Ryan Ivy

so, this is great for a day on the rocks! it's got some flex and stretch to it and it's very breathable and it's wicks like nobody's business! patagonia is the competition to beat in layers IMO. i'm more of a cap 3 guy because it's just so versatile in mild and colder weather conditions but this layer feels great against the skin and keeps you dry! it provides some uv protection and most importantly looks good. hehe.

had mine now for about a year. still doing great. great for catching an edge and really hugging the wall. i've climbed with em on quartz, sandstone, limestone, etc and they've held up great. i dig em, but not super aggressive.

the chest ascender works great. good piece to have for beginners doing any type of ascending. it's good because it'll help prevent the climber/ascender from conking their head on the side of the rock. the added auto-locking device prevents any slippage. also good to have for any type of building or tower ascending. definitely does its job

love this jacket. great for expeditions, alpine, whatevs. it's legit. too legit. in fact, it's too legit to quit. it's indestructible and a bomber jacket that can take a shizzload of beating. i'd recommend sizing down. girlfriend had to actually size down 2 sizes from her normal pat size. for guys, at least one size down and you'd still have TONS of extra room for movement. i'm 6'2, 165lbs and small fits good enough to have several layers. get it!

this jacket is amazing. everything about it, however, you absolutely MUST size down! don't even think about not sizing down! i researched this HIGH and LOW everywhere on the net to make sure i got the correct sizing, and my girlfriend is 5'3, and not sure about her weight (she will never tell me!) but she is a 28 in the waist, wears a size 8, and 34c in the bust. she always wears a medium in patagonia. medium in the capilenes etc. she would be swimming in the medium, i sized down and got the small and it was still too big and overly puffy in the sleeves and everywhere else. luckily she was able to go to the pat store in denver and they had an XS in her size. fits PERFECT!...so in my opinion i say size down 2 sizes from normal!i read the review from Nicole Waltersdorf, and she's dead about it, i couldn't believe it! i will attach a pic so you can believe it! my girlfriend can still get at least a couple of layers under the jacket with no restriction at all! she can't stop thanking me for it!

much easier in my opinion for descending than the grigri and many other devices. you squeeze the the handle and it allows you to control the speed of your descent (you can get cooking on this thing if you're not careful, i don't mind it though). this is THE iconic caving device, and works extremely well in descent. not my cup of tea for ascending stuff though. overall, everyone needs one if all you do is cave or abseil. i've had good experience with mine.

ok, well if i had kids i'd name at least one of em grigri. this is such a classic device. great for beginners too. but be sure to get proper instruction before using this baby. thread this the wrong way and you're partner won't climb with your dumb bum anymore. it's a little heavy and not the lightest thing out there, but it's simplicity and easy use won't give you arm and hand cramps holding on to your partner during their frequent long pansy breaks. overall...this is one inspired device that has upped the ante in protecting climbers.

i picked this up for my girlfriend a while back and she loves it. i still like my flash hoody better, but she looks GOOD in this thing!..very warm and stretchy. she gets compliments from everyone all the time, and me on an hourly basis. she has the blue one. and she's constantly thanking me for this piece.

i picked this off a friend used for $30 and i use it almost every time i hit the crags. i love the ATC and all, but the ATC wears me out way faster than the grigri. it conserves energy especially when you've been going after a project for several hours. great for belaying and just slightly more difficult for feeding rope to your lead climber than a traditional ATC, but there is a technique, and i still think it's fairly easy.

i picked this vest up for my girlfriend, and regretted that i didn't get it for myself! i wish they still had the grey in stock. she always gets complimented on it, and never complains when we're out hiking or climbing. this looks and functions great. the regulator series by patagonia is definitely the competition to beat. very warm, lightweight, and breathable.

these are awesome slip ons. hands down the best looking ones on the market. the stitching around the box of the toe...could be a littttle more discrete, but the overall appearance looks great. very comfy and lightweight.

this is a great piece to add to your collection. in my own opinion i'd go for the half zip pullover cap 4 by patagonia. it keep your neck warmer and if you're hauling a sling it doesn't cut your neck up. i own almost every single layer patagonia has out right now and they are definitely the market leader in layers right now. all capilene they make have Gladiodor which keeps your layer from holding a stench after a wash. this has excellent wicking capabilities as well as every patagonia layer. this one is thicker than most others and is the warmest of the capilene layers. performs very well in the cold.

my experience thus far have been great with these shoes. i love the gore-tex on em. i've been in snow on some trails in boulder, co with em and they've kept me dry after extended exposure to them...not sure about how they perform in the stream yet. these are currently my shoe of choice right now. i really like the design and the lugs on the shoe. i feel like they help on the ascent. i have had an issue with the meshing on top of the shoe where it got snagged on something and tore it, but they're still perfectly functional. i have used these at work and out in the elements and i really enjoy them because of how comfy they are and my feet dont get sore as some of my other shoes. i'd recommend these for sure. they're breathable too, and even with a pair of thick synthetic socks my feet don't sweat.

i love these shoes. i wear them practically everyday. only bad thing was the meshing on the top of the shoe got hung up and ripped some...it's just part of the design, but still. it initially took my feet about a day to get use to them. after that they have been my shoe of choice in my collection. they do kinda have an annoying squeal on the heal of the sole when you walk on tile. but it makes me not drag my feet anymore that's for sure. i seems others have had this issue with the shoe too.

this jacket is the apple of my eye. 2 of my friends never take this jacket off. this looks so good on. it's incredibly light. it's competitor is MontBell's Ex Light Down Jacket...it's 900 down fill and 5.7oz. which weighs less than half of the down sweater at 12.4oz. with 800 fill. i personally prefer the design of patagonia...but they are roughly at the same price, montbell beats the specs of the patagonia jacket. i love this jacket, and it functions flawlessly, but if you want the lightest, give a look at montbell.

my girlfriend went to REI...(1st mistake)...and bought one of REI's packs..(2nd mistake)...after very little convincing of how worthless that pack was and how heavy, bulky, and fugly it was, she took it back to REI and returned it. while we were there i was browsing through the packs to kill time and i came across this beaut. the hip belt is the best in design IMO. it sits on a swivel and is incredibly comfy. i waved my girlfriend over and she about had a heart attack she was so in love with it. it looks great and has great features and functionality. i really dig the compression pouch on the front and the shoulder straps are super comfy too. i had to convince her not to buy it right then and there at REI. not near as good as a return policy as backcountry.com. plus they're way overpriced and have several employees that are oblivious to the outdoor world. "what? we have Black Diamond pack?...huh lemme check the computer....yups..looks like we do..." that seems to be a reoccurring theme when we stop in. but there are some good folks there too. anywho. REI didn't even have her size in stock, and i convinced my girlfriend that..of course..backcountry.com will have it in stock...and have more color options. she was sold. this pack feels like and functions like a top and front loader pack. solid back panel that helps hold its form and helps out those with back issues and is not a floppy design. i can go on and on about the pack but just know you need to buy it. the design is classic black diamond and if you're girlfriend wants to get a pack...i'd highly recommend this one.

i love this pack. the swivel hip belt is the best in design. very comfortable and durable. the OpenAir backpanel is great from keeping you sweating like a pig in houston. very functional belt pockets for storing cameras, cliffbars, compasses, whatevs. the construction and frame of the pack is great and not floppy. you throw it down empty and it still stands up and doesn't flop over. i'm a big fan of the compression pouch on the front of the pack. the shoulderstraps are much more comfortable then other packs i've owned and it functions almost as a front and top loader pack. this is an excellent excellent pack that is versatile and light and will keep your shoulders happy.

this is 100g of PrimaLoft One. which is the best warmth-to-weight ratio on the market right now. it's not as light as goose down fill, however, it keeps you much toastier and allows for the jacket to get wet and still be effective in providing warmth. super compressible and i love the design here. the jacket that best rivals this is made by montbell. for down..go MontBell Ultralight Down Inner Parka. it's 9 oz and 800 down fill....for synthetic go..MontBell Ultralight Thermawrap Insulation Parka - it's 12 oz...but won't be a little warmer, but just as water resistant. Exceloft retain less than 1% of their weight in water. I'd stick with patagonia or montbell on these coats.

it will do the trick that's for sure. the bd momentum is practically the only harness i see in the climbing gyms..because it's such great value. great price with excellent functionality.

very functional and smooth. all my buddies and i have this in our rack.

such a good bag. super ultralight and compresses down good. 1/3 zipper on the side. minimalist's dream. i don't know of a lighter bag for 30 degrees.

this is easily one of the raddest vests out there. chewbacca, sasquatch, and even robin williams would be jealous of this vest. the mesh lining locks in your core body heat and the fluffy fleece will have every lady and kitten rubbing their face against your newly purchased and classic retro-x fleece from patagonia.

without even having to try this jacket on i can tell you this much...this is THE gluttonous and ever-eating belly accentuator. even if you are lacking on packing some spare jelly in the belly...this is your dream come true. look like you have a gut without all the expensive surgery or repeated piggly wiggly visits. 2 words...patagonia...patagonia....that's all you need to know. one of the best top notch gear producers out there. you can never go wrong with them, and if you do...backcountry.com gots your back.

1st of all. they look great. they feel great on. super warm and i have issues with my extremities getting really cold...wear a pair of patagonia's mountaineering socks and these are as good as it gets. i'm convinced that sorel is definitely the industry leader in winter snow boots. i love em. and the lugs work good too!

hands down montbell has the competition beat. don't even waste your time looking at other jackets. the weight beats most of its competitors by being twice as light with more fill. this...is where its at. love it.

this is easily one of the best looking parkas on the market. the cuffs are amazing. i can't say enough about them. this jacket looks SO good on and they make the lightest jackets out there. if i had the money i would only buy montbell gear.

good little jacket. instantly warmer when you put it on, just stay far far away from the fire, cus if a ember comes out of that thing it will burn a hole so quick on the shell of this jacket. several small little holes in my jacket as a result. otherwise this a bomb jacket and super warm and incredibly comfy!

good pair of trail shoes and i enjoy the traction. the bottom of the tongue for some reason rests a little funny on top of my foot...and can be a little irritating. but very trail worthy. so far no other complaints..

i love this vest, and i love slim fitting clothing, however, i also have a rather long torso, so, when i got a small, it barely sits above the belt. i have the older one. looks muy bueno tho.

this stuff definitely comes in handy i'll tell ya that much. got it out of curiosity and preparation. be prepared. be very prepared when you come into trails with poison ivy...and i always thought i was immune to poison ivy...