Contributions by Brian in OH (14)

Super puffy pants. Because they are so thick and puffy, it would be a good idea to order a size larger. I typically wear S but after reading a few reviews, I ordered M and it fits me just right. The leg inseam section is bit short. Another reason why it is a good idea to order a size up. I tested these pants when I was in Summit, Greenland. They were warmer than my -40F rated sleeping bag. I just slept in these pants! If you are wearing a thick sweater on top, then the suspender will not feel loose or too big (only the case if you ordered a size up).

Super puffy pants. Because they are so thick and puffy, it would be a good idea to order a size larger. I typically wear S but after reading a few reviews, I ordered M and it fits me just right. The leg inseam section is bit short. Another reason why it is a good idea to order a size up. I tested these pants when I was in Summit, Greenland. They were warmer than my -40F rated sleeping bag. I just slept in these pants! If you are wearing a thick sweater on top, then the suspender will not feel loose or too big (only the case if you ordered a size up).

The Yates Screamers are defacto standard and most common shock absorbing slings. The Petzl Nitro, I think, does a better job at absorbing shock by design. However, it is expensive and should be used to supplement your stash of Yates Screamers. The Nitro works great with ice screws on thin, weak ice. I've fallen hard a few times and the Nitro managed to allow the ice screws from popping out, in contrast to the Yates.

These pants work well for rock climbing or bouldering. They are thick and tough making them relatively abrasion free. As new, I found them a bit stiff due to the fabric being thick, but after awhile they became more loose. The chamois for the inner lining at the waist is a plus. FYI: Pants I got were made in China.

You get what you pay for. Thin but insulates your body heat very well. Definitely Arcteryx quality. I use this often for layering and for casual wear. For me, it substitutes a light insulated jacket.

The default Quark ice picks are the Cascade Ice Picks (Type B). The Cascades aren't as durable as the Quads Ice Picks (Type T). They aren't as thick as the Quads and their tips are sharp for better ice penetration, but they will get damaged if you bang them on rock. The Quads aren't as good for ice. They are thicker and the tips aren't as sharp. But if you want to save your default Ice Picks (the Cascades) that come with your Quark ice tools during mixed climbing, then I'd recommend investing in getting these built for mixed climbing ice picks.

As another reviewer mentioned, these pants are made in China. (It seems like Arcteryx is now manufacturing most of their "common" wear in China now, but doesn't seem to lower prices... They must have increased their logo price.) Regardless of that, the texture of the pants feels like rough microfiber-wear. Inside there's no soft layer, so the roughness gets your skin unless you are wearing a base layer. But these pants are a tight fit if you wear a base layer. Also, when you sweat, they tend to stick and wrap around your legs, if you know what I mean. However, overall quality of the pants (in terms of construction) is solid. They haven't fallen apart or ripped open at the seams, etc.

When you are against 50 mph winds, these gloves won't do without a shell. They aren't as windproof as I thought they would be. However, for ice climbing, so far it works pretty well for me. They stretch and fit well (snug-fit). I'm satisfied. I am a bit disappointed that they are made in China, but so far I haven't seen it fall apart or anything yet! So as of now, I don't mind them being made in China.

These pants are superb for ice climbing in moderately cold temperature. They are form fitting and stretch well for movement. My Gamma MX jacket is made in Canada, but these pants are made in China. That's the only big gripe I have about these pants. These pants work well even without wearing a base layer because the inside is fleece. A few more pockets would've been nice. Also, I wished the logo was embroidered instead of printed.

If you are hiking at night or trying to get around the camp site at night, this headlamp does its job well. I like how light beam can be adjusted from straight to scatter with 3 different light strength levels. The quick flash option works nice when you just want to quickly locate something in the dark. While it works well for camping, etc., it isn't suited for activities like running, climbing, etc. You'll probably need something with strong output for those activities.

These pants are as advertised. They perform very well in wet icy situations (i.e. ice climbing). [They also worked well in snowy conditions, but you should wear some gaiters despite the snow skirts.] I have successfully used these pants to hike and climb a couple of 14'ers here the Colorado Rockies. For insulation layer for these pants, I suggest Ar’cteryx Tau pants.

The adjustable leg loops made it possible for me to put this over winter clothing for ice climbing or summer clothing for rock climbing. Also, the foam padding on the leg and waist loops brought comfort. There are 4 gear loops, which is enough for me to put all my essential gear when ascending and descending. Other harnesses with all these features make them relatively heavy. However, the Verro was lighter than I expected.