Reviews by User: bionictrout (9)

This pad is great. I have been using a thermarest, as well as a couple other brands off and on, and this is the best yet by far. For such a thick pad it packs very small. I probably could have gotten away with the 3-season variant, however, and saved space (and a bit of weight.) I don't sleep in weather much colder than about 0/-20, and I think the 3-season would have been fine. The length (contrary to other comments) is perfect for me. I am 6 feet and have plenty of room for my feet, even with my head all the way on the pad.

This is a super-comfortable, somewhat warm wool-blend sock. It has a nice, snug fit in the heel and arch. It is just a bit too roomy in the toe for my taste, but that is a very minor con. Doesn't have some of the bells and whistles of a $30 pair, but for the price, this is a great all-around sock. I bought another pair.

This sock has a lot of bells and whistles reserved for a more expensive sock. It has articulated weaving in the arch and heel, and a very snug, skin-like fit throughout the foot. It is very light, yet maintains a good level of padding and support. Well worth the price.

This is a good fitting light-weight sock, but it is very short. It feels odd--almost halfway sock. I prefer at least another two inches or so even in a crew sock.

I really like the form factor and look of these glasses, but they do not hold up well to even casual wear. I am a fan of Smith Optics. They sell relatively inexpensive glasses with decent optics and a variety of styles, but this pair was not a good representation of what I have come to expect. First off, the nearly frameless design requires that the sides and nose bridge are held in place with a single screw on each end. These screws never stay tight. To worsen the situation, the screw requires some custom tool to tighten. I checked with three optical stores, and they all said they had seen the screws before, but could not help me adjusting them. The inner lens coating is very sensitive, too. I noticed it wore through after a few days with just casual cleaning with the included cleaning cloth. Finally, for a titanium frame, I would have expected a standard feature like a spring-loaded hinge. These have a standard friction hinge, which seems to suffer from the same loosening problems that the other screws on the frame do. The style and feel was great, but I couldn't put up with what seemed like shoddy technical design and materials so I returned them.

This is now one of my favorite socks. I have worn the medium weight variant before, but much prefer this fit and feel for most applications. VERY durable and maintains a good fit after lots of wear. Very warm for the light-weight, so it might not be great for summer use, but for wet, cold use it is great.

These pants are great for backpacking and hiking. They are roomy enough to provide freedom of movement, but feel secure and fit well with the built-in adjustable web belt. They are cool in warm weather, yet extremely durable. I wore them for 5 days straight on an extended pack trip and had no complaints at all. A couple of minor issues: (1) The length sizing is odd. The regular length is too short for me, and the long length is too long. I consider myself pretty standard size (5'11", 33 inseam), and it bugs me when pants have limited length selection. I ended up getting the long and washing/drying the crap out of them until the shrunk about 3/4 of an inch. They still were long, but that's better than too short in the thick brush. (2) The web belt is very thin and tends to twist inside the sleeve. They really should have installed a wider, more flexible belt.

These socks aren't cheap at all, but I now own three pairs! If you are looking for a well-padded sock that doesn't burn up your feet in heat or over long pack trips, this is the best sock I have ever found. I have tried several other brands but have always walked a balancing act between padding to comfort sore feet and temperature control during summer temperatures. These socks feel substantial enough on your feet to eliminate binding from laces and abrasion on foot pads, but keep your feet cool at the same time. They do seem a little fragile in the weaving around the heel, but I have had no problems so far.

This shirt looks great and is comfortable, particularly in warm weather. It is very "fragile" however, snagging noticeably with even minor scratching, brushing up against trees, or abrasion from a pack. I personally prefer a cotton t-shirt as it is a little more comfortable (albeit not as cool in warm weather) and much more durable. Long story short, this shirt is good for activities that don't involve potential snagging.