Used these for a long hike on snow last weekend. Plusses: they have awesome coverage being that the lens is large. They really turn dark on the snow, almost too dark when the sun went behind a cloud! The antifog treatment works pretty well but don't expect miracles if you are sweating they will fog. Finally the built in neckstrap works well and can be pulled tight to hold the glasses in place. Minor problems - the lens can be hard to clean on the inside being so deeply recessed. And they are a bit loose on my face. I must have a thin nose bridge. I wish the bridge part would be a bit more like my oakleys. In any case the neck strap can be used to keep them put on your face.

Just got these today. They are 100000x better than my old clumkers from the 1990's. The quality and design is outrageously good for the price. I feels SO good to buy European made climbing product. Last week was a Petzl ice axe made in France and this week its new crampons made in Italy. I'm sick of buying everything "made in China". I like that the G10's have mellow points (after all I'm mostly planning snow and glacier plodding). I also like the fact that the front points don't stick out like vicious knives from the front of the boots. I feel a little better knowing that I'm not going to impale the back of my leg if I trip. On the other hand these are not nearly agressive enough for steep ice and snow. The strapping system is super secure and totally idiot proof. I like the fact that with strap-on crampons you don't have to worry about the things popping off at the worst time. Overall I am thrilled with my new Grivel crampons.

Just got my Resqlink from Backcountry.com and wow is it small and light. So much lighter and smaller than both my SPOT (1st version) and especially my ACR AQUAFIX (2006 model). Bought the Resqlink because it was cheaper than replacing the 6 year old battery in the Aquafix. Now I will carry the PLB with me on all adventures. Used to leave the Aquafix at home because it was too big and heavy to lug around. It is even smaller than my Spot which wouldn't be as effective in a real emergency anways. And no subscription fees also. Win win win.

Wow received these pants today and while I haven't used them in the backcountry yet I'm stoked by the fit and quality of design and construction. I'm 5 foot 9 and 170 pounds and large fits just right. Love the fact that you can use a belt and the suspenders if you like. Or just a belt without the suspenders. Thanks to these pants I'm already waiting for winter even though summer just started!

I wear a medium in most things including arcteryx which is known for a tight fit. I ordered these bibs in medium and when I tried them on they were ridiculously tight on me. I could even barely get the cuffs over my foot. Thought I was going to blow a seam. I managed to pull them on but could barely breath. Quality was good and they are light but be sure to size up. For the record I'm 5'9" and weigh 170. These are going back. I'll swap them for a large and hopefully I'll nail the fit.

I thought long and hard if I should crack open my wallet for these pricey pants. Very happy I did! I will wear them like a 2nd skin over the next few years. They fit great, the pockets are huge and zippered (great for travel), the material is stretchy and apparently very durable to top it all off. They fit very snug though so I'd order up a size if you think you are on the border between sizes. I'm 5'9" 170 lbs and the large fits great. I've come to the opinion after buying a lot of Arcteryx stuff that it is absolutely the best on the market. While very expensive it pays you back over years of use with absolutely bomber gear. I just counted and I have 3 beanies, 2 packs, 1 sun hat, 1 hardshell, 2 fleeces, 1 softshell jacket, 3 tops, and now this pant, all from Arcteryx. I love each and every piece. I'm an Arcteryx buyer for life.

Just picked up my Phase AR crew yesterday and immediately went for a training/conditioning hike & overnighter in cold and damp conditions. Pushed myself hard uphill with a 35 pound pack and while my head was dripping with sweat my back stayed nice and dry. Usually my back is soaking wet from sweat trapped between my top and my pack but not with this bad boy from Arcteryx. Love this top already and I can see myself almost living it in over the next couple of years. I just got home from the trip and just smelled my armpit and no stink!!

I have the 2009 version which is slightly different than the current one. Just spent my first rainy right in the snowy mountains and it and it was a fortress against the elements. Be sure to stake it out well to keep it taut to keep it pulled off your sleeping bag. Only problem is having to get out in a rainstorm to answer the call of nature...Not pleasant! The second you unzip and open it up the rain is dropping right inside the bivvy tent on your sleeping bag. In the future if I think it will rain I'll rig a lightweight siltarp overhead. Problem solved. Also bring a big plastic bag to stuff your pack and boots into as you can't get much inside this tent except you and your bag.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this shovel. Been using it for snow camping all winter. Such good quality and a absolute pleasure to use. I look forward to dropping my pack, grabbing my snovel and getting a good upper body workout bu digging out tent platforms. I'm hoping it will last a long time. But first I've got to stop chipping ice with it!!

Provides awesome insulation against cold snow. Can't feel the cold coming through it at all when camping on snow. Could save your life by insulating you from the ground. Got this to replace my lost z-rest. 2 problems though (almost dealbreakers) - 1. It's huge and hard to carry unless you are using a monster pack. I'd only use it with my 90 liter pack. 2nd problem is that it's like sleeping on concrete. After spending 2 nights on it on hard packed snow I've concluded that I can't sleep on this thing as I'm constantly tossing and turning every 10 min. Side sleepers forget about it. After laying on my side for a while my hip throbs in pain. Not good. From now on I will use this in combination with my inflatable pad. I can't ever spend another night on this torture device. I thought my z-rest was uncomfortable but this thing is a lot worse in that regard.

Like it for its windproofness and warmth but it could be a bit better in my opinion -
1) Portion above the eyes sits too high and leaves the bottom of the forehead exposed. My other cheaper balaclava sits right above my eyes keeping my forehead warmer. This balaclava could be cut about a 1/2 inch lower to cut the wind bite right above the eyebrows.
2) The mesh over the mouth is a bit too open. When breathing through it the cold still stings. OK for moving when you are breathing deeply but bad for sleeping at night in the cold.
Still I like and use it but it could be tweeked to make it awesome.

Bought these over the comptition as they are SO comfortable and fit, well, like a glove. Great dexterity and I can actually do things in them that I'd have to take off most other gloves to do. Can even operate my Nikon camera pretty well in them. Here's the but...Just don't get them wet. I was just out in an overnight snowshoe trip in the mountains near Vancouver, BC. It was raining and snowing our super wet concrete-like snow. After digging our tent platforms the gloves were wet. Pull them off and with wet hands they were super hard to put back on. They are failry warm even when soaking wet but then again it was right about freezing. Any lower and it could have gotten ugly. Even at home in the warm house 8 hours later they are still wet whereas all my other stuff, tent included, are almost dry. Basically if you get them wet in the mountains good luck getting them dry. Next time when winter camping I'm going to bring a pair of mitts as well as with cold wet hands you are going to suffer bad.

Have 2 of them. Nice and light and silky feeling. Not much insulation. Best for hot weather. Only problem is that they retain body odor immediately and after wearing for a day even without sweating much you'll be hardly able to stand yourself. That said the shirt is easy to wash by hand in a sink while travelling or in a creek when hiking. Dries fast so washing it anywhere is not an issue.

Have 3 of them and all my other beanies are collecting dust. Fit is superb and they last forever. Great for chilly wet environments like BC. Stays relatively warm even when pretty wet. Just wish the logo was turned down in volume..its a bit loud!! i

Only had these boots for a few days but they are much better than expected and hopefully they will last as long as the other Solomon shoes that I've owned on the past. For light boots the ankle support is great. The only minor improvement I'd like to see is a more aggressive heal counter for downhill traction.

Had my Patagonia down hoodie for about a year and abolutely love it. Weighs almost nothing, packs down into its own pocket, warmer than it looks, has a hood to die for. I could go on and on...Its good until just above freezing. Below that you will feel a bit naked especially if you've got only a shirt underneath - especially if its spitting rain. I live in BC, Canada where down and the Coastal weather are not a match made in heaven. So watch the rain (even though its pretty water resistant) as its so light that a good dose of rain will render it useless quickly. The only "downside" is that it leaks a feather or 2 every time I use it. Hate to see that but it happens to almost every down jacket I've owned. Obviously the shell fabric could be thicker and more down-proof but then it would weigh more. Patagonia stuff is always a bit more than the competition but I've found that their stuff lasts forever which makes it all worth it.

Just bought a couple of year old NF himilayan down parka and went snow camping the very first day I bought it. Kept me warm and dry all night in a snowstorm with only a summer sleeping bag. Didn't even need to pull the sleeping bag all the way up ad this jacket is like a sleeping bag for your upper body. The attention to detail on this parka blows me away and I'm sure that nothing else on the market even comes close. People like to knock North Face but I've been using their gear for over 20 years and they make the best expedition gear on the planet for the price. This jacket is huge and I feel a bit silly wearing it in town but in the cold mountains nothing compares. I can't wait to experience winter more fully now that I can be warm and comfortable the worst possible conditions.