Reviews by User: Mike - Gearhead (46)

I would like to start by saying that in all my years in the backcountry I have never had a comfortable nights sleep. I always spend the night tossing and turning hating the confining space of the mummy bags slippery nature of pads that never seem to be underneath me. Recently, I had the opportunity to test out the Lost Ranger and the big Agnes system overall. I must say that I was very impressed. For the first time ever I went to sleep at night and didn't wake up until morning. I could toss and turn with impunity knowing that my pad was safe beneath me. I was so impressed with the system I immediately ordered one of my own. I'm buying the Lost Ranger with the Big Agnes Air Core Insulated so I can pack them both together in one stuff sack. Ingenious. I love this system.

This pad is insane. This is the first pad that provided all the ingredients I wanted. It packs down to the size of a bag of four bagles and weighs next to nothing. This is all in a pad that provides insulating protection from the cold hard ground. This pad allows me to sleep at night. I combined it with the Big Agnes Lost Ranger which for me provides the perfect sleep system.

This pad is insane. This is the first pad that provided all the ingredients I wanted. It packs down to the size of a bag of four bagles and weighs next to nothing. This is all in a pad that provides insulating protection from the cold hard ground. This pad allows me to sleep at night. I combined it with the Big Agnes Lost Ranger which for me provides the perfect sleep system.

I recently used this jacket on a climbing trip I took to Indian Creek outside of Moab. It performed above and beyond the call of duty. The temperature was at a level where you are cold when sitting around but hot when active. The Gamma MX provided the perfect insulation for time at belay and breathes very well for when climbing. I noticed that is very abrasion resistant as heavy contact with gritty sandstone had no effect. It also provided excellent water resistance for the surprise desert rainstorm. Excellent jacket.

I recently took this jacket on a long bike ride in which there were sporadic desert thundershowers. It performed wonderfully repelling rain during the downpours and folding up inside one of its pockets when it was sunny. It was a warm day and breathed fairly well during a hard ride. It is a lightweight and compact jacket that I recommend taking along on any trip that has even the slightest chance of rain.

I have worn lots of climbing shoes throughout the year but I keep coming back to these. Due to the fit of these shoes I wear them about a half size smaller than other climbing shoes and feel more comfortable doing it. (As if it's possible to feel comfortable in a climbing shoe). This is a versatile shoe that allows me to climb at about a grade higher than other shoes I've tried. I'm on my third pair and it won't be my last.

Unlike a lot of others, this one is extremely durable. Metolius uses the best foam of anyone and over time it shows. I have never seen a packed out Metolius. It is comforting to know that the pad below offers the same protection it did the day you bought it.

This tent weighs just over 4 lbs which is really light for a 3 person tent. It has lots of mesh in the top which provides good ventilation and also has two doors so you don't have to climb over people to get out. Also it has a ton of vestibule space. This is a great backpacking tent for those who like a little more room but still want to go light.

This is probably the most streamlined of the Camelbak line. It has a small pocket for your keys and wallet but not much room for anything else. It is great for trail runs where you don't want a lot of extra crap weighing you down.

The first time I used this bag I had borrowed it from a friend and slept like a baby (something I never do while camping). I immediately went out and bought one for myself along with the Air Core insulated pad. I use this as my spring, summer and fall sleeping bag and it keeps me very warm. My only complaint is that it is a little heavy.

These bottles are small and combined with the jetboil system last longer than the larger canisters do with a normal stove. This is a great system.

I tried this pack out when it first came out with the name Pivotal. It is a good pack and at the time it was revolutionary the idea that the pack would move freely from the hip belt. It felt great and I could twist my body to match. I bought one of these from The North Face and love it.

I have tried several different pads over the years and this one seems to best address the problem of ankle roll. This pad does not have the problem of a seam down the middle. It also folds up in such a way that allows you to carry your shoes, guidebook, chalkbag and other essentials inside it. Props to Franklin on this one GJ!

I have used this thing for minor cuts and scrapes but never for anything serious. I take it on every backpacking trip I go on and it is so lightweight that you don't even notice it. It has a good assortment of first aid gear.

My one complaint with the Lost Ranger was that it was a little heavy and should have used a higher quality down. Well this is the answer. This is the perfect bag for me. I am a little claustrophobic and the smaller mummy bags constrict me too much. This one combined with the way the pad slides into it allows me to toss and turn without a problem. It is a great bag.

I keep my 3 man tent in this and manage to fit my sleeping bag, pad and tent all in the sleeping bag compartment of my regular size backpack. It is really lightweight and weighed less than the stuff sack the tent came in but it can still compress everything.

This tent is light but a little heavier than some other 3 person tents. It has some great features though. The poles start out vertical at the base which give you more room. It has two doors which is nice and tons of mesh that allow a breeze to cool you on hot summer nights.

The first pair of these I got I ordered in a regular size 9. It hurt and I didn't like it at all. I gave it to my brother. I have slightly wide feet and the way these are designed with lots of support on the side of the sandal I needed the wide model. After I got the right size it was very comfortable and both pairs are going strong after lots of use.

I have had more than one incarnation of the Ultra series and keep coming back. It fits well on my slightly wide foot and is very comfortable. It also provides good traction for the gravel and scree of the rocky mountains. In this dry area I prefer a shoe that is not goretex. Very good and versatile shoe.

I have owned several pairs of Tevas over the years and just recently received my first pair of Chacos. I couldn't believe the difference. I was a big Teva fan but not anymore. The comfort does not even compare. The support does not come close. These are by far and away the most comfortable river sandal I have ever owned. Get yourself a pair. Your feet will thank you.

I have the Vista C of this and love it. It is very lightweight and portable. The batteries last a really long time as well. I have used this for geocaching and route tracking as well as to get elevation. This is a good GPS system. The only complaint I have is that it is not as intuitive as it should be to use.

This fits perfectly on my Airjet 3. A footprint helps prolong the the life of the tent and provides a little extra water protection.

I take this on every backpacking trip I go on and it has a million uses. From field repair to gutting fish this does the job. Great product at a great price.

I combine this with my Big Agnes lost ranger which is a perfect setup for people who sleep on their side or toss and turn at night. The Big Agnes sleeping bags keep the pad beneath you. This pad compacts very well and is lightweight.

I use this to help protect my down sleeping bag from moisture. It allows me to get the back down to a ridiculously small size while still giving protection from rain and water. A great purchase.

This headlamp is very bright and comes in a small package. It has three different setting but I only use the one. It also seems to last forever. I am still on the first batteries and I spent a couple of months using it for an hour a day.

I have one of these in various places so that I never have one too far away. The lights last forever on a single battery and it is super light. I have purchased these as gifts for people as they are so useful. This is also one of the lighter headlamps for those ultralight backpackers. It is not the brightest of headlamps but in such a small package it is a good choice.

This is a great set for those who want to go light but don't like just using a spork. I have this set and it is very light. It is also very durable.

I have tried many stoves but the second I saw this one I knew I had to give it a try. It seemed like a good setup. The fact that it is super efficient allows you to take less fuel. This boils water in no time. When I first bought it you only had the choice of the cup but since then they have some out with a lot of different cooking options.

I purchased a second cup so that my wife could eat and we would not have to share cups. If you have a jetboil this is a great addition. Makes for light backpacking between me and my wife.

I like this shoe - it provides good support and has a good stiffness for hiking. The shank protects against rocks and the shoe fits very well on my slightly wide foot. Very comfortable.

I got these as a Christmas present from my wife along with the Sidewinder AR jacket. I love them. I spent a lot of time in the steep and deep this winter and stayed dry the whole time. They have vents on the side to let out some of the air. They also have the durable Gore Pro Shell and can take a lot of abuse. Overall a great pant.

I got the 162 as my powder board this year. This is an awesome board. Effortless ride in the deepest of powder. We got dumped on in Utah this year and I am glad I got to have this board. I normally would get a longer board for powder but with the rocker and the extra width this board was fine at 162. This is a lightweight board and has a low swing weight. As the previous reviewer suggested this is not the best hard pack board and takes some getting used to.

These are very easy to put on so I end up using them a lot more than I would a lace up winter boot. They are stylish too and I found that I preferred them over any other shoe I had this winter. I found myself searching for puddles and such when I had them on.

I love this jacket. It has the GoreTex Pro shell and the only difference from the more expensive SV model is that, aside from the appearance, it has a different fabric this is not as durable in the non critical areas. It is just as waterproof and is still very durable. I have spent a good amount of time boarding through the backcountry and the trees and have had no problem. Either from getting wet or tearing the jacket. Very nice jacket.

I got this shoe and have had a chance to try it out now in a few different situations. I was surprised at how big the lugs were when I first saw them. It is good in the mud and loose gravel. I feel like I am walking around with monster truck tires on my feet except without the weight. I was worried a bit that I could somehow rip the lugs off but they are solid.

I have this mounted on my K2 Gyrator for a great combination for a powder setup. It is nice and stiff and is very easy to get in and out of. They are quick and I can beat all my friends off the lift and down the mountain.

These boots go on and off easy and are easy to tighten. You can lock down the ankle and have good feel. Some people worry about BOA but I have never had a problem. Excellent boot that fits really well on my slightly wide feet. I normally wear a size 9 which is what I wore in this boot and it fits perfectly.

I got the 162 as my powder board this year. This is an awesome board. Effortless ride in the deepest of powder. We got dumped on in Utah this year and I am glad I got to have this board. I normally would get a longer board for powder but with the rocker and the extra width this board was fine at 162. This is a lightweight board and has a low swing weight. As the previous reviewer suggested this is not the best hard pack board and takes some getting used to.

These are very easy to put on so I end up using them a lot more than I would a lace up winter boot. They are stylish too and I found that I preferred them over any other shoe I had this winter. I found myself searching for puddles and such when I had them on.

This is a great jacket. I use it while riding my motorcycle and it does a great job of keeping the wind off. The softshell shoulders do better at keeping light rain off then a normal fleece would.

This is the one I use after trying many others. The water tastes good and it fits well in my pack. I use it with my The North Face Catalyst pack and have no complaints.

Not only does my wife look smokin hot in these but the quality is top notch. They have excellent visual clarity. Very nice pair of glasses that my wife was very happy with. It is great for smaller to midsized faces.

For those who have owned a Leatherman, this is par for the course. It fits a lot of tools in a little bit of space and is good and sturdy. For those who haven't used one buy this now because it is super useful. I use mine every day for things you wouldn't even think of.

I tried this pack out when it first came out with the name Pivotal. It is a good pack and at the time it was revolutionary the idea that the pack would move freely from the hip belt. It felt great and I could twist my body to match. I bought one of these from The North Face and love it.

I have been using mine for a while in the Uintas and the Rockies that have some fairly muddy water and I have never had a problem with getting sick or bad tasting water. I am still on my first filter also which is good. I really like this simple easy to use filter.

For those who have owned a Leatherman, this is par for the course. It fits a lot of tools in a little bit of space and is good and sturdy. For those who haven't used one buy this now because it is super useful. I use mine every day for things you wouldn't even think of.

This thing isn't as compact or as light as some stoves out there but when you combine it with the fact that it is more efficient than some of it's lighter competitors and requires less fuel it makes up for some of it's weight problems. Overall the system is very light and convenient and fast. I love my Jetboil.

I have the chance to try on a lot of sunglasses and own several different pair from a lot of different brands. These glasses fit very well for my smaller face. They are very clear and are very good quality. They also work well for sporting activities and I have not had a problem with them slipping off when I get really sweaty.

Metolius makes the best holds in the business and these holds help add variety to you wall. A good edition to any climbing wall.