After years of the same North Face soft-shell for less intense weather, I decided to retire the North Face jacket and pick up a windproof jacket with a good reputation. Obviously, I decided on the Patagonia Talus jacket and thought I'd throw my initial thoughts out there for anyone anticipating purchasing the Talus.

First, I have to comment on the color of the jacket. I bought the jacket in Rockwall and I was a bit surprised when I opened the package. Every photo on the web makes the jacket appear like a very dark grey or black with lighter napoleon pockets. The color "rockwall" is actually a dark grey. A LOT lighter than the pictures portray! It's no where near as dark as it appears in the pictures of the jacket. The color is like a slate grey. I like it so it's not a huge deal, but buyers be ware!

Initially, I ordered the large because that is usually what I wear in jackets and tops. I'm 5'10'' 170 and the large was like wearing a parachute! I was surprised because I tried on the Guide Jacket at a local outdoor shop and the large fit great. Due to Backcountry.com's exceptional customer service & return policy, I was able to order the medium. They hooked me up with free two day air when I called to order the medium!

When the medium arrived, it definitely fit a lot better, but I noticed an issue with the arm pit area. As others have mentioned, that jacket feels a bit tight in the arm pit area, but not enough to part ways with it. So far, I have put the Talus through a pretty wet and windy ride and it shows no signs of weakness. It is on the heavier side and is lined with fleece, so it may be a bit too warm for some people.

I was in the market to purchase a winter hiking pack this year. I looked around and decided with the Lowe Alpine Mountain Attack 45 and I'm very satisfied. I basically needed something that was going to withstand the abuse of lashing snowshoes and ice tools to the outside as well as stuff all the necessities for winter travel inside.

This pack is capable of all this and more. I was able to easily strap my Atlas 12 Series 25" snowshoes to the sides of this pack using its great "Web-Catcher" system. The idea behind this system is ingenious. I was able to strap my snowshoes and ice axe to the pack securely using the same straps.

The material is bullet proof. I have a Lowe Alpine Cerro Torre and I'm in love with the material they use to construct their packs. You don't have to worry about the material being damaged with normal use and abuse in mountains. The pack is surprisingly light weight and rides very smoothly. I have loaded it with winter gear and barely noticed its weight.

My only wish for this pack - a crampon pouch. I'm a big fan of the kangaroo style pouch that many manufacturers use and I wish this pack had one. Do to the many lash points on the pack, one can easily buy a crampon pouch and attach it to the front of the pack if they desired.

It is basically an alpinists dream pack. There are no external pockets or bells and whistles. I would like an extra stash pocket here or there, but I guess nothing is perfect. Highly recommend this pack! I use it for winter mountain hiking and and very happy I chose it!

I have had these boots for one season now & I can't say enough about them. I normally don't wear a wide sized shoe or boot, but because I have been having trouble with the toe box on many hiking boots (too freakin' small), I decided to go the wide route. I was a little nervous about ordering a wide cut boot without first trying them on, but they fit very well when I received them.

I also purchased a pair of Sole Ed Viestur series footbeds for these boots. I wasn't overly thrilled with the footbeds that came with the boot (they are better than most though.) Since I added the Sole, these boots are beyond great. They are very comfortable for miles and miles of trekking/backpacking. I have used them with a 65 pound pack and did not feel a difference between that and no pack.

They are a sturdy, almost heavy duty boot. They are heavy and can be a little much for hot weather use. I've used them in the dead of summer and my feet sweat a lot in them. The waterproof Gore-Tex is great. I crossed a high river wearing them and no leaks, even after being briefly submerged.

If you notice on Lowa's website, the ladies version comes in a cool grey/black color. I wish Lowa would make these with color options. Besides that, very happy with my decision to go with Lowa.

I've been using this Gregory as a day pack for two years now and I can't find anything I don't like about it. I've used it on numerous summer and winter trips at sea level and above 5,000 feet. It had enough space for plenty of water, food, warming layers and any kinda of tools you may need. The pack is light enough for me, but may not suit the ultra-light die hards out there. I chose the Onyx color and am happy with it because it does not show dirt stains on the bottom of the pack as lighter colors do.

I have not gotten the pack completely soaked, but it has survived a light shower and performed well. The Jetstream works very well. I tend to sweat a lot all year round and I enjoy not having a soaked back while wearing a pack. The suspension system also works quite well, but nothing out of the ordinary. I'm a big fan of hip belt pockets and the ones Gregory uses work well.

If I had a gripe, I guess my only one would be that there is no specific place to store trekking poles. I like how Osprey has an "on the go" trekking pole holster attached to the harness on some of their daypacks. I hope Gregory catches on to this soon because it makes for fluid movement on the trail when ascending peaks. Besides that little nit pick, great pack, great fit.

I purchased this pack in August 2010 for multi-day backpacking and peak bagging in New York. I packed it up for the first time and realized I needed it's bigger brother, the Cerro Torre 75:95 XL. The reason I needed the extra capacity was mainly because of the mandatory bear canister law the Adirondack High Peaks have. I sent the 65:85 back & received the 75:95 XL shortly after.

The pack material is literally bullet proof, I love it! Definitely the type of material that will last & last even after serious abuse. The sleeping bag compartment is deep and roomy. The sleeping bag compartment holds a 15 degree down bag stuffed in a compression sack, an inflatable mattress, an MSR Reactor stove and a Nemo Fillo pillow I just acquired (great investment)!

In the main compartment, as mentioned above, a store my bear can, fully loaded w several days worth of food and hygiene gear. Also in the main compartment, I have two water proof stuff sacks filled w my warming layers and extra pants. The pack has a generous hydration bladder pocket, but when loaded w a full bladder, sticks out and consumes a lot of precious space behind the bear can. The top lid has a top opening pocket and a small packet on the bottom side of the floating top. Both pockets are very useful, but could be a bit bigger.

The pack has two sleeping pad straps attached to the lower portion over the sleeping bag compartment. In the colder months, I tend to use a closed cell foam pad along with an inflatable mattress. The sleeping pad straps could definitely be made longer. I have to fight with them just to attach my Z-Rest. The two water bottle pockets on each side are deep and hold a 1 liter Nalgene quite well, but are a two man operation to use while on the move. There are two ice axe holders with trekking pole attachments built in. I think the trekking pole attachments are a great idea & I have enjoyed using them.

My gripes - During a four day trip a couple of weeks ago, the hip belt buckle would separate on its own while supporting approximately 65 pounds of gear while on the trail. This proved to be extremely annoying and disappointing. I was not able to stabilize the weight/load on my hips where it should be. After my trip, I contacted Lowe Alpine (great customer service!!) and they sent me a replacement for free. The replacement seems to work fine and Lowe Alpine is still working with me to assure that there are no other issues with the pack. I also really wish Lowe Alpine would incorporate hip belt pockets & a removable lumbar pack. The adjustable suspension takes time to dial in and get used to. After a month with the pack and about a weeks worth of time in the field, I am still adjusting to find my sweet spot.

So far I am very pleased with this pack and Lowe Alpine's customer service. I highly recommend giving this pack a chance when looking for a well built work horse. The four straps on the front of the pack are meant for compression, but are not really useful. There are many lash points in the same area, which make attaching a day pack or snowshoes very easy. Great pack!

I purchased this headlamp about a year ago after I read about in Backpacker as being the "never leave home without" light source. I've used it several times in the backcountry and don't even go on day hikes without it.

I can't say anything bad about the light except for the fact that it is bigger than most headlamps and is a lot heavier than one's I've used in the past. On the other side of the fence, the positions the lamp part can be adjusted to and the output the light produces is unmatched. I'm very happy with this light so far. It has three red L.E.D. lights in the back of the headlamp, attached to the battery case, to signal people behind you for those early morning starts or unexpected late day hikes.

I've also noticed if you like to use your headlamp in your tent for reading or whatever, the battery case is a bit large and is not comfortable with the weight of your head pressed against it as your tucked in a sleeping bag. All in all, I would definitely recommend this for any serious backpacker/mountaineer who needs a little more light shed on the subject.

I purchased these footbeds a couple days ago for a new pair of Lowa Rangers. The footbeds that actually came stock with the Rangers weren't that bad, compared to most, but I decided to spend a little money this time and attempt to construct the perfect fitting boot. I molded them today, and took a two mile long walk with the dog wearing the Lowa's with the Sole's inside. No hot spots, no pain and most importantly, they felt very good. I will be using both products in the field in the next coming week on a backpacking / peak bagging trip, and will advise how they do under stress. At this point, I would recommend these for any large volume foot / boot.

I purchased the largest one they make, and so far, I'm as happy as you ca be with it. It's made from a light material, keeping it from being bulky after a shower, water logged. Its not meant to hold larger bottles of other large items, but if you store travel sized items in it, it should work great. I have never been disappointed from OR, so this should hold up just fine. I haven't used it on a trip yet, but its coming soon!

Just got this hoodie in the mail a couple weeks ago and have only had the chance to wear it once. I first purchased a medium, but after a few times of going back and forth on whether to send it back for a large, I finally called Backcounrty.com and had them send me a large. I am 5'10'' about a 170 lbs. The jacket is warm, but does not have Windstopper technology, so if you plan on wearing this piece up high, pack a shell to shed off the chills. All in all, a cool piece of gear from Marmot. The hood isn't like a normal hoodie you would buy representing your favorite team (Go Syracuse!) It wraps around your head and face pretty well. I found if I zipped the jacket all the way up, the wind was not able to blow the hood back off my head, cool feature.My only gripe, if any, is that the medium fit to snug and the large could be a little less baggy, but it isn't that bad.

I bought these boots in the spring of 2009 & wore them on several hikes & treks through out the Adirondack High Peaks. Just as Backpacker Magazine said, there was literally no break in time needed. I found out almost immediately that there was going to be an issue with the toe box.

I found that my little toe rubbed against the side walls of the boots & cause minor irritation. I don't have a wide foot and have never worn a wide size in any other footwear. Also, another issue I have encountered is, no matter how I laced my boots up, on the descent of a peak, my toes slipped forward & crushed the front of the boots, which was very painful. I did notice that the factory footbed that comes with the boots are virtually pathetic. They don't supply any cushioning and are extremely thin that tend to wear out. Thanks to Backcountry.com's perfect customer service, I will be sending my Scarpa's back & trying something else.

This will be my second season using these snowshoes, and I can't say enough about them. I'v used them on normal "everyday" trails to steep ascending grade. I love the heal lift when I snowshoed Cascade Mountain in the Adirondack High Peaks. They without a doubt stood up to whatever I could throw at them last season, so I cant wait for this one!

The bindings for me are they selling point. They quickly and easily lock your foot in place and don't let go! I'v seen other people have to stop numerous times to adjust and fight with their bindings, not the case with the Atlas 12's. I have the 25 inch model and am contemplating purchasing the 30's for heavier loads. I highly recommend!

Well, what can I say..another fine piece of gear from Patagonia. I enjoy how you can wear it as a warming layer that breathes while you perspire! I'm the kind of person who sweats when its 20 degrees out when I'm ascending a peak and taxing myself. I def. enjoy the grid like pattern and the chest pocket, great piece of gear! I recommend it, but the Patagonia price always kicks you in the ass!

Well, I when I first viewed the pack at Backcountry.com, I was impressed with the description of the product and all the bells and whistles that came along with it. I purchased the pack for 3+ days and nights in the Adirondack High Peaks Wilderness, carrying loads of approximately 50 pounds. I loved the blue bird color and was excited to purchase my first Arc’Teryx backpack.

I was able to load the pack with everything from a down sleeping bag with stuff sack to a bear canister filled with 3+ days of food. The bag was a breeze to pack and held all items and their weight perfectly. When I inserted the hydration system, which easily swallowed a 3 liter MSR bladder, into the top lid, I noticed the lid was very top heavy and became cumbersome to finish loading the rest of the main compartment. It seemed I had to fight with the top lid in order to access the pack. Word to the wise, try to load the main compartment prior to inserting a full bladder! The outside crampon “clam shell” compartment is great. I didn’t use crampons on my trip, but used the extra space for my stove system and its fuel, which disappeared like a dream.

I was very happy with the material the pack is made out of. I am the type of person who likes a burley, bomber-proof pack. I’d rather hike a few extra ounces and have the pack for years to come rather than a lighter pack that I worry about brushing up against rocks or branches on the trail, and scrapping to pieces.

After using the pack for multiple day hikes and a long summit day of Mt. Marcy, my main complaint about this pack was the load transfer to the hip belt. I found it very difficult to crank down the hip belt, and when I was finally able to, there was not a great amount of weight transfer, leaving my upper back and shoulders supporting a majority of the weight. From reading articles on the pack, the hip belt was intentionally made for maneuvering steep ascents and not solely for transfer. I was not impressed the foam the harness was made out of and found it annoying to get the harness to secure properly.

I also found that there may be a serious flaw in the way the pack’s suspension system is constructed. While burdened with approximately 50 pounds or so, the metallic stay that supports the pack, comes loose from the velcro and nylon that attempts to hold it in place. I had to adjust it to its original position every time I released the pack from my back, which takes time and is extremely annoying. I’m not sure whether the manufacturer is aware of this design issue, but please be advised when contemplating a purchase of this pack.

Unfortunately, I decided that this backpack did not meet the standards I was hoping it would. I contacted Backcountry.com and explained my issues to them and without going any further, the representative I spoke with told me to send it back for a full refund. I am very, very pleased with the customer support Backcountry.com offers and I feel there is no other outdoor website that even comes close to them. Backcountry.com also met a competitors price from a different website, resulting in an added appreciation! I hope this novel helps someone out there who is on the never ending quest for the perfect backpack!