Contributions by Tony B. (17)

These new C3's are a nice addition to the BD line up. I find the 2-3 larger sizes most useful. Any smaller then you are talking aid only? If you like the C4's then you will love these units.

I purchased this wind jacket to replace my older worn wind Jacket. It to was a Marmot model which other then the color is the same as the new model. The material is a little different as well. It feels thicker and heavier. This is a nice jacket but don't believe the 3.0 ounce listed weight. I weighed mine (men's size Medium) it came in at 4.5 ounces. My old model was 3.0 ounces. I think Marmot needs to update their weight listing on this item?

I like these new nuts by Metolius. They eliminated the swag on the old style nut. I am hoping this will help eliminate the kink that is common on nuts after a difficult removal?

Just used these pants for the first time. They fit great, are really breathable with the side vents and above all are totally waterproof. Another great product from Arc'Teryx. Only drawback is that they are barely affordable at the "outlet price".

This is an extremely lightweight jacket. Great for 3-season use in cool-to moderate night time temps. About the same warmth as a 200 to 300 weight fleece without all the weight or bulk. The new model is much improved with the zipper and two hand warmer pockets. In summer/spring/fall it is great as part of a 3 piece layering system.

This is a nice alternative between the body bag type bivies and the downsized one-man tent types. If you are looking for a lighter bivy with a little head room then this is a good choice. Weighed in at 1lb.-12ozs. The material is very durable and the entry is much easier to get in and out of compared to the slide in hood type sacks.

This is a well made and designed pot with a good fitting lid that doubles as a plate. I like the pot lifter versus the built in handle type. Just don't misplace or loose it! If you need a pot for melting snow or boiling water this is a good choice. For cooking complicated meals I would choose the non-stick aluminum type like the Duralite.

This is a nice stove if you need to do more then boil water or cook for just one. In reality the GCS pot will work just as well and fast with any stove. It's the pot on this system that is the key with the heating fins. It's a bit heavy for a butane stove but makes up for most the weight in the fuel savings. The personal cooking pot will also work with this stove as the stove is identical minus the pot support and fuel bottle support which can all be purchased seperately.

I have found this to be one of the better made Mountain House meals. It's filling and tasty and comes in a very compact light package.

I found this meal to be a little low on the flavor end. Most of the Mary Jane meals are pretty tasty. This one made very little, took too much work to prepare, and too much mess to clean up.

I really like these stuff sacks. Their really light, and I doubt you can make them any lighter. They even have the plastic tensioner down so small, you can barely see it! hey are very high- quality, and I will be purchasing a few more sizes in the future.

I really like these stuff sacks. Their really light, and I doubt you can make them any lighter. They even have the plastic tensioner down so small, you can barely see it! hey are very high- quality, and I will be purchasing a few more sizes in the future.

This is a great mid-weight down jacket. Good in temps from 10-30 degrees. With a hood, it could probably even go colder. It has a great fit and can be layered under a hard shell. It packs down amazingly small for such a warm jacket and only weighs like a pound.

These glasses are a full coverage one-piece lens model. They fit well and will stay on your head in all but the worst conditions. They have a smart ventilation system Great choice for mountain biking, hiking, or trail running.

The TCU in the sizes from Yellow down (#2) 00-#2 are excellent. They are very durable and solid pieces. I prefer them over any other small cams on the market. I would recommend BD or Wild Country in the larger sized units (1/2"+).

I decided this year to invest in some new BD C4 Camalots this year as mine were well aged. The new units are even better then the last generation. First of all, they’re super light and still just as strong. They operate very smoothly and the new loop on the end is a nice feature. The camming range is insane so it makes it easy to pick the right size the first time while hanging on a finger lock. I would highly recommend these units in the .5 -5.0" sizes. In the smaller sizes the Metolius TCU's and CCH Aliens standout.

If you don't like the idea of wearing a watch around your wrist then seriously look into buying an AltiTech 2. Personally I hate wearing a watch. They get all sweaty and smelly on the approach and then get in the way of climbing - especially crack climbing. The AltiTech is easy to read and the altimeter on it works great. It also turns into an alarm clock at camp for those alpine starts. The backlight feature is nice in the dark. PROS: Great price, nice display, great features, quality built, accurate altimeter, nice stand-up feature. CONS: Kind of bulky. Alarm is a bit hard to hear. Buttons are a little difficult to push.

I am really impressed with the fit of all the new Black Diamond packs. The Revelation is a great fitting, light alpine 2-3 day pack. The lack of a top lid pouch makes things simple and prevents the temptation of bringing unnecessary items. A few daisy chains or extra rear lash down points would be nice, but again it prevents you from carrying excess weight. If you’re looking for a great light, compact carryover style alpine-climbing-ski pack then look no farther.