Pretty great jacket, gives that instant warmth that only down encased in thin polyester can do. This jacket is cut a little bit longer in the torso than most of the down sweaters, but I like it. The one down side is that the arms at the pit are a bit tight.

Needed a replacement for a patagonia down sweater jacket and tried out a couple. I have settled on this spyder piece because it does what I want - provides that instant warmth. It's not as light or compressible as the down sweater (along with all similar jackets from various makers), but it's still lightweight and does compress very well. It's definitely more durable. I like that the hand pockets are fleece lined. The cuffs are a bit of a mystery though, they are tapered toward the thumb so they fit nice, but have no closure at all. Works nice for layering under a shell, but in all other instances I think I would prefer something at the wrist - elastic, velcro, etc. The styling (not that it really matters) is sick - The jacket might be a tad larger when compressed and have a few extra ounces, but I stand out from the rest of the ultra light down sweater crowd with this spyder.

The outer of this jacket is burly. The fleece interior mentioned in the description covers the core, while the inside of the sleeves is smooth and lightly insulated. A couple little details are absent though, namely in the cuffs which are just wide open. The chest pocket opens from the top, as opposed to the more convenient side entry. The cut is pretty boxy. The price point on this is on the low end, and it feels that way without being able to be more specific. A good medium warmth work horse.

Things I like:
- the cut of this jacket is on the longer side, I get full cheek coverage.
- the over sized collar. nice when you want it and lays flat when not using it.
- grid fleece backing. underlayers still grab it some, but its better than other types of fleece lining.
- Cuffs. They are pretty good as adjustable cuffs go, with a design to minimize bunching up when cinching down.
- Drawstrings at the hem and neck
- Pockets. good number and placement. Hand ones are lined and huge.

Other notes:
-Fit: backcountry's listing of this as "loose" fit is completely inaccurate. Seems to be designed for people with slim builds and small frames, you will need to size up if you have any mass in your chest, or gut. It is loose in the arms though, to accommodate layers nicely.
-warmth: fleece backing is light but not ultra thin. About on par with TNF apex bionic.
- windproof: it's completely windproof, no question.
-cost?: Even though this is a well put together jacket made with good materials, the retail price point seems a bit high.

I own and have owned many softshells, and like this one for the couple of things that make it different, such as the longer cut and high collar. That, and it does what it's supposed to - block the elements while remaining breathable and not hampering my movement.

since most airlines charge per bag, needed one large suitcase that could hold everything. Before purchasing this one, I was a little worried about the split design and the divided compartments - would those features not allow for large items, or interfere with over stuffing the thing, etc. All my worries were non-issues packing for a 10 day trip to the caribbean with snorkel gear and hiking gear. A normal carry-on fits in one side of the split roller with room to spare on that side, just to give you an idea of how much space you get. I do have mild concerns over durability of the bag, as it has all material outer. It seems to be thick, beefy material but airlines are brutal with your stuff. No problems so far. The compression straps are awesome as it makes the bag very usable still if you don't need all 4000 cu in. of the bag, and it seems to take some of the stress off the zippers. Smart design that works for me.

Out of the box these boots were a bit to tight on my calfs. Good thing these boots are so adjustable. I've been able to get a nice snug fit that isn't uncomfortable. These feel really good on my shins so far, the flex of the boot provides good give and take. My feet do feel compressed, but that's the nature of this type of boot. Or any properly fitted ski boot I suppose...

Have a pair of Keen Newport h2, so have to compare them. The keens are more rugged and overall more comfortable mostly due to the footbed - the material compresses better. The hedgefrog fit better and closer to the foot, are lighter and are still comfortable. I think the hedgefrog is a better choice for boating/canoeing/kayaking type activity but still feasible for camping/hiking/trail, with the Newport a better choice for overall hiking/walking.

Extremely solid boot. I've had some Sorel's for years and loved them for being burly, but also wished at times they weren't as bulky and clunky, particularly when trying to run (not exercise running, but in snowball fights, etc). These Baltoros are less bulky and easier to walk/run in than the Sorel and sorel-type boots while still being rugged, absolutely waterproof and maintaining excellent grip. They have been overall more comfortable to wear and feel more like a hiking boot than a snow boot on your feet. I don't know about the -40 F rating, but they are sufficient for snow shoeing and what not in Utah and, I believe, would do the job of staving off frostbite if you got stuck somewhere overnight in the mountains. Lip on the back heel of the boot for snow shoe bindings is a plus as well.

I just want to add that this jacket is great for travel. compresses well, and when stuffed into it's own pocket makes for a nice pillow on the airplane. I was torn on which redpoint to get - hood or no hood. The hood is nice because it fits well and extends the range of the jacket. Down side is that you can feel it under a shell if used for layering but not a huge deal. I also like the cuffs. zippers for pockets need garages. It's comfortable and gets a lot of use.

I sleep on my back, side and occasionally stomach. This pad is just thick enough that I never feel the ground. Can't really ask for more, and the size and weight are plenty acceptable for the comfort. The shape works for my mummy and semi-rec bags alike as it tapers only a bit toward the foot. It isn't as thick at the bottom starting at about the calf, but unless you have some seriously heavy cankles you won't notice.

It's well made and has a good fit to it. The material performs how it's supposed to. It has pockets and drawstrings where you want them. It looks good and is comfortable. It's got a lifetime warranty. Great purchase, no regrets.

Nice, lightweight and comfortable shirt. One chest pocket is zip napolean style, the other is a normal pocket with velcro closure and they are pretty well disguised into the shirt. Looks very sharp, not too techy.

One of the most comfortable shirts I've ever worn. Breaths so perfectly, is lightweight, soft and moves with me so well it almost feels like a part of me.

I bought this as a possible replacement for an aging patagonia down sweater jacket. Same 800 down fill, construction is no better or worse. The material of the diez is supposed to be more durable and "down proof", making it harder for feathers to poke through, but it's only used on the outside of the jacket leaving the inside still susceptible to leaks. I haven't had much an issue with durability or down leakage with the patagonia anyway, and the outside of the diez is super shiney to the point of detraction (color: black). It lacks an inside pocket as well. As my patagonia still has some life left in it, I won't be keeping the diez and will keep looking. It's a fantastically warm, light jacket but with so many contenders in the super-light 800 fill down jacket category there is no reason to settle on this one if you don't absolutely love it.

These pants are durable. I currently have 3 pair that I use for work, which involves A LOT of walking. The stash pocket on the thigh is by no means a cargo pocket (it's smaller and has an open top), but is extremely useful and was one of the main reasons I bought these pants. The leg has a full gusset from ankle up to the crotch, not sure how useful it is though. These pants are a heavier fabric with double stitching through much of the pant - good for heavy use. The front pockets are unique, but do not detract from the pant. They won't pass for slacks in a pinch like some khaki pants can, but look sharp none the less.

This is what all other soft shells are trying to be. All the hype around the polartec power shield fabric is well deserved, and backcountry did not do it injustice in their design and application. I worried about there not being any wrist closure, not even an elastic cuff, but it has been a non issue. Performs top notch for breathability and flexibility but it's also durable. This thing is also surprisingly really comfortable - as much so as a fleece but performs like a shell.

Nice softshell, very lightweight. This shell breaths like a champ and moves with you very nicely. Looks sharp. It's a softshell, and works about like the rest of them as far as blocking wind/water. Wish it had an additional external pocket on the chest or sleeve for added convenience, but the pockets it does have are large and have been adequate. This jacket is great with long sleeves underneath, but becomes less desireable with just short sleeves as the pit zips are uncomfortable on bare skin and the thin wool lining isn't that soft and a bit itchy.

I love the schoeller fabrics of this jacket, they are strong and durable but still move with you and look great. It breaths better and gives the jacket a softer feel overall than softshells that use laminates/membranes. The weather protection is outstanding, if you face conditions that will overwhelm this jacket, you're looking at gore-tex conditions. This particular model uses 60g of insulation I believe, giving it a wide range of temperatures you can use it in depending on what you layer underneath.
I bought at a discount but wondered at the reason full retail was as high as it is for this piece, and can tell you the money is in the details. Aside from the schoeller fabric and primaloft one insulation being top notch materials, the pit zips aren't exposed to bare skin and/or uncomfortable in short sleeves like some. The snow skirt uses grippy elastic and stretches to move with you, attaches to belt loops of most pants, but is also removable. There is mesh over the pit zips so if they are open, snow is still kept from entering. There are stretch panels in the lining of the jacket at the shoulders and elbows to make sure the jacket moves with you. The Hand pockets are fleece lined, and there are two internal pockets not listed in the tech specs; 1 drop pocket that's big enough for goggles, and a zippered pocket that features an mp3 player slot and headphone cord exit. There is a cool dedicated pass pocket with drop down bungee clip on the sleeve as well. You can block out the cold with drawstrings at the bottom hem and collar, and the cuffs cinch down with velcro. Outside pockets zip close and have garages for the zipper pulls.
And this jacket just looks good. Many ski jackets boast they look good on the hill and off, but I've never seen a jacket look at home on the mountain or in the city like this one. Color for "Metro" is way off, it's a dark navy blue (better looking IMO) rather than the lighter blue pictured here and elsewhere.
Watch cloudveil give a tour of the jacket here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG051TFWtGE

I cycle through gear like mad. After two seasons I still love this bag and am not looking for a replacement, and that says a lot. LOVE the expander, I have a broad chest and mummy bags are just too restrictive, this strikes a very nice balance and puts the bag in a class of it's own. It's super adjustible with seperate drawstrings for the top and bottom draft collar, and hood. The zipper is awesome, it is long enough to get in and out of the bag comfortably. If you open the two way zip from the bottom to vent if you get too warm in the night, the cool air doesn't come in right on your feet - zip goes to about the ankles. The synthetic fill might not compress as well as down, but I don't have to worry about moisture (outside sources, sweat or what naturally escapes the body) eliminating the insulating properties. MH did great with this bag.

I love how this down jacket is designed, it doesn't look at all like a puffy. This is a very warm jacket with a nice set of features: waterproof/windproof outer, plentiful pockets, cuffs that adjust nicely, removeable hood and powder skirt, fleece lined collar, drawstrings at hem, waist, collar and hood, fleece lined hand pockets, two way water tight front zip, water tight pocket zips w/garages. A true winter parka that makes you fear not the biting cold nor the driving blizzard.

everything is solid about this jacket, it's a great warm winter piece. Only a few minor things I would change: put a two way zip on the front zipper, and not put black fleece on the collar of a brown jacket (I have the henna color). The cuffs adjust nicely without bunching up when cinched down, drawstring waist is nice and the powder skirt and hood zip off. Also, there is a small mesh pocket inside the outer chest pocket that's pretty cool. Not a totally water tight jacket but great for cold, snowy conditions.

I have the 2009 model which is the same except they ditched the awesome (awful?) print on the lining. I bought this jacket as an around towner that would fend off weather and be warm on it's own. This jacket does that beautifully. It's warm, no question about that. The fit is pretty generous to allow for layers, and the length covers your rear end - long enough a 2 way zipper would have been nice but no biggy. Also has a sleeve pocket not listed. The hood has just the one pull in the back to tighten down all the drawstrings, where I prefer the 3-way adjustible hoods although it is fully insulated and packs a brim. Despite the jacket's technical features, it's lacking in some areas to make it bomb-proof: the zippers are covered or tight but not sealed, seams aren't sealed, and 75% of the body is just water resistant. Will stand up to cold and snow great, but downpours/freezing rain will overwhelm this jacket. I like this jacket because I never see freezing rain here, and if it's cold enough to wear it anything falling from the sky is going to be snow. It's just plain comfortable to wear, keeps me dry and at a comfortable temp, and the dark brown henna color I have looks great.

Nice shirt. Good as an insulating layer, looks good on it's own. Very comfortable. Thumb hole on the cuff is nice at times, but mostly I ignore it and don't even notice it's there. The thickness of this shirt gives some good warmth, but is not bulky or a hinderance when used as a layering piece. It's thicker than most base layers, but isn't sweater thick either although it is as warm as a light/mid sweater. Order your regular size if you only want to use as a base layer, size up if you plan to use it as casual wear as well, fit is trim.
*note: the "raven/graphite" piece has a smooth texture, while the blue and olive ones have the slightly ribbed texture shown in the detail views above.

The gogs are good quality, the lenses give little distortion. But they have crappy peripheral vision. Might be better if you have a small face, but these say they are for medium and large headed folks. I wear a size L helmet for comparison.

I like this shell. It's insulated, but light enough it doesn't sweat you out for skiing and only requires minimal layers. Also, the insulation means I can throw it on over just a sweater and head out on the town in winter conditions where you need a waterproof shell, where a non insulated shell just wouldn't cut the cold down enough.
Things missed in the "tech specs":
hood is removeable. drawstring hem. hand pockets and collar lined with thin soft stuff. two way zip up the front. ski pass clip. goggle wipe in sleeve pocket.
This jacket is cut long, and with room to layer. Sleeves seem particularly roomy. cuffs have some elastic in them, but also cinch down by velcro - a nice combination.
4 stars because the cut isn't very athletic and the powder skirt isn't removeable. And the jacket is made entirely of TNF proprietary stuff. Hyvent and heatseeker work good and all, but isn't as nice as gore-tex and primaloft or polarguard.

For me, this shell is perfect, if I designed a shell this would be it. First off is material - Gore-tex Pro Shell, which is unbeatable in blocking wind and water while still being breathable and light. It really is surprizing how light pro shell is while still being so absolutely stormproof. The fabric is less stiff than some other pro shell jackets (TNF Free Thinker II, for example), not sure what that means other than it moves better. The jacket is fully seam sealed and built true to Mountain Hardwears legendary quality standards - no goofy or weak stitching and the like.
The design of this jacket is superb. It's not minimalist where you end up making do with what you have, but it doesn't look over the top even though it's fully loaded and functional. It has all the pockets (wrist, chest, multiple internal), but it's not bulky or flashy. The pockets are well placed. The hand pockets aren't too high like on some shells - they don't need to be that high to be harness/pack compatible. The inside pockets are in good places and easy to access and operate. The core vents aren't in the armpits, but a little lower so they get good air exchange even if your arms aren't out. The powder skirt is removeable, so this shell can be used for multiple activities (like snow shoeing, for example where you don't need a pow skirt and it just makes your layers ride up with that kind of arm and torso movement). The hood is 3 way adjustable + removeable - if you know you aren't going to use it that day, you can take it off and not worry about it flapping in the breeze or snaging on stuff. The cuffs adjust well, the fabric doesn't bunch up when you tighten them down. The external zippers are all water tight with garages, except the main front zipper which is two-way and has a storm flap. There is a drawstring cinch cord at the collar, waist and hem for ultimate adjustibility. The entire collar has a microfleece lining to keep your cheeks and chin from getting raw.
The fit of this jacket is great. Not restrictive in the arms, shoulders or chest. The torso is accomodating but not baggy. There is room to layer and go over your gloves at the wrist (if you choose) without being restrictive, but not enough to create excess that flaps around in wind. You will likely need to size up though, but who cares what size it says on the tag when the proper size fits so well? I have a Mountain Hardwear Cohesion and Downhill Down both in L and the XL in the Vertical is a perfect fit.
Missing a recco but aside from possibly that, this jacket leaves you wanting absolutely nothing more from your shell.

Great casual jacket, comfortable features. Really nice looking too. It actually has a side entry (napolean) zipper chest pocket on both sides, and on the outside of the left chest pocket there is a small velcro pocket that must be for style cause it's too small to hold even a phone. The hand pockets are nice, but don't have any closure, no zipper, button, velcro or anything, but not a huge deal because the chest pockets are zippered. Also has an inside pocket not listed. The cuffs are nice, the hood is nice (and removeable), and the jacket has quilted insulation, so it's pretty warm - more so than a fleece, but no replacement for a down parka. You might think it's technical with the adjustable hood, storm flap over the zipper, and wrist gators but despite all that and its DWR coating, bottom line is it's corduroy. I like this jacket. It's a "go to" when it's cold out and you just have places to go, people to see and things to do around town.

I really appreciate which details were paid attention to in this jacket. The cut and fit is exceptional. This jacket moves with you well as in it doesn't ride up when you raise your arms out and gives you good freedom of movement. It's warm, probably somewhere inbetween 200 and 300 wieght fleece, but is exactly the opposite of bulky. This jacket looks sharp on it's own, but also is the perfect layer under a shell because there isn't a bunch of extra fabric around your arms, your gut, your armpits, etc to content with the shell. The sleeve pocket holds a phone or mp3 player well, and the hand pockets are actually enormous - they cleverly run from the waistband up to the seam at your collar bone, and are large enough for a 1 liter water bottle with room to spare. And the pulls for the drawsting waist are found inside. The zippered hand pockets are at a great spot, too, high enough for a harness or pack, yet still at a comfortable and natural level for handwarming. Arc'teryx kept thier name and logo subtle yet visible so you don't feel like you're a walking advertisement, but if people want to know who made such a great jacket it's there. A lifetime warranty makes it a complete package. well done.

The point of fleece is warm, comfortable insulation. 300 weight polartec fleece is just that, but the North Face kinda ruined it in their design. The 2nd chest pocket is overkill and combined with the pit zips leaves way too many zipper pulls hanging around. The nylon chest piece does give some wind protection, but leaves the jacket incredibly boxy, looks like I have shoulder pads when wearing it and I already have broad shoulders. That and the zippers in your arm pits just detract from the warmth and comfort. The cut is disappointing in that it's not fittted at all, which is fine for stacking layers underneath, but makes it bulky to try and layer over and basically it looks better in pictures and on a hanger than it does on you. It's not that this is a bad jacket, but warmth and comfort can be found packaged better elsewhere.

The outer vest itself is made of good material. It alone as a windproof microfleece lined softshell vest is worth the sale price alone, IMO. Has zip hand pockets (not mentioned in specs), and the chest pocket functions as a pocket (imagine that) when not using the hydration system. Dual drawstrings at the waste is nice, but I'm confused as to why the zipper is backwards. I quadruple checked the tag to make sure I got a mens vest, cause the zip is like a ladies.

The bladder inserts into a second mesh vest that's removeable. This inner mesh vest is also stretchy and quite a bit smaller than the outer softshell, and zips up tight on your chest to hold the bladder secure. There is padding between you and the bladder. The hydration system is pretty inventive but I thought it would be limited in use because the bladder is inside the vest with your trapped body heat. But, fill it full of ice and it keeps you cool as it melts, with minor condensation issues. It's mitigated greatly by the padding provided inbetween you and the bladder. I was also worried that the hose would be annoying up against my body like that, but after a few minutes with it on, I didn't notice it unless I thought about it.

Also, nothing is mentioned about the spiderweb design that covers most the back of the black one, suprize! Since I bought this with motorcyling in mind it didn't bother me, kinda fits in. If nothing else, the money is worth having a unique piece of gear no one else has, that fact that it has multiple functions is a bonus.

Runs pretty slim, size up!

Great pair of pants. Pretty much think of them like softshell pants - breath better, are more comfortable and light weight and block wind like a champ. But they aren't as rugged or durable, and sustained heavy moisture will get through. A really great option if you're out in the snow or wind and it's not a monsoon or blizzard. They fit true to size as a first layer or over long underwear, but if you just want to throw them on over pants consider sizing up.

This little unit is great. Weighs very little, is comfortable. I've used it for camping, moving friends after dark, working on the car, BBQing after sun down. The brightness and tilt housing work great for all conditions. Recieved first one as a gift, bought another because it's so awesome.

This sweater is nice and comfy, pretty lightweight and thin. It's been treated with omni-shield, has pockets and a full zip front so you might think it is a jacket, but it won't really work as such - it's a comfort layer for mild weather. The hand pockets are small and flimsy - good for warming hands, but not holding much else (no zipper or other type of closure). The fit is slightly on the slim side. Good for indoors or outside on a cool evening. Pretty packable for hiking (it does breath pretty well) or travel.

I have an older version (2007 model) and love it. It's basically a down jacket sewn into a waterproof, breathable shell with some ski specific features. It's pretty warm, almost too much for skiing backcountry, but will keep you warm on the lift in even the worst condidtions, night skiing not excluded. It's cut longer, good coverage for your backside and a two-way zip down the front to make sure hip movement isn't constricted. The hood is fully insulated as well, you really don't know how much heat escapes your head till you trap it in down. With removeable powder skirt, it's great for around town in those fridged temps as well. I do like the old design better, didn't look like a down jacket at all, where this years does with the way the stitching is, might even have different construction. And the fur? at least that's removeable.

I really like the fabric of this jacket - breaths like a champ and moves with you very well, is less stiff than most other soft shells. The velcro cuffs adjust very nicely, designed to not bunch up not matter how tight. Earbud port on the inside of the jacket from the napolean pocket. I'm not really sold on the "powder guard", but a drawstring waist more or less solves that. The hood is attached, but the jacket is designed so that the hood doesn't ride halfway up the back of your head when you zip the collar all the way up, done really well. The zippers are YKK, but they look kinda cheap, maybe because they use yarn for zipper pulls. Pit zips are average in length and open wide. I really like this jacket, looks sharp and functions beautifully. Size up!! runs small.

Soft, itch free wool. Beats out underarmour, capilene, or anything else as a baselayer/underwear.

Nicely done merino sweater. If you look, you can see the sleeve doesn't stop at the shoulder, but extends all the way to the neck - makes sure this piece hangs off your shoulders right no matter your build. Sizing is a bit on the slim side, go up if you normally fall inbetween sizes. Feels nice and looks great.

I recently had a chance to check out this jacket, and was pretty impressed. This jacket is water tight, no question. I just have an issue with a few design oddities for a jacket. The hood is attached. Not removeable, not stowable, although it IS 3 way adjustable. All inside pockets are on the right side, accessible with the left hand. Lefties rejoice, but most people are right handed. The sleeves seem extra roomy, Popeye would have no problems stuffing his abnormal forarms in them. There are many things to like as well: The material does seem rugged, it isn't going to tear easily, and has a slight sheen to it. A few patches of microfleece added on each shoulder, around the back of the collar, on the back of the neck and at the chin add some comfort with negligible affect on wieght. All external zippers including pitzips are water tight. The hand pockets are huge - ample storage, but not lined. Without having really tested it in rugged conditions yet, this is more a review on function than performance. I'm not worried about it's performance, but can't get over wondering why they put ALL the inside pockets on the "wrong" side.

My wife uses it as a purse and can't be happier. A few internal pockets for organization, and being water-resistant make it a complete package. The velcro closure isn't going to let anything out, but is a bit noisy.

feels lighter than cotton usually does, comfortable to wear. Design is nice, construction is solid. Not technical, but for casual wear can't go wrong.

These are pretty nice. Waist size is generous. The front pockets are pretty good size, but the cargo pockets and especially the back pockets are undersized. The zip at the ankle is nice, don't have to take off shoes when converting from pants to shorts (or from shorts to pants). The 100% nylon is good for moisture management, and these aren't especially noisy, but don't expect to sneak up on somebody in them either. Good construction, so all in all a good buy.

The fabric is really comfortable. The shirt looks sharp, too. The bottom button is actually a nut (like their logo), and they've sewn a nut on the back of the shirt as well - really cool. The fit is nice, length is long enough, leans a bit on the slim side, but not enough to size up.

You know when a girl has a shirt that's just a little too short and shows a little skin, and she pulls it down from time to time cause she's self concious about it? Yeah... cute for girls, stupid for men, and is exactly what happens with this shirt. The side vents are functional and vent really well, but look a little silly when open - good to cool down on the trail, not so much at a club/bar.

I love the lining to this shell, the little bit of warmth gives it more versatility. The removeable hood has a soft lining for comfort as well, 3 point adjustable, will easily fit any helmet. Plenty of pockets, includes an inner sunglass pocket not listed. Front zipper and chest pocket have sealed zippers, inner storm flap on front zipper. Pit zips are mesh covered and aren't very large (aprox 9 in. long). Drawsting waist with pulls inside hand pockets. Gore-tex pro shell speaks for itself as far as breathability and water/wind proofness goes. Only complaints are that the flaps that covers the zips on hand pockets face the wrong way, wish the powder skirt was removeable.

Nice if you are out in the cold, but don't want a cumbersome boot. The insulation isn't too much indoors either, about like a slipper. Be warned though, you need to size up 1/2 to a full size larger than what you normally wear, and even then this shoe needs break in time - extremly tight around the ankle at first. But these are leather, so will stretch some and become really comfortable and have suprizingly good support for such a low top shoe. They'd get 5 stars if the breaking in wasn't such a chore to get through.

Due to it's tight weave on the fleece, it looks like wool. With only a chest pocket, it can be worn as a sweater or cardigan, but with the DWR (Omni-Shield), can work as an outer layer. Will fend off a mild breeze at most. This is a great layering piece! Not quite as soft as some other fleece peices, but still nice and comfy and looks sharper. The fit is great, no bagginess in the waist area, but still enough room for broad shoulders/chest up top. Check out the pic for a more detailed look at the fabric.

I originally bought this as a base layer, but found it's way to soft and comfortable to use only on layering occasions. I ended up using this as my winter sleep top, and have never slept so well. I tend to sleep a little warm, and having something to wick throughout the night is great. I wish they made pants out of this stuff. It does pile, but I don't care. Worked good as a base for skiing and cold weather camping before it became pajamas.

My wife isn't much of an outdoors person, but lives in a TNF denali during the cold months. This shell was a great addition for her, added the wind and water protection she needed to make a blizzard proof winter parka - what I wanted for her. Has all the options she likes - removeable hood, lots of pockets, feminine cut that doesn't make her look boxy, even with the thick, 300 wieght denali zipped in. The powder skirt will be useful for the couple of times she lets me drag her up to the ski hill. Bomber shell.

Very nice all around sweater. Pretty warm, and yet doesn't cause me to overheat. The style works on the mountain or in the office, makes for a vesatile piece - I've had a hard time taking it off since the weather turned cooler. One minor issue is that the zip isn't very long, only goes about as low as a v-neck sweater. It's basically there so you can get your head through the collar, and zipped up makes for a mock turtle neck. I'm just saying not to expect to use it as a heat dump like you would on a 1/2 zip or even 1/4 zip shirts. Treat it as your most comfortable sweater though, and you can't go wrong.

Great pair of shades, love the shape of the lenses. Durable as just about anything, even lost them momentarily in a river while tubing and they came out looking grand. One issue though, the frame is tight on the lenses when not worn, but when I put them on, the slight tension on the side arms of the frames opens the frame around the lenses on one side just a tad. Not so much as the lense could fall out, just a bit. I only notice it when adjusting the glasses on my face, as I can squeese the frame tight around the lense and it makes a little popping noise.

By cutting the wind, it's as warm as a heavier fleece, but layers easier and moves with you better. Drawstring waist, inside zipper flap, velcro cuffs help to block out weather. Seems just a tiny bit on the short side for length, which helps when active or when under a shell. Breaths well, I don't overheat when stepping indoors while wearing it. Absolutely solid for temps 50+, warm down to the low 40's with just short sleeves underneath if moving, needs long sleeves or layering for anything colder or just standing about. The windstopper fabric isn't quite as soft as traditional fleece, but it's still really comfortable on the skin. Includes napolean pocket not listed in specs.

I was initially concerned that after some use, the bite valve would losen up and perhaps leak a little. No worries, after much use it's still water tight! Highly recommend.

This is a great piece. The outer is wool - all the benefits of sheep, and it's lined with fleece - no itch! And they couldn't possibly cram more pockets in this thing if they tried (2 handwarmer - not listed, 2 zippered chest, 2 giant drop interior), but it doesn't look over-loaded. Dual zipper on the front is a little over done, but not completly useless. Can be used as a technical piece, but also looks good enough for the office. And it's machine washable to boot!

sharp looking shirt that wears well, still looks good and holds it shape after multiple washings. It's very light and comfortable. I'm the type that wears an undershirt for the most part (casual situations anyway), but if you don't it might be too thin. Get sunburned thin. See your nipples thin. But I love it.

It still pretty warm out so haven't had a chance to test them in the field, but my home tests went well. They are waterproof (shower test), and breathable (sat around playing video games in them for several hours). I have them in grey tweed, which actually looks really sharp, the tweet part is a pinstripe. Love that they have suspenders so if you want you can get the support of bibs without wearing bibs. Or not. Only complaints are they aren't full zip on the sides, and thigh vents are on the outter thigh. Lets face it, if you get hot its in your crotch, so inner thigh vents would have made more sense. But this way you don't have vent zippers rubbing on your inner thigh, so it's a give-and-take.

you can tell that Westcomb is a company out to prove itself. The arcane jacket rocks! The fabrics and insulation used are top quality for breathabilty and weather resistance, and put together really well. The hood is one of the best designs I've seen - even with the micro-fleece lining it remains really thin, but still completly blocks wind and water. Might be a little tight over a helmet, but is thin enough to fit under a helmet as an option, and will still stretch and move with you. The cuffs have some super stretchy lycra sewn in that acts as wrist gaitors, but you can also pull it down over your hands to about your knuckles - has a thumb hole! AWESOME. Drawstring waist to keep out drafts and the pow. The fit is great. I am inbetween a L and XL, and got the arcane in an XL. The large would have worked (with limited room for layering), but the XL doesn't look or feel baggy, and still looks amazing with room for any combo of layering I might choose.
I took a bit of a gamble going with a company I knew nothing about. With gambling, you win some and you lose some, and with the Arcane I scored big time.

I don't know if it's just that I'm used to straight shells, and jackets with liners (as opposed to full blown insulated), but this jacket just felt over-sized and bulky. I don't like tight fighting jackets by any means, but this jacket is gangsta baggy, has more of a snowboader -thug feel to it, which doesn't match TNF color and design (which is pretty sharp, actually). I was REALLY impressed with the Apex ClimateBlock material as far as stretch, weather resistant, and breathability were concerned. I was conflicted over this jacket because it's performance is good, but the feeling of bulk is just too much for me to love it. Hopefully they do something about this in later models, I would get another one if they did.

This jacket is everything it claims it is: warm, light, packable. The waist has a cinch cord, and there is a zipper flap to keep wind out there, but no adjustable cuffs, just an elastic closure. It looks puffier in the pics than it actually is, keeps a low profile. For anyone out there wondering about the "fill power" of down, the higher the number the better quality it is, meaning it takes less ounces of down to get the same warmth rating. 800-fill is at the top.

Nice soft fleece jacket. Is good on it's own as long as there is no wind, and works great as a layering piece. The elastic cuffs are nice, otherwise not a lot of frills. It's great for what it claims to be.

great looking jacket, I got one in grey and it almost looks like a wool jacket. Pretty standard mid-wieght fleece. A nice price, but not a lot of options - cuffs aren't adjustable, no drawstring waist. I think the TKA fleece looks good, but isn't as soft as polartech. Maybe a bit warmer though.

These have a really good sole on them, it's a little thicker than most sandals, better protection if you're walking on rocks a lot (like a mountain river bed). That plus the beefy rubber protection for your toes makes them a little heavier than just a sandal (teva-like), but a small price to pay and still really comfortable. I do wish the heal strap was adjustable, but the elastic drawstring on the top actually works pretty well. I haven't owned them for that long, but so far they have kept off the foot stank completely.I have the Black Olive/Deep Lichen, and they are a bit more green than they appear on this site. Fit true to size for me, didn't have to size up.**UPDATE** 9/28/09 After heavy use the last couple months, they've held up well so far, and still smell great!

This shirt has inspired me, I want to put back vents in all my shirts... If only I was a better seamster(?) or whatever the male version of a seamstress is.
10/10 for style *and* function. The chest pocket is a zippered napoleon pocket.

The windproof/water resistant/breathablity of the jacket is fine -- on par with similar pieces of other brands in this price range. It doesn't have adjustable cuffs, not even elastic to keep them closed. My big gripe though is the hood - its sized to be able to fit a helmet (I think?), but no way to adjust it down if you're not wearing a helmet. With just my noggin in it, the hood comes down over my eyes (and I have a big forhead), with no way to remedy this. Pulling the drawstrings doesnt help, it just cinches down to the point where just my nose sticks out. Would have been a great piece if there had been that second drawstring on the top/back of the hood that many pieces have to adjust for this. After all, whats the point of getting a hooded softshell if you cant use the hood?

My wife was an umbrella girl until I picked this up for her. She loves it, looks good on her. Keeps her dry going to class on those rainy days, and packs really small - great to keep in her bookbag.

very comfy jacket, this is the one for bumbing around the cabin in. Great quality. doesn't have adjustable cuffs (4 stars instead of 5), but has a drawstring waist. Has the loops on the cuffs/back of neck for zip-in compatiblity with marmot shells. I really can't emphasize how soft and comfortable this thing is.

This is my first piece of 100% merino, and I wish I never bought it. I absolutely love it and want more, but can't dump 50 or 60 bucks a pop on t-shirts. I was much better off not knowing what I was missing. Damn you, Icebreaker!

Lots of features, pretty small package. Requires a lot of calibrating, but Im told they all do. The barameter/weather function worked, and has predicted weather conditions accuratley. The altimeter is so-so. Its more accurate the lower you are, meaning the higher up you go, the greater the varience it has -- at 6500 was about 100 feet off, at 9600 was 150 feet off.

really comfy, does a good job of wicking. The collar is nice, has a bit of detail that makes it more than just a tee-shirt. Sharp colors. Wore one camping recently, while my other clothes came off smelling stongly of campfire, this shirt only had a feignt smoke smell, held off odors really well.
I wear a large, but ordered XL after reading some reviews. Fit great across my back and shoulders (where things can get tight in a large for me), but wasnt excessivly baggy in the arms or chest. I do notice the fit on these is a bit different than most shirts, but it worked out in my favor being a very comfy shirt ordering a size up.

This review is for the 7 regular:
I needed a pad that folded in half before you roll it up (which this one in regular size does), packed width is a factor for me. Was very comfortable, I could roll onto my side and my hips and shoulders were kept well off the ground still. The bit of foam in the pad adds comfort, and insulates really well. The foam would also make life better if the pad developed a leak, and you ended up on the ground. Does include a field repair kit. On the tag, says it is rated to 1 degree F. Self inflates for the most part, needs a bit of air to finish it off.

compared this with the jetboil, and went with the primus because I liked the fry-pan lid, and for the included windscreen. Boiled 1 cup of cold water in the morning (reached 36 at night) in a few seconds. I lit the stove on low, put the pot with water on it and turned it to high, and instantly saw little bubbles forming on the bottom of the pot! was at a raging boil 15 or 20 seconds later. I had cooked chili the night before, tried cooking the chilie in the can it came in at first, not wanting to use the included pot which I would have to clean later. It was difficult trying to warm the chili in the can without burning it, so I gave in after remember the pot was non-stick, and poured the chili in and finished warming it that way-- worked great and sped up the process unbelievably. Easy to clean, the titanium non-stick is better than my non-stick fry pan at home!
The stove is great on its own. fully adjustable flame, on high its kind of intimidating. The true genius is the complete system, the coiled metal heat dispersment system on the pot bottom combined with the burner is the best system there is.

I dont like mummy bags, have a hard time with them. Ive used rectangle bags, and paid the price in terms of wieght and packed size. I needed something that would pack smaller, so I looked at the MH switch bags, the Marmot trestles semi-rec, and the big agnes semi-rec bags. This bag was ideal, I can unzip the expander and get the shoulder room I need to sleep comfy at night. There is no loss of fill in the expander, no cold spot if its unzipped. The BA and marmot bags had better foot room, but its the shouders thats most important for me. The marmot wieghed about the same, but was only rated to 20F, and I didn't end up liking the integrated pad system of the BA.
I would have liked this bag to come with a compression sack, but wasn't a big deal to pick one up, the bag compresses well.
The draft collar cinches up, has a seperate cinch cord for the top and bottom collars (which can also velcro together at the edges), as well as a seperate cinch cord for the hood. It has a small pocket for a watch or glass/contacts at the shoulder, a bonus. The zipper was easy to operate, and on the occasional snag, was really easy to un-snag.
*note: the description says you can get 8 extra inches from unzipping the expander, but that must be for the long bag, I have the regular and it gives you an extra 6 inches.

Slept in this tent down to the mid-thirtys at night, didn't have a problem with condensation, but the dew point might have been lower than that. The tent is easy to set up, standard dome. It has a small third pole that runs across the middle of the tent at the top which holds out the tent roof a little more, creates more headroom. The vent in the top of the fly is a nice touch. The poles also fold up a couple inches shorter than many 2-mans, the shorter length was a big plus for me. The included gear loft is nice, perfect for holding a light -- its small, but at least it doesnt hang down into your headroom much. Plenty of mesh for ventilation/stargazing on a clear night. Pretty roomy for one person plus gear, room for two sleeping bags comfortably. I really like having a window in the rain fly. **Cons** only one door, and its not the "D" style so it drops to the floor instead of to the side. Only two small pockets inside the tent (even so, I found them to be sufficient combined with the loft). The zipper on the vestibule zips to the furthest point away from the tent, could have designed that better.
**bottom line** would HIGHLY recommend if you are like me and buy a two man tent to use mostly by yourself. This wouldnt be any more cramped inside, but having only one door (hence, one vestibule) could be inconvienient with two people.

Great coat. Liner is also 100% waterproof (I ran it under tap water, it's good to go). Plenty warm when paired together. One complaint is no pit-zips, or any other kind of venting. Good thing the fabric is breathable. The liner is wearable on it's own, is a bit short, but looks like a down jacket.

I went ahead and purchased this to go along with the exped 7 comfort foam mat. It works just ok as both a pillow and a pump. The pump action works, but takes forever. It takes some practice and a lot of work to get the pumping motion down. The outlet hole works well at only letting air out, but you have to cover the intake hole when compressing the pump, or some air escapes there as well.
As a pillow, it's ok. not super comfy, but works well when lying on your back. Doesn't really work for sleeping on your side. I tried letting some air out and folding it in half for side sleeping, which did work ok (not great), but then it was a pain to get air back in when switching to lying on my back again (I rotate between side and back a couple times during the night.)
On the plus side though, it can do the job of both pillow and pump, and compresses pretty small to take up the space of both. it doesn't do either of it's functions particularly well, but a solid choice when space is a factor.

Great tent, the "x" pole design isn't the most flashy, but it is sturdy! The third pole in the rainfly is a nice touch in making the vestibule a little more lofty, and easier to access the doors, and doesn't add much wieght. This tent has a ton of pockets, the tent is lined with them. don't really need the gear loft, which doesn't hang too low, but this is a two man tent, it's not that high to begin with. Space is adequate, but like most 2 man, you're going to be cozy with 2 people in it. Specs list it at 34 sq feet, *most* 2 mans fall between 30 and 36 sq feet. This tent vents well -- didn't ever get stuffy, haven't used it in cold temps yet so I can't comment about condensation issues. There are two man tents that pack smaller (mountain hardwear, marmot, eureka all have 2 walled tents that pack smaller than 20" long), and wiegh less, but packed up this tent isn't heavier or larger than the norm either. Set up is intuitive and a breeze, didn't even bother with the instructions. Bottom line: this isn't the lightest or smallest(packed up), but at far below top of the line price, it has top of the line features and quality.

This is a 0 degree bag, and as such requires a sleeping pad that can also do it's job in below freezing temps. I paired this with an exped 7 and was disappointed with the outcome (I love the pad, BTW). the exped is about 2.75" thick, and having a pad that thick in the sleeve pulled the top of the bag tighter around me, felt like I was sleeping on a skinny bed with the sheets tucked in real tight all around me. I still had good foot room to move them side to side, but the bag was pulling down on my toes. same thing around my torso -- room for my elbows, but pulled tight on my chest. I then tried just putting the pad underneath the bag, but it just doesn't work that way -- you only get complete coverage from the insulated portion of the bag if the pad is in the sleeve. Simply placing the bag on top of the pad leaves "dead zones" where you have no insulation between you and the open air (the bag is well designed where if the pad is in the sleeve, this doesn't happen). It would probably work better with a thinner 4 season pad, like the thermarest prolite 4, or the pac outdoor all out aero mt., but then those aren't thick enough for me to sleep on my side and keep my shoulders/hips off the ground that well(I weigh about 200).
Also, no pocket for a watch or whatever. The draft collar doesn't cinch up like some other cold weather bags, but it is a little heavier so the weight keeps it on your body.
I tested this bag vs. the mountain hardwear switch 5, and I'm going with the switch 5 -- with the expander unzipped it has equal shoulder room, and even though it is more narrow in the feet, I felt like I had more room because it wasn't pulled tight by the pad.

Great rain jacket with some nice features. I found it breaths well, and doesn't stick to your skin when wet. This isn't the type of shell that would normally take a zip in liner, it's lighter -- much more of a rain jacket than a skiing shell, sharp edges would rip through this. But like any shell will work on the slopes with proper layering. Quality is outstanding, for what it is. the waterproof, windroof qualities and stretch panels also make it a great piece for hiking, back packing, climbing. Packs up small, I also take it on motorcycle rides in case I get caught in a shower.

Pros: packs extremly small for a 2 person -- the poles break down to be a few inches shorter than normal, and is very light for having a full rain fly. It doesn't have a vestibule in the traditional sense, but the way the tent is designed, it pretty much has the vestibule integrated into the tent. A sleeping bag fits in the portion of the tent between the front and back poles, and all the space beyond that where the tent comes to a point is "vestibule" space. Gear stored there is completly coved above and below, so if it rains to the point of puddles, no worries -- your gear is dry. It's roomy for a 2 man as well, would truely fit 2 people plus gear, where many 2 man tents are really 1 1/2 people. 2 doors is always a plus, even if you just plan on using it solo.

***Cons: Not freestanding. No outside vestibule space for muddy boots you don't want inside the tent. No gear loft available to my knowledge, but not deal breaking because it has internal pockets already. Doesn't come with footprint -- but only a few do.

***Bottom line: Really cool, small, light tent. Would have kept it if it were freestanding-- that's a deal breaker for me. Still gave it 5 stars -- can't buy a non-free standing tent and dock it for being just that.

After trying out 5 different TNF fleece jackets (khumbu, pumori, impulse, denali, pamir) this is the one. I wanted something to wear October through March in Salt Lake City, sometimes as the outer layer, sometimes as a liner in a shell, and something to stand on it's own in the milder temps (45+). The khumbu was about the right warmth I was looking for, but was too thick in the shoulders/armpit area when layering, and lost a lot of it's warmth with the wind. The pumori was softer and layered better, but just wasn't quite warm enough, same problem with the wind as the Khumbu. The impluse was too thin, and the denali too thick and too warm - although a great product. The Pamir is the one, the windstopper technology allows it to be warm while remaining thinner. Was even fine on it's own in the low 40's with just a short sleeve polo underneath.

And a special thanks to backcountry.com for putting up with me buying and returning so many jackets while finding the perfect one.

hands down my favorite shirt ever. Despite what others are saying, I quite like the cut. It looks good on me, and feels good, too! Looks excellent even after many many washings. I have two, and wear them around the house, out and about, and as a layer for city stuff under a jacket. Very comfy on its own outside in 50+ weather.

Amazing versatile jacket, works for so many different conditions. It's light enough it won't make you sweat in mild temps, but warm enough for fall and into winter with layering. Combine that with wind proof and HIGHLY water resistant, it has you covered for most anything. Seemed a bit stiff for a soft shell until after 1st washing. Velcro on the cuffs is great -- soft and doesn't snag stuff, including the soft interior of the pockets.

I didn't expect much from these, but picked them up on a sweet SAC deal anyway. They have been great. They are a bit lighter than than all my other shades, and never become uncomfortable no matter how long they're on my face.

Like the warm grey lenses, works in a variety of lighting conditions.

I bought this knife in '01 and have loved it. Very light. I own a couple of more expensive knives that are by all accounts nicer, but this is the one that I take with me on a daily basis. Blade has held its edge well. I think one of the reasons I like this knife so much and use it so much is a combination of it working so well, and the price being right where I'm not afraid of ruining it and having to pay a lot to replace it -- which after 8 or so years I never have had to.