Contributions by christmas freak (9)

SUPER DURABLE. got 'em on SAC for really cheap and they already paid for themselves two years ago right after i got them. suprisingly warm for pretty much a soft shell glove, until you wear them in. back when i first got them, they kept my fingers toasty down to zero, but since i've packed down the fleece lining, i find it difficult to get them down to 15, let alone 10. however, since i've packed them down, the dexterity has gone up significantly, and now rather than simply a ski glove, i find myself using them for everything i do, yardwork, working on the truck, bar-hopping, they've essentially become my favorite work glove. oh, and they are super durable, the goatskin really holds up well under a vast assortment of uses.

I've had this helmet for years. went through a year of racing, did one awesome job protecting my head from those slalom gates as well as the wonderful 'ice' we skied on. venting system works like a charm. vents are actually sculpted to help suck in air, which is always a plus on those 30 degree days. come spring, pop of the ear pads, take out the plugs and open the vents, and it'll barely feel like you're wearing anything at all. REALLY COMFY, why ever wear a beanie when you can protect your skull from the hidden rocks and trees whizzing past you?

incredibly comfortable, a lot of room, even with my wide shoulders!! for a zero degree down bag of this price, i was shocked with how small it packs down to. got it for late fall/early spring stays in Yellowstone and Glacier and first got to test it out this fall. got down to about 15 in Yellowstone, and my 3 buddies were in 15 20 25 degree bags and froze. i sure didn't though!! soooooo comfortable, almost slept in the nude!! i love this bag. i've never had a zero degree bag and am certain i picked the very best

super soft, super breathable, air cuts right through, super toasty under a shell (10 degrees anyone?), REALLY LIGHT, but uh oh, where's the waist cinch? come on Patagonia!! i love your jacket, but no waist cinch? i've gotten over it though. first new fleece in 6 years, definitely not disappointed.

gf got me one 4 years ago for my birthday, and it is still my favorite shirt. 2 years ago bought another one because i loved it so much. i have a hard time finding base layers that are long enough in the torso for me, and this one is a perfect fit. it is super breathable, durable (it can snag, like any Capilene shirt, but it doesn't spread), and zip 'er up and it blocks more wind than most base layers i've used. i recommend this shirt so much, i'm actually considering buying 2 more right now!!

first, i'd like to say that i've used these boots for the last two years for hundreds upon hundreds of hours of landscaping work and have yet to be disappointed by these boots while working. however, i have also put on a few hundred miles of hiking trails in them as well, and must say that for that (which of course is their intended use), i have been mildly disappointed. while the sole is quite solid for such a lightweight boot, the sole does wear through a little more quickly than i predicted. the gripe that others have had with the Gore-Tex lining i did not experience until about a year after their use, but when the lining in the heel crumpled up i developed bursitis (so my running friend told me) on my heel during a backpacking trip in Yellowstone. i've figured out that all i need to do is position my heel a little more precisely in the boot prior to wear now, kind of annoying, but i haven't had a problem for about a year now. while these boots are waterproof, in my time landscaping, i've successfully managed to break through to the Gore-Tex lining in multiple areas, and they no longer provide protection from the water, but i doubt that this would occur if only used for hiking as intended. like i said, i have used these boots almost more than any shoe i have ever worn, and two years later, i still use them every week. they are 90 percent of the time super comfy and i would still recommend them if one were able to get them on sale. one last thing; the lace eyelets eat through bootlaces like no other. i've already gone through 4 pair and never go hiking without an extra pair.

i've got a wide foot, so i was really happy they fit me. however, i needed to go a full size bigger than normal, just to get them on my feet!!!! but past the size, they are super breathable, really responsive and the lacing is spot on. however, for a trail running shoe, where's the shock absorption? i may weigh almost 200 lbs, but it almost feels like i'm running barefoot with these shoes on. i've found if i stick on soft trails or grass, they work superbly though.

i only wear smartwool and own two pair of these incredible socks. when they say light, however, they really do mean light. not too much warmth is provided by this thin ones, yet they last forever. even if you soak your entire shoe or book in water, you feet will still not blister!!! still super comfy!