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Granite Gear Air Compressor sacks
There are two kinds of people in this world: stuffers and folders. For the former there is the Air Compressor line from long-time stuffing pimp-daddy Granite Gear. At just 3.4oz for the medium light is right. The sack compresses well with the attached four-point lid. It is translucent so if you have two equal-sized sacks […]
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Kestrel 4000 Pocket Weather Tracker
It seems most people buy portable weather stations to forecast. In my opinion they are only marginally better than the old Mark I Eyeball for that purpose. They are useful for passing the time while confined to a tent during a storm, however, as well as for tracking data. The Kestrel is arguably the most […]
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Metolius Personal Anchor System
Most of the time when someone comes up with a device that is just a specialized version of something you can rig yourself from stuff you already own, it’s just not worth paying for. This is not that. The Metolius PAS allows a fast anchor tie-in merely by clipping in to the daisy-chain. The multiple […]
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Big Agnes Insulated Air Core pad
For some gear I’m willing to pack a few extra ounces for a good cause, and sleeping pads definitely fit in that category. A good night’s sleep makes a big difference in attitude and performance, and this baby will have you counting sheep in no time. You can get it insulated or not, in regular, […]
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Climb High Titanium ice screw
Ice screws are in my mind divided into two types: the kind you would trust your life to on steep or vertical ice, and the kind you use for lesser applications like anchoring a tent or leaving behind on an emergency rappel. This screw falls into latter category. On the pro side, it’s cheap and […]
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Mountaineering books
As much as I love mountaineering, sometimes I like to just sit on my tush and read about it while stuffing my face with beer, guacamole and ice cream. It’s all part of my secret training regimen. My picks for the top five essential mountaineering instructional books: Start with Mountaineering, The Freedom of the Hills […]
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Gregory Denali Pro pack
Yes, you can take it with you. Carry the kitchen sink in this pack, which lives up to its name as "the Great One" for both its capacity (7,000ci for the size large) and its weight (8lb!). You won’t even notice the six-pack your buddy stuffed in the bottom of this load monster while you […]
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Northern Lites Elite snowshoes
The conventional wisdom says gear can’t be both lightweight and durable. Northern Lites proves the conventional wisdom is smoking the wrong end of the crack pipe. Their Elite snowshoes weigh only 36oz. for the pair and still look brand new after a long winter of use. These shoes performed flawlessly under heavy loads on Denali’s […]
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REI Peak UL trekking poles
I bought the compact version of these carbon fiber poles for two reasons: at 11.2oz. for the pair they’re extremely light, and they don’t conduct cold. I was very pleased at their light swing weight using them during the summer, then I made the mistake of taking them up Denali. The locking mechanism on one […]
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Valandre Freja sleeping bag
If you’re looking for a fart sack that comfortably handles -10F this is a great if expensive choice. The problem is that vendors such as REI frequently list its extreme rating, -22F, as its comfort rating. Unless you are an extremely warm sleeper or an ultralight fanatic who likes to wear your down parka inside […]
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