Reviews by User: Kelly Stratton (23)

As far as inflatable kayaks go, I think this is the best one out there... better than Aire, Sotar, Maravia, whatever. They're incredibly durable, and will take abuse for years and years. They track well, and are great to learn in. I think they're pretty forgiving, but even if you end up in the river, they're easy to flip over and get back into. And if you're already good, I've seen people catch some absolutely amazing surfs in holes that would flip a raft. It's a great little boat.

When I first got these shoes, I hated them. I already had Z2's and the flip flops, so I had very high expectations of chacos. The first day I got them I walked a few miles, and they drove me crazy. The straps would not stay put... they kept sliding and tightening. I was tempted to return them, but decided to give them a chance. It only took a few days before the straps settled down, and after that, they became one of my favorite pairs of shoes, and are definitely my go-to chacos for every day wear. They stay on my feet, offer great support, and look cute for just about any occasion.

If you take some time to adjust them to your boots right after you take them out of the box, they will be your friend for years. Easy to adjust and durable. No complaints at all. I'd buy them again.

When I received these in the mail, the color (grape) was much more vibrant than I expected (which was a good thing). Now, I've been wearing men's pants for the last few seasons, so when I put these on, the XL was much tighter than I expected, especially in the thighs (I generally wear a 10-12 in most gear). I almost sent them back because of the fit, but decided to try them out. The first day on the mountain was fine, except for the back of the pants-- they're the kind that show your crack when you sit down to strap on your board. The second day, I added a belt-- a must with these. Other than that, I only have good things to say-- warm on an 11 degree day, kept me dry, good venting system, good feature at the cuff to adjust them so you're not walking on the hem in the parking lot. Other than fitting fairly snug (more like ski pants), they're a good buy.

This tool isn't much bigger than the car unlocker deal you keep on your keychain, but it's much more useful on the mountain. I can wrench on my bindings without any problems, which saves me lots of time trying to find a tuning station on the hill. Well done, burton.

Maybe it's because I've been rockin' men's pants for the last few seasons, but when I put these on, they weren't nearly as baggy as I hoped. The proportions are normal, but if you're after a more relaxed fit, order at least a size bigger than you usually would.

I needed something that would keep coffee hot for hours on long, cold spring raft trips. I bought this after reading the description, figuring that even if it worked half as well as advertised, it would be worth the money. The night I received it, I poured boiling water into it, closed the lid, and checked it the next morning (ten hours later). The water was still warm. Sweet. Of course, the more you open and close it, the quicker your beverage will cool down, but all in all, this thing is awesome. It seems very durable, and is a good size. I'd definitely recommend it.

I wore this shirt for years on the river while I was guiding. I took it on a grand canyon trip this august and wore it for sixteen days straight. It's not even close to worn out, but it will never be clean again. I suppose that's my only complaint... it comes in light colors that reflect light, but because of this doesn't wash up particularly well. However, if you don't plan on getting excessively filthy, this shirt would be great for years of use.

I love patagonia stuff, but am not crazy about this top. It's mostly the zipper that bugs me, and it might just be this particular shirt, but the zipped up neck seems to... collapse, I guess, when it's all the way up. I prefer the button-up version of capilene shirts. Regardless, you can't beat them for their performance for outdoor activities.

I keep a dozen of these in the back of my car at all times, and can't count how many times I've need to use them for some unforeseen outdoor adventure need. I've used them for years, and would trust them to hold any and all of my gear.

Incredibly sharp, compact, and solid. I keep it with me all the time (probably one of the few girls around who carries a knife with her in her purse 'just in case').

I have the quite a collection of Smiths... the Audreys, Methods, and Vices, and of all, the Charms are by far my favorite. I wore them all the time while working as a river guide, and they stayed on my face without any problems whatsoever. They are comfortable, not too big/not to small, don't fog up, cut glare from water... pretty much everything I could ask for from sunglasses.

I would never go boating in cold water without this top. If you end up in the water, it eliminates that lung-crushing shock, giving you time to think about where you need to swim rather than that you're going to die of hypothermia. I'm a river guide, and I've had the same one for four years... I've probably worn it on at least fifty spring trips. It show no signs of wearing out whatsoever. I love it in cold water.

There's only one kind of weather/water temp condition that I would want the short sleeve top for: Really hot weather, and really cold water. Like if you do a lot of kayaking on dam-released rivers in the hot summer months, this would probably be better than the long sleeve version. However, I've usually found that if I'm wearing hydroskin, it's because I want to be really warm. And if I want to be warm, I want my whole upper body covered (without half of my arms exposed). So if you're cold water/cold weather boating, go for the long sleeve version.

If you stuff this rope correctly before you throw it, it's easy to get great distance and accuracy. If you stuff it wrong, it will get tangled-- but that's not the rope's fault. These things last forever, too. I definitely wouldn't go boating without one.

This vest is low-profile enough so that it doesn't get in your way when you're pulling yourself back into a raft, but has enough flotation that I would wear it in big water. It's not going to get in your way if you're rowing or paddling all day, and it doesn't chafe arms. My only complaint is that I hate the zipper/pull over the head way of getting it on, because it means you have to take off your hat and sunglasses every time.

These are super thin, but great at wicking moisture-- except if you spend a lot of time sitting in soggy snow. I wear these for warmer days on the mountain, and they're a comfy layer between skin an uncomfy pants. However, if you're interested in warmth, look for another product.

I used this pfd for two summers as a commercial whitewater guide (maybe 100 days on the water) before it started to wear out. For anyone who gives it a little more TLC than your typical river guide, it would last a long time. Plus, Patagonia has a sweet warranty, so if anything goes wrong with it, they'll replace it for you. My only complaint is that it was a pain to pull over my head to get on and off-- it meant I always had to take off my hat and sunglasses. Other than that, I liked it a lot.

The first time I rode this board was on a Burton demo day at my mountain two years ago. After two runs, I was hooked. I felt like I could go so much faster on the groomers... the edges dug in beautifully, and I felt more stable than on any other board I've ridden. I haven't been able to get the gtwin out of my mind, and finally bought it this fall. I'm so excited for opening day!

I learned how to ride with these, and I thought they were great until I got into some Burton bindings. If you're riding groomers, they're wonderful, but if you're in powder, fall, and need to hike, it's a NIGHTMARE to get them back on.

Once you get the lacing system figured out, these boots really are quick to get on. I've been out in mine four or five times, and I've finally got them dialed in. Sometimes it feels like I can't get them cinched tight enough, but on the slopes, I've never noticed any problems.

I've had this bag for two years, and have been continually disappointed with it. Every night that I've slept out that it's been any cooler than about 45 degrees, I've been uncomfortably cold... even with lots of layers on. The worst was an April raft trip where the weather dipped below thirty. I was in a tent with a rain fly and another person, with a fleece blanket over the top of me, and I still had to wear a down jacket inside the bag to stay warm enough. For me, the bag works great between 50 and 70 degrees... unfortunately, any $25 Coleman sleeping bag could do that for me.

The lacing system takes a few tries to get the hang of, but once you get it, it's super fast and easy. These boots are comfortable-- my toes have never gone numb, and even on slushy days my feet stay dry. After a season with about 25 days of riding, the boots still look new. I would definitely recommend them.