I've had Tikka family headlamps for years, and this is the best incarnation of the design I've seen yet. The bright setting is SUPER bright, enough so that I've been able to find rap anchors on dark granite, in the rain, in the dark. (Kind of a long story...) But, you can go to the low setting and flip down the more defuse wide angle lens and not blind your buddies. I'm also a big fan of the red light mode, it's super nice when you need a quick light, but don't want to loose your natural night vision. The optional "rescue whistle" is kind of a joke, but, this is a headlamp, not a whistle right?

I spent the last 5 months behind these shades fighting wildfire in Canada. I've got a fairly small face and they fit me well. I found the Black Iridium lenses to be great in nearly all light conditions, super sunny to overcast. Most importantly for me, they offer great eye protection and they are ANSI impact protection approved which means I can wear them on the fireline instead of lame safety glasses. The lenses are a bit scratched now, but, I feel like I got my $'s worth out of them, and I'm admittedly a bit hard on things. Frames still function great despite being stepped on, dropped, etc....

I picked this rope up for a sport climbing trip to Greece last spring where 70+ meter ropes are the norm. I've long been a devote of Mammut ropes, but at the time, there weren't any available through BC.com. So, I took a chance and grabbed this cord. I've had the chance to climb and fall with it all summer, and I've been super stoked on it. 58g/m means that even at 80m, this thing is still fairly light. The bi-pattern weave has been super helpful when stringing together multiple raps. Despite the other reviewers experience, my rope is ultra smooth where the patterns come together, no issue there. I live in the Canadian Rockies were sharp limestone is the norm and this cord has held up really well. No core shots or abrasions despite some pretty heavy use. (I've done plenty of projecting on this cord too, it's not all sending ;) Falls have been nice & soft & I love the feel of this cord. I trust this rope with my life & would definitely recommend it to others.

I spend my life outside, whether I'm wildland firefighting, avalanche forecasting or seeking alpine adventures on my own time, I've got to fuel my body. I'm one of those guys who needs A LOT of calories all the time. Thus, I've eaten plenty of "bar food." I can barely stomach most bars these days, but Probars are the exception. This is far and away my favorite flavor, I buy these things by the case load at this point. With over 300 calories you can't beat these things. That, and they're freakin' delicious too! You won't be disappointed.

I picked this up last spring and spent the entire summer with it. I'm 5' 10", 145lbs and the Medium is a great fit. This has quickly become one of my favorite pieces because it 1.) Breathes incredibly well 2.) Blocks wind & 3.) Takes up very little room in my pack. I wouldn't want to cheesegrader down a slab with it on, but, it's held up very well on numerous bike rides and climbing adventures.

I've got four pairs of these in my collection. For better or worse, these are pretty much the only four pairs of underwear I wear anymore. I spend 5 months every summer fighting wildfire in Canada & my standard setup is these very boxers, a T-shirt and nomex coveralls. I can get through an 18 day fire shift with just 4 pairs, and scent is never really an issue. You can literally wear these for days on end. Four pairs, worn nearly every day have lasted me almost 2 years. Super impressed, especially considering they're merino. Great weight summer or winter.

These were my first pair of climbing shoes. I wear a US mens size 11.5 street shoe, and I got these in euro size 42.5 (us mens size 9.5). They were a little snug at first but soon stretched into a very comfy fit. I wore these shoes for two full seasons. After that they were relegated to my alpine/trad shoes, as I replaced them with a more aggressive shoe for harder sport routes. They treated me SO well. Great rubber, and great fit for my smaller volume feet.

My wife and I went to Thailand for the month of November last year. Turns out I accidentally left the sport shoes at home. No worries, I climbed all day (almost) every day for a month in these things, and they killed it, climbing at the edge of my ability (5.11ish) The last day they finally blew out. Upon returning home, I promptly ordered another pair.

I added a pair of these to my sock fleet this winter, and have been super pleased with them. I'm a size 11.5 street shoe, 28.5 Ski boot. I have the Large size. While some prefer a thin as latex sock, I'm not one of those people. I like a sock with a medium weight. They last longer & keep me from getting blisters in my touring boots. The merino keeps the stank down too. In short, these socks are awesome, and I would highly recommend them.

My line of work (avalanche forecasting) is super tough on gear, especially pants. I spend a lot of time sled skiing during the winter, and the machines have a way of shredding bottoms like no other. My Areceryx Theta SV bibs didn't stand a chance, the lowers were all torn up after just one day on the machine. Boo.

Enter the Stoic Bib. I'm 145 lbs, 5' 10", and the Mediums offer a comfortable loose fit. They are baggy enough to have style, but still allow me to throw crampons on & rip my machine around without catching on everything. These pants remain very waterproof, even through nasty spring showers in the mountains.

While I use the machine to get where I need to go, I put in countless vert on the skin track in order to get intimate with the snowpack. The inner thigh ventilation worked surprisingly well. I can strip down to these bibs and a wind proof shirt and break trail without over heating, no problem.

I picked these up along with the matching bright green Stoic Bombshell Jacket. The accents on the pants are the same color, and I've never matched so well in my life, which is nice on that 4th 16 hour day in a row on the clock! I also like the form fitting upper part of the bib. The system does a great job of sealing out the elements. While there are belt loops, I've never used them. Waterproof zippers are also a nice touch, keep 'em zipped up and everything stays dry.

In short, I'm stoked on Stoic. These pants have far exceeded my expectations, and they're ready for many more seasons of abuse.

I quite like this hat. I'm a 7 1/8" hat size, and the S/M fits me well. I've been rockin' it all winter.

I picked this shell up early this winter, and have been rockin' it almost everyday for the past few months.

Fit: I'm 145 lbs, 5' 10". The medium would be a good alpine climbing fit, but I prefer a larger fit for skiing so I can wear a puffy underneath, and stash skins inside the shell for descending on cold days. So, I went with a a large in the lime.

Durability: As an avalanche forecaster, I spend A LOT of time in my technical clothing. Days filled with snowmobiles tend to be hard on things, and this shell has held up nicely. I have thrashed through many a tight forest, and the shell has yet to see any tears. The waterproof zippers have a nice tight feel to them too.

Design: I like the pocket layout in this shell. There is an interior i-pod pocket that holds my iphone nicely. When at the resort I wire in my earbuds and the phone stays toasty & dry inside the shell. The large outer pocket is the perfect size for my write in the rain field book too. The smaller chest pocket often holds my GPS when I'm in the field.

Functionality: While I have a few other shells in my quiver, none of them have come out since getting the bombshell. It's plenty breathable with the pit zips open for the skin track on nasty days. The arm gaiters are awesome as I tend to wear inside the cuff gloves. It does a great job of keeping snow out when digging pits or even for the occasional fall.

Style: I'm constantly complemented on this jacket. The Lime is a super bright shade that is a photographers dream. For me, bright is right in the backcountry. I want to be as visible as possible when I'm in the mountains. The only downside of the color is that it tends to pick up dirt pretty easily. I found that some shout advanced gel and time in the wash brought the stains right out.

Overall, I'm super psyched on this shell. I have Arc'teryx pieces in my collection, but this one is my favorite. It's stylie, durable & uber functional. Certainly the best bang for the buck out there.

As an avalanche forecaster I use my probe multiple times per day, every day. I've been through a few probes, and this is by far my favorite. Why?:

1. It's stout, never has that "about to break" carbon fiber probe feel.
2. Simple screw top is great. I recommend applying a bit of Vaseline to the threads to keep the probe from icing up.
3. It's got markings every centimeter that have withstood the test of time. (I often use the probe in the corner of my extended column tests which means I'm dragging a piece of knotted cordlette across it all the time. Other probe markings have worn off with this practice.)
4. I feel that 320cm is a great length. If you live anywhere outside of Colorado or Alberta, a six foot probe is not going to cut it. Go long, and you can use it to probe for crevasses the next time you're on a spring ski mountaineering trip.
5. Not the litest unit out there, but it's been going strong for me over 3 years of professional use.

As an avalanche forecaster, I'm always digging in the snow. This is my saw. The markings help to keep cuts straight, and the saw goes through anything, even the dreaded rain lens. I often use the included straps to attach the saw to the end of my shovel to isolate extended column tests in shallow snowpacks. I've never tried to quarter an elk with it but, for a dedicated snow tool, you can't beat the Bonesaw.

I've had this beacon since I first started poking around in the backcountry over a decade ago. Since then I've passed all my avalanche industry certifications using a Tracker. Once you understand the special search function multiple burials are a whole lot easier. Practice, practice, practice. Working in the snow professionally, I can use any beacon I like, & I'm still using the Tracker. The Tracker is simple, solid, and won't let you down when you need it.

Seems like so many shoes out there are made for wide American clown feet. These on the other hand, are for us skinny lil' pencil footed folks. I have a medium/narrow foot (mens street size 11.5) and I wear a 9 in the Katanas. The shoe fits like a glove and feels excellent. I certainly get a bit of toe curl in them, but nothing too serious. If you're looking for a similar fit, but more comfort oriented, go check out the Mythos:

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/La-Sportiva-Mythos-Climbing-Shoe-Mens/LSP0048M.html

Yeah, yeah, yeah, skinny ropes are all the rage these days. Well, when I top out on sharp limestone here in the Canadian Rockies, I want a rope that I'm SURE, won't split open as I'm lowered. The Supersafe gives me the piece of mind to charge the next sport route day after day. I've taken numerous small falls on the cord, nothing big, but they've all felt quite dynamic. The rope has great "feel," plenty supple for that sketchy cross clip above the runout. My wife also climbs ice with this rope in the winter, and although the rope has been through two seasons of rock, it still feels reasonably dry after a day on ice. In my mind, it's a bit heavy for an alpine single cord, but, really, who gets to climb in the alpine after work? For me, this is the go-to workhorse rope.

I've been climbing in the X350a all summer, and I love it. No more having to double check that I'm doubled back thanks to the new buckle system. Hanging in the harness is quite comfortable too. (Not that I ever "take" or anything....) Draws and gear hang where I need them to and it fits like a glove. I wear size 30 carharts, and I went with the small. There's still plenty of room in the harness should I need to layer up in the fall or winter. This is my go to harness when there is a fall potential. When ski-mountaineering, or for a just in case harness, check out the Camp Alp 95:

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/CAMP-USA-ALP-95-Climbing-Harness/CMP0028M.html

As an avalanche forecaster, I'm pretty hard on things. Two stroke machines, storm days where you can't see your ski tips, spilling the red bull on yourself on the last hour of a 15 hour shift, these things are hard on gear. The shift welder has been my go to shell all season, from winds blowing 50 mph on the skyline to snow falling at 3" in an hour, the shift welder has clocked in and given 115%. I'm super psyched on this piece. I'm 145 lbs, 5' 10" and I wear a medium. Plenty of well placed pockets to hold camera, compass and more. As soon as there's a womens available, I'm buying my wife one!

Last night a storm rolled into Northern Utah, accompanied by lightning. By 9am this morning, the resorts were reporting 18" of new. I got out on these boards, and was very impressed. I dropped right in for some faceshots, and the 177's felt great! (I'm 5'10", 145lbs) Very nimble in the trees. When you get back to the catrack, these things rail, holding a great edge! After things got a bit skied out, the Thunders continued to impress, blasting through crud. They deflected nicely, and I didn't get bounced around, they just powered through the choppy stuff. They've got plenty of pop too, when you want to boost a roller. This is a 1 ski quiver. All in all, very fun skis! Not too wide, does it all- Great little rippers! Although I've got them setup with Alpine bindings, this skis versatility would make it a great backcountry stick.

So, I'm a convert of sorts. I've had multiple pairs of fritchi freerides over the years. I recently put together an ultralight setup for ski mountaineering (Dynafit Vertical ST's, K2 Baker SL & BD Ascension glidelites), and I've bee out on it a few times this season getting a feel for it. These little bindings have blown away all my previous Dynafit misconceptions. These things keep you in, even at speed in the choppy stuff, without having to lock the toe down. (I'm 145lb, 5'10" and a pretty aggressive skier) You do have the option of locking the toe down for a no release situation if you're in a no-fall zone. It takes a bit of practice to get proficient with switching these things around from tour mode, different heights, etc, but after a day you should have it dialed. I'll still keep a pair of big skis around with Fritchis on 'em for huck days, but, for mountaineering, or long tours without hucking, these are where it's at. Think about it, you're never lifting the weight of the binding! They are so efficient and lite! Don't take my word for it, give 'em a whirl, you won't be disappointed!

I picked up a pair of 174's (I'm 5' 10", 145lbs, and a pretty aggressive skier) I threw a pair of Dynafit vertical ST's on them. The idea here is a lite weight setup for ski mountaineering. At the moment, it's the only setup I have access too, so I've been skiing them here in the Utah deepness this winter. This setup has blown me away with regard to performance, first off, it's so incredibly lite that uptracks are sooooo easy! When you're ready to succumb to gravity, these little sticks rip. As a powder ski they're great! This is surely a backcountry stick, but you can rail a groomer with them if no need to as well. If you're looking for a lite BC setup that you can still rip on, check these out, 'cause turning is really for when stuff gets in your way right?

I ordered these by accident. I usually use the Black Diamond Hotwire. The Livewire's are a bit bigger than the hotwires. I'll stick with Hotwire's in the future. Light is right- But, these are a nice oval shape, good for clipping when you're pumped.

I love this bag. Awesome for sport climbing, the tarp is nice and big. You can throw out the tarp, put your shoes on, tie in and go without having to flake the rope every time. I also like the shoulder straps. Not the most comfortable, but, between you and your partner; one can carry a pack with gear/lunch and safety, the other can sling on this rope bag. There's room for a 60 M + Harness & Shoes. Solid purchase-

This is my absolute favorite piece. This shirt makes it into my pack all 4 seasons. I climb, backcountry ski, ride my bike, backpack, EVERYTHING in this shirt. It's very breathable. Blocks wind, and is very lite. Incredibly comfortable during aerobic output, and keeps you warm and dry when you rest at a belay, or dig a pit. I'm 5' 10", 145lbs and I wear a medium.

I took these spikes along for an attempt on the middle teton via the glacier route. I have the semi automatic version, and paired them with a pair of Scarpa Triolets. The combination felt very smooth walking on the glacier. Using the french technique I felt very secure. No balling even in the late July Snow. Once we began two tooling up the ice couloir, I really enjoyed the front pointing purchase that these gave me. They stayed on and didn't loosen at all. I'm very satisfied with my purchase. Good weight, not too heavy, and I feel like I could tackle a variety of terrain with these spikes! I look forward to giving them a spin on vertical ice!

These things are a dream come true. Sticky rubber meets skate style. These are awesome for riding on flat peddals, the sticky rubber gives awesome purchase, and is durable too. I'm on my second pair, and wear them daily. I've never had a pair of shoes last 11 months, but, the mandalas did. I think I'll bulk up on a couple pairs for the future! Fit's my medium/narrow foot well right out of the box, although a footbed makes them feel that much better. Great shoe for climbing approaches, riding, or just chillin.

Took this pack into the High Uintas of Utah over the weekend, and it felt great. I've been carrying an Arc'teryx Bora pack in the mountains for years, and the bora packs feel exceptional, however, they are on the heavier side. Here's the answer from Arc'teryx. The pack feels very close to the bora in terms the way it carries. I'm 5'10", 145lbs and the size regular is perfect. Big enough for a night or two in the summer, but I think I'll stick to my bora for pure backpacking trips. However, This pack will replace my old North Face Patrol pack everywhere else. This is a superb ski touring, day outing, ice climbing size and shape. The unique waist belt system feels great, and really moves with you. This will no be my go2 pack for nearly everything in the mountains!

These socks feel great! I wore them for 2 full days in Uintas of Utah. Hot temps and cold temps, these socks wicked well and felt awesome. Medium weight socks that feel like they should be $20 per pair...

Picked up a pair of these, and wow! Feel great, nice light weight socks. Feel comfy for a day hike, or 3 days in a row as recently used!