Contributions by Anonymous (5)

You read the fine print.. All the Bern helmets at BC at the time I write this are EN1078, CPSC, and ASTM 2040 certified. Helmets aren't certified for sports per se, they are certified to test standards deemed appropriate for certain sports. These are good helmets at a good price. I bought two to replace old single-certified models.

I like this jacket for its lightness, but it is not breathable at all. Attempting to blow air through the fabric indicates no transmission of humid air. For a less clammy jacket, get eVENT or Gore-Tex and pay a little more.

I am in the difficult position of paying a lot of money to return this pack from my overseas assignment. The shoulder straps (the ones you pull in front of your chest, not the load lifters) are strangely very short. Extended to the stops they will not fit comfortably on me in an alpine three-layer clothing configuration. I am only 70" and 170lbs. Maybe the straps were cut and re-sewed on a returned pack? I can not believe an experienced company like Mountainsmith would manufacture with straps only usable by the smallest males. Straps are cheap and light! Very disappointed, because I was so looking forward to an alpine pack for winter climbing; and thought Mountainsmith was a good company.

I got this tent to replace my QuarterDomeUL because it had no fly-footprint option. However, first time I used the Lightning I realized it had no top ventilation slot. With the fly on and zipped, there is no where for rising hot humid air to ventilate, it becomes an absolute sweat box. A simple overhanging slot with hook-and-loop tab (as on the Quarterdome), or a side chimney tube (as on Montbell products) would let the hot air rise out and solve this problem, and only add maybe 40 grams. This tent is now reserved for shoulder season use only and I am back to my Quarterdome for summer camping. Also, Entry and exit are difficult because the fly zip creates a triangular shaped slit which narrows at the top. Instead of one long zip; dual 1/2 length zips would be the same weight, and create a garage door type entry of sufficient width, and would create dual vestibules on both sides of the entry. On a positive note, this tent is a little lighter than other comparably sized 2 person 3 season tents. But again, I'd rather carry the extra weight of a top vent.

I got this tent to replace my QuarterDomeUL because it had no fly-footprint option. However, first time I used the Lightning I realized it had no top ventilation slot. With the fly on and zipped, there is no where for rising hot humid air to ventilate, it becomes an absolute sweat box. A simple overhanging slot with hook-and-loop tab (as on the Quarterdome), or a side chimney tube (as on Montbell products) would let the hot air rise out and solve this problem, and only add maybe 40 grams. This tent is now reserved for shoulder season use only and I am back to my Quarterdome for summer camping. Also, Entry and exit are difficult because the fly zip creates a triangular shaped slit which narrows at the top. Instead of one long zip; dual 1/2 length zips would be the same weight, and create a garage door type entry of sufficient width, and would create dual vestibules on both sides of the entry. On a positive note, this tent is a little lighter than other comparably sized 2 person 3 season tents. But again, I'd rather carry the extra weight of a top vent.