This is truly one of the best buys I have ever made in terms of outdoor gear/clothing. I have had this jacket for over 10 years (men's size S because I don't think they made womens 10 years ago) with no problems in workmanship or quality. I take it almost everywhere I go in the CO backcountry in all seasons as I get cold easily and quickly. It doesn't matter how cold you are...you put this on and you are toasty warm in 5 minutes max! In winter conditions, it is warmer than any other layer when you pair it with a shell. I have worn it in this configuration comfortably in both below-zero and cold/wet conditions. I wear it by itself for spring skiing with one thin wool layer under it. In the summer, I wear it in the morning and evenings in camp and use it as my pillow in the tent. I carry it in my pack for long climbs/hikes on the 14ers (it packs down to the size of one of those mini-watermelons). It's only weakness as a stand-alone jacket is wetness - but this goes for any down-filled thing. The "won't this make me look fat" girl instinct in you may be averse to the poofy look of it, but this is for function - it's the poofiness that provides for the lovely pillow of stationary warm air around your body. Finally...DO NOT fall for buying a cheaper jacket with a lower down "fill count"...it WILL be inferior!

Bought the Dark vintage wash for my husband for Christmas and I'm sending them back. They are definitely made well, but the wash isn't that attractive in person, and they are much more of a relaxed fit in the thigh area than expected. That in combination with the leg slightly tapering at the bottom - I was very unfortunately having 80's flashbacks...

Bought this coat for my husband on SAC a few months ago. We both love it. He is tall and thin (5'11", 160) and has very long arms and the M fit is perfect on him. He says it is warm and breaks the wind (he wears it casually in Golden/Boulder, CO). It looks cool - I think he looks totally HOT in it - the square-ish shoulders are nice and do give it an athletic look - IMHO. Bought a L first, and it WAS too boxy, but we are keeping it to give to his brother for Xmas. Knowing what we know, we'd pay full price for both of these!

Since this is the year of my wool revolution I bought these right up when they were on SAC last week to wear around casually. My feet tend to be cold in the winter and are pretty much always sweaty when I have shoes on. These socks did not solve either problem. I have been walking around all day with cold clammy damp feet. Maybe try them if you have hot un-sweaty feet. Nice that they are eco-friendly though, so I guess I'll keep them.

I spend a lot of time sweating in the CO mountains. This year I converted to wool vs. polyester as an experiment. I bought the short-sleeved version of this shirt. I wear it as a base layer with another wool layer (just like this one but another brand) and it is MUCH more efficient at sweat wicking and is thus much better at keeping your body temp consistent than layering with polyester. I was working pretty hard one day this summer on my way up Blanca Peak and I happened to look down and notice beads of sweat collecting on the OUTSIDE of the shirt, while I felt warm and dry. How cool is that? Besides the anti-stink factor, the beauty of the thing is that the wool works equally well in heat or cold. I can wear it under warmer layers for winter, and by itself under my wind shell for climbing in the summer. Get yourself a wool tee, a wool 1/4 zip like this, and a heavier wool for winter and you're all set for anything mountain life throws at ya. Why buy anything else?

I spend a lot of time outdoors in the winter, and I bought this top last year as I converted to wool from polyester. I will never go back! I wear it with a wool tee underneath and that's all I need under my hard or soft shell for any winter activities. It has a warmth and sweat wicking quality that cannot be matched by any polyester/fleece product! You WILL NEVER FEEL WET AND COLD - AND you will look cool, AND you will never stink! What more can a girl in the wild ask for? These tops fit great, are made very well, and are totally worth the money.

I do a lot of winter outdoor activities. I bought these last year as I converted from polyester to all wool base layers. They're awesome. Unbeatable sweat wicking, extremely warm and soft. It's actually the first base layer I've ever owned where my lower half is not cold under my shell pants after a few hours out in the cold. And if you're skinning or snowshoeing and working up a sweat...you WILL be warm and dry...period. ONE word of caution...if you are between sizes, order down, as they tend to stretch out a bit while you are wearing them. I'm 5'9" and 145 and the L ends up a little bit saggy at the end of the day.

Arc'teryx knows their stuff. The design of this jacket is flawless. I am 5'9" and the all around length is just enough, which is always a #1 concern for me. I have the interesting perspective of losing some weight while owning it. When I first bought it I had just popped out a kid and was about 163 lbs and the M was a snug fit. I was considering sending it back, but it was stretchy enough and I knew I was going to lose weight so I kept it and I was glad I did. I'm 145 now and it's perfect. I have long thin arms and it's nice to not have fabric gaping from your wrists. It is thin but very warm and breaks the wind - so very portable yet functional in many different temps as a layering piece. The fact that it is so stretchy makes it particularly good for climbing (IMHO). It moves with you and does not pull or affect your mobility at all. It also fits like a glove under my Arc'teryx hard shell. If you're shopping for a soft shell...look no further!

I have last years model of this shoe. I wear it on ski days or for getting around town on a snow day. They are comfortable, warm and have good traction in sloppy conditions. However, they are sorta clunky - I have a 9.5 foot and I do feel a bit Sasquatch-ian in them. If you have cute little feet and/or are not worried about showing up on The Star cover as a Bigfoot sighting...go for it.

I am on my third pair. I believe these are the "beefiest" version of sandals that Teva makes, and I punish them. I wear them all summer. I hike in them, wear them in rivers to fish, camp in them, ride my bike (casually), just kick around town in them...they barely leave my feet. I have never had a blister or discomfort of any kind. The reason I am on my third pair is not that they have worn out, but that they get stinky and there's really nothing you can do about it. I've tried all sorts of ways to de-stink them, and it seems to help only temporarily. (I do not have extra stinky feet in general either) One mistake I have made in this area was getting them wet in a river or ocean and not thoroughly rinsing them and allowing them to dry (e.g. the car trunk is BAD, very BAD for this). That is my only reason for the 4 star rating. I agree on them being big in strap length. I have low-volume feet and the straps do end up hanging off a little - especially down by the toes. But never enough to really bother me. If you want a less clunky sole, try one or two notches down the price list of Teva sandals. The farther you go down, the more feminine they look, but you will lose some of the support that comes with the Terra-Fi.

If you want a trendy looking pair of glasses that are also sporty and practical these are for you. I also have a small face and these are just right to get the current oversize shades look without looking like a fool. I have had mine for about 6 months and have received many compliments on them. Comfort has never been an issue.

I have the brown sugar color and absolutely love it. The pic doesn't do these frames justice, because when in the sun, tiny little gold sparkles become evident in the frame...not obnoxious, just enough to feel a little glam.

As always with Oakley products, they are very high quality and they come with a nice hard case AND soft case/cleaning cloth. Handy when you travel a lot like me. Oakleys are very durable in general, as the frames on my last pair of Oakleys just cracked and they were 7 years old. Worth every penny!

These fit a smaller face well. They are a bit big but not too large and work well if you want to achieve the aviator shades look. I have the gold frame/amber lenses - they are totally cool looking. They seem very well-made and built to last. But, they are not comfortable for long periods of time in my opinion - I tend to notice the nose pieces after a while and find myself trying to move them around to other spots on my nose.

I have the 07/08 version of this ski in 172cm. I used them all last season to ski all types of ski terrain in CO (in bounds). I would consider myself an aggressive advanced, but not quite expert skier, I'm 145 lb and 5'9". These are my first pair of "fat" skis and I think they are great.

They float the pow like a dream, absolutely demolish the crud, and ride smooth when you go big on open slopes. I have not had one moment of chatter from them at high speed.

As with any fat ski, they take some getting used to on the tight stuff, especially if you are used to more of a carver ski as I was. I would say that by my third day out on them I was skiing loose with full confidence.

The other item to note is they ARE heavy, which they sorta fib about in the description. If you've skied wood core skis your whole life like me, the weight is no surprise. They are no heavier than my old pair of Dynastars or K2s. Just don't think you're getting a lightweight pair of skis like they make it sound.

In summary: if you are a more advanced skier and want a rock-solid true all-mountain ski...go for it, this ski is excellent! You won't regret the purchase. If you ski groomers all day...save a couple hundred dollars and look elsewhere.

Also in CO. Travel all over the state for outdoor stuff. As soon as you leave I-70 you get no cell service, as Cowboy states. I oftentimes hike alone and Spot's OK feature is brilliant for me. I send an "ok" every hour or so to let my husband know I'm good. It's really cool that the coordinates map on Google, and your friends/family can see exactly where you're at on the map. I feel good that I could call 911 if I really got in trouble. The optional $100k of rescue cost insurance through Lloyds of London for $8/year is a steal and comforting. The unit is sturdy, and seems like it is waterproof. I've already dropped it several times on the rocks with no problems (wish cameras came that bomber).

HOWEVER, the tracking feature, where it automatically sends info on your position every 10 minutes (which you have to pay $50/yr extra for), doesn't work well at all. Don't waste your money on it. Like any GPS device, it doesn't pick up signals in the woods, and it seems to not be able to triangulate fast enough to get you located if you are moving all the time.

So, if you want to use it to periodically let your loved ones know you're good and let them see where you are once in a while on the map, want the security of being able to call in the cavalry in a dire situation - great, A++, get it.

If you are super geek, like some of my friends and think you are going to get a nice real-time track laid out with the tracking feature while your running or hiking, forget it. Probably not for you. The technology might get there someday, but it's not in this 1st gen version.

Nice and warm, but still easy to move in for my 4-yr-old, water resistance is impressive. But the best feature of these pants in my opinion is the adjustable velcro waistband. Great for thin kids, like mine. My advice: buy one size bigger than you need, roll up the ankles and cinch in the waist the first year, then use them again next year...But it's no biggie if you don't, cause these pants are very reasonably priced compared to most.

A really nice looking hat. I've received many compliments just wearing it around town. It is lined with buttery soft and warm fleece which I guess I wasn't expecting when I bought it...score!

This hat is great all year-round if you hate wind. I climb the Colorado 14ers and never leave home without this hat, even in the summer. The chin string is a must unless you like losing hats to 70 mph wind. Put your sunglass arms over the flaps for maximum wind protection (and from hearing the whining from your climbing partners, if need be). Just flip up the earflaps if you get too toasty. It is also thin enough to wear under your ski helmet on cold days. I'm on my 4th one. I keep losing them, or maybe my friends keep stealing them...hmmm....If you're serious about playing outside, OR is the way to go!

Absolutely Bomber! I climb the Colorado mountains and put these through the wringer. I have had a pair of these for 6 years, albeit the mens version since I don't think they made womens then. They are just now getting a little ragged and I have used them A LOT. They have withstood many close encounters with ice axes, trekking poles, snowshoe cleats and crampons...OR is the best!