Shovel Pocket is INSIDE the pack in the WET side of the WET/DRY DIVIDER. Your shovel handle and probe both have homes in there as well. No need to strap the shovel to the outside of the pack unless you're overloading it in the first place....

It IS a very roomy daypack, but an overnight would be a tight squeeze even with ultra light/compact gear.

Hey Eric, maybe it's popular for top roping without a backup belayer? It's not such a mystery afterall! I know when I have a new belayer I appreciate the autolocking function!

That said, if you're alpine/ice climbing or glacier walking, the thinner rope you're probably using is very manageable with this device! So this device and the grigri have different applications, choose the appropriate device for your purposes!

Bionic is quite a bit heavier, and not as breathable. The gore windstopper on the marmot also appears to repel water better imho (I own them both). The biggest difference is the stretch panel/breathability of the marmot.

In general, if it's cold out and I'm riding lifts, not aerobic, I'd probably opt for the Apex. If I'm doing anything at all aerobic, or layering, I opt for the leadville. Hope this helps.

The medium's sleeves will probably fit you right, but the large may be the fit around the torso you'd prefer.

If you want it fitted go with the medium, if you want it more relaxed, go large.

GL

I'm 5'9" 150 and I wear a small. I'm lanky, but it's cut like I am. I have long arms and skinny torsoe. It works over 2 thin base layers, or 1 thin baselayer, 1 100weight fleece.

YMMV

I think you should be confortable down to 0 degrees with that system WITHOUT the front point down jacket.

2 layers of down is for some seriously cold temps. You should leave the front point at home and get a gore shell. The "wet" part of your conditions pretty much mandate it.

You could also forego this jacket as a layer and just keep your front point in the pack for when you're sedentary, but if you want to wear a down layer all the time this is probably the right jacket.

Clear as mud? Here's my system YMMV:

Base: short sleeve polypro, long sleeve patagonia zip neck polypro (thin kind with a silverish reflective fabric), Marmot Leadville softshell jacket with gore windstopper, OR Mentor jacket with gore pro-shell and this jacket as my down layer. This jacket will usually be worn over my gore shell (when I stop to rest), but if it's butt cold I'll go ahead and put it underneath the gore shell and keep it on all day.

This system keeps me comfortable easily to zero degrees (actual temp NOT windchill), and the windstopper and gore layers prevent any other windchill issues.

If it's gonna be below zero I'll substitute this jacket out for my Mountain Hardwear Phantom jacket, which is much loftier but about 3/4 lb. heavier.

Yes, It fits perfectly. I use the Mission pack, but the heli pro handle holder is exactly the same.This is one of the lightest full shovel/probe setups around and super easy to use.

Yeah, polyurethane coated nylon = waterproof generally speaking. Your "wet" trip is probably attributable as much to condensation as it was to rain. When humidity is high outside the tent, it won't breathe well. This tent should however breathe well since it's got mesh walls.