Ryan Spaulding

My go-to sunglasses for all my trail running ventures. The Parallel D Max is insanely light and very low-key, but still provides great coverage. I have a small face size and these fit me very well. I did not purchase extra lenses, so I am unable to comment on how simple it is to swap them out.

I find that these guys will fog up- generally when I come to a stop or walk during or after a run- but I can't say that I've ever worn a pair of shades that did not fog up during moderate to strenuous activity.

Smith never ceases to amaze me when I pick up a new pair of their shades; The Smith Backdrop is the best pair of shades I've ever worn. Their new Techlite TLT lens technology makes for a low-key yet very well protected field of vision. The frame and hinges also feel durable...the metal spring hinges are great as it allows for opening up these sunglasses with just one hand for quick and easy deployment. The styling is also classic Smith, which always looks good.

I take off 1 star because the fit is just a little off for me. These shades rest on my face in a way where they are slightly rotated backwards (which allows for more space in between the bottom of the frame and my eyes)...Ultimately, this does not affect performance and it does not bother me. I have a small face size (keep in mind, these shades fit medium, so my review is subjective in this respect).

This is the only pot I carry while out in the high country during my summer field work. It packs well (I normally use this pot with the MSR Pocket Rocket, which would fit right inside the pot along with my camp towel). I tend to keep my meals simple when I'm outside (dehydrated mixes, mac n' cheese, tortellini, etc), and I find this pot to handle all of my needs very well. If you are seeking to do more with your meals, you might want to look elsewhere. It is true that this pot gets HOT- including the handles- but once you've used this thing plenty you adapt to that soon enough.

The pot is non-stick, but I've found cleanup to be pretty simple with this one in comparison to similar pots. On top of that, this thing is durable...it has definitely slipped out of my pack on a few occasions and taken a stumble down some talus. I imagine this pot will last me for a long time.

I love this hoody. It is nice and toasty, and without a doubt the softest piece of microfleece I've ever worm. The other plus is that this thing is very light, making it great to layer. I feel like I'm wrapped in amazingness when I'm wearing this thing. I cruise around town in 40+ degree weather feeling just fine with this over a tee. The kangaroo pocket further increases the comfort and warmth of this hoody.

I almost nixed a star because the fit is rather baggy and a little bit on the large side. I'm 5'6 and I wear small,and the arms are a little long. This piece just looks and feels too great to bump it down a star.

I really wanted to like these tights; compared to some of the other options in the "heavyweight long undies" column, these are not too expensive. Unfortunately, these do not live up to what I am seeking. For one, the fit is weird (looks like Aaron Martin's review tells of a similar experience); if I bend down or squat, the backside of the tight is pulled down to reveal my butt crack. I end up having to pull them back up or it is rather uncomfortable. Also, I find these tights to be rather itchy (it's been some time since I last bought a piece of technical clothing that itched); most of the time I tend to not notice that, but it can be uncomfortable when I have a little sweat going from hiking or skinning around. Lastly- these guys are not that warm...not sure I would place them in the heavyweight category. Ultimately I would not recommend this tight to a friend of mine.