Nicholas Skog

One of my favorite features of this pack is that the pockets are designed so that if you stuff one it does not take away from the holding capacity of the other. The molded frame is incredibly comfortable and the V like shape of the bag makes it ergonomic to flow with your movements.
This bag has a small pocket at the top of the bag, a vertically oriented outer pocket, and inside the main pocket a small zippered pouch which is useful for things you don't need too often. I love that the main pocket's zippers run the length of both sides of the bag so if you are looking for something in the bottom you don't have to unpack the entire top. Although the waist belt is flimsy it still helps hold the bag to you and take some weight of your shoulders.
Can't help but feel this pack is a little heavy for such a small pack but what you pay for in weight you get back in comfort and function. Over all a solid choice for a bag.

I purchased 2 of these years ago before studying abroad in Viet Nam. I was amazed that I could pack nearly all my clothing into a XL bag and compress it down to the size of a bowling ball.
More recently I spent 9 months living in a tent in SE Alaska (a temperate rainforest). I used the same two bags plus a new one. I kept nearly all my possessions in the 3 combine bags. They proved to be amazing when my tent failed and turned into a pool with canopy and kept my stuff dry through numerous other challenges including a kayaking trip through Glacier Bay National Park.
There durability, compression, and waterproofing make these bags a great choice if you are willing to put out the extra money. In my mind there is little question. These are worth it.
I used a Medium to stuff my 15 degree down mummy bag, sleeping bag liner and pjs. It also was my pillow for 9 months.
I stuffed my clean clothing into my Large
My extra large would be used for anything that was left over.

I got this hat last christmas and love it! I wore it almost daily for 9 months in SE AK. It is thin enough that I could wear a climbing helmet over it and still stays warm through those rainforest downpours that could last days in SE AK. In fact, it doesn't even feel like it gets wet in the rain. (I love merino)
This hat is spectacular.

As I work on my trad skills it is a relief to know that I can count on my gear. My BD camalots with their wide range help me fumble less and feel safer with my placements. It is good to know that even if I do mess up and over extend a cam, it's double axle gives me a chance as oppose to other cams which lack this feature and will likely blow if this happens.
These cams are light yet durable, easy to handle and a hallmark of trad climbing through the country. I trust them with my life. You can too.

After a light 4 mile hike I stare at a rushing glacial river fed by Herbert Glacier. No stepping stones bridged this river so I pick a narrow gap between the two sides and take a running leap. The gap is 6 ft wide and drops into fast flowing icy water but I am wearing my brand new Morans. The surprisingly light shoes make the jump easy.
Next up is a chossy scramble traversing a 45 degree slope to the glacier. The ankle support and tight lacing system keeps me up right while the solid sole provides all the traction I could ever need.
After making it to the glacier, I find the source of the river leads under the glacier to a blue ice cave. As I step through the water the treated suede and nylon don't even absorb a drop. After about 8+ long hiking sessions in SE Alaska where it rains constantly and treading through standing water was frequent the suede finally began to take in water slowly but the Gore-tex still kept my feet unbelievably dry even in 5 inches of standing water.
On my way back from the glacier hoping over rugged terrain on the communal trail I feel assured I finally found a pair of hiking boots that not only can keep up with me but help me excel in many conditions.
I normally wear a 41.5 size shoe and love these in a 8.
A word of caution: once you go Asolo you may never want to hike in anything else.

This spork is incredibly useful. Even with spaghetti I had no trouble eating. Ok, maybe a tiny bit of trouble but this spork is way more versatile than I expected. And how can you beat the price?!?!

When I first got this cover I though it seemed thin but with everyone raving about the materials strength I shrugged it off. After a few months of using it on my bd predator I put it in the back of one of my trail crew's vans and noticed a three direction tear starting from the rivet. It is still usable with a little duct tape lovin' but I since it ripped while I was in town without a ton of abuse I give it 3 stars.

in conclusion: meh it's ok but watch the rivet on the bottom It is a huge week spot

As a Team Leader for a trail crew in SE AK I lived in a tent for 9 months. While double kneed carhartts shredded, rain jackets failed, and I lost track of how many tents I went through, the one thing I could count on day-in and day-out was a comfortable pair of quick drying exofficio boxer briefs. They retained their stretch and never chaffed even after wearing one pair for a week straight of rain and running around trails.
For the entire 9 months I was in Alaska I had no other underwear and each pair is still going strong. Not once did I find these uncomfortable. If I had the cash I would get rid of my cotton and replace them with these. Just go with it, these are fantastic!
I am 5' 7" and 150 lbs with an athletic build and a small was the perfect size for me.

These gloves are clearly constructed very well. When putting them on I felt a burst of warmth from the thick insolation which was great on cold days.
Where they fell short was the lack of the DWR on the leather palms. One of the first few times of me wore them I made a few snow balls to throw at some friends. I felt a chill and looked down to see the leather soaking up some of the snow melt. I tried reapplying the Hestra leather treatment but the problem continued. This was a deal breaker for me since I am primarily living in a temperate rain forest (SE AK).
Overall I am impressed with Hestra's construction quality and materials but see there are some limitations that move me to wanting an actual waterproof layer for my next set of heavy gloves. I still think these gloves would do well for some solid park sessions in cold snow. If you are dealing with wet snow/freezing rain look elsewhere.

P.S. Hestra's size scale is great.

I used this product on my all leather work boots but it didn't seem to do much of anything to revive their waterproof finish.

At first when I received this this shirt I questioned its durability but it has stood up to the test of time. When working out on the trail when it was nearly always raining this was my go to layer to keep me warm even when I was getting dumped on. After putting it on I would instantly feel the difference it made. The zipper is key to giving some ventilation when the sun (rarely) peaked out of the clouds.
The shirt was very comfortable as a base layer and stay far less stinky than other shirts even after being warn on a trail worker who hasn't showered in a week!

At first when I received this this shirt I questioned its durability but it has stood up to the test of time. When working out on the trail when it was nearly always raining this was my go to layer to keep me warm even when I was getting dumped on. After putting it on I would instantly feel the difference it made. The zipper is key to giving some ventilation when the sun (rarely) peaked out of the clouds.
The shirt was very comfortable as a base layer and stay far less stinky than other shirts even after being warn on a trail worker who hasn't showered in a week!

At first when I received this this shirt I questioned its durability but it has stood up to the test of time. When working out on the trail when it was nearly always raining this was my go to layer to keep me warm even when I was getting dumped on. After putting it on I would instantly feel the difference it made. The zipper is key to giving some ventilation when the sun (rarely) peaked out of the clouds.
The shirt was very comfortable as a base layer and stay far less stinky than other shirts even after being warn on a trail worker who hasn't showered in a week!

I have been wearing 6 pairs of these socks exclusively for 9 months in SE Alaska. They are comfortable, breath well, and most importantly while living in a rain forest, dry quickly. They have held up well considering I would only use 2 pair per week and was doing trail crew work which required me being on my feet from sun up to sun down and in a world of trench foot my feet were rairly a problem. For the price you won't be disappointed!

I wanted to love this jacket but during a hike one of the seams on the sleeves was torn without me noticing. The material is simply not strong enough for demanding activities.
This jacket has a great athletic fit that was loose enough to fit my stoic insulated welder underneath yet was not baggy. I like the long sleeve design because you can hide your hands in the sleeves in a downpoor yet stell use the cuff velcrow if the sleeves get in your way. The amount of pockets are great and their locations well done. I wish that it had core venting but the pockets do function as vents. The bad part about that is if you want to put your hands in your pockets while it is raining water will come in the jacket.
My take: a fairly well designed jacket but the material is simply not strong enough to put up with activities like climbing. It is very packable and light but then again so are the arcteryx alphas and they are durable.

This net did a fine job protecting against mosquitoes and larger bugs. Though to my displeasure in Dry Bay, AK I discovered that sworms of no see ums would fly right through unperturbed. Which was perturbing indeed!

When I bought these gloves I was looking for a shell like glove that would keep my hands dry and block the wind while biking. I still have not found gloves which do just that.
In the rain, water bleeds right through the seams.
They are slightly better in the wind but still the seams are a huge weakness.
I would not recommend these gloves much bellow 30 degrees F. Considering I don't really wear gloves until around this temperature these gloves are pretty useless.
If you want real wind/water resistance you need taped seams. The only thing I do really like about these gloves is the grips, which are nice and tacky.
Verdict: Save your money, get gloves with taped seams. Your hands will thank you for it.

I bought 2 pairs of these 2 years ago right before studying abroad in Viet Nam. They are very very comfortable, breathable but noticeably thin. I was concerned about this when I initially bought them but decided to trust patagonia's reputation. This past fall I noticed holes have developed in the crotch due to normal wear. For this reason I would not buy these again. Yes it took a year and 1/2 for them to develop this wear but wore them at most 1 a week and my 3 for a dollar cotton boxer briefs that I have had for twice that time have yet to wear through. Come on patagonia I expected more for a $30 a pair premium!

These are my first dive into very aggressive bouldering/sport shoes. I was not disappointed. They are much more sticky than my scarpa technos and are great for smearing. The tip of the toe is pointed and is easy to hook on the smallest holds (great for over hangs) while the toe box is comfortably wide for my medium wide feet. Probably my favorite part of these shoes is their tight form fit and aggressive bottom turn. I primarily use them for bouldering and high difficulty sport routes. I would not want to trad in these (owwwwww).
I am concerned about the laces breaking and although leaving them undone or loose is fine when your toeing or smearing if you are going to be doing heal hooks the laces need to be tight. When I sized these I felt comfortably tight in a size 41 but sized down to a 40.5 and I am glad I did. When they were new my feet would literally cramp as I put them on but once they were in it was worth the discomfort. Now that they have stretched some they are comfortable while climbing (not on the ground!).

This biner is huge and perfect for top roping and trad master points, etc. when you want something large to clip multiple things into. They can be a little over kill for simple things like belaying and personally clipping in to mps if you are concerned about weight. I prefer the screw gate because the auto allows climbers not to think about checking locks and if that auto lock jams as the binear gets older you might be going for a tumble. Always double check even if you get the auto lock! Happy climbing!

When I was new to rock climbing and didn't really know what I needed this was a good starting package. A friend got me a great deal on this package so I couldn't say no (not that I knew enough to say no even if it wasn't a good deal). After sport climbing, bouldering, and trad climbing with this gear here are my thoughts;The harness is great! Really, really comfortable and I am still here to tell you about it so it must be good. It is pretty light weight and has enough loops on it to hold a decent size rack. For all intensive purposes this is all you will need in a harness unless you are going to be a gear snob. I plan to use it for years to come.The binear is also sweet. Big for clipping into muiltiple points, rounded so it doesn't create unnecessary friction while belaying or repelling, I have bought 3 more of these binears and they are still my favorites.
The ATC is your standard belay device. It is fine for in the gym and top roping. When you start to get into belaying a leader you may want a device with teeth so to give you more friction especially if the leader is heavier than you! Also teeth are nice for top rope to if you have a person taking for a minute or 2 you wont have to grip the rope as tightly with teeth. With this belay device, since it is smooth on both sides you have to put a good amount of downward force to hold someone stable. The bottom line though is I had no problem with this ATC for about 10 months until I got into trad. The difference is pretty substantial though. If you have been climbing all day, teeth can be a real life saver for tired hands.
Finally the chalk bag: This bag falls under the same category as the ATC. It gets the job done but as you get more into different types of climbing you may decide to switch it up. The bag is small, which for me was ok b/c I have small hands (if you don't it might be annoying). I have to say if you pack a chalk ball with a ton of chalk though it can be a little restricting. Also the lack of a belt can be annoying if you grow to like bouldering with a chalk bag on... but if your a beginner only time will tell! For me I bought a new chalk bag recently that is bigger has a belt and a couple extras that made it worth the additional $.On a last note, the chalk shot they give you is SWEET. Best chalk I have used yet and it lasted me 6 months of fairly consistent climbing.In relation to this I will post a gear list or 2 of alternative beginner start ups that you might want to look at if you are not sure what to get. Check them out...

When I was just getting into trad I ordered a few of these for multiple uses. They definitely get the job done, although if you want something to use for a MP or use to clip into multiple pieces of webbing/rope you might want to get something bigger. These biners are on the smaller side of things and are not great for things like clipping yourself in. They are still bomber though and useful to have on your harness just in case!

I bought this a while ago and after using it for months I have found it just does not allow chalk to permeate well. You can squeeze and pat all you want but the chalk just lightly dusts your hands. I tried stretching out the ball to allow chalk to go through but that has not improved its performance. The only effective use I found for the ball was to hold the chalk and use it with loose chalk in the bottom of the bag. Over all just doesn't work!

Been wearing it for a few days now and I don't think I want to ever wear another jacket again. This jacket just arrived in time for a cold windy set of days and am I glad. Standing in this jacket in the wind is pretty much the same as standing in it when it is still. The wind is completely blocked!
Its weight and thickness are deceiving. Despite it having the feel and weight of something much less bomber (you could compare it to a track warm-up), this jacket is warmer than pretty much any other single item that I have worn. Although all I have said about it makes it seem like you would only wear this jacket on harsher days, that is not the case at all. I just wore it for a 2 hour car ride in which time I would normally find just a plain hoody too hot. This jacket was perfectly comfortably thanks to the core venting/breathability.
As a last comment about the jacket, its design is very well thought out. The material is solid, the seams are reinforced in places of common wear and the pockets are placed in a way that increases convenience to the wearer.
As the Angus said in his review god bless you Bill from backcountry. You have made my dream of the perfect soft shell jacket a reality.
FYI I am 5'7" ~150lbs with an athletic build and a medium is the perfect size for me (also allows for layering if desired).

This shirt was my first dive into merino wear and I have not been disappointed. True to all the hype about merino wool this shirt wicks away sweat like no one else's business. But that is not the only reason I love the shirt so much.
The combination of a 1/2 zip neck and thumbholes offer the wearer comfort in a wide range of temperatures. When I walk in from the cold I simply roll the thumbhole section into the rest of my sleeve and unzip so I can adjust to the temperature. This is also great if when I going from a cold start to intense workout so I don't need to be ripping off layers as I heat up.
I am 5'7" ~150lbs, athletic build, and fit well into a small. The shirt is soft against my skin. Not much could fit underneath because it is skin tight and I have felt warmer when I don't wear anything underneath it so that the merino can do its job!
My only gripe with this shirt is wearing it climbing I got a hole in it without noticeably grazing it. Many of you may say well no sh*t, it is thin merino, but just fyi.