Contributions by chrisnsmith (22)

I used this bag on a three-day trip down the Dolores River in southwestern Colorado and was very impressed. It kept everything completely dry and held a ton of gear. The daisy chains made it easy to lash down. Only thing I didn't like is the zipper. I think it's unnecessary and the bag would be easier to roll down without it. That air release valve is super handy.

This shirt is awesome. I just used is on a 50 mile section of the Dolores river in Colorado and it worked perfectly. I was in a kayak and the water temp. was probably in the low 50's with the air temp. being in the high 80's. I would get a little overheated while getting ready to be on the river, but once I was in the river with that cold water splashing on me, it was perfect. Also, it dries really quickly.

I've been using these shoes for whitewater kayaking and they do the job. They hold water and can make my feet wrinkled, but that's what you can expect from neoprene booties. My feet definitely don't every get cold in them.

I got these shoes early last summer and have found them to be great at everything except for cracks. They climb cracks well enough, but the Velcro doesn't hold up super well when jamming. The rubber is really sticky and seems to be durable enough. Also, you can pay to have your shoes resoled by Evolv themselves (I did that at the end of last summer and it worked out well). In short, get these shoes if you do a lot of face climbing and want to be able to get out of your shoes quickly. If you climb cracks, you might want to look at some slippers or lace-ups.

This is the vest I use when I ski. It's warm enough to keep me from freezing on the chairlift, but it gives me the breathability and freedom of movement I need for the ride down.

I had the chance to try the 189's out in 15 inches of new snow at Solitude here in Utah. They were amazing. Not only was I able to ski faster than I ever have in powder, I was also able to turn these more easily in powder. As long as you don't mind watching the tips flutter nonstop of the groomers, they're not too bad. Let's face it, though, you're not buying these to ski hardpack.

I had the chance to try the 189's out in 15 inches of new snow at Solitude here in Utah. They were amazing. Not only was I able to ski faster than I ever have in powder, I was also able to turn these more easily in powder. As long as you don't mind watching the tips flutter nonstop of the groomers, they're not too bad. Let's face it, though, you're not buying these to ski hardpack.

I demoed these skis the other day and loved them. They have enough girth to be awesome in pow and crud yet have enough stiffness and sidecut to haul on groomers. Only thing I'm not crazy about is the creepy guy wearing a gas mask.

I've tried these in both the 182 and the 189. While I love the float that the 189's provide, I preferred the manageability of the 182's.

I used these with the Hammerhead Sled and had a blast. It's pretty cool sledding on something other than hardpack and being able to go fast and have some control. They're super easy to put on and take off.

You could pay more for a sleeping pad that's not as warm or thick, but a little bit lighter. However, if you're going to be doing any winter camping, I highly recommend this sleeping pad. It is much warmer than the sleeping pad I had before this (Thermarest ProLite 4) and significantly less expensive. It does of course, weight more, but I think it is worth the extra weight.

I bought these shoes to use when whitewater kayaking. They are everything I was expecting: low profile (especially compared to my Chacos), warm, and secure. They don't drain like other water shoes, so expect your feet to be pretty wrinkled by the end of the day. However, they are very warm.

If you want a stylish pair of flip-flops that won't leave your back sore at the end of the day because of a lack of support, these are the way to go. Another bonus is that they don't start to stink like rubber Chacos do.

This harness is a lot more comfortable than the one that I had before it (Black Diamond Momentum). I like having a stiff gear loop in the front and flexible loops in the back. I haven't noticed the quick-release buckles creeping at all. Overall, a great harness for long trad climbs.

These shorts are super comfortable with just the right amount of stretch. The long inseam helps protect my knees when I climb with them on. I like the fact that they're great for climbing and look good enough (read: they're not man-pris) to wear everyday.

This is a stylin' shirt, and it does run a little small. Specifically, I've found that there's not quite enough room in the shoulders. I wear a size L or XL in most brands, and in the XL in this shirt I feel my arms are constricted.

I've taken this rope out on 5 or so climbs so far and love it. I got the 70m GoldenDry. I've already found two climbs in which having the 70m cut two rappels down to one. I like the stretchiness of the rope and the peace of mind that gives me when trad climbing (less force on my gear).