I can see how these could be uncomfortable if your kid's foot doesn't fit them right, but for our daughter she loves them and they are SUPER durable. Very wide too - so it fits nicely and goes off and on easily. The big rubber toebox is nice if your little one drags their feet... lots of rubber to go through before a hole shows up.

I loved these but the large was huge. I'm a 34 waist and they fell to the floor. So for a 34 waist, go medium.

I like the way these gloves look! Shell construction is really sharp with the grip being a perfect mix of soft leather and grippy Pittard's-style material.

However, coming from the Hestra Heli glove that is very similar, I was cold in these in 15-25 degree weather. With a 3-finger style glove like this, I assume the only reason you go for the style is because you need as much warmth as possible without going to a full mitten. For me, the liner is a bit thin. On the plus side (and unlike the Hestra), the liner allows you to slot all of your fingers into one pocket to warm them up. The weight is good for ski touring, but too light for riding lifts in mid-winter if you have colder hands.

Last year I was on the Scarpa Mastrale and I have never toured in a boot that does so well on the uphill, but the Mastrale was 1) too narrow for my foot and 2) really, really soft for the downhill. So, I went to the Quadrant this year. Strengths are the ski mode - this boot comes pretty close to most companies' freeride touring offerings, but it is a bit lighter and has a bit more articulation for the skin track. I have no problem driving really big skis with this boot. The tour mode is just OK, however. Unlike the Mastrale or the Dynafit TLT, you can't open these up and feel like you're wearing tennis shoes on the hike up. For me, most tours are less than a half day so that was ok. Also worth noting is that the stock liner in this boot is absolute junk. I really hated it and thought I hated the boot until I threw an intuition Protour in there, which stiffened the boot and provided for a much better range on the walk up.

Grabbed the burgundy in medium. I'm 5'11" and 180lbs and usually between a medium and large. Sizing is a little bit smaller than other Billabong button downs that I have had but still pretty true to size - M is the right size for me. Picture is very spot-on for this shirt so what you see is what you get. The cotton is super thin - so I've had no shrinking in the wash but I also wouldn't dare put this one in the dryer.

Just got these yesterday. They are actually quite cool - the ultra-thin softshell-like material will work great for running or biking, but also doesn't look weird when paired up with button down shirt. If I had to pick one pair of shorts to wear all summer - I think I could do everything in these - work, run, bike, swim and climb. First "athletic" short that I've ever held that works for casual wear without looking like an athletic short.

Now for the big bummer - the medium was way too tight. I am a 33 waist in about everything, so I'm hoping that the sizing chart is equally wrong for the Large because I really want some of these shorts. I'll update this when the exchange arrives for the Large.

UPDATE: Large was a perfect fit. Have now run, climbed and used these over some bib shorts for long MTB rides. They work great for all of those things.

I snagged this for my wife and she gets compliments every time she wears it. Fit is true to size - she's 5'2" and the small is a longer fit but not as long as the pictures make it look like it might be. I just came back to buy it in another color but it's all gone at the moment. Highly recommend.

These shirts are great for one use but I own the same shirt in a Large and a Medium and the Large is about 2 inches shorter than the medium after each has been washed once (in the same load - same heat, etc.). Neither one fits anymore as the large is wide and short and the medium is just overall too small. Pretty bummed as these are so soft and I really dig the design.

This is a great down vest - since it seems like most other companies have abandoned all colors other than black, brown, etc. I wasn't sure what to expect from Isis and my wife wanted a vest for 75% casual wear and 25% technical use. This is heavier than offerings from TNF, Patagonia and Mountain Hardware, but otherwise it compares favorably in terms of technical features. The baffling looks really cool too. Only surprise was that the rhubarb color looks pink in the photo here but it is more red than pink in person (still looks great).

All in, this is a great glove for the person (me) who can't always afford the Hestra trigger mitt. The wool liner is a very nice touch and the glove dries quickly when disassembled. I didn't find the thumbs to be too short, though I agree that they may run a touch small to the size chart. For $65 on Steepandcheap, I think these compare very favorably to other options.

Just got this for my daughter and really like it. Unlike the synchilla fleece, the Micro D-Luxe fleece is super soft and hangs more like a hoody (sweatshirt cut) than a fleece. That being said, it seems like it will be just as warm as the Patagonia synchilla fleece. I got the fusion sunset color and feel like it just might work for a boy too if we get one of those some day.

The tracker 2 is a marked improvement on what I think was the best beacon out there previously (the tracker). Three antennae bump BCA's offering to be competitive with Orthovox and Mammut in terms of technology, but the tracker 2 is much simpler to use than its competition - it retains all of the intuitive characteristics of its predecessor.

I really wanted to keep these but they are for smaller faces. I usually go for shades designed for a medium (not large) face, but these were smaller than I wanted so be aware of that. On the plus side, the Brown Deco is probably my favorite frame color that Smith does and I wish it was more widely available. Subtle, but still noticeably different from a standard tortoise shell. Lenses are great for polycarbonate - as good as it gets without stepping up to glass.

This is a super cute piece. On sizing, I say always go for the 6M option as it seems to fit only slightly bigger than the 3M and you can hope to get a couple of seasons out of it since it's a vest. Patagonia vests may or may not keep our daughter comfy but they definitely are the cutest piece of clothing that she owns. Just like a mini version of the adult classic fleece.

At first swipe I was unsure whether I liked the new speed lock more or less than the twist lock that Leki has used for the past few years. The speed lock wins for me in the end due to much greater ease of use. I find myself actually collapsing my poles at times to store on my pack, whereas I found it a bit of a hassle with the old twist lock mechanism. I believe the twist lock is a bit stronger but ease of use wins out in this case and I prefer these. Love the cork grip and positive angle in the hand - these became a must-have when we started hiking with a baby and now I doubt I'll go back to not using poles.

I cannot afford this ski but did spend a full day on it at Snowbird at the end of last season and had a few thoughts. 1) The Magne traction actually does work very well when you hit icy spots. I've ridden a skate banana and these function very much the same way when you need a serrated edge to cut into harder crust all the way to ice. 2) I was curious how 100 at the waist would float in soft snow but it was plenty given the relatively dramatic rocker in this ski. 3) I sent big on these so I feel like they convey superpowers. These flex pretty stiff - nothing like my rossi RC112's but stiffer than an S7... maybe in line with my Surface One Life. Overall a strong recommend if you've got some coin to spare.

As everyone says, this is a great belt whether using it for skiing or just casual wear. I'll add that I am a 34 waist and the Medium fits with a bit to spare. Otherwise I just echo the praise of this inexpensive yet highly useful belt.

I've got this sock in a very cool red and grey argyle pattern (the sock is mostly the charcoal color above with pattern up the side) and that is probably my favorite thing about the sock, but it is holding up reasonably well to regular use. Not as sturdy as an Icebreaker sock but still very good and does everything that Merino should do (doesn't stink, stays nice and dry).

The XS in this hat was about the only sun hat we could find that was small enough for our 2 month old. She doesn't mind wearing it at all and it's great to shade her while we're out hiking and she's in the baby bjorn (or eventually in an infant carrier). Pretty cute too!

I grabbed these at the Patagonia outlet for almost nothing but they are pretty cool. Just basic synchilla fleece and they do have a little liner on the inside. The small size fits my newborn well and will hopefully work up to about 6 months, but they are pretty small.

I got these for ski touring (very mellow touring) with my daughter in the baby bjorn and so far she likes wearing them although we haven't been out on a super cold day. They seem to be pretty windproof and the synthetic insulation is a strong positive given that it will maintain warmth when wet and there's always a good chance of these getting wet either from forces of nature of forces of my little girl.

What can I say I was a sucker for how cute our daughter looked in this jacket. It seems to have the exact same construction as the grown-up version (thus the price being a little too close to the same as well). I will say that I checked out the 3m and 6m sizes and didn't see too much difference, so I got the six month and it will hopefully be big this winter and maybe still fit next winter.

Compared to other options from Skullcandy, WeSC and Nixon I think that the Siege The Elevens may be one of the better values out there. The bass is very good and while they're certainly not audiophile quality, they do sound great across the midrange and treble. Also, these suckers are very well put together and are very large on the ear. Sometimes I find that "over ear" headphones either just barely or don't at all cover the entire ear and these are super comfortable.

I grabbed these in the woodgrain color because I was looking for something polarized with a copper lens and similar to a tortise shell frame but not. The good: the optics on these shades are great - I really like the brown lens for being in the mountains and the polarization is very good. The only thing I don't love is that the woodgrain looks a bit chintzy. It doesn't really look as natural in person as in the pictures above - more like a fake woodgrain dashboard on an oldsmobile.

I bought this for my wife to replace a North Face Osito and this is about 1000 times higher quality. The cut is actually flattering instead of boxy as many fleece jackets tend to be, and they used a stretch weave fabric in the right places to ensure that the jacket stays put. I was a bit jealous when I gave it to her, to be honest. A note to Suzi: I would only wash this with a Nikwax product designed for the job as I've never seen a fleece come out of the wash unscathed when using standard detergents.

The fit on this shirt is great - long enough but the sleeves are nice and fitted. I have one in every color and use them for mountain biking, running and anytime I'm going to be on the trail for a few days and need a non-stinky shirt. The double stitched seams also make for a super durable shirt that shows no signs of wear after many abusive outings.

Who knows why Rossi stopped making this ski. It is not as friendly as the S7 or S6 and will happily have your ACL for lunch if you aren't telling it exactly what to do. The ski flexes a touch softer than old B squads, but only because of the tip. From the contact point this ski feels every bit as stiff as a squad and makes an XXL feel like a child's toy. Mine called for old school Solly all-metal 916's, and that is what I gave them. This setup generally brings the gapers to tears.

The wife tried this boot out and had some thoughts worth noting. First, construction is killer - feels significantly tighter than some of the lower end Lange and Head women's boots available on sale right now. Secondly, this boot is super low volume - narrow in the heel and forefoot. Lastly, it flexes quite a bit stiffer than a Lange 90 flex index (maybe around 100?). This boot would probably make many former racer types very happy if it fits, and it's a steal at this price.

My wife is in this boot and loves it. She just wasn't keen on a 98mm last, 120+ flexing race boot, and felt that the Exclusive 80 gave plenty of control while also being warm and comfortable all day long at the resort. That extra millimeter seems to actually make a big difference over the stiffer Lange boots. The boot is not white and purple, however - it is white and a cream color. This is not yellowing that has occurred with age, but don't expect a boot like you see in the picture. All in, this is a great boot for the intermediate skier placing a premium on comfort. Ex-racers look elsewhere.

The Exos is a great pack for anyone looking to lighten up without moving completely over to the dark side and using a frameless pack. This pack is comfortable with bigger loads up to about 40 lbs and can do a bit more in a pinch - but the real reason to buy, in my opinion, is the Osprey guarantee, which is pretty rare among ultralight gear manfuacturers (even if you have the Backcountry guarantee, I like to know that Osprey is willing to stand behind this pack for life despite the minimal construction). The stretch pocket on the outside of the pack is also pretty sweet - there's always a little more room in there.

I think this is the best do-it-all women's ski for out west. Just snagged the latest version for my wife, mounting it at +2 for all-mountain use. The rocker profile on this ski is pretty significant yet there is enough camber there to rip a groomer. Right now we're mounting hers with Alpine binders but she's planning to remount with a Marker F12 Tour binding once she's had a chance to get a bit more comfortable in the backcountry.

I like my Patagonia Trucker Hat. It fits a little tall in the front - but sometimes that is ok. I put a picture of my particular hat below - it's a year old and still looks almost new despite me sweating in in pretty much all of the time. Good hat!

Awesome jacket - I snagged this for my wife and it is super high quality. For a bit more coin than the standard precip you get lots of great extra features, significantly more breathability and a more form-fitting cut. This isn't the most lightweight jacket if you're an ultralight freak, but if it's going to be used more than 30% in-town and day hiking, I'd say the few extra ounces is worth it for the wicking liner and extra zips that provide for much more comfort than a bare bones rain shell.

The jacket pictured here is last year's model, but I've worn the new one and I think this model is at least as nice. Perfect for a backcountry ski jacket - breathable for the uphill and then throw a shell over it for the down. The Epsilon has every bit of Arc'teryx reliability and quality that you would expect. I also really like the Amazon color for casual wear in Spring and Fall.

This ski charges as is, no question. The bamboo core pops but is stiff enough to bust through just about anything. For me, the thing holding this ski back was its lack of any early rise or rocker, and then I checked out a pair that had been rockered do-it-yourself style. The DH with rocker turns out to be one of the more fun and versatile pow skis I've ever been on. Though altering the ski will clearly put your warranty into severe doubt, I'd say it's worth it and all the instructions (with pics) are just a google search away.

I really like the Metolius Multi Loop Gear Sling. I hate it when everything tangles into a ball of cams, and this sling generally prevents that while maintaining the transfer ease of a single sling. More complicated slings hinder movement and are hard to hand off, while less featured slings don't do everything I need. This one is perfect.

Not only does this make carrying your bag more comfortable, it also keeps the strap in good shape. I've used a bag without the pad for a while and the strap began to bunch up and curl, which made the bag super uncomfortable to carry in any configuration. I think this should be a required purchase with any Timbuk2 bag that doesn't come already equipped.

The biggest benefit to this sock is durability. Most merino socks are great for about 8-10 wears then are done or have thin spots. Icebreaker socks last for a long time - I got my first pair a year ago and have not yet found any thin spots in any of my Icebreaker socks. This guy is light enough for summer use or winter casual wear.

Held up against Black Diamond White Gold, I prefer this chalk and it is a bit cheaper. Tested on the slabs of Little Cottonwood Canyon which makes most people sweat pretty quick when looking at a huge runout put up by some crazy old guy in leather boots.

I have a classic Timbuk2 from the late 90's and just replaced it (though that one is still going strong) with the Commute. This is a great bag - the laptop sleeve is well padded but also functional if you're not carying a laptop - can be used to carry documents to keep them from getting messed up instead. I use this a a briefcase and have the coated nylon on the two outer panels with the ballistic nylon down the middle. I think the looks are killer and am sure that I will still be using this bag in 10 years.

Did you know that washing your Gore Tex will actually keep it breathing and waterproof? A couple of times a year I run all of my technical outerwear through the wash and it really does keep things looking nice and new.

I've used the Thule Big Mouth Bike Mount for one season and it actually holds my downhill bike or road bike rock solid. Although I've always used a fork mount rack in the past, this setup is really nice for muddy rides when you don't want to throw a dirty wheel in the car. The only thing I don't love is that there is significant added height when you put the bike on top in this configuration.

At this price, most of the draws on my rack are BD FreeWires. It isn't lightweight, but they last forever and are about the cheapest way to score a couple of ever-dependable BD biners. Only about half of the FreeWires that I own are currently assembled on dogbones - the rest are used all over my rack and I've never felt like I needed fancier biners.

I like the small size of this shovel as it fits better in my pack than the BD 7 size. Weight is good and the shovel is as strong as I would ever hope for. For days when I'm going out to practice avy drills, I'll bring my deploy 7 because the bigger blade does move snow faster, but for most days of touring when things aren't too hairy, I'm confident carrying this guy and enjoy the space and weight savings over a bigger shovel.

I like the biners quite a lot on this draw but the dogbones are junk. The little rubber piece fell out of each of my Mad Rock draws after a few uses, so I've kept the biners but moved them all over to Black Diamond dogbones. All that being said, for the first few uses these were super light and they clip great.

Love the ARC feature and the weight is pretty good for a 10mm rope, but this thing looked like it had been used for two seasons after my first outing with the rope. The hand is not great after the rope has taken a fall or two and overall, while it is adequate for the job, it has been highly disappointing in comparison to previous Edelweiss ropes I've owned in terms of durability.

This tent is really roomy and was awesome the first time we used it for a weekend climbing trip at the New River Gorge. It kept us dry in the rain (no wind that trip) and had plenty of room for my wife and I, and a dog crate for our coonhound. Then, we took it Moab and there were medium strength winds that just demolished the tent. I had guyed out the entire tent and fly and still, the thing blew up in winds that should not have been the end of any decent tent. So, we returned it and are sad because we had liked it so well on our first trip.

I've been using my soloist for three years now and with decent care everything still looks new and cooks great. A sort of aside: I don't carry the basin with me when hiking alone but I do use it about 5 times a week as it makes a perfect dog bowl for hiking or mountain biking - much better, lighter and more compact than dog specific options.

I have this thermos and it is the only one I've owned that doesn't eventually leak or break in some way. Keeps the coffee hot all day long and is super rugged. The only negative is that this is one heavy thermos - too heavy for ski touring duty. So, this one works for early mornings at work and camping trips, etc. when I'm not going to have to lug it around in a pack.

These go on skis that I think I might be shouldering often or for any sort of park applications. They are super light compared to the all metal binders, which is a really good thing in the park. I would echo everything Seth says about these guys - super burly and not necessarily an inferior option to the old all-metal version, just a little different.

I agree that this boot is perfect for those of us who don't really fit a Lange but want a super stiff boot. I'm a bit of a weird foot shape - wear an 11 street shoe with a slightly wide forefoot and a narrower heel, and the 27.5 is perfect for me. The wider last is nice and hard to find in a 120 flexing boot. This boot goes on and off easily due to the liner construction and the low profile carbon steel buckles are great. I even like the racer boy color despite not being a racer myself.

Got this in a couple of colors for my wife and she digs it so much that about everyone in the family has now picked one up. Fit is true to size and the jacket is super warm and even blocks wind ok (better than a plain polartec fleece but nothing like a softshell). The bud is my favorite color option.

Brand new merino socks are one of life's great pleasures, but Merino is notorious for wearing out quickly. Maybe due to the poly/lycra blend in this sock, it's holding up very well after 3 months of use. I've hiked, biked and worn the sock casually as well. So far so good.

This harness is aptly named. I don't think I would use it in place of the BOD as it is SUPER lightweight. I keep it in my ski pack as an emergency harness in case we need to rap a section or belay when ski mountaineering. It really is difficult to imagine how lightweight and compact this sucker gets - check it out and you'll be amazed (but don't get it for daily heavy use - that's not what it is designed for).

I like this ski for days that aren't super deep. It isn't as playful as the S7, but if you can't bring yourself to get on boards quite so weird, this floated fine in 5-8" of Utah powder both times I skied it this year. The tail is stiff enough to land some pretty big drops and will help you if you end up a bit it the back seat. The shortish turning radius also makes it easy to lay trenches in the groomers if that is your thing. I'd say this skied really well on groomers for being a fatter ski, and would be a good choice if you had to pick one ski to do it all out west.

I've used this filter everywhere in the US - on the AT, Utah Desert, Rockies, etc. It has always worked great. It isn't the lightest option for filtration but the reliability has been worth it to me and I'm still on my first filter so if you take care of them properly they will last just about forever.

I tried so hard to like this ski. Mounted 'em up with a Dynafit FT12 and was skiing a Dynafit Titan boot. I thought I had the ultimate pow touring rig, but I just didn't think this ski was any fun. First off, it isn't light. It also isn't very playful. The Justice is certainly capable in deeper snow, but it also doesn't make me want to play all the way down. After finally giving up the ghost and selling this ski, I found that I'm much more into jibby skis for the backcountry if I'm going to lug something heavy up the mountain. If you're old school and like the Pro Rider XXL or the Megawatt, you'll probably love this ski. Flotation was never a problem, so the ski did its job there.

I've got the amber gold lens and I feel like the lens is great but the fit of the goggle is a bit off. The nose piece (for me) is a bit too narrow so these sit strangely on my face. Thankfully you can try them out if you buy them here and send them back if it doesn't work out, but I'd be sure to check the fit before relying on these. On the positive side, I haven't experience much fogging with this goggle.

This helmet is great for those with smaller heads as the size 1 shrinks down to a sub-19 inch circumference. Other than that, it does what a rock helmet should - haven't been bonked yet but it doesn't ride back on the head when properly sized and is very lightweight.

Got this for my sis and she says it works great. She's usually between an XS and Small, and the XS was plenty big on this shirt. She also said a tank top underneath is a good idea but that it doesn't diminish the look of the shirt.

Pink and red will do just fine. I'm not at the Gunks so these two make an excellent supplement to my rack for places like the Uintas where you find lots of horizontals. With the exception of some strange pockets, I think there are other solutions for most places that you can stick a tricam, but those other solutions are three times the price and 1/4 of the old school trad daddy factor. Learn to place tricams.

I demo'd this binding and fully agree with the poor reviews below. The toepiece is rock solid and probably stronger than a Dynafit toe piece, however that does not matter when the heel is junk. People ride a dynafit style binding because they are so light and tour so well. At 1430 grams, this binding is twice as heavy as a Vertical ST, immediately eliminating one of the key advantages of a dynafit system (weight). The binding tours well enough, but I'd rather pay 2x as much for the real deal than mess with this binding.

I've got these shades for the baby and they are very cool! They will fit a baby and probably will be good up to 3-4 years old, depending on the size of your little one's noggin. There aren't too many companies making quality shades for little ones, and these are super high quality at a great price.

The only thing that makes this a four star item is the Tracker 2. There is a definite advantage to the Tracker 2 and now that I've played with both fro a season I'd say that this beacon is probably on its way out given the relatively small price difference between the two beacons. That being said, I still use my Tracker weekly and don't plan to retire it.

I have this pack-it and it is the only one that I don't think I really need or use. The benefit of a pack-it is that you can stick things in the weird empty spaces in your bag. This one is big and squarish, so that isn't the case. I'd say skip this unless you just want to have a space for dirty shirts or something, in which case it would be useful.

I drove into the garage with a highback up on a snowboard. This rack hung on and was only slightly kinked - I fully expected to see it broken off but was very pleased to see that it is actually quite strong. So, I would say that if you don't do foolish things like try to rip it off with your garage door, yours will last approximately forever.

BD stoppers have just a bit higher level of finish than some of the less expensive options out there. I climb on whatever set I happen to grab usually, but I like the burly and visible swage on these guys the best - confidence inspiring.

The binding is what makes this snowshoe great. I prefer the MSR lightening frame, but the Tubbs binding is the quickest to get in and out of and feels very secure (more so than the MSR binding). Also, unless you're a 300 pounder or carrying a huge load, you really don't need the 30 inch shoe - even here in Utah where the pow is super light, so I'd suggest going with a smaller shoe.

The Synergy biner is a bit small for being a belay specific item, but otherwise this package works just as well as the ATC XP and for a bit less coin! As long as you're not using SUPER skinny cords, this should do just fine.

If you have a smaller, narrow face, these work great and the optics are actually much better than I expected. I don't like the styling as much as my smith shades, but the optics are better so I wear these if optics are really important.

The fit is a bit weird - they fit me ok but they don't fit my wife at all. Her face is smaller than mine just a different shape and they sit too low for her. Thankfully, you can try them out and send them back if they don't work for you.

I own this pack but unfortunately I find it to be a bit small for longer tours or for tours where I'm really moving and want to carry a couple layers in my pack. That being said, for resort days it makes a nice pack for some lunch and an extra single layer - but then you're wearing an avalung inbounds which is a bit overkill. In hindsight I would have gone for the avalung on a large pack and snagged this one in the non-avalung version. Construction is solid and the ski carry works great in all configurations.

I bought mine in 2002 and have used it as a bookbag, for bike commuting, for business travel and about everything else. After 8 years of hard abuse it is still going strong - Timbuk2 bags might actually last for life!! The ballistic nylon and waterproof lining version here is the way to go - my sister had one of their bags in different fabric and it hasn't been quite as bombproof.

Found this on sale and it quickly became my most-used piece of outerwear. I use this alone for backcountry skiing, as a layer for riding lifts, and it's light and breathable enough to work for really cold trail runs and bike commuting duty as well. I sprayed mine with some extra nikwax waterproofing and it does fine in the rain for shorter periods of time. I couldn't be happier with this shell - I'd expect it to be worn out after being used hard every day this winter but it is looking like I will get 3-4 seasons out of the thing.

This is my favorite shirt - I can wear it to work, hit the crag afterwards and then straight to the pub. The nylon doesn't smell after a full day of climbing and the mesh vents in the back provide ample range of motion. I've got this one in two colors and love it. Front pocket with the side zipper is a bit odd but actually comes in handy if you're going to wear this climbing.

I mounted these with Solly 916's (old school all metal) and they rip. Lots of fun and surprisingly stiff. Turns like a Slalom ski due to the sidecut and minimal running length but if you're dropping anything in more than 8" of new snow, the tail is plety stiff to keep you out of a wheelie. Other skis I've enjoyed include the S7, Bibby Pro and the Armada JJ. Skis I have not enjoyed: Black Diamond anything

Backcountry.com socks kill it - the little roll at the top of the ankle actually works great - you get a sock that doesn't show, but wicks well, good durability, and stays put. All that at a wicked good price.

These are my favorite socks among all of the socks that Backcountry.com sells. The top panel is very thin and slides nicely in a shoe - preventing hotspots, etc. Great mix of synthetic and wool - so far I've worn them most every day for about a month and done quite a bit of hiking and they are not wearing out like merino socks tend to do.

All I can comment on is fit for this shoe. It's funky - the heel is very narrow and I felt like the shoe comes up much higher around the heel and ankle than the Anasazi. It didn't really work for me, but I have wide forefoot and a medium width ankle. Size 11 street shoe and a 10 Jet 7 was the right size for me versus a 9.5 Anasazi.

Tried this out and found it to be a better option for sport and bouldering than most of the other slippers I've used. Not much support there and I sized it way too tight to shove it into a crack, but the the downturned shape does provide more power than a copperhead or moccasym. I'm an 11 street shoe and a 41.5 fit about right - might could size down to a 41.0 but that would really, really hurt for a while.

This is the shoe. I've been using Mad Rock for a while and they just dont' hold up so I wanted some decent shoes and tried out a few sportivas and a few 5.10's. I wear an 11 street shoe and the 41.5 fits me super tight (could have gone to the 42 but they will probably be just right in a couple of weeks. I like the shape and find them to be the perfect blend of a sensetive sole and enough support to stand on dime edges. Also really like the toe. The vibram rubber is not as sticky as the science friction 2.0 that mad rock is using, but I think it will prove to be much higher quality over time.

I'm new to trail running and this is the third shoe I've tried after running a bit on Lafuma and TNF shoes. By far, the Sportiva is the best for me. I've got a very wide forefoot and the toebox gives me plenty of room without being sloppy. The shoe is soft and cushy - once in a while on some rocky dry trails I've wished for a bit more rock protection under the ball of my foot but generally these have done great. I wear an 11 street shoe and the 44.5 was the ticket for me. So far I have about 50 miles on these - but I'm no ultra runner so probably have taken them out 8-10 times.

The new Science Friction rubber is about the stickiest I've ever used. MR also retained the heel from the Hooker shoe, which I have always liked, though I'd say these size a bit bigger than the Hooker (11 street shoe and 10 in this shoe was the right size for me and I could only size down 1/2 size in the Hooker). Out of the box, I'd say this is my favorite shoe for bouldering and sport climbing.

However - the shoe is not nearly as durable as the offerings from Sportiva, Scarpa, Boreal, et. al. Neither the rubber nor the upper seems to have held up very well at all. I'm about at the end of my Conflict's life after 1 season and it's not going to be a resole. If you buy new shoes every six months or so, this is a great option, but the durability problem is a big issue for most of us.