Ok, after trashing my last "big" tent at Burning Man in 2008, I needed a new one for this year. Our requirements were simple: a 6 - 8 person tent, had to be about 6 feet tall, room for a double size air mattress, room for two adults to store lots of clothes and stuff, good in the wind, walls that reasonably sealed out dust, strong enough to survive a black rock desert wind/dust storm, not too expensive.

Here's how the BA flying diamond did: could easily accommodates 8 adults, I'm 5 feet 8 inches tall and had some headroom in the middle of the tent, easily handled our space requirements, held up well in winds up to about 35 mph (never got windier than that), sealed out the dust.

Ok, it met the basic requirements... here's the rest of the details. This is not a true "four season" tent. The top of the main body is mesh/screen and does not completely seal out the elements. The rainfly provides good protection, but the main body of the tent does not completely seal off. The vestibule is huge and provides a 6 foot x 4 foot floorspace of additional usable space. The tent is well made and doesn't take too long to set up. Overall, it survived 6 days in one of the harshest desert environments and is ready for its next trip.

I've been wearing this jacket regularly since the mid spring and so far, I love it. The sizing is typical for the backcountry.com branded apparel. Its a bit long and skinny. I'm 5' 8" and about 165 - 170 lbs and I had to get a large to properly fit around my torso with some room for a layer or two underneath (I don't like tight, form-fitting jackets). This means that its a tiny bit long on my torso and arms, but not annoyingly so.

What I'm most impressed by with this jacket is that its warm, breathable and more waterproof than I anticipated. I wore it during the downpours at the 2009 Desert Rocks Music Festival in Moab (SERIOUS Effing rain with flash floods), and it was more waterproof than my Marmot Precip. The welded seems didn't allow any water in, and the softshell held back the rain with only minimal seep-through. The fuzzy insides kept me warmer than if I was just wearing a rain shell too. I practically lived in this jacket for four days and was impressed. Over time, as with all softshells, I'm sure that the water proofness will fade a bit, but so far I'm impressed.

These are my third pair of prana shorts that I've picked up in the past year. They're moderately lightweight and very comfortable. They hold up well during hikes and in the office. My only complaint is that these shorts only have four pockets: two front and two back.

I usually wear flip flops, but picked up a pair of Chacos for more intensive sandal adventures. These have some super thick and burly soles. I've worn them around lakes and rivers/streams and also on a lot of day hikes in some rougher terrain. The big beefy soles are pretty much indestructable and grip really well to rocks, sand, dust, dirt, slick rock and slimy rocks. The burliness is a bit heavy, but worth it if you need to stomp around some rough terrain.

I demoed the arcteryx silo 30 for a day of sunny springlike Wasatch touring. First impressions are that it is very lightweight and simple. I didn't use any of the ski or board carrying features, so I can't comment on those other than to say that the straps are well made and include a rubber component that may reduce wear while holding skis or a board. I tend to prefer external shovel and probe storage, but I found that the internal shovel pocket is huge and can easily accommodate most shovels. My probe slipped nicely inside the pack on the side along the zipper. Pockets were well placed and easy to access quickly. I stowed the following with ease: hydration bladder, extra fleece, beanie, goggles, snacks, skins, extra gloves and a multi tool. If you are planning on touring in mid winter, or might encounter nastier weather, I'd suggest the silo 40 to carry a few other essential items (puffy jacket, extra food, extra layers). I'm about 5 foot 8, with a proportional torso and the regular size fit me very nicely. The shoulder straps adjust well, and the pack fits snugly to my torso. The hip strap was comfortable, but did pull my jacket up from my hips frequently. The pack was light and did not inhibit me during climbing, and it skied well without giving me any balance issues while dropping steep terrain. Overall, I definitely recommend it for day and half-day touring.

I picked up a pair to test out and I love them. I bought the mediums and they fit perfectly. These boxers are not loose fitting, however they do allow for free movement. I've worn them running, ski touring (including some steep uphills, when the boxers didn't impede movement). I've also worn them as daily boxers and they've performed all tasks with no complaints.

Icebreaker has converted me to merino baselayers forever! This is actually the 3rd icebreaker layering piece that I've been using and I love it. I'm 5' 8"/165lbs and the medium is a bit snug on the skin, but allows for complete movement and flexibility. The arms are slightly long and provide excellent range of motion when I'm reaching above my head. So far, I've worn the 200 as a baselayer for several layering configurations, and haven't been cold yet.

I have the 900 cu inch messenger bag and it does the job nicely. It has some very handy internal and external pockets that are great for stashing gadgets and cords. The laptop sleeve is just barely big enough to fit my HP/Compaq nx7400, so if you've got a laptop that is even slightly bigger mine, you'll need a bigger bag.

I've had the large Base Camp Duffel for a few years now and love it. I've used it for everything from weeklong trips to New York City to hauling gear all around the western US. When its fully packed, its too big for overhead carry on regulations. It carries a ton of gear and is sturdy enough that I don't think the baggage handlers can damage it.

These are my new favorite pair of pants. They fit true to size, I'm a 34/30 and they fit me perfectly (5'8" and 165 lbs). They're well made, triple stitched and they break in quickly. I don't put mine in the dryer, b/c they tend to shrink a little and take a few wearings before they stretch and soften up again. I'm looking forward to seeing if they'll last longer than Carhartts.

Mountain Khakis came through with another great product. They're similar to the original Mountain Khakis in both fit and construction, with an added utility pocket on the right leg. They're durable and well made. I don't put mine in the dryer because they tend to shrink a bit and then need to be broken in again. I'm a 34/30 and they fit true to size (i'm 5'8" and 165lbs).

The Centaurs are a nice casual pant. I can wear them to a meeting or out to the bars and they fit in well in either situation. They're about 2 inches too long for me (I'm 5'8" 165lbs, and got a pair of 34s). The Centaurs are well made and have good pockets.

Great pair of pants. They're well made and fit true to size. I'm 5'8" and 165; the 34/30 fits me very well. I don't put them in the dryer b/c they tend to shrink a bit and take a while to 'break in' again after they've been washed.

I wear them all the time. They're well made and fit true to size. I'm 5'8"/165 and the 34/30s fit me perfectly. I don't run them through the dryer b/c they tend to shrink a bit and take a while to break in again after washing. They fit in well both on the trail and in the office.

Super comfy shorts, and I really like the stretchy material. I'd wear them every day if I could. I'm 5'8" and the size 34s are a tiny bit loose and the hem is just below my knees.

Love the Phantom! Haven't had a cold night in my 15degree even though i've slept in it close to 0d. I'm 5'8" and 160lbs and it fits my great. Packs up small and its very lightweight.

Super soft and comfortable. Wore it the same day I got it. Sizing is a little funky: the shirt is a bit long and narrow (I bought a large), but it fits my five foot nine inch frame well.

I'm definitely not a flat brim to the side kind of guy, so this hat is perfect for me. Fits my pin shaped head a little deep, and sometimes the brim bumps against some of my wider sunglasses.

Not a bad choice for an affordable hooded insulated jacket. I mostly use it for around town chores during the winter, but I've skied and backpacked with it and don't have any complaints.

This bag can handle a huge load of ski gear, boots, clothing and lots of random stuff. It can hold so much that you need to be careful when you check it at the airport: It can easily exceed airline weight limits and will cost you extra $$$ to check. With two pairs of skis, two pairs of boots, poles, helmets and a few random other items the total weight was 70 lbs. As far as durability and features go, this bag rocks.

I picked these up to be my primary a/t setup for the season. Thus far, they've performed well in the resort and are extremely well suited for touring. Light and responsive, but they still bust up the resort crud when required. They handle the deep utah pow very well, but sometimes can be a little bit slow to react in depths above 18". Overall, they are a nice addition to my gear closet.

Picked up a new pair for 07/08 and have put about 15 days on them so far. Once I got my din figured out (set it higher than you think) they've performed flawlessly. I've only toured on them twice so far, but I'm impressed with the ease of operation and performance.

I was shocked how lightweight these boots really are, and they don't sacrifice much performance for the sake of weight. Still having a bit of trouble getting them tight enough around my skinny ankles, so sometimes they tend to feel a bit too loose when I really push them hard. After two touring days, I am impressed with the flexibility and would recommend these to anyone.

Love these socks as they feel great inside my super tight ski boots. My feet stayed warm even though the air temp was about 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

I picked up a pair for a month long trip to Europe. They did a nice job walking around big cities and doing tourist stuff. I wore them hiking/light backpacking in Cinque Terre Italy and they weren't good on rocky trails, but that's not really what they're designed for. I've noticed that the fancy stitching on the sides is already starting to deteriorate.

I used this pack for three weeks in Europe and it functions like most products that are designed to do multiple things: it doesn't do any one thing well. It does have a lot of space and several adjustments, but it carries its weight too low and too far from your center of gravity. Really comfy hip straps though.

I've worn this jacket in lots of light to medium rain, and its done a good job. Its really light and packs into a small space, making it easy to bring along. I haven't used it in a downpour, but am happy nonetheless.

I've been using this stove for almost 10 years and have never been disappointed. I've used white gas and gasoline with and its always worked from sea level to 10,000+ feet of elevation. It requires some occasional maintenance, but thats the price you pay if you use the same piece of equipment frequently. I hope to use it for another 10 years.

If you need to carry liquid fuel, these bottles are the only way to go. I have never broken one before I lost it. Sometimes if you let them sit for too long, they can be tough to open.

I use these for everything that I do. Hiking, mountain biking, running, they can handle it all.

I've been using this filter for the past two years and it's easy to use, not too heavy and cleans up the muckiest water. It pumps a liter in less than a minute and as long as you keep the filters and hoses clean, your water is very high quality. I always worry that I'll be in the middle of nowhere with a broken water filter, but this one gives me confidence.

I tend to lose at least two headlamps per year - don't ask me where they go, I have no idea - so this headlamp is perfect for me. Its lightweight, never seems to burn through batteries, and comfy. It fits around beanies and caps well. Its not the brightest lamp, but it does the job for cheap.

Now, I'm not one of those kinds of people that buys all kinds of crap for my dog cause he is like my kid, but London runs until his paws literally become hunks of raw and bleeding flesh. I figured that I would give my dog a little help in combating pain and torture for the next few days after a mountain bike ride and buy him some dog shoes. After trying many other brands, this shoes is BY FAR the best! The shoe stops at the first joint of his leg so it doesn't get all funky after a few strides. It stays on phenomenally well, I only had to readjust one of the shoes after a few minutes because I didn't put it on tight enough the first time. He ran for miles and his feet were pristine when we were done biking. The only complaint that London had was that his feet got hot, he kept standing in every river there was along the way. Watch for rocks getting in the shoes if he does do that, but overall he seemed pretty happy. Great investment as I won't have to buy any more bandages for him to chew off. Though he did a pretty funny dance when I first put them on, he did eventually get used to them.

Finally used this tent for the first time. It did ok, but conditions were very fair, with no rain and not much wind. Not sure how it will hold up in more severe conditions.

They did the job during my most recent backpacking trip. I didn't have problems with them, which is a compliment, I guess.

Spent a few 20 degree nights in this bag and it was warm and effective. Didn't need to zip it up all the way as I had a decent pad with me that helped out.

These are my second pair of Lowa Backpacking boots. The first pair lasted 6 years and had to be retired, so I replaced them with a new pair of the Banffs. So far I've put about 30 days in the backcountry of Utah on my new pair and I've got two complaints: 1) The ankles on the Banffs are just a wee bit too high and cause some minor discomfort; 2) they take forever to dry out, and can stay a bit heavy. Other than that, they are sturdy, well made and comfortable.

Just used this bag for a quick 3 day trip to Tahoe. I could fit a board and all of my gear in there along with my casual clothes too. I tend to pack light, but the bag weighed in at 48 lbs at baggage check.

It was super convenient to get everything in there, but the lack of wheels made it a long walk from the rental car return to the ticket counter at Reno-Tahoe airport. The bag is bomber though, as the baggage handlers couldn't f*** up any of my gear.

Bottom line: bomber bag, great price, but be prepared to carry it.

I've been using this pack as my daily commuter for about two months. Its comfy and protects my laptop perfectly in the internal sleeve. Has lots of room in the main compartment, and the second compartment carries gadgets and stuff nicely. I've flown with it a few times, and was surprised at how much stuff I can get in it when I need to.

These are probably the most cush and comfy bindings from Burton that I've ridden. Straps and ratchets perform flawlessly, and the cushioned baseplates rock.

My two complaints are: 1) they're not the lightest binding out there, but that's the price of comfort; and 2) in steep, icy conditions, the toestraps have hit the ice and washed me out. I have medium bindings and size 8.5 feet, so toe drag has never been and issue for me before.

But even though they're not cheap, the comfort and responsiveness are worth the cost.

Been wearing Kaenon's for years, as they are the best polarized shades on the market for sailing/water sports (IMHO). Just replaced my last pair of UPD's after the dog ate them (no kidding). I like the UPD's because they are the narrowest pair of Kaenons that I've found, and they fit my skinny head better than the other models. They are not too heavy, but they are not feather-light either. But if you want to cut the glare out of your life, they are the best.