I'm a huge fan of eVent, but it's really important that you keep it clean. I had an eVent shell that worked great for a season, but it slowly lost its waterproofing. It wasn't the jacket's fault; it was my own–you're supposed to wash eVent often. So follow the tag (which I didn't read) and wash your Stoic shell often.

I just couldn't bring myself around to paying $40 for a bottle cage (SEE: carbon-obsession) ... and I'm stoked that I didn't.

This cage is lightweight (it's only a few grams heavier than the carbon), and thanks to its black coating, it doesn't have that cheap-ass-I-just-took-this-off-my-sister's-huffy aluminum look.

Highly recommended if you don't need carbon to hold your water bottle.

The over-the-toe strap is kinda funky at first, but it grips your toes no matter what and locks your heel into place. No pressure points whatsoever. They're not super stiff, so they're ideal for an all-mountain ride. I rode it on a Lib Tech Travis Rice MTX BTX and it slayed it. Good stuff.

Took this on a canyoneering trip last summer and it did the trick. The straps weren't the most comfortable thing in the world, but the overall function of a 100% waterproof pack made up for it. Very simple, minimalist pack. Perfect for river trips, canyoneering, or fast and light hiking in wet climates.

A friend of mine demo'd the 164 and had nothing but good things to say. He's an intermediate rider and had no problems with the variable conditions and steep slopes on this thing. So don't think the banana is just for powder--with the magne-traction it's basically an all-mountain machine. He wanted to keep it.

These are ideal for backcountry skiing or even skiing in the resort. I used them once while backcountry snowboarding and they were a little long. If you ride a split board, you're better off going with a three section pole. But for skiing or touring, they're ideal. Lightweight, durable and the flicklock system is pretty much the best thing out there--don't mess with camming poles.

These are great snowboard bindings. I actually put them on my Voile splitboard and they really lightened things up while staying super responsive and comfortable. Plus they're real easy/fast to get in and out of. Definitely watch the video that explains how to set 'em up (click on the "sizing chart" on this page or go to Ride's site).

I bought this for my sister in-law for Christmas and she loved it. She said it felt like wearing a stuffed animal. She usually wears a S or M, and by looking at other reviews I decided on getting the large since everyone seemed to say it fit really small. Unfortunately, it was a tad too big. So we're exchanging it for the medium. I think the lesson there is go up a 1/2 size, not a full size.

I bought one for myself and a few others for gifts ... the verdict? Sweeeet. Keeps your drink super hot, and doesn't leak. At 12oz, it's not huge, but it fits well in my pack and in the drink holder in my car. My only gripe is that it doesn't have that little filter thing for coffee like some competitors do (like the dreaded REI). Oh well ... maybe next year?

I've taken this out on one tour and I'm impressed. Soft leather, stretchy softshell exactly what I've been looking for in a backcountry glove. It fits a tad big (long in the fingers).

This snow saw gives a great cut, feels good in your hand, and isn't very heavy in your pack. Great for completing your avie kit.

These things are super comfortable, soft, and warm. I've owned Icebreaker merino T-shirts for years and I'm stoked to see these socks. They're thin, but don't be fooled: they're toasty as hell.

It's a lock and it works. My bike is still out back, which is all I care about. Killer price on a good lock.

Who needs the flashing? Does it really help people see you? I don't think so. I think the flashing just makes us feel like we're at a disco party or something. This light is bright as hell and mounts easy. Plus it's cheaper than a lot of the other lights out there, so that's a bonus.

I rode this board all of last year and think it's the best resort board around. I spend the majority of my time in the backcountry (on a Voile splitboard) and I was looking for a playful deck to throw around in the park, off cornices, thru the powder, etc. I had been riding an Never Summer, but wanted something lighter and less of a tank. The Custom didn't disappoint.

I was skeptical about the ICS / EST thing at first, but once I got on it, I became a believer. The good thing is that you can ride it centered for jibbing around the resort/park, and then move the bindings back in an instant if you want to dip into the powder. And with this deck's slightly directional shape, it can do both really well.

I paired this ICS deck with the Cartel EST and the setup is ridiculously lightweight--lighter than my girlfriend's little 143.

My reading rainbow summation: So if you're looking for a fun board to throw around the resort and dip into some powder, get the Burton Custom ICS.

(man this is the cheesiest review ever. sorry)

Oh ... and something's fishy about the review by "slo246970". That guy did nothing but talk shit about Burton and hype up Rome boards... then you look at his profile and it's all Rome stuff and all 5 stars. The only crappy review was for this deck. hmm ... Rome rep or disgruntled Burton employee, perhaps? That's lame.

My girlfriend loves this The North Face top. She wears it all the time. She's about 5ft 2in and is pretty slender. She ordered the S and it fits perfectly. Since The North Face made it out of polyester / synthetic fabrics, it wicks wetness and it feels lightweight. Great for hiking around in hot weather. Highly recommend this North Face top.

I got these casual pants for my brother and he totally loves him. He's about 5ft 6in and the 30in waist fit true to size. They're not too long and he can wear them to work or just around town. Highly recommended. I might get a pair myself.

In response to B+ Backcountry Board... I wonder if he/she was touring correctly. The left side is meant for the right foot and vice versa, which puts those back latches/bolts on the outside... which makes it impossible to hit (unless you're very clever and flexible.)

I've been using this backpack for the last year and a half, and I've come to love it.

It's super lightweight, durable, and comfortable to wear. In my experience, it works best for weekend trips, when your load isn't too heavy. They key to this pack is in the packing - if you take things out of their stuff sacks and pack them individually, you can get tons into it. 50L gives you plenty of room for 2-3 nights.

I'm 5'7" and the medium fits me perfectly.

If you're looking for a lightweight backpack that feels great when you're moving fast, get the Atmos 50.

Ah merino. I love this stuff. The Tech T is a great start if you haven't jumped on the merino band wagon yet.

It's light enough to wear in the summer, insulates great as a base layer in winter, and doesn't ever stink.

I've worn this thing for a week straight, and you'd never guess it. Icebreaker makes quality clothing and this one does not disappoint.

Works flawlessly with my Guide filter.

Get this once your filtering gets slow.

Looks like Flow fixed last year's problems and came out with a killer binding.

I rode last year's hard, and was pleasantly surprised by Flow's bindings. I always thought (wrongly) that Flows were for beginners or something. Not so. These things charge hard and excel in extreme conditions.

Plus I beat my friends to all the powder stashes since I was already going down while they were still ratcheting in. Convert - you won't regret it.

I bought this shirt for a friend of mine and she absolutely loves it.

She says she barely sweats when she wears this shirt working out, it never stinks, and it's super soft.

Plus she looks great. I got her the medium - she's about 5'8" of regular build.

I don't have much luck with these things. No matter how tight I tighten the screw-top, it always finds a way to leak - albeit a little. I think it's because the O-ring on the inside isn't super tight.

But besides a tiny bit of leakage, this thing works fine. Simple, no frills.

It doesn't affect the taste of the water and it is easy to fill

This thing rocks. I have a Whisperlite International as well, and I think I like this one better if you're somewhere you can get the fuel bottles.

It's super lightweight, easy to light, and I like the temperature control -- no more burning the crap out of my food.

A great buy for a classic stove

These Lafuma chairs work great for evening concerts.

They have short backs, so you won't block everyone's view. They are lightweight, easy to transport and are actually very comfy.

I bought these for my girlfriend... and she loves them. She is about 5'1", and the small fits her great.

They are lightweight, comfy, and don't chafe at the waist. They have lots of secure pockets. They sit low on her waist (not granny shorts) and hit her mid-thigh.

They also dry really quickly.

The SKS Lock Cores are super simple to use. Just insert the key and stick them in. I used this set of two with my King Cobra Bike Rack. The bike rack only took one lock, so I'm going to use the other one with my old ski rack.

I got this duffel bag for my brother. He wanted a bag he could use for the gym. I originally bought the medium, but it ended up being way too big; it was more like a hockey bag than a gym bag.

I exchanged it for the small (which was simple to do, btw), and the small works perfectly. It fits all his gym stuff (and more) and the backpack straps are a great addition. Highly recommended.

I bought this shirt for my brother. He said he wears it all the time on warm weather runs and in the gym. It breathes well and wicks moisture, which keeps him cool and comfortable (or so he says).

Plus it looks cool.

A great looking cap. Its stretchy headband means it fits well and it looks even better.

The organic cotton is an added bonus.

These things are great. Once you get it on your car, it's a cinch to take on and off.

I have a 06 Impreza and it was really easy to mount these onto my factory rack. After you get it on the first time, you can take on/off in about 2 minutes, which is great if you want to improve your gas mileage.

My girlfriend loves her Dream pack. It's small, so it fits her back well (she's only about 5'1") and the hydration reservoir is easy to take out so she can use it with her other packs.

Plus I think it looks great - way better than the ugly one I have.

These shorts look great on my girlfriend.

She says they're the most comfortable shorts she's ever had.

They sit low on her waist, feel super smooth, and are short, but not too short.

They're perfect for working out in the gym, running, or even hiking. The flat waistband means her backpack's waist belt doesn't chafe.

She's a tad over 5 feet and the XS fit her perfectly.

This thing is great. It was easy to mount onto my 06 Impreza with Yakima Mighty Mounts, and it works great for my Yeti 575 Mountain Bike.

It hold my bike securely, doesn't sway, and is easy to take on/off.

I really like the fact you don't have to take off the front wheel to get your bike onto the car.

It affect gas mileage quite a bit, but what rack doesn't?

If you have an expensive bike and need the best rack possible, I recommend the King Cobra.

I've used this stove from the southern tip of South America to northern Alaska. It works well with all sorts of fuel - from petrol to kerosene to white gas (best).

It can get finicky sometimes, but all you have to do is clean it out - which you can do in the field - or even just shaking it can do the trick.

It boils water fast and works best when you need a lot of heat - it doesn't simmer very well in my experience.

Get this stove if you're going to be at high altitudes, cold temperatures, or where you'll be using different types of fuel.

This was my first harness, and it's been great.

Fits everything you need whether you're leading or cleaning gear, feels comfortable, and it's not too expensive.

The Momentum is a great all around harness.

I got these Lorpen socks as a gift and they quickly became my favorites.

They fit snugly without any bunching, don't hold odors as much as my synthetic socks, and keep my feet super toasty without making them sweaty.

Highly recommended.

If you need a filter that's going to last you for years and you're going to be in conditions where there's a lot of dirty water, I recommend this water filter.

I've used the Katadyn Guide, which works great if you have clean water sources, but you're up a creek if it gets clogged.

I like the way the Miniworks is field maintainable and that you can clean it when the pumping slows.

This is a sturdy, reliable, and easy-to-use filter that will last you years.

The Premier was made for top to bottom speed runs.

If you need a direction deck that is super stable at high speeds, turns on a time, and kills it in everything from chop to pow, the Premier is your board.

I've been riding this board for years, and they last forever. It's no wonder Never Summer backs up their boards with a ridiculous 3 year warranty. No other company has the confidence to do that.

You can't beat Never Summmer.

This stuff works great, but don't use it for Gore-Tex, etc garments that have a wicking liner. Use the spray on stuff for that. Otherwise, this Nikwax stuff works great.

I bought these for my mom a month ago. She has loved them. Here is what she had to say:
I have had trouble with my feet for years and so it has been difficult finding shoes that are comfortable and functional at the same time. These hiking boots not only met my requirements, they went beyond. They are extremely lightweight and easy on my feet. I used to have plantar fasciitis and have special inserts for my shoes, but I didn’t have to use them with these Salomons—they were comfortable and supportive without. The 3D XCR shoes hold tight on wet trails, are firm and steady on steep hikes, and they feel healthy on fast walks. I like the looks of these little lipstick boots, and the lacing system—while tricky at first—proved to be surprisingly clever and easy-to-use… even tucks into its own “garage.”
I highly recommend this product… I would repeat this order. They were a great value and a huge success for me.

Icebreaker makes fantastic products and the Superfine GT Elite is no exception. I bought this performance tee as a wedding gift for my friend and she absolutely loves it. She runs, works out, even goes to work in it. She said it keeps her comfortable and dry when she's running hard and it doesn't stink even after 12 miles.

In terms of fit and feel, I give these La Sportivas a 5. They felt great right out of the box and required no breaking in time. I have normal to narrow feet and there was no heel slip and my toes had plenty of room to wiggle without getting crushed at the front. I wear a US8 1/2 and I got a 42 and they fit like a glove. However, in respect to durability I give the Thunder GTX's a 3. I tend to knock my ankles together when I hike and this has resulted in major tears. I've worn them on only 3 trips and the ankles are already thrashed. Rather disappointing. The rest of the boot looks great - just the ankles are ripped. If you hike properly, you won't have any problems. My chicken bowlegs are probably the culprit.

I have one of these Icebreaker shirts and I've bought one for each of my brothers. We all agree: these are kickass shirts. After 3 days of intense backpacking in 90-degree heat, I could still wear this performance tee to the bar without making the barmaid turn green. They have a nice slimmish fit - not tight by any means, just a contoured shape. Another bonus: they insulated like no other. I was caught in a cold hailstorm without a rain coat (real smart). I was chilly, but not nearly as cold as I would have been in a synthetic or cotton shirt. HIGHLY recommend any Icebreaker product. This is a good, simple performance tee good for everyday stuff and backpacking.

Tasty veggie lasagna. Mountain House makes really good freeze dried food. Highly recommend this vegetarian dish.

The Sante Fe Black Beans and Rice is damn tasty. Alpine Aire makes really tasty backpacker meals. Highly recommend this one.

I went running the other day in this shirt and I have to say, this thing is amazing. I'm normally drenched by the time I get back home but with this Icebreaker shirt, my upper body was almost perfectly dry... and I didn't smell.

Reefs cannot be outdone. Simple. Comfortable. They last forever. I've never owned a better pair of flip-flops. These ones will be on my feet every day of the summer.