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Mountain Hardwear Enterprise Backpack - 1850cu in

Mountain Hardwear Enterprise Backpack - 1850cu in

Rating for this product: 3 May 15, 2012

I use this pack mostly for school and it's not a terrible pack. Does a great job at equalizing the weight so it does not hurt the lower back or sit unevenly on the shoulders. I especially like the plastic back that adds additional protection for he stuff inside as well as keeps books from stabbing me in the back. However, it isn't as durable as I would have hoped and after only a year of use it has a hole by one of the zippers from just everyday use.

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Boom

Outdoor Research PL 400 Gloves - Men's

Outdoor Research PL 400 Gloves - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 March 26, 2012

I have a number of gloves in my arsenal and have worn more. Out of all the gloves I have worn, however, this is my go to. They are remarkably warm while still giving tremendous dexterity. Lightweight and anything but bulky, these gloves won't disappoint. The only "downside" to these gloves is that they are not wind or water proof, but they were not designed to be. However I have noticed that even when they do get a little wet, often it is only the outer layer while the inner, 100 weight fleece stays nice and dry.

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Osprey Packs Atmos 50 Backpack - 2800-3200cu in

November 26, 2011

For Philmont, ultrlight is definitely not an option, but if you pack it tight, you can make it work. The 65 is probably what your going to want to go with, but I still recommend the Atmos. It is a top of the line bag no matter what size you get

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Marmot Scree Softshell Pant - Men's

July 21, 2011

Well the small should work for you. I normally wear size 28-30" waist depending on the style of pants and I sometimes get youth sizes for the best fit. For these pants it will fit a little closer. I would order them and if its too small you can return it and get a bigger size.

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MontBell Ex Light Down Jacket - Men's

July 20, 2011

Ex Light hands down. Its 5.7oz with 900 fill down vs. 8.8 oz and the outer material is the same. The down will give you much more loft, and therefore more insulation.

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Therm-a-Rest Trail Pro Sleeping Pad

July 20, 2011

Thats the problem with air core pads. You could try another patch kit, or be a little creative with some ripstop nylon and try and find your own way to fix it, though it might not be worth the trouble for you.

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Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest SOLite Sleeping Pad

July 20, 2011

depends on the type of bag and how you sleep that will determine if you stay warm, but this pad should do it's job fine. The foam will keep you warm as the temps should be right around freezing which should not be too bad. Also, depends on where you are camping, as the temperature varies fairly significantly depending on where you are. If you are in the inner gorge, this will more than do the job.

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MSR MiniWorks EX Water Filter

July 20, 2011

It's a ceramic filter so you might try cleaning it out if you have never done so. It traps all the grime and cuts down on water flow. I clean mine after every trip, but thats probably a little excessive

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Osprey Packs Kestrel 48 Backpack - 2800-2900cu in

July 20, 2011

This would probably be a good pack for you to use at it would help cut down weight and help save you from injuries later in your hike. A stress fracture near the end is a terrible thing to have happen. It wont allow you to bring a lot of non essential items, but if your hiking for the joy of hiking that wont be a problem. As with any pack, you should try it on and wear it with some weight before you get one. I imagine you have already left for your trip but hopefully this helps others with the same question.

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Merrell Moab Ventilator Hiking Shoe - Men's

July 20, 2011

In my opinion, light hikers are the best shoe for the AT. The trail is not too rocky for the most part so you wont have to worry too much about the lack of ankle support. Plus it does tend to rain quite a bit and no shoe is water proof. A heavy boot or something with a waterproofing like goretex just makes it take a lot longer for your shoes to dry out. You will also be glad for the lighter weight of this shoe as it should save you from injuries you might incur wearing a heavier boot. All in all, this would be a good, durable choice though you may also want to look at some trail running shoes, as they are light and will dry out even quicker, but are much less durable.

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Unique

Chaco Z/2 Unaweep Sandal - Backcountry.com Exclusive - Men's

Chaco Z/2 Unaweep Sandal - Backcountry.com Exclusive - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 July 20, 2011

They're Chaco's, nuff said. The are designed at water sport sandals with very wide tread on the sole but can be worn around anywhere. They take a little getting used to, especially if you dont usually have something looped around your toe, but they are durable and great for recreational activities. I even play Ultimate in them.

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Chaco Z/2 Unaweep Sandal - Backcountry.com Exclusive - Men's

July 20, 2011

Just be careful of some serious chaffing on your feet. Getting sand between the top of your foot and the strap can rub the skin right off.

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Shoddy

Merrell Chameleon3 Stretch Hiking Shoe - Men's

Merrell Chameleon3 Stretch Hiking Shoe - Men's

Rating for this product: 1 July 17, 2011

Falls apart with few miles and only on the street. Terrible quality. Not to mention there is some sort of plate in the heal that will tear the back of your foot up if you want to walk any further than the distance to your car. Wouldn't think of wearing these on a walk in the park, much less taking them on the trail

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Gets the job done

Merrell Moab GTX XCR Hiking Shoe - Men's

Merrell Moab GTX XCR Hiking Shoe - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 July 17, 2011

Pretty durable and very comfortable. Though I did wear a pair of these out in 2 months, considering the strain I put on them, they held up very well. Breaths well so your feet dont sit in a pool of sweat, and not so tough they give your feet blisters. The Vibram sole if of course a must. Overall a a great shoe that will keep you happy no matter where your going.

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Great Sleep System

Rating for this product: 5 May 22, 2011

The reviews before mine say most of it and it deserves all the praise, but there are some things to be aware of before buying this hammock. As with all hammocks you will probably need a pad if you are going to sleep overnight in it below about 50 degrees. Also, this is the DoubleNest and one would assume 2 people could sleep in it but be aware that this is not a very comfortable thing to do. Aside from not having enough room on a pad for two people, if two people are in the hammock, they will both slide to the lowest point and be rather snug against each other. It does not leave a lot of room for moving around at night as well if you have two people in it and you will find yourselves in a very uncomfortable position when lying down. Other than the negatives listed above it is a great hammock. I dont feel that i need to go in to detail for all the great things as they are listed below.

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May 21, 2011

No but you can purchase a set of slap straps. I recommend just buying some tubular webbing and using that instead. Cheaper, lighter, stronger, and offers more flexibility.

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Great Sleep System

Rating for this product: 5 May 21, 2011

I love my eno hammock. Used it 2 months straight in the mountains. Really comfortable but hammocks do take some getting used to if you want to sleep in them overnight. I've used mine down to 20 degrees but it wasn't a fun experience at all. Definitely need a pad if you are going below 50 degrees and even then you may have some cold spots. But as far as hammocks go this is great. Its held up to some abuse and if your packing ultralight its the way to go. It does NOT come with a set of straps but i recommend buying some tubular webbing and just tying an overhand on a bite at the length you want. This will give you more strength, less weight, and greater flexibility on the placement of the hammock (I like the most tension possible when i am sleeping overnight in it). Overall a great by and extremely comfortable for just hanging out in, pun intended.

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Not great for sports

Oakley Half Jacket XLJ Sunglasses - Polarized

Oakley Half Jacket XLJ Sunglasses - Polarized

Rating for this product: 3 April 1, 2011

I love my Oakley's....as long as i don't have to do anything particularly active with them on. While they do a decent job not fogging up, i do find that it does fog consistently by my nose piece. The optics are top notch and I can't really settle for less anymore. However, this is my 2nd pair of half jackets and my 4th set of frames....they just dont take any punishment. Sure its fine if you drop the on the ground but anything more than the force of gravity and the frame snaps. My most recent pair broke in a snowball fight this winter...and yes it was snow not ice. Overall they are great for everyday wear or use in minimally active situations.

Nailed It? 1 Yes

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Great, durable, pant

Mountain Hardwear Mesa Convertible Pant - Men's

Mountain Hardwear Mesa Convertible Pant - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 February 12, 2011

I've been using these pants for about 2 years now and love them. The looser fit is really comfortable but the waist still fits perfectly. They are tough as nails too. When I was going across a boulder field my foot slipped and i gashed my leg on a rock jutting out. While my leg was cut, the pants were fine. Very breathable as well. Im pretty thin with a 30" waist and the small fits like a glove.

Nailed It? 0 Yes

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Stellar jacket

Stoic Welder Insulated Softshell Jacket - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 January 13, 2011

So this jacket arrived today and I put it through some rigorous testing to see if it held up to everything that has been said in the reviews. Starting off I loved the way the material felt and the way the athletic fit kept the jacket from getting in my way during activity. I then tested the waterproofness. The jacket performed spectacularly, shedding water with no problems at all. I even had water standing in it for several seconds before dumping it out and the material showed no signs of water absorption. Seeing how well it stood up to my first examination and test I was exited to see how well it performed in cold, windy conditions. I through on a T-shirt and headed out the door with this jacket on. The wind chill was 3 degree's and other than my arms being slightly cool, I was fine walking around outside for sometime with jacket on. With a 100 weight fleece under it this jacket was a little too warm at 12 degrees later in the day. This jacket is comparable to similar, more costly Arc'teryx jackets and maybe better.

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Osprey Packs Atmos 50 Backpack - 2800-3200cu in

January 10, 2011

The atmos 50 falls under the category of an ultralight pack. If you use ultralight gear you shouldn't have a problem but it can get expensive fast. Plenty of advice above on good packs so ill just give you some on how to use this one. When i go hiking i usually leave behind cooking gear and if im going to bring any i find a coke can stove with a canister of alcohol works fine and take up little space/weight. I mostly just bring ready to eat foods with high calories such as power bars and cliff bars. Pop-tarts are are also good with 410 calories a pack. The gels are good for on the go but if you like food this might not be the best option to go with as it is also pretty hard on your system.

Other than that make effective use of layering. I have been in 0 degree weather with a shell, light fleece jacket, and thermal layers. This significantly cuts down on the amount of space taken up in your pack. Not much you can do about the rest of the essential gear such as a first aid kit, water purifier, and other emergency gear. Not much room for pleasantries, but it will get you through a week on the AT if you pack right.

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Great ultralight pack

Osprey Packs Atmos 50 Backpack - 2800-3200cu in

Osprey Packs Atmos 50 Backpack - 2800-3200cu in

Rating for this product: 5 January 10, 2011

A great ultra-light pack. Good for short trips if you are not packing ultra-light equipment, but if you are packing ultra-light the space just makes sense. This pack is very form fitting and allows excellent air flow with the air speed system, allowing you to keep a consistent temperature over you entire upper body so you can layer properly without fear of overheating your back. The bladder pouch is just larger enough for water bladder and keeps it from sliding around in your pack. It also does not have a lot of padding on the shoulder straps or the belt but this is to cut back on weight and allow for better breathability.

It is missing a lot of the bells and whistles many packs have, such as two pockets on the top pouch or an extra pocket on the bottom, but this is to cut back on weight which it does wonderfully. It is also very durable for an ultra-light pack. I am pretty brutal on my gear but this has held up for over two years of use in everything from high altitude mountains in the snow to hot humid days in swamps. Bottom line, this pack is an excellent ultra-light with great durability.

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Stoic Welder Insulated Softshell Jacket - Men's

January 5, 2011

I have just gotten this jacket and have not had to use it in the rain yet. It dosnt say it's water proof but many of the reviews have described people wearing this jacket in heavy rains with no issues. Do I need to put a water proofing agent on or will this jacket hold up by itself. Also I plan on using this for everyday wear in fairly cold wintery environments as well as taking it to Mt. Elbert. Will this jacket be able to hold up on Elbert in the winter with some good mid and base layers?

Nailed It? 0 Yes

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Kelty Yukon External Frame Backpack - 2900-3000 cu in

March 14, 2009

It really depends on how you pack....i think a 2 weeks would be pushing it unless you really want to rough it. With that kind of space you would only be able to pack the essentials and ct back on the ammount of water you bring. You could do it if you did not bring a stoveand used meal supplement bars (Power Bars or Cliff bars are good) and pack sparsley in terms of clothing (an extra pair of shoes is a must as well as extra socks). I would recomend bringing a pair of hikeing pants and a pair of shorts(depending on the weather leave the shorts and pack extra thermals) a non cotton t-shirt (also depending on the weather) and a non cotton breathable long sleave shirt. Also a shell to wear in case of rain and for extra warmth at night (Mountain Hardwear has good ones). Other then that a 1st aid kit, a flashlight, bugspray, sunscreen, and an emergency whistle and compass would be beniffical for saftey and comfort.

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