Jason

This was one of the first headlamps to use the CR123 batteries, which have a great power-to-weight ratio, have a long shelf life, and work better in cold weather. I used this headlamp primarily for adventure racing, where every ounce counts, but at the same time you want as much light as possible for nighttime navigation. The battery compartment is a little difficult to open, but I would rather have it that way instead of a non-watertight casing. Quality construction, bright light, low-weight. Buy the batteries online to save money, you can get them for around $1 apiece. Don't bother with rechargeables unless you only have short trips in mind.

I really think the fairing is more for aesthetics than anything else. It might cut wind noise a small amount, but I truly doubt the claims of fairings impacting gas mileage to any noticeable degree. However, that being said, I would never have a rack without the fairing as it completes the look. Subarus should come standard with Yakima racks, it makes them more versatile and they look great.

This is my fourth harness, and by far the most versatile one I have owned. It is comfy and light, but not so pared-down that you feel unsafe. I found this one when looking for an indoor harness with non-adjustable leg-loops, and after trying on similar BD, Petzl, and Camp harnesses, this one fit and felt the best. I own a much lighter harness, the Camp XLH 95, but only use it during races when weight is at a premium. However, I never have felt completely safe in it, and will trade it out in the next race for the 350.
With the non-adjustable leg-loops, sizing might be an issue. I am 140 lbs with a 30" waist, and the small is perfect.

I originally purchased this shirt when I was in the military, but have used it in adventure races, while hiking, biking, etc. It keeps me warm by itself down into the 50s or so, but is amazingly cool enough to wear while active up into the 60s. Great as a base layer, and I have found after wearing it every day on a 6 day hike in Joshua Tree in January that it somehow doesn't hold odors.

I bought this for my wife when preparing for a backcountry trip in Joshua Tree NP in January. With temps predicted near freezing, she needed something warmer than our 32 degree Moonstone down bags (which I used). Temps got down to the mid-20's on two nights, which led to frozen water bottles in the tent and frozen condensation on the tent walls. She stayed warm (enough) with just a silk liner and a base layer on. The bag is really well constructed, quite lofty, and seemed to breath enough to not be wet inside when she sweated on a warm night. I was impressed with the weight, it was a little less than my 650-fill 32 degree Moonstone bag. The only issue is the stuff sack, it really does seem to be a little small for the bag.

I'm a titanium junkie, and love the Snow Peak line. The only issue with the 900 is the lid. I also have the SP Mini-solo Combo, and love the lid from that set. I can't imagine using the 900's lid as a little pan, but I also am mostly a water boiler. In order to reduce heat transfer, I made a set of pot insulators out of Reflectix insulation. Virtually no weight, and from my one-time test, I reduced heat loss by 40%. In this picture, the 900 and 900 lid is closest, with the Mini-solo and lid in the background (the Mini-Solo nests in the 900, and the 900 nests in the windscreen). Both are in their insulators.

This thing works, but it has one flaw: weight. I use the titanium GigaPower, and would purchase a titanium windscreen in an instant. I know, its not that heavy, but when the rest of the cookset is titanium, the difference is obvious. It also nests the Snow Peak 900 perfectly (the 900 fits "in" the windscreen, it does not fit in the 900), which is nice.

I purchased these initially for a winter rogaine to keep my feet dry in the snow and they worked well for that purpose. I have since used them in a couple adventure races even though they are a little heavier than my short race gaiters. I have also used them when shoveling snow, and wore them every time I wasn't in the tent during a backcountry trip in Joshua Tree. The under-arch strap has shown virtually no sign of wear, which amazes me, but some thorny trees in JT did create a couple small tears. I have used Merrell and Montbell gaiters in the past, but neither compare to the Mountain Hardware pair.

I will start with the two things that probably keep most people from buying this pad: cost and noise. There is some sticker shock, but the benefits are worth it. Second, for some reason it sounds like a potato chip bag in the store, but once you are on it outside, the sound isn't bad at all. My wife and I were heading to Joshua Tree in Jan. '11, so I bought a Neo for warmth to replace my short ThermaRest. I slept on it the first night, and my wife slept on our ThermaRest Prolite Plus. I was comfy, the next morning she said her hips hurt. The second night she took the Neo and somehow the Prolite had developed a leak, so I spent the night basically on the ground. My wife loved the Neo, saying that this was the first pad she could sleep on her side comfortably on. When we headed back to the gear shop, instead of the couple dollar patch, I bought a second Neo. Its smaller, lighter, way more comfy than any other pad I have used, and somehow is durable. Great product, you won't go back to other pads.

I have to admit, I have the titanium version of this stove, but besides the weight, everything is the same. We are mostly water-boilers, so I generally have the valve fully open, which makes it a blast furnace for its size. You can easily simmer, which I have also found with my Snow Peak WG stove. They both have a similar and great valve design. I'm not sure what additional feature could be added: it's light, works when you need it, and is compact.

I have the last-gen model with only one cargo pocket on the left side. The smalls fit me perfectly, and are comfortable to wear with a pack. The built-in underwear is a pretty-open mesh that reduces the need for additional underwear, and keeps everything nice and cool. They dry quickly but aren't water repellent (which I didn't want). Best of all, you can still get them without the stupid "convertible" option. If I want shorts, I can just roll them up, yeah? No need for an extra zipper. I can imagine that some people will not like the belt, but you can take it off.

I have two of these shirts (one solid, one plaid), and usually take one to wear for extended trips. Tons of useful features like button-up sleeves, openable mesh back-panel, velcro front pockets. I did cut the secondary zip-pocket off to reduce weight as two pockets are enough for me. I recently wore one for 6-days straight, and it looks brand new after washing. The smalls are a little big for me, but I wouldn't want them skin tight in hot weather.

I'm torn. I have the 1.1L and it does its job perfectly, which is namely holding freezedried food as it "cooks". The beast also stores a bowl, two sporks, my Snow Peak white gas stove and line, a lighter, and my Snow Peak Drip coffee maker (broken down). It is however, heavy. Everything is well protected when stowed away in the pack, but I imagine that I could get the same versatility at less weight (but higher price) with some titanium or aluminum. One nice thing is that I don't have to worry about scratching it, so its pretty easy to clean with a scraper and scratchy pad. For now I'm keeping it, but it will eventually be replaced by something lighter.

I used these drops as a final step after filtering the "frogs and logs" out with the MSR Hyperflow. While the drops are technically only part of the SweetWater system, I can't imagine why they wouldn't work with the Hyperflow. They are quick (5 minutes), lightweight, and produce no trash unlike the individually-wrapped tablets that can take up to 4-hours to treat water. They do leave a chlorine-taste to the water, but it isn't too bad and seems to lessen the longer you let it sit. We used them to filter water for a 6-day trip, and didn't get sick, so again, they must have worked. The convenience and ease of use make them worth twice the $10.

I purchased this mug after coveting it at a local gear store for a couple weeks. At first I couldn't justify $40+ for a mug, but when they came out with the lid, I couldn't refuse the double-wall titanium any longer.
After one extended trip, the mug functioned perfectly. It really does keep liquid hot for quite a while. I would make coffee (Snow Peak Drip or Starbucks Via) while making breakfast, and then put the lid on. After eating breakfast and breaking camp, the coffee was still plenty hot to drink while putting the mornings first couple miles on. Its durable, but I wouldn't expect it to not dent if dropped onto rocks. It does not fit in my car's cupholder though, so it doesn't work as a general travel mug for me.

I have a shorty Prolite 4 and a regular Prolite Plus. They both have their strengths, but overall I would choose the added bulk and size of the Plus over the 4. Its surprising how uncomfortable not having some padding under your feet can be, so I normally throw some clothing at the bottom of the shorty 4 if my wife is using the Plus. Somehow I end up carrying the Plus but sleeping on the 4...
We haven't had any issues with leaks, and slippage is only a problem if your tent is on pretty uneven ground. They have been stored both compressed and uncompressed, but I haven't really noticed too much of a difference once you give them a couple puffs of air. The stuff sacks are kind of pricey but lightweight and fit perfectly, so probably worth it.

I have two of the small pillows, one for me and one for my wife. My major problem with them is the lack of "fluffability" after they have been compressed in the pack all day. Even if you let them decompress for a couple hours, their fluffiness doesn't compare to what they are like after a little time in the dryer. They are easy to pack, compress quite small, are easy to clean, and are great right out of the dryer, but stuff them one time and they never really regain their loft in the field.

My wife and I needed packs for a 5-day backcountry trip in Utah, and after trying on every pack that Osprey makes, I settled on the Atmos 50. In the store, the frame seemed to hug my hips in a way that the others didn't. After much practice packing, we figured out a way to get all of our gear for a 5-day trip in this and my wifes Osprey Talon 33. On the trail we did a lot of scrambling and both ascents and descents. The Atmos never shifted, but you need to pack your gear right. Temps hit the upper 90s, but my back was never uncomfortably hot due to ventilation provided by the unique mesh panel. As I noticed in the store, the frame hugged my hips making for a very comfortable carry. I would say my normal load was around 40 lbs, but due to one long water haul, my max load was probably up near 55. I was originally worried about the use of mesh on the hip belt pouches, but there was no snagging or signs of wear after the trip.

My wife and I used this on a 5-day hiking trip in Utah. We are both small, so this tent worked really well for us. Lots of ventilation, easy to set up, lightweight. We both liked sleeping with our heads near the mesh end so that we could see the stars (through the mosquitoes). I would have liked some interior pockets along the bottom, similar to my beefier tent, the North Face Mountain 25. However, I realize that pockets add weight, so the choice was made to not include them. It didn't rain on us, so I can't comment about how well it works in wet conditions. As I mentioned we are both small (around 240 lbs between the two of us) and we fit perfectly in this tent. If you plan on using this as a two-person tent, and either or both of you are, um, of larger carriage, this might lead to cozier than desired conditions. For us though, this was a perfect combination of lightweight yet durable shelter. As with all tents, make sure you either buy the footprint or make your own.
*Update*
We took the ST on a 7 day backcountry trip in Joshua Tree NP in January '11. While the low temps probably pushed the boundaries of what should be expected of this tent, it performed well. The first night I forgot to adjust the vents so we had some condensation issues, but future nights weren't as bad. My guess is that with any single wall design condensation will be balanced with ventilation and warmth. Due to the cold temps (down to mid-20s) we ended up spending upwards of 12 hours in the tent/sleeping bags some days. I was wishing for a little more room then, but I appreciated the low weight when hiking.

This is my second pair of La Sportivas, but my first pair of Makalus. I have worn them during wildland firefighting operations, short winter treks, and desert hikes. The boots stand up to anything. They are not the lightest or coolest boots, but are durable, comfortable, and dependable. Make sure you throw out the stock insole when you first get them and put either a Superfeet or something better in.
*Update*
I put a pair of Sole Dean Karnazes footbeds in and I love them even more. Just finished a backcountry trip in Joshua Tree and had no issues with my feet or boots. I figured out how to adjust the padded tongue so that my toes have more room, allowing me to wear thicker socks.

I recently purchased this as part of a filtration system for a 6-day backcountry hiking trip in Utah. Instead of pumping straight from the source, I used a GSI H2Go screwed onto a Nalgene 96oz canteen to filter out the big stuff, and then stuck the included microfilter into the canteen. I didn't need to backflush in the field using this method, as I was able to reduce the amount of particulate getting to the filter. However, when I tried to backflush at home, it didn't seem to work as well as expected. Very little water moved through the system, and I was doing it exactly as described.
In the field it pumped easily and quickly. I didn't use the quick-connect adaptor, as it doesn't allow for a regulated release of water. It would make one-person filtering easier by using it though. For relatively clear water, this filter works great, but I would imagine that it would become difficult to pump if used in extremely silty or "junky" water. However, the ease of use and lightweight design will make this my go-to filter.

A lightweight eating utensil that is not too short and is durable. I have owned one for around 5 years, and it traveled with me on numerous military trips. I recently bought a second for my wife for a hiking trip. I wouldn't substitute this for everyday home cutlery, but I can't imagine a better tool for eating when weight and strength need to be optimized.

I have owned many types of "outdoor" coffee makers, from the little espresso units to the lexan french presses. The Snow Peak drip is my favorite so far, but still not perfect. It is a little heavy, but it easily comes apart so it can be tucked away. Make sure you fold the filters like they show you on the package (I use #2s) or the filter bottom will break through. It easily fits on most mug sizes, including irregular ones like the old canteen cups. Very durable, and I have even started using it at home for quick one-cup "fixes".
*Update*
This has become my go-to coffee maker, I use it at home virtually every day and every time I go hiking. Sure, the Starbucks Via is lighter, but there is something to be said for the coffee making process. That being said, I would buy a titanium version in a second.

I used the 6L Dromedary on a recent 6-day backcountry hiking trip in Utah. Our filtration system consisted of an MSR Hyperflow sucking out of a 96oz Nalgene wide-mouth canteen and into the Dromedary. Two 96oz bottles equaled one full Dromedary. I opted to not use the quick connect that came with the pump and fit on the Dromedary, as it didn't allow for controlled release of water, and I didn't want to carry two caps. Instead I just ran a section of tubing from the exit end of the Hyperflow into the small hole of the Dromedary cap. The bag worked perfectly, and gave the two of us enough water to travel a decent distance from known water sources. Durable, and easy to hang.