Granite Gear White Lightning

As a huge fan of floorless tents for 3-season camping, I’ve tried out many designs. My conclusion is that designers have yet to improve upon a flat tarp such as the White Lightning. I chose to go with the largest option, 10’ x 12’. It has a total of nine tie-off points, but sets up nicely using six of them. Trekking poles, kayak paddles, or even just downed limbs work great as poles, helping keep the weight to a minimum. At only 23 oz., it still will comfortably protect up to 5 campers in a full-on downpour…so long as the wind isn’t too erratic.

The best part of the large White Lightning is its versatility. It can be set up easily in an open field, or use nearby trees, rocks, your car, etc. It can be pitched high to cook under and hang out, then lowered for better protection while sleeping. If the wind picks up, lower one end to the ground to completely seal it off, then enter from the other. When the rain picks up on a group outing, most people just say goodnight and retreat to their tents. The White Lightning lets you stay social and comfortable when the weather turns, even on the ultralight expeditions.

Granite gear Nimbus Access FZ

I aplogize for not having any good images of this product to add to the review.

Pros: comfortable, streamlined, easy access to gear. Well-designed compression. Larger loads can easly be secured externally.

Cons: easy to lose track of smaller items. Hydration pocket isn’t very convenient. No external pocket for shovel, helmet, etc.

The Access is a great no-frills pack that is still extremely useful. The design essentially the same as the Nimbus Meridian. The real difference is the body material, meaning pack weight. For me, the 17-ounce weight difference is well worth having the heavier, stronger Access. I want gear that can be used, that will stand up to abrasive bedrock and sharp sticks when I’m on the trail, and withstand luggage handlers when I travel.

The Access is divided up into only two compartments, making it a little less convenient to organize your odds and ends, which can be solved by using light stuff sacks to keep track of smaller things. In the end, I appreciate the the streamlined nature of the pack. There are still enough straps on the outside of the pack to attach overflow gear, without being in the way.

A favorite feature the top compartment, which has its own built-in hip belt. It can be detached and ready to cruise with in a matter of seconds, without having to completely disassemble the outfitting. The access panel on the front also makes it the easiest pack to load that I’ve ever used. The entire panel opens up, providing access to the entire interior. Then that opening is reinforced by internal compression straps, so there’s never a struggle to pull the pack together and zip it back up. The compression straps take all the stress off the zippers, which will hopefully contribute to the pack’s longevity.

Overall, I really appreciate Granite Gear’s philosophy. Most manufacturers seem to be in a race to design fancy new gizmos with curvy zippers, moving parts, and fancy trademarked names. GG makes a comfortable, durable, and extremely useful pack. Overall, I give it a 9, and I imagine it will serve me well for years to come.

Check out our pack selection here!

Jetboil 1.5L Pot

If there is one flaw about the Jetboil it is the small amount of water you can boil at a time in the Personal Cook System. For solo trips it never becomes an issue, and if you plan correctly for two people you can make it work. However, if you want to use the Jetboil for three or more people or even just to cook larger meals with it is surprisingly weak. Even Jetboil new this, and is why they came out with the Group Cooking System and why they made a 1.5 Liter pot and a frying pan available/compatible for the PCS unit.



You need to buy the Pot Stabilizing Kit, which comes with the adaptor that allows the pot to sit on top of the burner, and it also comes with a little tripod leg system that attaches to the canister. Both pieces fit smoothly inside the PCS along with your fuel canister. Personally, I think that the leg system is worth it's weight in gold. I don't use my Jet Boil without it anymore. The pot attachment is also nice because you can use any pot or pan on it.



Once you have your Stabilizing Kit you can use the Jet Boil pot. The benefit the Jet Boil pot has over it's competitors is the same heating coil system that is on the PCS. It distributes the heat surprisingly well, and while it doesn't cook or boil as fast as the PCS it is still a lot faster then a normal pot. Unfortunately the lid warps with heat, so it becomes hard to put it back on securely when your done cooking with it. What I started doing with it was turning the lid upside down while cooking. Doing so seems to warp the lid less and because it maintains it shape more it is easy to put back on.



The only other thing I don't really like about the pot system is that the burner doesn't fit inside it. One of the major benefits of the Jetboil is the packability of the entire system within itself, and you loose that when you want to take the pot. Now, most of the time you can pack other items in the pot (you can fit three of the new MSR Mugs in it) so it isn't a big deal, but it is still a down side for me.



In the end, the Jetboil team has created an awesome system and the additional attachments have all been well thought out and work exceptionally well. I don't see the need to ever own another stove system for non high altitude use.

Mammut Borah DLX

Yes I do wear my Chaco's for the better part of the year. Yes I do wear Croc's when I go climbing. No I do not always take the best care of my feet or worry about my footwear. Which is why I have never owned a pair of approach shoes before. However, I rescently spent some time thrashing a pair of the Mammut Borah DLX in Moab Utah, and like all the other Mammut gear I have used so far, it impressed me.

Initial Impression(s):
They are not a light or breathable shoe. The asymetrical shape isn't the same fit I'm use to.



Main Points of Notice
They offer a solid and ridged footbed for maximum support along with an Ortholite Insole which makes the shoe very comfortable for extended periods of time. The Vibram Rubber sole offers surprising traction in most every condition you will encounter on you approach or day hiking. The are a very durable shoe that is going to last you a long time. And, most importantly, they look cool!



Conclusion
The amount of grip while scrambling on every surface from very slippery sand stone to granite was shocking. For the first time I understood why people wore approach shoes instead of their Croc's. I'm still not completely sold on them being more supportive, but I definitely think the added grip and overall foot protection and this is reason enough for me to switch over to using them on a regular bases.



The Borah DLX is offered for men and women and costs $119. Overall I think they are well worth the cost and will not disappoint.

Buy them Here!

Mammut Smart

At first it was difficult to accept the fact that one could have an auto-locking belay device with no mechanical parts. When I first got hold of the Smart, I was amazed by how light and simple the device appeared. Setup and disassembly is very straight forward, just like almost all other belay and repel devices.

In actual use, the device shows its true colors as a smooth and functional sport climbing tool. However, there was a little difficulty in learning the appropriate hand motions to really gain any advantage with the device. The major breakthrough to understanding its true potential was in reading its instructions, then looking at the illustrations. If you look at the illustrations first you get the impression of using the device in a certain fashion that does not really turn out the way one expects. By reading about the operation of the device, then looking at the illustrations, I really began to understand how the device worked and how to use it to best affect.

The Smarts "lever" is really not a lever in a sense you have to rotate the device. It works best as a "hook" that you use to "push" against to control the amount of friction you feel on the rope. By using both hands, one on the "hook", the other on the brake side of the rope, lowering can be as smooth as any belay device found in use. Which everyone really wants in an auto-locking belay device anyway.

I am extremely impressed with my Smart. It is the perfect secondary belay device in any sport rack.

Black Diamond Frietchi Freeride

I know. I know. It's still summer time and I am reviewing a piece of gear for a winter sport. But, if your anything like me and/or my friends the ski and snowboard video's have already found their way to the DVD player; which, means that winter is coming up around the bend and it's time to start deciding what new piece's of gear I will need to get shrednasty soon.



Currently for my AT (Alpine Touring) setup I use the BD Freitchi Freeride Binding because I think it is an awesome binding and I love it! I run the binding on my BD Megawatt ski. It took me a couple of day's in the backcountry to get completely familiar with how to utilize the different climbing positions easily and quickly. Once I was able to achieve all the climbing positions as well as lock/unlock the biding in and out of the climbing position my appreciation for the binding increases significantly.



The added mental security that I get from the Freeride is the fact that it looks like a traditional alpine binding. I quit alpine skiing when I was a mere 11 years old, so when I picked up AT skiing last season the mental comfort and familiarity was a big deal for me. I found simplicity in it and this allowed me to focus on my skiing and not on screwing around with my gear.



The DIN range is large enough that it can be set for a beginner skier all the way up to an advanced skiier. I haven't had any issue with snow or ice building up in the binding so I haven't experienced any issue with not being able to get my boots locked in or out of the binding.



Another feature that I really like on the Freeride is the break. Now, you can get a break or leash for any binding and they are required if you want to ride frontcountry, but I really like the Freeride's.



The negative aspect to the Freeride binding is it's overall weight, and I would argue that it's not very sexy but that's a completely different post. Yes, it's heavier then it's competitors, and I believe that I will switch to one of the new bindings in a season or two. However, for now the weight is not an issue for me.

Mammut TX-1

Lately I have been rather unimpressed with new gear that has come out on the market. Not that it isn't good stuff, but none of it has really gotten me excited. It seems like it is just all the same and it has me bored. So, when we got in the Mammut TX-1 headlamp initially I wasn't that excited, and thought to myself "it's just another headlamp." However, upon using the TX-1 my whole universe changed.



The Lucido technology that Mammut uses is amazing. The square beam is by far the longest reaching concentrated beam of light I have ever experienced from a headlamp. Mammut claims that the beam reaches 105 meters. It is probably one of the few headlamp beam claims I believe, agree with, and support.

Frank using his TX-1 in a cave

This winter I used it backcountry skiing at night, hiking, camping, and on early morning mountain biking rides. I can honestly say that I was never once disappointed with how this headlamp performed. It just didn't matter what the conditions were the TX-1 was able to provide me with the adequate light. I also enjoyed sitting around the camp at night and challenging friends to a beam off contest to see who's beam stretched further into the night. I always won!

One of my favorite non-light features is that you can flip the head of the lamp (i.e. where the on/off switch is) into the housing. This feature protects the headlamp face from scratching in your pack as well as from turning on and draining your batteries.

Getting back from an early morning Mt Bike Ride

My major complaint is that it is more bulky then I would like it to be. I'm not a big fan of the battery case on the back.

Pros
Awesome Beam
Battery Life indicator on the back
Multiple light settings

Cons
Size & Weight

Spech's
Battery Life max: 180hrs
Light Range max: 105m
Weight: 95g / 150g with batteries
LED Type: 1 x HiFlux.LED, 2 x Definition.LED
Flood-Light HIGH: 14m
Flood-Light LOW: 7m
Dual-Light: 105m
Batteries: 3AA

Check out our selection of Headlamps HERE!

Black Diamond Megalight

I'm going to list all the reasons I love the Megalight tent from Black Diamond.

1) size and weight: This is a four-person tent that matches size and weight specs of most bivy sacks. For a group shelter, you barely even notice it. I would bring it on a day hike if I thought it would rain, just to have shelter for eating lunch. Enough said.



2) dryness: unless you're in a torrential downpour over impermeable soil, the megalight is actually dryer than most tents. You can put it away wet, drop it in a lake, and set it up in the rain. But once you set it up, everything's dry inside and will stay that way. Just don't touch the sides.

3) convenience: It sets up faster than any other tent I've ever used. Put four stakes in the ground, crawl inside, and raise the pole. Job done. Then due to the floorless design, you can hang out inside with your shoes on and not get your sleeping area dirty. You can even set up a chair inside to cook and read.

4) versatility: Another benefit of the floorless design is that you don't need to pitch it on the ground. You can set it up high above a picnic table to cook and relax under. I like to set it up on top of my raft or dory in the summer so I can still sleep on my boat when it rains. I know many people who prefer the megalight when backcountry skiing because you can dig into the snow below it, shaping shelves, sleeping platforms, and a 10' x 10' area of standing room.



The megalight is the dryest, lightest, fastest, and most spacious tent I've ever used. But as a disclaimer, here are some things it is not:

quiet: the sil-nylon material is extremely loud on a windy night, so look for a protected site
bug-proof: use the available mega-bug mosquito net if you're in bug country
airy: it just doesn't breathe. The sides get a lot of condensation at night if you close the door, so be very careful bumping the sides in your down bag.

Follow these guidelines and you're bound to be happy with this tent. Sleep well!



See our selection of Tents here!

Reviewed by: Dan Thurber

Jetboil Personal Cooking System

The Jetboil Personal Cooking System is one of the most convenient, versatile pieces of cookware out there. I thought they were silly and unnecessary until I went on a particular long winter raft trip. Everyday I watched enviously as another rafter cooked up soup, brewed fresh coffee, and warmed up right there on his raft. I picked up my own Jetboil soon thereafter and have been a fan ever since. Being self-contained is one of the Jetboil's nicest features. The stove, fuel, and most accessories fit snugly inside the the cook pot. You don't have to worry about keeping track of all the pieces. And once set-up, the system is equally mobile. The fuel, stove, and mug all lock together and can be moved around without disrupting your cooking, allowing you to heat water in your car, on a raft, or even skydiving if you could figure out a good windscreen....

By itself, the Jetboil is only good for heating water or warming up canned soup, rather than cooking a full meal. But really, that's all most camp cooking consists of. And if you want a more versatile stove, you can add on the pot support and use it like any other gas burner. The french press add-on gives you a great coffee maker and the hanging kit makes it even more versatile when level ground is a luxury. All of these accessories make the system even more dynamic without adding any space or much weight.



One downside to the Jetboil is the dependence on disposable fuel canisters. But with how efficiently it boils water, I only go through a few cans per year. And contrary to popular belief, the cans are recycleable if you punch a hole in the side. I've also found compatible fuels available in foreign countries, so it can travel internationally with you.



My Jetboil lives in my car and comes with me on nearly all backcountry adventures. I've found that the mere convenience of the system makes me use it more often. It's unbeatable for coffee, tea, soup, pasta, and the entire freeze-dried pantry. You won't find one of these used because owners love them. You will too.

View our stove selection here!

Reviewed by: Dan Thurber.

Black Diamond Megawatts

I first learned to ski before I can remember at the Mount Lassen Ski resort. When I was 11 I decided that skiing was no longer cool and that snowboarding was where it was at. My primary reason for shifting was because my older brother started to snowboard, and therefore that was what I had to do. I have been a true-and-true snowboarder since. I have taught lesson's for a total of six years, and I have coached on my local high school snowboard team the last three years.

This season I decided to start getting into the backcountry scene. I took out a Voile SD Mojo 161 split board the first time I went, and had a lot of fun. However, the second and third time I took it out I had less and less fun. I found myself getting more and more frustrated with the process of taking it apart and putting it back together. These experiences lead me to make the decision of getting back into skiing for a more efficient backcountry setup. First, rode the Black Diamond Havoc. Second, I rode the Black Diamond Verdict, third, I rode the Black Diamond Joule's. I had a lot of fun riding all three of those ski's, but I noticed they were really still. Fourth, I rode the Line Sir Francis Bacon's, and I feel, like a school boy, in love with reverse camber ski's.

All of that information is a catalyst for me to talk about what I really want to talk about which is the Black Diamond Megawatt Ski.

The Megawatt spec's:
Length: 188
Tip: 153
Underfoot: 125
Tale: 130
Weight: 10lbs 6oz (pair)

My initial impression of this ski was, "holy shit that is big!" I was very concerned about being able to steer it. However, with the zero camber and the rocker tip the ski is amazing in every condition I have taken it into. On the groomers and hard-pack the rocker saves my ass because it takes my effective edge from 188 down to 140, so it's as if I am skiing a shorty ski. In the crud, tracked and UN-tracked powder the length float's me over and through everything.



First time climbing with it was the really telling experience. In order for the Megawatt to satisfy my desire's it had to be able to get me out in the backcountry. The first time I took it out in the backcountry (read about the trip) I had a blast! I didn't notice the weight be to excessive or arduous for the climb, and I was more then happy to be riding it on the way down.

It looks big and intimidating, and well it is big, but don't be intimidated by it! With the big wide platform the ski is extremely stable and with the side-cut and rocker it performs great on all snow conditions you might encounter.

The Megawatt is my ski! At least until BD comes out with something bigger and better.

Patagonia MicroPuff Hooded Jacket

I've been in the market for a down jacket. What I thought I wanted was the Down Sweater Pullover Hoody from Patagonia. Actually, I still think I do, but they are sold out and not making it next fall. Therefore, I had to make a purchase of something else. At first I was supper bummed, but not anymore!

What I was looking for in my jacket: warm, comfy, a hood, and pullover. It had to have a hood, and no I don't know why. Not very many companies are currently making a down jacket that has a hood.



What I got: warm, comfy, and a hood. Basically, I am super happy with my purchase. I wear this jacket all the time. It's synthetic instead of down, but I can't tell a difference. So far it is holding it's own against the down jackets I have had/used in the past. It is windproof and has a waterproof outer. I can wear it as a layering piece if needed because it's not bulky.

My only complaint is that the draw string at the bottom doesn't tension the bottom of the zipper so the zipper does a funny weird zipper thing while the rest is tensioned. Personally, I wouldn't ski in it unless it was under a shell.

It's great around the house, around the town, around the summit, and around the campfire!

Petzl Attache

Pros
A compact, light weight carabiner; still big enough to roll a munther hitch through. ther perfect locking biner for belaying, rappelling, anchors, and more. Personally, it is the only locking carabiner I have in my rack because of its stellar performance and versatility.

Cons
If you leave home without it!

Reviewer: Frank

Mountain Hardwear Windstopper Tech Jacket

Pros
A great light weight, warm, and versatile piece. Perfect in a range of conditions from cool summer nights to part of your layering system for mountaineering. Plus it is very stylish for a night out on the town or just a beer at your favorite pub.

Cons
None! At least that we have discovered yet.

Reviewer: Frank

Petzl Reverso3

Pros
Hands down, one of the single most versatile belay devices on the market! A single piece body keeps it light weight and strong. Smooth operation for top rope, lead, and top belay. Easy to use, easy to release, and brakes really well.

Cons
Thicker diameter rope (>10.2) is a little tough to get into device.

Reviewer: Frank