Reviews by User: Andrew Nicholson (16)

I got the Peat Moss color, and from the picture, it looks like a shiny, smooth material, but really it's a matte green color, with a slightly rough texture. The green is also a little lighter and less vibrant than it appears on the site (which is a good thing by me). The pants are pretty thick and burly; I don't think they'll ever wear out. Think of them as a family heirloom. The hip pockets have a nice soft fleece lining, but they're a little too small. I think the Mountain Hardwear nut-shaped rivets are a nice touch. I'm 5'9" with a 30 inch waist, and the 30/reg's are perfect.

I was pretty impressed with this vest. I got it begrudgingly because of the bright color, to wear on a long bike trip (what's important is your health). It's bright enough to let you be seen by cars, but not so bright that it burns your eyeballs. The green/black actually looks kind of cool. Feeling the material, I was skeptical about the alleged windproof-ness of it, but after wearing it in pretty heavy winds, I was surprised at how warm it kept me. (Apparently 90% of the heat lost while cycling is from your chest, because of the wind hitting you straight on.)

I've got mixed feelings about this jersey. I really like the style and fit of it a lot. It would be my favorite jersey hands down, if it wasn't for the fact that it rides up like no man's business. The waist is elastic and I constantly have to pull it down to keep it in place, otherwise it's up to my sternum, literally. I usually wear a small, and the small seems to fit fine, if it weren't for the riding up issue. I dunno, maybe a medium would have been better.

This is a great jersey for those of us who don't want or need a super tight, flashy race jersey. It's got more of a casual fit, but still a lot more aero than a normal t-shirt. The style is not too flashy, but not boring either, so you won't feel weird when you go in to grab some food during/after a ride. I really like the back pockets too; the openings are kind of toward the side, so it's a lot easier to stick your hands in and grab stuff, especially while in the saddle. Don't worry though, they're deep enough that stuff won't fall out of them.

This is a pretty standard backpack. A little smaller than your average school backpack, and a little more narrow. It's nice as kind of an auxiliary backpack for a specific use, like carrying climbing gear, but doesn't seem sturdy enough or have enough organizational stuff to use as an all around backpack. It's very lightweight though, and it looks good. It also has a slot for hydration bladder, and gear loops on either side.

Overall it's a pretty basic sweatshirt, which is nice. The hood is big, which is nice. The waistband is kind of elasticy, which is not nice because it rides up a little, but once it chills out, it will be nice. That's better than being normal for a bit, and then becoming huge when it stretches out, right?

This jersey is really lightweight. I think there's a pretty specific temperature range where you'd want to wear something like this - if it's cool it may not keep you warm enough, and if it's warm you might as well be wearing short sleeves. Perhaps if you're worried about sun exposure you could wear this instead of short sleeves, if it's not too hot. At any rate, it's a nice jersey, simple style, but it looks good. The torso seems a little longer than normal, and the sleeves are tight.

I like these pedals a lot. They seem more secure when you're riding, but easier to get out of at the same time. I like the little platform so you can ride a little without being clipped in, which is nice for steep sections or when it takes you a few seconds to get into them. They're a little heavier than other, more expensive egg beater pedals, but a lot of us can't really tell the difference anyway, let's be honest. The price is awesome too - if you're looking for an inexpensive way to try out clipless pedals, these are it.

I love these shoes. I got these on a whim, only because the price was so ridiculous on Steep and Cheap, more out of curiosity than an actual need for new climbing shoes. But holy crap, I love them. They fit perfectly right off the bat, and the sizing was right on. (I wear a 43 in most brands, and the 10 (43) in these was no exception. These are definitely bouldering shoes - the soles are pretty thin and give you great feel of the rock/plastic. Not a shoe you'd want for sport climbing or any long routes though, they don't have much support to speak of. I honestly don't think more expensive shoes like Cobras or Moccasyms have anything on these. Try em and see for yourself.

This review is for the White/Green color, which is actually last year's version of these gloves. These are decent quality gloves. Nothing special, but not bad. A few things: One, the sizing chart is way off. I measured my hand repeatedly from base of hand to tip of middle finger, and it's around 7.5 inches. The chart says I'd be a size L, but actually the size small fits me perfectly. Two, the big vent looking thing on the back of the hand looks like it should be, well, a vent of some sort. But really it's just a solid piece of rubber. Could serve as extra protection I suppose, but otherwise pretty useless aside from looking kind of cool. Third, the velcro closure is pretty low quality. It still works, but you can tell they used a cheap velcro for it, and it may not last too long. The gloves look sweet though, and at this price, I don't really care how durable they are. Unless they completely fall apart, they'll still protect your hands from branches while you ride, or rocks when you fall.

This stuff is pretty awesome. Some of the highest quality reflective stuff I've ever seen - it really grabs light and even seems to glow in daylight. The stuff is super sticky too; it'll stick to pretty much any surface, including stuff that goes underwater, like life jackets. Well ok, those float, but you know what I mean. It comes with 4 4x4 inch sheets, which you can cut into smaller pieces and put reflectors wherever you want them.

I didn't have very high expectations for this shoe, since they're pretty cheap and Montrail doesn't really have a reputation for climbing shoes. But the price was right, so I decided to try a pair anyway, and I was pleasantly surprised. They're very comfortable, and I haven't found anything to complain about at all. They're not too aggressive, but they provide a decent feel through the sole. Definitely more of a bouldering shoe. For the price, I think they're a steal. Other reviews say the sizing is off, but for me, it was spot on: I wear a 9.5 street shoe, and the 43 fits me perfectly.

These bindings are great. They're totally comfortable due to the big wide ankle strap (distributes pressure, so no hot spots), and since there's only one strap to deal with, it's super fast and easy to get in and out of. Every time I get off the lift, I have to wait a good 30 seconds while people with 2 straps finish getting strapped in. They do take a few minutes of work to get the fit dialed in and adjusted when you first get them (see video inside the sizing chart), but that time more than pays for itself through a really nice customized fit, that you never have to mess with again. (until you get new boots)

This stuff works really well. But keep in mind, it is made mainly for rain gear without a liner on the inside. If you have a jacket with a fleece backing or fuzziness on the inside, go with the spray on TX Direct rather than the wash-in. It says that right on the label.

These seem to be decent quality gloves. I haven't ridden with them yet, but I noticed a few things right away. One, the sizing chart is way off. I measured my hand repeatedly from base of hand to tip of middle finger, and it's around 7.5 inches. The chart says I'd be a size L, but actually the size small fits me perfectly. Two, the big vent looking thing on the back of the hand looks like it should be, well, a vent of some sort. But really it's just a solid piece of rubber. Could serve as extra protection I suppose, but otherwise pretty useless aside from looking kind of cool.

This is a pretty thin beanie, and fits really snugly on your head. It won't keep you very warm on its own, but it covers your ears and it's thin enough to wear under something else to give a little more insulation. I have a pretty small head (about 21") and it fits me fine.