Built up 1x9 with a 120mm Float. It's great for trail riding, jumping, cruising, everything. Burly and strong, but light enough that I've got a 26-ish pound bike with a pretty solid build on it.

I'm 5'11 and opted for the medium. I run it with a 70mm stem, and am comfortable in the saddle for hours on end.

I've run 9-speed X9 on my bikes for years. Now it's 10-speed X9 on my hardtail. X9 is just reliable, consistent, and cheap enough to make it a staple in my stable of bikes.

One thing to note: You cannot use this 10-speed derailleur with a 9-speed cassette and 9-speed shifter. I tried, and it doesn't work. The "1:1 Actuation" found on the 9-speed drivetrain stuff is just enough different in the workings from the "Exact Actuation" found on the 10-speed to make the 9-speed shifters and 10-speed derailleurs incompatible.

I'm now running a couple of these CB headsets - one on my hardtail and one on my road bike. They're great. The Sage is light, strong, have a good warranty, and they hold up well running in wet conditions.

I just put it on the bike, and I don't think about it. Gotta love that.

This thing is awesome. It's everything I hoped it would be and more.

Only reason it's 4 instead of 5 stars - the sizing is strange. I wear, almost universally, a medium everything. I'm 5'11, 165#, and a relatively athletic build. I sized up to the large for this jersey, which provides *just* enough looseness around the chest and armpits so I can breathe uninhibited. Anything smaller, and I wouldn't have been comfortable on my bike.

I'm interested to try this out as a base layer for other adventures.

Sure, a lighter will run you $0.49 at the gas station, but there's something really gratifying about opening a beer post-ride using your bike. If only SC could design a hanger that poured the beer for me, too.

And, yeah. It holds the derailleur pretty well, but I don't think that's the point here.

It's not the best trail bike, it's not the best race bike, it's not the best hucking bike.

It is the best bike for doing any kind of riding really, really well.

Depending on the build, you can literally do any type of riding on this frame. It's a light enough frame to be built up as an XC-ish machine, but burly enough to be built up as a gravity sled. Or, you can do what I did with the frame and go for an all-around, do-everything bike.

Only gripe with the frame is the zerk fittings on the lower link. I broke one, and it was a pain in the ass to get the part of it still in there out - it took a lot of swearing at and fighting with the broken fitting before it came out. My opinion is threaded zerk fittings, not pressed ones, would be better. In any case, big thanks to Santa Cruz and its awesome customer service for hooking me up with some free replacement fittings.

For those who are stuck between the LT2 and the Nomad, here's the basic take-away: If you're more climbing-oriented, get the LT2. If you're more descending-oriented get the Nomad.

I don't even know where to begin with this one. The beacon is sweet, the bag is sweet, the probe is sweet, the shovel is sweet. For some reason, it doesn't come with the space blanket like the some of the other Mammut packages. But I'm happy enough with the rest of the gear that I didn't even flinch when I realized it didn't come with.

The beacon - Long story short, I really hope I don't have to use it, but if I do, I'm sure glad I've got it as opposed to anything else.

The probe is really long, and relatively light. Honestly, if I have ever have to use this thing to it's full extension, I'm probably going to be digging someone out of a HUGE avalanche. Most burials are in 6 or less feet of snow. That's probably why BCA is coming out with shorter probes now.

The shovel is great - good extension, lightweight, and the handle is big enough for my hand with a large ski glove.

The backpack is really great. Hydration pack compatible with insulated hose holder, really comfortable, lots of pockets, easily collapsible for lift riding, but still big enough (just barely) to fit a pair of boots (read: size 12 Sportiva mountaineering boots) or a helmet and all the avy gear, plus lunch, a puffy, and some odds and ends. Couple gripes with the bag, though. If you look at the pictures, there are two zippers that have straps going over them. It makes it a bit of a pain to open at times. There isn't a clip in the top of the bag that holds the hydration pack. Last gripe with the bag is that the waist strap seems like it was designed for a person with a 60" waist. Holy crap, even with gear, I've got an insane amount of extra nylon hanging there. Nothing scissors can't solve, though.

All in all, I'm super stoked to be skiing with this gear.

Solid and light - noticeably lighter than my BD nuts, and just as strong. The CNC machine work is beautiful, too. Honestly, they are a little nicer than the BD nuts for some placements - not all, but some. Mostly the ones where you have to hold onto the end of the loop and fish the nut way back into a crack to get to a good constriction. With my BD nuts, there have been the one or two random times that the nut head pushed up on the cable while trying to make a placement, which usually leads to lots of panicked swearing and cursing about how much I hate trad climbing.

On the flip side, you cannot do the aider trick of hooking the cable and cinching up the nut against a bolt without a hangar with these bad boys. Losing that cable loop is not the end of the world, but it is something to take note of.

4 out of 5 only because you spend more on this set of 10 nuts than on the BD set of 13 nuts, and the BD jobs come come with a racking biner. If shaving the grams is worth the premium to you, then these should be your choice.

But if I do (and I really hope I won't), what I'm using to find my buried friends is super easy to use and incredibly accurate. In the search mode, it practically inspires confidence - I will find anything emitting at 457 hz quickly and efficiently. In the guaranteed panic that follows a slide, that is invaluable to shave precious seconds from the rescue. Simply put, using this beacon (in conjunction with training, practice, and knowledge) is amazing and worth every penny. If the search mode is any testament to the capabilities of this thing, I'm willing to bet that the "Transmit" mode - you know, in case it's me who gets buried - is just as amazing.The only downside I can think of with this beacon is that now that I've got a Barryvox, all my buddies want to drop in before me. In case they get buried, they want me looking for them. Looks like I'm getting 3rd or 4th tracks down the mountain from now on.

I've had a pair of these sunglasses for over a year now. The fit is great, they stay put on my face, and they look great.

These babies make sure that your rack is securely fastened onto your roof. The custom fit is spot-on, and they are easy to install.

Keeps someone from walking off with your rack in the middle of the night. Gotta love that.

Fairings work great for keeping the noise down. More importantly, they also add a bling factor to your car. Since the toys I am usually hauling are worth more than my car, it makes me feel good to know that the fairing helps to hide that fact.

On my 2-door hatchback, these do the trick. They spread out the cross bars so that you can actually use them. Great for anyone without four doors on their car.

Spiders will live in your bars without these. I lost one once, and spiders quickly moved in. It did suck that I had to buy four to replace the one. Other than that, they are great.

I have never had issues mounting skis, surfboards, bikes, kayaks to these. Awesome, strong, and you can buy all sorts of cool adapters for them to put all of your toys on top of your car.

I use this stuff on all the moving parts on my bike, and it works great. Put it on after you clean it (or when it comes new), then reapply if it starts making noise. I also use it on just about anything else that makes noise when it moves - hinges, recliners, doors, and the lawnmower.

I raced on this stem (the 50mm one) for a couple years. It is a great addition to the front end of your bike, and it wont break the bank. Set it and forget it.

I use these shifters on my AM bike and my DH bike. Aluminum thumb paddles, Matchmaker compatible, and awesome shifts every time.

These bars are super stiff. If you are a bigger rider or someone who is hard on gear, look no further. All in all, they are more than enough for everything freeride and downhill. Only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that you can get other good DH bars at this pricepoint that weigh a substantial amount less.

They are strong, and they come in pretty colors. You put them on your bike, and they work. That being said, if it gets wet, the bearings start to feel like crap - they are not sealed bearings. Unless you are running shoes with sticky soles, they do not have the best grip in the world. They are really heavy - you can pick up cheaper pedals that weigh 100g less than these. Best part of doing that is that you have money left over for beer.

I usually end up grabbing these things like they are the last thing I am ever going to grab. Somehow, Avid has made it so that when I do that, I do not end up dying. When I am not panicked, there is good modulation, and lots of power to bring my stupid self to a safe stop. Gotta love that.

These shift about as well as anything Shimano puts out. Crisp, clean, and they keep working no matter what the conditions. I have burned through a lot of derailleurs in my time, and I keep coming back to this one. It is just that good.

They are light and strong. I'm rocking these on my DH rig. They can handle everything I ride, plus everything I manage to screw up and crash on, so they make the cut.

These are great AM tires. I'm running the 2.4s - wide enough for hauling ass, and they're light. Really light.

66 grams, 21mm stack height, sealed bearings, and a 5 year warranty. Only thing it's missing is bling.

Stiff, strong, and light. A little spendy, but awesome overall.

it weighs 66 grams, comes with a 5 year warranty from Crank Bros, sealed bearings, and has a stack height of only 21mm. This thing is awesome.

They're comfy, have good support, and look great. I've worn them through the end of the winter here in Montana, and they held up very well to all of the wet and snowy conditions. A quality product from Patagonia.

The Papa G sunglasses are sweet. Good coverage, but they don't go way overboard like some shades. They're comfy, and stay on your face once you start moving around in them.

These are some pretty awesome shoes. Super sticky rubber, and they grip wet rock really well. The second time I used them, I had to hike up 2 miles of snow-covered road (we had no idea it was still snowed in) to get to the crag, so the wet rock thing I really put to the test.

They also double as my biking shoes - I ride with platform pedals, and they're just about perfect for that.

Strong, stiff, and light. I've done long AM rides with this thing, and hit some decent sized ladder drops, too. No noticeable flex at all. I love it. A little pricey, but overall, a bomb-proof, all-around stem.

great shifters. I've run everything from XTR to Deore to XO to twisties on XC bikes to DH rigs, and these are my hands-down favorite shifters. Always reliable, and you can rebuild them if you need to.

These tires are great on hardpack, loose sand, wet and sloppy, and everything in the middle. They always bite hard when you get on them, and predictable when they start to let go.

For resort riding: Run a DHF in the front and the back - you'll be out-cornering everyone.

This thing is awesome for cooking food for everyone in your group. Boils water fast, and the neoprene insulation keeps stuff warm in the pot for a while afterwards. Great simmer capabilities, and with an 8oz canister or the nifty bottom-of-the-fuel stand, it is stable when cooking a full pot. One of the coolest things about this system is that the plastic lid seals up tight enough to keep leftovers in.

My only gripe with it is that the auto-lighter thing doesn't always work great. Half the time, I end up just using a lighter or a match.

If you have the option, drop the extra coin on the XX version of these pedals or look for something else. They work well enough, but unless you get them on sale, you pay a lot more than you should for what you get.

I've had two sets of these pedals on my two different bikes. They grip pretty well, and have a big enough platform to work with my big feet. The replaceable pins are awesome, and if you really go for broke and smash a pedal, you can replace the plates, which is nice. They look pretty cool, too.

The bad: They definitely have a lot of play in them. Both sets I've owned had this problem. They're a pain in the butt to rebuild - the star plug thing doesn't come out easily. They don't have sealed bearings - if you ride a lot where it's wet, they get rough pretty quick. They're also really heavy - about 200g heavier per pair than the Azonic 420s, and they cost the same amount.

I use these with various length runners as my extendo-draws for wandering up routes and as alpine draws. Lightweight, full-strength, and still big enough for most people to use with gloves on. Good stuff.

After two months skiing and snowboarding with these, they're done. Completely trashed. The leather palm on the right glove is split on the seam in a bad way along the pinky and ring finger, and the drawstrings are frayed and falling apart. Up until they died, they were really great, but only getting two usable months out of them is lame. BD is a brand that I trust a lot - my climbing rack is a testament to that - but I'm definitely not stoked with these gloves.

This is a sweet board. It's lightweight, and pretty cool looking, too. I'm riding the 161, and the purple/orange bottom catches a lot of attention when the base gets off the snow. The weight is really nice when you go and earn your turns - backcountry riding with this thing is a pleasure compared to other boards just because you're hauling less weight up the hill. It busts through crud half-way decently when things get tracked out - not as great as a heavier/stiffer board, but it does the trick, and what it lacks in busting, it more than makes up for everything else. It floats nice when it gets deep, holds a solid edge when maching the groomers, and gives lots of pop off of anything you hit.

I'll add my $0.02: This jacket is warm, soft, and goes with me skiing, climbing, to the bars, or anywhere else I can take it.

Here's a trick for getting rid of the piling and matting that will happen after wearing this jacket enough: Take one of those pet brushes - the ones with lots of the thin wire bristles - and brush your Monkey every now and then. This'll restore the loft and makes it really soft again, just like day 1. It doesn't damage the fabric, either.

This two-toned beauty will keep you going. I love it. I beat the crap out of it doing off-width/chimney climbing at J-Tree in 40 degree weather with the classic wind blowing, and it worked like a charm. The Windstopper did what it was supposed to do, and the material held up to the 8-grit sandpaper that is J-Tree. As long as I wasn't sitting in one place not moving for more than 10 minutes (read: windchill felt like 25), I was fine. Used as a mid-layer, and you're good to go for some pretty chilly situations.

Lack of pit-zips makes it probably not the most ideal for really high-intensity activities, but that's what your softshell is for. I used it for a lot of cooler-weather rock climbing, and it was great. It's also nice enough to wear it out on the town for a few post-crag beers.

I'm 6', 165lbs, and the M fits perfectly.

This bag does NOT work at 20 degrees. I wouldn't trust it to work at 30 degrees. I had the misfortune of using both the long and regular versions of this bag, and froze my butt off on a long climbing trip both at J-Tree and Bishop. I was doing everything right, too - the pad, zippers, everything was by-the-book. I ended up having to wear my undies, my fleece, and my downie to stay warm inside this bag.

When you wake up soaking wet and your buddies are covered in frost, you know that you're losing a lot of heat.

It'd be nice as a summer bag, but it's too heavy compared to other options out there.

I bought my first pair of Katanas about a year ago. They held up pretty well - I used them a ton - I probably had about 75 solid days climbing in them. When I realized that they were just about dead, I bought another pair. They are comfortable as hell, edge fantastically, and can smear with the best of 'em. I climb mostly on sandstone, so this is about all I get to climb on - dime edges and sloper smearing.

The reason these get 4 stars instead of 5 is that the heels seem to be loose in every pair I've tried on. Everyone I know who has these shoes (they're pretty popular at my gym) says the same thing - the heel is a bit on the big side. It's fine for most climbing, but when you're heel is a foot above your head and you're trying to clip, you really don't want to feel it starting to slip. In all fairness (the reason for 4 instead of 3 stars), I've never had a heel come out, but I have had it move enough to really make me think about it every time I put my heel up. You can look at the picture and see what I'm talking about. The leather patch in the back just looks loose.

I normally wear a 45, but sized down to a 44 for these shoes. A 5.10 44.5 won't fit me, but a La Sportiva 44 fits perfect. Go figure.

Bottom line: These shoes will work for 98% of you to climb something way above your ability.

Watch out for the '80s pleats - it has been a while since I've rocked pleated pants. I didn't notice it until the pants showed up. They don't seem to be as sturdy a material as my TNF convertible pants, and only time will tell how they hold up.

Other than the weight of the material, the pants are lightweight, very comfortable, shed water/dry quick, and they look pretty good, too. They come with a Teflon coating or something, too, so they repel stains and to make sure that your eggs and bacon won't stick to them.

My normal pants are 33/32, and the M/Reg pants fit perfectly. I'll be rocking these pants until my metabolism slows down.

The built-in panties are a bit much if you like to wear your own underwear, but it is nice to be able to tell all the chicks that you don't wear underwear when you are camping. Makes you seem more rugged. Chicks dig rugged.