Bought a pair last season for casual wear after trips and around town and now they're my fav. Don't like "short" shorts, these fit the bill perfectly. Too bad they're made in Thailand now.

Thin enough to breathe well but tough enough for backcountry skiing or backpacking or mountaineering. Like the abrasion resistance. I find the fleece-lined Arc'teryx softshells too warm during aerobic activity (these are made with a Schoeller-type material) - combining with a silkweight baselayer works the best for protection against the elements while not leaving me soaking from exertion. For the price, it's too bad they're now made in China, like a growing number of Arc'teryx products.

This thing is a beast! I have the Simmerlite but wanted something more robust for backcountry skiing and mountaineering in cold/snowy conditions. This stove melts snow and ice fast. Really like the stable base for larger pots.

My 7 year old Nike sandals were getting ratty, so I was looking for a suitable replacement. The Chaco Z/1's were the eventual winners. I like the non-restricting open toe design (unlike other Chaco models) as I will be using these as backpacking/mountaineering sandals with socks at camp. Weight is good, and I like the simplicity of the strap system; it looks like these will dry quickly after a dip or creek crossing. Arch support is decent, and the sole is rugged as well.

What can you say? Nalgene bottles are still the best. Easy to fill, easy to clean, take a beating and still good to go.

Although I don't have "hard to fit" feet when it comes to boots, the Torre GTX really stood out. They fit like gloves, no wet feet whatsoever after hours hiking in wet bush. Rubber toe guards are a plus as I use my Torres for scrambling through scree and talus.

I liked them so much that when I found them on sale here, I bought a second pair. Definitely recommended!