I use two of these for toprope soloing, and I use one for hauling base rigs up towers. I also use a single one for small haulbags (1 or 2 day ascent) on walls. Can't really imagine being without the mini traxion at this point. Maybe some day it will be a tiny bit lighter, but it's a really compact, well-engineered unit.

I bought a purple one of these about 10 years ago at Walker Drug in Moab, and it seemed a little spendy, but I waited until my birthday and then splurged! For climbing in the winter, or taking along in the car, it became my favorite thing I owned. Every time I used it, I thought about how great it was and how much I loved it! (seriously, I really did.) And it was purple! It wasn't just purple either, it was this really beautiful creamy lavender glossy purple. That was money well spent.

Tragedy always strikes though, just when everything is perfect. I have been ransacking all the cabinets for the last couple of weeks....it appears that somehow I lost the purple thermos last winter! It is fairly devastating, and I'm not sure I'll get over it. The nice new red one I just ordered here might help. _________
So I just got my new red thermos, and everything always happens for a reason: this one is lighter! 30% lighter, to be precise! Now I'm glad the purple one is gone! (well, not entirely, but kind of)

This chalk has a drying agent in it, so it's great for people who tend to sweat a lot, like me. I'm addicted to this stuff, and feel like I'm slipping off holds if I use regular block chalk now. My best friend has very dry skin, and she doesn't like this chalk because it actually makes her hands too dry (hard for me to relate to). So if you grease off holds a lot, don't have dry skin and/or live in a humid climate, you will probably notice good results with this.

This is feather weight, packs down very small, and is unexpectedly warm for the size/weight. We got a pair of these for camping in the Dolomites in the summer, and have them snapped together to create a single down comforter. For summer camping in the mountains, they are extremely comfortable and just the right weight. I have not yet tried it with the snap system on a single pad, but I expect it will be equally good. This is lighter than my old ultralight, single person down bag, and more versatile.

This is the kind of thing I am normally skeptical about, because I am minimalistic. However, I also know the value of a comfy bed. I got these because I thought it would work well for attaching two thermarests together, to alleviate the dreaded crack and allow for better snuggling. Unfortunately, the snap tabs seem longer than necessary, and while the pads stay sort of together, the dreaded crack sometimes opens up to 2 or 3 inches between the two pads. However, the sheet itself makes the thermarest extremely comfortable (we are also sleeping under two snapped-together down blankets from thermarest, which are fantastic). So I think the coupling system needs improvement with these sheets, at least to find a way to make the thermarests really stick right next to each other without allowing the crack to happen between the pads, but even so, the sheet makes for a super comfortable sleep.

I have been using thermarests for about 18 years. For me, the lighter the better, and I don't expect to be literally "bed style comfortable." I haven't tried any new ones for a few years, but I got this one because it was far lighter and smaller when deflated than the old ultralight ones I had. I am truly shocked at how comfortable it is. It inflates to be extremely thick and uniformly supportive, which I haven't experienced before in an inflatable pad. In the past, they have all been much thinner, especially in the ultra lightweight models, and I have always found the thicker ones to be kind of mushy and swimming-pool-air-mattress-like, if that makes sense. I am actually equally comfortable on this as my home mattress, and I can't get over how firm and supportive the baffles are. I feel like the technology has really gotten there. I think this pad is worth investing in, if you are considering upgrading.

I was looking for a spacious 2-person tent for Europe travel, so we could be ready for camping in some cases, but I wanted to be able to pack camping gear without having to pay for an extra bag. This tent is amazingly light, simple to set up, and extremely roomy and comfortable to live in, and is really the ticket.

The poles are amazing, carbon fiber and weigh almost nothing, and even the tent stakes are an impressive bit of ultra light engineering which you can't help but appreciate aesthetically.

It's supposed to be a 3 person tent, and it seems very large for 2 (not always the case in my experience with "3-man"), which is nice if you are really staying in it with clothing, etc for a while.) It has nice head room in the center, and feels very large inside. While we were unable to bring the puppy on this trip, it will be a perfect size for 2 humans plus dog in the states. I especially like that each person has an identical side door with a vestibule. This makes it nice for both easy in/out at night, and also for eating in the vestibule on rainy days.

We have experienced some serious all-night rain, and have stayed overall very dry, with just a couple instances of light misting when the rain has saturated all surfaces and continued to pound for over 48 hours. Which I'd say is pretty good. Staking out the 2 sides of the fly is very easy, and helps with the tent's water-repelling system because it pulls the fly tight and keeps it from contacting the tent surface.

I've lived in a lot of tents, and this is my current favorite.

prAna does not always make a purely technical item, and when they do, it's always a keeper for me. A zipneck is a major staple for me, for running, climbing and hiking. I like the long length of the sleeves and the fabric (it has a very subtle static pattern), which is soft and stretchy. The cut is super feminine and flattering, which is another reason I like this top. I find that the cut is very form fitting, so I got a size larger than normal.

I really like the fabric of this t-shirt. It's light and stretchy, and feels great over a sport top--and you will want to wear it over a sport top because it's semi-sheer. Really nice for casual wear, but I also like this for sun protection when climbing.

I've been hanging onto all my Aliens, because I just never liked the other small cams available. You can't buy Aliens anymore, though. These new cams are great, because they have a similarly narrow head, they feel really solid, and they come in all the tiny sizes that Aliens did. They're also light and very easy to place (from a combination of good trigger action and shape). I'm relieved they came out with these, because I wasn't sure what I was going to do if my Aliens didn't last.

These are now my gear of choice for Indian Creek and desert splitters. I used to use mostly Camalots, but they are comparatively much heavier than these fat cams. When you end up with a rack of 10-15 cams, the weight difference matters a lot.

These things have nice action, they're light, and the extra-big surface area is very confidence inspiring. I especially like the orange one, my rattly fingers size.

I always want a lighter headlamp. this one is super compact, doesn't go through the 3 AAA batteries too fast, and gives plenty of light for general camping, reading, hiking, digging through the truck, etc.

Get this purse right now before they go out of stock.
Just trust me.

great fabric, stretchy and not too heavy, not too light. the neck is somewhat high and the sleeves and body are fairly long, so it feels like good, full coverage for chilly days. you can't see the screen print on the sleeves so well in these photos, but it's a pretty curving line design and a nice subtle addition.

Being not so bodacious, sometimes shelf bras seem to be more uncomfortable than functional. this one is soft and not pinch-y. the sporty seam lines of the bodice make this a nice style for my body type, and the wide straps are very soft and comfortable. this is easy to wear, doesn't start to get uncomfortable after a few hours, and it's flattering through the range of bust size.

there are a lot of things i like about this pack, aside from the unique top opening. i especially like the flat, zip pouch inside that says "chalk forever." cuz i like stuff like that. :)

i also like the mesh zip pocket, and the internal clip loops to keep things organized. so, a great assortment of pockets and stash spots that are minimal and actually very useful. the shoulder straps are also very comfortable, and it carries quite nicely (though I've only had a sport climbing load in it). overall, it's a cool design and really functional.

I finally decided to retire my old harness, and I am loving this harness. It is super light with flexible fabric, a tiny buckle, nice gear loops, and it packs flat and compact for travel (key element for any gear that is getting packed for a plane trip).

I am always small in Mammut harnesses, but have a rather strange sizing issue with this one. I found the elastic to be uncomfortably tight on the leg loops of this harness, in size small, while the waist fits well. I normally wear mens harnesses, because the leg loops tend to be too large for me in women's, so this is the first time I've had this issue.

With medium, the waist seems unnecessarily large, though that would probably be the right choice if I wanted to wear lots of clothes. I'm using this for summer sport climbing (single layer bottom with a sport top, maybe a long sleeved shirt on top), so I went with the size small and just cut the elastics off of the legloops, and now it fits great.

Consider sizing up one size in this, but if the legs are pinching, consider just snipping the elastic.

I bought this for Europe travel. I always have a base rig, and sport climbing gear, and I can't handle hauling a duffel bag around the train stations and between destinations. The wheels are a savior. The bag itself is light enough (considering) to not chew up too much of the airline bag weight allowance, and isn't too bad to heft up over thresholds, etc. I'm glad I got this.

Ever since I started wearing this, I got way into running skirts. Somehow it's kind of fun to run in a skirt, with the built-in shorts, and it feels less exposed than wearing comparably short shorts. I find this skirt runs big, rather than small, and I have it in size XS, though I often wear S in other shorts and pants.

I just got this, in pink, and haven't stopped wearing it since. It seems destined to be my everyday sweatshirt this spring. The mandala is absolutely gorgeous with pink and white zigzag and chain stitches over a burgundy printed design, and the cuffs and color are about twice as wide as normal ribbed fabric, which makes it really comfortable. The cuffs are very soft too. The zipper pull is a fancy cast metal with pretty swirls on it. I got size medium, and it fits with a good relaxed sizing, and the arm length is long enough (which is often a problem for me). I love this one!

The Moccasym has to be one of the all-time best climbing shoes ever made. I use them for crack climbing, for gym climbing, and even in the mountains. Size them a half size down from your hiking shoe size unless you have wide feet, in which case size them the same as street shoe. If I could only have these shoes and Anasazi velcros, I would be totally happy.

I love this jacket, and I had it last season in red. I found the size (medium) on that one to be a little more close fitting than I would like, and was really happy to see that the medium seems to be more true to size this season. It is form fitting but not too tight. Also, the front pockets have zippers for this season. This jacket is kind of a staple for me now, for athletic use.

I have always added Superfeet to my mountaineering boots and skate ski boots, because I have a narrow heel and tend to get heel slip. I have been using the Alines for the last month, in my boots and also in my hiking shoes (to get a real comparison). They feel good, and totally solved the volume problem in my current hiking boots (the boots were too wide). They feel supportive and balanced, and get 5 stars for the comfort.

The only downside is that they are fairly heavy, tend to stick against socks if you don't unlace the boot enough when trying to slide your foot in (I have narrow feet, and have to take care so my socks don't stick and bunch up when putting my foot in), and they really hold the cold. For this reason, I would stay with superfeet for mountaineering boots or any backcountry use. For ski or hiking boots (leaving from home or a warm place), the Alines are fantastic as long as you make sure to keep your boots inside (I often like to keep them in my truck, but this can still work if you just stick them under the heater on your way to ski).

This has become the cool weather version of my favorite t-shirt. I wear it almost every day (so now I have two). Great fabric, sleeves are long enough, I also like the graphic on front and the cut of the bottom hem. Big thumbs up.

I wasn't sure about this top, because the pattern looked a little chaotic to me. It turns out, I love it and have 3 now. It's hard to describe the fabric, except to say soft, gauzy, stretchy, sheer and light. It's the perfect weight for putting over a sports top or tank top. Although I was doubtful at first, I really like the look of the pattern when I wear it. Great for climbing, running, hiking, gym--any time you want a very light layer.

I have this in espresso. The velour princess waistband (with drawstring) is really pretty and feminine. The sleeves are on the long side, which is nice for me. I usually wear this to dress up a little, without having to actually dress up, if you know what I mean. I really like the fabric too, because it's a very nice weight.

I like the light, stretchy fabric, and it's good to have some jackets that aren't hoodies. I really like this for a warm-up layer at the gym, for running, and for base jumping. It packs small and has a clean fit. It's also a flattering cut, so it looks good with jeans.

I live in the desert (Moab), so I put sunscreen on my face every morning. I don't like it to have a greasy feel or a funny odor. So I'm always looking for a good natural sunscreen, until now without much success. The others I've tried have been very zinc based, and they always have a white film. This sunscreen doesn't seem to do that, and blends in very nicely. It's not greasy and doesn't have a strong fragrance, and feels good on the face.
The lip balm has a nice scent, and the slightly wider tube size is nice too.

This stove plus the Titanium Teakettle plus a fuel canister = super light weight. I bring this set up even on big walls, and I get coffee in the morning and soup at night, rather than hauling cans up the wall. I also have it in my truck, as an emergency backup in case my big propane campstove canister runs out suddenly (like they tend to do). I also pack this (without the fuel canister, just buy one there) for Europe trips, so I can always have coffee in the morning and save money. Ive used this set up on Torre Egger too. You can wedge a small-size lighter into the red carrying case, so you never end up without one. I cant really say enough good things about this stove. Its one of the best pieces of gear I own.

I like the Bliss fabric a lot--also have the shorts and knickers. Its light and stretchy, but also has a bit of body to it. The Skort is great because you dont have to feel like youre actually wearing a skirt, and you can hike in it. The pockets curve out a little from the sides, so at first I thought I needed to size up, but its just how those side seam pockets behave. A great skort for those really hot days.

On my rack, I currently use Aliens up to the red, and Metolius Power cams from orange to purple. The weight savings is amazing, compared to Black Diamond camalots, which is what I used to use, especially in the bigger sizes. They are stable, beefy looking (which inspires confidence), and LIGHT.
Great cams.

Ive used a lot of different ropes, and hands down, Mammut ropes are the best. The 10 mm looks and feels much thinner than other 10 mm ropes, and it is lighter. Above all, even after months of use, it retains the firmness of a new rope, rather than getting soft and yarn-like. My pet peeve is trying to clip with a soft, fuzzy old rope, because its definitely harder to get the rope in the biner. Mammut ropes dont seem to break down like that, and they keep their good handling even after tons of use.

These pants are great because you can climb in them comfortably, thanks to the little bit of stretch. I like very low rise pants, because they don't pinch my waist, and I think they are more flattering. They are soft, somewhat thick, and very warm. The waist sits low under your harness, which is good.

I like these pants a lot for base jumping in the colder season too. It's easy for me to fit my knee pads under them, and they haven't ripped or worn through, probably thanks to the stretch in the fabric which also adds to the durability.

I wear them all the time for camping and casual use too, so they are the perfect cords--good for technical use, but also a favorite live-in pant for normal life.

These pants are awesome for everything. The fabric and fit are really good. I use them for rock climbing, alpine climbing, hiking, nordic skiing and base jumping. They are fairly lightweight, and you can roll them up if its warm, and they are great with a thin pair of long underwear if its cold. The thigh pocket is very unobtrusive, and has served me well for little stuff (chapstick, ishuffle, bars). The fabric has a bit of stretch, so it climbs great. The adjustable buckle is nice, because sometimes I need to cinch them up a bit. I like the stone color a lot, because it is very cool in the hot season. I like the low rise on these pants, because they are very comfortable and flattering. I basically never found a good pair of tech pants, ever, until I found these. So I really like them!

I like this chalk bag a lot, because it's small and light. Im always trying to shave weight on everything, and a chalk bag is one thing you always have on you. it does close tightly, and the toothbrush holder is in the right place (sounds silly, but on some bags it's not). simple, and it does everything a chalk bag should do.

i wanted to write a review on this sweatshirt, because i don't think the photo does it justice. i ordered one, and i was amazed at how pretty it is. the color fade dye is really stylish, and has a very unique look. i also like the weight (light french terry inside, normal sweatshirt looking fabric outside) and i find myself wearing it a lot over a t-shirt or a sport top when climbing or base jumping. it has a very cute open circle metal zipper pull. i could have easily overlooked this one, and it has become my favorite light zip jacket.

These are the absolute best thing ever! Careful, sometimes I get caffeine jitters, but when these are well-timed (just before a send effort), they are amazing. And taste good :)

These are the best biners I've ever used. A Metolius Powercam with a Moses biner weighs half of the old set-up I used to run. This adds up to a pretty significant weight savings on a complete rack, especially when you include quickdraws and free biners..... I love these for sport climbing too, and find the small size actually makes for easier clipping. I'm pretty excited about these!!

These slings weigh a fraction of old-style shoulder lengths. It's great to be able to grab 10 of these when you start up a pitch, and feel like you are carrying almost nothing. One of my favorite pieces of gear, for sure.

I have the duodess 60 meter. It's light enough to take for multi-pitch routes, and for long rope-stretcher leads at Indian Creek. Sometimes when I pick an ultra-light rope, I know I need to be careful with it, because it shouldn't get a lot of jumarring or toproping. I like this diameter because it is substantial enough to be more durable, but is also super light.

I like this pack for its simplicity. It's not an ultra-lite alpine pack, because the fabric is very durable, and that's what I want in a crag pack so it will last. I've been using it for 2 years, and it doesn't have a scratch on it. Occasionally I have a hard time with size constraints if I want to bring an unusual amount of warm clothing and gear (like during the cold season at Indian Creek). But I think this is actually a good feature because it kind of forces me to bring just what I really need...... The top pocket is a good size, the waterproof zipper can occasionally feel stiff, but has also held up with no trouble since I've had the pack. I like the minimal design of this pack--only what I really need, and comfortable to carry.