I've used this chalk bag bouldering in Utah (Arches & Canyonlands) and Montana (Lost Horse Canyon) and it works just fine. It's a pretty rugged design, holds great amount of chalk for bouldering short or long routes.

This was the first chalk I ever bought, and the only chalk I've bought since. A little goes a long way with this stiff, which is a plus on longer routes. I mostly use it for bouldering... It has not let me down yet.

This is the best down jacket in its class, hands down! I swear by Mountain Hardwear products, they have never disappointed me. I recently wore this jacket during the arctic blast that hit Montana in early December 2008--temps were -35 wind chill. Out of curiosity I went for a little walk to test the jacket out under these extreme conditions. To my astonishment my upper body was unharmed by the cold. Tough jacket.

There is no need to buy a rain jacket that is more expensive than the PreCip. I've had this jacket for years and it has always kept me dry--truly a great rain jacket. It does run a little big, at least that's what I thought, so keep that in mind. Also, it packs down into a really tiny roll for the trail. I swear you could stuff this thing in a water bottle (if that floats your boat).

This is a great little hydration pack for the minimalist. I've used this pack trail running and mountain biking. Some nice extra features are included: chest strap, pockets, & compartments.

I swear by Sierra Designs tents. My old Sierra Designs Tent held up for over 10 hard years of abuse. I finally broke down and got a new one last year: the Electron. I've got to say, this is an unbelievable piece of gear. Double doors with 2 vestibules to keep gear dry and close, 360 degree open air, roomy, sharp design! I love it. It is a little on the heavier side, but I've used this both backpacking and bicycle touring without any problems.

This is a seriously comfortable & warm sleeping pad. I've owned two of these pads over the past 12 or so years and can attest to their quality and performance. Yes, they are a little bulky for the trail, but that has never really bothered me (I kind of like the old school look of it all wound up tight on my backpack). Forget about inflatable pads, waste of money, and they don't keep you warm. Go with the "Ridge"!

For this price you will not find a better sleeping bag. It's Mountain Hardwear... they don't make a bad product. No, it's not a Lamina, but even still this sleeping bag is super warm and top quality built--for under $100. I would say that the Switch is equivalent to the Mountain Hardwear Lamina 35, as far as warmth goes, but for a lot cheaper. It will certainly keep you warm at 20 degrees, if that's your bottom line. As always wear some warm base layers (polypro top & bottoms)to ensure warmth when pushing the lower end of the temp ratings.

Seriously, it fits in your pocket and weighs practically nothing. I've been using this for about 5 years and can't complain, great quality. Then again, I like to keep it simple. That said, don't go chucking that 2 foot wide, 20 pound, double burner Coleman your parents gave you and replace it with this, if your not prepared for simplicity.

I've had one of these stoves for over 10 years, it's the old stand-by for car camping. I also have a MSR Pocket Rocket, which I prefer on the trail due its minimalist size and weight. However, I have to say I'm all about using canisters not fuel bottles, so my Whisper Light is getting a little dusty these days.

I bought these shoes as an all-purpose light/day hiker (I have the LL Bean all leather Gore-Tex Cresta for the long haul.) As a day hiker they are pretty good, though they seem so light in weight that it's hard to believe they will hold up for more than a season.

Well, a month into having the Nagevi they seem to have broken in nicely, molding the shape of my foot appropriately. The length and width of the shoe are true to size (I bought size 8.) I do have wider feet so I use a thinner sock when I hike in these.

Overall, if you want a low-price light hiker, but don't want to buy a low-grade shoe like High Tech, Colombia, or Timberland go with these. Garmont is a reputable company with a strong track record for trusted outdoor gear.