Reviews by User: James C Watts (26)

These are my "go to" choice of crampons for all terrain in the winter. Due to the configuration of the points, they are excellent for flat land walking as well as steep mixed climbing. They are well built, tough, and dependable. All the qualities of a really great tool. Plus, they fit my size 45 La Sportiva Makalus like they were made to be. All in all, a really great crampon. I would choose these over the light aluminum version any day. The ounces saved don't make up for the lowered life span and performance on thin ice and mixed ice/rock.

I have the Atlas 1230s, and have put them through a couple of decent seasons now with no complaints or problems. They give me plenty of flotation even with a heavy winter pack on (total weight: ~210 lbs), and the bindings are perfect. Easy to put on and adjust, totally secure, and they don't twist around at all, which keeps the snowshoe tracking straight without excessive effort. Plus, the coated nylon straps don't freeze and are pretty easy to manage even when covered with the ice and snow of a long day's walk. These shoes are larger and heavier in the pack than the newer style mono-frame shoes (MSR Ascent), but in my opinion provide much better performance with less fatigue during use (probably due in large part to the "springy" binding system) and much better flotation in deep powder. In other words, if you want to strap some snowshoes to your pack that you might use for a few minutes during a trip, the MSR (or comparable) is probably a better choice, but if you know you're going to be on your snowshoes all day and through all terrain, you can't go wrong with the Atlas 12. It's the Cadillac of snowshoes.

1 lb 3oz (long), stuffs to about the size of a Nalgene. This thing will make any pack you own seem huge after you put it in the bottom. Construction quality is top notch (just like every Montbell product). The "super stretch" system is genius. Space in the bag when you need it, gone when you don't. Certainly not the warmest, puffiest bag out there, but it's not supposed to be. It'll keep you warm enough to get some rest and get back out on the trail. Best of all, this will shave pounds off (and cubic inches) off your back. Top notch product, highly recommended (just like every Montbell product).

I really like my Marmot Ion windshirt. The Pertex Quantum material stops wind and rain cold, and yet still breathes well enough for high exertion at moderate to cold temperatures. At only 3 or 4 ounces, I carry it in my backpack all the time, whether I'm heading on my next backcountry journey or just going to work. Plus, the jacket stuffs down into it's own chest pocket, so it stays small in your pack without using an extra stuff sack. Really, what's not to like?

I too was lured to this jacket by the tiny pack size, low weight, and very reasonable price. Seemed too good to be true. Well, it is. This jacket will protect you from minor storms at best (when new). I have one that is 3 months old, basically sitting in my pack until the snows came, very little to no wear. Well, this week the snow came in hard during a night hike. Wet, heavy stuff that falls fast and melts on you just as fast. "No Problem", I figure as I zip on my PreCip. Within 15 minutes of heavy, wet snow (about an inch on our pack covers), the shoulders and hood were totally wet out, and leaking badly. Skip this for anything but casual, summer use. You can't afford to be in the winter backcountry with an inferior, leaking shell such as this!

1 lb 3oz (long), stuffs to about the size of a Nalgene. This thing will make any pack you own seem huge after you put it in the bottom. Construction quality is top notch (just like every Montbell product). The "super stretch" system is genius. Space in the bag when you need it, gone when you don't. Certainly not the warmest, puffiest bag out there, but it's not supposed to be. It'll keep you warm enough to get some rest and get back out on the trail. Best of all, this will shave pounds off (and cubic inches) off your back. Top notch product, highly recommended (just like every Montbell product).

Fits well, don't move around or shift, breathes well, and keeps everything out of your boots. Plus, they're totally bomb-proof. How could they get better?

I really like my Marmot Ion windshirt. The Pertex Quantum material stops wind and rain cold, and yet still breathes well enough for high exertion at moderate to cold temperatures. At only 3 or 4 ounces, I carry it in my backpack all the time, whether I'm heading on my next backcountry journey or just going to work. Plus, the jacket stuffs down into it's own chest pocket, so it stays small in your pack without using an extra stuff sack. Really, what's not to like?

I use these boots for everything from light day hikes to steep snow and ice climbing in crampons, and they perform without fail. They are stiff, durable, adjustable, and comfortable. They are just as "at home" on an easy trail hike as they are on steep mixed climbing routes. Plus, the quality and craftsmanship are top-notch, unlike most of the Chinese mass-produced "boots" which cost just a little less and fall apart within a few months (I'm looking at you Vasque). Do yourself a favor. If you are serious about your outdoor footwear, drop those ratty sundowners and trail runners, and go for the best. Long live La Sportiva!

Light. Tough. Packs Small. Plenty of Tie-Outs. Great Quality. 'Nuff said.

This axe has every feature I wanted: T Rated shaft for confident stomper belays, hot forged head for strength (and sexiness!), and a shaft profile that works well for everything from flat-land walking to steep, hard ice. Bonuses: Stupid light weight, typical excellent Grivel quality (and swanky trademark yellow), feels good in the hand, and a very functional long style leash included. What's not to like?

As others have noted, this rope doesn't have as nice a hand as a Mammut, but it also doesn't carry the price tag of one, either. It's a bomber rope for top-roping or leading on nasty sharp rock. Like most Edelweiss ropes, this one does seem to get fatter and fatter with use. Mine now feels somewhere between a 10.5 and an 11. This doesn't cause me any stress, but it can be a pain to use with certain belay devices. Over all, a top quality and confidence inspiring rope that makes a great first rope for beginners or work-horse rope for more experienced climbers who don't want to wreck up their $300 shoe lace redpoint rope.

I keep one of these clipped on the band of my main headlamp (Princeton Tec Apex Pro) as a backup navigation light and rear-facing position signal (the red strobe works particularly well for this). I haven't used it very often, but it's been clipped up there for a while now and ridden out some nasty weather on the top of my head and still works perfectly. It's not exactly a high powered spot light (surprise surprise) but is plenty bright enough for basic night navigation and camp tasks. Makes a great backup light, and is bright enough to be a primary headlamp for you ultra-light types (but you'll probably need spare batteries for more than a night or so).

I really like the closed cell foam that Pac Outdoor uses over other types of foam. It is soft, squishy, warm, and LIGHT! My only complaint, as another poster noted, is that the bottom of the foam is pretty soft, and will show scarring from sitting on granite and/or scraping in brush and trees (if tied to the outside of pack). I just cover it with a small nylon rain cover I have for a daypack and then lash it to the front of my pack.

This thing isn't so much a bivy sack as it is as mini-micro tent. I really dig this bivy because I can't sleep with fabric or netting hanging in my face like you get with a regular "no-pole" bivy. This one gives you a tiny amount to move around or partially sit up, and keeps the bivy fabric up off you and your bag, which reduces condensation (more air flow through the sack). It certainly isn't roomy inside, but fits a 15 degree down bag with me (6'1" 160) in it without trouble. Fairly easy to set up once you get the hang of it, but you should probably try it in your living room before headed out to the mountains, which you will have to anyways, and why I gave this only four stars: A $300 bivy really should come taped / sealed from the factory, but this one doesn't. Be prepared to spend at least a couple of hours crouched over with a tube of seam grip, because you have to manually seal every last seam on this thing to make it truly waterproof. Other than that minor inconvenience, this really is a well thought out and executed product. Disclaimer: My review is for the older Bibler model of this bivy sack, although I don't believe anything has changed other than the brand name.

I haven't used this shovel to extract any avalanche victims (thankfully), but I have no doubt that it's up to the task. This shovel is nice and light (though necessarily somewhat bulky), has a blade size that balances snow movement with portability well, and has a very clever handle design. No more taking off your gloves to search through your pack for your shovel handle then spending more time assembling everything together. Just pull the Deploy from your shovel pocket and yank on the handle, the shovel does the rest. The handle is fairly short, so you're not going to want to use this thing all day, but for a quick snow cave, trench, or wind break around your tent, it works great, even in crusty hard snow. Regarding the handle "slop" noted by other reviewers, I honestly think this is something you'll notice in your living room when you open the package, but isn't noticeable or detrimental when actually using the shovel. Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to say that this is the finest back country snow shovel on the market.

I don't ever climb on doubles, but I use this rope for light alpine duty as a single (not recommended or condoned by manufacturer), and also as a rap line or rap tag line. This rope is solid, has a nice hand, and is about as durable as you would expect an 8mm Mammut to be (that is, surprisingly). Best of all, it's light when you're carrying it on your back (as light or lighter than 8mm Perlon and more versatile). Not too slippery to rap or belay, either. All in all, a great rope for it's intended purposes. If this is all that's keeping you from the void, there's going to be some "clench" factor, but it still beats having nothing by a long shot!

I use these because I prefer nylon over Dyneema for sport draws. No complaints here: They're solid, durable and work with any biner I've tried them with (mine are set up with WC Helium rope end and DMM Shadow bolt end... sweet draw). Also, note that Petzl at some point redesigned the String (the rubber biner holder on one end) so that it is more robust and no longer held on by the tiny 2mm rubber sections. The new version is much superior to the old. I would give these five stars, but really it's just a sewn chunk of nylon, nothing too special about it. That being said, if you need draws and want nylon, don't hesitate to get these, they're the best out there.

These are great all purpose slings at very low weight and bulk. They make killer alpine draws (way less bulky than nylon when doubled), but I get the most use out of the 180cm that I keep tied in an equalizing quad. Makes setting up belays off of two bolts a snap and is strong enough to hang you and your truck. These things are really great for everything, as long as you keep their limitations in mind (these things are skinny, so you don't want them rubbing against rock or sharp edges. Also, even though the jury is still out on this one, you should probably never girth hitch these to other slings).

I've spent probably 30 nights in this bag now, and don't have a single complaint. Super warm and cozy, even right down around the rated temp (this isn't one of those "15 degree" bags that leave you shivering right below freezing). Full length zipper is great feature (a must, I would say) so you can vent the foot box easily (and you will have to, this is a WARM bag). Nice hood and adjustment cords, although I do have trouble sometimes cinching them down in the dark without a headlamp (but I seem to have problems with that in any bag... maybe I'm just slow). Fairly water resistant shell, although it will wet through against a wet tent wall eventually. Packs down nice and small and is feather light for such a warm bag. Great mild winter / shoulder season bag.

These are great shoes for tough bouldering and sport problems where you need to stand on a dime size edge and get change to spare. It's also a good all-round shoe for any level of climber, if you can stomach the (typical Sportiva) price tag. I've been climbing the same pair for almost two years now, and haven't noticed any durability problems with mine, although it is about time for a re-sole. Certainly not the most comfortable shoe you'll ever wear, but not too bad either (no bleeding toes). These also have the super deep heel typical to Sportiva's shoes, which some people don't like (doesn't bother me any, though). All in all, I would say this is a great shoe, but should be fitted in person before attempting to buy online.

After a fairly extensive search, I found that these are hands-down the best (for me) rope end draw biner currently made. I use these on a Spirit sling with a DMM Shadow on the bolt end, which makes for possibly the nicest draw you can possibly buy (if you can part with the $27 per draw - ouch). These are easy to grab and clip quickly, with a super smooth gate action. Hooded notch-less nose (very cool for a wire gate) makes for snag-free operation, and they're wicked light. Production quality on these is top notch, which is no surprise since they are actually made by DMM for Wild Country. I won't use anything else now!

Without question, DMM manufactures the finest carabiners made anywhere in the world today, and these are no exception. I use these for general rigging and for locking draws, and they are awesome. Silky smooth lock and gate action for easy clipping, keyhole notch-less gate closure for snag free operation (great when trying to unclip a draw from a crowded gear sling), and almost unimaginably light weight make these the best general purpose lockers you'll find anywhere. Plus, they're drop dead sexy! Sure, you can get three BD quicksilvers for the same price, but you'll die a little inside every time you try and use one of them. These will set you right! Totally worth the price.

I upgraded to this lamp from a Petzl Tikka Plus (which is also a great lamp) and have been really happy with it. Bright enough for true night path-finding (unlike a Tikka like unit) and SAR night searches. I don't have a single complaint, and I've put this thing through the ringer. Batteries can be difficult to find at a reasonable price (look for 12 packs of SureFire brand for about $23), but can usually be found at most stores sold as camera batteries if you're in a pinch (although expect to pay dearly for them). This isn't a problem for me though, because I had already "standardized" on CR123s for all my hand-held and gun mounted lights, so the batteries are actually a bonus (plus they work great at really low temps, unlike alkalines). Regarding the control buttons (which I see cause some complaints): They aren't especially easy to use while wearing gloves (and about impossible with heavy mitts), but on the other hand, I've never had the light turn itself on in my pack either. I'd much rather have a lamp that is somewhat difficult to turn on sometimes than one that doesn't come on at all because it's been illuminating the inside of my pack all day, so it doesn't bother me.

This tent is awesome for winter camping and high altitude adventures. It's too heavy to be a very good summer tent, but I have slept in it in all seasons and it works well (just vent it out when it's warm). It really shines when things get cold and nasty. You'll never feel more secure sleeping outside in a blizzard! Super easy to set up even for one person wearing gloves, and plenty roomy for two to sleep and eat comfortably. Vestibules on both ends are large enough to store gear for two and keep everything (relatively) dry, and are also large enough to cook in when things get nasty outside (be careful though!). The worst I've put this tent through so far was a vicious early winter storm at 12,000'. 50-60 mph gusts with over a foot of wet, sticky, heavy snow in less than eight hours (it was coming down). A couple of other folks down the way had their hex tent collapse on them in the middle of the night. Needless to say, they looked pissed when they came by first thing in the morning and found us warm and comfortable inside the Trango 2! Great tent, don't hesitate to get one!

These ATV pants are pretty nice. Well fit, good pockets with WR zippers, and the DWR works really well, especially when hiking in snow and ice. Plus, they are quite warm. I layer these over a mid-weight capilene bottom and am nice and warm down to 0 degrees F. However, I didn't find them to be as tough and durable as everyone else says, as I tore a huge hole in the seat of the pants the second time I wore them. This may have been some kind of defect, as I haven't had any problems with the replacements (thanks Backcountry!), but now I am much more careful about the fabric. It's not weak fabric, but certainly not as tough as regular nylon pants.

I've used my Tikka Plus once while backpacking, and it is plenty for typical camp tasks, while maintaining a trim figure and an almost unnoticeable weight (with lithium batteries). However, this light really shines (nyuk nyuk) when doing technical night hiking. I've used it in varied terrains, from flat trail walking to craggy granite boulder fields, and this light handles it all. Plenty of throw, and the color is perfect for reading that next boulder you're about to jump too. The LEDs Petzl uses are (IMO) superior to other types, such as those in Princeton Tec lamps, because the color is a true white, instead of the "off-blue" color of the PT and other bulbs. I night-hike with a buddy who uses a Princeton Tec lamp, and the difference really is noticeable. I like this lamp so much, I bought another for my girlfriend to use. 5 stars!

Since my purchase, I've only had the chance to use my mat on one trip. That being said, this mat delivers all that it promises. Great comfort, great durability (so far), easy to use, packs up light and small, and reasonably warm for three season use. I slept on one in a Marmot Pinnacle (15 degree) bag at about freezing, and the pad stayed quite warm, allowing my bag to keep me super warm (slept unzipped all night). Highly recommended!