Chase Skidmore

I rode a 156 Burton Custom for a number of years and was quite pleased with the board. That is until I got my K2 Turbo Dream. I love this board. It has nice flex and the all-terrain rocker is great for slaying groomers or cruising powder. I weigh about 160 and was really hung up on sizing and finally decided on the 156 because it is a size I am used to and I figured I would be able to flex and ride the board a little harder than I could a 159. Also I am an all around rider so I wanted an all around board. Sweet ride! There is no set color base for each size so ordering one is exciting because you don't know what color you will get until it arrives!

This rope is a great lightweight bi-color rope. It coils easily, clips easily, and ties easily. Like any slim rope the sheath wears faster than a 10+ rope but it does have the abrasion coating and handles rough rock well. I like how the 70m feels like a 60 because it is so light. Because Edelweiss winds their ropes on machines to package them the rope should by unraveled end over end before use to avoid creating a big, snarled, knotty rope mess.

I really like these shoes. These are only my second pair of climbing shoes and I normally climb about once a week. They are decently stiff and super sticky. The synthetic fabric holds its shape well but evolv's synthetic fibers also hold in odor worse than any other type of shoes. I normally have to scrub my feet for a solid 5 minutes in the shower to get the smell off of them. I would consider myself to have normal feet and don't sweat excessively. Stink aside these shoes are totally worth purchasing. I wear a size 11 street size and bought a 10.5 in these babies. If I were to get more hardcore into bouldering I would go down to a 10 but for all around recreational climbing 10.5 works perfect for me.

So this bottle is definitely not leak proof. It has a small valve in the lid to let air in to the bottle as you suck water out the straw. True huge amounts of water will not come out of this thing if it is tipped over. However, if your wife or significant other, lets say, happens to leave this upside down in your pack overnight you may awake to find some wet gear as the water slowly has leaked out the valve overnight. It is great for the car or anywhere else you store a bottle upright. Just be careful when you store this thing upside down. Also, I could never get used to the sippy cup feel. I am sticking with the old-school wide mouth nalgene bottle.

I really enjoy the extra cushion up in the ball of the foot on these socks. The extra padding at the top keeps your foot from rubbing against the shoe even though they are no-show socks, it also keeps the sock from sliding down. The fit is good in all the right spots.

This hat is comfortable and fits great. I love the adjustable back and the blend of cotton and hemp fabrics. The day after I got the sand color I decided to buy the lake color also.

These boots are comfortable and durable. They can get hot in the summer and don't breath as well as other boots. Great for handling big packs and long hikes with a fairly stiff sole. High quality leather and outsole. Crampon ready and durable steel lace grommets.

Took this with me for three months to South America through the Sacred Valley and high elevation. Stays fresh and packs well. Light weight, breathable, and most importantly warmth for the weight! Great for layering and fits well.

This pants are super tough but with the nylon mix they are not too thick and don't take forever to dry. Gusseted and vented crotch helps too. Perfect for hiking, climbing, or even looking a little more respectable when shorts aren't an option. Took them on a three-month trip through South America and they stayed fairly wrinkle-free.

I love these draws. The keylock end slides easily on and off bolts and the wiregate snaps the rope smoothly into place. Thicker dogbone is probably not as light as the dynex ones but I love how they don't twist around.

I bought this tent because of the light weight compared to size. My wife and I will be the only ones using and so far we love it. We fit in with all our gear and room to spare. Easy to set up/take down. Bomber rainfly and backed by MHW watertight guarantee. I have the 2008 version but not a whole lot of design changes were made to the tent. Solid construction but the footprint seems a little weak for the price.

If you are looking to do light and fast trips for two this set works wonderfully. It is simple and self contained. If you have 4 oz fuel canisters or a small stove you can even get them to fit inside the set. The pot heats up quickly and evenly and is great for simple meals. If you are just going to be boiling water this set might be overkill but it is nice to have the bowls and mugs and utensils.

I picked up my MSR's last winter and they are amazing. The design allows these shoes to handle a wide range of snow conditions. I got the 25" and weigh about 160. The heel lifter makes a huge difference on those steep ascents. The bindings are easy to use and glove friendly. Plus I can't pass up the amazing green paint. The women's narrower design is perfect for my wife.

One of the first weeks I had this harness I took a twenty foot whipper on it. I honestly didn't feel a thing. It is so thin and so comfortable with the typical amazing Arc'teryx fit. That said the Arc'teryx fit is fairly slim and the non-adjustable leg loops might be tight on anyone with Apollo Ohno type thighs. After a while you forget you have this thing on. Definitely worth the upgrade.

I love how versatile this pack is. It is just big enough to handle 3-4 day trips comfortably but small enough for the overnighters without becoming a hassle. This pack has amazing ventilation without compromising frame stability. It can hold 6 liters of water and I love the straps to tuck away your telescoping poles. Perfect for Utah and the Southwest.

I just picked up my third pair of these knickers! I don't really need three because they are so durable but I don't want to wear the same pair every day either. I love how this year the fabric stretches more and the fit seems even better. Good for climbing, bouldering, or just cruising around town.