Doug White

I'll start here: I love this shirt!

I like the way it fits, not being too wide at he bottom, and it is extremely comfortable. As with most marino wool products, the wicking is awesome, and the odor is very low, so you can wear it a while in the backcountry without being too offensive.

I really appreciate the way it wears well in most conditions. It's a very versatile shirt, and it is tough enough to take a beating. It's not right for extreme heat, so look elsewhere if that's the kind of shirt you need. However, if you want a highly functional shirt for most weather, that looks good, and that can be used as a base layer in colder conditions, this is a good purchase.

This shirt looks nice on, and it's pretty functional. It's good for being in slots or in brush since it protects your arms while being light enough to keep you cool. So you get long-sleeve protection, light weight, and good fit for a slim look in one easy to wash and run shirt. Wash: A good dip in the lake will do it. ;-)

I'd like to start out by stating that it pains me to write negative reviews. It's too easy to complain about stuff. So stand by for a slightly negative view of what could be a really excellent product.
I'll start off with what I like about the Suunto Core then describe the problem.

Firstly, it’s a good watch. It has very good time-keeping accuracy. I find it loses just about one second each week. That's not too bad at all.
Second, it is a good-looking watch. I got the version with a red bezel around the black case. I like it.
Onto the altimeter functions... The instantaneous elevation readout of the altimeter is good. I have calibrated it and gone to altitudes from 100 - 10,000 feet since I’ve owned it, and I find that it is quite accurate. It does, however, sometimes do something that I have never seen a Suunto barometric sensor do before. It jumps around. For example, I can be standing still and the reading will go up or down by some number of feet, often significantly by as much as 20 feet. This doesn't happen very often, and it isn't a problem when I am trying to determine my absolute elevation. It stays on the correct altitude almost all the time. The only real downside of this minor problem it how it affects the cumulative sum of total elevation gained and lost over the period of a recorded trip. And that's the problem with this device.

You cannot rely on the Suunto Core Altimeter to give you the correct cumulative elevation gained and lost over any trip, even if you walk on a flat surface for an hour. It always reads out a cumulative sum of total gain and total loss that is significantly overstated. That is, it is wrong in the way of being to high, often by more than 100% of actual elevation gained or lost.

I have tested this unit, and two previous Core units and gotten the exact same results. I returned the previous two units because that is an important feature to me. When I returned the units, I told the customer service representative at the retail store where I bought it about the problem. I also called Suunto customer service to describe the problem. It seemed like it would be something easy enough to fix since they have the algorithm working correctly in other Suunto Altimeter models. For example, the Vector, a beloved old friend, does the job of accumulating the accurate elevation gain and loss perfectly well, and so does the X-10. The X-10 has its own problems, but I'll save that review for another time or it will seem like I am out against Suunto. I am not. I am definitely a fan of Suunto, and I hope they read this, give it to their engineers, and fix the problem.

I generally like Suunto because their instruments are rugged and most of them work very reliably. In other words, they tend to have good outdoor gear that you can depend on when you need it. They simply have a bug in this product that they need to accept and fix. It would be my everyday watch if they did that.

You can wear this as a base layer for extra core warmth on those really "crisp" days or you can wear it alone on a hot day in the desert. I was more surprised by the latter than the former. I think most people would agree than any additional layers of Marino Wool will make you feel that much warmer, but it's not intuitively obvious that it works on hot days as well. It is not what I would wear in the desert with full Sun, but that’s only because it only comes in darker colors. If this were white or off-white, I would wear it in the hottest environment. That’s because it fill up with sweat in the heat and acts like a cooling blanket. Very nice! So I would limit this to the upper-80’s or mid-90’s on the high end, but it is incredibly comfortable in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, and low 80’s. That’s a nice range for a single shirt. Adjust to taste.

I normally wear a medium, but the small worked perfectly for me. This has a lot of stretch and comfort in a super-soft feel. For both indoor and warm weather climbing, this is the BOMB!

I travel and play in this shirt. It's very soft and light, and wears with super comfort. Bravo!

I am very impressed with these shoes. They have the protection that I need in a rugged trail shoe, but they are flexible enough in the upper that they don't hurt my feet and they ride like a dream. I've been using them on the rocky trails of the Wasatch Mountains, and I'm very pleased with the way they handle the tough terrain and leave my feet feeling pampered. I often have problems with blisters and abrasions on the tops of my boney feet, but these shoes didn't give me even the hint of rubbing anywhere--very unusual for me. I'm going to have to stock up on these babies!

I really like the pants for the comfort and style that can be both useful and look nice. Since I bought them, I've been practically living in them. I must say that they are sized VERY large. I first ordered the medium which was supposed to be for a 32-inch waist. They were so big that a person with a 35-inch waist would have been very comfortable with them. I exchanged them for the small, and they fit fine. I also would prefer a button from instead of the velcro above the zipper fly, but that is a minor issue. Overall, I really like the pants.

These are simply great pants. No doubt about it. I can wear them in a variety of weather conditions in the backcountry and wear them to work without looking too casual, just put on a nice shirt, and fit right in. The sizing is very accurate, and for this reason, I wish they had odd numbered sizes. I wear a 31, and the 30's are a bit tight, but the 32's are a bit loose. The pockets are practical and functional, and the pant will give nicely through any activity. This is a good product.

Adjustable and deep enough to fit well and stay put, this hat has become my favorite. It's well ventilated, so your head stays cool.

The La Sportiva Pikes Peak is comfortable and well cushioned enough to provide a nice ride on a rough trail, but not so stiff as to be clunky. The padding on the upper, particularly around the ankles is good, and the sole is nice and beefy, providing good protection from rocky mountain trails. I would rate the show with a "5" is it were a little lighter and more flexible.