I have been using these MH Talus pants for a few months and have come to a few conclusions. First of all, in terms of durability and comfort they are great. I have had hiking/climbing pants that had stretch as one of their main selling points and the Talus are definitely my favorite when that is needed or desired. I have gone through some gnarly brush and rough conditions where I thought I might snag it or rip it and nothing ever happened. Secondly, for the multitude of uses these pants are good for my favorite is for trail running on cool days through Barton Creek. The light weight and breathability make these perfect with no fear of branches or bush tearing up my legs and ankles. My only real complain is other than the stitching at the cuff that other posters mention, (my right cuff is starting to come undone) I am not too fond of how tight they come across the male area. I definitely tried on the Small, Medium and Large and for my 33ish to 34 waist I needed the Medium, but it is a little tight down there and shows a little too much. Maybe you wont have a problem but I just wanted to mention it. Definitely worth the price if you can find them on sale. If not they are a great investment.

This vest is great. I have been looking for a lightweight, high quality down vest for a while. The two I narrowed it down to was the Zeus vest and the UL Down Inner Vest from Montbell. Both were around the same price range and weight. Both had high quality 800+ fill power down. My only concern with the Montbell is that because of the difference in sizing I would need to try it on to determine the best fit. Unfortunately, no one in Austin sells Montbell (weird, I know). So I was able to try on the Marmot and it was perfect. Nice close to the body cut, not thick or bulky thanks to the 800 fill and I totally trust Marmot with pretty much anything. My first opportunity to try it out came last night as the temp dipped to around 52 degrees. It perfomed great with nice heat retention. Very please with my purchase and would recommend to anyone.

I love my Camelback Rogue and have used and abused it for almost 4 years. It has been hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, skiing, and everywhere in between. The 2 liters that it holds is typically the right amount if you know how to ration appropriately. The two main pockets are the perfect size for wallets, keys and a Blackberry. It also has to side mesh pockets for granola bars or GORP bags. Just aces in my book.

The Rain Shadow is a great, durable product from probably my favorite brand Patagonia. This was my first true rain coat and before I really knew what else was out there it was fine. After more research and testing this jacket is to bulky and full cut. The extra material just provided more space to get hot and muggy in warm temps. It also doesnt breathe as well as some others out there in the same price range (Marmot Aegis for one). I love Patagonia and they always make great stuff this just wasnt what I was looking for.

I couldnt be happier with this bag. I shouldnt expect anything less than excellence from a company like Western Mountaineering. I picked this 15 degree bag up with the intent of it being my 2 to 3 season bag but it is so warm I really can only use it during the coldest part of our Texas winters. I will mainly use it for a Winter bag for around Central Texas. All in all I expected the best for what I was paying and got it. The stitching seems so strong and well done and with the Microfiber shell with any water or condensation that falls on it just beads right off so as to not damage the 800+ fill power down. Finally, you cant beat handmade in the USA. Go for WM!

I have loved the transition from my Patagonia Rain Shadow to the Marmot Aegis. The reason for the switch was simple; the Rain Shadow did its job but was to big in the body of the jacket and didnt breathe all that well. The Aegis was a perfect fit for what I had been looking for. It has a great trim fit with EXCELLENT breathability for the price. It comes with two good sized hand warmer pockets and pit zips. There is also a small pocket on the left arm of the jacket good for small maps or cell phones. Overall, a good choice for those looking to get a great rain jacket/hardshell without the price of Gore-Tex.

I have finally completed my quest for the best trail runner. I have tried others and I won't embarass them by mentioning the brands. Compared to what I have used by other 'high end' brands Salomon has got this market wrapped up. These shoes destroy every category that makes a Trail Runner. There are super light weight, tough upppers, excellent traction and sole, not too stiff but enough for scrambling and they have a Gore-Tex bootie to keep you footsies dry. I have 2 other Salomons with the Quicklace feature and they are all good but this one seems to be designed slightly differently and more efficient. To wrap up if you have the dough this is THE top of the line in my opinion.