I have a Cloud Cover pack fly from 2005 that is still going strong after 1,000 miles on the AT and multiple weekend hikes, so I ordered another one for my Osprey Talon 44 (XS fits perfectly - the S is too big, I tried that first). The attached stuff sack on this is very small, making it hard to put away. (It's harder than getting my sleeping bag liner in it's teeny stuff sack - I much prefer the bigger bag on the older Cloud Cover model.) The bungee cord is also tough to use at first - I think it needs to break in because it did get better after playing with it for a while. If I didn't have such a great experience with my older Granite Gear pack fly I probably would return this. The upside is that it's definitely small and lightweight. I haven't used this in the rain yet, but I have no doubt it will be waterproof.

I've been wearing these on casual night runs now that the weather has warmed up (40s-50s at night) and I'm really pleased with them. The pants as a whole are comfortable, stretchy, and breathable, and the waistband in particular is also very comfortable - stretchy and fairly wide. It does have a drawstring, but I don't need it because these fit perfectly (I'm 5'8"/125 lbs and got the small). These hit just below my knees, which is a little shorter than they're supposed to, as the mesh behind the knees is centered a couple inches too higher. But it's wide enough that it hits the top of my knee so it still works well enough. Plus, even after 3 short runs the tights still smell good. I also like the reflector stripes across the thighs.

Minor details: The tights have two pockets - one business-card-sized mesh pocket inside the pants and a pocket about the size of a Clif bar on the back. No zippers but both have a flap of some sort to cover them. You could fit a key in either one, but I don't think I'd be comfortable stowing my normal set of keys in there. A cell phone in the back pocket is debatable.

I feel like the Princess and Pea when I look for sleeping pads. I just brought the ProLite Plus on a week-long trip in Yosemite, but unfortunately, the ProLite Plus isn't the pad for me. I'm mostly a side sleeper, and although the pad is thick, I couldn't comfortably sleep on my side, no matter how inflated it was. My hips either hit the ground or the pad felt really hard underneath, and my shoulder was sometimes "pinched" so that it was sore once I moved. Oddly enough, I have a older, thinner Women's ProLite 3 (pink) that is more comfortable. I opted for the non-women's pad here for length - I'm 5'8" and have learned that if my feet hang off the pad they'll be too cold to sleep.

What I loved about the pad:
1. It's made in USA
2. Thermarest backs it up with a (limited) lifetime warranty
3. It packs up easy
4. It's pretty light
5. And it's super warm. In temps of high 30s/low 40s, I slept in a 10-degree down bag with a holey silk liner wearing only a sports bra and thin leggings or a t-shirt and shorts. And I'm a very cold sleeper. I tried the Women's ProLite 3 in the same conditions and needed leggings, socks, t-shirt, long-sleeve shirt, and the hood of my silk liner, and I was still a little cold.

The self-inflating feature is okay, but you still have to "top off" the pad or blow it up entirely if you're impatient (not really a selling point for me). I will happily take an inflatable pad if it's more comfortable. In fact, the most comfortable pad I've slept on is the Pacific Outdoor Equipment Ether Thermo 6 - thick, inflatable, and warm, but that pad's not perfect either. (I have also tried the Thermarest Z Lite and 3/4 length Thermarest Women's ProLite 3.)

Bottom line: unless you're a really picky sleeper you will probably be happy with this pad. My boyfriend tried it for a night and loved it. (He was shedding all the layers he'd worn the other nights.)

p.s. Don't bother with the stuff sack - once you roll up the pad and close the valve, the pad will stay rolled up on its own.

I was looking for something to wear so I could walk or take light hikes regardless of the winter footing. After reading reviews for YakTraks, Stabilicers, and these, I decided to dish out the money and go with the MICROspikes because they seemed to be the best on the market.

After wearing them on a 2-hour hike on moderately packed snow and infrequent ice, I was surprisingly feeling all my old injuries (both knees, an ankle, and stress fractures in both feet) that had previously faded away over time. I did a 3-day hike in the White Mountains this summer wearing the same pair of boots and a 20-pound pack, and had no recurring injuries, so I have to assume it was the MICROspikes. They have 8 spikes that are the major points of contact with the ground. My best guess is that the impact is concentrated in those 8 spots, rather than across the entire sole of the shoe, leading to unusual pressure points. They didn't feel particularly comfortable during my hike, but they weren't terribly uncomfortable either.

Regardless of how they felt, they definitely did the job well. They were easy to get on and did not budge afterwards. I walked on an icy parking lot that was similar to a skating rink and I had perfect traction. You will not slip in these babies!

My only other complaint is that they are LOUD. While you can still carry on a conversation with a hiking partner, any animals will hear your crunching from a few hundred feet away. Just don't expect peace and quiet while you're wearing them unless you stand still.

Overall, they do the job, but they're not for me. I seem to be the only reviewer that had a bad experience will MICROspikes, but I am not wearing those things again. I'll be trying one of the cheaper options out there to see if I have better luck.

UPDATE: Used YakTrax Walkers on an overnight hike in the White Mountains on packed snow and had no problems - no pain and no slippage. The YakTrax definitely have a lower range of conditions they'll work in than the MICROspikes, but I'll take that over being in pain.

I got this shirt on SAC for a great price and it's super soft and comfortable. I'm just shy of 5'8" and around 125 pounds and I got a small. It fits perfectly (nice and fitted) all around except that the arms are about 2 inches too short. Even with the thumbholes, the cuff of the shirt hits me where a normal shirt would. I tried to just stretch the sleeves out a bit, but I realized after a while that the thumbholes were turning my hands purple in spots from the pressure, and the holes are also a little too small for my thumbs. The shirt is nice and long in the torso, so I'm not sure who they were sizing this thing for.

Even on sale, this is too expensive to pretend that the thumbholes are supposed to be at my wrist, so I'm returning it. I'm not going to exchange it because the medium will be too big in the body. It's a shame because the shirt was really comfortable! If you can hide the thumbholes, it's nice enough for the office.

This is a super comfortable shirt, soft and stretchy. I'm 5'7" and 125 pounds and the small fit me perfectly until I bent over - the shirt sagged down about a foot and anyone looking in my direction would be able to see straight down my shirt. Too bad because (before that) it was nice enough for the office, the gathered bust looked surprisingly good on my small chest, and it was long enough in the torso and sleeves. Maybe sizing down would solve the problem, but I just sent it back.

This sweater is so soft and light it feels like silk. I think it looks great too. I have it in black and it's nice enough that I wear it to the office even though it's hooded. It wrinkles easier than I'd like, but it is machine washable and dryable. I was a little worried when I washed it (I've only washed it once so far), but it came out looking like new. I've bought so many shirts that aren't long enough in the body or sleeves, but this one fits perfectly (size small - I'm 5'8", 125 lbs.). I'd buy another.

This is the first Oakley product I've ever bought and I have to say I'm impressed - this is a really nice jacket. The coat is covered with little hang tags explaining every feature of the coat. I got the wine color and it's just a hair lighter than in the picture. I'm 5'8" and about 125 pounds and the small is a perfect fit for me - the sleeves are nice and long (even longer than normal) and the jacket falls at the bottom of my butt. (If you're petite, this jacket will be way too big for you.) Even the hood is great - it's insulated, has a nice brim, and fits perfectly over my ponytail, which most hoods never do. It even has a magnet that locks the hood against the back of the jacket when you're not wearing it. The sleeves have thin lycra wrist gaiters (they'll easily fit under your normal gloves). The jacket also has pit zips (a must), a drawcord around the bottom hem, and a zip-in powder skirt. It's also compatible with a zip-in Oakley snow pants system that I know nothing about.

What's unusual about this coat is the magnetic closure over the main zipper - instead of the snaps or velcro on the outer flap that covers the zipper, this coat has magnets all the way down. They make a fun snapping sound when they come together and you don't even have to bother zippering the jacket to get it closed. One of the front pockets is a "flasher" pocket and flaps up to show an ID on the underside - this is kept down with magnets too. The coat has a tag that warns about the magnet and credit cards, so I'm a little concerned about putting my wallet in a pocket. The one feature it's lacking is a drawcord around the waist to adjust the fit. Considering it doesn't have one, it fits great, but I'd like to take about an inch out of the waist. When you put it on it pretty much looks exactly like it does in the picture in terms of shape. The pockets are a little awkward looking and awkward to put your hands in because they're not angled at all, but the sleeves are long enough to keep your hands warm without them.

I haven't tested the jacket in the cold or the rain, so I can't attest to its warmth or waterproofing. As much as I like the fit of the coat, I'm still debating whether or not to keep it because 1. potentially ruining the magnetic strip on all my credit/debit cards is a big drawback and 2. I really like putting my hands in my coat pockets. This is why the coat gets 4 stars instead of 5.

This is a lovely jacket - it's soft, warm, light, and not even that puffy. I'm 5'8" and about 125 pounds and the small fit perfectly, plenty long in the sleeves and back. It's a pretty basic jacket - there are Velcro fasteners on the cuffs and a drawcord for the hem, nice hand pockets, and several internal pockets, but it's very well made. The hood is huge and looks pretty silly on, but it's very warm. The fleece-lined collar is fabulous - you'd never need a scarf. The outer shell of the jacket is made of Pertex, which is a really soft and light fabric, but I just didn't trust that it was waterproof (I wanted a waterproof jacket). I did some research online and the consensus seemed to be that Pertex is water-resistant, but there are several types of Pertex and I could be wrong. I never tested the jacket outside, so it might actually be waterproof, and when I stuck it under the faucet for a couple seconds the water ran right off. Regardless, I ended up returning the jacket because the hood was just too big for casual use.

I originally bought this in a small for myself (5'8", 125 lbs.), but it ended up being a little too wide in the torso for me, so I gave it to my boyfriend (5'8", 140 lbs.) who it fits perfectly because he's broader in the shoulders. He wears it constantly, often without washing it and by some miracle it NEVER smells. He took it on a 10-day trip to Italy and it functioned as both a long-sleeve shirt and a jacket. It's lightweight, soft, and comfortable in a wide range of activities and temperatures. After 9 solid months of wear, it still looks great - no snags, pills, or holes. I only wish it had fit me! I bought this on SAC, but this is one of the few pieces of outdoor apparel that I would pay full price for.

I just recently ordered an XS for myself, and it fits! The sleeves and torso are long enough too - a welcome surprise. It's on the tight side and doesn't leave room for anything but a t-shirt underneath, but the fabric is so stretchy that it doesn't feel tight or restricting.

I too was excited for this jacket but had to return it because it didn't fit. I'm 5'8" and around 125 pounds and the jacket in size small was not made for someone my height or build. The sleeves are at least an inch too short and the back of the jacket (longer than the front) hits the middle of my butt instead of below it. The hips are flared too much (but there is a drawstring at the hem) and I think there's more room around the midsection than there needs to be. I have a small chest and had no problem with the fit there. I don't have a big head, but I must have a long neck since the majority of hoods don't fit me - this one is no exception. I don't have a chance of wearing this hood over a ponytail and staying dry. It seems like the size small would be ideal for a girl of medium build around 5'4" or shorter with a small/medium chest.

The hand pockets are quite high but that might be to avoid interfering with a hipbelt. Also, instead of pit zips the jacket has zip vents that go from the side of your breasts to your waist. The coat also comes with a webbing strap that has a plastic side release buckle - I guess you can fold the jacket into the back pocket and strap it to yourself like a belt. I didn't test that out. I wish I could have tested out the functionality of the eVent fabric, but I couldn't get past the fit.

My boyfriend ordered a pair of these off Steepandcheap.com - he normally wears a 30 with a belt, so that's what he ordered. They fit like a 34 or larger - they were too big to even use a belt on (I could have stuck a leg and an arm in there while he was wearing them). I double-checked the hang tag and the tag inside the shorts and they both confirmed the size 30. He would have exchanged for a 28, but that would probably be too big as well. They were a little big length-wise as well, falling just past his knees (he's 5'9"). The material seemed pretty tough but wasn't stiff or itchy and I think they'd be good for climbing - just beware of the sizing.

I'm just getting into climbing and am purchasing my first pair of shoes. Unfortunately, these shoes don't fit, so I can't say much about how they function because I'm returning them. But I'll mention sizing, because this is what I was trying to find when I was ordering.

I wear a size 8.5-9 (usually 39 European) in women's street shoes. I ordered a size 39 in the Scarpa Marathons, but they're too small - mostly in the big toe area. I think a 40 would probably fit me best. The heel also comes up a bit higher than I think I'd like, so I'm not sure they'd fit right if they were the right size. For comparison, I ordered a 39.5 in the Scarpa Tifosi and they were probably a whole size too small. If you're trying to compare to sizes in other brands: a Montrail Splitter 40 (womens) fit perfectly and a Five Ten Anasazi 8.5 (41.5) was too small in the toe (I think a 42 would have done it).

Scarpa shoes are made in Italy and they seem like they're very high quality. (For reference, Five Ten is made in USA and the Montrails are made in China - boo). Reviewers on Sierra Trading Post noted that these shoes stained their feet yellow, which I would be a little worried about, but I guess if the shoes are comfortable it's worth it.

I did a lot of research before choosing a pack to take on a 10-day trip to Italy. I originally purchased the Osprey Ariel 55, but decided it was too big to take on trains, so I opted for the smaller Talon 44. It was really the perfect bag for the trip. I packed light, but I fit several pairs of clothes, bathing suit, a pair of sandals, a guide book, fleece, rain jacket, towel, toiletries, sleep sheet, bowls, and some food it in and had tons of room (probably a third of the pack space) leftover. I don't think the pack would do well with a lot of weight (over 25-30 pounds), but it was comfortable for the 15 pounds that I had in it. If you use a hydration bladder it goes outside the main compartment, between the back panel and the inside of the pack, so you have to put the full bladder in before you pack to get the best fit.

The mesh, zip pockets on the hipbelt are a nice touch. The hipbelt, while not removable, is smaller on the small/medium pack than the medium/large. I tried on the medium/large and I couldn't get the hipbelt tight enough, but the small/medium fit well. (For reference, I'm a medium torso and a small hipbelt with the Osprey Ariel.)

I don't think I would have gotten away with carrying the pack on the plane, but thankfully the airline didn't lose it, so no worries there!

I usually wear a S in Mountain Hardwear shirts and jackets and I ordered this shirt in a 4, but this shirt was way too small for me. I'm 5'7" and I have really thin arms, and somehow the shirt was uncomfortably tight around my arms. The shirt hem and the sleeves were both several inches too shirt. The shirt looked like it was either petite or kids. I had to return it, so I can't vouch for how functional it is. Disappointing...

I'm thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail with these socks and I love them. They perform wonderfully, especially in the rain. Even when getting soaked for several days in a row, they keep my feet warm and keep their form.