T.J. from United States, CA Public Profile

Excellent warmth to weight ratio, high quality construction, packs small and great looking too. Hood fits perfectly and the thin fleece lining in the hand pockets is a nice touch.

This isn't the jacket to wear while bushwacking given it's light weight and my suggestion would be to size down. I'm 6' and 185 with big shoulders, longer arms and a smaller waist. The large was too blousy for me but might work for someone who is bigger through the middle or who will be wearing a lot of layers. I found the medium to be the perfect "athletic cut" and right hem length and still allows for layering with no restriction of movement.

An excellent offering from OR which also has some of the best customer service in the business.

I don't climb but do hike and backpack and have always preferred wearing softshells. I was a Marmot guy for a long time but after reading a lot of reviews I pulled the trigger on the Gamma LT's (on sale) and all I can say is that I'll keep buying them as long as they keep making them.
I can't speak to the long term durability but I have very little doubt, given the high quality construction, that they'll last. Just got back from a 10 day solo in the Sierra's and they handled everything the weather and terrain threw their way. I'm 6', 32 or 33 inch waist with big legs and the M fit me like a glove. Great stretch, worked in a wide temperature range, shed rain exceptionally well and breathed.

If you're serious about your gear I see these pants as a great investment.

I didn't pick up my Kestral on Campsaver and I'm sorry I didn't given the price this killer pack is being offered at.

I've had a lot of packs and I think this is the best performer of them all. I've beat it up and down for about 6 years and other the water bottle pockets stretching, the stow and go feature snapping (which I never got repaired because I don't really need it) and the typical cosmetic damage that comes with a lot of use, it's still functioning perfectly.
What I like most is that it works for summer day hikes, winter day hikes when you need more gear and overnight trips when I'm just taking the basics. I'd say this pack would be rock solid up to 30 lbs. or so. I've had three other Osprey pack models that I ended up returning due to squeaky frames. No problem with the Kestral though.

You won't go wrong with this one if you're thinking about pulling the trigger. The Kestral line is a winner.

As a big fan of Sherpa Adventure Gear I was stoked to see this high-quality fleece offered for such a killer price on CampSaver. The quality is top-notch, as it is with all Sherpa gear, and it quickly became my go-to.

One area where Sherpa nails it is with the fit. I'm a big fan of "non plush" fleece because of it's versatility as an outer or mid-layer but too many companies (TNF, Marmot, Columbia) have moved towards boxy cuts. Maybe they're just trying to appeal the widest (pun intended) American audience. But Sherpa keeps the excess material in the waist to a minimum so you've got a trimmer, but not tight, fit which not only makes it a better choice as a mid-layer but helps with heat retention as well. I'm 6' and 190' (smaller waist) and the Large fits me like a glove. The material against the skin feels soft and warm and I have no qualms about it's durability even though I haven't had it long enough to truly put it to the test. On the trail it breathes remarkably well, fits great under a pack and because the zipper is a bit longer than the typical 1/4 zip you've got a better opportunity to vent. I've also been surprised at how quickly it dries when my baselayer soaks through.

There are some fleeces I've owned that perform decently on the trail but they seem more suited for hanging out around town. While this is a great looking piece it seems to beg to be put out in the dirt and beat up. And as an added plus, Sherpa Adventure Gear really walks the walk when it comes to s

I've had this bag for about five months and just wanted to sing its praises. I'm not a fan of mummy bags and this strikes the perfect balance between a little extra room, weight and insulation. It packs super small in the included compression sack (although I do think they could have made the sack a little bigger given the fact that it compresses) and comes with an awesome storage bag and special bag for washing.

The coldest I've had it out was only to about the temp. rating and I was MORE than warm. Very surprised given its a 650 fill and has a little extra room in the toe box. The warmest I've had it in was about 65 degrees and being able to open it up like a quilt was awesome. Perfectly comfortable.

The side zipper hasn't snagged on me once but I have found that zipping it back up after it's been turned in to a quilt is a little problematic. Might be me though. When you put the specs against other bags, and can pick it up on sale, it's a no-brainer. Great bag.

Pros:
Light (6 oz)
Packs small in sturdy stuff sack
Allows for canister inversion for cold weather performance
Included piezoelectric lighter
Powerful
Big Bang for the Buck

Cons:
None to date

Kudos to CampSaver for stepping up and making this awesome stove available to U.S. consumers as there are currently only three outlets offering the Spider.

I've only used it about 30 times but that's enough to form an opinion outside of the long term durability.

This is an awesome stove. Light, compact, excellent workmanship and powerful. And because it's a remote canister stove it provides the option of inverting the canister in cold weather and/or elevation to burn liquid instead of gas. At the time of this writing we're not yet in Winter but I did have it out at 8.5K in 25 degrees and snow and it performed very well. There was a bit of sputtering (not an issue when burning gas) but it didn't seem to hinder the performance.

Note: If you do want to invert the canister you'll need to let it heat up for about 30 seconds first.

There aren't a ton of reviews out there on this stove yet but all I've read have mirrored my thoughts. A high-quality performer at a very reasonable price. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Spider to anyone who wants dependable, four-season use.

If you want to see it in action I made a (crappy) video review. At least you'll see it on the gas at 8,000 feet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvFPtDpPfHQ

If you're checking out this stove you probably know that currently, (I believe) there are only three spots to buy it in the U.S. On eBaby, an independent retailer and through CampSaver. Kudos to CampSaver for offering this awesome stove.

I can't speak to the long term durability of the Spider, as I've only had it for a short while, but nothing in the construction makes me believe it won't last a long time. I also haven't had it out in super cold conditions yet but at 30 degrees and 8K it performed like a champ. Flipping over the canister as a test made it clear this is a true year round stove.

I like the lower base for the stability and both it's weight and size when closed. It's sturdy, light and drives a mean flame. Nothing not to like.

I would suggest a windscreen but that's a quick and easy DIY project that will only cost a few bucks. From what I've read, Kovea has their act together with their products so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend pulling the trigger on this one.

Writing about boots is tricky. Fit changes from one manufacturer to the other and fit is King. That said, I will say these boots ran extremely narrow. If you have a "regular" sized foot you'll need to strongly consider a "wide" in the St. Elias.

I can't say enough good things about these boots. The construction is top notch, the stability is rock solid, the underfoot protection is what you'd expect in a 3 lb. boot but they maintain enough flexibility for long miles on the trail.

The comfort is as good, or better, than anything I've ever worn. I was worried that they wouldn't breathe but that hasn't been the case at all. I've worn them on hot weather and haven't suffered because of it.

Waterproof protection is superior and I'm looking forward to how they handle the snow while wearing spikes. I have little doubt they'll perform.

I WILL say that the laces are a total joke and Vasque doesn't carry replacements. (Strange). Other than that...5 stars.

If you're looking for one jacket to serve multiple uses exceptionally well, you won't go wrong with the Nabu. ESPECIALLY at this sale price.
Pros:
Great fit (sizing down for a more streamlined fit still offers good arm/back length and layering capabilities)
Quiet
Functional (Bone dry rain protection, Excellent hiking outer layer)
Perfectly positioned hand pockets
Very good breathability (unzip front and open hand pockets/ Napolean pocket for increased ventilation)
Excellent zippers

Cons (Sort of)
Hood is more for a helmet than a head. Upwards visibility is slightly compromised
Not insulated (Not designed for that. Look to Marmot Zion if that's an issue)
No pit zips (But not much of an issue)

I'm a backpacker, not a climber, so softshells don't typically find their way in to my pack. This does. Even if you're just looking for some killer rain gear I wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger. But with the additional functionality it's like you're getting two pieces for the price of one

While I've only had the Astro out a half dozen times I think enough time has passed that I can speak to everything but it's longterm durability. That said, it's clearly well made and I'm anticipating it will last.

The pluses for me is that it packs small, is relatively lightweight, reasonably easy to blow up (around 30 big breaths)and provides a warm, comfortable sleeping platform. I also like ho