Backcountry reviewer: JWing

The next time your friends are doing a beacon practice, try holding your hold your breath until they uncover your beacon. That should be enough to convince you to always use an Avalung in steep terrain. The Avalung is well- designed, weighs the equivalent of two feathers and is not noticeable when you are wearing it. It slips on or off in a second.

In addition to being light and easy to set up, this tent has performed perfectly in the most severe conditions I have camped in: cold, wind, downpour. The lack of a fly is a great feature for weight and set-up speed. The only condition that I don't like this tent for is a hot, clear, summer night, but no tent is better than sleeping under the stars in that situation.

The venerable F1 has lost some respect due to the hype of new beacons clamoring for attention. I have used mine for many years - it has proven to be reliable, durable and easy on batteries. Most importantly, my practice rescues are faster than most other people's. One reason is that I DO practice, the other is that, as taught in a beacon class, I trust my beacon. Even though it doesn't point me directly to the victim, it arcs me in quickly and accurately.

I like the small size and light weight of this shovel, but I always wondered how it would do in a real avalanche rescue. This year, I found out - it works just fine.

This 'biner has a permanent home on the front of my harness. The auto-locking gate assures that I am always in the safe mode. The gate action and the auto-lock are smooth and reliable. And the size is right for multiple connections.

The chalk ball is good for the climbing gym because it releases less chalk into the air. Ideally, this is a good reason to use it outdoors, but getting a good load of chalk is easier from loose chalk.

Downhiking from Lone Peak in the Wasatch without poles, my knees were in excruciating agony. Coming off the Grand Teton with these poles, I was completely comfortable. Highly recommended. I reserve the "5" for the version of this pole with shock absorbers, which I have not yet tried.

Does water still bead up and run off the surface of you waterproof clothing? Or does it soak into the top nylon layer? If the latter is your case, you are eliminating the breathability of your membrane. Wash your coat in Tech Wash, then apply this Waterproof - you'll be amazed how well your clothing performs.

I like the size of this chalk bag - just big enough. I also appreciate that once it is cinched down, chalk will not escape.

Washing your waterproof clothing with Tech Wash will make it look new; following it up with Wash-in Waterproofing will make it perform like new. Make sure you wash and treat your pants and jackets at the end of each season!

I've restored old, abused, rain gear with this product, then went right on abusing. Quite durable. It works at least as good as the wash-in waterproof, but I think the spray-on is better. You have to apply it outdoors and allow a few days of drying.

I got this entry-level heart rate monitor and a book from the library on heart rate training, followed the program for summer and fall—the difference in my speed and endurance was amazing. I've always been fit and active, but now, in my mid-40's, I'm in better shape than I ever have been. Now if I can only get my friends to get on the program...

This chair is the lap of luxury on lightweight trips. Make sure your friends all have one or else you have to share.

The Southern Wasatch is home to the range's largest peaks and fewest people. Lookng at the photos makes me drool. The tours make me collapse. This book should be owned by all who ski Utah's backcountry.

Even if you have the original Wasatch Tours, this book is worth buying. Nice amount of history, avalanche info, and other anecdotes. The real value of the book is the photos and descriptions of safe routes. There's lots of skiing that the book doesn't mention, and that is good. It will get you close enough everything and leaves a lot of exploration up to the intrepid tourer. Minus one star for a binding that is not up to frequent use.

This book is informative in a casual and entertaining manner. The gems of wisdom are broken into short, easy-to-digest-and-remember bits. Lots of tips on winter camping. Even if you think you know it all, it's good to get the perspective of Allen's sharp mind.

1) The wide mouths are great for adding carbo-mixes, like Accelerade; 2) I have several in my freezer, full of solid ice. I use them in my cooler on trips—my cooler stays dry and I have extra water at the end of the trip; 3) Get your daily water dosage: Fill one with water in the morning and drink it all by dinner.

If your bike has non-round frame components, don't get this rack, it won't hold the bike. Even if your bike does have a round downtube, make sure you install lock cores, and back the rack up with some kind of system that will pull the bike in to the middle of your car when the rack lets go of your bike - it's happened to me often. A better choice is the Yakima Cobra bike rack.

While the three-pin cable binding may seem like an anachronism, it has a few advantages that the latest fashion bindings can’t match. First, my skis stay on without the cables. I climb for my turns, so I appreciate the lack of heel-lifting resistance every time I take a step. (Just don’t tell your friends – they’ll want you to break trail all the time.) I also like the redundancy – I don’t have to worry about spare part kits and field repairs. Second, this binding can be mounted on a wedge – which reduces the problems associated with the stiff plastic boots we all love.

I have used Capilene base layers for years and they work so well that I have not wanted to experiment with anything else. Lightweight Capilene and a good pair of Goretex ski pants keep me comfortable in all but the warmest winter weather.

This shirt serves well as a base layer for aerobic activities such as skiing and biking on cooler days. However, the best application I have discovered is as a second layer for backcountry skiing. The combination of Patagonia lightweight Capilene and the El Cap shirt keep me more comfortably warm and dry than any other combination I have tried.

I love the wide opening for adding Accelerade mix and ice cubes, and for the cleaning. It has never leaked, despite hard falls off a fast moving bike as well as years of neglect and abuse. Frigid or hot temperatures don't affect it. And it doesn't impart a plastic taste. I wish it came with a locking bite valve, but they are easy to install.

I could never get a good sleep when camping until I bought the deluxe version of a Thermarest. I wish somebody had told me right from the start to get one of these - now I'm telling you!

When I mountain bike in a cotton shirt or bare-chested, I’m sweaty on the climbs and chilly on the downhills. With this shirt, I’m always dry and comfortable. I like how the zipper goes down deep for great ventilation. Combine this with the Marmot Driclime Windshirt, and you’ll have a combination that will keep you comfortable over a wide range of temperatures.

Don't you hate it when you and your friends throw your packs in the car and when you get to the trailhead you've found that your bite valve was pinched open and now all your water is soaked into your friends' gear? It won't happen if you have this valve.