Very Nice

Patagonia GI III Short - Men's

Patagonia GI III Short - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 August 7, 2012

I bought these for backpacking, to replace the $10 nylon gym shorts I've been using. I'm 6'1", 165 lbs and the mens medium fits perfectly, waist and inseam. The fabric has a soft feel and dries very quickly. 7.2 oz on my scale. Highly recommended.

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Perfect for Me

Mammut Packaway Pant - Men's

Mammut Packaway Pant - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 July 14, 2012

These pants are exactly as described, including the weight, which is 10.2 oz on my scale for a men's medium. I'm 6'1", 165 lbs and the medium fits me perfectly. Lots of adjustment in the elastic draw string waist; good length over the tops of my boots but not too bunched up on the bottom. The hip length zippers make it easy to get these on and off over my size 12 mid cut hiking boots when sitting or standing. They kept me dry in a moderate rain storm. Reasonably stylish, although I use them for backpacking so don't really care how they look. Recommended.

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Perfect

Marmot Trail Wind Hooded Jacket - Men's

Marmot Trail Wind Hooded Jacket - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 December 21, 2010

Great jacket, more durable than I expected, good zipper. Weight is as advertised. Highly recommended.

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Mirror Sensor - Best Flat Light Lens

Smith Phenom Goggle

Smith Phenom Goggle

Rating for this product: 5 March 20, 2010

The Sensor Mirror lens provides the best flat light goggles I've ever used. While some find them too bright on a blue bird day, they're fine for me. I just bought an extra pair to keep in my bag so I can lend them to friends who are struggling on white out days.

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Osprey Packs Aether 60 Backpack - 3500-3900cu in

February 7, 2010

I have this pack in large. It is not carry-on size. It's certainly sturdy enough to be checked by itself, but I just put it empty into a large roller bag, along with most of the stuff that will go into it once I start hiking. Easy to roll, protected, and if TSA wants to look inside after you check it, there's no problem with them trying to repack it, leaving zippers open, etc.

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Accurate Temp. Rating

Marmot Helium Sleeping Bag: 15 Degree Down

Marmot Helium Sleeping Bag: 15 Degree Down

Rating for this product: 5 February 7, 2010

Having been burned (or frozen!) by some manufacturers temperature ratings in the past, I was hoping Marmot would live up to their reputation and that this would be a true 15 degree bag. It is. I have a room over my unheated garage which I use for this sort of testing. Last night, I stabilized the room at 25 degrees and slept on the floor in the Helium on a Thermarest 3/4 Trail Lite pad, wearing socks, light-weight long underwear, and a thin long sleeved t-shirt. I woke up around 3am, checked the temperature, and it was still at 25*F. (The 25 degree room simulates sleeping in a tent with an ambient temperature of 15 degrees.)

I was warm enough all night. The bag was very comfortable, easy to zip and cinch in the dark, and the regular was long enough for me at 6'1". Good bag, works as advertised. I'll be on a 2 week trip in the Wind Rivers this summer and will post again if I learn anything new, but I expect this bag won't let me down.

Nailed It? 2 Yes

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Almost Perfect UL Solo Pot

Backcountry.com Titanium Pot w/ Lid - 700ml

Backcountry.com Titanium Pot w/ Lid - 700ml

Rating for this product: 4 December 18, 2009

First of all, I only boil water; no food gets cooked in the pot. This is perfect for one or two people using the freezer bag cooking method. It can double as a mug; boil your meal water, pour it in the freezer bag, then heat more water for your hot drink. I don't care about stowing a fuel canister inside, so can't speak to that. The lid works fine. Haven't used the little bag; not sure why I'd want all that extra weight. :-) As others have noted, I would like hash marks on the inside for measuring, hence 4 stars instead of 5. I used a Sharpie to make marks on the outside, which works pretty well. Recommended.

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Perfect Solution

Marmot Zeus Down Jacket - Men's

Marmot Zeus Down Jacket - Men's

Rating for this product: 5 November 24, 2009

As described: a light, warm 800+ fill down sweater. Some previous reviews have raised questions about pockets, fit, and weight. So here are the facts on my men's medium which arrived Nov. 2009:
- I'm 6'1", 162 lbs and it fits just right over a t-shirt and long sleeved t-shirt. Sleeves are long enough, collar is comfy and warm when zipped up. Enough space to trap warm air, but not so big that it gets drafty when I move.
- It weighs 14.3 oz on my accurate scale.
- The outside pockets are perfect for hands.
- There are 6"x11" vertical inside liner pockets on each side which as others have noted are not totally "secure". You could change that with a bit of Velcro. Good for a beanie hat, gloves, headlamp, etc while you're sitting around, to keep the hand warmer pockets free for your hands.
- I think it compares favorably with the Patagonia sweater and is a better value.

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Brunton Talon Canister Stove

November 18, 2009

Having used both liquid fuel and canister stoves for hundreds of meals, I prefer canisters up to 13,000 feet. With canisters, you don't get quite as many BTUs per ounce. However, when you factor in the spillage and priming factors for liquid, I think it's about equal. (I also think the extra ounce for a built in ignitor is worth it, because you tend to shut the stove off immediately knowing it's easy to relight, and you waste less fuel lighting it.)

I use the freezer bag food method and only "cook" with treated (Aqua Mira) water. I can easily get 16 to 20 person-meals out of one 8oz canister by cooking on low, making sure there's little heat loss up around the sides of the pot. Your mileage may vary. If you're planning on doing lots of real cooking and/or water purification, then liquid may be worth it.

One more canister tip: I agree with the comment about cold temperature reducing the efficiency of the stove. If you're expecting a cold night, keep your canister in the bottom of your sleeping bag, then stick it inside your jacket when you get up, until you're ready to cook.

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Brunton Talon Canister Stove

November 18, 2009

I agree with the 3/4 windscreen concept, and doubled heavy-duty tin foil is a good flexible option. You don't want to enclose the whole whole stove. Even if you're not concerned about canister explosions, you can damage the valve seal in the canister with too much heat. And these stoves need all the oxygen they can get, especially at altitude, to burn efficiently.

Nailed It? 1 Yes

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Mary Janes Farm Organic Black Bean Hummus

June 16, 2009

8 servings in a 3.6 oz package? Seems like enough for 3 crackers or a small slice of flatbread. Anyone tried it?

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