Good rubber, but that's about it.

I can't really figure out what the shoe should be used for. It's too bulky to be a light descent/approach shoe. It has super poor edging control and a lack of touch. I would say it's a good hiking shoe, but then again, the thickness and center of the balance of the shoe is off so you'll be rolling your ankles with heavy loads. The heavy duty design is not at all waterproof (but doesn't claim to be) so if you're doing any serious adventures and you encounter some water you're in big trouble.

It's not quite good enough to climb comfortably in the fifth class and isn't a good hiker is the bottom line.

I really like the design of the pack. I fondled it in the store for a while, and because it seemed to suit all my needs: back access, hydration, ice axe carry, etc, streamline design, I bought it.

Well, a few weeks into it, the lockable compression clips have broken, the frame is always bending out of shape and becoming unusable, as well as constantly unclipping from it's worthless internal fastener.

The load adjustment (wast and shoulder) straps on top are not well designed and often become un-tightened or come out all together. The one above the hydration sleeve doesn't even rest on the strap itself: a complete lack of obvious r&d.

I am once again disappointed by an obvious lack of field testing and use of cheap materials and overseas production.

Where to start? I bought this jacket in Utah for a season in Chamonix which means significant amounts of large vertical days (meaning large temperature/weather changes) and ski touring/alpinism. I do like the fit of the model, me being a medium, (5'9, 160 lbs, regular build), I didn't feel like a typical jackass in the ridiculous cuts of the previous stoic models. This year's model has the added length which is nice when freeriding in pow, seeming to keep the extra warm in and not interfering with pack straps.

But seriously, when I look for a real shell, I like to make a mental checklist ( I mean there are certain things a real shell just should do).

I'll start by listing them below:

Waterproof/Water Resistant: Ok I know it's only listed as 20K (maybe the stupidest rating system ever, I'd like to add). Here's my experience: after about two days of low-intensity riding, even days when the temperature was significantly below freezing and I experienced light snow, the jacket was absolutely soaked in the shoulders and sleeves. In summary, not waterproof at all once the DWR or whatever wears off (in two days).

Windproof: The second I stepped off into winds higher than 25 mph, I could feel wind tearing through every part of the coat as if I was wearing nothing. Okay, great.

Weight: Heavy compared to an eVent shell or something gore-tex and actually waterproof/wind resistant.

Fit: Good, as described above

Design: A pocket for every chinaman whose blood, sweat, and tears went into this over-engineered masterpiece. Other than that, good, except for the typically useless hood draws that re-open after 20 minutes of skiing.

Breathability: the one domain where this jacket excels. Maybe that's a result of its complete failure to block any wind whatsoever. It's nice while touring to be able to wear it zipped up and pretend that if there was any precip, that it would block it from reaching my under-layer.

Summary: a jacket that's great for skinning up to pole-line pass in anticipation of your big night out at the peruvian. Unfortunately if the weather actually turned foul, you would probably wouldn't make it back to your subi alive.

I'll start with the fact I liked the material due to its strechy nature. In reality, the fabric is not very waterproof. It seemed to me that no DWR was used because the first days out with them, any precip that landed on them soaked right in.

They also have weak wind-blocking capabilities. On some gusty days off the Aiguille du Midi, I was quite frigid.

I do like the détachable bib part. It helps to keep the mid section warm and hold stuff like a beacon (yes I put it in my pocket).

On to the biggest fail: all the snaps are basically useless. The other day I post-holing up a couloir and every few steps i had to stuff the inner liner into my boot straps to keep it from coming up and snow from falling in my boot.

It's shit like that proves very little real-world R&D went into the product. Either that or they just don't care.

Overall, you get what you pay for. It's cute to see their high MSRP, but the fact that these are available so cheaply gives an indicator of their real value.