sundaymtn

Low light lenses are great for trail running and PM skiing, I like the wrap-around strap temples for road races. I've found that the lenses scratch easily, but for 30 bucks I can send in scratched lenses and get new ones under the warranty. That's better than a new pair of 30 dollar shades any day! minus the initial investment of course...

so I've had about 30 days with these, when putting them on the vertical orientation of the heel loop is easy to catch with your finger tip and pulls at the right angle every time. No velcro involved in the strap system makes for a silent dismount. Definitely a learning curve involved with the spiral nature of the 360 webbing system, but once you get it you'll find it cinches down better than any other system. Sturdy toe bumper hides my gnarled toes, err, provides protection with ventilation. Cleaning the forefoot area of the insole is made difficult because of the bumper and webbing, but I wouldn't give up the bumper and they appear to be dishwasher safe anyway!

and as if that weren't enough.... when you don't seem to notice your gear you know it's doing it's job right. With this coat you never notice the wind getting through, never notice you're getting too hot, never notice it's too heavy, never notice it's too restrictive, never notice the pockets are in the wrong place, never notice how noisy it is below zero, etc. Over 6 months I've used this coat running in the rain (talk about moisture management), skinning/touring, and resort skiing. In all cases it's never been clammy on the inside during or after. The fit is superb, low profile, but I can easily wear light and mid weight layers underneath. I had to look the other way when paying for it, but for the number of times I've bought the wrong coat for 200 balloons, I have to say it's worth it.

I bought the Arc'teryx stingray pant and these in the same weekend. I did a short bc tour skinning and skiing about 600 vertical breaking trail both ways. I ended up returning the Arc'teryx pants since their cut was a little funny, they had no thigh vents, weak boot cuffs, and very limited pockets (granted, they're billed as an in area pant). On the other hand the TNF Light Smoke were perfect, I'm sure there's a lot of technology behind the stingray pant material but it felt fragile to me and would probably make that flapping noise in high winds. The light smoke material feels substantial and has good fit and stretch through the inner thigh which was great for skinning and climbing where you don't want resistance getting a leg up. The thigh vents are well placed and gape open when you step so you get good air flow, though the movement and fit changes slightly when they're all the way open. The light smoke is heavier than the stingray pant but I attribute that to stretchier, more durable fabric, a better padded waist yoke, more pockets, and real adjustable powder cuffs at the ankles... all positive trades for me.

I owned a pair of asolo's while building a house and they stood up to a lot of abuse, but lasted 3 years before they essentially tore from the inside out. I ran across the same model in a popular discount catalog for 40 bucks and bought them again. That shoe is now retired so switching models to the light hiker for this purchase was a gamble, but true to form, the asolo sole materials and their transition to the upper is just as sturdy as the retired hikers. the toe box area is not only supported by the trademark toe grip that seems to adorn all asolo's but there's three layers of material stitched together in the front - you really feel like you're lacing yourself too something when you put these on. Combine that with a firm heel cup and waterproof breathable fabric and here's another pair of shoes I'll have for a long time. the red/grey combo comes off looking somewhat like a bowling shoe, maybe its the light grey sole - dunno, still like it though.

without the sturdy fabric and stitching usually found shoes in this class these did not stand up. the softshell material started to come unglued from the toe bumper after 4 months and continued to threaten further detatchment so I had to return them under salomons 1 year policy. nice looking shoe, unfortunately what they offer in comfort they lack in long term quality and ruggedness

immediately comfortable, except you have to consider that a softshell without any reinforcement means less stability. I wouldn't want to hike downhill for any length of time since the softshell lets your foot slide forward. In the same sense the forefoot allows for a lot of lateral motion. I bought them for work and leisure and for that they are perfect they go with all my pants, easy on in the morning, easy off for the lunch time run, sheds water like rubber after cleaning the snow off my car, feet never get hot in the softshell.