Adrian Person

I acquired on of these early last year and I have to say, it's relegated my Western Mountaineering to 2nd tier. Main reason is comfort! It's plenty warm, but with much more room to move than my other mummy bags. It's not the Most compact bag ever, so I recommend getting a compression stuff sack for it. I now save the WM for only trips where weight and size are a significant issue. Otherwise, the comfort and resulting better sleep I get with this bag, more often than not takes priority.

FYI- I also makes a great comforter at home when the house is a bit cold.

SD really did their research before they released this pack. I've always been a huge fan of Osprey, but the suspension on this really caught my eye. It's got the best balance of load stability and back panel ventilation I've ever tried. The individual pads feel a little odd at first, but quickly disappear, and the air channels are completely unobstructed. Without a jacket on, you can feel noticeable air movement. I've taken this on 2 overnight ski trips and it has just enough room for a long weekend with winter gear. I think this will translate to a comfortable 3-4 day backpack in the warmer months. It's low profile enough that it didn't readily snag errant branches, even when skiing through tight trees. As well, there was no noticeable load flop back and forth, even when lightly loaded.

Build quality seems on par with any of the Osprey's I've owned and seems as though it will take some decent abuse while still having a good lifespan. As I've only had mine for a few months, we'll see what extended use does to it. I personally, foresee a long and happy relationship.

These are the best snowshoes I've ever used. Period. They're quiet, extremely light, and so far, very sturdy. I've had no issues with the bindings, rivets, or decking in 3 full seasons of use. They climb like crampons and the heel lift makes worlds of difference in steep terrain. Also, no other snowshoe Sidehills better than these, except maybe the MSR Denali. Go figure. Binding is easy to use with gloves and fits all manner of footwear, from Alpine Ski boots to trail runners.

What can I say, I like simple, functional designs. I not only own this tent, but have sold it (or a variation of it, the older Electron) at retail for several years. Overall feedback is very positive. It's not the lightest tent available, but counters that with a very intuitive design. I can set it up practically blindfolded. It has a generous length and head/should room. Plenty long enough for 6'+ folks. I sold one to a gentleman who was 6'10". It has kept me dry in torrential downpours in the Olympic Rain Forest and has enough ventilation to be comfortable in warm climates as well. It's even withstood some moderate snowfall while up on Mt. Rainier. The vestibules are large enough for boots and some gear, though not big enough to cook under. Overall, I like the sturdy fabrics and simple design. It is a great tent for your dollar.

I've been using my Vapor for about a year now. In all conditions, Rain, Snow, Sun, it has performed admirably. The DWR has held up better than most brands I've used, and though not a rain jacket, sheds the moisture very well. It's my favorite BC Ski jacket. VERY windproof for a softshell (especially nice for those many blustery days at Berthoud Pass), without sacrificing breathability for the skin up. The cuffs are large enough to fit easily over Lo-Pro gauntlet gloves, but don't bunch up uncomfortably when closed up without gloves. Arm length is generous and allows for good range of movement and the hood fits my Ski helmet (Smith Holt) comfortably. The only issue might be the pocket zippers, which feel a bit small, but that being said, I've had no issues as of yet. I recommend this as a very good, versatile softshell.