Reviews by User: Jim Holland (89)

The Sidewinder SV is really well designed. The zipper doesn't get you in the chin or flap in your face, as do so many others. I can't believe nobody thought of this before. The hood is also fantastic. When you turn your head, it turns with you and doesn't obstruct your field of view AT ALL. Amazing coat.

The North Face windstopper high point hat is the best hat I've ever owned. The windstopper material is key. I always bring my high point hat with me when I go camping, and it serves me well for skiing and snowboarding as well. It covers your ears well when it's frigid. When it's warmer you can pull the cord over the top making it more like a beanie. I've endured some serious wind chill with this hat.

I've paddled about 10 different touring kayaks. The Sonoma is FAR AND AWAY the nicest. This boat slips through the water effortlessly. Not only is Perception's Airalight material super light weight allowing you to cover much more distance, but it also has a much nicer feel in the water than you get with plastic hull boats. It's hard to describe - sort of like the difference between a finely crafted glass surfboard and a foamer. This is a SWEET kayak.

I've spent a fair bit of time dialing in an ultra light weight fast packing setup. If you can shave a few pounds off of your pack, you can hike SO much farther into the backcountry. I've tried several different light weight shells. The North Face Diad is the lightest and of the best quality among the options out there.

I've used my airboard in both hardpack and powder conditions. It's fast and quite maneuverable. Because the air board is inflated, it stays on top of the snow. The air factor also makes for a much smoother ride than you'd get with a regular old lame sled. The airboard is also much easier to jump than a common sled as you have a cushioned landing. When the resorts close you can hike up and rip it. The airboard comes with a runaway strap and a hand pump that easily inflates it in about 2-3 minutes. There's a one way valve that allows you to inflate it without worrying about air escaping. I always inflate it at the top as it's so quick and easy. The airboard stows handily in a pack or in the small carrying case. These things are great fun. -36 yr old guy from Utah.

This tent sets up fast. 1 small pole, 1 big one. No confusion. It's not free standing (translation, you need to stake it or tie the strings to some small stones if you're on rock) but I guess that's the price you pay for the ultra light weight (for an overnight, my pack was just 13lbs - I literally ran up the trail). Good shaped footprint for minimum weight & maximum elbow room.

I've skied on many tele bindings and I think the hardwire is the best. I use the 3 pin hardwire for touring and the regular hardwire for resort skiing (although it also works fine for touring). The hardwire cartridges give good tension and the binding is well designed and bomber. *The Voile hardwire cartridges don't squeek like so many others do!

I have the men's version of this jacket. I use it for mountaineering, ski touring and skiing. The Alpha Comp is really light weight yet very breathable (soft shell). For this reason, it's good in quite a range of temperatures (I usually wear the Mountain Hardwear Transition Zip Tee underneath). This is one of the nicest jackets I've ever owned.

The Camelback Hawg is ideal for longer day hikes. It has the perfect amount of room for a jacket, extra layer or two, a camera, and a big lunch. This hydration pack also stays with you quite well when you're hiking fast (I just always try to make sure that there's no air in the hydration bag so the water doesn't slosh around).

The Camelback Hawg is ideal for longer day hikes. It has the perfect amount of room for a jacket, extra layer or two, a camera, and a big lunch. This hydration pack also stays with you quite well when you're hiking fast (I just always try to make sure that there's no air in the hydration bag so the water doesn't slosh around).

Using a $10 topo map of the Uinta Mountains and my Brunton MNS, I easily navigated to a pristine lake in the middle of nowhere at 11,300 feet. Toggling between menu screens is very intuitive. Push a button to mark the trailhead (or your car or whatever) and rest assured you'll find your way back. Mark waypoints along your route as you go (or mark them before you set out while looking at a topo map). Unlike most GPS units, this one has a digital compass which you can use without sapping the batteries (just turn the GPS part off). Shows you how fast you're going as you hike. Tells you sunrise & sunset times. Calibrates your altitude for you & displays temp. Unlike most GPS units, this thing is actually really durable. I suspect you could play a hockey game with it and it would still work. Supposedly it's waterproof as well. I've used it in the rain without any problems but have yet to drop it in a pond.

This is the best binding going for touring. It's reasonably lightweight yet very reliable. With the pins, your energy is supposedly transferred to the ski better (hard for me to tell). The up side is when you're skinning you can just leave the cartridge resting on the ski and it's much easier going (no resistance). If you ever were to have a problem with one of the cables, you're not post-holing out of the backcountry with this binding as the pins will hold you in. The cartridges are easily adjustable (just spin 'em).

I bought a pair of Salomon Raid Race 2’s for fast packing (i.e. backpacking with a lightweight pack). It was a great call. These trail running shoes offer really good support and a well-built sole. I bravely broke them out of the box and headed right out on a 17-mile trek. At the end of the day my feet felt great. Salomon has been at this for a while and they make a great shoe.

I can't believe how small I can compress this cold weather bag. I guess that's the beauty of down. I've used my col in some pretty nasty weather and have yet to get cold. When you zip it up all the way, it closes up comfortably around your head. No cold air down your neck, yet there's a good space for breathing and checking out the stars.

Kicker stickers are super handy for touring around undulating terrain. They provide MUCH better traction than a waxless base but also give you much better glide than a full skin (though a full skin does allow you to climb steeper inclines). You might think there'd be an issue with them staying stuck to your base, but not so. I just leave them on for the downhills since they glide so well.

I love my Oakley Minutes. These sunglasses wrap around your face well - the light does not come in from the sides. They're light and work well for tennis, mountain biking, running etc. On a sunny winter day when the glare from the snow is especially bright, the minutes are the best.

I used to compete in skiing and for years did nothing but travel. I've been through a lot of duffle bags and suitcases. This is the best bag I've EVER owned. The DaKine split roller is super durable. It's also unbelievably handy for organizing your stuff. If you're in a hotel room and can't (or don't want to) transfer all your clothes into a dresser, this duffle bag makes life much easier. Just flip it open and you've got a portable dresser. Closes up easily to stow out of the way (without your clothes dumping all over the room as is the case with most others).

The Tad Pole Tent sets up really fast (which is handy when there are 10,000 mosquitoes swarming around you as was the case on Murdock Peak last night). You can see the stars through the roof. Lots of mesh which is great on hot nights.

I used to wear cotton socks. A few years ago I tried some Patagonia Capilene socks, which prompted me to ditch all my old cotton socks. I have since tried Bridgedale and a few other synthetic socks. These Lorpens are the best—they’re comfortable, just the right thickness, and less expensive than the others.

The Scarpa T2 is an excellent ski touring boot. They're as comfortable as my tennis shoes. When you put them in walk mode, they're really easy to hike in. Plenty of support in soft snow conditions (although when it's crust or ice on treacherous descents, I'm wishing I was wearing a T1). Put these together with the Black Diamond Mira and the Voile 3-pin hardwire and you're dialed with the best lightweight touring setup out there.

This watch is super cool. Lots of great features. I often find myself hiking farther than I might otherwise as I see myself within reach of a vertical goal. The thermometer, as simple as it may be, is also pretty handy. I was surpised when I immersed it in a spring mid-summer in Utah on a 95 degree day and discovered that the spring was 33 degrees.

The Cross Roads has good support on rocky, uneven terrain. This shoe also has much better grip on wet rocks than other trail runners. I have a fairly regular-sized foot(maybe slightly wider than normal) and they fit just right.

Nordic-schmordic. This lobster mit / glove is great for skiing snowboarding winter hiking or even cold weather biking. I telemark ski, snowboard, and backcountry ski. Whenever I'm fishing through the closet on the way out the door, I always seem to grab these lobster mitts. These Swix Membrane gloves are super warm yet light weight and breathable. They work well across a big temperature range. When it's in the single digits, my hands stay warm (and you still have decent dexterity as well with the lobster design). When it's in the 30's, my hands aren't hot. Look no further, just get these gloves!

Be sure to get one of these. These gear lofts are super handy for stowing all sorts of things in your tent. It keeps stuff out of the way just below the tent ceiling. Great for drying out socks or gloves. I also stash my watch, toothbrush, headlamp, magazine, etc...in my gear loft. I no longer have to search around in the dark on my tent floor for these things.

These are sweet ski poles. They're lightweight and balanced. Easy to plant with a mere flick of your wrist. To make a probe out of them, you just stomp on one of the baskets and yank it off. Then flip a lever under the grip and yank the grips off & join them together at the grip end. I've had a pair for a few years now (they've changed very little). I haven't had any problems. Very durable.

I've had a lot of fun on this ski. This is a good sidecut. The Hippie Stinx actually does pretty well on hardpack despite the width. In any kind of new snow conditions it's a goer. You'll be a tele god with these skis. Just let 'em run. The ski patrollers will never catch you.

This is a well made glove. It's referred to as the spring glove but is plenty warm enough for most winter conditions in Utah. I've used these for a full season without any problems (although if I did have a problem, I know that Marmot would take care of me).

The cut of this sleeping pad makes it much more compact than my Thermarest Camp Rest. I had a great night's sleep on this big agnes pad. It doesn't self inflate like the thermarests but no biggie as I've got plenty of air. Thumbs up.

The North Face Nuptse is one of the best pieces of gear I own. This jacket is amazingly warm. I always stow my Nuptse in my pack when I'm heading out backcountry skiing. It's so light I can't even tell I brought it. Down is great because it compresses really well too. The Nuptse compacts down to little bigger than a grapefruit.

The North Face Nuptse is one of the best pieces of gear I own. This jacket is amazingly warm. I always stow my Nuptse in my pack when I'm heading out backcountry skiing. It's so light I can't even tell I brought it. Down is great because it compresses really well too. The Nuptse compacts down to little bigger than a grapefruit.

This Da Kine Pilot is a really well designed pack. There's a adjustable wire loop that you can dial in to fit any ski width. Comfortable carrying skis (diagonally across the back). This is just about the perfect size pack for day time hiking & skinning in the backcountry. Room for a spare jacket, gloves, platypus hydration bag, shovel, probe, skins and a couple Probars.

...and I've owned a lot of jackets. This the North Face Diad jacket is unbelievably light weight yet it keeps me warm and dry. On super cold ski days (ie single digits and below) I go with a 3 layer Gore-Tex jacket. Love the left chest camera / cell phone pocket. This jacket packs down small.

My nephew loves these kids DC snowboard boots and he definitely rips on them. The lacing system is super simple and works really well. It's also easy for him to pull the boots on with the straps at the top.

I've found that this sunscreen stays on better in the water than all the others out there, and it doesn't sting your eyes. Great for windsurfing and surfing.

I've tried several different laptop backpacks. The Da Kine Terminal is far and away the best. The sleeve actually fits bigger laptops and it leaves your laptop suspended just off the bottom of the pack so if you drop it on a concrete floor or something, you won't need to buy a new laptop. Lots of handy pockets for your power cord & spare batteries. There's a pocket on the top for holding sunglasses. It's lined with a soft material so you don't need a sunglass case. Dakine makes great gear. I also recommend the split roller - best duffle bag I've ever owned.

I love my Patagonia R2 fleece jacket. I wear it under a shell for skiing or snowboarding in cold weather. I always bring it with me when I go camping. It's lightweight and makes a great pillow (just bring a pillow case).

This is a well designed light weight pack. The sleeve in the strap insulates the hydration hose well. I haven't had any freezing problems at all. My shovel fits neatly inside. It's small, but on most days that's just what I need (it's also very light weight).

I'd say this is the best designed telemark binding out there. The toe plate holds your boot really snugly (more so than other bindings). The cartridges have just the right tension and I like how they go under your foot.

I always keep one of these Arcteryx headbands in my pocket or pack. They keep your ears warm when the wind whips up. Unlike with some headbands I've had, you can still hear with this Arcteryx version. Sometimes a hat is too hot but it's still a little cold on your ears.

I wear these patagonia ultra shorts running, mountaineering, and simply going to the gym. They fit well, have a comfortable liner, and handy pockets. Thumbs up.

I like to bivy on top of mountains (makes for a great view in the morning!). I always take these mountain hardware down pants with me. They compress down quite small and they're obviously very light (hey that's the nature of down). For winter mountaineering I actually just bring a light weight Marmot Hydrogen (30 degree) bag. When I combine that with these mhw pants and a TNF nuptse and a 1 lb 6 oz Black Diamond bivy, I'm plenty warm. The bonus is when you get up in the morning you can roll out of bed and make some jo and you're a lot warmer than you'd be with your gore-tex ski bibs.

I wear these "midweight tights" (fancy term for long underwear) as a base layer in a wide range of winter conditions. I'm warm in all but the most frigid temps wearing these and an unlined Gore-Tex ski bib. I'd say that the word "tights" is misleading. This is really mid-weight techie long underwear.

I used to have a Burton Fish but I definitely like the Malolo better. Given the slightly set back stance and the shape of this board, the nose stays up on deep powder days and you can rip. This snowboard also carves really well on hard pack and riding switch feels much better than with the Fish.

This is a really well designed jacket. Bomber seams, well placed pockets. While this isn't an insulated jacket per se, if you layer (ie wear a merino wool base layer, and maybe a turtleneck and a Marmot driclime windshirt underneath), you'll be far warmer than you will with other insulated jackets. Layering is the way to go to keep warm and this Burton AK Cargo jacket is on of the best made jackets I've ever owned.

This Yakima hitch mount bike rack is the way to go. We have a Subaru Outback and can still open the hatch without even swinging the rack down (it has a mechanism for this). You get better gas mileage with your bikes on the back vs the roof, and your bikes don't get plastered with bugs.

I like the feel of the black diamond kilowatts. This is a good side cut for an all around ski (if you live out west). The Killowatt carves well on hard pack but it also performs really well in powder and skied out crud.

I love these Horny Toad Brio shorts. They're made with an especially soft, yet seemingly durable material. Very comfortable. You have a little leeway on sizing as you just adjust the simple belt (give it a yank) and you're good to go.

I love these Horny Toad Brio shorts. They're made with an especially soft, yet seemingly durable material. Very comfortable. You have a little leeway on sizing as you just adjust the simple belt (give it a yank) and you're good to go.

This Salomon short is a good lightweight short for trail running, hiking, and swimming. There's a small pocket in the back which is about big enough for a digital camera (although the zipper can be a little hard to grab reaching behind your back). I just went swimming with these shorts. They seem to be made of a hydrophobic material. They don't seem to soak up water at all.