SeattleBerner

I really like these shorts. I bought two pair. They are well made like most other OR products. The material is thin, but tough. They are cut well. Not too big, but not to skinny like many other shorts these days. I was afraid they were going to be a little short, but they hit just below my knee cap, which I like. I am 6'1 with a 33 inch inseam and wear my shorts on my hips. I don't sag them, but I don't pull them way up on my waist either. I really like the cut of the front pockets. The only minor issue I have with the shorts is that there is no closure on the back pockets. These shorts make awesome travel shorts, but without having a button or velcro closure you have to be careful about putting your wallet in the back pockets.

These are comfortable and well made. They have padding in all the right places and a thinner mesh style pattern on the top of the foot that breaths very well. My only very minor gripe is that they are thinner than I thought they would be. I bought a very similar pair when they were sold under the backcountry.com brand and those were a bit thicker and more sturdy.

The Patagonia R3 is a great insulation layer for really cold days. Under a hard shell it provides great warmth. Even though its high loft, its soft enough that it doesn't feel thick or too bulky under my hard shell. It also works well as an outer layer for dry days when the temps aren't super cold. It's not designed or marketed to be a wind stop fleece so it really should not be judged based on that.

It's well made and surprisingly sturdy for how light and soft it feels. It lives up to the Patagonia name and quality. I personally think the full price is a bit high. I was lucky enough to get mine on sale. I got a large in Narwhal Grey. As others have mentioned the pictures on the website are a bit deceiving because they make the collar and other patches almost look tan. They are not tan, they are grey. The pics posted by users show the true grey color a lot better. I am 6'1 185 pounds with a 32/33 inch waist and 35 inch arm length. I wear a 42L jacket and the large fits me great.

The OR Gripper's are an awesome all around glove. Their warmth and thickness in relation to the dexterity you get is great. They fit really well and the cuffs around the wrist are nice and snug. The fingers are a bit long which is great for me. The pull on loops are handy especially when you already have one of the gloves on and are putting on the second.

They stop the wind very well and shed light moisture. They are not waterproof gloves and are best in cold, dry conditions. Although they maintain a decent amount of warmth when wet and tend to dry out fairly quickly. They work well within the suggested temp range. If its much colder than 25F you will need to go with a different glove or put a shell over these. You could put a liner under these, but that would require sizing up, which pretty much eliminates the dexterity that the gloves provide.

OR makes great products and has an awesome warranty and I am not just saying that because I am biased towards companies in my hometown :)

Pelican cases are the standard for bomb proof cases. They are very well built, last a long time, and are truly water tight. I have the 1400 which is slightly bigger than the 1300. I use it as the main case for my handgun. The pick and pluck foam is great for being able to easily outline whatever it is you want to put in the case. My brother has a very large Pelican case that he uses to haul is dive gear when going on dive trips. It's been all over the world and hammered through numerous airports in remote areas where they don't give a darn about how they treat check in luggage. It's held up really well and still water tight after about 8 years of use.

Overall, I don't think you can go wrong with Pelican cases. The only complaint I hear and that I tend to agree with is that they are heavy, but that is due to how sturdy they are built.

I walk my dog a lot. Living in Seattle during the fall and winter months means it's dark outside by about 5:00pm, so our evening walks are typically in the dark and often in the rain. We have used the same Nite Ize SpotLit LED for three years. It's held up really well and changing the battery is pretty easy. It puts out a good amount of light and makes is easy to see our Bernese Mountain Dog. It's easy to attach and remove from the collar ring.

I recommend these for anyone that wants an easy to use light for their pup.

I love this layer. I have a longer torso and have problems with many other brands being too short. I am 6'1 190 lbs with a slim to athletic build. The large fits me perfect and the arm length is great. I realize this style of layer has longer arms for when you want to use the thumb holes, but I have long arms as well so it really helps. I tried on a similar piece by Mtn Hardware and torso and arms were too short for me.

This layer is well made and has a fairly slim fit, but not like a true under layer like Under Armor that tends to be really fitted. Its great for running as an outer layer and works great as an under layer for show shoeing, hiking, etc... The fabric has four way stretch and wicks as expected.

The only minor issue I have with this piece is the arm pocket. With the fabric being thin and stretchy it makes opening the arm pocket zipper with one hand a little difficult.

These boots have been classics for a long time and don't change a whole lot. That is because they don't need to change. They are well built, warm, durable, and surprisingly comfortable to walk in for a larger, more bulky boot.

I don't wear mine a lot. Less than 15 times a year, but I have had mine since 1995 and they are still going strong. Believe it or not, I even wore these my first year snowboarding with rented boards until I got my own gear. Of course I highly do NOT recommend that now days, but back in the day it worked while I was learning. I also use them for snowmobiling, walking the dog in the snow, and any other activity involving snow and really cold temps.

Keep in mind these are big boots made for cold temps. They are ok for short distance hikes, but I would not call them hiking or backpacking boots. If you plan on going on a long hike in the snow you will need something more form fitting and lighter.

Note: My pair is pretty old, so I can't speak to the issues that many seem to be experiencing with the new versions. I don't want to be a hater, but I have never like any gear made by Columbia and from the sound of it when they bought Sorel they may have reduced the quality.

I use this set for everything. From snowmobiling, snowboarding, hiking, hunting, and even really cold football games. They fit great. I especially like that they are made longer than other brands. I always have trouble with arms and legs being too short and pulling up which drives me crazy. That doesn't happen with these. My previous base layers were a set of Patagonia Capilene which functioned awesome in terms of warmth, but were just too short. As a previous reviewer stated, they can start to have that polypro smell, but I have to be working pretty darn hard to reach that point.

I am 6'1 185 pounds with a 33 inch inseam, 32-33 inch waist, and 35-36 inch arm length and the large fits me great.

I really like these shoes! They are well made and lighter than I thought they would be. I have the dark burlap, which is really not very dark. It's a lighter grey. I wear a size 12 in all Nike and Adidas athletic shoes, but went with an 11.5 for these and they fit great. My only non-favorable comments would be that they take a little bit to soften up, especially around the front crease where the shoe bends when you walk. It was a not painful or anything, but just a little noticeable until they broke in a bit. Also, I think the laces are a bit too long. I don't tie my shoes super tight, but don't walk around with them flopping on my feet either. When I tie these a bit snug and/or normal, the laces are pretty long. They just about touch the ground unless I double knot them.

Other than that I really like these shoes. Being made of hemp and having partially recycled inner and outer materials is not a bad thing either. They also breath well and the hemp is thicker and so far stronger than other canvas shoes like Chuck T's. Plus, they are made by Patagonia, which tends to have a pretty strong track record for quality apparel and gear.

I agree with one of the other posts, that if this bag is similar to older versions its a great bag. I have the 2003 version of the Cat's Meow 3D and its still going strong today. The old ones had a Velcro pocket in the hood, which was awesome for putting a folded up shirt or fleece to use as a pillow. The zippers have held up well, the draft tube works great, and the little watch pocket is perfect for placing the watch out of the way, but still close to your face so the alarm wakes you up. With the advancements in fabrics and technology I would bet that the new versions of the Cat's Meow are even better. I would not hesitate to buy another Cat's Meow considering how well my old bag has held up and is still going.......

I love my Leatherman Wave and use it all the time. From mountain biking, snowmobiling, hiking, dirt bike riding, etc... my wave is always along for the ride. It's well equipped with all the basic tools you will need and very comfortable to hold. I will agree with one other review that says its a bit heavy. But I guess its a trade off with having so many options.

I also really like the outer blades. I use the outer knives a lot and its super easy to open them with one hand and I really like not having to unfold the tool. My wife has a Gerber multi tool and you can't even compare the too. The Leatherman has better tools, is more comfortable to hold/use, and it way better built. The wave is a bit pricey, but worth it if you take care of it and keep it clean. It comes with either the leather sheath with a snap closure or the nylon sheath with Velcro. I highly prefer the nylon sheath.

I love my pipe! It puts out great sound for its size, its relatively easy to pack around, and its hard to beat a dock that uses batteries and can be plugged into the wall. The remote is also a big plus! The only draw back is that they don't make a case (or at least I have not found one yet), but I use an old (clean) wool sock, which works well.

****Update on 6/3/2011****
About 3 weeks ago I found that that AC plug jack on my pipe was not working correctly. I honestly only used my Pipe with batteries until I found the jack to be broken. I have had my pipe for two years. I received a RMA from Skull Candy and mailed the pipe back to them with a description of the problem. Within 1 week I received an e-mail with information to replace my pipe with a new one. From my experience, I will say that the Skullcandy warranty is awesome and they are super easy to work with.

Love these shorts! They are the perfect blend of a material that dries fast like a pair of board shorts, but made to look and function like casual shorts. The inner part of the shorts have very small raised bumps almost like a raised waffle pattern. The theory is that the material reduces the actual square inches of contact with the body to reduce heat. I can say it works. In hot climates these shorts are perfect for wearing around town or at the beach. I was recently in Buenos Aires during the summer and these shorts were perfect for walking around the city in the heat. The material is pretty strong, stretches a bit, and is still light. They have the standard two front pockets and two rear pockets. One of the rear pockets closes with velcro and the other closes with a button. My only complaint is that the button came off pretty easy on the rear pocket, but I have that problem with almost every pair of shorts I own.

I am 6'1 185 pounds with a 33 inch waste. I bought both the black and khaki in 34 inches and they fit great. If I ever see these shorts on steep and cheap I am buying my limit up for sure!!

I have pair of these shades in the gunmetal/neutral grey color. The lenses are top notch and the fit is great. They are so light you don't even know you are wearing them. They are well built and surprisingly durable for how light and thin they feel. The clarity and glare reduction from the polarized lenses make them a must have for being around water. I wear these boating, fishing, and drinking cocktails near the water to cut the glare. The way they wrap around holds them in place really well with little to no movement.

They are a bit pricey, but if you take care of them, they are worth it. With Maui Jim's you are paying for quality first and name second unlike many of the other companies where its name first and then questionable quality second.

The 993's have been around for a while and have not changed much because New Balance does not want to mess up a classic. These shoes are awesome. So many of my friends are die hard 993 lovers and now that I am on board, I agree with them. They are well built, comfortable, and long lasting. I use these shoes for every thing from running, to walking the dog, and as every day casual wear. I have the blue and gray color in size 12. They fit true to size. Yes, they are a bit more expensive than a bargain barrel pair of Nike's or Adidas, but they are worth it. When they go on sale I know people who buy multiple pairs at a time. Give them a try, you won't be disappointed.

I really like this bag. It's a bit deceptive because when I first got it I didn't think it would hold as much as it does. It's well made with welded seams (as if the name didn't already imply that) and sturdy zippers. The overall material is not as stiff/thick as I thought it would be. Many other similar bags like The North Face versions are made of stiffer material. That being said nothing leads me to believe that his bag is not just as tough.

They did use heavier material for the bottom panel. All the straps and handles are well placed and all the seams where they are attached are welded very well and feel very sturdy. I got the gray color in large. It's pretty comfortable to carry when fully loaded with the backpack straps.

If you notice in the picture attached to this review, I am able to put size twelve dirt bike riding boots, a large helmet, kidney belt, and chest armor in the bag with enough extra space to fit some additional clothing etc... Overall, I don't think you can go wrong with this bag, especially if it shows up on Steep and Cheap. If I had to find one minor negative thing I would agree with one of the other comments that it would have been nice to give the bag a little more structure/form.

***Update 9/20/2011
I still like this bag after having used it for a couple months. The one thing I will re-state is that it would be a lot nicer if the bag had more structure like I mentioned above. The other Stoic duffel and the Northface base camp seem like they would work better if you plan to use the backpack straps more. I don't regret buying the bag and still use it often, but just wanted to provide an update after using it for a while.

I really love these boots. They are well made and hold up very well over time. They are indeed waterproof as the Gore-Tex implies and provide great support. They are stiff at first and take a little bit to break in, but once they are broken in I can wear them all day without any sore spots. They run true to size. They work well for various conditions from spring hikes to winter snowshoeing. Just adjust your socks accordingly and you should be fine. I like the stiff rubber on the toe because it holds up well against scuffs from rocks and tree roots. The sole is firm for added support, but soft enough to provide sufficient traction in the loose stuff. Take into account the height of the boot when buying because if you are looking a taller mountaineering boot this might not be what you want. They are a typical height backpacking style boot. I use them snowshoeing, but usually need to wear gators. I forgot my gators in the attached photo, but I guess it helps show more of the boot that way.

This is a good, basic fleece. I normally have a lot of trouble with things being too short in the torso, but this fleece is cut slightly longer. It's not too long where it looks like your wearing a size to big, but it definitely covers the belt line easy and doesn't pull up too far when you sit down. The chest pocket took a little to get used to because of the angle that it is at. It does provide a good range of motion and its pretty warm. I honestly think that the UPF is simply a selling feature because there is no way I could tell whether or not this fleece is providing any more protection from the sun that any other fleece. I am 6'1, 188lbs, 42L, 35in sleeves, and the large fits me really well. Overall, this is a great everyday fleece that also works well as a mid weight layer under a hard shell or thin soft shell. I probably would not have been wowed enough to pay full price, but its a good deal at the sale price.

I have an older version of the Red Wing. It's the Red Wing 2900 from a couple years ago. I am posting this review because of how pleased I have been with the pack over the years. It is every well built. The stitching is very solid and I can even pick it up by the top handle when its fully loaded and it doesn't feel like the handle is going to rip off. It's incredibly roomy and fully loaded I can still get it to fit as a carry on in the upper bins. I recently used it for a 9 day trip around Argentina and it was perfect. It's comfortable to carry with a decent amount of adjustment options. The side pockets are large enough to fit a 16 oz Nalgene bottle. I will say it is slightly heavier than some other packs, but its because its built more sturdy. Plus, I am sure the newer versions are lighter than my older version. Overall, I have been very pleased with my Red Wing and would recommend the pack.

Depending on where we are going my wife and I try not to check in luggage. It leaves the door open for too many possible issues that can really derail a trip if your luggage is lost or delayed for a day or two. We got her the Meridian 22 because you can carry it on. It's an overall great travel bag. It's well made and very well designed. It pays to get a travel pack from a company with experience making backpacks. The design and adjust options for the backpack straps make it very easy and comfortable to carry. The roller wheels are sturdy and do not get in the weigh or push against your back when carrying the bag as a backpack. All the buckles and handles are sturdy and don't feel they are going to tear or rip off when the bag is fully packed. We recently spent 9 days travelling around Argentina and the bag was perfect. The smaller day pack that zips off the front is comfortable to carry and also well designed.

Note: you are better off getting the bag to fit in the airline overhead bins without the small backpack attached. My wife carries the small backpack as a personal item that goes under the seat and the larger pack goes up above.

I have the larger Meridian bag that is too large to carry on. It's a great bag, but the only downfall is that you can't carry it on. Overall, I don't think you can go wrong with Osprey Travel packs. Both from my experience and that fact that I see them everywhere when I travel (Europe, Asia, South America), so they clearly have a strong following around the world as a reliable travel pack. They can be a bit pricey, but worth it. My only negative is that the lichen green color is pretty ugly in my opinion. The black and grey or blue and grey are a lot better looking.

***Update 11/14/2011**
I just got back from a trip to Borneo, Indonesia using this bag. It was great and I had no problem carrying it on some smaller regional airlines in Asia. I still highly recommend this bag.

Well made socks. Comfortable and fit well. They are light weight as the name implies. They were actually a bit thinner than I originally thought. I wear them both hiking around and as every day socks. There is a tiny bit of color variance between pairs. One pair in the two pair pack was slightly darker than the other pair, but not enough to really matter. Overall, at the sale price I don't think you can go wrong with these socks. I wear a size 12 in athletic shoes and 11.5 in many dress shoes. I ordered the Large size and they fit great.

So far so good! The window on this bag is great and allows you to see what gear is in the bag and where it is. It seems well made and is waterproof. My only minor concern is that the material is fairly thin compared to most dry bags I have had. It has held up fine to basic use, but I can't really attest to the strength of the material until it gets used for a longer period of time. I am currently using the bag for carrying gear and food while snowmobiling. I plan to use it for kayaking and as a boat bag this coming summer.

These socks are great. They are form fitting with extra padding and extra flex in places where it makes sense. They are well built and the Merino wool feels great. I wear these socks hiking and walking around town when it is cold. They are also great as travel socks if you are going to where the weather is bit cooler and you will be doing a lot of walking. I got a great deal on these from Steep and Cheap, but they are worth the full price on backcountry.com

This jacket is a typical Marmot product. It is well made and well thought out. It's really lite, pretty warm for how thin it is, and fits really well. I am 6'1 185 pounds, 42L, 33 waist, 36 arms, and a large fits me perfect. I have a lot of problems with jackets being too short in the torso and arms, but not this jacket. It fits well with just enough room for a single long sleeve layer. You won't get a heavy fleece under this jacket unless you size up. Keep in mind this jacket is not meant for activities where abrasion could occur because the outer part is pretty thin and not stiff like many soft shells. This jacket is great for casual wear as well as physical activities like running, biking, and hiking in cold, but not freezing temp. My only real complaint is that it does not have an inside pocket, but it does have the chest pocket in the front, so its not that big of a deal. At the sale/clearance price, its a great deal.

This is a great travel pack. It is well made and has great features. The frame and wheels are rugged and solid, but stay out of the way and are not intrusive when carrying the bag like a backpack. It stands up well and does not lean or want to fall over when fully loaded. It takes a little bit to get use to the way you access the main compartment on the detachable backpack. It is designed for travel, so the access point is made in a way that is difficult to quickly unzip unless you are use to it. I believe this is a security feature by design. It would be tough for some random person to open the detachable backpack and take anything out if you were standing in a crowded airport, train station, or subway. The backpack straps and waist belt for the main bag are easy to adjust and the bag is comfortable to carry on your back. There is definitely an advantage from buying a travel pack from a company like Osprey that is experienced in creating solid and technically sound backpacks. I have seen other travel packs where they take an existing roller bag and throw on some crappy backpack straps with little to no suspension and the ability to adjust the fit.

The Revo Belay Polarized sunglasses are great. They have a very comfortable fit and the lens quality is top notch. I also have a pair of Maui Jim polarized glasses and the lens are equal if not better in my opinion. The lens technology was originally developed by NASA and they are infused instead of coated, so the polarization can never rub off. The REVO Re-Use frame components are also made from 100% recycled pre-consumer polymer resins. I have the black frames and highly recommend these sunglasses.

Great shovel! I keep it in the back of my SUV and it has helped me get out of some icy and snowing spots. I also carry this shovel when snowmobiling and without it I would probably be dead or still trying to dig out my machine by hand right now! Lightweight, sturdy, and the handle is surprisingly comfortable.

I got a great deal on this item on Steep and Cheap. I really like the welded construction. The material is tough without being too stiff and the brushed style finish on the inside feels great if you wear the jacket with just a t-shirt underneath. As a couple other reviews have mentioned, it tends run a bit short, so you might have to size up. I am 6'1, 185 pounds and had to return the large and get an extra large because the arms and torso were too short. (Note: my arm length in dress shirts is 36/37).So far the jacket has performed great in the rain and wind of the Northwest. I can't wait to really test it out snowmobiling once we get enough snow pack. The only minor issue I have is that when using the hood the front comes down low and restricts vision a tiny bit if I am not wearing a hat.

I have a grey version of this beanie from a couple years ago that was getting trashed from a lot of use. I liked the fit and style so much that I decided to buy another one. The beanie is not too thick like many others, but it still keeps me warm. It stretches a little bit, but stays snug on me. I have had trouble with other beanies stretching out to the point where I could not wear them anymore. I like that the visor is not too big, so it serves its purpose without limiting vision. The fit is better than other visor beanies I have tried on, but I might have a slightly smaller head then some.
I wear the beanie both for outdoor sports (hiking, snowboarding, etc..) and casual wear and it works great for both. I actually bought more than one (blue, black, grey, and white), but don't tell my wife!