I first started using the Vigor Hybrid Hooded jacket as a base layer while skiing and loved that it has thumb loops so it’s easy to slip it under my jacket and even under mittens to eliminate any sort of…
As a member of the USA ice climbing team, I find myself doing a wide variety of climbing year-round. Since my summer training necessitates trading in the crampons for rock climbing shoes, the Scarpa Vapor V accompanied me through just…
As a mere mortal, I am subject to the law of climbing that states that shoes have more impact on performance or ability than any other piece of equipment. Quickdraws clips, ropes catch falls, helmets protect your head, backpacks hold…
To test Outdoor Research’s Ferossi Grid Hooded Jacket I took it canyoneering, resort skiing, backcountry skiing and wore it around town. This jacket shined the most during chilly November canyoneering in Moab. We had temperatures ranging from 20 to 50…
The shoulder season (aka mud season) in the cascade mountains of Washington and Oregon is hard to pack for. Layers have to be able to match a wide range of temperatures and continue to perform while wet. The GoLite ReFill…
The Himali Ascent Stretch Hoodie has become one of my all-time favorite pieces of outdoor gear to date! I rarely rate something 5 stars since most things can be improved upon. However, Himali hit the nail directly on the head…
As a backpacker and mountaineer, finding gear that can adapt to rapidly changing conditions is always a challenge, especially when it comes to pants. Normal “softshell” pants can be too bulky for summer conditions, while lightweight and breathable alternatives may…
It’s important to remember that building a trad rack is very personal. These are guidelines I can give you, but everyone has a slightly different rack with special pieces they prefer over others for different reasons. So--with that in mind--try…
Have you ever observed the guy that is unabashedly walking around the grocery store wearing what he obviously wore to the crag every day for the last week? The pants are ripped to shreds and covered in chalk—most often with…
I used the Giga Jul over the last two months while guiding six days a week: from climbing to canyoneering, single pitch, multi-pitch and hundreds of meters of rappelling; this device hung on my harness and proved itself versatile and…