Smith Freeman

The cubed pillows surrounding you, and especially with the hood on, make you look like a complete buffoon. That said, you will be the warmest and least encumbered buffoon to tromp around in the sub-zero. Rab did everything they could to make this jacket light, including stretchy wrist collars instead of velcro. I would have preferred velcro. The electric orange might as well be used for highway markers, as you can spot me from space. The Pertex behaves like most other ultra-light dwr nylons. It weights nothing, and really isn't nearly as ripstop as they make you believe. I did easily tear a nice little hole in the back, but that's the trade-off for weight. I'm 5'9", 150 pounds, and the medium is roomy enough for a couple layers underneath.

I've had both the Mountain Hardware Sub Zero and Phantom. This jacket is a solid upgrade from the Phantom, and I will never look back.

Just be warned, if you put the hood on, you'll be warm, but no one will take you serious.

You can literally roll them up and put them in your pocket.

A lot of reviews say these run tight, but I disagree. I wear a UK 40.5 Miura and the US 9.5 Project is aaaalmost too big. I expect it to be too big once all that leather break's in. These shoes have ZERO last in the sole. Again, there is no last, so my suspicion is that they will stretch a lot. The fit, as I go into week #2 with these kicks, is maybe a little big on a low-volume foot, but the velcro does help a little. Not a lot, but a little.

Without any mid-sole last, it's almost like a sock with rubber on it. You can feel the slightest nuances in every hold you put your foot on. Though, when it comes to standing vertically on a crystal or a screw-on, it's going to be all on you and your toes. Very little energy gets passed into the stability of the shoe.

The Five Ten rubber is good as always. All in all, not a bad shoe, but certainly worth checking out in the flesh first.