Johanna VonKuster

i have not had the chance to wear these in the snow yet, or test their durability over time, but am quite impressed with the comfort and warmth i've noticed so far. as others have pointed out, they are sized too small. i normally order a half size up for boots in general to allow for thick socks, but i had to exchange these for a larger pair. i have a foot size 7.5, but in these, i had to get a size 8.5. no big deal though. also, yes, they are stiff, but i think this is a good thing. ankle support is importand when you are snowshoeing, and that's what i plan to use these for. to make up for the stiffness, the toes are rounded more than usual to make walking easier and this feature seems to work well.

i got these for my boyfriend for our trip to utah this summer. he hiked every day in these, one hike of 13 miles, and had nothing but good things to say about them. they were comfortable from the start and didn't need a break in period. he said they gripped the rock really well too. one reviewer mentioned the lack of speed laces and this is true, but nothing you can't live without. all in all, a great buy!

i found this shirt to be quite comfortable. the fit is really nice and the sleeves ae the perfect length. my only complaint is that i think it should be longer. when i buy a shirt for the canyons, i'm going to be sliding down boulders, getting sand everywhere, and hiding my skin from mosquitos. so naturally, this is the type of shirt i'd like to tuck in to keep the unwanted out, but there's no way i can do that as MH seems to have sacrificed some functionality for style. i'm thinking of sewing a 6 inch strip of fabric onto the bottom myself to remedy this issue. i see what others have said about the buttons--they are really small and the button holes are tight, but i guess that's okay because it means they won't be popping out on their own. all in all though, i'm glad i bought the shirt and would recommend it to others. for size reference, i'm 5'2" and 125 lbs and the size 6 fits really well.

i got this for my boyfriend and he can't stop marveling at how comfortable and warm it is. it's great for wearing around town as well layering under a coat or shell in colder conditions. it does a great job at blocking wind too. the cuffs are great for sealing in warmth as are the cinch cords. a fun suprise is an extra pocket not listed in the specs--there's an inside chest pocket as well. the only thing that might have been a fun option to have is a removable hood, but still really happy with the jacket.

these boots are amazing! i got them for desert hiking after reading reviews of how they seemed to do well in those conditions. immediately, they were comfortable. prep involved a couple of 1 hour hikes, but no real break in to speak of. the big test came on a canyoneering outing that was about 12 miles long and 13.5 hours in duration. in all that heat and sand slogging i never even came close to getting a blister. while nearly every other member of my party was layed up with blisters the size of golf balls, i was ready to jump up and go for more! (after a night's sleep and a couple gallons of water). another thing that really impressed me was the incredible grip that these boots have. in dry conditions, i can be standing on a near vertical slope of rock and my feet don't slide at all. i lose my balance before my feet lose grip. now, i have noticed a downside that can be expected of soft grippy soles, and that is that they wear out faster than if they were stiff. the tread on the bottom is noticeably worn after about 10 months of heavy use. this is a small sacrifice though in exchange for such great performance. i love these so much that when the they went on sale i bought another pair so i'd have them when the first wears out.

we got this gear shed to go with the hubba hubba tent. the goal was for us to sleep in the tent and provide extra shelter for the dog for the trips where he goes too. it seemed to work pretty well. it's made of the same material as the tent so has the same water shedding properties. it is partially floored--the triangle of space at the end, but the rest is open to the dirt. this is probably a good idea as water would possibly collect otherwise. the only reason i gave it 4 stars in stead of 5 is because the roof of the shed doesn't come with any sort of pole for stabilization. i know this saves weight, but you have to put some serious tension on the end guy line to pull it taught enough to not sag really bad. this of course causes the main tent body to be pulled towards the shed and then everything is sideways and makes the zipper of the fly opposite the shed pretty tight and difficult to open and close. it worked okay though and gave us the extra space we were going for. if you check out the tent, you can see a pic i posted of the shed attached.

i recently took this tent out for the first time and was very happy with it overall. then entire time we were out it rained so provided a good test. first off, it was easy and fast to set up. once up, it shed the rain very well. it remined me of rain-x on a windshield the way the water beaded up and ran off the sides. the doors on both sides were invaluable. mesh pockets provided plenty of storage for small stuff and no need for adding a gear loft. the pole design is amazing for adding roomminess to the interior. the only thing i would recommend adding would be a bit more cord. they provide just enough if only making short lengths from the tent to the ground, but we were camping in a rocky area and at one end we were unable to push the stake into the ground due to a rock under the dirt. i found myself needing an extra foot of cord to tie around a tree. small matter, but something to keep in mind.

i was pleased with this when i got it. just what i was looking for--solid, simple, quality. everything is made of metal so shouldn't wear too bad over time. i got the petzl ok locking biner to go with it. great product!

nothing wrong with these guys! like everybody else, i love the colors. these biners are super burly and super lightweight and easy to use. just when i thought i had enough, i run out and need more--good thing they're only 6 bucks!

I've only used this rope a handful of time so far, but have been very pleased with it. Obviously, I can't comment on it's durability yet, but I'm totally loving everything about it. I'll try and remember to edit my review after a year or so to include comments on it's performance over time. As of now, I'm very happy with the handling right out of the box! it's soft and doesn't kink as much as i expected. All ropes will kink, it's unavoidable, but this one's not bad at all. It has a middle marker, which I wanted, and is lighter weight than other options. I chose this rope after much research and reading reviews and am pleased with my choice.

i really love this! it's super lightweight and works great. i got two so there's one for my foot and one for my harness. for the foot tibloc, i made a loop of 8mm cord to stand in. i took the advice of one reviewer and got two petzl attache locking biners to use with them. the attache fits through perfectly and the teeth in the tibloc bite down nice and solid. i've never had to use them in an emergency, but i've strung a rope up in a tree several times to practice using them and getting hooked into them mid rappel and have been very pleased with the ease of use and simplicity of design. like others have said, be sure to put a small cord through each one so that you don't accidentally drop it.

This snowshoe bag is great! It's really well made of durable material and has several features that make it a bit better than the other bags I've seen. The mesh in front serves both as a viewing window to see which pair is inside, and keeps the bag ventilated. The loops on the side hold your poles, and there's an internal pocket for extensions etc. There are two loops at the top and bottom to strap the bag to the back of a pack, and both a carrying handle and shoulder strap. The only thing I can think of that would make it better were if it came in different lengths. My show shoes fit fine, but I know that there are plenty of people out there with longer ones than me.

i just got back from a week in utah and i was very happy with the pirana. rappelling with a pack was no problem. this is a great descender with lots of options for a variety of friction for braking. it's super easy to use by providing the basic shape of a figure 8, but with added features to increase versatility. the little instruction booklet that comes with it has great diagrams on how to properly use it. the petzl attache locking biner is a very snug and perfect fit for this device.

material is really nice. love the plum color. i just wish that it was lower in the front and higher in the back.

love the velcro, love the grip, comfortable. been using them in the gym for a few months now and they have been great.

i love using this thing. it's smooth, hassle free, has a great shape, and the offset gate is useful at times.

i have nothing bad to say about this harness. it's comfortable and easy to use. the quick adjust buckles are awesome and i wouldn't buy a harness that doesn't have them.

i won't spend too much time describing this stove's attributes as there are over 50 people that have beaten me to it, but thought i'd just add one more happy msr stove user to the list. the stove is easy to use, boils water super fast, and is built to last for years.

i love this fleece and wear it all the time. it's the kind furry fabric that makes people want to pet my arm! super warm and i love the zip up pockets. the fit is good at slimming me even though the fleece is a thick fabric.

i really love this tent. i can't think of anything i would change about it. there is a small vestibule on the back end that i use to stash snowshoes etc. the front vestibule is big enough to cook under and stash packs while sleeping. the body of the tent is just about right for two people to sleep in with plenty of mesh pockets on the walls for little stuff. as others have said, this tent is well able to withstand plenty of wind and snow weight. i too have woken up in the morning to find myself partially buried. the tent sets up pretty easy and ends up tight as a drum. i would recommend a practice run though before you leave the first time since it would make things way easier. i also love the compression sack it comes in--it was a nice bonus.

i needed to get a good base layer for hiking/snow camping. admittedly, i haven't been camping in it yet, but i can already tell that this is what i was looking for. i've practically lived in it since i bought it a few days ago and love it. it's super comfy, doesn't seem to stretch out, and keeps me warm. also, i like the sleeves because they fit me perfect: a little on the long side, but with cuffs small enough so that they don't droop over my hands. i'm 5'2" and 120lbs and the small fits me perfect.

i got this for backpacking because of it's weight and size. the batteries are only the size of a coin so you can carry as many spares as you want and not worry about weight. it's perfect for setting up camp and cooking dinner after dark. sure, it's not as bright as my friend's headlamp, but i like mine better because it weighs about a 10th as much.

i bought this style of rack because i find it a pain to remove the front wheel and then have to find somewhere to store it inside. this rack allows for you to quickly adjust for different sized wheels so it should work for just about anything you have. they are strong too. we drove down to burning man with two of these holding our very heavy cruisers fully outfitted with baskets, and pannier racks. they were rock steady during the entire drive and stood up to the wind gusts with no problem. the only thing that this rack does not seem to accommodate is a front fender. my only real complaint is that i wish the lock cable was a couple inches longer because i really have to work to get it to reach and lock around the rack bar when i'm not transporting a bike. also, the lock and cable seems slightly less than beefy and i don't trust it entirely with an expensive bike. i supplement it with my own heavier duty cables and u-locks. all-in-all though, a good buy.

i can't say enough good things about this pack. it is the ONLY one of it's size that i was able to find with all the options i wanted. in a pack i want lots of straps both on the body of the pack and on the bottom, two lid compression straps, loops to add straps--especially on top, double ice axe loops (one for poles, one for a snow shovel), solid (not mesh) waistband pockets, outer pocket of some kind for my poncho, and small internal pockets for littler items.

this pack is the perfect size for all my essentials and it keeps them organized. all the straps on the outside make it versatile. if i'm going on a short camping trip i can fit everything inside. if i go on a longer trip i can simply strap my tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad on the outside.

not only does this pack satisfy me with it's organization, but it also is comfortable to wear. when i have everything cinched down, it rides easily and doesn't create any hot spots. the "washboard" backplate is comfortable and keeps the sweat evaporation at an acceptable level.

now, for the sizing, i'm a 5'2" girl and if the waistband was any larger, i wouldn't be able to wear this pack. i keep it cinched tight on my waist as tight as it'll go (when i'm wearing a t-shirt) and it fits me perfect. if you are any smaller than me though, unfortunately this pack will be too loose on you.

in conclusion: osprey makes quality stuff and this pack is no exception. buy it and you will not regret it.

i used this when i went snow camping last weekend for a night. we didn't have a thermometer with us, but we were guessing that it was probably in the low 20's F. i used it with the snow peak gigapower stove and it worked fine. i could tell that the cold was affecting it, but i was still able to boil all the snow i needed both that night and the next morning and cooked dinner for myself on one cannister.

if you are looking for something super small and lightweight, this is it. the tines fold up so that it fits in a little white plastic box. it's so small that the box fits inside the snow peak double wall titanium mug. of course it works better in above freezing weather, but that's normal for the type of fuel it takes. overall, a great little stove. to go with it, i also bought the snow peak cutting board/base, and the windscreen.

i hate the tin foil windscreens. i'm always knocking them with something. so i was stoked when i found out that they made a custom fit screen for the gigapower. i haven't done any tests or anything to see if it makes a weight difference with saved fuel, but it sure made up for any weight it may add with the lack of annoyance and ease of use.

the reason i gave this 4 out of 5 is because it doesn't keep me as warm as i would like. but, i'm fine if i also use a cheapo foam pad from walmart. since those weigh practically nothing i don't mind too much. previous reviewers are right, you can slide off it if you aren't on level ground or if you move a lot in your sleep, but oh well. i keep it around because it makes a huge difference when it comes to keeping me from feeling rocks and sticks and having aching bones in the morning. i haven't had any problems with leaking, but even if i ever do, it comes with a repair kit.

i took this with me for the first time last weekend for a night of snow camping. i'm not sure of the temperature, but we are guessing that during the night it got down in the teens. normally, i'm the person that freezes to death. with the bag i was using before, i had to supplement it with a fleece bag on the outside, then a summer bag, then the main bag, then a liner, then fleece pj's, and a hot water bottle. needless to say, it was rediculous. so for this winter, i bought the phantome 0 degree and guess what? i only used the bag and a liner while wearing long johns. i also very much like that it compresses down pretty small and weighs less than 3 lbs.

first off, let me say that i don't fry stuff in these. i use them either as my eating plates and bowls, or to boil up some ramen. they are far from nonstick so i carry a seperate fry pan for making eggs etc. i got these to replace my heavier aluminum mess kit and have been very happy. i like how snow peak makes their stuff so it all fits together. my double wall titanium mug fits inside this set and i put my gigapower stove inside the mug so everything is compact. one of the larger fuel cannisters fits inside this set if you'd rather put that in there instead of a mug. my one and only complaint is that the lids/plates don't snap onto the bowls very tight at all and so the whole set falls apart if it has room to. but i usually don't mind this since it's crammed in my pack tightly when i'm hiking.

i got this to replace my heavier aluminum coffee pot. the size is good--big enough to boil enough water for a couple cups of hot chocolate. the diameter is perfect for the 110 fuel cannisters, but i do wish that they would have made it just a few millimeters taller. if they had, two cannisters could stack in there with the lid on. as it is, i still put two cannisters in, but have to turn the lid upside down and pack it in the mesh bag since the lid would fall off if left out of the bag.

this mug keeps my hot chocolate so insulated that i can set the mug right down in the snow for several minutes and expect it to still be piping hot when i pick it up again. of course, this also means that i don't run the slightest risk of burning my fingers on the outside. it's small enough to fit inside my titanium cookset, and big enough for me to store a gigapower stove inside it.

my friend had these last year when we went camping on mt rainier and they worked so well i immediately bought a bunch for my tent. they wouldn't work so well in powdery snow, but in packable snow they are perfect. they work best if you first attach them to your tent with small caribeeners and stretch them out to see about where you want them. then dig a hole about 1-1 1/2 feet deep. then make a large grapefruit size snowball to put in them to start. pull them taught, and pack more snow around and over them, stomping it down tight. i was in a snow storm the first time i used them for myself and the tent never budged.

this tent is amazing! the design is so practical. the only drawback for some is that it would be cramped for taller people. i'm 5'2" though and i love it. i bought this tent because i wanted something that wasn't too heavy and didn't take up too much ground space or pack big. i wanted to have a rain fly like a regular tent, and not have to worry about getting all wet if it rained like i would with most of the bivvies out there. since it's all mesh you don't have to worry about condensation either. it is perfect for me to sleep in the main part with my dog up above my head. i put my coat and shoes in the little side triangle, and my backpack fits under the fly in the vestibule. this is a great option for people who want to have a decently lightweight tent, but not sacrifice a lot of comfort and gear storage. it's good quality and durable. they also make a custom fit footprint if you want to add to the ground protection.