This windshirt goes anywhere I do, regardless of the season. Combine it with a thin or midweight base layer and it becomes a lighter replacement for a softshell jacket in milder conditions. The cut is athletic, and the neck smartly bellows out at your chin to increase ventilation. Also, GoLite's current version has a full-zip front, as opposed to its older quarter zip models - again, for increased ventilation.

The jacket is very breathable, but as with any breathable fabric, don't expect miracles. I have sweated it out while running, but it dries very fast. I have used it as a shell layer against mosquitoes with good success.

I would have given this five stars, except for the fact that I pulled out the sewn-in attachment that held the hood closure neatly inside the hood. The hood is still functional.

I bought this jacket to replace my TNF Denali jacket as a main fleece in winter conditions when weight is not a factor. The jacket has as much loft as my 200 weight Polartec fleece pieces, but it is softer and noticeably warmer. It also fits underneath my softshell jacket nicely. The Powerstretch fleece is a nice touch to increase venting.

There are a few problems though. I am between sizes and a medium was not snug enough. I ended up with a small, but the sleeves are about .25 to .5 inches too short to use the thumbholes effectively. Finally, the collar elastic is unnecessary and I will probably remove it. Hand pockets would be nice, that would decrease the simplicity of the garment.

This pack has won a slew of awards and for good reason. It carries loads up to 30 pounds well, and you can stretch it to 35 if your gear is dense. The bottom bellows out at the bottom allowing you to put a cold weather bag in there sideways if you use a compression sack. The hipbelt and back panel are padded like a pack with twice its volume, and the belt molds well to one's hips. The pack comes in three torso lengths and three sizes of hipbelt, and the hipbelt is removable and replaceable if you kill it or need to go up a size. Also, the bottom is made of a durable Cordura nylon to boost durability for every time you take your pack off. All in all, a great pack.

There are a few nitpick issues with the pack. The straps are too long on the top closure, the side compression straps, hipbelt and load lifter straps. The bottom set of compression straps on the sides are poorly placed and if used, eliminate the side pockets of all use. Those straps should be eliminated. Finally, the hydration port is slightly too small - a hiker needs to remove the nipple of their hose to pull it through.

These gloves are fantastic for use by themselves in 3+ season weather and for use as a liner in winter conditions. The WindPro fleece is excellent for keeping the chill off of your hands, although it is a bit bulky. The small seams, despite their multitude, help keep the bulk down. I chose the BD Jetstream over Mountain Hardwear's windpro fleece gloves because BD's verion (like their PowerStretch Fleece gloves) has a leather palm.

As for durability, I have used them pretty hard over the last year or so and they are just now starting to develop small abrasions in parts of the outer fabric near one or two of the fingertips. When my pair dies, I'll replace them with another pair of the same.

They will melt, so keep them away from hot stoves.

My initial two pairs of these socks are still going strong after a 200 mile through-hike and summer marathon training. The first two held up so well that I bought three more pairs over the course of my summer running, and they are my go-to sock for running and 3+ season hiking. These socks do not fossilize like other merino wool socks.

The RidgeRest is a great pad for those who don't need the benefits of an Thermarest-like air mattress. It is cushy enough for use on hard surfaces, and it warm enough (check the R value - it's higher than a comparable ProLite 3 pad) for fringe season hiking. Take two of them and you're good down to -20F or colder - I certainly am. The pad also makes a create framesheet for frameless packs, and rolls up nice to slip underneath a pack lid or be attached to your framed pack by straps or otherwise.

Skip getting the regular size and go with the short; it will save you five ounces. Just put your pack underneath your feet and put the top of the pad at your shoulders. Use a fleece vest or other insulation as a pillow.

The best feature of the Spires is their FlickLock. The lock holds the pole in place and you know it's closed; no turning and wondering if the lock is holding like other poles. The lock does need minimal maintenance, however. The screw that holds the lock's latch needs to be checked after and before every trip. It is a standard Phillips screw, and can be turned easily with a penny, knife blade or fingernail. I consider this minimal maintenance just part of taking care of one's toys, so it is not a detractor.

For their weight, these are the best trekking poles around. The straps are a easily adjustable and large enough to accommodate gloves (but not big mitts) and have a 3D mesh to wick away moisture. Should you break a part, you can get replacement parts from Black Diamond.

I've put a 400 or so miles on mine, and they look good-as-new. They hold just as well, too.

This is an excellent 3+ season bag that is conservative in its listed temperature rating.

It comes with a heavy nylon stuff sack that is 6"x12". The stuff sack bottom is round. The bag easily stuffed into this sack, and compresses into a approximately a 6"x6"x6" cube. The 850+ fill power down lofts up quickly on its own, and it lofts up even faster if you climb in the bag. The bag's fabric, Pertex, feels good on one's skin and it is slippery smooth. This allows you to roll around and not take the bag with you. I have not weighed the bag. The manufacturer's listed weight is 21 oz. Mine weighs 23.35 oz.

My bag has a half zipper, although current models have a full. When fully zipped, it locks into place as Marmot claims. I have no problems getting into or out of the bag, despite there being only a half-zip. The zipper tape is stiff and keeps the wispy shell fabric from being caught in the zipper.

I have used the bag twice in temps below the listed bag rating of 30 degrees F. Both those nights (10 and 11 degrees F) I was wearing a base layer top and bottom, liner socks, thick wool socks, 100 weight micro fleece pants, a 200 weight fleece vest and a thin hat. I was using a Therm-a-rest Prolite 3 (1" thick) underneath me. Both nights I was in a tent.

I have also used the bag on multiple nights in the mid 30's and lower 40's. Each time I slept in just a base layer and a thin fleece hat. I had either a Therm-a-rest Prolite 3 (1" thick) or a 57" Ridgerest underneath me. I was toasty warm. I would recommend this bag to a friend.

The best part about the DragonFly is its ability to simmer easily. This is great for everything from simple to gourmet cooking because of its wide flame base and its ability to simmer. It also is a great snow melter. (If you really need a stove for serious snow-melting, get an XGK-EX, also by MSR). It handles large pots because of its wide pot supports. If someone needed just one stove to cover everything, this is it.

Nitpick: It's heavy, like just about every other white-gas stove out there.