DBrohm

Have been using the Mad Rock Mad Pad Crash Pad for about 3 years now and it's still going strong. Originally I bought the Mad Pad crash pad because it's one of the most inexpensive pads I could find, and yet one of the biggest. I still haven't seen a crash pad this size for less. Not even close! Aside from the Mad Rock Mad Pad's obvious economical advantages, it's also tough as nails. It's been my main crash pad for 3 years and still doesn't show any real signs of wear & tear. The little carpet square it comes with, the "Madgic Carpet," is a nice bonus. I won't boulder w/o one now because wiping your feet before sending is just so damn helpful!

I got the KEEN Venice Sandal - Women's as a gift for my sister-in-law and now she won't shut up about them! :-) Seriously though, she has nothing but good things to say about the KEEN Venice Sandals and she wears them all the time. The footbed is very comfy, supportive, and forgiving, even when you've been on your feet all day. The Venice sandals are a great looking, versatile sandal that perform the same whether you're hiking in the Wasatch or taking the dog for a walk around the neighborhood. Damn, I think I need to get some KEEN Venice's of my own!

At first I was super skeptical that ANY boxer brief could be worth paying over $20/pair. But after reading a few reviews of the Ex Officio Give-N-Go Boxer Brief I began to lose some of that skepticism. Ex Officio is known for durability and loyal customers, and you usually get what you pay for, so I decoded to give these bad boys a shot. I honestly never knew boxer briefs could be so damn comfortable! They just feel so light and soft and they breathe so well that they drastically reduce any sweating down there. I've since bought a few more pairs and now I won't go hiking or climbing without them. I strongly recommend picking up a pair of Ex Officio Give-N-Go Boxer Briefs.

I bought the Pacsafe ProSafe 700 Combination Padlock just before a recent trip to Portland, OR. I hadn't flown in a while, and I didn't have any TSA-approved locks . I had heard about how durable and secure PacSafe products are so I thought I'd give this lock a try. Right out of the package, my first impression of it was that it looked pretty damn tough! Setting the combination was super easy too, and you can change the combo as often as you want to. Before getting this lock, I've always used Master locks for everything and never had any problems w/ Master. But after this round-trip flight to Portland, I know know that Pacsafe locks are just as durable and secure as those big, burly Master locks. I recommend the Pacsafe ProSafe 700 Combination Padlock to anyone who needs a TSA-approved lock for their luggage, or for locking anything else!

Normally I'm a boxer briefs guy, but I wanted to give the CW-X LifeFit Box-Cut Brief - Men's a try because they looked very well vented and breathable. Well, they are. For someone who is used to how boxer briefs feel, these are still surprisingly comfy. These things help keep me dry down there when I'd normally be sweating quite a bit. These LifeFit Box-Cut Briefs are great to wear anytime, but especially while exercising, hiking in the mountains, or anytime it's hot as hell outside. The sizing seems to be pretty true to size. Sizing chart said I need a Med., and the Med. fits perfectly.

Have had the Big PowderHound for over 2 years now and have used the rack during the last 2 winters. The rack is pretty basic, but it's worked great up to this point. My rack is attached to the factory crossbars on my 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee w/ Mighty Mounts. The only gripe I have w/ the Big PowderHound is that I can't carry snowboards bindings-down because there isn't enough clearance between roof and the rack, but I doubt that most other cars/SUVs would have the same problem. This hasn't really been a big issue for me though, because I'm normally only carrying 2 snowboards on the rack. Overall, I'd say this rack is pretty solid and well made.

The AC is broken in my house right now, so whenever I'm at home I make sure to throw on my North Face VaporWick Ruckus T-Shirt. Sure enough, I don't get nearly as hot and I don't feel all sticky. This shirt breathes and wicks moisture extremely well. It also dries super quickly whenever wet. When you go to take your shirt out of the washer, it's damn near dry already. Try it out yourself if you don't believe me!

I've owned the North Face Roadhog cargo shorts for about 2 years now and they're still going strong! I've always been a big fan of TNF clothing and I own quite a few different pieces. For the last 2 years, my Roadhog cargo shorts have been a regular part of my wardrobe. I've definitely gotten my money's worth out of them too. Usually I just wear them to work or around town as an "everyday short" but I've also worn them hiking quite a bit. They're very soft and comfortable and fairly lightweight too. The cargo pockets are pretty big and can hold quite a bit. I strongly recommend these shorts.

I bought the TNF McMurdo Winter Boots last winter (07-08), and so far I think they're very well made boots. I love the tread on the sole, as it can really grip well on ice. They've proven to be quite warm and waterproof, even on super cold winter nights in Salt Lake City. Utah winters can be pretty damn cold, and single-digit or below 0ºF temps are somewhat common. My McMurdo boots still kept my feet warm 95% of the time, but there were a couple times that I was standing around, not moving much, and my feet got a little chilly. Had I been moving around I doubt I would've ever had cold feet. These boots are very comfortable and look great. If you need a good, warm, well-priced, durable winter boot, then I recommend these.

I've had the North Face TKA 100 Glacier 1/4 zip for a little over a year now, and it's definitely one of my favorite long-sleeve shirts. The shirt looks great, is extremely comfortable, and can be worn for just about any activity. I have the black one, and when it gets cold I don't hesitate to add this shirt to my regular "clothing rotation." This TKA 100 Glacier 1/4 zip shirt is also a perfect 2nd layer to wear skiing/snowboarding. Just get one already! I promise you won't be let down.

This pullover is pretty nice, and does a pretty good job repelling light to moderate rain. The one knock I have on the Apex Zip Shirt is that the inside of the shirt is somewhat scratchy. I wouldn't go as far as to say it's "uncomfortable," but I do wish that it had a brushed lining or something that made the interior of the shirt more comfy. However, you can;t really feel the "scratchiness" if you wear a t-shirt underneath. The shirt is pretty lightweight too, so thats a plus.

Purchased these shoes as a gift for my mom last fall (Fall 2007) because she wanted a good looking, durable, comfortable hiking shoe. Before I decided on the TNF Hedgehog XCR Low Hiking Shoe - Women's, I looked through a few hiking shoes with excellent customer reviews. Finally decided on these and am very satisfied so far. My mom says they not only feel great on her feet, but they seem to be very durable and well made. Personally, I'm a BIG fan of North Face's shoes, and hearing how much my mom likes these is just one more reason why I like them so much.

This pack is the perfect size for a daypack/hydration pack. I use mine for hiking, trail running, mountain biking, and for carrying some food, shoes, and extra gear to the crag whenever I go bouldering. The Nalgene hydration bladder that's included is the best bladder I've ever owned. The bite-valve is extremely simple and easy to drink from and the bladder itself has a big opening so you can wipe it out after using it. The pack has all sorts of little extras and "bells & whistles," if you will. Killer pack, looks awesome, and has never let me down.

Working at a ski resort all winter really put these TNF Lifty GTX 400 Boots to the test. Last winter, I wore these boots every single day. My job required me to stand outside in the snow for almost the entire day, and temps rarely went above 20º F. The Gore-Tex kept my feet bone dry, even after standing in slush for 8 hrs. The Primaloft insulation definitely keeps your feet warm, sometimes a little too warm when the temps were above freezing. They're supportive, durable, and look amazing. These boots are PERFECT for ski resort employees, snowshoer's, and for anyone else who wants sturdy, solid winter boots.

Very comfortable shirts, they look great (especially black and dark blue), and are extremely versatile. You can really wear your TNF El Cap shirt anywhere, to do anything. Great base or 2nd layer when you hit the slopes, or for just wearing around the house on a cold, white Saturday morning in winter. Get one!!

I got the White colored VaporWick Ruckus Approach T-shirt a few weeks ago and I'm already a big fan. First off, they look great with the TNF print logo on the front, and you can't really tell that it's not a regular 100% cotton Tee. Wicks well when you're sweating your ass off in the hot summer temps. Great t-shirt to wear hiking, biking, climbing, or whatever during the summer. Or hell, wear it year round! It always feels amazing!

A couple of Christmas' ago I gave my mom a North Face TKA 100 Glacier 1/4 Zip Fleece top, and she absolutely loves it. She started to wear hers almost every day that winter, and after a couple months she said that she wants a few more! She had to have some more colors to go with the one I got her. The next Christmas (Dec 2006) I got her 2 more TKA 100 Glacier 1/4 Zips in two different colors, and she couldn't have been happier. The shirts are very light in weight, but the fleece is thick enough to keep her warm when the temp starts to drop. Also an excellent 2nd layer to wear skiing/boarding. Very simple, but very good looking shirts. If you want your mom to love you more... you know what to get her this Christmas!

The Eagle Creek Pack-It Quarter Cube is an extremely simple product, but yet is extremely useful. It's "main purpose" is organizing your suitcase, backpack or rolling gear bag while traveling, but of course you can use one for just about ANYTHING. It's uses are limitless. It's always nice to have a few Pack-It Quarter Cube's around because you never know when you'll discover a new use them.

Originally I was planning to drop a couple hundred bones on a nice, stainless watch. For months I researched Nixon watches, and was pretty set on getting a Nixon. I narrowed my choices down to 2 or 3, but still struggled with spending so much on a watch. Then I stumbled on this Rip Curl Base watch... for 1/4 as much as I was about to spend on a Nixon!!! My friends think it cost a LOT more than it did, and I've gotten some compliments on it. Setting the time and date is super simple too.

If you wear no show socks, then you MUST own a few pairs of these guys. They're unbelievably comfy and durable. They do a great job keeping my feet cool when I'm out hiking, running, walking, bungy jumping... whatever! I wear them all the time now, no matter what I'm doing or where I'm going. And if I go hiking I make certain that I'm wearing some Adrenaline Light Micro Socks. There's no reason to wear plain old regular socks anymore. Once you try out some of these, you'll know what I'm talking about.

I've owned a couple different camera bags in my life, and this good looking Exposure II is by far the best. First off, it's a very well made, tough and rugged bag. The fairly large waterproof-zippered pocket on the front of the bag is key for holding extra batteries (my camera sucks 'em down like Coca Cola!), memory cards, USB cords, food, or whatever you want. The main compartment is zippered, and lined with fuzzy stuff so your camera is protected from scratches and slight bumps. You can easily attach the bag to your belt too with the big, burly velcro strap on back. No matter where you go with your camera, or how often you use it, you'll be pleased with this bag.

These are the first Sessions pants I've ever worn. I've ridden in these bad boys around 10 times now, and so far I'm very impressed. Their cargo pockets are huge, and deep, so you can store a ton of whatever. The inseam venting kicks ass too. The vent itself is mesh covered, but the venting is pretty long in length. It saved me from burning up in the lift lines on a bluebird day last week. For the price, these are great pants.

For me, I have to try on, and experiment with different T-Shirt brands till I find one that fits the way I want it to. I've now discovered that DC tee's fit me perfectly. They're slightly longer than an "average" tee, but just barely. It's a high quality, tough shirt also. These Rob & Big shirts look sick! There's 2 more of them in the Outlet. I may have to pick up one of each!

Let's be honest, what's better than a Backcountry.com gift certificate?... Answer= Nothing. I love to give and receive Backcountry gift certs because they give you freedom. Freedom to order whatever gear you want, whenever you want. So if you get a gift cert as a Christmas gift you hang onto it for a while, and use it months later when you need some new gear for an upcoming backpacking trip, or whatever. Gift certificates= Freedom to choose