I and my GF chose MH Synchro as our primary jacket during our 6-mo RTW trip. Upon return, we continued to wear this jacket daily for another 6 months (October to March) because it's so versatile, comfy, light and sharp-looking. With the exception of 1 month in humid Southeast Asia, it's seen almost continuous daily use for 11 months. While it had no problem with snow, I was more impressed by the waterproofing capability for such a soft fabric. We were caught in a down pour and hail while visiting Potsdam, Germany. The fabric appeared wet but the inside surface was completely dry. It wasn't as good at wind-proofing but made up for its breathe-ability in temps above 65*F. When necessary, I'd wear it over my MH Windstopper or Marmot Burly vest for 20-30*F temps and still look slim. Cinch cords at the waist and neck are effective and I love the zippers and the 5 pockets, especially the outside Napolean chest pocket. The color array and seam taping makes the jacket look sharp.

Good job MH... and don't stop making this one!

I purchased the TRK Drip Filter (Gravidyn) as a gift for a relative (for home use) in southeast Asia whose water supply is from a well. The criteria were: ceramic element, compact, plastic or synthetic housing. As I've used Katadyn Combi Filter for backpacking and occasionally at home for 6 years, Katadyn was high on my list. IMO, ceramic elements give the best filtration. The initial cost is high but their value is realized through durability and long life. This unit has been in service since January '06, filtering ~10L/day or a total of ~3,300L (864 gallons) so far. The Activated Carbon (A/C) portion of the filter is effective for 6 months but the ceramic is good for 39,000 gallons (~148,980L). What I like most about this filter: fast flow rate (3 elements), impregnated silver-oxide prevents fungus/mildew growing on the element.