Contributions by C. Reinke (4)

After listing everything I wanted in a tent, and researching reviews, I realized that the tent I wanted was going to cost quite a bit. So I saved up and bought this tent specifically for its climate versatility, such as very cold, wet weather like Glacier Bay, as well as hot dry sunny climates like deserts. To my disbelief, the Todd Tex material is in fact, everything they say it is. Ditto on the ventilation. During our two week Glacier Bay kayaking trip we experienced almost daily constant rain, and/or misty fog, along with two days of storms with high winds. This tent never leaked! Even though our clothing was wet, and the air was of such high humidity you could almost see the moisture, this tent allowed us to sleep dry. The only condensation you will experience with this tent is on the poles (not the fabric). This is not a problem since the moisture will run down the poles and collect in the little corner pocket. We simply used a 6 inch piece of highly absorbent pack towel and soaked up any moisture that collected there during the night, and were on our way. Between the breathable Todd Tex material and our breathable Wiggy's lamilite sleeping bags, we were actually (unbelievably) able to dry clothing during the night by putting them in our bags with us. In addition to the material, other features we fell in love with included the two doors, optional vestibule(s), and optional attic. I highly recommend the vestibule and the attic. We hung our rain gear inside the vestibule to drip during the night, and it provided extra needed space for maps, clothing bags, gear bags, etc. in planning the next days course. Other than the obvious food/cooking/hygiene items, we were able to store all of our "bear safe" gear inside the vestibule. (We only had one vestibule.) The vestibule also allowed us much more ventilation than we would have had without it, during the nights we experienced rain with wind. I cannot image doing a trip like that without the vestibule, as it was key to our comfort in many ways. All in all, this tent is well worth the money and I am very glad I did not do a trip of this caliber with cheaper, less well designed gear. Save your money and buy this tent. It will perform as described by the manufacturer. Just a note - I did seal all the seams on the tent before the trip. I cannot comment on the performance of this tent without seam sealing. Also, the yellow interior walls are really nice (aesthetically) when it has been raining for a week and you crave a sunny day.

I have to admit, I am a huge fan of anything from Icebreaker, and this sweater is no exception. The main reason I love Icebreaker is because I am always cold, have very long arms, and frankly, the body of a teenage boy (all shoulders, arms, & small breasts). Therefore, when I find a manufacturer that not only makes clothing with arms long enough for me, but clothing that is feminine and flattering, I am hooked. This particular shirt, however, DOES NOT have the thumb loops at the wrists (or at least the year I bought mine, it did not). It does, however, have amply long arms, and I find the slim fit does a great job of creating a very feminine look. The other thing to note about this style is the shoulders. For those of us with large shoulders, having a seamless "drop style" shoulder (like this shirt has) allows me to wear either a medium or a large. In other words, the lack of a shoulder seam directly above the outer most part of the shoulder is great because it allows me to wear a medium, when I normally would have been forced to wear a large simply so that the shoulder seam was not "off". Plus the long arm length fully covers me all the way down to my wrists, in either a medium or large size. This shirt has a slim fitting style, so I bought a large and it fits great. I wore nothing but Icebreaker tops and long underwear on a recent 2-week Glacier Bay kayak trip, and I can honestly say that this wool is worth every penny. Even after repeatedly roasting the clothing over a fire to dry, they not only retained their shape, but 100% of the smoke and dank ocean musty smell came completely out of them after two washings in Woolite back home. I love Icebreakers, they are worth every penny!

This jacket has a lot of added bonuses to it that the main description leaves out. For example, it has a warm, soft, stretchy gasket with thumbhole (similar to Icebreaker sweaters) at the wrist you stick your hand through. This cuts out the cold draft that always flows right up my arm. This feature is meant to keep out the snow during the inevitable ski crash, but I use this jacket for everyday use and that gasket is wonderful while driving and walking the dogs. For that reason, I am warmer in this jacket than many of my heavier jackets, even though it is a shell. Other features I love include the hood, which is extremely adjustable and stays where you put it. For those of us who wear glasses and get annoyed at hoods that creep down your face, pressing into ones' glasses, this hood is a major selling point in and of itself. And speaking of glasses, the arm pocket has a nice little goggle/glass cleaner cloth that is strapped to the inside of the pocket itself via a lanyard, so you can clean the water off your glasses and keep on going. Bottom line is I have been using this jacket for everything from kayaking to everyday use since it arrived. It also has a flattering cut for women, is roomy enough to wear 1-3 layers underneath, has ample pockets, the spray skirt at the waist also rocks, and the final kick to it is the wonderfully warm wrist gaskets that keep out the cold. I wish more manufacturers would create clothing as well engineered as this piece.

I love this jacket! The womens jacket is tapered at the waste for a flattering, feminine look. The material is soft and cozy on the inside against your skin, yet the outside layer is firm and durable, without being abrasive or noisy. This material combination has the added benefit of making it hang off the shoulders the way a custom tailored jacket will. This is not a frumpy jacket. You can wear it hiking as easily as you wear it to a dinner party. If you have the body of a teenage boy (all shoulders and arms, small breasts) you will love how feminine this jacket makes you look. As a final touch, it is very difficult to find womens clothing with arms long enough to fit me. This jacket has ample arm length. All in all, I was extremely pleased when I tried it on for the first time, and knew it was a keeper.