is worthless. 2. Aluminum blade, for years shovels were made with lexan blades. These sucked when trying to dig through wet concrete snow. 3. "T" handle. It is easy to get a hold off and makes work move quickly.

With years of building haul bags under their belts Metolius should have it down, and they do! This bag is so bomb proof, I think Osama Bin Ladin is hiding inside. Buy this if you want a bag that is a good meduim size, and will never let you down. Quick tip - duct tape all the fabric round the bottom and top rims, the tape will take the abuse of being dragged up a wall, allowing your bag many more years of use.

Be clear, this is an emergency ascender. It is as slimmed down as possible. It is not fun to use, but when needed it will save your butt. I carry these almost all the time, they can help a second ascent or even be used to build hauling rigs and rescues. For their weight and size they are amazing.

A great little pulley. I wouldnt want to use it to haul the pig. I'll haul small packs with this or when guiding and a client needs a little help, this is a great peice of gear for the 3-1. Much better than just using a oval biner. Very light, worth the space and weight it will add to your harness.

Holy cow! These are freakishly thin and light. I used to be a die hard spectra guy, but these changed my life. Replace all you old ratty slings with these guys. You wont be sorry.

I love passive pro, it is light and works great. Unless I am climbing somewhere that has tons of horizontal cracks I leave these at home. They are rubbish in any other situation. But, in those horizontals there is little or nothing that works better. If you understand that this is a very specialized tool you will be happy.

The Coyote is the standard by which all other pickets are measured. It is light and very strong. The 24" is the perfect size.

I have used european pins and they are crap when compaired to these. I never head out on an alipine climb without a few of these, and just when you are really puckered they get really handy. Very tough, not brittle, a staple piece of gear.

The Fifi is a great way to hook into your pro while aiding, theonly problem I have with it is that I think the sling it is build with is too long. When stepping up it will un-hook itself. But if you are not too gumbyish you can avoid this. As far as rapping off it, that is maddness. It would serve better as a keychain.

Great tool, buy one. Even when climbing with a pack I attach this to the top handle strap, when I need to drop the pack for a hard pitch, I am set.

I dont know anyone that "loves" hooking on lead, but when you have to do it, pull a couple of these out. It is the most secure hook I have ever used. The bipod base actually does what it is intended to do. Overall a great tool to have in the box.

As far as hexes go these are just adequate. The wire limites effective placement and the straigh sides prevent solid placement. If this is all you got, then the will work fine, but I would reach for a WC or Metolius curved hex first.

I have owned a number of axes (chalet moser, simond, petzl) and this is above and beyond the best of the bunch. I have taken this axe on climbs up Mt. Rainier, Mt. Shasta and many eastern sierra routes. It is light, but secure. It doesn't feel chinzy at all. I recenlty bought a second one for my girlfriend, because I trust its funtionality that much.

These are great screws. The thing I like most is that they bite quickly, which is the hardest part of the placement. The knob is kind of a joke, I always try to use it but often end up using the bolt hanger to twist the screw in. Dry them after use or they will rust. The 16 and 19cm are most useful.

I love these. Simple and functional. They wont shift when you load them, this will help keep you from crapping your pants while aiding in the valley. Every rack should have at least a few of these on it.

For the price these cant be beat. They are great in pairs or just buy the straight gate. I have used mine for years. I have attached a bent gate to most of the slings on my cams. If you are not buying wiregates then these are the biners to buy.

These are my bread and butter on alpine climbs. Leave the cams at home. The Dyneema slings are bomber, I tie an overhand knot in all of mine to shorten them up and then if needed untie it when I place the hex. The curved head rocks, it is such an improvment over the older staight style. Between a set of these and a set of stoppers just about any route can be protected.

Just by the name alone I love it. Skinny, skinny, skinny. When I bought my ice thongs years ago I was a like "oh crap these are thin". After years of use climbing ice and mountainereering they still look great. They are light and highly visible and never seem to absorb any water, all good things for alpine climbing. When I really want to save weight I'll carry only one and double it up on tough pitches.

I was turned on to Icebreaker a few years ago. At first I was not certain it would work as well as described, however after only a little experience with it I have changed my tune. This stuff is amazing. I buy up everything that fits me on Steep and Cheap. I have given away all of my capiline. ICEBREAKER all the way.

Buy these before they are gone. Mion's were discontinued by their parent company and it will be a loss for all of us who like "adventure sandals". The footed is unlike any other and is the best of any (teva, reef, keen, chaco). These are the most comfortable sandals ever.

Best locker! Not to big, not to small, nice gate opening, smooth action. Perfection!

I was a hold out using the older ATC for a long time. Then I decided to bite the bullet and step up to the ATC Guide. I have never looked back. It feeds rope great, it belays from above great, it rapps great, I love this and it is now the device i reach for, even when everything else (ATC, Toucan, Gri Gri, figure 8) is availble.

Great pack! The most confortable "big" pack I have ever owned. Will easily carry everything for a week or more. The only downside is that this pack is heavy. I still give this pack 5 stars and if I needed another pack it would be my first choice.

This is the last 2 person 4-season tent you will ever buy. Super light, very tough. Holds up to really strong wind and snowfall. You set it up from inside, so when setting up during a storm you are protected. The yellow fabric will brighten your mood even during the darkest storm bound days.

These are great. I have owned my pair for almost 10 years. They still breath great, fit great and work like new. I wash and treat them a couple times a year with nikwax. I have no doubt they will last another 10 years.

Classic climbing helmet. Very adjustable, very comfortable.

Pros: Durable, semi-light, great attachment points for headlamp, very adjustable=more than one person can use it.
Cons: No foam liner. Recent research shows that helmets with a built in foam liner protect the head a little better. After a long day of use, the user has the dumbest helmet hair possible.

I own an ecrin roc and while new research points out pros of other helmets, I see no need to ruch out and buy a new helmet. This is still a great helmet and is infinatly better than nothing at all.

The Gri Gri is a good tool when used for the right job. Those jobs are a little limited. It is great for a top rope, it is great when you think your belayer may not be as attentive as they should be, and it is great for big wall climbing. That is where I think it is the best. While hanging in a belay for long (possibly hours) while the leader aides some thing that makes you want to puke, the gri gri is great.

These are great snowshoes. They are light, hold well on firm pack, have aggresive crampons and are easy to put on. The only downside is that I think they are too short. I added the tails and am very happy.

I love this pack. It is comfortable, simple and doesnt have all kinds of extra crap that I dont need. For any kind of BC ski trip or even when I'm in the slack country I grab this pack.