Recently upgraded from a old High Gear altimeter to the Core special edition (black rubber band, green aluminum watch face). I have a medium to small wrist and was concerned the watch face would be too big. In reality the watch fits much better than my High Gear as the watch body is quite thin. The large diameter face meanwhile makes it easy to read.
Current gripes - on the special edition the buttons are made of metal and have a lot of texture. While this makes it easy to press buttons with gloves on, it can be irritating if the buttons dig into your wrist. Assuming this is less of an issue on the standard plastic buttons.
The other thing I'm getting used to is understanding how to use the advanced features of the watch. The instruction manual that came with the watch didn't provide any description of how to work with the advanced features (e.g. the storm alarm - sounds great but I haven't determined when I should expect it to pop up).
All in all, I really like this watch for its design and quality workmanship.

I have to admit that I thought I liked the older version of the Kilowatts (khaki topsheets) just fine - I like the dimensions, the weight is acceptable for such a solid ski, etc. But after getting a screaming deal on the updated 'Watts (blue topsheets), I realize just how much the old tan sticks skied like fence posts. The updates have made the ski flex much more consistently and this makes for a more forgiving ride. Mounting the blue Kilowatts up with tele bindings works well and my khaki 'watts are now relegated to early/late season downhilling.

I got my Beta SL on sale and feel mostly OK with that, however I don't think it's worth the msrp. For 11 oz it makes a good layer to toss in the pack and forget about, just in case. It obviously doesn't weigh much and the zipper and other features are consequently a little bit waifish. I haven't ripped the shell in 2 years of moderate alpine climbing and backpacking, but that doesn't mean I don't worry about a branch eating up my jacket. I use a different, heavier shell for day-to-day use in the Pac NW because I'm afraid of wearing this one out. Pit zips would be good as I get a little overheated when moving around, but then you'd should just get the Alpha SL for an additional ounce. I like the Beta SL for ultralight layering and 'just in case' situations but it's not a daily driver for me. Sizing in the "small" is consistent with other Arc'teryx pieces.

Used a friend's Xion for cragging and couldn't believe it's a 10.1 as it felt more like 9.6mm's I've used. It fed really smooth through a variety of belay devices (grigri, grigri2, reverso, Smart) and the rope itself feels supple and soft. The other rope I was using that day was a stiff 9.8 Mammut Tusk and the difference between the two ropes was night and day. I haven't had a whole lot of trust in Petzl Ropes since their initial release and subsequent durability issues, however the Xion has restored my faith in their ropes.

I really wanted to like this jacket. It's comfortable and the material seems durable. Unfortunately this latest season's version of the Luft Insulated Sweater (season with "Beehive" and "Black/Deep/Deep" as color options) is far too boxy for my frame. As Stoic gear tends more towards an athletic fit, I was surprised by the wide shoulders and waist on this jacket. Even with clothing layered under the jacket I had a lot of warmth escaping. Using the waist-cinch cord helped with retaining warmth but it killed the aesthetics of the jacket.

The color coding makes racking cams easy but for rope-work I find the gate action and basket size to be less than ideal. Ultimately I end up reaching for the DMM spectre more than the FS Mini, but I dig the concept of the full strength baby biner. Plus, this is a great carabiner for all those super extreme people who carry their keys on their belt loop with a carabiner. Maybe you can suggest using the FS Mini as a less conspicuous option. Or a pocket...

This is a versatile, solid locking biner that I use for almost everything. The smooth, rounded edges make belaying a second off the anchor smooth. Also, rappels are smooth, the basket has plenty of space for a clove and multiple slings while it still stays out of the way on your harness. You can ditch some weight with the Attache 3D, but you lose the smoothness afforded by the round bar stock.

I love the 3d as a mother biner on multipitch anchors. I find that the smooth/rounded bar stock on the original attache feeds better when belaying a second directly off the anchor. The 3d is a bit shifty and you have to be sure to lock the screwgate with authority, but for the awesome weight to size ratio, I'm more than willing to compromise.

Side note - I wouldn't recommend top roping off this carabiner as it will likely wear the alloy down more quickly than a heavier carabiner.

I didn't feel too confident with the Ultra Tech screw gate. It felt like half the biner was made out of plastic and the other half was some kind of wispy alloy. Also, the screwgate required too many turns just to get it to move into position. I wouldn't recommend this carabiner.

Really nice alternative to the BD rack pack. I find the gate action and size of the biner to be better than the neutrino (a good wire in its own right). Pairing the Spectre up with a BD Oz also makes for a functional, lightweight alpine draw.

This biner really does reduce friction on wandering pitches and I've used it far more than I ever expected to. Now that it's available in a locker, it's also a nice addition to a glacier kit as an emergency pulley. That being said, if you're really planning to use a pulley, you'd best stick with a dedicated device.

It works fine, but the element key lock feels a bit small and cheap as a belay 'biner. I'm sure it's plenty safe, but the screw-gate could do to be a bit smoother and easier to unlock. Given the choice between the Element and other options, the Element usually gets relegated to the second string.

I've had the older version of this locker for three years now and have found it suitable for most of my needs. I really like the round bar stock but agree with the previous reviewer that noted that the biner shape is prone to twisting while belaying. Makes for a smooth rappel but I use my Petzl Attache more often lately.

I love the original Smart belay device and had high hopes for the alpine version. Nevertheless, in order to accommodate two rope channels, Mammut had to make the width of this device a bit too wide for some locking biners. If you are belaying with a narrow-ish locker (i.e. Petzl AM'D), the belay device seems to get jammed in the curvature of the carabiner.
With an HMS locker like an Attache(wide pear shaped carbiners) this device fits fine. I imagine this is less of an issue on the smaller Alpine Smart(7.5mm to 9.5mm) but haven't gotten my hands on one to check. As long as you're not using a oval or D shaped locker, you should be fine.

Great to save weight when racking cams, but the gate is quite small when open. I prefer using a slightly larger biner like the Black Diamond Oz so that clipping the rope is easier. Also, the gate action does not inspire confidence on the Nano 23 and the absence of color coded options fails to fit my needs.

These are my favorite lightweight biners for alpine draws. While not the absolute lightest carabiner on the market, I do find that they are the best balance of a usable size (even with gloves), best gate action and light weight that you don't find with the miniature sized options currently available.

I love how light these lockers are. They also have great gate action and I use them for building multi-pitch anchors. They do get a little bit crowded if you throw more than a clove hitch on the biner, so I don't use them as my mother biner. These complement the Petzl Attache 3D quite well for a ultralight anchor setup.

I love this jacket for its durable yet soft fabric, light weight, and heat trapping properties. It fits nicely as a midlayer or can pull duty as an alpine belay jacket. Beyond being warm, light, and comfy, the jacket also packs down to the size of a Nalgene in the included stuff sack. I'm 5'8", 135 and the small works really well.

I'll start by saying that this shirt is quite comfortable, I dig the design (ember with the rainbow) and it appears to be of high quality.
Nevertheless I am a bit disappointed because the Backcountry product description calls this a "slim" fit while the I/O Bio description of the box explicitly says "Relaxed Fit." I'd say the fit tends more to the relaxed end of the spectrum and I'm bummed about that. Also, the shirt tail is surprisingly long--Like long enough that you could use it as a mini-skirt if that's how you roll. Perhaps a run through the washer will tidy these issues up.

This tent is built well and thrives in a car-camping situation where you don't want to share a three person tent with two newly-weds. Or maybe your friend has a "great, huge tent that is super strong" that he bought at Target and you don't want to wake up to a face full of wet nylon when the tent pancakes in the wind.
Drawbacks: for a solo tent, 4lbs is a little hefty. It seems to me that you could shave quite a few ounces by changing out the supplied rail-road nails that serve as stakes. And the tent isn't free-stnading, so you'd better be camping some place that you can get the stakes driven in quite well.

Nevertheless, the vestibule will hold a pack and the interior is rather roomy for a one person rig.

I am always amazed that these are at the bottom of the BD draw pricing scale. I much prefer the Freewire to the Hotwire or Quicksilver because the burly dog bones don't twist at all. The gates have a nice consistent action and the draw itself weighs in fairly competitively. As far as sport draws go, these are near the top of my list of fav's.

The no-frills design on this pack couple with super burly material to create a good climbing workhorse. I have no concerns when chimneying, bushwacking, or butt-sliding down slabs in the Demon and the hike in is comfortable due to a well designed suspension and full hipbelt. The zippers are bomb-proof--no blowing out seams and sending your gear for an unplanned flight. It would be nice to easily throw a rope over the lid, but I guess this can be achieved with the tiny lashing straps (see sweet MS Paint picture below). All in all, I expect this pack to nobly suffer through years of abuse with no problem.

For three pounds five ounces you get a passable two person tent in a pinch. But the interior is somewhat cramped. I'm not a tall dude (5'8), and I felt like I could touch both ends of the tent while sleeping. This would be an issue except for the excessive condensation that builds up in the tent.

The tent is quite stable in high winds, and the pitch-from-within can be nice in rain. If weight is your primary concern on a climb, the Firstlight will fit the bill, but you must be willing to make some compromises. There's a reason this tent appears in so many magazines and trip reports recounting epics on cramped bivy ledges. And it has little to do with comfort or amenities.

I love my Kilowatts and am so pleased with their performance across a range of conditions. They are nimble in the trees, float nicely in all but the deepest of powder, and hold an edge on hard-pack. I've got a set of Hammerheads mounted and really enjoy this setup. It's my first pair of Black Diamond skis, but it most certainly will not be the last.

Potential concerns first: The torso on this pullover is short relative to most other pieces and the cut is quite fitted.
That being said, I don't think it is necessarily bad that the torso is short as it fits perfect under a jacket. You really wouldn't want the Rime to stick out from under everything you wear, right? If you're looking for a midlayer, order your normal size; If you're planning to use the Rime as more of a jacket, order a size up. I'm a S in other brands and the S Rime fits me very well. It is quite fitted, however, so don't be surprised.
The material is comfortably soft on the outside, does a great job of blocking the wind, and is remarkably lightweight overall. For (non-winter)alpine climbs I find pairing the Rime with a baselayer to be just about perfect.
Lastly, this pullover has held up fantastically well through many trips of abusive treatment- grungy chimneys, sharp cracks, and bushwhacking galore. Love my Rime.

Light and yet durable. These bags are a great way to keep your clothes dry and protected while backpacking. Also, they work surprisingly well for heavy loads--I've had close to 20lbs in the number 4 with no trouble.

This is an awesome belay device. The simple yet effective design of the SMART induces awe and wonder. It provides the safety of an auto-lock, but comes at the lower price of an ATC. The SMART is rather intuitive to use, and the pictures on the side of the device help eliminate errors. Furthermore, feeding rope through the SMART is remarkably easy. Giving slack to the leader is almost silly-simple, and yet the locking mechanism is quick to engage. Nevertheless, just because it's a locking device, don't take your hands off the brake! (Same with a gri-gri).

The Rope Ranger is a huge improvement over older Metolius rope bags that only had a single strap. Approaches are no longer spent shifting the strap from one shoulder to the other. That's not to say that the backpack straps are perfect--it's not like there's an internal frame or anything, but it gets the job done. Also, older versions used plastic clip-buckles whereas this one uses metal hooks. They are just as secure, easier to tighten, and will not break, leaving you with a half-tight, half-loose rope bag. There is ample room on the tarp to flake the rope out and put shoes on. And when it's time to leave, it all packs away into a compact package with room for your draws, or maybe part of a rack.

Yes it works. Yes, you can belay. And rappel. But I disagree that it is just like the Black Diamond ATC. Loading the belay device is not smooth. Rappelling on the Shell device is not at all fast. Good luck lowering a climber who weighs less than 140 pounds. The belay device puts too much friction on the rope, preventing the rope from running smoothly. Finally, I'm concerned that the exposure of the wire loop (see below) could pose a significant issue for the integrity of your rope. Spend the extra Lincoln, and you won't have to purchase a replacement.

The Hammerheads are hard to beat for powerful, active, responsive turns. The torsional stability is top-notch and the ability to change the response of the binding is nice, even if it is difficult at times. Also, the bomber construction instills confidence that the binding isn't going to disintegrate when you really lay into it. They're also competitively light and while they're not dedicated to touring, the HammerHeads are wonderfully versatile.

Warm, great as a mid layer. Works fine as an outerlayer but is not meant to block wind. Trim, athletic fit. If you want to put more than 1 or 2 layers underneath the jacket, size up. Very soft and visually intriguing exterior is highly tactile. If you don't like people asking if they can pet you, the monkeyman is not for you. thixophobiacs beware.

These gloves are made from really nice, soft, flexible leather. The dexterity is relatively high, but these benefits come at too high of a price for me. They are not very warm, especially after a season of use when the insulation packs out. Furthermore, my gloves are always wet after a day of skiing, even when the skies are clear. Merely coming into contact with snow will lead to wet hands later. The wrist gauntlet is an awkward size as it is too small to go over a jacket cuff, but they're almost too bulky to fit under a cuff with elastic and velcro. The gloves are very durable, have a decent design, and a lot of potential, but I can't in good conscience recommend them for cold weather use. They could make good 40 degree work gloves, or belay gloves.

I've been demoing the Seeker for the past week and have been really quite pleased. It is a lower cuff boot than something like a T-1. Not having skied the T-2 I can't speak to its relative stiffness; however, I think it has great torsional support and is consistent and predictable in flex. I like the BOA system on the liner though it does take longer to put on. And the ski/walk modes are well thought out and actually make a noticeable difference.
My one major complaint after 8 days of lift-served skiing is the boot seems to let a lot of snow in and the liners consequently get wet.

This is a great rope that handles well and is really light. It does stretch a fair bit, so don't expect to take it top roping or hang dogging and have it perform the same as a fatty rope.
Packs down nicely in a rope bag or backpack.