Contributions by jimminz (95)

This is a very comfortable trail running shoe. I use these La Sportivas for both trail running and fastpacking / light backpacking. I don't get any hot spots with this trail runner and I've found this to be the grippiest sole of any trail runner I've ever had. When scaling some of the 14ers, I feel like I have a rock climbing shoe on as I smoke through the boulder fields. If you're hiking in wet conditions, get a different shoe as the high water mark on the la sportiva exum ridge is less than a half inch (ie step in a 3/4 inch puddle and you've got wet feet). Great trail runner though all around.

I wear these patagonia ultra shorts running, mountaineering, and simply going to the gym. They fit well, have a comfortable liner, and handy pockets. Thumbs up.

I like to bivy on top of mountains (makes for a great view in the morning!). I always take these mountain hardware down pants with me. They compress down quite small and they're obviously very light (hey that's the nature of down). For winter mountaineering I actually just bring a light weight Marmot Hydrogen (30 degree) bag. When I combine that with these mhw pants and a TNF nuptse and a 1 lb 6 oz Black Diamond bivy, I'm plenty warm. The bonus is when you get up in the morning you can roll out of bed and make some jo and you're a lot warmer than you'd be with your gore-tex ski bibs.

This is the first time I've tried Keen trail running shoes. In the past I've been a fan of La Sportiva and Salomon but I thought I'd try something different. This is a well designed trail runner. Very comfortable (I don't get hot spots and the insole fits just right). I have a pretty standard foot. The only negative I see is that they're pretty warm. Probably ideal for trail running in cool or even cold weather.

These smith factor sunglasses are light and don't slip. I use them for mountain biking, skiing and mountaineering. The photochromatic lense is handy as you might think. When it's super bright you aren't squinting but when the clouds roll in and you're biking through the trees you can still see.

This is one of the best pieces of gear you can buy. Someone recently turned me on to this montbell down jacket. This is the ticket for fastpacking. Stuff it in the bottom of your pack and you don't even know it's there. Then when the wheels fall off, this montbell jacket can save your ass. I also sleep in it if my down bag isn't quite cutting it.

And that's saying something. I paired these up with the Voile Switchback binding. Suffice it to say you can let 'em run. A choice powder ski. Reasonably light for touring. Also concur that they're well put together. I've ripped over some rocks with minimal damage (was expecting some deep gouges). Great ski for telemark or Alpine touring.

This Da Kine Pilot is a really well designed pack. There's a adjustable wire loop that you can dial in to fit any ski width. Comfortable carrying skis (diagonally across the back). This is just about the perfect size pack for day time hiking & skinning in the backcountry. Room for a spare jacket, gloves, platypus hydration bag, shovel, probe, skins and a couple Probars.

This la Sportiva shoe is one of the best trail running shoes I've ever owned. They're really stable and they have far better traction than some Salomons I owned previously.

I wear these "midweight tights" (fancy term for long underwear) as a base layer in a wide range of winter conditions. I'm warm in all but the most frigid temps wearing these and an unlined Gore-Tex ski bib. I'd say that the word "tights" is misleading. This is really mid-weight techie long underwear.

...and I've owned a lot of jackets. This the North Face Diad jacket is unbelievably light weight yet it keeps me warm and dry. On super cold ski days (ie single digits and below) I go with a 3 layer Gore-Tex jacket. Love the left chest camera / cell phone pocket. This jacket packs down small.

I wear this Mountain Hardwear tech tee for mountain biking, trail running, and as a base layer for skiing in the winter. Simple and it works.

These arc'teryx alpha sv bibs are super well made. I've had mine for about 3 years (and have put in a lot of days). They fit comfortably, and you don't look like a dork apres ski. I wear a medium weight base layer underneath (ie long underwear) and I'm perfectly warm even in frigid conditions.

These smartwool socks are comfortable and your feet stay cool. Great socks for trail running.

Edelweiss makes nice gear. I like the different weave patterns on this rope - a helpful feature. This rope is also pretty light.

This Petzl harness is light weight, durable, and comfortable. It also comes with a handy little bag to stow it in. I'd recommend this harness.

Whoa! This absolutely one of the best pieces of gear I've ever owned (and that's saying something). I can wear this mountain hardware top with a thin arc'teryx soft shell over it and I'm good to go backcountry skiing when it's 25 degrees. The featherweight zip is also great for trail running or any outdoor activity. This shirt breathes really well yet it's wind proof, insulates you amazingly from the cold, doesn't overheat. I could go on and on. Well worth the money. I may get another one.

I've tried several different backpacks for carrying my laptop to and from work. This Dakine laptop pack is far and away the best. Laptop sleeve is perfect. There's padding at the bottom so if you drop your pack your computer won't get damaged. There's also a side zipper pocket were you can stow power cords and such. Cell phone pocket is easily accessible on the top. Side zipper pocket where you can stash your magazines as well. Love it.

I wear these The North Face shorts when trail running, going to the gym, windsurfing, whatever. These shorts dry fast and the adjustable waist band is key.

This Salomon tech tee fits well, it's comfortable, and it drys fast. Ditch all your cotton tee shirts.

This Yakima hitch mount bike rack is the way to go. We have a Subaru Outback and can still open the hatch without even swinging the rack down (it has a mechanism for this). You get better gas mileage with your bikes on the back vs the roof, and your bikes don't get plastered with bugs.

I used to have a Burton Fish but I definitely like the Malolo better. Given the slightly set back stance and the shape of this board, the nose stays up on deep powder days and you can rip. This snowboard also carves really well on hard pack and riding switch feels much better than with the Fish.

These Smith Anthems fit my face really well (not sure what that mens for you). They also have an excellent field of view.

I used to have a Burton Fish but I definitely like the Malolo better. Given the slightly set back stance and the shape of this board, the nose stays up on deep powder days and you can rip. This snowboard also carves really well on hard pack and riding switch feels much better than with the Fish.

This is a really well designed jacket. Bomber seams, well placed pockets. While this isn't an insulated jacket per se, if you layer (ie wear a merino wool base layer, and maybe a turtleneck and a Marmot driclime windshirt underneath), you'll be far warmer than you will with other insulated jackets. Layering is the way to go to keep warm and this Burton AK Cargo jacket is on of the best made jackets I've ever owned.

I'd say this is the best designed telemark binding out there. The toe plate holds your boot really snugly (more so than other bindings). The cartridges have just the right tension and I like how they go under your foot.

I ditched all my cotton boxer shorts and went with these. These marmot boxer shorts have a comfortable fit. I prefer them to the Patagonia Capilene boxers. Cotton sucks.

These Black Diamond poles are the ticket. Great swing weight and the locking mechanism works really well.

I like the feel of the black diamond kilowatts. This is a good side cut for an all around ski (if you live out west). The Killowatt carves well on hard pack but it also performs really well in powder and skied out crud.

My nephew loves these kids DC snowboard boots and he definitely rips on them. The lacing system is super simple and works really well. It's also easy for him to pull the boots on with the straps at the top.

This is the lightest weight pad I could find. Great for fast packing. You can hike so much farther if you can shave a few pounds off of your pack. This Z Lite is a good start. It's perfectly comfortable. I still sleep fine on this pad. You really don't need a full length pad (unless weight is no concern).

I'd definitely recommend these The North Face Arnuvas. This is a really light weight shoe that's well vented so your feet stay cool. The boa lacing system is super slick. Just crank the dial on the heel & pull it out to loosen.

I use this platypus hydration bag for traveling (you can get through security with it so long as there’s little or now water in it). Unlike other water bottles, it doesn’t expand when you go up in an airplane or up in elevation leaving your other belongings wet. These are also great for backpacking where both weight and volume are concerns.

I've found that this sunscreen stays on better in the water than all the others out there, and it doesn't sting your eyes. Great for windsurfing and surfing.

The Tad Pole Tent sets up really fast (which is handy when there are 10,000 mosquitoes swarming around you as was the case on Murdock Peak last night). You can see the stars through the roof. Lots of mesh which is great on hot nights.

The Cross Roads has good support on rocky, uneven terrain. This shoe also has much better grip on wet rocks than other trail runners. I have a fairly regular-sized foot(maybe slightly wider than normal) and they fit just right.

I love these Horny Toad Brio shorts. They're made with an especially soft, yet seemingly durable material. Very comfortable. You have a little leeway on sizing as you just adjust the simple belt (give it a yank) and you're good to go.

I love these Horny Toad Brio shorts. They're made with an especially soft, yet seemingly durable material. Very comfortable. You have a little leeway on sizing as you just adjust the simple belt (give it a yank) and you're good to go.

I like the fit on these Kavu moat shorts. They're made of a thick durable cotton. Good casual shorts for summer barbequing and what not.

The Camelback Hawg is ideal for longer day hikes. It has the perfect amount of room for a jacket, extra layer or two, a camera, and a big lunch. This hydration pack also stays with you quite well when you're hiking fast (I just always try to make sure that there's no air in the hydration bag so the water doesn't slosh around).

The Camelback Hawg is ideal for longer day hikes. It has the perfect amount of room for a jacket, extra layer or two, a camera, and a big lunch. This hydration pack also stays with you quite well when you're hiking fast (I just always try to make sure that there's no air in the hydration bag so the water doesn't slosh around).

This Salomon short is a good lightweight short for trail running, hiking, and swimming. There's a small pocket in the back which is about big enough for a digital camera (although the zipper can be a little hard to grab reaching behind your back). I just went swimming with these shorts. They seem to be made of a hydrophobic material. They don't seem to soak up water at all.

I used to wear cotton socks. A few years ago I tried some Patagonia Capilene socks, which prompted me to ditch all my old cotton socks. I have since tried Bridgedale and a few other synthetic socks. These Lorpens are the best—they’re comfortable, just the right thickness, and less expensive than the others.

I disagree with the previous comment regarding Merino. I would prefer the Salomon Moto Tech Tee to a merino tee in really hot weather (although I also recommend having a merino tee for cooler conditions). If you're running or hiking with a CamelBak or other hydration pack on your back, the Salomon Moto is great to have. This synthetic T-shirt doesn't chafe, and it dries super fast.

This Salomon short is a good lightweight short for trail running, hiking, and swimming. There's a small pocket in the back which is about big enough for a digital camera (although the zipper can be a little hard to grab reaching behind your back). I just went swimming with these shorts. They seem to be made of a hydrophobic material. They don't seem to soak up water at all.

The Go Lite race pack is really light weight yet it's comfortable and has just about the right capacity for light, fast overnight backpacking or mountaineering. If you spend a little time (and $) shaving the weight off your pack, you'll see a lot more of the backcountry.

I've spent a fair bit of time dialing in an ultra light weight fast packing setup. If you can shave a few pounds off of your pack, you can hike SO much farther into the backcountry. I've tried several different light weight shells. The North Face Diad is the lightest and of the best quality among the options out there.

These are some of the best mittens (or gloves) I've ever had. This is one of the best pieces of gear sold on this site. I use them for backcountry skiing and resort skiing. It's easy to pull your jacket cuff OVER these mittens. Most are designed to go over your jacket which is less comfortable. The lobster-style mitt allows you the dexterity to pull zippers, hold your skis, adjust snowboard bindings, etc. They are not waterproof. This is the only downside (but is only an issue if you're skiing in really wet conditions). They are also really lightweight. I leave a spare pair in my backcountry pack.

I've had a lot of fun on this ski. This is a good sidecut. The Hippie Stinx actually does pretty well on hardpack despite the width. In any kind of new snow conditions it's a goer. You'll be a tele god with these skis. Just let 'em run. The ski patrollers will never catch you.

Nordic-schmordic. This lobster mit / glove is great for skiing snowboarding winter hiking or even cold weather biking. I telemark ski, snowboard, and backcountry ski. Whenever I'm fishing through the closet on the way out the door, I always seem to grab these lobster mitts. These Swix Membrane gloves are super warm yet light weight and breathable. They work well across a big temperature range. When it's in the single digits, my hands stay warm (and you still have decent dexterity as well with the lobster design). When it's in the 30's, my hands aren't hot. Look no further, just get these gloves!

Using a $10 topo map of the Uinta Mountains and my Brunton MNS, I easily navigated to a pristine lake in the middle of nowhere at 11,300 feet. Toggling between menu screens is very intuitive. Push a button to mark the trailhead (or your car or whatever) and rest assured you'll find your way back. Mark waypoints along your route as you go (or mark them before you set out while looking at a topo map). Unlike most GPS units, this one has a digital compass which you can use without sapping the batteries (just turn the GPS part off). Shows you how fast you're going as you hike. Tells you sunrise & sunset times. Calibrates your altitude for you & displays temp. Unlike most GPS units, this thing is actually really durable. I suspect you could play a hockey game with it and it would still work. Supposedly it's waterproof as well. I've used it in the rain without any problems but have yet to drop it in a pond.

There's no other shoe that breathes like the Salomon Tech Amphibian. When it's hot, there's no better shoe. Great for just going to work, playing golf, or any activity around the water when it's hot as blazes out.

I've paddled about 10 different touring kayaks. The Sonoma is FAR AND AWAY the nicest. This boat slips through the water effortlessly. Not only is Perception's Airalight material super light weight allowing you to cover much more distance, but it also has a much nicer feel in the water than you get with plastic hull boats. It's hard to describe - sort of like the difference between a finely crafted glass surfboard and a foamer. This is a SWEET kayak.

I have the men's version of this jacket. I use it for mountaineering, ski touring and skiing. The Alpha Comp is really light weight yet very breathable (soft shell). For this reason, it's good in quite a range of temperatures (I usually wear the Mountain Hardwear Transition Zip Tee underneath). This is one of the nicest jackets I've ever owned.

I've used my airboard in both hardpack and powder conditions. It's fast and quite maneuverable. Because the air board is inflated, it stays on top of the snow. The air factor also makes for a much smoother ride than you'd get with a regular old lame sled. The airboard is also much easier to jump than a common sled as you have a cushioned landing. When the resorts close you can hike up and rip it. The airboard comes with a runaway strap and a hand pump that easily inflates it in about 2-3 minutes. There's a one way valve that allows you to inflate it without worrying about air escaping. I always inflate it at the top as it's so quick and easy. The airboard stows handily in a pack or in the small carrying case. These things are great fun. -36 yr old guy from Utah.

I've tried several different laptop backpacks. The Da Kine Terminal is far and away the best. The sleeve actually fits bigger laptops and it leaves your laptop suspended just off the bottom of the pack so if you drop it on a concrete floor or something, you won't need to buy a new laptop. Lots of handy pockets for your power cord & spare batteries. There's a pocket on the top for holding sunglasses. It's lined with a soft material so you don't need a sunglass case. Dakine makes great gear. I also recommend the split roller - best duffle bag I've ever owned.

This is a well made glove. It's referred to as the spring glove but is plenty warm enough for most winter conditions in Utah. I've used these for a full season without any problems (although if I did have a problem, I know that Marmot would take care of me).

I love my Oakley Minutes. These sunglasses wrap around your face well - the light does not come in from the sides. They're light and work well for tennis, mountain biking, running etc. On a sunny winter day when the glare from the snow is especially bright, the minutes are the best.

The North Face windstopper high point hat is the best hat I've ever owned. The windstopper material is key. I always bring my high point hat with me when I go camping, and it serves me well for skiing and snowboarding as well. It covers your ears well when it's frigid. When it's warmer you can pull the cord over the top making it more like a beanie. I've endured some serious wind chill with this hat.

The North Face Nuptse is one of the best pieces of gear I own. This jacket is amazingly warm. I always stow my Nuptse in my pack when I'm heading out backcountry skiing. It's so light I can't even tell I brought it. Down is great because it compresses really well too. The Nuptse compacts down to little bigger than a grapefruit.

I used to compete in skiing and for years did nothing but travel. I've been through a lot of duffle bags and suitcases. This is the best bag I've EVER owned. The DaKine split roller is super durable. It's also unbelievably handy for organizing your stuff. If you're in a hotel room and can't (or don't want to) transfer all your clothes into a dresser, this duffle bag makes life much easier. Just flip it open and you've got a portable dresser. Closes up easily to stow out of the way (without your clothes dumping all over the room as is the case with most others).

I bought a pair of Salomon Raid Race 2’s for fast packing (i.e. backpacking with a lightweight pack). It was a great call. These trail running shoes offer really good support and a well-built sole. I bravely broke them out of the box and headed right out on a 17-mile trek. At the end of the day my feet felt great. Salomon has been at this for a while and they make a great shoe.

I've skied on many tele skis over the years. The Rossignol Megabang is it. Look no further. This is obviously a new snow ski but it preforms fairly well on hardpack as well.

I put quite a lot of effort into getting my pack weight down. Obviously for the lightest possible pack, you just don't bring a chair. A comfortable chair is pretty crucial though. Since you always need a sleeping pad, this is the lightest way to go (previously I used a Sunnyrec inflatable camp chair but I've dropped a lot of weight by going with the Thermarest Lite 20).

I love my Patagonia R2 fleece jacket. I wear it under a shell for skiing or snowboarding in cold weather. I always bring it with me when I go camping. It's lightweight and makes a great pillow (just bring a pillow case).

Be sure to get one of these. These gear lofts are super handy for stowing all sorts of things in your tent. It keeps stuff out of the way just below the tent ceiling. Great for drying out socks or gloves. I also stash my watch, toothbrush, headlamp, magazine, etc...in my gear loft. I no longer have to search around in the dark on my tent floor for these things.

The North Face Nuptse is one of the best pieces of gear I own. This jacket is amazingly warm. I always stow my Nuptse in my pack when I'm heading out backcountry skiing. It's so light I can't even tell I brought it. Down is great because it compresses really well too. The Nuptse compacts down to little bigger than a grapefruit.

This tent sets up fast. 1 small pole, 1 big one. No confusion. It's not free standing (translation, you need to stake it or tie the strings to some small stones if you're on rock) but I guess that's the price you pay for the ultra light weight (for an overnight, my pack was just 13lbs - I literally ran up the trail). Good shaped footprint for minimum weight & maximum elbow room.

The cut of this sleeping pad makes it much more compact than my Thermarest Camp Rest. I had a great night's sleep on this big agnes pad. It doesn't self inflate like the thermarests but no biggie as I've got plenty of air. Thumbs up.

I've skied on many tele bindings and I think the hardwire is the best. I use the 3 pin hardwire for touring and the regular hardwire for resort skiing (although it also works fine for touring). The hardwire cartridges give good tension and the binding is well designed and bomber. *The Voile hardwire cartridges don't squeek like so many others do!

This is the best binding going for touring. It's reasonably lightweight yet very reliable. With the pins, your energy is supposedly transferred to the ski better (hard for me to tell). The up side is when you're skinning you can just leave the cartridge resting on the ski and it's much easier going (no resistance). If you ever were to have a problem with one of the cables, you're not post-holing out of the backcountry with this binding as the pins will hold you in. The cartridges are easily adjustable (just spin 'em).

I wear these boxers for hiking, rock climbing, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, tennis, etc. They're super comfortable. Say no to cotton. Capilene is the only way to go.

I can't believe how small I can compress this cold weather bag. I guess that's the beauty of down. I've used my col in some pretty nasty weather and have yet to get cold. When you zip it up all the way, it closes up comfortably around your head. No cold air down your neck, yet there's a good space for breathing and checking out the stars.

These are sweet ski poles. They're lightweight and balanced. Easy to plant with a mere flick of your wrist. To make a probe out of them, you just stomp on one of the baskets and yank it off. Then flip a lever under the grip and yank the grips off & join them together at the grip end. I've had a pair for a few years now (they've changed very little). I haven't had any problems. Very durable.

The Black Diamond Mira is super lightweight yet it has a good cut and decent surface area making it a great performer in soft snow conditions. Because they're so light, you can also whip 'em around really quickly when you're in a tight spot on an icy or wind blown ridge. I use the Voile 3 pin hardwire on my Mira's for the most choice touring setup out there.

Most visors I've had are just a little too long or wide making them just a bit foolish looking. I'd say this A5 visor is just the right size and shape. It's also washable which is handy (I'm guessing that the material inside is some sort of plastic polymer as it doesn't affect it when you wash it or get it wet).

I use this North Face shirt in all seasons. In winter, I ski quite a lot and I've gotten to the point where I'm able to gauge just the right number of layers. When it's warmish, I wear my El Cap as my first layer (followed by a marmot driclime windshirt and the Arc'Teryx Sidewinder shell). In the summer, the El Cap is great for backpacking and mountain biking as it wicks water and dries really quickly. Cotton is your enemy.

For longer tours, this is the ski. The TG 10 Super Light is one of the lightest weight AT skis out there (in fact it may be the lightest). I've found that a little less weight on your feet has a HUGE positive impact on your energy level over the long haul. I've used it mainly for spring skiing and have found that it carves really well corn.

This is a well designed light weight pa