Scotty V.

Browsing for a new jacket for a while, I've thought about Patagonia and Marmot and all the other expensive name brands. I own a Stoic hiking tee and loved the look and its properties, so it isn't like I just skimmed past the smaller company stuff. I was honing in on down jackets for something warm. However, living in Louisville, KY means 33°, rainy winters. Really wet, nasty stuff. Knowing how I operate when I'm out-and-about, my shell would most likely be in my room, back at home. So down was scratched. I picked this up for a sale price because A)it's synthetic and B) it's stylish.

I'm 6'2" 160lbs. and the medium is a perfect fit with ample room to layer even a fleece track jacket. In the picture I've pulled the sleeve back so you could see the placement of the wrist gaiter.

As weird as our weather is, it was 10° the night I received it from Backcountry. My core stayed toasty all night out partying with friends, bar hopping and the like. It's lightweight, has comfortable fleece-lined pockets and neck protector, and, best of all, the ability to have attractive girls approach you and always comment: I'm diggin' that purple.

Thanks Stoic.

Got these about a year ago and love 'em. They're comfortable, stylish (as in there isn't a brand name plastered on the toe... hate that) and perform to my expectations. Took 'em into the Smokys for 4 nights and they (and my barefoot Merrells) made the trip extremely enjoyable. The only reason I'm giving them four stars is because I had to return my first pair because they are a little larger than most other shoes. I normally wear an 11 in Adidas, Merrell, Patagonia, etc. but these were just too large. Had to get a 10.5. Overall very happy with my first pair of Vasques!

First off, I've owned a few Kelty products. They're not the best, but they are good starters for newbies, especially ones who don't go out every other weekend. The Yellowstone2 tent is still functioning for me after countless nights in the Gorge and even a trip up to Longs Peak. So I bought this for my girlfriend for x-mas and she loved it straight out of the box. The color is a really vivid orange/red that lives to it name 'Redhead' and overall it seemed like a good starter pack, with ample room for an overnights worth of gear. Until she tried it on.

If you noticed above, there are no pictures of the backside of this pack. It is a thin mesh wall arched by a strip of metal which compromises any comfort this thing was trying to retain for the user. The metal part, which forms into a straight bar across the top of the pack, would knock against her head whenever she would tilt her back towards the sky. We immediately went to our local outdoors store and she tried on a couple there, all which felt fine. She loved the synthetic support systems, like on Black Diamonds and a few Osprey, but she was finally content with a Gregory Jade, and it's been rockin' awesome ever since.

This is the first thing I've returned to Backcountry. :\

Also, the inside of this pack is cramped (due to the arch caused to hold it up), and with no sleeping bag zips, it was a pain to get a 2 lb. bag in and out, past that damned hump.

I would recommend shelling out the extra $50-$100 and getting something you won't need to return.

It's usually hard for a tall, skinny guy like myself to find a good pair of versitile hiking pants, but these Paramount Peak pants by TNF are just what the doctor ordered. 6'1" and only 140, I thought I'd have to order the small & long for it to fit. I got a medium reg instead, and lo-and-behold: they fit perfectly (with a little tightening of the elastic belt). I used them this past weekend for the first time at Red River Gorge in Slade, KY, on a 3 day trip where I never took them off, even at night. I did some rock scrambling, some off trail arch hunting and a few deep creek crossing and they stretched, took a beating and dried superbly. If you dont have the primo cash to get the more expensive pants like most Americans who are on a budget, I would definitely recommend these.

Having recently purchased the Lafuma 1000, I must say that it is the best sleeping bag I have ever owned. Lightweight and small in size when rolled, it fits nicely into my North Face Terra 60 storage sack with room even for a small pillow. I was worried at first that it might be a little too hot for warmer days, but this past weekend at Red River Gorge it was 65 degrees at night and the bag knocked off the chill but didnt suffocate me in heat.

For a mummy bag it's very roomy, and although it says the length is 6'6", mine measures all the way to 7'5" without any weight increase! The extra room is nice, especially for a guy like myself who sleeps on his stomach and wraps his arms underneath his head (the extra room allows my arms to remain covered under the hood).

Sleeping by a creek usually means a damp morning, and although the bag sucked up some mositure, it retained its warmth and didn't have me feeling like I was sleeping in a wet roll of paper towels. I would definitely recommend the Lafuma 1000 to anyone who needs a new 3-season bag.

If you have a thing of Italian food and the outdoors, don't leave the house without Mountain House's Lasagna with Meat Sauce. Delicious and filling, this portable food is probably my all time favorite. Two servings can easily be passed around three average weight guys who'd rather share their food then carry the extra individual weight. It's ready to eat in about 8 minutes (it says 5 on the bag, but give it extra time to tenderize) and the bag seals back up so you can throw it in your pack and not worry about opening it later and finding your sleeping bag covered in tomato paste. If you havent tried it already, buy it. You won't be disappointed.

An avid buyer of Mountain House products, I must say that the Spaghetti with Meat Sauce entree is right on the money when it comes to quality and taste. Easy to cook, and the two servings can actually serve three hungry average weight guys. I'm only giving it 4 stars because I love the Lasagna with Meat Sauce that much more, as when I make my own spaghetti I like a more robust sauce then just plain ole meat flavoured. Overall, a definite buy.

For a tall guy like myself, its hard to find anything in my length that doesnt cost a freakin' fortune. The Alps lightweight pad is a great buy, especially for all you weekend hikers that dislike sleeping on the forest floor. The 3lbs. isn't too bad, but ultra-lightweight gurus will shun this excess poundage. For someone like myself who spends 2-5 days on the trail, I dont really mind it at all. The one thing that does irk me though is the shear size of the pad when rolled up... its one huge tube! Definitely wont fit in most weekend packs, so you'll have to strap it on the outside, something that kind of scares me cause Im afraid I might snag it on something and tear a hole in it. But Ive been through some brabbly areas already, and so far so good. And like I said; for the price, you can't beat it.

is always welcomed by a mountaintop hiker. I recently purchased the Yellowstone 2 and have to say that so far I am very pleased with the end product. The first night I set it up (which, by the way, is a piece of cake) was upon a rocky ridge at Red River Gorge, KY. There was a good breeze up there, a constant 20+ mph, and I awoke around 5am to probably 40 mph gusts. The tent shook a little, but that was it.

It packs up fairly small, looks cool and is the perfect size and weight for 1 person. It could fit a couple comfortably, and you might, depending on if your a bear or a twig, be able to keep your packs inside.