Laurence Wayne Lee

I picked up this shirt for a great price on SAC and have to say that it's one quality piece of gear. The only downside to this shirt is the fact that it's much too long unless you plan on tucking it in.

These are some serious slippers! With a rugged rubber sole I wouldn't think twice of wearing these out to grab the paper or even to go to the store. I picked up a 1/2 size larger than what I regularly wear due to the previous reviewers suggestions but I think I could have stuck with my standard size. The first complaint is that the opening on these is super tight which is a pain and I'm sure will lead to the slipper wearing out prematurely in this area. My only other complaint is that these slippers are super heavy which doesn't exactly scream comfortable.

I have to say that this is my first piece of Arc'teryx gear and it has met my expectations thus far. I most likely wouldn't have picked this shirt up with it's original price tag but considering I grabbed this on SAC it wasn't too bad. I can really appreciate the apparent build quality that Arc'teryx seems to have put into this piece. I have yet to test the odor and moisture retention but this very light shirt feels great against my skin. The fit is great and the fabric stretches very well.

First off I need to say that these aren't a true "no-show" sock which is the biggest gripe I have about them. I picked these up for running and they stick out of my shoes much more than I would have liked them to. Compared to my "North Face Fire Road Running No Show Socks" these just don't cut it for a warm weather running sock. I must say that they are constructed very well, have great cushion and are merino which is always great!

I grabbed 3 packs of these on SAC in different colors for summer use with my mid hiking boots. Of course they don't provide much in the form of cushion but are nice an thin so they keep your feet pretty cool. I wear a 10.5-11 shoe and the large fit me perfectly!

I grabbed this bottle off of SAC and absolutely love it! I've had it for a few weeks now and haven't had any durability issues thus far. It keeps the contents piping hot for hours and hours. I find myself needing to uncover it so that it has a chance to cool down before I can drink it! It also doesn't leak so if you throw it in your bag or tip it over in the car there's no need to worry about a mess. The only con about this thermos is that the color scratches off very easily but this doesn't hurt the functionality so I'm okay with it.

I will say that the construction of the bottle is very solid but it doesn't perform the way I hoped it would. I picked this bottle up off of SAC and planned to use it at the gym but now use it strictly for office use. Unfortunately the water does not come out of the bottle quickly enough so when trying to grab a quick sip while running on the treadmill I find myself fumbling to tip the bottle totally vertical for a what seems like forever to get an adequate amount of water. Compared to my $12 Camelback bottle that takes a matter of seconds to squirt some water into my mouth without interfering with my workout.

I think that this belt will become better with time right now the end of the belt where the nylon was melted to stop fraying is very annoying. It's quite hard and is bothersome if it brushes the skin. It's easy to get on and off but is a bit tricky to get nice and tight. I don't see myself using the beer bottle opener but It's nice to know that it's there in a pinch. One suggestion that I would make would be to have the option to double back though the buckle for security.

This is my second Patagonia product and I must say that they haven't let me down. The build quality of this hoodie is very solid and the Watercress color is fantastic! I haven't fully tested the DWR coating but it does seem to shed water well thus far. It's relatively warm and the fleece lining is soft and comfy. The side cinches are a must to keep the wind out and can be adjusted on the fly. The pockets are really deep and actually sport a hidden zippered pocket within them. It is a loose fit but I guess that's what you get with a snowboard jacket/hoodie. I sure wouldn't use this as a stand alone "Jacket" but it works nice as a sweatshirt/hoodie.

I picked this fleece up in Mango and it's perfect for layering! It fits nice and snug without being skin tight. You can wear it under a jacket for some great warmth or even sport it around on a cool fall day. Definitely happy with my purchase.

I snagged this gem from SAC for 1/2 off and couldn't be happier! I picked the Tarmac color and love it. The backpack has a great deal of storage and is very spacious. Plenty of pockets and zippers to stash things in. The shoulder straps are pretty wide which helps with comfort and functionality. I plan to use this as a daily street bag as well as a hiking day pack.

I picked up this shirt from SAC and couldn't pass up the price for a nice piece of merino clothing. First of all this shirt is super soft and feels great to the touch and the craftsmanship seems to be top notch. Unfortunately I couldn't stand the styling for the price point. If you look at the first picture closely you can see a large seem running across the front of the shirt. This is no mistake and the seem is very noticeable when wearing the piece. I swear that I had it on inside out or backwards but it's just a terrible design.

Grabbed these on SAC without being able to find any reviews and I'm very pleased with my purchase. These are great quality compression shorts that fit nice and snug. The even have a draw string to secure them even further when you're doing vigorous exercise. I primarily have used these for running and they serve their purpose and have held up great thus far!

I have two of these that i picked up on SAC and they are the best merino shirts that I own! They definitely fit tight and are serve the purpose of a base layer or a muscle shirt hence the name Body Fit. I have always been a huge fan of merino wool and after experiencing the quality of Ice Breaker's gear I'm never looking back!

I have two of these in solid colors and they're awesome! Super soft and stretches to fit even the largest of heads. If you looking for a beanie that gives your head that perfect shape then look no further!

I got this jacket on SAC and as soon as I put it on I was in love! This jacket is ultra comfy and has a stellar warmth to weight ratio because of the 800-fill goose down that was used in it's construction. It comes with a nifty little stuff sac so that you can compress it down and stuff it away in you pack. The stuff sac even matches the jacket color! The fleece lining in the pockets was a nice thought but I can't figure out why it's only on one side. :( The only other complaint that I have with this jacket was is its shiny finish which gives it the classic "trash bag" look which plagues so many other down garments. I hope that Mountain Hardwear produces this piece in matte colors next year!

I grabbed this baby in black off of SAC for $209 which was a steal but unfortunately couldn’t get past it’s downfalls so I was forced to return it. I purchased this jacket in a large with the intent of layering underneath it. I’m 5’10” 190lbs with an athletic build and have to say that I was really impressed with this piece until I began to move around. The shoulder area is just way too tight which substantially restricts my range of motion. I first noticed this issue when wearing a standard t-shirt underneath this piece without any other layers. As soon as I put on my Mountain Hardware Phantom Jacket underneath the Snowtastic Jacket the problem became even more noticeable. I hope that Mountain Hardware looks into these issues and re-designs this jacket because it has the potential to be a great piece of gear.

Pros:
Dry Q Elite is super water resistant and highly breathable
Construction is A+
Snow skirt is functional and removable
Hand cuffs w/ thumb holes are functional and comfy
Large hand pockets for stuff
Chest pocket w/ headphone hole
Large hood w/ cinches for sizing down
Side cinches to tighten waist

Cons:
Strange fit in the shoulders which restricts rage of motion

I must say that I've never came across a trigger mitten until I picked these up off of SAC. They have a great wool liner that is removable but doesn't fall out when you try to put them on and off. The construction is solid just like I would expect from Stoic. I haven't taken these mittens down into the negative temps but they have been warm thus far.

I picked up a pair of these and they are super comfortable. The extra padding really helps to keep my feet happy no matter the situation and the wool keeps them warm!

I picked up a pair of these and they are super comfortable. The extra padding really helps to keep my feet happy no matter the situation and the wool keeps them warm!

This is a super light and warm insulating layer from stoic. I picked this up to use it underneath my softshell and it plays an important role as a mid layer on those cold days. I ended up sending it back in exchange for the luft down sweater because I didn't need the hood. Did I mention that it's super light and packs down pretty small? The sleeves have the perfect cuffs so that they stay in place when layering and the inside pocket is set so that you can use your mp3 player with headphones.

This is a super light and warm insulating layer from stoic. I primarily use it underneath my softshell and it plays an important role as a mid layer on those cold days. Did I mention that it's super light and packs down pretty small? The sleeves have the perfect cuffs so that they stay in place when layering and the inside pocket is set so that you can use your mp3 player with headphones.

This is a solid hoodie with a nice mix of wool and fleece. There is a neat little button pocket on the inside that will fit a phone or i pod. The drawstrings on the hood work well if you are trying to shield your face from the wind and the fleece on the insides is soft and comfy. The outside pockets look good and sit flush against the body but are slightly too high to keep your hands in them comfortably.

I picked up this tent on SAC for a great price and wanted to love it but couldn't look past it's flaws. It's definitely not a 2 person tent like most of the reviewers have said. The first flaw with this tent is the 2 pole design. I think that it could have worked but there is a great deal of stress on the smaller pole which I think would cause it to break over time. The second flaw is the fact that it only has one door and then some sort of half zip window on the other side; why not just put in 2 doors? Besides these two flaws this tent seems to be a great 1 person tent that is super light. It took me literally no time to set up but because of it's design i don't think that I could trust it in harsh conditions. I had to send this one back.

These are a solid shoe for wearing around the house or around town but they do seem to run at least 1/2 size too small.

I might not be a professional biker but I sure look like one! I picked up this shirt in large and it fits great. I'm 5'10" 190lbs with an athletic build. The blue color is rich and bright. The half zip option does a good job to get some more air moving. I primarily use this for mountain biking and it serves it's purpose.

I picked up these shoes off of SAC and it was love at first sight! Being a new barefoot runner I eased into the sport and started by wearing these while walking around town to break them in.

I soon realized that the bottom of the shoe had began to come un-glued where it meets the top so I took some pictures and sent my first email to Vivobarefoot. After waiting a few weeks without any reply I decided to give them a call and soon received their voice mail where I proceeded to leave a message. I once again waited a few more weeks and sent another email. Finally after all my frustration I received a reply which asked me for my order number and considering I picked these up off of SAC there was no order through Vivobarefoot. They simply told me to take them back to where I purchased them and that was the last of that.

Considering that these shoes retail for $150 and are essentially a glove I was appalled by the customer service of Vivobarefoot. I at least figured after being put on the back burner for a month that I would have been given a simple apology at the least but received nothing. This is absolutely terrible way to run a business and I would have thought that they would have liked to have taken a look at the shoes to see if there was a production issue. Needless to say I will never be doing business with Vivobarefoot again! Picture to come!

I have this in a large and didn't realize how huge it was until it was delivered to my door. I haven't quite figured out what I'm going to do with this but I can say that it's constructed very well as you would expect from Stoic. The valve at the bottom definitely helps to compress the items inside.

These shorts have become my go to shorts in the summer months! The material is super light weight and it's as if you aren't wearing anything at all! They breathe extremely well and fit just right! Another Stoic product that has met my expectations and exceeded them.

I have this pad in sunset and it's a great product! It self inflates which is super cool and it serves its purpose very well. I haven't had any issues with it and the quality seems to be top notch!

I have this bottle in white and it's fantastic! I can use it for an every day bottle and also sport it on my bike. The cap system works great and the fact that it's not plastic is super!

I got this on SAC for next to nothing and it's been a great fleece. The orange is more of a red color and works great for a comfy casual shirt. Keep me plenty warm and the sizing is awesome. I usually wear a large and that's what i picked up. It could be slightly looser but I can't complain.

I got this shirt in the blue/green color on sale and it's not at all what I was expecting. The first downfall about this shirt are the vertical pockets that are way too far back to be of any use at all. Another downfall is that the back lip of the shirt is always curled up ever since my first wash which sucks because I don't plan on ironing it shirt. It seems to be well constructed and has some insulation inside but isn't all that warm. I wish I would have sent this back.

I have this bag in a large and it's definitely a beast! I can say that it's much larger than expected but will work great for keeping my gear nice and dry. This thing has some solid construction much like my other Stoic products. The shape of this bag is funny but wouldn't think twice about strapping this guy up on a luggage rack and heading off down the road!

I initially loved this shirt and picked up a second, needless to say that was a mistake. I must say that this material is super soft and is great for lounging around the house in but doesn't work as a performance shirt. The "wicking" technology in this shirt simply doesn't work. I'm 5'10" with an athletic build and the large was indeed baggy, not what you want for a base layer. The quality is very solid but that doesn't make up for it's failures. After this purchase I picked up my first Merino Wool piece of gear and I can happily say that I'm never looking back!

I picked up this item in red off of SAC to use with my black diamond headlamp and it works great! It snapped securely into the strap and the fact that I can pivot it in any direction makes it super functional. I mainly use it when I'm running in town at night so that I stay visible to approaching cars.

I grabbed these on sale off of SAC and planned to use them to lounge around the house in but boy was I wrong! These are some warm pants and work great for running around town when I'm too lazy to get dressed. The only downside to these pants which I've found with other sweat pants is that they're too long for me which causes them to drag thus decreasing the life of the item. 32" length is good if I'm wearing my boots but 30" would be much more preferred.

I grabbed this on SAC and couldn't resist the discount. I was super impressed when I received this item; it was packaged in a cloth sack and came with a nice little stuff sack as well. The orange color is awesome and the build quality is standard Stoic! I haven't yet taken it down to 15 degrees but look forward to it. :)

I think that I might have last years model of these socks and they were super nice when I pulled them out of the package but after wearing them for a bit and a couple washes they started to pill up and fell apart. I don't have much confidence in Lorpen anymore but maybe they've changed their quality.

I picked this up in black because I wanted a compact and efficient lantern and this little piece met all my needs. It is plenty bright at night and is super versatile. I typically use it to provide some light in my tent and because of it's dimming feature you can get the exact amount of light that you need. The hook allows you to hang this guy from just about anywhere.

I scored these guys off of SAC and right out of the box they seem to be good to go! The construction appears to be solid and how could you go wrong with carbon fiber? I have yet to take these on a serious trek but will update this posting when I get some more miles on them.

I wasn't too keen on paying $17.95 to advertise for Backcountry.com but I couldn't resist the sweet slogan. I picked up the gray version in a large it's your standard cotton T-Shirt. The color isn't quite as rich and contrasting as the image displayed above which was disappointing and the fit is funny. The neck sits high and feels like I have it on backwards but other than that it's a cool shirt to wear around.

I picked up the Excalibur/Shale in a large off of SAC and love it! I did end up returning it because I received a Mountain Hardware Alchemy Softshell for Christmas which couldn't be exchanged.

In comparison: the Stoic Monolith is a much heavier jacket in weight and feel. I am 5'10" 190lbs with an athletic build and can only fit a t-shirt under the Alchemy where as the Monolith would allow me to at least put a sweatshirt on underneath it. I do own the Stoic Welder Hi Softshell in a large which fits more like the alchemy. The color of the Monolith is great and the excess cord from the side cinches goes into the pocket which is a fantastic way to hide it.

I picked up a pair of these in black/vintage and love them. The composite material is thicker than I expected but seems to breathe pretty well. I've used these a few times for running this winter and they did a good job of keeping me warm. I love the spandex like cuffs around the ankles to keep the cold air out. The only con I could say about this product would be that they were slightly too long. For reference I'm 5'10" & 185lbs and typically wear a 36x32 pant size (30" fits perfect when standing but exposes my ankles when sitting)

Picked up a pair of these beauty's in black off of SAC and would wear them every day if I could! These pants are super comfy and have plenty of pockets to pack your essentials in. These are great pants for the fall but tend to be too warm for the summer months.

I picked up a few pairs of these off of SAC this winter and they are great! I ended up going with the medium which fit perfect. My typical waist size is 34-36 for comparison. One thing that I really appreciate about these is that there is enough room for my athletic thighs. Like some other reviews have stated; these tend to fit more loosely than other boxer/briefs that I've had but i don't have a problem with it. The only downside with these is the fact that they tend to get too warm when using them for everyday use but I can imagine that they would be great while in the elements.

This is another great product from Stoic. It's made from their super comfy merino wool which I absolutely love! The size is true and it keeps me dry while no matter what activity I'm doing. P.S. I'm 5'10" & 195lbs

Update: I only have one gripe about this shirt after wearing it a few times. This shirt has a small v cut on the neck which appears to be directly centered but is in fact not. When wearing this shirt the v is off to the left side no matter how much I adjust it. I think it's a defect in the product because my long sleeve shirt doesn't have this issue.

I picked up this shirt in a large off of SAC and it's definitely another favorite of mine. I used it primarily this past fall while going on hikes and it worked great. Super soft and light which is always great.

I picked up this little gem off of SAC a year ago so I might have last years model but it looks the same. I'm 5'10" 195 lbs and the large fit me perfectly and gives a very athletic fit. If you plan to do any layering underneath this piece you want to size up. The fleece lining is super soft and feels great. This jacket seems to breathe pretty well and works great in 20-30 degree weather. The pit zips are awesome and I don't think that I would buy another jacket without them.

I picked up the "shale" version off of SAC and absolutely love it. This is my first experience with Stoic's composite material and it feels great; reminds me of neoprene. I'm 5'10" 195lbs and the large fits perfect just like all of my other Stoic gear! I have an 18" neck when it comes to dress shirts so I was pleasantly surprised that this guy zipped right up! The only complaint that I have would be the styling of this piece. If you're wearing this to keep warm you would probably have it zipped up but if you unzip it to just wear it around town then it looks sloppy due to the extra material built into the hood.