Suzanne Courteau

I bought it because it was 1) wool and 2) on sale. It's a good layering piece. The merino wool knit is smoother than I was expecting; it goes well under t-shirts (a standard look here in the Pacific Northwest) and slides under jackets. The neck is looser than I've experienced in similar shirts, but it's not floppy or sloppy-looking. I, too, wish for maybe an inch more length in the torso (and arms!) but I think that for most women the fit will be fine. I did order a large instead of my usual medium, however.

This skirt is growing on me. I've been wearing it to outdoor events, while gardening, and on long car drives. (I bought it in Natural.) It's very comfortable in warm weather. The waistband settles at your natural waistline, and the fabric catches the breeze. The 55 hemp/45 cotton fabric does feel a bit like an old pair of Carhartts, and doesn't easily wrinkle. Detailing includes contrasting-color stitching and a cute polka-dot trim on the inside waistband. I find myself wearing it a lot, often grabbing it out of the closet when I get home from work.

The sizing does run large: I got the skirt in an 8 when I usually wear a 10/12, and it fits well. At 5'10", it hits me just below the knee.

I wish it had a left-hand front pocket (it has a pocket on the right front), and maybe a key/coin pocket as well.

Also, it's machine washable, but the tag says "drip dry in shade" -- something you may want to consider.

I use my ZX/1 sandals as my primary hiking footwear AND travel footwear! They're stylish enough for around town (large cities excepted) and if I take an impromptu hike they stay on my feet much better than my Birkenstocks.

The system of self-adjusting straps can be confusing, but once you get the hang of it it's really nice to change the fit to fit the conditions (eg, with/without socks, neoprene booties, kicking around town, bouldering)

My first pair lasted years, and when the straps finally frayed and the sole wore down, I found out the company will refurbish them for you...I think that would have been a viable option if I hadn't let them wear out so much.

If you hike in them, be aware that rocks and sticks will get you. On the other hand, Chacos never gave me blisters from extended uphill or downhill hiking like my hiking boots/shoes did. And your feet will be wonderfully tan at the end of your hike, not pink and wrinkly. But on longer hikes the skin on your feet can dry and crack -- not a flaw in the shoe, just a reality of hiking in sandals.

As far as these shoes go, I have zero complaints about quality or function or Chaco customer service. They're excellent value for the price.

I know everybody loves their tent, but...I really love my tent. Why? It's ROOMY. My husband's 6'2" and he fits. I and three of my friends all fit in this tent. If it's just me, it's a palace. It pitches quick. It's easy to pitch over a variety of ground: bushes or rocks in the way? No problem with this tent. Pitching on granite or sand? No problem with this tent (stake the corners down with rocks). I've pitched it in howling storms: wind doesn't knock it down and rain doesn't get in. Your muddy boots will not soil this tent, 'cause it has no floor. You can set it up high to catch the breeze, or set it up low to keep rain from bouncing in...and when it's raining in the morning, you can pack all your stuff and get ready to roll while still in the tent, then quickly tear it down and go.

The only time I had water inside the tent was when I pitched it on an old roadbed and a thunderstorm broke out...the water could not soak into the compacted soil, and so ran along the surface and into the tent. My fault!

The only time I've experienced condensation inside this tent was when I and three friends (and our gear!) were trapped in it for an entire day of rain at Pt Reyes National Seashore. Then it got a little clammy.

Oh, I almost forgot! All this and only 2lbs in weight.