Chad Brackelsberg

This camera shoots very good quality video. For my uses, I decided that I needed a camera that also shoots still images so that I do not have to always carry 2 cameras. I was able to capture still images from the video I took that were good enough for screen or web display, but this was a hassle. I also found the record slider to be a little cumbersome and I would get a lot of camera movement while turning on and off. I also had trouble working the slider with gloves on.

This camera is for you if you want a simple, light weight camera.
This camera is not for you if you want to be able to capture still images and video from the same device.

I am a big fan of an active tele binding, but I am a bigger fan of going light. The Voile Switchback is more active than the Targa and lighter weight. I have close to 100 days on my Switchbacks that I switch between Voile Insane's and Voile Drifters. The ski/binding combination is very light and performs great in ski mode. Switching from tour to ski mode is extremely easy with just sliding the lever from 1 side to another with your pole. Snow/ice buildup between the binding and boot has not been an issue for me. The dual climbing bars is a great standard feature (Black Diamond has dual bars, but you have to buy the high bars separately) that is a huge benefit for touring. I would recommend these bindings to anyone who is looking for a mid-active, light weight binding for mostly touring use.

I tried numerous dual bottle waist packs before I finally found one that did not bounce when running. This pack has 2 good sized zippered storage compartments, 2 bottle sleeves, and a bungee large enough to hold a jacket and pants. The bottle sleeves are lightly insulated so that your bottles do not over head from contact with your body. The sleeves are at a slight angle so it is easy to get the bottles in and out. Once in the sleeves, the bottles do not jiggle/bounce and fall out. I use this pack for longer ultra's when 1 bottle is not enought or when I do not want to have a second bottle in my hand. The only downfall of this waist pack is that GoLite does not use the elastic webbing like Nathan uses on their waist packs.

The Patagonia Ultra Shorts have a soft waist band and a comfortable liner. The pockets are quite large and good for small and light items. The major downfall with these shorts is in the front pockets. The pocket liner is not sewn to the short and therefore if you put anything more than a couple of gels in the pockets, they bounce and shift. If you don't use the font pockets much, these are great, but if you want to load up your pockets, these shorts are not for you.

The Montrail Streak shoe did not fit my feet so I was thrilled with the comfortable fit of the Mt Massochist. I have used this shoe on everything from short runs to a rocky 100K. There was not quite enough cushion for a 100K (for my feet at least), but these are great shoes for training runs of 20 miles of less. There is minimal cushion and upper protection on these shoes so if you are pront to kicking rocks and roots, these may not be for you. These are a great shoe to add to the quiver of any trail runner who is looking for a light weight shoe.

I have been a diehard Hardrock user for over 6 years. When the Hardrock was end of lifed, I was very disappointed. I did not like the fit of the Sabino (the Hardrock replacement), but the Rockridge was a greate replacement. These shoes have less cushion than the Hardrock, but the lighter weight makes is a good sacrifice. I put 200 miles on a pair of Rockridges in a little over 3 weeks of August and now these are my 'go-to' shoe for any run over 20 miles. The shoes handle smooth trail and rocky, technical trail equally well.

The Injini Toe Socks are a great sock for people who get blisters on the ends of their toes and between their toes. The socks are comfortable and they don't stretch or bunch during runs. The socks do not last an extremely long time.

Overall, I recommend these socks for people who have issues with blisters and toe rubbing.

Nathan got everything right with this one. It is highly adjustable for a perfect fit, the straps are soft and can even be worn on bare skin, the front pockets hold enough food for a few hours, and the pack is just large enough for what you need for a long day on the trail. This pack is great for long training runs and races when you need to have to either be self contained or won't have an aid station for 3 or more hours. I have used numerous other hydration packs and this is the only pack that I turn to for running.

The Avalung packs are an incredible addition to anyone's touring package. You hope to never need to use the avalung, but it is nice to have just in case. The Anarchist pack is very durable which means it is also fairly heavy. The side zip access is a great feature allowing quick access to the main compartment. I am tall (6'1") so I had to go with the 42L for proper fit. The frames are not adjustable to exact fit can be a challenge. There are definitely better packs out there, but to have an avalung with you all the time is worth it.

After having 2 BCA beacons die on me in 3 years, I thought it was time for a new brand. The Pieps has not disappointed me. The range is about 25 to 20 percent longer than the BCAs I had been using. It picks up signals very quickly. The mark feature for multiple buriels is a great feature that allows for very rapid searches of multiple victims.

This is a great shovel for the size and weight. I use it for racing and spring conditions. This may not be the shovel for days when you plan to be digging a lot. The short handle and small blade limit the amount of snow you can move. Consider going with the TelePro for everyday use.

With feet that are very prone to blisters, the T1 has a great fit. I have high arches, narrow foot box, and boney heals. The moldable liners give comfortable fit. The boots feel as good after hour 12 as they do when you first put them on. T1s are not the lightest boot, but they drive a fat ski better than their lighter cousins.

The weight of these shoes was appealing enough to purchase them. Unfortunately, they have a seam in the instep that completely mutilated my feet after only 4 miles. I have very high arches and have tried these shoes with both custom orthotics as well as Montrail moldable inserts and had the same problems. After only 4 miles the instep seam had caused a large enought blister to soak blood through the shoe. I have given these shoes 6 tries with the same result each time (while fully healing between each try).

These are great trail shoes. They are very light and more comfortable than the Streak's. They have a moderate amount of toe box protection. I have used these on runs of up to 10 miles and found them very comfortable. I plan to train in them up to 20 miles, but will stick with the beefier Hard Rocks for runs over 20 miles.

I would recommend these shoes for any trail runner with good ankle strength (they don't have as much support as heavier trail shoes).

I have sworn by the Hard Rock for Ultra Marathons for the past 5 years. The shoe has great protection in the toe box and a cushioned sole to absorb everything the trail throws at you. The shoe is heavier than other shoes which makes it less adequate for short & fast races, but when you are heading out for several hours on the trail, your feet will appreciate the Hard Rock.

These bindings will let you go big. They are very active. They weigh a little more than the Ascents or Switchbacks, but if you tour on a fat ski and stiff boot, these are the bindings for you. The spring cartridges loosen and need to be tightened frequently. Snow build up under the foot is rarely a problem.

The whippet is a must have for any steep skiing. When the snow is hard you will be happy to have a whippet with you for both the ascent and the descents. They are a great tool when you dont want to bring a full ax with.

The STS tail kit is a great improvement over the old clip fix tail. It keeps the tail on snug. The tail straps will break over time, so carry a spare. The Glidelite skins are a nice lightweight skin. I have had issues with the sides curling due to the thin backing material. I would highly recommend these, but don't expect to get as many years out of them as the regular BD skins.

This is a great shell when you need to carry a shell, but dont need bomber protection. I carry this on mountain runs when you need to be protected from afternoon thunderstorms. The light weight and compact size fit easily in a small hydration pack or under a bungee on a hip belt. The shell does not breath the best, but it serves it;s purpose. I wore this jacket for the 2008 Leadville Trail 100 where it rained for the entire race. The jacket kept me dry enough to stay warm in the 40F temperatures.