For the price, you can't ask for much more than this tent. Sure, it's a little heavy for a one man, but it's super roomy, more like a 1+ person tent. Vents really well and sets up instantly. All the quality of Big Agnes, great for when I'd prefer a tent to a bivvy and tarp. I've taken this backpacking and road cycle touring in CO.

Coldest days in northern VT, NH, NY, and now CO don't stand a chance. I bought an extra pair 3 years ago and they still have the tags on them. Sure, I take care of them, but I definitely wear them too. Great product for a great price.

This pack does it all..it's my go-to pack for both summer and winter climbing trips and 4-season day hiking adventures, though slightly small for winter multiday trips. It can certainly hold a full rack, rope and accessories if you have a longer approach. It also has the ability to carry skis A-frame style. The tool holsters and crampon patch are almost perfectly designed -- I did break the tri-lock compression pieces on the crampon patch and put in Fastex buckles (also on bottom strap) for easier use with gloves. Just as comfortable on the plane with the removable hip belt. The included bivvy pad is minimalist, but great for grabbing a seat for lunch.

I've seen this baby loaded down with full mixed rack, ropes, tools, fruitboots, and drill (easy 65 lbs) and it didn't bend.

Make no mistake, as with any Gregory pack, it's not the lightest option, but it's rugged as they come and it rides like a Cadillac. Tremendous alpine pack.

A perfectly capable ice climbing crampon, however with my kicks I felt it displaced too much ice. My problem is the inability to change out the front points, as this is advertised as an ice climbing/mountaineering crampon. After a few years of climbing mixed alpine routes and mountaineering with this I'd be afraid what the front points would look like. I personally prefer the BD Cyborg as a one-size-fits-all crampon (although I haven't climbed in the Lynx's yet, so my opinion may change).

I know some serious winter crushers in NH, VT and NY (insert name drop here) that swear by the Fusions...but for pure ice climbing, I've been more impressed with other tools. The angle for me was too much for pure ice routes, but they seem right at home on difficult technical mixed terrain.

I like BD tools in general because you can use one tool to tighten the pick of the other - but only as a patch in the field...and yes, I have actually needed this function. I couldn't get enough torque to really tighten them all the way down while repairing them at a belay. Another pair of hands might make it easier, but at least it wont fall off...

I'm a big fan of these crampons. As easy to use as most any other modern crampon, fit well on single and double wall boots, and hold their points well. It's a personal preference, but I love the monopoint for steep ice, though if this was the only crampon you had in your quiver, the dual points are great for snow or couloir routes. The wide platform and angle of the secondary points are huge pluses in my book too.

Shoo makes a great point about not all the pieces being stainless (and the Lynx)...you will still see some rust, though in my opinion there is no reason to worry or even consider breakage.

The absolute standard when it comes to quality and functionality. Add the tails for multi- or super-heavy-pack days. I never have busted my straps..but if you need to they are easily replaced with ski straps or MSR sells a replacement kit. I've used these all over New England including wind scoured Presi-traverses when crampons were overkill and deep pow trailbreaking.

Stick with the Lightning Ascent though, I'm a bit skeptical of the "Speedlock" system and the Flash lacks the same crampon structure that the Ascent has. The Lighting Axis and Flash seem to have too many moving parts...very few parts for Murphy's Law to prove itself on the Lightning Ascent.

I wear a size US 9.5 street shoe, 41.5 Nago. I've been climbing on these shoes for two seasons, and they are still going, but definitely starting to show their age. The rubber is sticky enough, yet this shoe will last you a bit. I've used them on cracks in the Dak's, the slabby Flatirons, some moderate boulders in Smuggs, and steeper 10's in Rumney. This shoe is most at home on long multipitch routes. Psyched!