I have tested and used quite a few different beacons and this one is easier for me to use than any of the others I have tried! I own two and am a pretty die hard fan of them. They are super accurate and I have unburied my fair share of friends with them. I personally do not think that is worth paying extra to get the advance version because it just adds some simple features that are already included in most watches Backcountry.com sells. I would HIGHLY recommend this beacon to anyone who is looking for an easy to use/hassle free beacon. You don't need to have any special skills in order to use them other than taking a simple avalanche course. Feel free to email me if you have any questions about my person experiences with them at agibson@backcountry.com.

It isn't anything fancy but it gets the job done. I have a lot of other bags with the same temperature rating but this is the one I always snag on my way out the door. It keeps me plenty warm and it has plenty of leg room (I am 6'2" and wear a size 13 shoe so it is having room to move in the rectangular bag). I tossed it in the wash one day and someone sent it through the dryer on high heat (if you don't know that will destroy a sleeping bag however it somehow held up and keeps me just as warm). It has been through some serious abuse and it just wont stop kickin'. I have been using it for 3 plus years with no complaints.

I generally go everywhere in the snow with my AT set up but I use these whenever I get a chance. The bindings are fantastic! I have never had them ice up or break (and if a strap ever broke you cannot beat a lifetime warranty). I decided to buy these over the lightning ascents simply because of the flotation tales. You don't have to have big bulky snowshoes on all the time and once you step into some deep powder it takes like 2 seconds to put the tales on and next thing you know you are walking on water! I think heel lift is necessary if you are going to be hiking uphill. That little feature will conserve soo much energy that it is ridiculous not to mention it will relieve a lot of stress on your ankles and calves, making your journey that much more enjoyable.

I have almost all the sizes available of the MSR Dromedary Bags. They are my favorite hydration bags! They hold up to almost anything. I have stepped on them with crampons and dogs run all over them constantly. I have never torn a whole in any of these super rugged bags (I have tried with everything that would possibly occur out in the field other than stabbing it with a knife or throwing it in a fire). I have no complaints about the bags however if you are looking for something lightweight or not as bulky this may not be the bag for you. They take up a little more space than most hydration bags due to the lid system so if you are looking for something small to toss in your day pack you might want to try another product. I give these an A+

I use this all the time! Basically all I use for home use as well as camping when I with a big group of people. The bag it all packs into doubles as an awesome dog bowl!

If you are debating between these and Dynafits I personally like these better even though they weigh more. You don't get as far of a stide out of each push and they do weigh more but that is easily worth the power you can get out of each turn when you are moving downhill. The extra vertical boost you get with these gives you more control over your turns. They make turning the fattest longest powder skis butter.

I have used a lot of ATC's and this one is my favorite design! It works flawlessly for running double 8 mm ropes all the way up to the 10.5's I have used. They are super simple to use and have no moving parts. I would take one of these over a Grigri or a cinch any day. There is just a lot less potential for something to go wrong. I have personally noticed quite a few people belaying with those types of devices and they all seem more inclined to pay less attention to the climbing because they feel safe however they cannot be guaranteed to work 100 percent of the time so if you choose to get something more mechanical please pay attention. I have never had any problems with my XP! The lock off is great and the other the smooth side is perfect for faster rappels. If you are looking into rapping down a wall a little faster I would recommend looking into a figure 8 (they are harder to use but you can really fly on them).

I have been using mine for years now. They withstand some gnarly beatings! I have dropped mine off cliffs and they dent but I haven't had one break on me yet. I highly recommend drinking out of a Klean Kantene over other bottles you find like Nalgene (they are generally made with a polycarbonate which is a type of plastic that slowly leaches and could potentially be cancer causing). I have put soo many different liquids in mine and they do not taste after a quick rinse which is a huge upgrade from the aforementioned polycarbonate bottles. What other bottle can you toss on a camp stove and cook your soup in? By purchasing this bottle you are supporting a really good company. They are all eco friendly and there products are 100% recyclable!

The only bar I eat when I am climbing or biking! It really is a full meal and takes no time to consume. They are super healthy for you and you are supporting a Utah local company!