Unfortunately, The entire backcountry line of Blizzard skis WITH the IQ system are Heavy! This may be why Blizzard stopped production of these skis.

I bought the 4 liter version, then read the concerns from reviewers. Concerning the integrity of the zip-lock. I filled it with 4.5 liters of water (so full that all you see is a couple of tiny air bubbles) with 105+ degree water. (I wanted to test for warmer conditions so that the ziplock was as pliable as it would ever be.) I bounced it on the kitchen counter, the floor, and I put weights on this bladder to simulate a similar load it could be subjected to at the bottom of my pack. Not one drop leaked from this bladder.
However upon examination, I am still a skeptic of the ziplock. I plan only to open the ziplock when it is absolutely necessary.
My intended use is very long, dry leg, of a Grand Canyon trip.
Empty, the 4L version weighs 3.6oz. Very full (at 4.5 liters) it weights 10lbs-4oz. I can't comment yet on it's durability, but my 3L Platypus Hoser shows no pending problems after many many miles.

Packaged weight: 5lbs-13oz
Fly, Mesh, poles: 5lbs-4oz
Stakes in sack with splint: 5oz
Inside demensions: 86"x65"
Inside Area: 38.82 sqft

We have two medium size dogs and this tent is a little tight with the two of us and the dogs, but ok. A couple of things caused me to rate it as average. One, I can never get a taut pitch. The doors are nothing special. Their design is just not to my liking. (the REI Quarter DOME T3 Plus has doors with a mesh pouch to store them out of the way and their shape makes entry/exit easier.. nice). Last, even though this tent has a cross pole that goes all the way to the ground (which I thought would make this tent solid), I have to guy this tent out on the corners to withstand moderate winds when I'm above tree line. I own and use the Copper Spur UL tents also. I much prefer their design over the Emerald Mountain. If you need the option of a very large add-on vestibule, however, then the Emerald Mountain is for you! BA tent construction quality is always top notch.

I am 171 lbs at 5'-10" (chest 39"). The medium size is an absolutely perfect fit! I read many reviewers that said the medium would run small on me; They were flat wrong! It is true that I won't be able to wear heavy layers under the UL Down Inner Parka (why such a long name?!), but that isn't necessary for it's intended niche.

Performance while hiking (with and without a pack) is excellent. Had this parka completely unzipped on my last walk at 40F (in full sunshine calm condish).

The only reason it scored 4 stars with me is because of some down leakage. All makers state that they have come up with a "down-proof" shell... don't believe it.
And speaking of the denier 15 shell; Wear an outer shell over this if you're bushwacking; Otherwise you might not return with much of a parka.
Weight: My medium registered 8.something ounces on my digital scale.

2008 model
Weight: 3lbs-3oz
Medium
Using the Z35-R, I have had no trouble packing gear for a 2-night summer trip . In regards to its volume it seems larger than stated. For me, this pack carries very well when the total weight is kept at 30lbs or below. (The pack accomplishes weight transfer to the hips better than my Osprey Atmos.) The roll top is a simple design that allows faster (and with less frustration) main pack access than a pack with a top pocket. The top straps (across the roll top) have just enough strap to allow me to carry my solo tent there... barely. The bottom strap lenghts are adequate for just about anything a hiker would normally carry.
Curiously, the inside water reservoir sleeve is minus a hanging strap. Hopefully this oversight was cured on the 2009 model? Unlike my Osprey Atmos, there is no way to place the reservoir directly behind the mesh (that contact's your back). There would be room for a 2L reservoir there.. if you get it there (thus, alowing more usuable space inside the body of the pack).
My torso lenght is 19 to 19.5 inches and the medium fits very well, despite the fact that my waist is 35 inches. (I did try the large and found that is was clearly too big.) Happy Trails!

The following is a review that is based on comparison to my Eureka SpitFire 1. I still feel that the SpitFire 1 is an excellent tent and best buy for the money!
I feel that the ventilation of the Copper Spur UL1 is superior to my SpitFire 1, it weights sligthly less, is freestanding, and has more floor space. Final Setup time is faster with this tent because I can move the tent around to find more level ground once the tent is erect. The UL1 has a nice overhang above the door that has kept my bag drier when entering/exiting in wet condtions. With a floor space of 22 sqft, it has plenty of room in it for me, my 60 dog, and few overnight extras. Since the materials of this tent are lightweight, Piper packs a small patch of sheet to protect the floor from his paws.
The small "back door" is just great! I now don't have to get out of my tent to access something under the fly on the other side! Every solo tent should have this !!
I measured the weight of the tent body, the fly, 6 stakes w sack, poles w sack, and 4 guy lines; the total was 2 lbs - 14.3oz.
Why the 4 stars? My only complaints would be the main door zipper and cost. The UL1 should have a bottom zip and we, the consumers, shouldn't be shelling out a small fortune to own this tent!

As usual, as with all Osprey packs, attention to detail and construction on the Atoms 65 is excellent. For me, Fit was a little bit of a problem. I'm an "in-betweener". My waist is now all the way up to a 35 (winter was brutal on my figure!) and my torso length runs 19 to 21 depending on how I'm measured. AFter exchanging packs a couple of times, I decided the Large was my best option.
I just recently did a 3 day trip and found the pack to be good, but not great. For me, the pack became uncomfortable when loaded above 33 lbs. The belt just doesn't seem to be enough... above 33 lbs the pack transfers more weight than I like to my shoulders. The ventilated back mesh does its job; No sweaty back with this pack! I found the bag allowed better organization through the use of it's many pockets! I especially liked having the option of hanging my reservoir either directly behind the back mesh (where it takes up no pack envelope space), or in the traditional spot inside the bag. Nice Pack... might have been a 5 star pack if I wasn't an in-betweener. Note: This pack is NOT an adjustable torso length type.

True to stated weight and size.... check.
Handle on bottom .... check.
Really water resistant .... Check.
Good micro cinch lock to keep it light .... check.
Lid? Where's the lid? I need a lid when I over-stuff this sack! Good Sack anyway!

BackCountry gets a thumbs down on this for NOT changing the picture; This is not a roll-top sack.

Piper is a pit-bull hybrid (a nice way of saying he’s a mixed up Pit with taller legs than his true Pit cousins!) with a girth measurement of 29 inches and a neck to tail base length of about 21 inches. The medium Approach is a good fit for him and allows him to carry all the food he needs for a 7 night outing. This pack sits stable on him and doesn't slide no matter what Piper puts it through. I would buy this pack again.

I like this pack; it has everything you could possibly want in a dog pack and is very well made! For Piper and me it had too many features and, in the small, not enough capacity. The hydration system of the Palisade is just not needed (in fact it takes up valuable pack space which he needs for his food) since I typically backpack in the mountains where my dog has access to many streams. The other feature of little use to us was the compression system. I congratulate RuffWear for coming up with such a well thought out system to cinch down the bags, but we just didn't use it since maximum pack volume allows my dog just enough food for 5 to 6 days (with the bladders removed in a size Small). He needs enough pack capacity to accommodate him for 7 to 9 day trips.
The packs are removable from the harness. At first I thought this was sweet(!), Then I realized it was faster to take the entire pack off of him than it was to unfasten the saddle bags from the base harness (4 clips versus 2). Besides if (and he has in the past) he does a swift water swim across a river, I'd like for him to be as "clean" as possible to avoid hang-ups.
Sizing note: If you’re dog is close to the upper limit for a particular size… go UP one size instead of Down! Piper is a pit-bull hybrid (a nice way of saying he’s a mixed up Pit with taller legs than his true Pit cousins!) with a girth measurement of 29 inches and a neck to tail base length of about 21 inches. The Palisade small really didn’t work and I am planning to return it for a Medium in the Approach.

Love everything about it but the PRICE! You can find the same performance from others for half this price. Wait for a sale. I found the Typhoon to be perfectly waterProof and the coverage is exactly what I wanted. I'm 5-10 170lbs and the Medium has more than enough room for me. Happy Trails! 4 stars because it's just too expensive at full retail!

This is the biggest frickn' rain cover EVER!!! I bought the XL (unfortunatly) and I could fit two large women and a cooler of beer under this! When I have my pack on covered with this, I can pull this cover over my head and almost two feet out in front of me. I'm wondering could I rig up some light weight poles to support it while I'm moving? Maybe hang some fringe from the overhang part?!! I would suggest that you pay more attention to the physical dimensions of this cover to compare with that of you pack. Pay less attention to the cubic inch volume specification. This is a very good cover with fully taped seams!

This is my second Eta type stove from Primus and both the EtaPower and, now, the EtaPackLite are excellent stoves! The EtaPackLite gives me a two-cup boil time of around 1 minute 20 seconds. This is more than twice as fast as my JetBoil. If you omit ALL the plastic bowls (that includes the liner bowl) that come with this unit the weight is, then, true at just shy of 21oz. I measured a usage of 4.1 grams of fuel per 2-cup boil. In comparison, my JetBoil used 4.32 grams of fuel for a 2-cup boil. On my last trip into the Gila Wilderness, I really impressed my friends with this stove; I ended up giving them a lead time of 20 minutes and I still ate before them while they dinked around with there upright MSR stove! Way to go Primus..... Now, how about a Titanium option?

Fit was good. Quality of construction was excellent. Blocks the wind as stated. Valve... hmmm, In my opinion (and that's all I have) it's way WAY over-priced for what you get. What do you get? (You ask) You get a jacket that is suitable to wear in a very narrow range of temperatures. I was either too cold in it or too warm(depending on the exertion level). It's a very nice looking jacket, though... and you'd look awfully good hanging around the lodge in it, but don't stray too far from the fire if you're idle.

I am the author of the review titled "Fit Dilemma". I kept the large pair of the Matterhorns and returned the medium size. I then washed and put this oversize pair in the dryer on the highest heat setting my dryer has.
These pants lost more than an inch in length and about the same in the waist! It didn't help the short-waist problem, But I'd say they are a fit now. If you order these and their pretty much a fit right out of the box...... line dry them only.

Mountain Hardwear always does their homework to make sure their products have all the latest creature features that we want! I normally like their products due to their attention to detail, BUT the fit on these pants just doesn't work well for me. I'm 5-10, 169 lbs, 34.5 inch waist, Hips 39 inches, 30-31 inch inseam.

These pants seem to need to be worn very low on the hips for them to work for me.... I consider them low waist-ed (not too crazy about their "ride height"). The mediums were too tight in both the hip and waist, but the length was perfect. The large is about right in the hips, but too loose in the waist (both of these were the regular length). When I moved up to the large size the overall length became an issue. Because of the ankle cinch, I could get around this problem... however pulling up the ankles like this means that you'll have a lot of excess material flapping about (the short version would most likely cure this problem, but Altrec didn't list that as an option). What I need is a FAT medium cut! The three stars is only because of my fit problem.

I'm KNOW I'm going to get flamed by a few forum addicts and MH die-hard fans (I'm a MH fan too!!!!), BUT I've got to question whether or not this is really a 32f bag. I recently did two nights out in this bag (before returning it). The first night's low was right at 32f and I wasn't any too warm (and I like to sleep COLD) with a wool beanie, wool socks, and a thermo base on! The second night the temp. dropped to 20f (at it's lowest, and YES, I know I was pushing the bag here!). Geeze, I had everything I brought on..... and was still COLD. The other problem I had with the bag is it's shell material. I noticed that the 15D shell allowed a few feathers through on every use. On the postive side, the bag is incredibly light and well put together. The long, as stated, was exactly 1 lb - 7oz within it's compression sack. But, I decided in the end that a little more weight on my back was better than going through another night like these (above)! Has MH become too obsessed with being the lightest on the market?

One reviewer below said this jacket was a great value for the money; Man do I disagree!

This jacket performs as clamied: It blocks the wind and it is somewhat water resistant. IT is not warm; A shell can't be and that's all it is.
It is a requirement that you wear a fleece with this jacket for it to provide any warmth. (This shell is lined, but the lining is VERY thin.)
If looking good is a high priority, then look no further; This is a very stylish shell!
In my mind it's a very over-priced modern wind-breaker. Knowing what it is now, a price of no more than $100.00 would be appropriate... and that's stretching it!

I took one of these down into the Grand Canyon during Christmas Break. What a nice item to have when you can't have a camp fire! The light intensity is very controllable and it burned little fuel. Comes with a simple, but nice, case. I bought the model with the igniter on it and wasn't disappointed; it lite the first click almost every time! It also doubled as a nice way to warm cold hands... I'd highly recommend this lantern!

I just got back from doing the "loop" (Down South Kaibab, night at Bright Angle CG, then up to Indian Gardens CG for the next night, then out the following day) down into the Grand Canyon with these boots (mens). My pack weight was 38lbs 2oz, 20f at the top of S Kaibab with near 2 feet of snow. Crampons were pretty much necessary. Ok...get the picture? These boots really kept my feet completely warm and dry all the way! No blisters even with very little break-in! (I wore a paper-thin nylon inner sock with a wool sock over these.) Are they a backpack boot? Hell no! They offer little ankle support, aren't stiff enough for heavy loads, and the lacing system has only four eyelets on each side. If Keen will redesign the lacing system and make it a tad stiffer then this will be a great winter pack boot. Until then, in my opinion, it's a great day-use winter boot! (4 stars because of the lacing system)

These were fairly comfortable right out of the box, but became a second skin after just 5 miles. Man, I love this shoes! Toe box: GREAT, Heel fit: near great, durability: excellent, traction: GREAT, looks: Excellent!

I didn't quite expect this pad to be built with such light guage vinyl. I am concerned about how long it will last. My best guess, and I'm careful with my gear, is that it should get me through ONE season of use before it springs a leak (the weak point is the vinyl around the valve). If that lenght of longevity is enough, Then be assured you'll be carrying the lightest and most comfortable air pad down the trail. It's 15oz on the dot within it's stuff sack! (20x72 version)

This could possibly be a "best buy" in the Solo tent category! Tent, Fly, poles is 2lbs 12oz (as stated). Tent, fly, poles, stakes(10), 2 guy lines, and all the individual sacks brings the weight up to 3lbs 5oz (if you trade out the stakes to lighter types you can drop the weight down at least 2 more oz.)
Plenty of room for the 6 foot and under people with just a little left over for essentials inside with you. Not much to speak of for a vestibule.... but as a rain fly it gives you complete coverage down to within 2 inches of the ground. When guyed out (4) it handles the wind fine... I haven't had it out yet in a big storm, but looking forward to it! A very nice tent for the money!

Great Pack, but could be better.

This pack carries very well up to 40 lbs; I haven't tested it above that. While I really appreciate the empty weight of this pack, from examining the sturdiness of its frame - I am of the opinion that I'd move up to the Argon when packing above 40 lbs.

The Aether 85 just has an amazing amount of room in it! I'm currently a 3 to 4 night packer and I never fill the pack but the straps allow me to cinch up all that extra material just fine. (The Aether 70 only weighs 3 or 4 ounces less than the 85.)

The "Could be better' part:
1. The side water bottle pockets are terrible to retrieve a bottle from. I have to take the pack OFF to get the bottles in and out. I solved this by ditching the bottles and carrying two 2L Outdoor reservoirs (good old Walmart); one in each side about 3/4 full on long dry hauls. (If you a bottle man/woman this is a Major Problem.)
2. NO pockets for your camera or GPS. Again, you have to stop and doff your pack to get at snacks, camera, Gps unit, etc.. That's just plain dumb. (Major)
3. I'd move the key keeper a little closer to the opening in the top pack. (Minor)
4. The Aether 85 has a reservoir sleeve in the main body of the pack. This was difficult to use. The 100oz res. that I stuffed into it really didn't fit well when it was full. Unless you fill using the tube leading to the res. it's a problem to remove and reinsert it into a loaded pack. I don't use it anymore. It would give you one more location for a 2L res. though. (Minor or Major?)

I recommend this pack to anyone contemplating outings lasting more than 3 nights. It is a very comfortable pack and will haul loads of bulky gear!

The actual weight of this tent by my digital scale is 5Lbs 9oz (in its stuff sack).... therefore, I would say it's at the upper weight range of what anyone would want to pack (thus the 4 star rating). The quality and attention to detail of this tent is excellent. I really like the TWO doors and vestibules! Because of this, its footprint is large which in certain conditions can lead to placement problems. The only thing that I would change about this tent is the placement of the two internal pockets. Eureka, please move them to the side walls.... not at your head (or feet).