Suunto Vector

Pros: Highly water-resistant. Easy to read digital display, containing both simple visual indicators and clear numbers. Holds altitude data accurately over time/descent/ascent, provides very accurate absolute and sea level barometric data - in terms of both overnight accumulation and change during the day. The compass works flawlessly, is very accurate, and is really easy to use and keep calibrated. It comes in some cool colors too.

Cons: Plastic bezel is hard to rotate, and small particles have a tendency to get caught between the bezel and the watch body. The alarm function is sort of quiet, decibel-wise. Don't wear it on your wrist if you're a light sleeper and you have to get up super early. I would have to remove it if I didn't want to sleep through the alarm. The watch is not very intuitive to use at first, though the instruction manual is very thorough. Ascent/descent history seems to provide inconsistent data, though it has recorded history of high-points, summit proof, etc. Note that water-resistant is not synonymous with immersion waterproof - buttons cannot be pushed under water! Beyond that, however, I never take the thing off - showers, swimming, hot water, etc. It handles it all.

Let me clarify - I am new to the world of Altitude/Barometer/Compass watches.

So far, I feel like I've learned quite a bit about the technology - the advantages and disadvantages of certain instruments/inclement conditions, etc.

I've used the Suunto Vector for alpine climbing in our local area (Shasta, lesser peaks), many backpacking and climbing trips in southern Oregon and northern California wilderness areas, and several backcountry ski trips. I can honestly say that the Vector is very much worth its quoted price of $199.00. Every dollar of it! However, the slightly more expensive Suunto Core would be a worthwhile upgrade in several ways - I'll get to this in a minute.

Let me rave about the compass a little bit. Really easy to take bearings/headings on the fly. It has turned out to be really useful for backcountry skiing, backpacking or trekking cross-country, and any sort of alpine climbing. Suunto just did an awesome job with their digital compass. Also - really easy to use with a map. I still bring a classic compass/map with me for every adventure, but I haven't had to pull that little plastic square out in a long time. Calibration is as easy as several pushes of the button and spinning slowly in a circle.


The altimeter works very, very well. You can switch between feet or meters, and set reference altitudes in intervals of ten feet. If you actively keep track of altitude changes, set reference altitudes off an accurate topo, and pay attention to what the barometric pressure is doing, you will be absolutely stoked on how accurate the altimeter is. Otherwise, I only noticed discrepancies of 50-100 feet. With relatively stable barometric pressure, however, the altimeter almost without fail managed to keep accurate altitude data (the altimeter and the barometer share the same pressure sensor). You can track changes in a logbook, and change your intervals for this logbook as well - depending on how fast/slow you are ascending or descending (alpine climbing, ski descents, backpacking, etc).


People questioning your summit or your high point? Keep a thorough approach to using the altimeter - the proof will be in your logbook :)

The barometer also gets thumbs up. I am not a weather man, and this watch does not predict the weather. I don't think you're going to find a watch that does, however.

The Vector does what it was intended to do, and very well. The barometer keeps track of pressure in inches of mercury or bars, both absolute and sea level - it very accurately informs you of what's going on with pressure systems in your area. The logbook automatically accumulates data per hour. Thus, when you wake for your 2-am alpine start, you can double check what the barometric pressure has been doing overnight. On the watch face at all times is a six-hour history of the pressure trend - rising, falling, staying stable? By using a combination of the pressure history, referencing weather reports, paying attention to the six-hour trend indicator, and actively clearing and watching the pressure difference meter, one can really dial in their understanding of what's going to happen with the weather. Barometers are incredibly useful instruments, and Suunto did a good job of designing this wristop computer. They set the standard.

So. Overall the Suunto Vector is great. I have my small gripes about it, as you have read, but they are minor details. The Suunto Core is definitely an upgrade though! Don't purchase either watch without considering advantages/disadvantages. The Core still uses one pressure sensor for altitude/barometric data - but it automatically knows whether you're climbing or stagnant, unlike the Vector. Thus, it does a better job of providing incredibly up-to-date data on either altitude or barometric pressure. The Core is more intuitive to be sure, whereas the Vector acts more like your normal calculator. They can be pretty stupid if you're not paying attention. I've heard people say many times that the Core is 'easier to use than the Vector'. I think the Core also comes in some really cool colors. It looks different and operates a bit differently. One major advantage is also the storm alarm. If the barometric pressure drops drastically in a short period of time, the Core will let you know immediately.

It all depends on how much money you want to spend, and how much you think you'll be using the instrument. Personally, I was just fine with the Vector, and I still consider it one of, if not the best wristop computer for outdoor use. If I one day save some more money, I might buy a Core - but for right now the Vector is awesome - i've taken it on a lot of adventures and will continue to do so!

Petzl Tikka XP 2 Headlamp

Pros: Lightweight, incredibly bright, competatively priced. Long battery life, but without added bulk of an external battery pack above your neck. Versatile modes - spotlight, floodlight, blinkers, and red LED for your star chart or secret missions. The recent redesign to a single LED provides for longer battery life in economic mode, and more lumens!

Cons: Witnessed a complaint that the push-button switch (push once, twice, three times to cycle through lamp modes) is annoying, but I didn't find this to be an actual issue for me. Maybe i'm just used to Petzl lamps? Also, some have complained that purple is really lame. This is not true at all. It is a fact that purple is very cool. Petzl does offer the Tikka XP 2 in Graphite (Grey) if purple isn't really your thing though.

I've found that this little headlamp is absolutely superb. Lightweight, burly and bright. In the economic (least bright) setting, the Tikka XP 2 provides 160 hours of burn time. I found the economic setting to be plenty bright for just about everything - reading, pumping water, cooking, hiking at night. The full brightness setting I reserve for times when you really need it - rock climbing, alpine climbing, skiing, spot-lighting something in the distance. I'd go through one set of regular Energizer AAAs in periods of 3-4 months. Maybe longer actually. Anyways, quite a long time.

The Tikka XP 2 is light enough to still be an option for thru hikers and casual backpackers alike, but rugged, efficient and bright enough to be useful in the alpine. Battery life does suffer in the cold (under freezing), and I noticed this on Shasta, Bailey and Mt. Ashland on several occasions. However, this can be easily bypassed by switching regular AAAs for lithium batteries, and this is pretty much true for any headlamp on the market. If you're going Caving or heading on a big trip to the Karakorum, South America, Alaska, or some place where extra batts might be tougher to find, and the cold is more severe - go with Petzl's Myo XP (designed for extreme environments). For anything in the U.S., I feel that this little purple headlamp is perfect.

The Wide Angle diffuser lens flips up easily with one hand when you need a floodlight, and can be flipped back down at a moment's notice to gain the added distance of Petzl's impressive spotlight. I found that I was able to do this with mitts on, even. The small tab on the lens is easy to grab. I definitely noticed that the redesigned single white LED provides a significant increase in both battery life and illumination when compared to the original. I've used both the classic Tikka XP and Tikka Plus, and truly feel that Petzl is innovating, not simply donning new flair.

The Tikka XP 2 is priced lower than most expedition headlamps, but is a little bit more expensive than your entry level lamp - They retail for $54.95.

This is the one headlamp I use for just about everything. I haven't really experienced anything negative about it in the last year. Go Petzl!

See our selection of headlamps 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.

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!

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