Sean G.

I spent a fair amount of time researching alternatives to this tent (mostly over at outdoorgearlab.com) and I'm very happy with my purchase. Obviously it's not waterproof, but for the Eastern Sierra where I'll use this I'm not worried about it withstanding the occasional afternoon storm. It has a tiny footprint, is light, is easy and quick to set up, has screens for mosquitos, and handled condensation well despite low temps and two warm bodies inside. It has plenty of space for two people (even with cooking in the doorway) and eating in the tent. I'm 6'2'' and though I definitely touched the walls as I slept, after a long day it didn't bother me.

I purchased this for use in the alpine. The fabric is comfortable and light and does an OK job blocking the sun (I got a slight burn on my arms, but I'm not sure if the intended use of this shirt is for long days at elevation). After three days of heavy use (hiking / climbing) the shirt was pilling at the seams and the wrists were significantly stretched out. It's probably great for fishing, but if you're looking for a shirt that is similar but built for heavy use in the mountains check out the Black Diamond Alpenglow Hoody.

I'm on my second pair. I use these for trail running, peak bagging, and backpacking. They are stable for long days in the mountains. Though the outsole is less durable than competing shoes in the category, the grip is the best I've ever found on granite (wet or dry). They've been around a while, aren't the lightest, and the styling is an acquired taste - but from a functionality standpoint I couldn't be happier with these shoes. Will continue to buy until they stop making them.

It's light, looks good, and has a small visor. All great stuff.

The key differentiator for me is the EPP core. The fact that this helmet will not become obsolete after one impact like all other helmets on the market (except the Petzl Sirocco, which is significantly more expensive) makes it a no-brainer in my opinion. Very happy with my purchase.

I really wanted to love these pants. Soft-shell is great for mixed alpine use. Adjustable cuffs / ability to run a shock cord through in lieu of a gaiter were all great features. Overall fit, pockets, comfort are all top notch.

BUT. I could never get the OppoSet waist adjustment to stay tight. When I had the pants tight around my boots to prevent snow from entering and had snacks in my pockets, the pants would constantly sag down and I could never get the OppoSet waist adjustment to stay tight. This is a pretty major flaw, so I unfortunately had to return them.

I've been searching for the "perfect" light / crampon compatible boot (that was under $300) for a long time. I'm absolutely thrilled with these boots.

I just returned from a 2.5 day traverse in the Sierra and these boots were fantastic. They were comfortable to handle very long approaches, steep snow climbing and mixed climbing. Having a boot that could handle a fast / light approach and still have the stiffness for all day crampon use was exactly what I was looking for. Outsole was bomber on dry and wet granite, snow, scree, trail etc. GTX liner performed flawlessly in snow / rain / hail / creek crossings.

I wouldn't grab these if I wasn't moving over so much mixed terrain, ie: if you're just on trail, look elsewhere. But if you you need a "quiver of one" this is a great spring/summer alpine boot.