Reviews by User: Valeda Scribner (7)

This sleeping bag was exactly what I was looking for. Warm, light, packs down small... On our backpacking trip in Glacier National Park, for the first time I had a warm night's sleep, while my boyfriend who had a 15 degree down bag complained of being cold! It will definitely be my go-to sleeping bag from now on. A couple notes - it does have a draft collar (although the specs say it doesn't), and may run a little short if you tighten the hood.

Hot damn do I love these boots! After trying pretty much EVERYTHING in the market on (both men's & women's AT) and taking at least 4 of them out on the hill, I absolutely LOVE the Black Diamond Shivas. I say this with the disclaimer that I have a very odd foot (extremely wide toe width - think large bunion, and narrow heels) and therefore the fit may not be for everyone, but a super snug and yet does not result in all out PAIN. Skied them right out of the box and really will need NO modifications which is still shocking to me. I attribute a lot of the success to the tapered heel liner (think an actual crease right around the achilles) which is one reason I would not switch out the liner. My heel does NOT move within the boot and my toes lightly press against the end all day without being scrunched. I'm typically an 8.5 in street shoes which translates to a 24.5, however the 25 fit perfect reiterating the "BD's run small" comment. I didn't even have to unbuckle the boot in between runs (I'm currently only using the largest settings on most buckles), and my only discomfort was in my toenails after a day of touring - most likely a sign that my toenails needed trimming :-p. The walk mode is unbelievable (almost 45 degrees of movement and you can pretty much stand up straight) and I didn't find the weight to be an issue, although if you prefer an ultralight setup you may be dissatisfied. I'm crossing my fingers that there's no first-year snafus (other than the wearing out of my patience in waiting to obtaining a pair in my size), and will definitely report back if my new found love turns sour or hits some bumps along the road.

Bought this jacket last year for wearing around town and SO glad I did. It's extremely versatile and looks great regardless of whether you're wearing it over sweats, jeans, or a skirt. Although I was never a huge fan of the fur-around-the hood look, it's a welcome warm touch after pulling yourself out of the hot springs in the middle of winter!

This was my first and still is my only helmet. The fit is great and I really like the ratcheting feature in the back, as it allows me to easily adjust the fit after putting on or taking off a hat, etc. Unlike other users I have not found it to be a discomfort - perhaps they were tightening the ratchet too much. I thought I'd hate wearing helmets but after I got this one I've never thought twice about not wearing one again. It's been over three years now and I've had no issues! I also like the plain and straightforward style - harder to find than you'd think!

I had high hopes for these shorts and had been on the lookout for cute yet functional bike shorts for a while. These were not them. The fit was more like baggy men's board shorts and there was no padding. Going back in the mail tomorrow.

I'm extremely satisfied with these pants. Wore them backpacking for 5 days straight through Glacier National Park. Fit was very good (got one size up as others suggested) and they were roomy enough for comfort hiking while still maintaining the best shape I've seen for hiking pants. The drawstring is a great addition since the size of both you and the pants will change over a long distance trip. Very easy zip-off-leg feature too!

WOW - I don't know what kinda crazy stuff they put in the high intensity yellow goggles, but they are incredible! Visibility in flat light is the best I've ever experienced, which adds hours to your ski day and confidence to your turns. I was pleasantly surprised by the matte olive color too - a more pronounced green that somehow matches my jacket perfectly. GET EM!