Reviews by User: sparke (44)

The Columbia Crest socks are perfect for hiking, rambling around town or pedaling your favorite trail. They're nice and light but offer the perfect warmth for a cool night in the tent too. The merino wool isn't itchy like other wool socks and you'll never get tired of wearing them.

If you're looking for an inexpensive but high-quality watch/pedometer, look no further. The VIA is a great watch for the value, is waterproof and is an accurate pedometer too.

I love Margaritas and I love socks, so it's no surprise that I love my Smart Wool Margarita socks! They are thin but warm and are great at moisture-wicking. I bought a pair in each color and will be buying more to give as cozy, colorful gifts.

I bought this bag for my husband to use when he travels on quick overnights for business. It fits his work documents, two changes of clothing, a size 13 pair of running shoes, his iPod/charger and all his toiletry stuff with room to spare. He loves the bag. It's extra tough and very compact.

Disclaimer: I'm a bit of a Chaco junkie, with this being one of six pair I own. The ZX/2, like all the other styles, requires no break-in period. It's comfy right from the start. They're great to hike and paddle in and always look good. I love the new two-strap style!

I bought the She-She toiletry kit to replace an aging Old Navy toiletry bag and this one is soooo much cooler. It's very spacious, yet small enough to tuck into a tight small space in your luggage or carry-on. It's perfect for quick trips or long vacations and will fit more stuff than you need to take!

I'm a devotee of Keen and was so happy to find the Ventura. The fit is a bit different from the usual Keen fit -- the toe box is a not as high, the insole is not as comfortable -- but they're great looking. I replaced the Keen insole with the Spenco PolySorb Walker/Runner insole and I was good to go. I can stand on unforgiving cement and work for 12 hours with no pain/fatigue whatsoever. Love the Venturas!

I was skeptical about the warmth and comfort of this bag because of its ultra compact size when in the stuff sack, but it is a regular sized bag when out of the sack. When I crawled into it on a chilly 20 F night, I was warm all night, and very comfortable, so I was very impressed. The bag is so light and small that it fit very well in my pack for a short weekend trip.

I bought a pair each of the black and henna Saturn socks and just love the colors! The wool is so cozy, not itchy at all, and the cushioned sole is divine. The Saturns stay put, stay warm, and make me smile whenever I see them.

Super bright colors and a soft warm fleece earband make the Molly beanie awesome. It's a little stretchy, so it fits a big melon, but it fits close to your bean so you can wear it under your hoodie or helmet.

The OR Trance is now my favorite jacket. It is really lightweight and not bulky at all like other puffy down jackets. I can wear a t-shirt under it and go out in 30 degrees and still be warm. It's thin enough to layer under a shell, yet the fit is big enough to wear it as a top layer over a t-shirt or two and a fleece jacket, and still have ample room and movement. And I love the fleece-lined collar. The only gripe I have is that the tag says the jacket comes with a stuff sack, but mine did not. Great jacket though!

The Of The Earth Leaf beanie is one of my favorite hats. Its merino wool keeps my noggin toasty warm and it covers my ears completely. The Leaf is super colorful and the wool is soft and not at all itchy.

Dansko shoes are the best! I currently own 3 pairs of the professional clogs, with another pair on the way. I do not wear any other shoe to work or to play. They're great because they can be worn with slacks in the office, jeans for a night out and on the weekend for relaxing. I can wear them all day without any leg, foot or low back pain. I would highly recommend these shoes to anyone who works long hours on their feet.

I'm of the opinion that Keen can do no wrong, and when I slipped my new Wasatch Crest Hiking Shoes on for the first time, I wasn't let down. They're extra grippy, breathable and downright comfortable.

Kids' Caymans are perfect for little feet. They are supportive, comfortable, protective of tiny toes, waterproof and easy to clean. These are my niece's favorite shoes!

The Overhead Shed is a horrible bag. Don't waste your money! Despite the name and promise that it fits in overheads, it does not. It's about 1/2 inch too big. My 6'2" husband was forced to shove it under the seat in front of him and had an uncomfortable ride because he couldn't stretch his legs out because the bag was so big. The handle doesn't lock in any position except when it is completely stowed away, making the bag bounce around on the end of the handle. The zipper down the center of the bag causes great difficulty getting things into and out of the bag without wrinkling your clothing like mad. It holds a lot of stuff yes, but not without a fuss getting it all in there. There's no handle or object for you to grab onto on the bottom of the bag either. It's a waste. We've used this bag for one trip and will probably never use it again.

These shorts make riding my bike a very pleasant experience, the material is lightweight which keeps me cool when pedaling. The built-in chamois offers a lot of comfort and support which allows me to ride a bit further. The length and style are also a plus because they don't look like regular super tight biking shorts so they can also be worn in public and look like a regular pair of shorts. They are tops in my book....

The Bayview Cap fits perfectly, is light and comfortable and allows a fair bit of air conditioning up there so you don't overheat. I wore this cap in Zion a couple weeks ago when temps were in the 80s and my bean stayed cool.

Just bought my third pair, although the first and second are still in prime shape after three years of hiking, biking and everyday type of wear. These socks breathe and wick moisture really well and hold up to lots of use. I love the flower on the side!

We had to buy a second NRS bilge pump because the first was used in a water fight and got filled with sand and locked up on us. However, when used to pump water as it was designed to, the NRS bilge pump is great! You can empty a deluged kayak pretty darn quick and with no strain or tiredness. It's perfect for a water fight too but keep it away from the beach.

I bought this protech cube to keep my old Polaroid folding camera safe while traveling and it works great. It's very padded, and is sure to keep any important electronics safe.

The Moab Ventilator is a seriously vented shoe. These keep my husband's feet cool on long, hot hikes. There's no break-in period so he wore them right out of the box onto the trail. They're stylish and comfortable too!

Great quality, great looks, you just can't go wrong with Eagle Creek. I bought the Pack-it Sac to hold miscellaneous items like pens, random rolls of film, a note pad, little things like that while I travel and it works great!

I love my Brimmer hat, but it's really tight. It squishes my head but it looks good! (I have a big melon though, so if yours is small or average size, this hat will probably be perfect for you.) The knit pattern is very cool and the fleece liner inside is soft and warm.

My husband uses this bag for school and work, and somehow manages to cram a laptop (+cords and mouse), a binder, two giant college textbooks, a Nalgene bottle, lunch, and a few Clif bars, and he loves, loves, loves this bag. All that stuff makes the fit a bit tight (as you could imagine) but he loves having everything he needs all together. He digs the stylish colors, all the organization pockets, and the padded compartment for the laptop, and has already been looking at other Timbuk2 bags for when he needs to upgrade "in a few years" he says. Great bag, hauls like a champ, awesome product.

I brought the Hypnotic shirt home, washed and dried it, and found that it shrunk quite a bit, but it still looks great, it's just more snug than I'd like. I love the design on the back and the colors are nice and bright.

The Spenco PolySorb Walker/Runner insoles are just about the most comfortable things I've ever put my feet on. I put these in some uncomfortable kicks and just can't stop wearing them now. I'll put them on at 6 in the morning and realize at 10 at night that I've still got my shoes on. They're that cushy. I bought a second pair for some other shoes and have no regrets. Buy these. You'll love them. They fit easily and really have no break-in period, and the best part: they don't stink!

I bought the R2 vest to replace a no-name fleece vest I've been wearing and loving for almost 10 years, so the R2 had a lot to live up to, and so far, I'm loving it. The fleece is really lightweight and compact, so I can wear it under other layers with no bunching. The R2 has a close fit but is comfortable and not restricting at all over a couple of thin layers. The fleece is super soft, doesn't seem to pill, and the pockets are deep and big, but have a very low profile. I'm planning on 10+ happy years out of my R2 vest.

I just bought my second Sherpani Zoe "shoulder bag". It's really just a nice-sized wallet on a hefty string, which I easily removed. The Zoe is the perfect size for me for everyday use and for traveling. My passport fits neatly inside, so I can keep all my ID together. When I travel, I tie the string back on and I can keep the Zoe secure and close to my body. The colors are great. The zippers never snag. I used my first Zoe as my everyday wallet for over 3 years and it showed no signs of wear and tear. I had to get this new one because my original Zoe was stolen. It was that good-looking!

I absolutely loved sleeping on the Big Agnes Insulated AIr Core pad. It helped keep me warm on a 20 degree F night and made me sleep like a baby. Very plush, lightweight, compact.

I bought this pack to replace an Osprey day pack that wasn't hydration-compatible, but I used a Platy system anyway. The Camelbak Day Star looks compact but has a ton of room for a couple of small cameras and film, a fleece jacket and plenty of snacks. Colors are great, fabric is durable and tough, and it's comfortable to wear all day.

The Trailscape shoes are so comfortable. I bought them and immediately put them on. No break-in period is necessary. They are extremely breathable and very grippy, as well as colorful and stylish. Great shoe!

These are the best socks out there. I bought four pair this week to replace four pair of the same socks I bought over EIGHT years ago. Needless to say, they last a long time. Cushy, cozy and never itchy, these socks are perfect for everyday wear and hiking. I've worn these in cold weather while kayaking (under my waterproof booties). I've even snowshoed in them, and these socks keep my feet warm even if they're wet. Excellent socks! Highly recommended.

There's no limit!! We love our Nalgenes and own more than 10. We have a separate shelf in the fridge for them. They are virtually indestructible and just downright cool.

Dansko shoes are the best! I currently own 3 pairs of the professional clogs, with another pair on the way. I do not wear any other shoe to work or to play. They're great because they can be worn with slacks in the office, jeans for a night out and on the weekend for relaxing. I can wear them all day without any leg, foot or low back pain. I would highly recommend these shoes to anyone who works long hours on their feet.

This Backcountry.com hoody is perfect for cool weather. It's fuzzy and warm but runs about a half size too small. If you normally wear an XL, be aware that if you order an XL it'll be a little snug. I still would have gone with an XL though.

I bought the Vasque Kota GTX XCR shoe for my husband and he loves them. They are indeed waterproof (did a 3-mile walk in the pouring-down-rain with no leakage) and are extremely comfortable right out of the box. No break-in period required. Extra grippy and stylish. Great shoe!

With comfort, good looks and high quality all wrapped up in these shoes, what more could I want. Great shoes. My third pair of Danskos.

Great shirt, great fit, great logo. What more can I say?

The Caymans are super comfy, easy to clean and feel superb even on the longest days on my feet. I especially love putting them on after a day spent in other shoes. Word to the wise though: don't leave your Crocs in a hot car all weekend. They shrink a size or two (but stretch out again eventually).

Just returned from a weeklong trip to Chicago and Wisconsin's Door County. We took six cubes between the two of us... one for cleans, one for dirties, one for whatever. I've used these cubes for over four years on every trip I've taken, including backpacking trips. They're lightweight and REALLY compact your stuff. Love them!

The Chaco Hipthongs are quite possibly the best pair of sandals I have ever owned. The straps offer a lot of support holding the shoe to your foot. They don't slide around under your foot like a lot of sandals I have owned in the past. They are a very comfortable shoe that can be easily slipped on or off and are very comfortable when running errands around town or just going for a walk.

Even though I haven't had a chance to use my ORV Trunk yet, I know I won't be disappointed. It looks sturdy and indestructible, and if it performs anything like my other Eagle Creek products, I know it'll be a great bag.