I headed back to CO for Thanksgiving to visit family, and while traveling, I love to have a warm jacket that doesn’t make me look too teched out. For this, I brought along my Mountain Hardwear Monkey Woman Fleece Jacket.

Mountain Hardwear Monkey Woman Fleece

The Good

• Comfy, true to size, and just warm enough. A 300 weight fleece, it will work great for crisp mornings and cooler evenings.
• Power stretch panels around waist and around wrists allow for a great range of motion in the arms- no feeling restricted in this jacket!
• Monkey Phur material allows for greater breathability that an average fleece.
• Nice narrow cut- no excess bulk material around the waist.

The Bad

• Eventually the fleece looses its fuzzy appeal and loft. I wear an across the shoulder messenger bag daily, and there’s a permanent crushed down pattern right across where my strap falls. I’ve washed it a few times and that doesn’t seem to help. However, never loses its warmth!

Check It Out! Mountain Hardwear Monkey Woman Fleece

Tents don’t wear out per se I just find cooler ones to buy. If your looking to have a tent stay in your pack for years to come the Mountain Hardwear Skyledge 2.1 tent would be my pick. Been using it for a while now and here are my findings.

I like how Mountain Hardwear really switched up their tie down material near the stakes of the tent. Its a super thin low-key strap that is surprisingly strong. The top pole that creates space on the roof of the of tent is also nice for keeping the fly away from the mesh which kept us dry this summer.

The weight of this thing is amazing. They only used the lightest of materials down to the shock cord in the tent poles. Minimum weight is 3lbs. 15oz and that divided…well you do the math. I like how it has the two doors and not only that but two vestibules. This is great for not mixing your gear around with your tent partner and leaves more cooking space.

Its all about the hooks. I am so done with sleeves. Hooks are so easy to use and make the set up ultra quick. The fly is a very waterproof and tough piece keeping you warm and dry. Packs down small and would be a great replacement for that old smelly tent in your garage.

BUY NOW: The Mountain Hardwear Skyledge 2.1 Tent at REI.com.

I thought polypropylene was a thing of the past. I used it back in the day and then merino hit my skin and I have since forgotten the silky threads of poly. If your still not ready to make the switch or missing your poly check out the Helly Hansen Crew Shirt.

I got a top this week and the first place I went was the tag. “ugh poly”, I thought. And then I concluded that companies spend a lot of time, money, and passion to make their products. I took it running to stroll down memory lane of the ol’ poly days.

The feel of the shirt is different from the poly I have been use to. The material has open cells to keep the skin dry and move moisture. My past experience with poly has been locking in the wet and the stink; not a good match. The shirt didn’t make me run faster but it did great with keeping me dry.

How many shirts do you have come with racing stripes? I had to laugh when I saw the stripe coming through the arms but hey, a little steeze is fine by me. I have yet to take this skiing but the users have been saying it does what you need. It’s worth a try. Worse comes to worse I switch out my top at lunch along with my skis. A clothing quiver? Wow, I am a gear freak. The other thing I was stoked on was the low-bulk cuffs, if your stuff is low-bulk its fine by me.

Helly Promise
Helly Hansen gives a 30 day performance promise with their dry tops. In 30 days if it doesn’t perform better then any dry top you can get a full refund. If your looking for a pro-athlete opinion Chris Davenport has a couple things to say about HH gear.

BUY NOW: The Helly Hansen Crew top - Long Sleeve at Backcountry.com.

So, we’re going to try something new here. I’m going to mass review The North Face’s Casual Wear Tops, since I have far too many of them to actually review each piece. Overall, TNF does a great job with their designs and their sizing seems to be right on for me.

One of my favorite North Face tops is The North Face Ex-Beau Shirt, a 3/4 length sleeve button up that I can wear to class and on dates, but then also roll the sleeves up and bust out a few routes at the climbing gym as well. Best Feature- sleeves can roll up, and then stay up with the button loop closure TNF has added to each sleeve. I happen to own this shirt in 4 different colors… I think that qualifies as an obsession.

Another great North Face top is The North Face Falls Creek Woven Long Sleeve Shirt. Similar to the Ex-Beau, it also has those cool little sleeve button-up loops. Nicer for cooler weather, the Falls Creek Woven Shirt is just as versatile as the Ex-Beau as well.

For short sleeves, my favorite is The North Face Sabrina Shirt. Wicking, UPF 30 fabric and a stretchy material make for a great all around T.

Overall, The North Face seems to size true, and the tops are all cute enough to wear out but burly enough to spend a day at the crag in. My favorite combo!

Goggles can be our best friend or our worst enemy. I mean don’t we just want to see clearly? Is that too much to ask? Ask and ye shall receive with the Electric EG1 goggle, straight forward specs to help you dodge groms, tree stumps, and yard sales.

I have been trying these goggles the past couple of ski days and I love the simple design. The anti-fog coating has been great and I haven’t had to put cat crap on. The elastic band fits a helmet perfect and it doesn’t have a ton of extra material that bunches up or anything.

For the price I really feel like I am getting a ton of bang for my buck. I can see perfectly through the Gold Chrome lens they come with. The lens increases contrast and I don’t feel like I am skiing in some toon land with crazy colors. I feel like the medium fit is perfect for my face. They don’t have a ton of extra lens or frame that I am lugging around.

You even get a free lens from Electric which is always sweet. I got the rose lens because they work for me while I go night skiing. Compared to the Spy and Oakley goggles I have used in the past, these Electrics bring it for sure. Not to mention the high steeze factor.

BUY NOW: The Electric EG1 Goggle at Backcountry.com.

I am a wuss. It’s true. When it comes to rappelling especially, I hate it when my hands get rubbed raw from holding the rope in the break hand as I head downward. To limit the wuss-factor, I use a pair of Metolius Climbing Gloves. Being that I am a bit on the lighter side, I am usually having to pick up the rope and actually feed it into the device, so these gloves see a lot of regular wear when I’m climbing.

Get the Facts on The Metolius Climbing Glove

• 3/4 length fingers allow you to maintain dexterity while still providing a good amount of coverage
• Webbing hooks allow for clipping gloves with a carabiner to wherever you want them
• Velcro wrist closure keeps gloves snug
• Great for rappelling AND belaying- palms are reinforced
• Again, a word about sizing- I have kinda tiny hands, and the XS is almost too big on me. The sizing chart from the Metolius website indicated that I would need a size Small glove, and those were definitely too big. Be sure to try them on if you’re got hands on the extreme end of the spectrum, be it large or small. Also, keep in mind that they’re going to stretch a bit.

Check ‘Em Out! Metolius Climbing Gloves

What more could you want then buying gear for yourself then outfitting your kids? It finally came time this year to get my little one a sleeping bag. I know kid sleeping bags all look the same but I am really digging the North Face Blue Ridge Bx bag and if my girl could lay down some vocab she would probably share my opinion.

I had to carry three sleeping bags everytime we went camping this year so I wanted to make sure this one packed down really well. I have always had good luck with down getting small but the synthetic did really well. I got it down to about a half sized loaf of bread. I really don’t mind carrying the extra weight, anything to get my family out, it is a nice bonus that it fits in my pack though.

Seems like these last couple of years the half zipper has been a trend and I am not exactly sure why. For packing a kid in the bag it is really nice because my daughter is about as tall as two computer keyboards. And the half-zip is all I need. Since she is so short we wrapped the un-used bottom of the bag and tucked it underneath her as a pad. When I checked on her throughout the night her hands were always toasty, I wouldn’t go with anything less then this 20 degree.

She woke up at her usual 7am but I was happy. She got freaked out a couple times with the bag over her face so pack along your usual blankets. To get my ladies to go backpacking with me it was worth carrying the extra 2lbs (not including the insane amount of kid stuff that also come along).

BUY NOW: The North Face Blue Ridge Bx Sleeping bag at Backcountry.com.

I get carried away sometimes of how cool I think am with my gear selection. Last year on Rainier I wanted all my gear to be lighter, smaller, and perform like a jaguar ninja. I brought along the Petzl e+LITE headlamp and I have to say I am impressed but probably wouldn’t take it again.

PRO’S
Don’t get me wrong. Petzl did a great job cranking out the power with this teeny little guy. Check out these treats.

• 45 Hours of light
• Free pivot position which is great for hanging in a tent.
• Chill elastic band that doesn’t give you a headache.
• 27 grams of weight, let me know if that is too heavy for you.
• Lithium battery that can be easily replaced.
• Flashing switch for throwing a dance party at your campsite.
• Sweet clip for going on the climbing harness.

CON’S
It’s a great backup, I wouldn’t use this as your main headlamp.

• The light strength is great, but not good to rely on for serious night hiking.
• It can feel a little loosey goosey when your trying to change the light option.

Ok really not too many con’s. For $30 this would be great for throwing in the car to change a flat at night or as a back up light source for your trip. The case it comes with is pretty sweet for keeping matches dry or anything else you can stuff in there. The size is unbelievable though, you really won’t know its there in your pack.

BUY NOW: The Petzl e+LITE Emergency Headlamp at Backcountry.com for $29.95

Big Mountain Bike Adventures has teamed up with Andreas Hestler, one of North America’s most celebrated cross-country mountain bikers, for a late-March training camp.

During the 8-day adventure participants will join former Olympian, 3-time winner of the Trans Rockies, celebrated coach and charismatic athlete Andreas Hestler on this private training camp and learn riding and training techniques to improve mountain bike skills.

“I believe that the difference between amateur cyclists and professionals is dedication and focus,” says Hestler. “During this training camp, we will have one unified goal, to gather miles and learn skills over a concentrated period of time. These skills can be applied to racing or everyday riding.”

Off the bike, Hestler will share his secrets about goal setting, nutrition, seasonal periodization, stage racing and more. For those training for a multi-day event or just looking to improve their skills and fitness, this is a great opportunity.

The location for the camp is one of North America’s mountain bike Meccas near Las Vegas, Nevada. Just beyond the strip lies an arid region with varied trails, spectacular scenery and world class riding. Riders will visit Bootleg Canyon, Blue Diamond, Hurricane, Thunder Mountain and even hike Zion National Park.

“Some of the trails in this area are like Moab on steroids,” says Hestler enthusiastically, “slick rock that winds and undulates with plenty of cornering and singletrack to practice skills and fitness. We’re going to have fun.”

Trip dates: March 28 to April 4, 2009
Cost: $2475 Canadian (approx $2000 USD)
For more information, email: info@ridebig.com

Founded in 2002, Big Mountain Bike Adventures is an innovative travel company that offers all-mountain, XC and downhill mountain bike trips in Morocco, Costa Rica, Italy, British Columbia, Mexico, South Africa and Botswana, Peru, the Yukon and Switzerland.

Photos courtesy Colin Meagher

Anymore it seams that Apps for the iPhone are almost as valuable as the phone itself. Skiers and snowboarders who are also owners of the iPhone have at their fingertips a number of snow report and other ski resort related applications.

One of the standouts that I’ve found recently is one called Snocator which uses interactive trail maps to show you where you are on the mountain with all lifts, runs and features included. It also provides the latest snow reports, weather conditions, mountain cams and up-to-the-minute forecasts.  Pretty much there’s no reason for getting lost, cold, hungry, etc.

Nearly every major ski area in North America is covered by Snocator, and it features mountain cams for resorts throughout the world. More resorts are being added each day.

On mountain features:

• see your current location on a map and what trail you’re on (note: this will be less accurate for non-GPS iPhones)
• Plan your next runs using interactive trail maps
• Find the nearest spot to warm up, grab lunch, or get a hot drink
• Find your friends – a feature that will be coming soon
• Track your runs, speed, and vertical (and coming soon you can show it off on a map)
• Check the latest weather forecasts

Off mountain features:

• Get snow reports: search resorts in order of largest snowfall and proximity to you
• Check out views of the mountain from real-time mountain cams
• Keep a list of your favorite resorts
• Find the nearest resorts to you
• Track your progress en-route to the slopes and see how far away you are

Snocator costs a one-time fee of $5.99 which is a bit steeper than some of the other apps I’ve seen but the robust nature of this app is worth the 6 clams.  It works anywhere you have a data signal or wifi connection with your iPhone which these days is just about any major ski resort.  My buddy was at the top of the Tram at Snowbird and blogged from his iPhone.

So much for “escaping” the land of wires and wireless eh?

You can begin Snocating by one of three ways: 1) Visit the iPhone App Store and search for Snocator under the Sports category, 2) Text “snow” to 90999 from your iPhone, or 3) Simply click the Buy Now link below to launch iTunes on your computer and go straight to the Snocator info page.

Buy Now: Check out the Snocator iPhone App for $5.99

I don’t snowboard. The only thing I know about Shaun White is that his nickname is “the flying tomato” or something like that. This year I am thinking of leaving my uber hardcore Arcteryx collection in the closet this season and switching over to the Burton Shaun White Cosmic Delight, gotta get my tomato flyin’.

I feel like I am getting left in the dust when it comes to steeze. I chatted with a snowboarder friend of mine and asked him about the Burton jacket quality. Just so happens its not all about 80’s colors and an overload of pockets.

The Shell
Ladies and gentlemen I give you Durashell. This fabric is all about maximizing the waterproof power mixed with breathability through laminating three layers together. Feeling the outer fabric in the store this is going to not only blocking moisture but gnary durable. Boarders tear up their gear and from the looks of things the Cosmic is delivering.

The Insulation
Low-bulk Thermacore insulation focused on increasing mobility without letting go of warmth. My Primaloft does that…sounds good to me. Whether your a flying tomato or dodging tomatoes on the way down, this jacket will keep you bustin’ moves.

Ok where do I sign? Finally some style with hardcore materials. Personally I really like the Bright White Faded Stripe, so if you see me dropping a knee at Alta don’t boo me off the mountain please.

Reality Check!
Am I crazy? Should I not worry about looking good on the hill? I really think a re-vamp in style will be more effective then lifting weights and lunges at night. Correct me if I am wrong.

BUY NOW: The Burton Shaun White Cosmic Delight Jacket at Backcountry.com.

It hasn’t taken me long to realize that the crew at Niner Bikes is onto something. In only a little more than a year’s time, I’ve gone from a 29er rookie to a 29er lover and mostly due to the crew at Niner. At Interbike 2007, Niner Bikes had a Kool-aid theme going on. Well, I drank the stuff and now I’m a true believer.

It’s hard not to be a believer when every Niner I’ve ridden has been absolutely phenomenal. The original Niner RIP 9 was a complete hoot and one of the most fun trailbikes I’ve ever ridden–regardless of hoop size. Then, not satisfied to sit on their laurels, Niner completely re-designed the already-awesome RIP 9 for 2009 to make it even mo’ betta.

Now, the RIP’s little brother, the Niner  Jet 9 has been in my hands for testing and I’m wondering if Niner can do no wrong. Of all the full-suspension 29ers I’ve ridden Niner bikes show the most refinement and consistency in ride quality across the board.

Niner Jet 9 29er Quick Bike Review

The Jet 9 is an XC machine at heart with just 3.1-inches of rear travel. But, because of the 29-inch wheels, that small amount of travel goes a long way. No, you’re not going to soak up everything in sight, but with the larger wheels, you don’t always have to because you can roll through stuff more efficiently.

So far, I’ve found the Jet 9 to climb up anything and descend very capably. I just returned from a local time trail climb (Clark’s Trail), and the Jet 9 propelled me to the top in my typical mid-season time. I’m guessing had I ridden this mid-season, I may have shaved some time off my personal best, but it’s Fall and I’m not quite in my mid-season form.

Like all 29er’s, the middle ring is the sweet spot. Don’t wallow in the granny or you won’t take advantage of all the big hoops have to offer!

I’m not one to use lockouts and, honestly, a good suspension design shouldn’t need them. The Jet doesn’t need the lockout as it powers you to the top of the climb with the rear wheel solidly planted in terra firma. The CVA Suspension is very efficient and smooth.

On the downhills thus far, I’ve been more than pleased with its performance. Once again, the bigger hoops can do wonders for suspension designs when done right. The Jet is smooth, capable and comfortable on the downhill. At 3.1-inches of travel, you’re not going to have a super-squish machine, but with the geometry and suspension setup on this bike, you can confidently power through the rough stuff without flinching. That’s not the case with any other 3-inch travel bike I know of on the market today.

Carving through tight, twisty singletrack, this thing just absolutely shines. I’ve been very impressed with its overall maneuverability–something not all 29ers share.

The Good

• Very capable “no wander” climber (with 100mm Fox F29 even)
• Efficient suspension feels smooth on the downhills
• Arcs through twisty singletrack
• CVA Suspension is the real deal
• Kermit Green color is hot
• Reasonably-priced all things considered

The Bad

• You likely won’t find one at your LBS for a test ride
• Water bottle cage location makes for a tight fit

Buy Now: WrenchScience.com has the Jet 9 on sale for a limited time (as of 11/19/08)

This past summer I figured it was time to retire my old Trango climbing harness.  Since Black Diamond is a brand that I trust for a lot of my gear I figured a climbing harness from them would be a good choice.

To figure out what harness I’d buy, given that there are a number of Black Diamond harness models to choose from, I listed what I wanted in a harness

1. Adjustable leg loops - I prefer adjustable leg loops cause I climb throughout the year
2. 4 season capability - Minimize the amount of fleece or other fabric on the harness that might make it a one season
3. Gear loops made for rock climbing but will work for alpine and
4. Comfortable - it has to be comfortable for long alpine or even big wall
5. Light - I wanted to be sure it wasn’t too heavy

After considering these factors I finally honed in on the Focus SA.  Much like the Focus AL which I have climbed in (and which is on sale at Moosejaw through the Gear.com store) the SA is that all around climbing harness you want with all the bells and whistles but without the bulk and weight.

It comes in at 17oz but if you’re of the ounce shaving crowd and don’t want adjustable leg loops then the Focus at 14oz may be the meal ticket for you.

Black Diamond calls it their top of the line harness for the all around category stating that the Focus SA:

…combines a Speed Adjust waistbelt and leg-loop buckles with all of the Focus’s features including: SoftEdge construction, pressure-molded gear loops, 15 kN-rated haul loop and ultra-comfortable 3D molded foam.

As for myself? I call it perfect for my style of climbing. Comfy all day on a route on the Grand Teton and easy on easy off at my favorite crag. It’s light enough that I barely feel it.

For the all around climber, the Focus SA from Black Diamond is as sweet as red-pointing!

Buy Now: Pick up the Black Diamond AL Climbing Harness and let your mind be at ease.

Although the MSR SuperFly Stove has been around for nearly 5 years, it’s one of those pieces of camping and backpacking gear that I am continually glad that I own. If it’s anything like the MSR Whisperlite Stove that I owned from 1990 until just last year when it was officially retired,  I’m sure that it will more than pay for itself by the time it’s boiled its last pot of water.

The model I own is the one with the auto ignition which some people I’ve talked to have said that it’s worthless. I found that it was a bit spotty when super cold so I actually bent the ignition arm to be a little closer to the stove and it worked well for me.

Weighing in at 4.6 ounces, this stove is about as minimalist as you can get.  I liked the Supefly over the smaller MSR Pocket Rocket because of 3 reasons:

1. The arms of the stove looked larger which may help to steady a pot of boiling water better
2. The auto ignitition
3. The flame is a bit larger in diameter than the super small stoves which I felt would provide a better cooking experience

I’ve used this stove in various locations and at altitudes of 11,000 feet.  In situations like camping, backpaking and other 3 season persuits, I love the MSR SuperFly.

Howver, this is not the stove you should bet your life on above 12,000′ or in any extreme cold. If I had to say from experience, anything below 20 degrees and snowy would be when this stove is iffy.  But that’s often the case with most canister gas stoves.  In fact, MSR even suggests that you not use this stove for those conditions but rely on a liquid gas stove like the Whisperlight or the WindPro.

Bottom line is that this stove is as avertized - a great backpacking stove that is lightweight and will likely laste for a decade or more!

Buy Now: Purchase the MSR SuperFly Stove from Backcountry.com

I love these pants. I LOVE these pants. For climbing in desert sandstone to chilling in the Tetons, the Patagonia Canvas Shop pants are rugged, yet still maintain some shape to them, so I don’t look like I’m wearing man-pants.

Personally, Carharts don’t fit my body shape. Being short, smaller and having no hips, they just always seemed to be falling off me. I was bumming, and also lacking a pair of pants to do burly sandstone climbs in. Then I found a pair of Patagonia Canvas Shop Pants, and my problems were solved!

Patagonia Shop Pants

• Inseam comes in Short, Regular and Long! Finally, pants that I’m not rolling up a bunch just to avoid stepping on them.
• Constructed of tough organic cotton- environmentally friendly AND indestructible.
• Lower waistband adds comfort. No more pants riding up at your belly-button. They sit right below my waist loop with a harness on, which works out great.
• Bombproof. I can’t seem to wear them out or put a hole in them, despite multiple Moab trips and everyday wear.
• Again with Patagonia and the sizing- if you’re on the fence between sizes, go smaller.

Check ‘em out! Patagonia Shop Pants

Let’s talk about speed. Specifically, the Speed and how fast you can move when carrying it. The Black Diamond Speed pack is a stripped down, alpine-style pack burly enough for all your speed ascents without adding extra weight.

A top loading pack that comes in 30 or 40 Liters, the Speed can be used for a multitude of adventures. Personally, I own both the 30L and the 40L size (yes, I know, I am a gear freak… Some women buy heels. I buy gear), and I use them for most all of my car to car climbs, a pack for a multipitch rock routes or a larger day hike pack.

Black Diamond Speed Pack- Loaded with cool features!

• Dual ice axe loops
• Crampon patch is reinforced so you can keep the ‘pons on the outside of the pack and not worry about skewering it!
• Built with 210d Nylon… Which looks so light, it’d rip if you breathe on it wrong. However, after car to car ascents on Rainier, Hood and Shasta, and traveling around Europe for a month this past summer, I have HAMMERED this pack, and the material is still in top notch condition!
• Top of the pack is completely removable, so you can strip down more weight if you’re not using it.
• Comes in a Small/Medium frame size or a Medium/Large frame size!

BUY NOW! Black Diamond Speed Pack in 40L or 30L

Not everyone can go back in time and try out for Top Gun to be Mavericks right hand man, but at least we can wear aviators like Mr. Cruise. I could never bring myself to impersonating a cop, mainly because its a felony, but if I ever wanted to the Smith Serpico sunglasses would be my choice of facewear.

The Tapered Lens Technology actually makes it so your vision doesn’t get scrambled even though the bend in the glass admits you to high-class Hollywood parties. The tapered lenses mixed with the polarized finish give your eyes a seamless drive home. I am a huge fan of the wrap style sunglasses, the coverage does wonders for blocking out sun that creeps in on the sides.

Smith also has their uber swank Optically Delicious site which really lets you test drive these puppies without closing gear.com, facebook, solitaire, and anything else you have running on the screen. The frame is very durable along with the carbonic lens. Carbonic sounds a lot like bionic and performs quite similar; it is the ultimate impact lens tech. What else do you expect from a prestigious optics company?

BUY NOW: The Smith Serpico Sunglasses - Polarized at Backcountry.com.

Whoever is designing this year’s line of ice tools over at Black Diamond is my new favorite person! This year’s Black Diamond Cobra Ice Tools are the first set of tools that I feel really accommodate those of us with smaller hands, who still want an aggressive set of spikes for ice.

The redesigned carbon fiber Cobra is lighter, has a smaller grip and a more curved shaft shape than the older models. The grip is actually narrower, which makes getting a good grasp on the tool fairly easy.

Black Diamond Cobra Ice Tools

• Run them leashed or leashless! Attach the Android leash if you’re not feeling up to leashless climbing one minute, unclip them the next.
• Comes with a fang and strike, both of which are removable.
• Comes standard with the BD Laser pick, which has a thinner nose and body, allowing the pick to penetrate with less ice displacement.
• Hammer and adze available
• GREAT for women or dudes with smaller hands. I tend to lose circulation in my hands from gripping to hard on tools with a wider grip (i.e older BD Vipers, Grivel Alp Wings). Not the case with these!

BUY NOW! Black Diamond Cobra Ice Tools

It’s the little gear that counts. This is one of my favorite bring-a-longs for winter camping. Even if your not stomping around Camp Muir anytime soon these are great for around the crib on colder days. If your looking for a simple yet rugged design in a bootie, go for The North Face NSE Tent Bootie II.

When I was shopping around for a bootie I didn’t think it should be a big deal. I wasn’t trying to be picky but I felt like most booties were weak sauce. Not the NSE. This down slipper has a grippy rubber bottom that worked great for walking around camp in the snow. They kept my feet warm but more importantly kept them dry. The NSE is more packable then its cousin the Nupste Bootie which has the ultra sturdy EVA sole. Pick your poison.

Putting them on is a little tight, I feel like the elastic opening is going to rip when I slip in but no worries after a couple times. It’s kinda like popping out Smith lenses the first time. The down is superb for wrapping your feet in, the 700 fill did not disappoint. Even the non-gear freaks will enjoy these matching jackets for their feet.

BUY NOW: The North Face NSE Tent Bootie II at Backcountry.com.

I’m not a huge messenger bag man myself. There was a massive trend last year to have an over the shoulder bag but I just couldn’t get into it. I think companies are realizing that not everyone rides a fixie and is stoked on the massive compartment that rides more on their back then their side. Osprey brought out the Float Courier Bag this year, and I think they are on to something.

To clarify, I’m a backpack man. Two straps, main compartment, evenly distributed weight; I’m good. I’ve been looking at this bag for my wife who is in desperate need for a sassy diaper bag and I am considering changing my belief system. On the green side of things, Osprey came out with the ReSource series which uses recycled materials for at least 70% of the bag. Thats way cool and will go a long way with the urban peeps.

The Stoke

• It’s not massive. It looks small but the compartments are impressive.
• When you open the top flap it doesn’t engulf you in fabric restricting your arms to retrieve fish crackers and the binky.
• It has an outer bottle holder for a small sized nalgene.
• Cell phone case on the strap. No more digging at the bottom of a black hole to search for the Justin Timberlake ringtoning phone.
• Comfy hip pad with a waist strap to stay secure for chasing the little one at the farmers market.
• Has an iPod cord holder on the strap to keep cords organized if your jamming.

BUY NOW: The Osprey Float Courier Bag at Moosejaw.com.

I’ve seen the V.I.O. camera in use by Sage Cattabriga-Alosa while skiing at Alta and also while mountain biking in Southern Utah. This system is bombproof–by far the most durable and easy-to-use helmet camera on the market. Looks like they are upgrading the software to accommodate up to 8 GB of storage (that’s 6 hours). Pretty sweet.

Here are the details from V.I.O.:

The highly anticipated upgrade will allow global POV.1 users to use 1, 2, 4 & 8GB SDHC cards with their systems; increasing the POV.1’s recording capacity to new levels in the Wearable Video Industry. The upgrade will allow the unit to accept up to 8 gigabytes of memory; a 400 percent increase from the 2 gig default settings. The free upgrade will have a giant affect on recordable time; from 45 minutes to over 6 hours on the highest resolution setting.

The POV.1 Wearable Video Camera

The POV.1 is a fully integrated point-of-view (POV) video system that is waterproof, dustproof and shock resistant. The high resolution hands-free camera may be mounted virtually anywhere, resulting in amazingly crisp, first-person video footage.

Easy and intuitive to use out-of-the-box, the POV.1 is a rugged performer capable of withstanding rain, dunks in puddles and dust storms while resisting the shock of riding in rough terrain.

See sample VIO POV.1 videos here:
http://theviovoice.com/?paged=2

Any POV.1 owner can access the free firmware upgrade at the following URL:
http://www.vio-pov.com/files/html_emails/firmware_update_sdhc/constant_contact/

After the “Upgrade” button is clicked, an email will be sent to the email address entered containing installation directions and links to video tutorials. The download will begin automatically.

Buy Now: Search for the V.I.O. POV.1 Helmet Camera

Ski season is upon us. Which, in Salt Lake, means ice season is close! Yahoo! While getting out and touring I am also getting my ice climbing gear together, including a new pair of Black Diamond Punisher Ice Gloves.

The Black Diamond Punisher Ice Gloves are a great mid-weight glove for single pitch ice climbing days, or all day adventures if you’ve got warmer hands. These gloves manage to maintain dexterity while providing insulation and being waterproof.

Black Diamond Punisher Gloves- The Details

• Knuckles are padded with EVA foam, keeping the brusing to a minimum on those swings where your hand may hit at the same time as your pick does!
• Outer shell of gloves consists of BDry, a waterproof material, and abrasion resistant stretch Schoeller, which allows you to keep that dexterity! Grab screws off your harness, set up and anchor or open your thermos, you still have the ability to do all these things in these gloves.
• Fleece lined for added warmth.
• Leather palm is great for belaying!

A few downsides- small hands might be out of luck. I wear an extra small in these gloves, and they work fine. Any smaller though, and I’d be looking for a kids version of this glove! Also, the fleece liner and BDry shell material pretty much guarantee stinky gloves by the end of the season. Sweaty hands in a minimal breathing glove are a good recipe for a funk worse than my rock shoes. However, smelly or not, I love these gloves!

BUY NOW! Black Diamond Punisher Glove

After a long day of classes yesterday, a friend and I decided that to waste the new snow would be sinful, so we headed up Big Cottonwood Canyon for some nighttime touring. I ran straight from classes to the hill, again totally psyched on gear that can perform in both situations. This time I was wearing my Arc’Teryx Rho LTW Zip Top.

The Arc’Teryx Rho LTW Zip top is a great layering piece for adding warmth and still keeping you dry. The Merino wool (see, I told you all I was addicted!) insulates when wet, wicks great, and of course, keeps the stink to a minimum.

Arc’Teryx Rho LTW Zip Specs

• Great fit! Close to skin, but not 80’s spandex tight. Definitely true to size, and nicely cut for a woman’s figure.
• Laminated sleeve pocket is great for credit card, driver’s license or iPod
• Zippered collar allows for some extra ventilation when you want it, or keeps your neck toasty when it gets a bit colder.
• Works great as a mid layer. I wear a super lightweight short sleeve underneath this most days. Functions as either a heavier next to skin layer or a lightweight mid layer, depending on what your system is, what the outside temp is and how active you’re planning on being.

BUY NOW! Arc’Teryx Rho LTW Zip

There is something to be said for a piece of gear that isn’t plastered with logos. I got to a point last year where I got a little burned out with gear whoring logos like they were going out of style. I wanted to stay warm, look good, and just be me. Backcountry.com nailed with their signature Wool Hooded jacket. I mean look at the name! No funky words, no code names. It is what it is.

The Inside

The inside of the jacket has this super soft micro fleece lining that is awesome for running out the door in a tee to go shovel snow. There are two pockets towards the bottom that are good for gloves, trick-or-treating, or bringing home a light load of groceries.

The sleeves have cuffs which are really nice to lock in the heat. No iPod pocket but c’mon, when your rocking this jacket birds will surround you with song. Hasn’t happened to me yet but it might.

The Outside

The jacket is made with a wool blend and it worked great for spring skiing this last season. Just enough beef to resist wind and bomber protection to shed snow. I’ve also been caught numerous times in the rain with this jacket and it has performed nicely. The hood doesn’t have the articulation cinch cord but for a casual piece you don’t really need one.

The main reason I love this jacket is because it’s not filled with cinch cords and weird pockets. The chest pocket is nice for the phone or wallet. The hand warming pockets also serve the lady well when she forgets her Wool Hoody in the car. Leave the logos at home, slip into this sweet action for some outdoor satisfaction.

The Fit

I am 5″7′ coming in at 155lbs. and the medium fits great. Its a mix between an athletic and casual fit. Looking at the reviews might help if your on the fence with a size.

BUY NOW: The Backcountry.com Wool Hooded Jacket at, you guessed it, Backcountry.com.

So, I have never really been a fan of wool. The idea of the itchy, scratchy material up against my skin all day doesn’t really sound appealing. However, I decided to branch out and give it one last try with an Icebreaker Merino Wool Nature Ultra Lite Top. I am now what you would call a wool addict. I can admit it, I have a problem.

After purchasing my first Icebreaker piece, I proceeded to wear it for a week straight, testing out the “Stink Free” claim Icebreaker makes so confidently. Though it was nowhere near the current record of 200+ days of continuous wear, within my week trial, I still smelled great! I’m sure my classmates and co workers were a little concerned about my lack of changing however…

The Good

• Itch-free! Merino wool feels great against the skin
• “Nature” line consists of stylish pieces that still do a great job insulating- I can go from the slopes to class and not change my shirt!
• Merino wool is an environmentally friendly renewable resource. Icebreaker has also gone the extra step with accountability in production- each garment comes with a “Baaa Code,” which you can type on the Icebreaker website, and track exactly which production center your garment was made at and view the conditions in that production center. Pretty cool!
• 160 weight wool is a great first layer- keeps you warm enough but isn’t insulation overkill.

The Bad

• We all know everything of quality comes at a price… And my Icebreaker garments are some of the most expensive layering pieces I own. Definitely pricey for a baselayer, but it will last.

Buy Now! Icebreaker Nature Ultralite Top

It was a nice sunny day at Snowbird. The ski area was buzzing with shredders, the slopes smelled of pine, and the clouds seemed to twinkle…errr hold up! Before this turns into poetry hour lets get into the gear. Had the chance to try out the Arcteryx Beta AR pant today and I am pleased to share my findings.

The Good

This pant is beefy. The ankle panels feel like alligator skin and the GORE-TEX has a Chuck Norris beat down feel to it. Durability has never been a question with a brand like Arcteryx. The pant has nicely placed side zips to keep air passing through. The vent starts at the top of the pant a little below the waistline so you can actually grab it rather then fiddle around with your jacket. I used my Mountain Hardwear Power Stretch tight underneath and it was a good match for the semi-chilly temps.

No back pocket, just a little pocket on the right to fit chapstick and two forms of I.D. I like the one pocket because it forces me to leave stuff in the car. The other thing that was missing, that I didn’t miss, was that gator thingy that bunches up and hardly ever fits around my ski boot. They replaced that cuff with a cord cinch which is more minimalist. For the record the bottom of the pant fit perfect around my boot.

The Not So Good

I know these pants are focused towards mountaineering but for the price tag I would also like to use them for my telemark trail blazing. I found these pants really hard to drop a knee in. The knee is articulated somewhat but I think it is only slightly for ice climbing and hiking. When I did drop a knee I felt like the pant was either hiking up my leg or pulling my pants down. I’m gonna have to get with the program and match my sport with one of the many Arcteryx fraternities.

Beta AR Specs

• Weight: 16.6oz.
• 3/4 length side zips that are waterproof.
• Straight forward belt with elastic waist band.

BUY NOW: Arcteryx Beta AR Pant at Backcountry.com

My wife really gave me a killer gift for my birthday — no, not a car. But it’s something I had definitely been wanting for myself, but was trying to be practical about the price. It’s an Amazon Kindle. I’ve had it for about a month now, and I figured I’d do a little gear review for you here of the Kindle.

In case you haven’t come across it yet, the Amazon Kindle is an ebook reader from Amazon where you can take hundreds of books around on this tiny device and read them on an easy-on-the-eyes screen. That alone saves your back from lugging a hardback book on your next business trip. And then when you finish that hardback mid-trip, you have to go buy a second book and then lug BOTH of them home with you. What a royal pain.

Not with the Amazon Kindle ebook reader. The Kindle has a free wireless internet connection (yes, completely free — you’ll never get a monthly bill or any charges for it). And it works just about anywhere a cell phone works. It’s called Whispernet. And since your Kindle is associated with your Amazon account, once you’re done reading that first book, you just open the Kindle Store on your Kindle and you can browse tons and tons of titles and hit “buy” right then and there — within a few seconds you have a new book to read. No downloading it to your computer and then syncing it to your Kindle. Just bam — and it’s there. I wish Apple would release a Whispernet service for iPods. And from my experience, it seems like most new releases, classics, best sellers, and even many obscure books are available in the Kindle Store.

On top of all of this, it feels good to not be killing trees just to read a book. You just download it, and read it. You have a whole library right in this little paper-back sized device. Also, you can buy subscriptions to the Wall Street Journal and many other publications, and every day it will be delivered right to your Kindle to read.

Here is a summary of some features:
- I haven’t found a single title more than $9.99, even newly-released bestsellers. And many classics (like the Bible, Alice in Wonderland, the original Frankenstein, etc) are priced between $1 and $4.

- Want to make a note on a page? No problem — just hit a button, type a note in using a full QWERTY keyboard, and it’s easy to go back and view. Same with dog-earing pages — you just hit “Bookmark” on the menu, and it’s saved as a hyperlink in your “My Clippings” folder.

- Your Kindle is associated with your Amazon account, which means when you hit “buy” for a new book, you don’t have to enter in your credit card info — it just references the credit card number you have saved on your Amazon account and does a 1-click purchase.

- On amazon.com a copy of everything you purchase for your Kindle is saved on your “My Account” page. Which means, if you lose your kindle just buy a new one and you can re-download all your books to your new Kindle for free. And no matter how many Kindles you buy, they are all automatically synced to your same Amazon account and can access all of the books you’ve ever purchased on any of them. So you know what I did? I bought my wife a Kindle, and it now shows up as “Brig’s 2nd Kindle”. I just logged on to my Amazon account and hit “send this book to Brig’s 2nd Kindle” and she now has all the books I’ve already read on her Kindle for free too. Sweet, huh? So I could buy a Kindle for everyone in my family, and they could all share my library of Kindle books. On top of that, any books they purchase on their Kindle would be available to send to my Kindle for free as well. Talk about a sweet way to run a book club!

- You can access any Wikipedia entry right on your Kindle, if you want to research something. I know Wikipedia isn’t the oracle of all truth, but it’s pretty well moderated so I trust it for casual research and “did you know” fact checking.

- There is a built in dictionary. See a word you don’t know? Scroll to it, press a button, and you have the definition right there.

- You also have a web browser, if you really REALLY need to go to a website. And it just uses the Whispernet service (okay, I think if you use the web browser a ton, then you’ll see a usage charge for Whispernet show up on your Amazon account). But I’ve only done it once to try it out, and it was black and white and slow to load, and weird formatting. Not really worth it, but at least it’s there in a pinch. But I don’t see that as a downfall at ALL. That’s not what the Kindle is for — use your iPhone for that. The Kindle is the best way to read books, period. And that alone makes it worth the $359 price tag.

- The screen is black and white, and isn’t done via LCD or anything. Honestly, I don’t know how the thing works. But it looks just like black ink on light gray paper. You can read it in direct sunlight without a problem.

- The screen isn’t backlit, and I can’t find a way to turn on a backlight or anything. I honestly don’t know if the Kindle has a backlight. So if you read in the dark in bed, you’ll probably need a reading light for it. Amazon has some good ones they recommend to use with it.

- The black and white screen, since it isn’t backlit, uses barely any battery juice. You can read all day and only use up about half of the battery. Though Amazon says you’ll extend the life of the battery if you recharge frequently — rather than waiting for it to drain entirely before recharging.

- You can listen to mp3s on the Kindle while reading. I think you have to sync with your computer to get the mp3s onto your Kindle — which stinks, I haven’t bothered to do it yet. I wish I could just browse music on Amazon right inside the Kindle Store and purchase them over Whispernet the same way I purchase books. Immediate gratification. Amazon, are you listening? I want that service! Heck, Amazon put out your own iPod competitor that leverages Whispernet to do that!

So that’s my summary. Awesome product — especially the fact that you can purchase multiple Kindles, have them all synced to your Amazon credit card, and then just share books between them. And the books are cheeeeeap. Killer product. I know a lot of people said that Amazon should just provide the service, and leave it up to others to build devices on that service. And maybe they will. But at least they set the bar with their own Kindle first, and then if they want to open the service up to other device makers then they’ll know that those devices have to measure up to a pretty high standard, and the idea of an ebook reader won’t just die because of poorly-conceived and built devices. Amazon set the standard with the Kindle.

I was reading on the local news about a John’s Hopkins study on the affects of energy drinks and the high amounts of caffeine they contain. The findings were truly alarming and got me thinking more about these “energy in a can” drinks. Do they help? Are they dangerous if consumed in excess? What about all the young kids drinking them?

My personal belief is that you should not be addicted to any substance–whether that be nicotine, caffeine, drugs or chocolate for that matter. Addictions come in many forms, but the increased addiction to caffeine because of energy drinks is, in my mind, alarming–especially since 1/3 of all energy drink consumption is from teenagers.

Energy Drinks Aren’t Regulated

With hundreds of energy drinks on the market, there’s no regulation on the caffeine content, which can vary between 50-505 mg. The problem is that the caffeine is the point of the drink. That alone contributes to the “buzz” and extra “energy” you receive from its consumption. For comparison, you can expect about 160 mg of caffeine per 8 oz. of Starbucks drip coffee–still quite a bit.

As a result of all this energy drink consumption, many teenagers are becoming increasingly-addicted to these highly-caffeinated beverages, which can lead to alcohol or drug abuse.  Yes, that whole much-debated gateway drug effect that applies to cigarettes and marijuana as well.

Natural Energy is Better

I stated above that I don’t believe anyone should be addicted to any chemical or substance. The human body performs best when its well taken care of. Natural, whole foods and healthy drinks (ahem… water) should be the staple of any athlete’s diet, not caffeine-packed “energy drinks”.

I’ve made that choice for myself and truly believe that to be the optimal energy drink for my body. Having been addicted to caffeine previously, it’s a hard habit to break and the withdrawals are awful. That alone makes me never want to consume caffeine again–especially in high quantities like those found in Redline, Spike Shooter and the like.

While mountain biking, skiing and participating in other outdoor sports, I prefer to keep myself naturally hydrated with vitamins and minerals (I use nuun tablets) and then supplement that with high-energy natural foods and energy bars that don’t have caffeine.

Does anyone else see energy drink consumption a potential problem, or am I the only one? Chime in below…

Check out www.EnergyFiend.com for details on the caffeine content of many popular drinks.

Story from KSL.com: Energy Drinks Part 1 - Energy Drinks Part 2

Photo courtesy KSL.com

If I ever start boxing my choice of vest weaponry would be the North Face Nupste Vest. The thing is straight up beefy and if anyone ever bit my ear off I could use it as a pillow to wait for the ambulance to arrive. My sorry 150 lbs. won’t be entering the ring anytime soon so I’ll probably just use this vest for keeping the vitals cozy in the cold.

The Warmth

In the past I used my down jacket under my shell for the super cold days. The problem with that is I limit my arms to little or no movement. Overheating is also a problem when sporting a full down coat. That all goes away when I slip on the Nupste underneath and in most cases has plenty of feathers to lock in the heat. For running a muck downtown late at night this vest also keeps my hands warm with the fleece lined pockets. Gotta keep the paws warm when your throwing snowballs at strangers.

The Fabric

Over the years The North Face has made a stronger more water resistant nylon with their insulated jackets. The nupste has a mini-ripstop weave nylon which is very durable however I wish it was even more water resistant then it is. That is my only gripe. Not that your going to be using this in a down pour but it’s always nice to keep the feathers inside toasty and dry.

The Low Down

• 700 goose down fill, good for all around use.
• Weight: 19.2oz and has a stow pocket to make that pillow mentioned above.
• I usually wear a medium, the nupste is a bit big on me so consider sizing down.

BUY NOW: The North Face Nupste Down Vest at Backcountry.com.

Like Claire said, the Wasatch is getting the flakes and the chilly weather no doubt. I am glad to have the Mountain Hardwear Power Stretch Tights on hand to get that extra warmth for making turns and avoiding hypothermia. Stretchy pants aren’t just for Nacho Libre.

These pants are going to be more of a heavyweight layering piece which I like for cold days and mountaineering. I am not a yoga person but I am sure if your into winter yoga the athletic fit will provide all the desired freedom. The stitch near the ankle is very low profile which is great for tucking it into my ski boot and not having it bunch up. The Polartec fleece also does wonders for keeping dry which surprises me for such a heavyweight bottom.

I have been using capilene for a long time and its great for touring and for warmer conditions. The Power Stretch is ‘the bottom’ to sport for those colder temps where you need to be generating heat rather then focusing on the wicking power of a lighter bottom. I don’t see that Mountain Hardwear has come out with the Nacho red and blue scheme, maybe next year.

Stretchy Pant Highlights

• Elastic waistband to reduce bulk.
• Snug athletic fit all around, no bagginess.
• I am 5′8″ and the medium works great, around a 30″ inseam.
• Impressive price for such a hardcore piece of gear.

BUY NOW: Mountain Hardwear Power Stretch Tights at Backcountry.com

My tastes in watches revolves around the practical and usable. I have no desire to plunk down a chunk of change for some high-priced TAG Heuer that sets me back a grandy and all it does is tell the time. Geez… give me data, give me functionality, give me power!

Enter stage left… the new Polar FT60 G1 heart rate fitness watch with all the right kinds of bells and whistles to keep you fit and on track with your own personal fitness goals. Not everyone can afford to pay “Hans the Trainer” to tag along on all their workouts, but with the FT60, you get all that on your wrist.

Previous heart rate watches were OK, so long as you knew what heart rate zones were optimal for your fitness goals, tracked those and then went back and analyzed everything to measure your performance. What? You didn’t do that? That’s the dirty little secret… I’d guess 99% of everyone with a heart rate monitor uses it, but never knows the affect of their workout.

Not so with the new Polar FT60. This little beauty can track each workout and then tell you exactly what you achieved. Did you improve your fat burn? Were you going too slowly to do anything? Were you overtraining? Or, were you maximizing your performance? At the end of your workout (if you wear the heart rate monitor), the FT60 spits out a one-line message telling you the effectiveness of your workout. Wow… that alone is awesome!

The watch does this by first knowing all about you. Your height, weight, age, VO2 Max, fitness level, etc. and then it compares your performance against those benchmarks and tells you how you performed. You can actually go one step further and set up STAR fitness programs that will coach you as you go to ensure your workout is meeting your goals.

The Polar FT60 G1 comes with the following:

1. Wearlink Heart Rate Transmitter - learn more
2. G1 GPS armband - learn more

You can deck it out even further with more accessories like a footpod in place of the GPS, handlebar mounts, etc.

Polar FT60 Quick Review

For starters, this watch is sexy looking. I’ve been very impressed with the subdued styling that’s at home on the trail or at the office. Many people have commented on how this watch looks and I quite like it too.

Initial setup is a breeze. The first time through, it walks you through a setup wizard where you input all your data and configure the watch for you. This is essential as it becomes the benchmark used to measure your performance (hint to the ladies… don’t lie about your age or your weight).  This watch will become your best friend as it tracks your calories burned and spits out a message based on your actual workout performance.

I’ve really enjoyed using this watch on my Fall trail running blitz as well as a few mountain bike and road bike rides. In all occasions, the watch has worked well, except for the occasional GPS satellite loss.

Everything is comfortable and the display is super-easy to read and navigate. That simplicity is so welcome on a watch with the power of the FT60. Anyone can use this watch without reading the directions. Well… anyone like me.

Check out Polar’s Facebook page to see how others are using this product.

The Good

• Great-looking watch
• Setup wizard gets you rolling off-the-bat
• Comfortable Wearlink HR transmitter
• Display is huge and easy to read
• I love the workout performance messages
• STAR workout programs can guide you without hauling “Hans the Trainer” along
• Workouts are grouped by week and can be viewed in aggregate or alone

The Bad

• Buttons are hard to press while on the trail
• Doesn’t have a “scan all” view to scroll through heart rate, speed, performance, time, etc. automatically
• G1 GPS isn’t that bad, but it lost satellite with clear skies more than I would like
• Optional software is not Mac-compatible, so you can’t really use www.polarpersonaltrainer.com

Buy Now: Search for the Polar FT60

It DUMPED here in the Wasatch yesterday! So, between my 8am mid term and 12:20pm class today, I headed up to Alta to get some pre-season touring in. I cruised up in a pair of shell pants and my Patagonia Capilene 3 Bottoms.

Patagonia Capilene 3 Bottoms are great for those of us who get cold legs when kickin’ it in the outdoors. Even while touring, my lower body is always cold. Top half, I’ll be in a short sleeve shirt, but my bottom half seems to always require a bit more insulation. Patagonia Capilene 3 Bottoms appear to be just the right weight for me, from touring to keeping warm on the downhill as well.

Patagonia Capilene 3 Bottoms

• Mid rise waist fits nicely compared to other bottoms. You’re not dealing with fabric all the way up your rib cage, but there’s enough there to get the job done.
• Gusseted crotch allows for a great range of motion, ideal for that back and fourth touring motion.
• Sizing runs on the larger size. At 5 foot 3 inches and 110 lbs, I needed an extra small to get the waist to fit just right. I’m usually a small in bottoms, not an extra small.
• Great wicking! Moisture is drawn away from your body very efficiently.

BUY NOW! Patagonia Capilene 3 Bottoms