I have this skirt and the Mountain Hardwear La Rambla skirt. The MH skirt is a bit more girly and flouncy and better for a night out. It's just sexier.

I love the Northface Utility skirt because the pockets are far more usable. If NF could do the cool soft waistband like the Rambla skirt has, it would totally rock. Both skirts are great. The MH is more stylish. The NF is far more practical.

I wear both with boy shorts. Far better for privacy if you need to duck into the woods while hiking with the boys. Skorts are fine, but I think actual skirts with a pair of boy shorts underneath is a better camping/hiking solution.

I also like the skirts for throwing on over my thermal underwear after kayaking (after removing the Kokatat dry suit). Also great to toss in the bike pannier after a day on the road. A skirt over the bike shorts makes me feel a lot more comfortable walking into restaurants (even if I stink).

I've been wearing Smartwool socks for 5 years now and absolutely love them. They are incredibly soft, but one bit of advice: Do not ever put them in the dryer. You can probably get away with a no-heat cycle, but if you're husband helps with the wash occasionally, as mine does, and likes the power dry setting, Smartwool socks will lose their silky, no-blister properties. Let them hang dry and you'll be surprised at how much longer they last (and stay nice). Same applies for most clothes (and it's probably better for your electric bill and the environment).

One person mentioned quality. I have had over 25 pairs of SW socks in the last 5 years. One pair I bought had a mfg. defect in the toe and it fell apart the first wearing. Those had been purchased at a local shop on Orcas Island and the store owner replaced them immediately. Occasionally, stuff happens, but, overall, I'd say these are a 5* product.

Be careful when you unpack this bed from the shipping box. If you slice through the tape with a utility knife, you'll probably knick the bed like I did (not smart since the box said not to open with a knife). Good news is the nylon part of the bed patches quite nicely with a tent or nylon jacket repair kit.

As for be bed, I ordered the large size and it is huge (the handle is great). One of my dogs likes it. The other one isn't so sure as air does get trapped in the bed to some extent and "exhales" as the dog steps on it to lie down. A whimpy dog might find it unsettling.

The one improvement I'd make is to have a 3" layer of firmer foam as the base layer covered with 3" of the outdoor polyfill baffling.

Cost-wise, you can't make these beds for the 20% off price at Back Country. The fiberfill alone (which is the type that is used in outdoor furniture that can be hosed/washed and does not hold odors) would cost about $70 retail.

I own a 205cm straight-shaft Shuna and my husband has a 210 bent-shaft Ikelos. Until this past week when I spent 4-7 hours each day on the water in Alaska, I had primarily used my Shuna and didn't much care for the Ikelos bent shaft. I liked the power it gave me, but had problems with my braces and strokes due to the design (bent). However, after my week in Alaska, I'm totally sold on the Ikelos. I was in a single, plastic, rotomold Necky Eskia kayak (16 ft) trying to keep up with three fiberglass, Skookumchuk kayaks. The Ikelos gave me the maximum power I needed to (almost) keep up with the rest of the group. The bent shaft saved my forearms from certain doom. Last year I did a similar trip with a huge 230cm aquabound plastic/metal paddle. Never again. The Shuna is a great entry level paddle, but I'll take the Ikelos over it any day. I also tried a friend's 220cm bent shaft Werner Athenos. The Athenoswas easier on my shoulders (I'm 5'2" and 122 lbs), but it didn't kick butt like the Ikelos. The only thing that would have been nicer is a smaller shaft diameter (I wear a size XS or S paddling glove).

I absolutely love these shirts. Recently they went on an around-the-world trip mountain biking in Normandy, France, jungle hiking in Malaysia, and on safari in South Africa. I packed two Mountain Hardwear Technical T's, one brooks wicking shirt, and one North face shirt. All protected me from the sun (and bugs to the extent that they provided good coverage), but the Mountain Hardwear blew away the other two in terms of wicking ability and the fact that they could be rinsed in a sink at night (with Dr. Brommers) and be dry the next morning. The Mountain Hardwear tops also pack smaller than any other shirt I have. My only caveat with the Mountain Hardwear tech T's is that they snag easily. My husband has single-handedly added "interest" to both shirts by tossing his biking gloves (with VELCRO®-Brand fasteners) closures into the laundry with my stuff. I wish the tops were a bit more durable (in terms of pull), but would not sacrifice the fast-drying properties to attain that.