I prefer the dyneema hexes over the wired versions as they are a little easier to place. Another plus is the asymmetric design that allows for multiple types of placement.

Great starting point for any rack. Anodized color coating makes for quick selection.

The rigid opening eliminates fumbling around for chalk. Closes nice and tight when not in use. A zipper pocket in the back is great for holding keys.

I have had my Tikka XP for over 3 years and it is still going strong. This is excellent for camping or general night time use. The diffuser is a nice option for when you need to illuminate a wider field of view. Multiple settings allow dimming during times when the full output is not needed and also extends battery life.

Great ventilation for the warmer days and nice and warm on the cold days. A helmet keeps me just as warm as a hat but with the added protection benefit. Helmet brands and models all seem to fit a bit differently so it can be helpful to try a few on in the store to find one that fits your head.

Smooth action in belay devices. No problems with kinking once the rope was properly broken in. There is no center mark on the rope, but that is something you can add yourself if you need it.

A nice upgrade from the Comfort model. It has the advantage of longer heel pins than the Classic and adds a more robust heel elevator than the Comfort.

Super light weight for those that are concerned about counting the grams. A knot in the cord pulled over a slit in the end of the probe is used to keep the probe tensioned. I'm not sure about the long term reliability of this method. I don't use my probe much so it end up not being an issue.

I had a previous iteration of this bag that was damaged by an airline. For a replacement I came right back to this model. Dakine added the outside pockets since my last purchase and this only makes the bag that much better.

I use this helmet year round and it functions great everywhere from rock in the summer, ice in the winter, and skiing in the spring.

Lightweight, odor resistant and super comfortable. Runs true to size.

All of the features you want in a shovel plus a few extras. The D-grip handle attachment is great for attaching to the outside of a smaller pack when going light.

This watch can do a lot of stuff, so it takes some practice learning all of the functions and menus.

GPS signal acquisition is slow getting locked in initially but then maintains the signal well. Obviously, you can't take it in dense trees and expect the GPS to still work.

The battery will last about 3-4 hours in GPS mode at 1 second update intervals. If you remember to power down the GPS when you don't need it, you can easily extend the battery to last on multi-day trips. I primarily use just the altimeter mode and don't need to recharge the battery for weeks.

The included software is OK for looking at altimeter logs, but not much else. The good thing is that you can export the GPS logs into Google Earth or your topo software.

The shovel is adequate and of high quality construction. As for the probe, it is way too short for actual use.

When I first tried on these pants, I wasn't excited at how they fit. They were a little long in the leg and it seemed like you had to hike up the waist for the proper fit. I decided to give them a try anyway and am now very satisfied with the results. I pulled up the waist to the normal height and took them on a test run. They did not ride up and I had no problems with the fit during the run. They are perfect as an outer layer for high output pursuits in cold weather or as a base layer.

These gloves are good for temps down into the mid teens if you are sitting around a lot, as in riding the lifts. On the skin track they work well into the single digits. You might be able to squeeze a few more degrees out of them if wearing a thin liner. The fit is good, the leather is soft and supple, and the dexterity is adequate.

I have two years of use out of this jacket. Perfect for the fall as an outer layer. My main use for this jacket is while skinning with a single long sleeve layer underneath. At the top, throw on my shell and I'm good to go. This jacket breathes well, is nice and stretchy, and has tons of pockets. It is not waterproof or windproof, same as most soft shells. I have the older version that is made in Canada and the fit is athletic. As for sizing, I'm a medium in the Gamma, but wear a small in the Arc'teryx Matador.

This jacket is very warm and windproof. The collar is high which I like to keep the wind out. The sizing of this jacket seems to run different than other Arc'teryx. I have a medium Gamma MX, but take a small in the Matador. The storm skirt can tend to ride up as there is no gripping material around the bottom. I bought this jacket for alpine touring, but it is too bulky to slide a shell over and does not pack well. This jacket has been relegated to my daily use winter jacket at which it excels. It would also work very well as a resort jacket, but I spend most of my ski days touring.

These pants do everything I expected from them. However, the kick patches of these pants could be more durable as I have had ski edges cut through mine. The fit around the waist is as advertised, but they seem a little baggy around the legs. Gore-Tex doesn't breath that well so the side vents get plenty of use when skinning. The pocket is awkwardly shaped and all I use it for stashing my camera.

I'm starting my second season in these boots and for a tongue style boot, they can't be beat. They are light and great for touring, but are stiff enough to crank out the turns. FYI, these boots don't have a cant adjustment.

Hands down the best touring binding out there! Zero lifted weight in touring mode in an already super light package. These things are super durable and will last season after season with little maintenance. These bindings have a very low stack height creating a rigid connection between boot and ski. The only drawbacks are the limited adjustment range and shorter heel pins than on the Verticals.

I was fortunate enough to win one of these jackets. It is super warm and incredibly light weight. It packs to the size of a water bottle in the included stuff sack and you can get it smaller if you need to. This is always one of the first pieces of gear to go into my touring pack.

These gloves are on the bulky side, but they make up for it with their warmth. They are perfect when the temp drops below 10F. If the temp is above that, they would be too much glove unless your hands tend to get cold easily. The gauntlet is extra long and does its job keeping the snow out. I set the gauntlet diameter the first time I had them on over my shell and haven't had to adjust them since.

Great jacket with all the features a versatile shell needs. The word is out and I am also a believer in eVent, it is much more breathable than Gore-tex. The fit is spot on and I like that the jacket doesn't come down too low. Only thing missing is the hood is not stow-able. The zipper is offset at the collar, an excellent addition showing the attention to detail.