Reviews by User: Jim McIntosh (32)

This beacon is easy to use and the dual mode is exactly what would be needed for a long range search. The analog signal gets you close and the digital signal with direction and distance locks you in quick ounce you get with in 10 meters. More importantly, my touring partners feel safe when we do beacon drills.

I've logged over 100,000 vertical feet with this pack on my back. It holds absolutely everything I need from first aid gear to a jacket and even room for everything you need to fix a bike on the trial - tubes and tools. This is my favorite piece of gear.

I've logged over 100,000 vertical feet with this pack on my back. It holds absolutely everything I need from first aid gear to a jacket and even room for everything you need to fix a bike on the trial - tubes and tools. This is my favorite piece of gear.

This watch has almost every function you could want in an advanced altimeter. I own the stainless seal version and it has proved to be very durable. I wear this watch daily and have taken it on more than 100 vertical adventures with out getting a single scratch the to face crystal. I mt. bike, ski, camp, and take care of two little kids... so you know what's it's gone through. I've also been amazed how accurate the altimeter, barometer, and thermometer have been. The only drawback to the watch is that the band pooped off at the clasp due to a weak pin, however I've replaced the pin and that hasn't happened since.

This jacket is famous for being a great rain jacket, but I use it for a lightweight shell when I'm riding my bike, hiking, or just over a sweatshirt when it's cold and raining during a camping or fishing trip. Pluse, it looks cool.

I used this pedal for two years. I switched form an older model SPD pedal to this Crank Brothers egg beater style because I was sick of the desert sand clogging up my cleats. This style has much better, even great, performance clearing mud and dirt. I also chose this pedal because I thought the platform around the egg beater would help for those times when I don't quite get clipped in or for just riding around the camp site in my chacos. The platform is just big enough for that but you couldn't use regular shoes and ride on these pedals. The clip sticks up just enough that it's hard to keep your foot on. The only real issue i had, that might be fixed by now, was that the nut inside the casing that holds the outer cast to post and crank came loss and the pedal came off the post and was stuck to the bottom of my foot and the cleat. I did about 10 minutes of trail maintenance and got the nut back on just fine, and after the ride made sure there was some lock tight in place. I didn't have the issue again.

I love these sandals because I have never liked how lose flip flops feel. These Chaco's fix that with the strap to tighten the section that needs the support. I'm sure I will have these for quite some time to come. My last Chaco's have lasted me for 6 years and I still wear them on a regular basis.

I recently bought a new bike that came with a 20mm front axle. There aren't any quick release squires for a 20mm axle so I needed to find a new roof top rack that would allow me to just roll the bike on without removing the wheel. The rack is pretty solid and I like the fact that it comes with a built-in locking system, but I only have one problem. I had to make an adjustment to my windshield so that I could secure my bike, otherwise it's a great fit.

I am a skier, mountain biker, and golfer. I'm now on my second pair of Smith Empire polarized sunglasses. I really like them for daily use and love the fit. I use them for mountain biking and driving. The only issue I have with these glasses is there is a small piece of frame in my blind spot that gets in my way when I'm driving.

I've owned this shoe for 2 years now and it's still holding up strong. It was my every day shoe up until a month ago when I purchased another pair. I've still kept these around just to have a backup shoe but I often find myself wearing these on the weekends because they are just so comfortable. The lacing system is very handy. I'm not a person who likes to tie my shoes. The only drawback for this shoe is that the sole was not as strong and ridged as it could have been for trail running.

I bought this shirt for the style, but it turns out to be great quality. The shirt fits me very well. I'm 6'2" 200lb and I bought a large. The material is very light and wrinkle resistant. This is the kind of shirt you can wear at the office and camping for a week in the mountains.

Long story short, I only used the helmet for one ride but it saved me from taking a rock to my right temple. I took an 8 foot fall off the side of a trail in Frutia, Colorado, named Moore Fun. I landed on my right side head and shoulders first and the helmet took a rock just over my temple. The helmet shell split but I didn't realize this until I got up, brushed myself off and finished my physical inventory. I had to throw the helmet away but it was worth every penny. I bought the lid for comfort and style but it performed its job and saved me from significant injury.

This is a great light weight shirt. If it has a flaw it is that it might be too light weight. It's stylish and fits well though. It has mad it in to the official weekly rotation.

This is a comfortable sandal. The fit is true and they work well for the water, but don't dry quickly. I'd recommend these for anyone who likes MGD or Miller lite.

If you are outdoors and sweet as much as I do it's a good idea to have a shirt like this to wick the sweet away from your body while keeping your steez on. I wear this golfing and hiking. Good fit over all, but the zipper feels a little overkill.

I like the fit, the fabric, and the style. I haven't owned a shirt with a snap button since the 80s but they work great. This shirt gives this 35 year old just the right amount of steez without looking like I'm trying to be 19.

These Smith Thresholds fit my small or medium dome and I like the fact that there are no large blind spots caused by thick ass frames.

This helmet is light, breaths well and .. oh yeah saved my live. It protected my head form an 8' fall onto rocks in Frutia, CO a summer ago. The helmet was destroyed by my head was fine. That's really all you need to know.

I love this hoodie. You can wear it as a jacket or as just a hoodie and it doesn't get too hot. It's comfortable but the fit is for an athletic frame. I'm round in the belly and had to go up a size, but I'm happy all the same with the large size.

I've looked for a long time to find a replacement for my Smith Empire glasses, and these did the trick. I don't even mind that the lenses aren't interchangeable. They are light and don't have a large blind spot.

I bought these sunglasses based on other reviews and conversations with friends who own these. I like the way the lens sets in place with a click. If there is one thing I don't like it is the fact that you have to smug up the lens to pull it out. I typically use these for driving my car and mt. biking. This makes my third pair of smith polarized sliders in the past 6 years. You could say I've becoming a very loyal Smith customer.

This hat rocks and is put together well.

In my mind this is the only ski pole for the backcountry skier.

This is the perfect size pack for an all day tour and is versatile enough with the removable hydration pack to do a couple quick laps. The pack fits your shovel, probe, and skins in a very nice outside pack. This pack also has a nice design for access to your extra clothing. The only draw back to this pack is that the waste buckle is a little to small to work with thick gloves or mittens. It's still a 5 star in my mind.

In my opinion a good skin should be durable and track well on steep slopes. This does all that. I don't know why anyone would use another skin.

A year ago I blew up my alpine skis and bindings in a big wreck. So, last year I had to ride my AT gear at the resorts. I loved the binding in the backcountry, but it held up really well with weekly use on even the groomers. This binding is also strong and will hold up to big drops and big wrecks.

I really like the watch, but the band is a little week. The pins have popped a couple times on me.

I bought these shorts last week and they arrived last night. The instant I tried them on I realized these were exactly what I was looking for. They are the perfect length, perfect fit, and the pockets are all functional. I am 6'2" and 200lb and I bought the 36in.

I've owned these Z/1 Terreno Sandals for a little over a year and they are by far the best sandal I've ever owned. Chaco's time tested single strap adjustment is one of those designs they should never be changed. The sandal runs just about ½ size large, but I think it's good to have just a little more room on a sandal then not enough. This sandal’s sole is perfect for hiking over rocks and the occasional river crossing as well as everyday use.

I bought this shoe hoping it would be good for everyday wear that would also function well in the mountains... and they do. The structure of the shoe is really solid and they aren't too heavy. My only knock on the shoe is that it gets a little hot, but I'm just that way.

I wanted to wait a little while before giving my input on this pack to be sure I gave it a fare shake. Using this pack for the past three months, and I only have one issue with this pack; it's a little too large. The laptop sleeve is nice and padded, the internal pockets and sleeves are nicely designed, and I love the sunglasses pouch on to with the soft fabric to protect your lenses. I just don't use all the room, and the pack doesn't really collapse well when you aren't using it.

I actually won this jacket at our company party and didn't think I'd like it. The fact that I can wear this jacket in temperatures ranging from 30-60 degrees with nothing but a base layer on underneath and stay absolutely comfortable was completely unexpected. The design is light for packing but the jacket is very durable and versatile. I've warn this jacket for my every day jacket going to work in Park City and in the mountains after a long ski touring ascent. The jacket fits true to size with long sleeves for tall guys.

I bought these shorts because I thought they looked cool and had cool pockets, but I didn't try them on first. I am a slightly out of shape 6'2", 200lb and they fit me snugly. I bought the 36" thinking they would be more loose. Since I bought them and started getting outdoors hiking and biking they have started fitting much better. I'm now down to 195lb but in much better shape. I'd recommend these short.