Contributions by Cabernet (9)

My boyfriend ordered a pair of these off Steepandcheap.com - he normally wears a 30 with a belt, so that's what he ordered. They fit like a 34 or larger - they were too big to even use a belt on (I could have stuck a leg and an arm in there while he was wearing them). I double-checked the hang tag and the tag inside the shorts and they both confirmed the size 30. He would have exchanged for a 28, but that would probably be too big as well. They were a little big length-wise as well, falling just past his knees (he's 5'9"). The material seemed pretty tough but wasn't stiff or itchy and I think they'd be good for climbing - just beware of the sizing.

I'm just getting into climbing and am purchasing my first pair of shoes. Unfortunately, these shoes don't fit, so I can't say much about how they function because I'm returning them. But I'll mention sizing, because this is what I was trying to find when I was ordering. I wear a size 8.5-9 (usually 39 European) in women's street shoes. I ordered a size 39 in the Scarpa Marathons, but they're too small - mostly in the big toe area. I think a 40 would probably fit me best. The heel also comes up a bit higher than I think I'd like, so I'm not sure they'd fit right if they were the right size. For comparison, I ordered a 39.5 in the Scarpa Tifosi and they were probably a whole size too small. If you're trying to compare to sizes in other brands: a Montrail Splitter 40 (womens) fit perfectly and a Five Ten Anasazi 8.5 (41.5) was too small in the toe (I think a 42 would have done it). Scarpa shoes are made in Italy and they seem like they're very high quality. (For reference, Five Ten is made in USA and the Montrails are made in China - boo). Reviewers on Sierra Trading Post noted that these shoes stained their feet yellow, which I would be a little worried about, but I guess if the shoes are comfortable it's worth it.

I did a lot of research before choosing a pack to take on a 10-day trip to Italy. I originally purchased the Osprey Ariel 55, but decided it was too big to take on trains, so I opted for the smaller Talon 44. It was really the perfect bag for the trip. I packed light, but I fit several pairs of clothes, bathing suit, a pair of sandals, a guide book, fleece, rain jacket, towel, toiletries, sleep sheet, bowls, and some food it in and had tons of room (probably a third of the pack space) leftover. I don't think the pack would do well with a lot of weight (over 25-30 pounds), but it was comfortable for the 15 pounds that I had in it. If you use a hydration bladder it goes outside the main compartment, between the back panel and the inside of the pack, so you have to put the full bladder in before you pack to get the best fit. The mesh, zip pockets on the hipbelt are a nice touch. The hipbelt, while not removable, is smaller on the small/medium pack than the medium/large. I tried on the medium/large and I couldn't get the hipbelt tight enough, but the small/medium fit well. (For reference, I'm a medium torso and a small hipbelt with the Osprey Ariel.) I don't think I would have gotten away with carrying the pack on the plane, but thankfully the airline didn't lose it, so no worries there!

I usually wear a S in Mountain Hardwear shirts and jackets and I ordered this shirt in a 4, but this shirt was way too small for me. I'm 5'7" and I have really thin arms, and somehow the shirt was uncomfortably tight around my arms. The shirt hem and the sleeves were both several inches too shirt. The shirt looked like it was either petite or kids. I had to return it, so I can't vouch for how functional it is. Disappointing...

I usually wear a S in Mountain Hardwear shirts and jackets and I ordered this shirt in a 4, but this shirt was way too small for me. I'm 5'7" and I have really thin arms, and somehow the shirt was uncomfortably tight around my arms. The shirt hem and the sleeves were both several inches too shirt. The shirt looked like it was either petite or kids. I had to return it, so I can't vouch for how functional it is. The cream color was also a little more see-through than I was expecting, so I may have returned it even if it had fit. Disappointing...

Nice jacket, but not as warm as I was hoping it would be. I think it could use a little more PrimaLoft - I need to wear a fleece under it to stay warm. I was hoping it would be like an old LL Bean PrimaLoft coat I used to have that I could wear over a T-shirt in 30 degree weather and be toasty. Alas. Pros: The blue/gray is a great color. The back is nice and long and covers my butt which really helps keep in the warmth! It fits well and the sleeves are a good length for me. I'm 5'7" but I ordered a size S and it fits all around. It's not bulky and looks good. I also like that the hood can fold back up into a little zippered pocket on the back of the neck. It makes the jacket look a little sleeker when you don't need to have the hood out. And it has a powder skirt, which is nice. Is waterproof enough to keep me dry in a snowstorm for over an hour, but I haven't tested its limits yet. Cons: There is a cinch strap at the back of the neck that my hair keeps getting tangled on, even in a ponytail. I ended up having to cut it off. I also wish the hood had a cinch to tighten the outside edge of the hood to keep it from blowing off in the wind.

I'm thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail with these socks and I love them. They perform wonderfully, especially in the rain. Even when getting soaked for several days in a row, they keep my feet warm and keep their form.