After one field season in the Argentine Precordillera these boots are still in great shape. Durability is what I wanted, and is exactly what was delivered with these boots. In addition, the break-in process was relatively short and pain free. I love the lacing system on these boots, very responsive and really locks in my foot when I need it. The sole is quite durable and is great for kicking steps into steep scree covered slopes. Some brief dunks into shallow mountain streams confirmed the water resistance, and the roughout leather uppers still look untarnished (considering most of the foliage is drenched in spines). My only complaint is poor ventilation, but this was not a surprise, rather a trade off for an excellent pair of durable and solid boots. Lastly, my feet were incredibly supported with a ~50lbs load in my pack walking on uneven and often steep paths (thanks Guanacos!). I have previously used inexpensive light-duty backpacking boots (Asolo, Montrail, etc.) and after using these I can't imagine going back unless my field work takes a turn for benign and equable environments (not likely).

This layer fits well over my Icebreaker 260 and a featherweight wool top. With all 3 pieces on it's not constrictive or bulky, everything seems to fit nicely and my movement is not restricted. I can't seem to get over how much this looks like a sweater though, which is a plus since you can wear it in the front country with ease. Another aesthetic point, on the black version there are gray stitches that run the length of the arms and down the torso and across the back. Neither Marmot's site or this one show this so be forewarned, what you see is not what you get. I think it works well as layering piece for colder climbs and hikes, though wearing it without a base layer can be scratchy (either the wool or the cocona stuff, have you ever seen the outside of a coconut?).

I really like wearing this vest. It's cut such that it fits close but not snug. After months in the field it has yet to show serious signs of fading or fabric damage. It breathes very well, but this is not weather resistant (not that it's intended to be) aside from blocking UV radiation to your torso. The pockets are great, I use most of them though a couple are superfluous. I can hold all the essentials (passport, receipts, etc..) including whatever gear I've stashed away and this vest is still not cumbersome! A really nice feature are the top chest pockets, I stash my GPS unit in one of them, so it's right there and ready to go! I don't fly fish, but I'm constantly mistaken for it, which can be a plus if your interrogated by customs officials and need an easy cover. I gave it 5 stars, because I wasn't expecting much at the outset (I just needed a utility vest). However, I've been pleasantly surprised by this item.

So far these pants work incredibly well, in very windy conditions and temps approaching 40 F, my legs felt invincible. Couple this with a windproof jacket and you'd laugh in the face of gale force winds, if they weren't taking your breath away.

Upside: I was skeptical about the durability, but a trip out in Owens Valley with these pants indicated they are quite durable. The abrasion resistant panels cover a large amount of the pant, with a generous supply on the rear-end and skid/crampon/walking stick resistant panels and the inside lower leg. These are very (with a V) water resistant, the 3-layer nylon fabric ensures this along with the seam taping. I also imagine the 3-layer fabric provides greater abrasion resistance while retaining some water resistance on parts that aren't covered by the abrasion resistant panels. The wind resistance and water resistance make up for the lack of insulating material if you are going for aerobic activity in anything but the most severe alpine conditions. I'd probably go for an insulated gore-tex pant for demanding alpine pursuits, but this fits the bill for everything else in my opinion. The full length zips are great for taking on/off with boots on, and for dumping heat. I haven't used the zip-in gaiters yet, but it's nice that that option is there.

Down-side: The fit is pretty tight in the thigh, I normally wear 30-30 or 31-30 pantaloons and so the small size fits this perfectly. This is a problem for layering, since if I wore a medium size in this pant I would drag the bottoms and wear them out while providing more room for layering. So, while the lack of insulation may predicate layering in very cold conditions, it ultimately means you need to choose that layer wisely (or go with another pant). Irregardless, with a single layer underneath this is still a very reactive pant, not restrictive, and the articulated knees are a bonus.
The tight fit makes the belt superfluous, and the belt itself is nothing to scream about. OR should ditch it and emphasize buying suspenders to take advantage of the suspender loops on the pants.

End Note: No regrets on this purchase (which was on sale).

They look aggressive. However, after breaking them in I still received sharp pain in my upper left ankle, same with the other ankle. Inserts and experiments with lacing did not solve the problem. Laces were devoured by the rough metal lacing eyelets. The leather rand punctured quite easily. Last but not least the sole must have been made out of lithophobic materials, since I swear the rubber was trying to escape the soles as I hiked around on rock outcroppings and trails (much more so than with other boots). I guess looks aren't everything.

Like others here, I am wearing this as I type. I find this hoody to be super warm and cozy due to the fleece interior and wool-poly blend exterior. It's a heavy weight item, but it fits under my marmot sharpoint jacket and is not restrictive. The hood is nice, there is an elastic drawcord to sinch the hoody. It feels like an athletic cut in the body, which I like. And the thumbholes are nice for layering and for that extra warm feeling. This jacket has a nice look to it, it doesn't drape over me, and I can throw it in my pack to toss on after my morning bicycle commute. One drawback I've found is that the sleeve length on my jacket is a bit short, not noticeable unless I use the thumbholes and extend my arm. When I don't use the thumbloops it fits just fine. I intend to use it primarily for around the town activities and maybe, just maybe, as a back-up heavy layer for light backpacking.

Lightweight and surprisingly durable, the Marmot DriClime vest was a nice investment for my mountain gear. It blocks the wind and has a light layer of poly insulation on the interior (around the kidneys and up the chest). It is minimalistic in the sense that it bunches up into next to nothing, and when I tossed a bunch of jagged rock samples in my pack it came away with nary a scratch. The countless coffee stains cleaned up very nicely in the washing machine. It's not the end all be all of backcountry gear, but it is a sweet little investment to keep your body temperature up when the wind comes crashing down. It doesn't look too bad either with the token chest pocket.

These shoes, and they are shoes mind you, are great. Compared to my boots the sole is thin, but I bought hiking shoes, not mountaineering boots. So far, the feel is great my feet are comfy and the arch support is quite nice. The mesh exterior is great and I can actually feel the shoes venting. This might be a downside when things turn soggy. The construction seems top-notch the feel and look like a well put together piece of footwear. The lacing system is unique due to a plastic arm that extends to laces with 2 holes of different diameter, the top hole grabs the lace, while the bottom hole allows tightening or loosening. I was concerned at first, whether this plastic thing would snap off, but so far so good. And there is a rubber rand covering much of the shoe (goodbye ugly weathered suede!).

This watch will put out for you, though the barometer needs a bit of attention to keep it honest. Right now as I'm wearing it there's a few splotches of salt on the inside of the watch face. It's water resistance apparently went to hell on me 2 years in. However, after drying the sucker out for a couple hours it works like new with some salt splotches courtesy of the wiring inside. The compass works fairly well, though it gets confused sometimes (indicating a calibration is due). Temperature gauge will only be accurate when you take the watch off and place it on something that doesn't have a radically different heat capacity than the medium you're in (i.e. hold it in the atmosphere for a spell). Weather forecasting feature is nice, and sometimes comical when inaccurate, for example it's raining today, hmmm that's funny because there's no ceiling. But I imagine these complaints are true for most watch-borne weather stations, you just have to keep calibrating the suckers. All in all it's a burly piece that has taken the abuse I've put it through. Finally this watch, like most altimeters, will leave you with many hilarious comments, like "wow I can hardly read the time on that thing!"...priceless.