GoodGuinness

I became a fan of compression socks in general after some nurse friends told me they use the compression socks for long work days on their feet, so I started out using them when I worked standing on my feet in retail/service industry full time. So it only made sense to me to try these out for running and backpack/hiking trips. Because they are compressive it is a little tricky getting them on, but once on they feel obviously compressive, but not suffocating or too tight. Its honestly hard to tell whether they make a huge difference compared to backpacking without them because no matter what you are wearing, hiking 15+ miles in a day while wearing 20-30+ lbs in mostly 10,000 ft elevation, your legs are going to feel tired no matter what. Still, I think these come in handy when you are being active on your feet often and I will probably continue using them for my outdoor pursuits. I can usually wear these a few days at a time before they get really stinky. For ladies concerned with future bluging varicose veins on their legs, compression socks are supposed to help prevent or reduce them!

These glasses look really good on guys! Definitely for larger faces. These looked good on most dudes I've seen try them on (worked at a shop that sold these). My boyfriend has these and sometimes I borrow them. I probably have more of a medium face and these looked a bit too large for me. They are also a bit heavy for my liking, but the polarization works great. Durability? they're probably gonna be ok if you casually drop them, but if you happen to wear them without croakies while skiing and they happen to fall off your face because of that, resulting in you skiing over them.. yea they're done for..

These lens shade plus the polarization are my go-to glasses for driving. I basically keep these in the glove compartment, to ensure that I don't drive without them. The nose pads feel fine on my nose. My only gripe is that when I put these on my head when I'm not using them, the nose pads get stuck in my hair and it becomes tug-o-war to get them off. I guess dudes generally don't have issues with that if they have short hair. And of course.. they look good!

I've used these for 4 summers and they've helped me a lot on cross-country treks especially while carry heavy weight on rocky terrain. The cork handles are really nice for sweaty hands. The carbide tip really does grab and hold onto whatever you plant it on. I probably need to replace mine as they are 4 years old now and I noticed that they don't stick as well. Personally I don't feel like the anti-shock makes a different. I'm not totally sold on the super lock system. They have collapsed a few times while hiking. Also, I would warn to not uses these poles for winter activities because of the super lock system. After skinning with these poles because they were all I had, I collapse them to put them into my pack and snowboarded down. At the end we had to skin out back to the road. The poles for the life of me would not lock no matter what I did. I felt like it might have been because it was so cold out or maybe the poles got wet from snow where it slides into each other? I don't know what the reason was, but skinning without poles when it was already getting dark was not fun. Since then I've gotten different poles for winter backcountry touring/skinning. These will strictly remain as a summer tool for me.

This jacket is breathable enough that I wore it in the summer for sun protection and wicking (not for serious exertion like running though). Then in the winter I use it for XC skiing or touring as an extra layer that breathes, but still helps to keep me warm. My only issue with this jacket is that the sleeves are super tight especially at the wrist. There is no pulling the sleeves up with this one. Also, the seams at the thumb holes ended up coming apart and I had to send it back to North Face to repair. Wish it was a little longer on the torso. Other than that

I bought these boots for my boyfriend as a xmas present after watching him suffer through a previous season of backcountry touring and boot pack hiking in his alpine boots. After going on our first backcountry trip of the season in these, I don't think he's even used his alpine boots at the resort anymore. He LOVES these! These are undoubtedly lighter than standard alpine boots when just comparing the weight of the opposing boots in your hands. These boots have also convinced him on the Intuition liners and now he wants to get them for his alpine boot (the only way he said he'll go back to skiing in them). Yesterday after a long powder day on Mammoth, he put them on walk-mode on our way home and said "I feel like I'm wearing sneakers!"

This was my first snowboard and I couldn't have been happier with it. Its stable for all-mountain riding and has a medium flex which was a good intro to freestyle. I've ticked off a good number of powder days and park days on this thing.

Love this board! It has really good pop and its stable enough to bomb down the hill! I got the 140 and feel confident straight-lining down and have probably never gone down at faster speeds before using this board. I did get this for the park and it does great on jumps and jibs, though I wish it could have been a little softer.

So far I've only done two trips with this and am really stoked on doing some more. Its been pretty easy switching between touring mode and snowboarding (just remember to carry the little de-icing tool it came with just in case there is ice caked around the pucks). The slider plates can be a little grueling to get off sometimes. Skinning feels great. I got the 154 since its the smallest size this model comes in. I'm a small lady (my normal boards for resorts run from 140-145). This thing plows through powder and even the bumpy cruddy stuff. Took a little while to get use to the added weight. Don't know if it'll make a different, but might get some lighter bindings (plastic) for these since I'm currently using the Ride bindings that are aluminum. I like that there are edges on both sides when touring since I already found myself in situations where I had to do some slight downhill "skiing." Really happy I got this as my intro to the splitboarding world.

I really hoped this was going to be my dream down jacket that I could use snowboarding especially because it was long, essentially covering the butt. My issues with this jacket was that I didn't feel that it was warm enough. I still found myself wearing an extra hoodie underneath. Also I got the XS, as a 5'1, 115lbs chica, but I didn't feel like the neck space was adequate when you zipped it all the way. I like jackets where you can duck your face into them while on a cold windy lift. Lastly, I usually like jackets with the wrist gaiters. The green color is AMAZING and I really wanted this be my perfect jacket, but alas it wasn't.

This was a great bargain on steepandcheap.com. I've been using this most recently for working outside all day where its generally sunny, but get cold with some gusty winds. Keeps me at the right temperature without feeling over heated or cold, just maybe my arms sometimes obviously, The pockets have zippers and really soft cushy fleece lining. There is also a little secret pocket on the inside. The stuff sack it comes with is a plus! The shell doesn't feel as flimsy as most lightweight stuff usually feels, so I'm not too worried about thrashing this vest.

I've been wearing this climbing which includes long steep hiking approaches. Even though I sweat in it I never feel overheated and when that breeze comes along I don't get the chills. Even wearing the hood keeps my head a little warmer! Not as warm as a beanie, but just enough for the breezes that come t. hrough while I'm climbing or belaying. Not only is this functional, but the shirt looks awesome!

I normally wear xsmall or small in shirts, but this one is pretty big and loose for a small on me. Sometimes I feel like its a maternity shirt. X-small would have been better. The material is so nice and soft though. Too bad they sold out on x-small, gonna have to use this more as a sleep shirt.

The stripes on the shirt appears to be painted on thickly, so even for someone like me who isn't very busty I feel like my boobs are being pressed down since there is no stretch on that part of the shirt. Not a great shirt for women in general, since it doesn't consider the boobs!. Also because those stripes are so thickly painted on after a few washes they are cracking.

This hoodie looks awesome! I bought this on an impulse online shopping binge and when it arrived I was planning on just sending it back since I don't really need it. Then it was my boyfriend who convinced me to keep it because it looked so good! This will be great for spring snowboarding. Its got that water-resistant feel, zippered pockets, and a goggle/sunglasses wipe in the right pocket.

I'm surprised these aren't flying off the shelves at the 55% off discount. This is a great deal for 80% merino wool bottoms. They are super warm and snug without the suffocating fit. I like the waistband especially because it is seamless and not too tight, forms perfectly to the body. Reminds me of the Isis underwears. I'm gonna have to snag a pair of the longer version, which is on sale for 55% off too. Get these while you can!

I get lots of compliments on these boots! I was looking for something between functional, but also a bit more stylish minus the whole gigantic faux animal fur thing. The whole recycled materials also appealed to me and its something I like to support. The bottom of the boot has great traction on snow. They feel very light! I would also say to go half a size up. Probably not a boot for those with wide feet. Its probably because of the sherpa fleece lining that covers the entire boot from the soles, feet, and legs that makes for the tighter fit. These are easy to lace up. Tucking pants in them is also easy since you can unlace or loosen up the entire boot. Doesn't really have great ankle support since it is the softer material from the ankles on up. Because the ankle support is if-y, probably wouldn't use these to snowshoe.

For once this is a great halter top with some support for us ladies with smaller busts! It doesn't necessarily have the bra shelf like many tank tops and halters do. Rather it just seems like the material is much more fitted but with stretch to give added support. This shirt is good for low-impact activities like climbing or hiking yet flattering for casual around town wear. For me this is the ideal halter top and now I'm scouring the internet to find what is left of the XS to buy up. Please Patagonia, don't change this style, its perfect!

This is the top for you if you like to actually play hard in the water rather than sunbathing and want something that stays put, gives some support, but isn't super sporty looking. I can't stand the usual triangle top bikinis where the triangles can move around where ever they please. I also can't stand the sport bathing suit tops that are unflattering and basically like bulky sports bras. This is a great in between of those two. The XS for me fit perfectly and I'm not a very busty chick.

These bikini bottoms are pretty cheeky! Hey.. if you got the assets.. might as well show some off.. Probably wouldn't wear these surfing or playing around in water. For me, these will probably only be for hot tubbing and lazy days at the beach. They could be a little more form fitting. I feel like sitting at the wrong angle will expose some bits..

Unfortunately I've had first hand experience finding out how well this works. I had my backpack ready and set for an 8-day backpacking trip for work, which included this bear canister filled with food. I left it in the back of a friend's truck with a camper shell for less than 1 hour to poach a shower at the hotel he worked at in Mammoth Lakes, CA. I returned to the truck to see that the camper shell door was ajar in a funny way with my backpack gone. Scoping out the nearby woods, I saw my pack with all my work gear splayed and shredded on the ground, but low and behold the bear canister was the only thing that wasn't destroyed. The bear definitely tried as there were plenty of teeth and scratch marks, but it just couldn't do it.

So with that being said, even if you are away from your car or whatever it is that could potentially attract a bear in known bear country, just take it with you even for those few minutes. Also, this canister for its size is better for week long trips. The one that is half the size is much better for weekenders. Although it may take up a bunch of space in your pack, you can easily fit other things in it if it isn't filled with food all the way. I'll usually stick whatever extra clothes, stove, first aid kit, etc. just to use up all the space in the canister. This model is also a little bigger than the standard black bear cans that the park service or forest service lets you rent out. I never usually tighten this all the way. Once the tabs pass the point on the lid where a bear essentially can't open it, I don't go any further.

I know lots of people complain on how big and bulky or heavy this is. Well, a bear is a pretty f-ing strong creature and if we want to play in their backyard than we just gotta deal with using these things because they work.

I've replaced most of my Nalgenes with Klean Kanteens. These are super bomber because of the stainless steel. I can toss these around with no worries. The aluminum bottles tend to easily get dents. Water never seems to have a weird taste with these. Easy to clean especially with those bottle cleaner brushes. I'm not sure if you are supposed to put hot liquids in these since they aren't insulated, but I do anyways. They are hot to the touch because of the no insulation. No leakage as long as the rubber gasket is on correctly. They need to make a 32oz version, since its either this size or the big 40 oz version.

I've so far replaced most of my Nalgenes with these, Siggs, and Klean Kanteens. I like these more than the Sigg because the mouth is wider. Its easier to clean since I can stick one of those bottle cleaner brushes in it. For this particular bottle and its sports cap, I wasn't too into the sports cap. Maybe I have a faulty one? Because when I use the sports cap its like there is something wrong as if there is extra air coming through while drinking. Kind of like drinking out of a broken straw, if you get the idea. So i basically have to uncap the bottle to drink out of this anyways.

I really like this Thermos, though I must agree with everyone else about how the rim of the bottle is too hot for immediate consumption. But anyways isn't the point of this bottle to keep things hot/warm for later consumption? I usually put hot tea in this in the morning to then later have during a hike or even at work midday. Love that this is so much lighter than stainless steel thermos.

I used to use the Buffs where you can rig the cloth tube to be a balaclava, but the issue with those is that they are really tight on the face. Also the Buffs are a lot thinner. My boyfriend had this balaclava and seemed to always be more at ease than me, while I would always fidgeting with the Buff during the lift ride. I finally tried his out and wow did it make a difference. I like how it isn't constricting, but still helps keep the cold and wind directly off your face. Fits well under a helmet. After numerous wears though without washing it does get stinky from all the moisture of your breath and runny noses. I'd like to try the wool version to see how it does with the stink factor.

If you ride hard, I wouldn't go with these gloves. Working at a ski shop, we'd always get customers coming back with these ripped to shreds. My boyfriend had a pair of these and by the end of one season, all this finger tips were covered in duct tape. He was always constantly have to keep them by heaters and dryers always in between sessions or at the end of the day. It seems like the general consensus is that they are great at first, but don't last long enough for it to be worth it.

I worked at a snowboard shop and these mittens would always sell-out on storm days. My boyfriend had these, but never used them because he thought mittens were cheesy-looking or whatever the reason. When he finally lost his gloves and had to use these last minute, it changed his mind forever. He raved on how much warmer his hands were and what a difference it was compared to gloves. Not only are the mitts insulated and GoreTex waterproof, they come with a removable mitt fleece liner. There is a goggle sqee-gee on one hand, zip pockets for hand warmers, and a little goggle wipe that comes in one of the zip pockets. Well worth the money. One tip about using the hand warmers in the pocket: the reason why its better to put them in the pockets on top of the hands rather than straight in the gloves with your palm is because the blood vessels are closer to the skin on top of your hands. That way the warmth from the hand warmers will most efficiently warm the blood flowing through your hands when its on top rather than on your palm.

What I like best about these gloves is the grippy palm materials stretchest over the finger tips so the seams aren't just at the tip of the finger. This way they won't fall apart as easy as gloves with the seams at the very tip. Good spring glove with a thin fleecy material lining the inside.

These aren't the most insulated warmest mittens around, but I think they are adequate for snowboarding. Because they aren't super insulated they are not bulky, which I like, good for getting bindings on and off or grabbing things in pockets. They are waterproof. The wrist cuff is a stretchy neoprene-like material. I like that they don't have those giant wrist cuffs like a lot of snow gloves do. The inside lining has a thin chamois/fleecy feel. I like how the palm material is grippy and also comes over the fingers because I noticed that the finger tips in snowboard gloves/mittens are always first to go, probably from dragging across the snow.

This case supposedly can fit goggles and extra lens. Its not the case for spherical lens goggles. You can't really fit the extra lens in there since the spherical shape makes it awkward. Its ok to keep the goggle itself in, but it'd be nicer to fit both. This case would work much better with the flat lens goggles and their extra lens.

This beanie is in two knit layers so its thicker and ultimately warmer. Its soft and is baggy. I'd be careful washing it as it'll get fuzzy. I just don't put it in the dryer and let it air dry. Got two of these!

I'm 5'1 and 115 lbs and the largest size in these kid's long underwear fit me great. For the curvier bodacious small women, I probably wouldn't go for these. They are snug even on my butt, but hey well worth not having to pay double or even triple this price for long underwear!

I use these for bike rides when you can really tell if gloves are windproof or not. These are not the warmest gloves though, probably wouldn't rely on these in the winter. Also I wouldn't use these as liners. The fleece makes it a little took thick for wearing under another glove.

If you have a down sleeping bag, go and buy this right now! All down sleeping bags should just come with one of these. Better than the compression bag that most sleeping bags come with. Have had this thing for 4 years so far. After backpacking in pouring rain, you'll be glad to get into your warm DRY sleeping bag.

When weight is an issue, this is the towel grab! So light and thin, super absorbent. It shouldn't matter that this doesn't come with a little diddy bag like the other ones. If weight is your concern, than a little stuff sack just adds more oz. I use this for backpacking, travel, camping, and wildfire assignments. The stitching on the edge of the towel on mine has started to go, but it doesn't really seem to be falling apart or anything. It does get stinky if you haven't washed it in a long time.

If you want to cut down on size compared to a regular cotton towel, this is the way to go. I got the x-large and that thing gets small and compact. That size is large enough to wrap my whole body with (I'm a small chica). I use this for traveling not only for its compactness but it dries a lot faster than a cotton towel. I like that it comes with its little mesh bag. I usually don't put it back into the sack, rather I use the sack to keep my toiletries. It doesn't feel as soft as a normal towel, it is a little "grabby" but that's cause its so absorbant. As for washing, I throw this in with my normal wash and it comes out fine. Even when I'm not traveling this is part of my collection of normal towels at home. I've had and used this for the past 4 years. Looks like new!

Super bummed out that these pants didn't fit. I normally wear an x-small or 0 in pants and I'm only 5'1. The XS had the perfect height, but the waist was super tiny and it was riding up my crotch. I'm in no way a curvy lady, but I do have an athletic tone and couldn't believe that my butt was for once too big for the pants. Interesting reading the other reviews about the waist being bigger than the hips. It seems that the waist on the xs was absurdly smaller than normal. Too bad, these pants really look like they were made really well, warm, soft, has a feminine fit, lots of pockets. Didn't bother going a size up because according to the size chart, so does the inseam. Can't hem them because they have zippers and buttons on the bottom cuffs. Paying the MSRP on these isn't worth compromising or just dealing with the fit for me. Bottom line.. if possible these pants should be tried on in person based on all the mixed reviews.

Its no wonder that Arc'teryx stuff is so expensive because it really is high quality. These capris are so light and airy, yet durable. The chamois lined waistline is really nice especially when wearing the hipbelt on a backpack. The webbing belt isn't the smoothest in tightening. I find myself having to feed the webbing through the buckle for some slack and then pulling on it to tighten the belt. The laminated hem and pockets really add to the seamlessness of these capris. The small pocket in the front could probably only fit chapstick. I'm 5'1 so these basically come just above my ankles a few inches, which still looks good. I went up a size for a looser fit. Only downside is the price, probably would have never bought these at its MSRP.

I got this in size XS thinking this would be a good techy-type shirt for summer hiking and climbing. It is enormous! Felt like maternity-wear. My girlfriends who generally wear size Medium-Large said it fit them better like a fitted shirt. Also, the purple color on the website makes it seem darker. In reality its more on the light purple pinkish side. Its really too bad that I'm swimming in this because the material does feel great and I like how it is long (goes below the hips and a little over the butt). For the smaller ladies, don't bother since you can't size down. Booo.. really disappointed..

Recently I realized that one of the great things about this bag is the down-filled neck baffle (or face gasket according to them?) it has. So when you are sleeping, the cold air that could possibly get into the bag from the open hood area is blocked because the neck flap/baffle. It is soft and not at all constricting. I noticed this recently more from using other sleeping bags that didn't have this feature and wishing that they did.

If you are a lady who gets cold easily, I'd only stick with this bag for the summer. I just recently tested the limit of the bag in mid October at about 10,000ft elevation when it got down to more or less 20 degrees F. This did NOT keep me warm. I had to stick all of my extra clothes in the bag for insulation, used my down jacket as a blanket, and cinched the hood to a tiny hole and plugged it with a beanie. The bag has 3 temperature ratings: the comfort level being in the low 30s F, the limit level being at the 20 F range and the extreme just below 0 F. If you don't want to test the limit of the bag yourself, stick with the comfort level temperature as a guide. Other than that this has kept me warm all summer at high elevations.

I would agree with the other when saying that this isn't necessarily the #1 best quick draw out there, but for the price they are still up there on the list and great for a first set of draws. The dogbone is just in the middle in terms of size, not too thin like trad draws, but not as beefy and thick as something like the BD livewire. Because they are on the thin side, sometimes they do twist. Used these for both sport and trad.

I was originally shocked at how light these draws were despite the beefy dogbone and one straight gate carabiner. The straight gate biner clips into bolts so easily and the wire gate is just as easy and smooth with the rope. Some of the smoothest clipping action I've felt on a draw, like a hot knife through butter! The beefy dogbone gives confidence and doesn't twist as much as the usual skinnier counterparts. I kept commenting aloud at the crag to my friend how much I liked these that other climbers asked to check them or try them out. Needless to say, they agreed! After using the BD Freewire for years, this is a well worth upgrade.

Just used this, this past weekend along side the original Grigri with a 9.5mm rope and a 10.6 mm rope. Could definitely feel an obvious difference when belaying a leader and lowering with the thinner rope. It gives it a better bite than that loose feel with the first grigri. Then using a thicker 10.6 mm rope through the grigri 2, its definitely a tighter fit. You can feel and see there is more friction when lowering and giving slack. The rope almost appears to be squeezed in there. The device is obviously not "ideal" for the thicker ropes, but still does the job. Nice size and handle for smaller hands like mine. People should still not be complacent just because this was made for middle range diameter ropes, the brake hand should always be used no matter which grigri you use and no matter what rope size is in either.

because this chalk bag works great for me. I keep a chalk ball in it and never have issues slipping my hand in and out. The bag is also pretty durable since i've had it for 3 years and dragging it around on all types of rock. The bag cinches down well so that chalk doesn't get everywhere. The belt webbing is removable if you don't want to use it. The top/opening of the bag is a plastic ring, so it keeps its shape and won't collapse flat. The little pocket with a clip is handy if you want to stick chapstick or keys in there. It is a pricier chalk bag, but go figure since its Arc'teryx

Can't emphasize enough how great these are for edging. These are my shoes of choices for multi-pitch trad. After a break-in period, these are completely comfortable to wear on longer routes. Yes, you should seamgrip the rand some parts of the rubber are flapping off on mine. I normally wear a size 4 women's Katana and got these in a women's 4 also. They feel great, especially because they don't have that aggro arch like the Katanas. Because of the tiny size I got, I noticed that they don't really cover up my ankles completely. Definitely a stiffer shoes, not so great for sporty smearing action. These are the only shoes that don't hurt my feet when jamming them in wide cracks.

Good rope. I climb usually 3-5 times a week and have been using this rope, mostly for sport climbing. Stretch wasn't too dramatic on a lead fall. Don't rely on the "rope bag" it comes in. Its a total piece of crap and pretty much fell apart completely on about the 5th times I took this thing out. I tend to like ropes where the sheath pattern is different once you get to the middle point. I can see the black center mark blending in on this once the rope starts getting dirtier. I chose the 10.5 diameter in the hopes that this will last longer in terms of lots of toprope sessions and a few lead falls here and there.

I keep these handy when snowboarding hard and non stop especially on powder days. They are a great little boost to snack on while on the lift. Yes, most of it is sugar, but why worry about that when you're probably burning it off right away anyways. Plus side is the electrolytes that a snickers bar can't give you. GUs are my favorite, but these are cheaper with more servings per package. These are also gluten-free if you are concerned about that.

I wear a size 5 shoes in womens and bought these in a 4. These were super tight and painful at first, but after wearing them consistently for over a year, they feel perfect. The downturned toe really made a difference compared to wearing a shoe like the Mythos. I really feel like these shoes improved my climbing confidence. Tried wearing them for crack climbing in Indian Creek, since I had nothing else. They did the job, but I can see how other shoes like the TC Pros or Mocassyms (I know I know both very different shoes) would work better for IC crack. I'm glad I snagged a pair on steepandcheap since they don't make them anymore.

So I've had my boots for 3 years and used them A LOT for field work and hiking on weekends. They just started to really wear out on me. It took 3 seasons (6 months to 8 months) of wearing them everyday in all types of terrain (on trail, off trail, wet, muddy, talus, morraines, snow fields, pumice, etc.) for the tread to finally go. Not too heavy and the waterproofing is great! Always went straight through creek crossings, puddles, etc. as long as they weren't deep enough for the entire shoe to go in. Used them for snowshoeing also and they did great. They didn't take much at all to break in either. Though I did replace the footbeds with better insoles, but that's personal preference. Always felt steady when carrying a heavy back, usually up to 35 lbs the most for me. Only complaint was that these are not breathable at all. As soon as an opportunity allowed, I'd take them off to let my feet breathe. If you don't wear them as often as I did, these should last for a LONG time.

This tent definitely is good for the price point. Holds up in rain and wind, though you have to have the fly staked out real good, if you don't want annoying flapping around on windy nights. The weight is OK. Obviously the lighter you go, the tents tend to get more pricey. It is a squeeze for two people, especially if you are both trying to sit up in the one section at the door where you can possibly even sit up straight. Used this tent for 14 days straight on a fire assignment and the whole sitting-up restriction to the door area was starting to drive me nuts. Will probably go with another tent for fire camp, since that is more like car-camping.

Just recently used this on a trip through Alaska. I never once felt cold in it (summer in AK). I also, never felt too hot in it. I know sometimes with my down bag I wake up in a pool of sweat. The fleece lined foot box is awesome. I really felt like it helped keep my feet warm. There is a little fleece lined pocket for your hands too. The zipper goes all the way down to your feet. The compression sack is great if you are strapped for room in your pack, but never store it in there long term. Synthetic fibers tend to break down especially if compressed, eventually compromising the warmth rating. My only complaint is the light color of the bag inside and out. C'mon, for chicks who really use the hell out of sleeping bags, light colors are a big no-no especially when you are dirty and haven't showered in days.

I've been eyeing this jacket at the store in town, but was holding off until I could find a sale. Luckily it appeared on steepandcheap for 60% off! Love this hoodie!! It is definitely windproof. Its fuzzy on the outside and fleecy on the inside. Not as big time fuzzy as the monkey woman jacket. I was torn between small and xsmall. Based on a different MH jacket I got in xsmall where I could barely move my arms when I wore an extra layer under it, I got the size small. Doesn't feel like I'm swimming in it, enough room to layer underneath. The xsmall would have probably been more fitted. The turquoise color is as it look on the website.

My friend and I went snowshoeing with both these MSRs and a pair of the Atlas Elektra 1200 Series snowshoe and we would switch off shoes mid-hiking to compare. Overall, I would say that I like these snowshoes more. These have more crampon teeth and are drastically lighter than the Atlas snowshoes. These are also more narrow compared to the Atlas. I felt like I was walking bowlegged in the atlas ones. The heel lift system makes a BIG difference while hiking uphill. These have really good bite in deep snow and also icy slush. A couple things I wasn't into with the MSRs. The kick-back while walking in the MSR snowshoe would hit your feet/heels, while the Atlas hit the ground. The straps on the MSRs also take a bit of fiddling with as each strap is individual and you have to snap them into the notches. The Atlas have a pulley system which I liked a lot more. Overall, good snowshoe!

I got the xsmall and it is tight on the body and chest (32b), but not suffocating. Love this for hiking and climbing. My favorite prana tank top so far.

The material is great. Its easy to wash, breathable, and dries quick. The fit is weird though. i got the size xsmall and I definitely don't have a flat ass, but it does that baggy butt bunching thing as if there is too much material. Maybe it meant for an even bigger xsmall sized butt! Also the stitching started to give way after 1 wash.

I've gotten a lot of compliments for this shirt. This shirt is the same material as the morning glory top and dress. This fits great and isn't too tight though it is stretchy. I got the x-small and the length falls right below the hips. I feel like I can wear this not only casually, but also hiking or climbing. Love these dresses and tops Patagonia is making with this material. It is very flattering especially if you are small chested. Love this so much that on my recent 10 day road trip I was wearing it every other day, over the other clothes I brought with me!

This dress is the same material as the Morning Glory dress and tank top. That stretchy techy fabric. The color on the website makes it look more on the orange side, but its really more on the red side in person. I would not size up in this dress, it fits true to size. Very flattering for smaller chests. Also, the belly part isn't really fitted, so that's nice if you aren't into tight dresses. Liked this dress so much I got the Respite shirt too! Just recently backpacked in this. The flowy dress was super breathable and was quick drying. A great fall hiking piece!

I can't believe how soft and light these are. I barely noticed that I was wearing any underwear. Very breathable and quick drying. I like these way better than those exofficio underwear. The Isis ones form better to your body. I always had that butt bunching problem with exofficio and the band was always a little tight. Wish I ordered more than just one now.

I'm normally a 32B and got the size small. It fits perfect and gives just the right amount of support. I'm not into regular cup or underwire bras anymore so this has so far been the best replacement of those by far. Its not suffocating like a sports bra. I'd probably wear this for most outdoor activities aside from running. The material is so nice! Light, stretchy, and soft. I did notice the bunching on the side that someone mentioned before, but its not that noticeable while wearing a shirt, at least for me. I probably wouldn't have even looked out for it if someone hadn't mentioned it.

This skirt is really great to hike in. Its that light stretchy techy material that hiking pants usually are made of. Its stretchy and flowy enough to make big steps without feeling trapped in the skirt. Since I'm 5'1 it comes just below the knee for me. I got the size 2 and fits true to size. The grey color 'jet' looks exactly how the website shows it. Though I would advise to get a lighter color. I noticed that sometimes I get really hot in the skirt when hiking in direct sunlight since its such a dark color, but problem solved when I just hike it up!

I use these for all my outdoor adventures, field work, and driving. They are super light weight and wrap around my head snug enough that I don't need croakies. The nose pads are comfortable and don't dig in. Really cuts out the glare dramatically. Worth the money to protect your eyes. Only thing that bothered me was the rubber "arm pads." Because of them the glasses would always get caught in my hair, which drove me insane so I ripped them out and now they are perfect. They still stay on my head without the "arm pads,"

I've got the white with 24k iridium. The gold lens is dark enough so that people can't see your eyes. Its also really great for bright sunny conditions. The Jupiters are similar to the Frogskins, but the plastic frame is thicker and sturdier. Oakley lenses are designed to pop out, rather than in if there is some kind of incident where it would warrant that, so it literally protects your eyes. Well worth the money.

These sunglasses are definitely big! I have the Matte Grey with the Green Ion lens. The green lenses aren't completely mirrored, people can still see your eyes if they are close enough. The green lense do scratch easily if you don't take care of them. I wore mine so much and thrashed them to the point that they aren't safe to drive with because the scratches get in the way of seeing. Sick glasses though..

Hopefully people don't get too freaked out about the recall to get this beacon. I ordered this directly through backcountry access in Dec and didn't receive it until Feb due to that recall problem, but apparently they've fixed it because mine works great! The I've been practicing single burial beacon searches with this and an Ortovox F1. There is a HUGE difference between the two. I was able to find the buried beacon using the Tracker 2 is less than half the time it took to find a buried beacon using the Ortovox F1. In avalanche world, that time difference means a lot! The easy pull tab for search and the distance and direction readings made a world of difference in search time. My friend with the Ortovox F1 wants to get the Tracker 2 now.

These just outright suck. I demo'ed these and after one run.. immediantely went back inside to change out the bindings. Not very responsive and the fit with the boot is weird. In theory, one binding that can adjust to numberous boot sizes sounds cool, but it just doesn't work with these. You're better off getting Ride, Flux, etc. if you want a good reliable binding. Rossi should just stick with the ski stuff and snowboards strictly. I seriously hate these bindings.

I worked at a ski shop and got to demo this board. Once I tried it, I was using this board for the rest of the season over the one I actually own. It was the first time I tried magnatraction and you can really feel the difference on groomers. The multiple points of contact definitely dig in. The board has regular camber, but then flares out/rockers out at the nose and tail. This really plowed through on powder days and through the bumpy cruddy stuff. It is also not too stiff. I found it to be a good flex, probably more on the softer side. I was still able to get good pop off it for the size I used, 149 (Normally I ride 140). This is probably the only board I've tried that I considered to be the closest to both all-mountain and freestyle, so far. Really really impressed with this board. By the time the season came to an end and the Rossi rep came back to get the boards, I didn't want to let it go!

I love almost everything Icebreaker makes. These are warm and even if they get wet my feet still don't completely freeze. I like how they are cushioned on the shins and I sometimes wear these days at a time without washing and they don't retain stink so much. For me they come up right below the knee. I wear them out casually too for extra warmth on my legs. I like they so much I'm going to give these as xmas presents to friends.

when I snowboard. The only thing I'm not into is that even when I have the music off or use the switch that puts the volume at MIN.. I still have trouble hearing. It really blocks the external sound out, which I'm sure a lot of people are into anyways. The way they are shaped also aren't as comfortable as standard ipod earbud when wearing a helmet with the ear covers. It could be my helmt, but it feels like they are being pressed into my ears a little too much. I usually switch between using these and the ipod ones when I ride. The only reason why I use these earbuds snowboarding is because I like the little switch to MAX and MIN the volume without having to take your ipod in and out of your pocket while you're riding. Other than that, when I use them normally for walking around town, etc.. they are awesome!

I hate getting dirt and crap on my mouthpiece when I put my pack down, so I decided to get this. I don't know if the cover I have fit properly or not, but water still leaks from it from time to time. Its as if the cover is just snug on the mouthpiece to the point that it puts enough pressure on the bite valve to open a little. I don't know. Like I said it does the job still..

This is my camp utensil that has lasted the longest. I've gone through a few of the plastic ones and as long as I don't lose this one this will be my go-to spork. Only complaint though is that if you have aluminum pot with the non-stick stuff on it, don't go too crazy with this or any metal utensil on it for the non-stick stuff with scratch or come off. Also the size doesn't fit one of my small camp pots. If I had to do it all over again, I probably would have gotten a titanium spork that is foldable or something that makes it smaller when you pack it away.

Bought this last minute before an 8 day work trip when I realized I forgot a utensil. I do like how it can fit in the pots, but the plastic material isn't very strong. one of the teeth were bending on the first day I used it. Also food tends to get stuck on the part where the spoon slides into the handle. Since the parts are separate, they may be easier to lose. On a recent move to a new apt. I somehow lost the handle to the spoon, which is now useless to me.

I've only used an ATC for the longest time to belay and ended up tweaking my right shoulder because I held it down so hard to break especially belaying larger guys. After going on a trip with a bunch of ladies my size, they all had grigri's and said that I NEEDED to get one. After belaying my boyfriend who is twice the size of me on a grigri, I probably won't use an ATC again to belay him. It makes a huge difference on me now when I belay him while he takes or falls, not having to use as much force to keep my break hand down compared with an ATC.

On a trip to Indian Creek, my friend got the cheaper johnson&johnson type medical tape and by the first day was asking me to use mine. I was able to use my tape gloves for up to 3 days until I had to make a new one. Held up really well.. that also depends on how good of a tape glove you make..

Where I'm from these North Face packs are super trendy as school bags. It does have features to make it more of an outdoor pack, but I'd probably find something more technical than this. I'm 5'1 and this pack is actually huge on me. I've used it a couple time as a field pack for work. I don't find it to be very comfortable when I'm wearing it all day packed with a camelback, gear, food, etc. The back is pretty stiff and it only has regular webbing as the hip strap. This is definitely a casual work or school bag. There is lots of room on the inside for books, lap top, etc. and smaller compartments for organization for little things.

This thing feels awesome when its completely packed and full. Probably one of the more comfortable packs I own. The side pockets for what I thought were for water bottles are not that secure. Water bottles tend to just slip out unless tied down with the strap. Also, I love that the water bladder pocket is outside of the main compartment of the pack. I noticed with some packs you'd have to take a lot of stuff out to get the bladder in and out. The little bungee cord for hiking poles on the shoulder strap does tend to rub on my inner arm and I always have rashes there. This is not a climbing pack though. I wouldn't recommend this pack for lots of climbing gear. My friend with the same pack used it to carry her rack and other gear and the bag fell apart within months.

This is huge, but does it really matter when its only protecting your backpack from getting jacked up at the airport? Honestly I'd probably just find a cheaper big duffel bag. As soon as I tried to lift this up with the shoulder strap, it ripped. Probably because my pack was so heavy.

I just went on a trip where a friend brought this stove and pot. I admit it is nice how it all fits nicely into the pot including the gas canister. It boiled the water really fast. I don't really dig the tall pot though. Everytime we made food, the food tended to get stuck on the bottom since the heat is concentrated in a small surface area. Also, I don't like how you can't use other pots on this stove. This stove is fuel efficicent though, I felt like we were boiling water constantly between 2 people and 3 days and we still couldn't finish up the gas (we were trying to use it all up). If I were to get my own jetboil, I'd probably get the one with the standard size pot.

I normally wear an XS in Icebreaker shirts, but this top seems a bit baggy. Because of that it doesn't give me any support at all and I usually have to wear a bra anyways with this top despite the built-in bra shelf. Bummer

I like this way better than a standard ATC for belaying, but for rappelling I noticed that the grooves tend to keep the rope from smoothly flowing through. So rappelling for me feels like a mixture of always pushing the rope through to rap off with jerky brakes, though likely has to do with the rope thickness.

The main reason why I got this pack is because it was on steepandcheap.com for less than $150.
I have a Gregory deva 60 from 6 years ago and realized that it was too small in volume. Then two years ago I got the Gregory Deva 85 and thought it was too big in volume. Unfortunately that pack got torn apart by a bear (my fault), so it gave me the excuse to finally get the 70 L version, which ends up being the right size in my opinion for an all around pack whether it is for a weekend trip or a week long. If you need more room than that for just a regular week long backpacking trip then you are packing more than you need. Only thing I didn't like about the 70L compared to the 85L is that the lid in the 70L doesn't have straps so that you can use it as a day pack. Also the 70L doesn't have the rubberized bottom that the 85L or my 6 year old Gregory has. Other than that I am 5'1 and 115 lbs and got the size small, which fits perfect. Honestly though, everyone should try a backpack on in person loaded with weight before buying it. All packs are different. If I had to get a pack at full price, I probably wouldn't get this one, I'd get an Arc'teryx.

I love this top! Always get compliments on it. The color on the website made it look like an orange color (maybe its my laptop), but its definitely more red in person. It does go over the butt, which I really like the way it looks. I think lately Patagonia has been doing a really good job blending in function with a hint of style. Too many women's sports tops are too technical and sporty looking. I am smaller on the chest and find that the bra shelf is way too big, so I still have to wear a regular bra with this shirt. Still worth it!

I bought this because I got the Morning Glory Halter top last year, which I love and wear from casual to climbing all the time. Also, saw 2 chicks wearing this dress at a friend's wedding. It doesn't matter that a lot of women own this because I don't blame them! Its so comfy and stretchy. I love that you don't have to wear a bra, but it still gives support. Patagonia needs to make this in more bright colors!

These are one of the most comfortable snowboard boots i've worn. The entire liner is heat moldable to your leg/foot. The toe box is also a little cushy which is nice when your toes touch the front. The liner is taller than most snowboard boots so it comes up on your calf a little more than most boot liners. Its is not too stiff and not too soft. I will forever swear on plain old lace up boots. I've tried those pulley system ones and they eventually wear away and the boa boots seems to be too stiff for me. Fits true to size.

Really good basic helmet for the price minus all the bells and whistles of other helmets. The only thing I don't like, the ear pieces seem to come out easily. Fits well with my Oakley goggles.