I've been using the MSR Whisperlite primarily to melt snow for the past 6 years. In that time I replaced the pump O-rings with the maintenance kit once - but I'm not sure it was necessary. However, after at least 60-80 mountaineering trips the pump starting leaking fuel on a pre-trip check. It turns out the plastic body cracked at the threads underneath the brass cap where the control valve is installed. If I had to guess, this could have resulted from over tightening the brass cap, hitting the control valve on something really hard, or from using it as the leverage spot to unscrew the pump from the bottle about a gillion times. Who cares - gear doesn't last forever. I can't believe how much use I got out of mine before it died. Plus, it has always been an excellent (liquid gas) stove. So, moral of the story - good pump, great stove, check your gear before you go - especially if you abuse it like me.

This line finally does what it is supposed to do. Some of the earlier "switch" lines were abysmal. I use this on Redington CPX switch rods in both 6 and 8 wt's. On the 6 I use the 6/7 line size and on the 8 I use the 8/9 size. With this combo I use regular 9' leaders and can throw both overhead casts and spey casts. My favorite spey casts with this line are both single and double spey, and aerial snake rolls. This line is my "go to" line come fall steelhead season when swinging wet flies. While it's not my thing - it can be rigged to use in an indicator setup.

I threw down for the 12'9" 6 wt. Talk about a smoothy. It will throw Rio Mow tips in the T-14 range with 3-5" heavy tube flies. While it will throw that size of fly and line, it's not always pretty - but it fishes. With lighter tips like the T-8's and smaller flies this thing is a dream. I only use the Skagit Flight on it chasing Norcal's chrome...

This is the reel I use on all my rods for guiding. From single-handed 6 weights to 8 wt speys this reel kicks serious tail. From size 4 and up you get a bigger drag that is perfect for putting the brakes on hot steelies and salmon. Clients can fill this with gravel and they still work. Drop it on rocks? Who cares? Very light, very dependable, very sensitive, very well worth your cash.

Seriously - If you put big bucks into your watercraft - you should invest in transporting it safely and securely. These brackets will do just this. I have an '06 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab with a camper shell. Yak bars on landing pads front and rear. Between these gunwale brackets and the supplied tie-downs I don't even bother with bow and stern straps. I've traveled from CA to NY at 80 mph in high winds and never had a problem. Love the security. The rubber pads and soft tie-down straps do a great job of protecting my cedar-strip canoes finish.

Does it restore your Goretex, DWR, Event, DryQ Elite, etc.? - Yes, very well. Does it make your jacket smell like your cat peed on it? - Yes, very well. Seriously - it works very well, it just smells awful. I'm really not sensitive to smells, but this stuff is just rank. Airing out your garments for several days helps. I've now switched to Revivex to restore my waterproof/breathable garments. It's less product for the cash - but the smell is better.

Sad to say - you really need to try these on in a store. Took me a couple times to get the size right. I'm a 9.5 and am happy with the 43 and thick socks. These boots climb amazingly well. Great for vertical ice and rock. However, mine seem to leak a lot. 4 stars because I had to seam-seal the boots and keep up a schedule of a Nikwax spray down. Also, these boots wear quickly. However, the performance of these boots is worth the wear and tear. They are not a winter expedition boot. If it's a weekend's worth of climbing in cold conditions - this is your boot. Also - the interface between this boot and the new Petzl Lynx crampons is amazing. The best fit I've ever had between any boots and crampons.

This jacket fits big. I'm 5'10" 140 lbs and can throw this on over everything - including my pack. Is it the perfect belay jacket? - that depends on your needs. I like down over synthetic most of the time. This jacket is highly compressible(even though it stashes into itself, it's better to put it in a small bag for packing), and pretty water resistant. I wouldn't use it on a week-long winter expedition. For everything else under that - it's perfect. Insanely warm and light. Super-comfy.

I got mine in the 40m length. Perfect length for PNW alpine climbs. I can't seem to run out 50m or more without serious rope drag and 30m was just to much work setting up belays. Dual use - I use a pair as twins for steep climbing. On glaciers or simpler snow climbs I bring one for crevasse travel and rescue. Super light! Two 40m ropes weigh in at 8.3 lbs. Good dry coating, feels good in the hand(not insanely skinny), and good color selection. After a season of use they have barely worn - despite being dragged over snow, rock and ice. Good times!

First off - very athletic fit. This is great for me as I'm tired of jackets with extra material hanging all out of the harness and in my way when climbing. The fit is also a little tight across the chest - especially with layers. However, I can get several layers on and be fine in the cold temps. As for the "is it a hardshell or softshell" questions I see - this is a hardshell jacket. The "softshell" panels are not softshell fleece. They are softer hardshell. Very similar in feel to First Ascent's WeatherEdge Pro fabric except that it has a grid construction. The performance of this jacket is exceptional. Dumping buckets of PNW rain roll right off. I have yet to have it "wet out" in heavy rain. My climbing helmet fits well under the hood, and my harness is out of the way of the pockets. I've had this jacket for about 6 months now and after several alpine climbs it is wearing well. No rubs from the pack or harness and rock doesn't seem to catch and scratch the fabric. Drink the coolaid - you'll like it.