Elizabeth Alexson

This is an awesome jacket. The powder skirt stays put and it gives you plenty of warmth without all the bulk. Also the H2No coating really holds up to all weather. I stayed plenty warm and dry during pouring rain turned blizzard. Love it.

I finally bought these after a tough decision between the Chaco Z2 unaweep. I'm thrilled with my choice. My foot feels more secure in the teva sandel, and I love the spider rubber. So far these have held up against slippery rocks in many fast running rivers. They even held up soaking wet for a 4 mile walk home after a canoeing trip gone wrong. I ordered a 6.5 (I am a small 7 or large 6.5) so if you're in between a size, I'd go for the smaller.

This stove is great. I took it on a test run on a short canoeing trip. Though it's a bit more bulky than the pocketrocket or whisperlite, it's worth the weight. It's more stable than any camp stove I've ever used and the simmering is great. I've had a lot of problems with stoves becoming too hot, making cooking a pain--the dragonfly was a treat after a month of scraping off burnt pasta and rice off of the bottoms of pans. It is louder than both of the stoves I mentioned, but it's tolerable.

I love the fit of this shirt. It's not too tight across the chest and stomach, but is still a close fit. I haven't had the same see-through issues in the helio/silver color. I'm always a bit nervous to wash the wool, but I've been able to selectively wash it because it doesn't smell. The fabric is wonderful, any other wool makes my sensitive skin itch, but this is perfect!

As soon as I received my reservoir I filled it up with water. The fill up was quick and simple. I expect it won't be difficult to fill up on trail with a water filter. The magnet is a great feature. It is strong and keeps the hose where it's supposed to be. The hard backing concerns me just a little, I'm afraid it might be a little awkward in my Osprey pack. But it does add durability and stability that most reservoirs lack.

I love this shirt. It's light weight and the cut is very flattering. I also adore the pansy color. The only problem it has: it gets smelly quickly.

After spending most of my time on and around Lake Superior, where the weather is unpredictable, I needed to upgrade my generic rain jacket. The Torrentshell remains one of my favorite gear purchases. This jacket is simple but incredibly reliable. I've never had a problem staying dry, even in down pours. It holds up well against the windy lake and provides as a shell when it isn't raining. The hood adjustments are great, they make the jacket compatible with all head wear or head shapes.

My favorite aspect is the jacket's durable, but light fabric. It is breathable and is not restricting like many other jackets. It even held up as I dove into a gravel road after slipping on its wet rocks (word of advice: foot races in pouring rain are not a good idea).

I waffled between this jacket and the Marmot Precip. I went with the Patagonia based on the jacket's reputation (two of my friends have the same jacket and love it) and Patagonia's awesome commitment to the environment. I'm definitely happy with my decision and would recommend this jacket to anyone looking for a good way to stay dry.

I've been looking for a pack to accommodate my frame. I'm 5'4'' and 120 lbs. I want to be able to carry as much gear on the trail without being weighed down. The Kestral 48 is perfect. I can fit my 0 degree synthetic bag in the pack and still fit a dry bag with a change of clothes or two, cooking gear (though probably not a stove), and rain gear.

I was hesitant about the thin hip belt (my old pack, a North Face Terra 30 had a luscious belt) but it provides great support without all of the bulk. The pockets on the hip belt are convenient as well. I can fit a knife and camera in one, and a small first aid kit in the other.

The rain cover is another great aspect of this pack. It's convenient to get at and works great to keep all my gear dry when weather disagrees. All in all a great pack for a smaller backpacker, or someone looking into a couple day trek.

I love this headlamp. I bought it with backpacking and nordic skiing intentions. So far, its served its purpose well. I went on a couple of late night skis with the aide of this lamp. You wouldn't want to get into any mountainous terrain, but it provided just enough light to see the tracks in the snow and when the trail turned.

This lamp provides two lighting options. However, if you press and hold the button, you can adjust the lights to whatever your preference is. I love this versatility. I can provide enough to light to see what's going on, but not blind my fellow adventurers.

Over all a great light. It's small and durable design fits great in my pocket and is always reliable!

I bought this in the fall of this year after enduring too many cold nights. I love the 1/4 zip top, it stays warm when needed but doesn't choke. It is perfect thickness to serve as an outer layer when necessary but fits comfortably under a shell. My only complaint is that it stretches out easily and it isn't great for washing a lot. However, washing isn't really necessary with this sort of top.