I bought this jacket for myself a few years ago and I love it. The boys large fits me, a 5'2, 105 pound woman, and I wear it basically every where. It stays dry in a decent rain, but in a down pour, it will get soaked through, but it also works a a great wind shell or outer layer for when hiking plus it packs great when space is tight in a back pack.

I've had the same pair of Keens for the past five years and I would still say they look like new even through the use and abuse that I've put them through over all the summers. They're perfect for sailing and kayaking, especially if you're planning on doing some hiking on your trip, but can take a while to dry out after they've gotten wet. A few other cons are that they give awful tan lines and start to smell after a while, but all that is weighed out when compared to their durability and the comfortable soles.

I cannot begin to tell you how much wear my Nalgene has taken. I've dropped it all the way down Mount Washington, smashed it over rocks and even backed over it with my car, but for some reason, my Nalgene just won't break. Plus, the wide mouth makes it easy to wash so you can put anything in it and not have to worry about the after taste.

Siggs are light and definitely stylish, but it's easily dented and gives water a weird taste. I wouldn't suggest it for hiking, but maybe for a replacement of the bottled water bottles out of a vending machine.

I got a pair of these used for telemark and they've been great. They're forgiving, making them easy to learn on, and have great flex for turning. Not to mention they'll carve in anything, from crud to powder. On ice, things get a little more tricky, but the Betty's can still power through it with enough pressure to the toe. Great for anyone just starting out or looking for a more relaxed ski to raise a heel on.

I use this all the time. Hiking, skiing in the back country and even just for trips. It holds all my stuff and plus had a built in camel back and the waist strap has a camera pouch, making it easy to snap a picture with out having to dig through all the layers of clothing you can pack in the main compartment. Skis are also cross packed so you can fit under low branches when hiking in the woods. Plus, it's held up through several season of abuse for me and I doubt I'll have to replace it anytime soon.

I've been using this harness since I was in junior high and did a lot of indoor climbing and it's still in prime shape. It's easy to use, adjusts to my size perfectly and is amazingly comfortable. I don't use it a lot since I haven't gotten out as much in recent years, but I would definitely recommend this for anyone just starting. It's a good price and amazingly easy to use.

I started ATing this season and was a little nervous about doing all my regular skiing on this bindings to as I do ski pretty hard in the woods and just on the normal trail, but they held out perfectly on any condition. I would most definitely suggest them to anyone thinking about picking up AT skiing not only for that reason, but also because they're so easy to use, and trust me, you don't want to have to be taking off your gloves in negative weather to reattach your heel to your ski before starting a descent.