Erica Carley

I had a pair of patagonia baggies when I was a kid, which was then passed down through 3 sisters and various cousins, and still looked good ten years later. Baggies are great for hiking, running, rafting, lounging, playing in the water feature at the playground...you name it. They dry in a minute, especially if you invest in some patagonia wicking underwear.

The visual clarity you get with Zeal's ZB-14 lens is amazing--they work great in variable light conditions. I was worried the airestream's would look huge on my face, but they're actually super flattering, and fit so well they are comfortable to wear running. One fun feature is the nose pads are reversible, wear one side if you have a wider nose, the other if you have a narrow nose.

My past experiences with hiking boots have gone like this: buy, hike, blister, hike, blister, hike, blister, get frustrated and go back to hiking in sneakers. I had almost given up when the Montrail rep suggested I try these. My first big hike with them was a 2-day trek in southern Utah. I covered my heels in moleskin but was still shocked when, 17 miles later I had only the tiniest of blisters. Since then they have broken in quite nicely. The Namche provides plenty of support for hiking with a 20-30lb pack but doesn't feel like a straitjacket for your foot. If you hate traditional hiking boots, the Namches are for you.

I've had this jacket for awhile but didn't feel I had the authority to write a review until recently, when I got caught in a torrential downpour while hiking. I ended up sprinting about a mile to get back to the car, and the only part of me that didn't get soaked to the bone was everything under the PreCip. When it started getting clammy I just opened the pit zips. Great bang for your buck.

If only I knew about these when I was running marathons. The Patagonia Active Hipster Brief will not ride up. Ever. Like going commando only better, because the material wicks incredibly well. I have the Active Brief and the Active Boy Short, but I like the Hipsters the best for the lower cut and comfy fit.

I've worn this top so much this summer it's getting ridiculous. Love the fit--like the previous reviewer I like it better without the split back. Shows just the right amount of skin, and works for the gym or a casual night out.

If you're anything like me, you probably have a closet (or two) filled with shoes but wear only one or two pairs 90% of the time. The Switch sandal is one of those. They take a week or two to break in, but once they're nice and molded to your foot it's hard to go with anything else. Not as burly as the classic chaco but great for casual wear.

I am a really cold sleeper, I got this for sultry summer nights only. I always seem to underestimate desert nighttime temperature drops and I've actually used it down to about 25 degrees (which was pretty uncomfortable). But I was fine in the 30-40 degree range. The best part is its negligible weight and amazing packability.

Definitely worth the sticker shock. I'm still figuring out all of the features, but overall the Xenon has way exceeded my expectations. The custom moldable hip belt is genius, it keeps the pack right where you want it. It's really easy to adjust for optimal weight-bearing, and I especially liked that I could shift the weight around when a body part got sore. Love the bottom zipper, makes for easy access to larger items and overall better organization. The sizing is similar to other Osprey packs, but I recommend trying it on if possible. By torso measurement I should be an xs but a small actually fit better.

I got this pack because I wanted something that could easily transition between a daypack and an overnighter. The Aura 35 does not disappoint. With my tent rigged on the outside straps I can easily carry enough for a day or two long trek. Although it's bigger than I need for most day hikes, the pack is light enough that I barely notice it's there when it only holds a few key items. The pocket on the hip belt is another neat detail, great for a camera or energy bars.

I bought this as an extra so my boyfriend and I could make eggs and coffee at the same time. He has the MSR WindPro, another great stove, but we usually end up just using my JetBoil because it's so easy to set up. I have a history of lighting things on fire with camp stoves but this is easy even for me, and boils water unbelievably fast. The only issue I've ever had was heating up some noodles; I had a hard time stirring all the way down so some got stuck on the bottom.

A couple weeks ago I underestimated travel time and ended up having to search for a campsite in the dark. The only one available by then was a walk in site that was well out of the range of car headlights. Luckily I had my Apollo along and tent set up was a breeze. I found it a little on the heavier side for backpacking, but the extra ounces are well worth it for the light quality and power.

I've used this for everything from oatmeal to whiskey. After a few uses the metallic taste goes away, and even better, my oatmeal has never tasted like whiskey.

I bought some BD Lyrics about a year ago and threw some Fritschis on them. I haven't had any problems with this binding, I like the four heel position options, and they've never turned tele on me. They're reasonably lightweight although if I was doing major multi-day tours I'd probably want the lighter Dynafits. For a mix of resort and day tours the Fritschis rock!

Remember back in the day when we had to wear the mondo boy-sized goggles? Yeah those days are over. My anthems fit great, work perfectly with my helmet (the Smith Premise) and provide awesome visual clarity. I got two pairs, one with sensor mirror lenses and one with the platinum, so no matter what the light conditions I am set. You can switch out the lenses...I'm just lazy.