Aftaab Gulam

I travel a lot on my motorcycle and conventional wisdom is to get the smallest possible bag to save space. I'm the idiot with a 30 inch wide roll and large sleeping bag you'll see riding by on the highway. It may be cumbersome to pack compared to some of those crazy expensive bags that pack into the size of a pair of rolled socks, but I don't care. I'm in my one man tent snoring away happily in this bag. Just make sure that when you get in you don't zip it all the way down or you'll be fumbling in the dark trying to put the zipper together letting in all the cold air. There's nothing like waking up in the morning toasty warm and well rested while the others are fighting with their minimalist set ups all night.

I was really excited to get this pressure cooker as I love cooking this way. First time I used it, the food was burnt. I tried it in my kitchen instead of over a camp fire and could not get the desired results. Sigh. I wish it would whistle instead of rock as that would give me a better idea of what's going on inside. I may dust it off and try again someday, but most likely this will end up in a garage sale or getting thrown out.

I use this balaclava for skiing and on my motorcycle in the summer. I shave my head which makes it all the more important to keep my head warm. The material is quite thin, however, it is also warm and doesn't take up much room in my motorcycle helmet. It's super comfortable. I like that the eye port is wide so I can wear my glasses with ease on the bike. I have a couple of other balaclavas that are decent in their own right, but this is my favourite one by far. If I could change anything, it would be to increase the length at the back of my neck as it can get untucked easily making it a bit drafty in the rear.

I tested this out twice. The first time I was a little anxious about turning up the heat. I also didn't have the knob on top properly situated so all the water evaporated and the food got burnt. The second time, the knob was in place and I cranked up the heat to high. I watched the knob rock gently for a few minutes with a beef stew that I'd browned in oil before along with enough water to cover it before setting the lid on tight. I should have given it more than 5 minutes as the meat wasn't completely tender. 10 minutes might have worked better.

Make sure you read the instruction before using and you'll have a one pot meal in much less time than you thought.

Ultimately, it's reasonably well made for the price and will do the job for one or two people. I have a bigger one in my kitchen for more people that is much more robust and whistles when the pressure reaches its peak. I prefer that as you can set your cooking time by how many whistles you get. I'm sure I'll dial this cooker in with more use.

My rating my seem a little harsh, however, construction that compromises comfort is not an option for me.

The way I see it an active shoe needs to fulfill its intended use, be comfortable, stylish and last through a reasonable amount of wear and tear.

It is a great shoe for keeping your feet dry. I've worn it through goopy slush that reached the top of the shoe and my socks never got wet once. The sole has superb grip on ice, snow and wet surfaces. I have never run in them as I've only had them a short time and intended to use it more for everyday inclement weather in the Pacific Northwest and trail hikes. So far 5 out of 5.

When I first put them on I was underwhelmed by the level of comfort. For the price, they're ok. I wear thick wool socks which helps.

The style isn't super sleek or sexy, more utilitarian and unoffensive. For the intended purpose, style isn't too high on the list. The most important part of this shoe for me is to keep my feet dry and warm. Don't expect these shoes to provide more than a minimal amount of warmth.

Where things go from ho hum to ugly is the construction. I sometimes slip them off without bending to loosen the laces which are super by the way. I thought the laces would annoy me, but they don't. I had visions of them bouncing up and down as I walk and they don't bother me at all. The problem is putting them back on. If you happen to fold the back into the shoes as your heel goes in, you're in trouble. They'll never spring back into shape again. Whatever material they use behind the heel, once bent, will remain crumpled. I don't know if it's some kind of stiff cardboard or what, but I refuse to walk around in a pair of shoes that feel like they have a small stone between the back of your heel and the back of the shoe. It's so bad that I can't drive in them as your heel rests on the crumpled back. Walking is so uncomfortable that I'm returning them.

Ultimately what would make this an acceptable shoe would be to have a loop at the back that you can hang onto while you slip your heel in the shoe. This would keep the back straight and prevent it from crumpling in on itself.

When I got these pants I was surprised by how heavy duty they feel. The material is sturdy and it is a great quality pant. I am a skiier and can't stand baggy ski pants. I took a chance and bought these instead as they are more form fitting over your bum and thighs. I have no problem fitting the skirt and pant bottoms over my ski boots. I don't even have to unzip them to get them over my boots. There are plenty of pockets. I keep my car keys in the right pocket as there is a little clasp to secure them in case I forget to zip up the pocket. There is a minimum of velcro which I'm happy about as I can't stand velcro. The buttons are all snap on style which makes it easy to deal with while wearing gloves. The two thigh pockets are useful for a micro-fibre cloth to keep my goggles dry, some lens wipes and a map of the ski resort. I wore a pair of Insulator Stabilyx tights as a base layer first time out and I was toasty warm. It was a little tight as the tights are quite thick. I would love to see how water-repellent they are in wetter weather which is typical in the pacific northwest.

I did get them in the Black Friday sale for $150 which is significantly cheaper than ski pants that boast the same waterproof and breathability rating. They also look so much better than ski pants which are goofy looking. I have a 32 inch waist and the medium is a touch generous, but allows for a base layer.

I just took up running again after years off due to knee injuries. This gets used a lot. I've used it to run on cold days, as a base layer for skiing and as a recovery tight. I had never heard of CW-X before. This is superior to Under Armor and Nike compression tights which are good in their own right, but don't have the compression or quality support that the Insulator Stabilyx gives. I have them on all the time when I'm hanging out at home. They are simply the most comfortable tights for men. I have a size 32 waist, long lean legs and the medium fits well. I can't say that I fill it out completely in the thigh, knee area. If you have sturdier legs you will get much better compression than I do. A small would have been way too tight and this feels just right. I will be buying more clothes from this company as they are excellent quality and the added support is very useful for someone with knee issues.

I'm a big fan of Rab products and this fleece is no exception. I've used it for both skiing and running in cold conditions. It wicks moisture quickly, looks fabulous, is very comfortable and a slim fit.

I use it primarily as a mid layer fleece which keeps me toasty warm with a thin base layer and shell. I suspect I'd need an insulated jacket for colder days, but this is good down to -5 centigrade or the low twenties. I got the zest to match the yellow and grey of my shell. I wash it in the machine and lay flat to dry. Excellent purchase although a little expensive at regular price. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one as the quality is superb.

I've used this skiing a couple of times and it has been very warm, soft and comfortable. The best part is that it doesn't smell after being very active thanks to the merino wool. The quality is decent. It's 20" long so I double it up before slipping it over my head. My Buff has not been used since I got this neck warmer. Well worth the price for the warmth, softness and comfort.

I've used this beanie for both skiing and running. It does a great job of keeping my shaved head warm during these activities. I have a large head: 7 7/8 hat size and the one size fits all is a little tight. I give it a good stretch before putting it on. Otherwise, it can be a little constricting. It keeps my head warm but retains the moisture from sweating as merino wool does. It does dry fairly quickly, but I'd advise taking along another beanie to keep your head warm once your activity is complete as it isn't comfortable to wear a wet beanie when you've stopped sweating.

The expedition zip neck is a soft, comfortable, form-fitting base layer for colder days on the ski slopes. It wicks moisture away quickly and fits perfectly. I've used it to run in the Pacific Northwest with a thin wicking t-shirt underneath and occasionally with a thin shell for colder days. A large fits true to size. I'm 5'11 with a size 44 chest, 32-inch waist and 190lbs. I will likely use it often skiing this year with an insulated mid layer jacket and a hard shell to keep me warm on slopes in British Columbia.

I ordered the Cynic in rubber smoked grey with the orange highlights. The orange is more yellow in colour, but still very smart. I was afraid that the open vents might prove to be cold as I shave my head. However, it's mitigated by a thin beanie. The adjustment mechanism is sturdy and works well. The chin strap has a little padding to avoid friction and rubbing. It's an excellent helmet for the price and very stylish.