Two Sleeping Pads Face Off - Big Anges Air Core vs. Therm-A-Rest Trail Lite

Trail Lite (left) and Air Core + cat (for scaling)

With so many sleeping pads out there, it's tough to choose. It took me a good year before I decided to bother upgrading from my cheap solid foam pad (like this one), but boy am I glad I did! My first sleeping pad was the Therm-A-Rest Women's Trail Lite. For this review, I'm pitting it against the latest addition to my gear closet - the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core. Find out which one comes out on top! 

Does the Job - Therm-A-Rest Women's Trail Lite
I've had this pad for years; it was my first real backpacking sleeping pad. It's been used on everything from climbing trips to my living room floor for house guests. Unlike the Air Core, the Trail Lite is a women's specific pad. According to industry experts, women's specific pads are made with more insulation in the torso and foot area because that's where women get coldest. Though, having more insulation around your core seems like a good idea regardless of gender. I do still feel like I get cold sleeping on this pad, and feel like most of the heat I lose is through my hips.

The Trail Lite rolled up after a long, wet night!

The 28-ounce pad is 1.5" thick and 20"x66" when inflated; it's a little too short for my 68" tall frame. The pad is not available in different lengths, though other Therm-A-Rest pads are. When rolled for storage, the Trail Lite packs down to 5"x28". The Trail Lite easily straps to the outside of my pack, but rarely fits inside with my other gear. This isn't usually a problem unless it's raining. The Trail Lite isn't waterproof; while sleeping in a leaky tent, the pad got completely soaked. Keeping a sleeping bag dry is important, and this was a problem for me. The Z-Lite stayed dry in the same leaky tent, but isn't nearly insulated enough for me.

As far as inflation is concerned, the pad is supposed to be self-inflating and for the most part, it is. Over the years, it's worn out a bit and seems to take longer to inflate.

The Trail Lite retails for $64.95 on Backcountry.com. The pad comes with a stuff sack, but no patch kit.

Pwns the Job - Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Pad
This pad came to me thanks to a contest through Moosejaw on twitter. I've taken it out this spring in temperatures close to freezing and given to visiting friends to sleep on. The specs state that it's a three season pad with PrimaLoft insulation and should be comfortable down to 15ºF. I stayed warm on it in 35º-40º temperatures; I didn't feel heat loss through specific areas of my body. I could definitely have used a warmer sleeping bag that night, though!

All inflated and ready for a night in the woods!

The 26 ounce Air Core pad is 2.5" thick and 20"x78" when inflated. I love feeling like I have plenty of room at either end before my head and feet start dropping off the pad. It's also available in 66" (22 ounces) and 72" (24 ounces) lengths. The best part - it packs down to the size of a Nalgene bottle! It easily slipped into a pocket on my pack. The other best part - it's waterproof! Water beads up and slides off the pad. And one more best part - it comes with a patch kit that fits into a small pocket in the stuff sack.

The only real negative I've found is the inflation valve. It took me a few tries to get the valve completely open; it has two independently operating pieces to make sure it stays closed when inflated. It took a few minutes to inflate, and I found myself a little dizzy after 20 big breaths! But once it was inflated, it was a dream to sleep on.

The regular length Insulated Air Core retails for $69.95 on Backcountry.com and $79.95 on REI.com

The Bottom Line
There are a bunch of different sleeping pads out there all with different features. But as someone who gets cold easily, is taller than the average girl, and likes to save space, I've definitely got a favorite between these two. The Big Agnes Air Core Insulated Pad will be coming with me on my next trip for sure!

As a note, if you have an inflatable sleeping pad, take care to make sure you don't puncture it. Leaks can be a pain. Always carry a patch kit, and I always store the pad in the stuff sack to keep it safe. It's also important to store self-inflating pads with the valve open. This prevents the materials from compressing over time. 

Do you have a sleeping pad you recommend? Do you have experience with either of these pads? Tell me in the comments!

Gear Review: Outdoor Research Women's Transfer Jacket, the Perfect Softshell!

The Transfer Jacket keeping me dry in the spring rain.

It's easy to be overwhelmed by the array of styles, models, colors, fits and feels of all of the softshell jackets on the market. And why do we need a softshell anyway? Most aren't waterproof and aren't designed to be worn under waterproof outer layers, so what's the point?

Softshell jackets are fantastic pieces of clothing to have when it's not raining, when you're out and about in town, and when you need an abrasion-resistant but breathable layer for sports like rock and ice climbing. I wear my softshell primarily on walks to work, to the crag and on day hikes, but wouldn't take it on an extended backpacking trip as part of my layering system.

You'd think that with so many women's-specific softshells on the market, I wouldn't have trouble finding one that fits, right? Wrong. After wearing the Marmot Gravity jacket until the zipper broke and deciding I might need a hood, I looked at a few (ill-fitting and too expensive) options before finally falling in love with the Outdoor Research Women's Transfer Jacket.

The Transfer is made with breathable fleece-bonded stretch woven fabric. It's light weight but soft inside and kept me comfortably warm on 40ºF Philadelphia spring day. The water-resistant exterior keeps unwanted moisture out, but is not meant to completely repel water. You'll need a rain jacket or hard shell for that. I took the Transfer on a 25 minute walk to work in pouring rain and though I stayed dry, I wouldn't expect to be for longer than that in a downpour. Now, if any company can make a jacket that keeps rain from running off the bottom of the jacket and on to my non-waterproof pants, that would be an achievement!

photo from Altrec.com, one place to find the jacket!

One of the most frustrating things about hoods is getting them to stay put. There's nothing worse than being caught in the rain and fumbling to get an ill-fitting hood on only to have it slowly slide off.  After cinching down the dual pull hood on the Transfer, it stayed put and covered my face just enough to keep the rain off, but allowed my peripheral vision to remain intact. The hand pockets are perfectly placed and a zippered pocket on the left sleeve makes iPod storage a piece of cake. The pocket is great for lip balm and other small objects too!

Aside from the perfectly designed and constructed technical features, the Transfer fits like a dream. It hits just below my hip bones, making it the perfect length. Hem adjustment cords make cinching the jacket down on my hips easy. The velcro cuffed sleeves are long enough for my long arms, and the jacket is cut in at the waist just enough to make it flattering. The medium is big enough to layer under, but small enough that I don't look like a giant tomato in it. It moves with me; I can do things in it without having to reposition it every time I move. Finally, a gear company designed a technical softshell for women that fits and looks good!

The jacket comes in black, cream and "retro red." The red is absolutely perfect. It's not fire engine red; it's an autumnal sort of red. The kind of red where if you jumped into a pile of leaves in the fall, you'd blend right in. I spent the entire first paragraph of my Mountain Hardwear Cohesion Jacket review explaining why red is awesome, but to be honest, I chose the red Transfer because black and white are boring! The only thing Outdoor Research designers could do to make this jacket more perfect would be to make it in blue or green.

The jacket is available online through Moosejaw, Altrec, Backcountry, and Mountain Gear.

Do you have a softshell you absolutely love? Tell me in the comments! If not, I'm hoping this jacket might be the solution for many of us!

Gear Review: The Red Hot Mountain Hardwear Women's Cohesion Jacket

The Cohesion Jacket and I on Rainier. (S. Lingafelter)

It's all well and good to blend in with the natural environment when you're playing outside. Muted blues, greens, browns, even black and gray are beautiful. But sometimes, a girl's got to stand out. Red is one of those eye-popping head-turning colors it's hard not to feel sexy in, even when you're soaking wet and haven't showered in three days. Red can certainly be an intimidating color to wear, but looks spectacular when it's done right.

Construction and Features
Of course, color isn't the only factor to consider in any outdoor gear purchase. The Mountain Hardwear Women's Cohesion Jacket is a solid, full featured high performance hard shell with Conduit™ DT to keep you dry and water-resistant pit zips for ventilation. Waterproof, breathable stretch panels on the elbows and back of the jacket make moving around easy and the Ergo hood fits perfectly over climbing and ski helmets. It's constructed with Ark™ 40D nylon ripstop fabric, (the "D" refers to "denier," which measures the density of textile fibers), and is super light at 13 oz. It comes in several colors, including the eye-popping Lava Red.

Overall Fit and Appearance
The length of the jacket and sleeves is perfect for me; my rear end and wrists are completely covered. I have long arms and usually have trouble with sleeve length. The Velcro cuff tabs work well to close off the sleeves and I'm glad the jacket was designed without elastic in the cuffs. I didn't notice the stretch panels on the back and sleeves until I tried ice climbing in a jacket without them. The panels make a big difference in the jacket's movement. The hood fit securely over my climbing helmet, but is on the edge of being too big. That's a hood problem I'm okay with!

The only complaints I have are the positioning of the front pockets and the overall cut. The front pockets are a bit higher than I'd like them to be; the waist belt on my climbing harness covered them completely. I don't expect to need to reach into the pockets while I'm climbing, but you never know! I'd also like to see a more figure-flattering fit. I'll take functionality over form any day, but the jacket is a bit boxy. I found it tight around the hips under all of my layers. 

The jacket and I out for a climb! (D. Herscovitch)

Performance and Recommended Use
The Cohesion and I have been through a lot over the past nine months. We've climbed Mount Rainier together, we've ice climbed together, and we've been on winter hikes together. The jacket performed beautifully in each of those situations. When the wind kicked up on Mount Rainier, I stayed warm. When it started snowing on the Appalachian Trail, I stayed comfortable. When I climbed an 80' pillar of ice, I stayed dry, and didn't get any ice chips down my sleeves!

To me, the Mountain Hardwear Cohesion jacket feels like it's constructed to be a cold weather backcountry shell. It's made to fit over layers. It's definitely breathable, but I wouldn't suggest using it as a rain jacket in warm-weather months or during activities that are likely to make you sweat profusely, i.e. running. For winter activities, it's perfect.

Where to Buy
The Cohesion is available for $82.48-165 depending on the color through Moosejaw, Backcounty.com, Altrec.com, and Mountain Hardwear.

Gear Review: LEKI Khumbu Aergon Trekking Poles

The poles and I out for a stroll on the AT this weekend.

My foray into the world of trekking poles was prompted by RMI Expeditions and the gear list I received for my Mount Rainier Summit for Someone climb last summer. I'd never used them before, nor considered them an essential piece of gear. Though I had trouble with the poles I chose initially, they became incredibly useful with a little help from one of our expert guides. I was glad to have them on the descent when my leg muscles started rebelling!

I chose LEKI after hearing and reading good things about the company. Of the four poles LEKI offers for mountain trekking, three are listed above $100. I wanted something reasonably priced, durable, easy to use and without the anti-shock feature. I find the noise created by anti-shock trekking poles nearly unbearable and invasive on the trail, like nails on a chalkboard.

Just by virtue of my price limitations and anti-anti-shock preference, I'd narrowed the field to three LEKI models - the Khumbu Aergon, Corklite Aergon, and Cressida Aergon. The Corkline Aergon grips were too stiff; I preferred the softer grips on the Khumbu Aergon. The Cressida Aergon only extend up to 125 cm (48"). Even though I'm 5'9" and the 48" extension would have been enough, I wanted flexibility in case the poles needed to become tent poles, or hold up tarps.

All three feature LEKI's Speedlock locking system, hailed as one of the strongest in the world. The levers are easy to use with gloves on, operating a bit like the quick release lever on bike tires. The Khumbu Aergon, though 3-4 oz. heavier than the other two pairs, were under the $100 mark, and that was the final piece that tipped the scale.

The poles and I made it on to the trail a few times before Rainier. The lower portion of the poles never seemed to stay locked, which surprised me after I'd read so much about how innovative the Speedlock system was. I'd put weight on them and feel the lower portion slide all the way up.

Locked vs unlocked, lower portion compressed.

Frustrated, I took them to Rainier anyway hoping to rent a pair if I couldn't get mine to work. Guide Carrie Parker told me it's a common issue with trekking poles in general. She helped me make them usable by extending the top portion as far as it would go, locking it, and leaving the bottom compressed. The top lock stayed put and I didn't have to worry about the lower one sliding around. It worked and they felt sturdy enough, but the poles lost 6-8" of length flexibility.

I'd never heard of, or read reviews from, anyone with that issue and of course, that makes me think it's got something to do with the user! I'm hoping I'll get them to stay locked with a little fiddling. I found the poles themselves a valuable addition to my collection of gear. I've taken them out once or twice since, and regretted leaving them at home for our Ricketts Glen adventure.They won't have a place on day hikes for me, but I expect they'll come with me on backpacking trips this summer.

The bottom line: The grips are comfortable, the poles are sturdy, and the Speedlock system is easy to use. For my height and purposes, they're still functional with the lower portion compressed, but of course ideally, the entire pole would function properly. All that being said, I'm not sure I'd buy these again. If anyone has any suggestions about how to get the lower lock to stay put, I'd love to hear them!

LEKI Khumbu Aergon poles and others available through Leki.com, Eastern Mountain Sports, and REI.

Best of 2010: Gear I Love!

The holiday season is in full swing, and it's nearly time for 2010 to give way to 2011! But there's still plenty of time to try out my top gear picks of the year.

eddiebauer.com

First Ascent Peak XV Down Jacket
A great value at $269-299, this beauty is a must-have for staying warm in the coldest of conditions. The 850 fill down is protected by a cocoon of waterproof ripstop fabric, a great feature for those of us who understand the pain of having accidentally stabbing holes in down coats. The hood fits comfortably over a helmet and stayed put even in strong winds on Mount Rainier. Adjusting the hood and sleeves with gloves on was a piece of cake. It packs well into a small compression sack, though still takes up quite a bit of space. But it's a small price to pay for such a warm parka! And as far as big puffy coats goes, the slim fit makes it relatively flattering.

Petzl Tikka2 Headlamp

amazon.com

In my humble opinion, Petzl makes the best headlamps out there. I've owned three of them so far, and haven't been disappointed. They're durable, designed well, and they do their job. I bought the Tikka2 Headlamp after testing out a friend's during a climbing trip. It was noticeable brighter than my old Princeton Tec and the button was easier to press. The easy-to-access battery compartment holds lithium, alkaline, or rechargeable batteries. I had the Tikka2 lit on Mount Rainier for 7 straight hours, among other occasions, and still haven't had to replace the batteries. At $29.95, it's a great price for such a great piece of gear! (If you really want a powerful headlamp battery, I've heard from Rockgrrl that the CORE is a great investment.)

REI.com

REI Bullet Vaccuum Bottle
I learned the value of having a good vacuum bottle last winter during a mountaineering course in the Adirondacks. There's nothing better than freezing your a** off climbing one of the High Peaks in January than a hot chocolate break (or two) en route. Finding a vessel that didn't leak, however, provided more of a challenge than Algonquin Peak did. The key, I found, was to use a vacuum bottle with a screw top rather than a push botton top. The seals on all three push button top bottles I tried, particularly this one, ended up detaching or leaking. (Thankfully, friend Aleya didn't have the same problem!) The lid on the REI Bullet Vacuum Bottle twists on and off, and allows you to pour liquid out without removing it entirely. I'll never go on another winter trip without it! The 12 oz. version is available on REI.com for $19.50.

MSR DragonFly Multi-Fuel Camp Stove

cascadedesigns.com

I hate doing dishes on backpacking trips. Hate. This hatred is amplified when I discover I've burned half my meal to the bottom of the pot and have to scrub rock hard pieces of rice, pasta, etc off of it. One of my biggest complaints about most backpacking stoves, including the MSR Whisperlite, is the fact that the stove is either on full blast, or off. There's no in-between. If all I'm eating on a backpacking trip is food that requires the addition of boiling water, that's fine. But for anything else, the DragonFly is definitely my preference. It's easy to store, easy to use, and the dual valve design allows you to simmer. The DragonFly also boils water faster than you can say, "Simmering is awesome!" The best part about MSR stoves is their "ShakerJet" technology; to clean the fuel line, you shake the stove. That's it. The DragonFly is a little pricey at $129.95, but it's worth it!

sportiva.com

La Sportiva Miura VS Women's Climbing Shoes
Recommending climbing shoes is...difficult. Everyone has different feet. But these shoes are just phenomenal. Though it took me almost two months to break them in, (or rather, break my feet in), I'm not sure I'll buy another pair of shoes for bouldering after wearing the Miura VS shoes. They're still not comfortable and they probably never will be, but good, aggressive shoes are bound to be a little painful. They don't fit the same way the Miura lace-ups fit, which was a good thing for me. They're a more aggressive shoe than I've ever owned, but I've also found their performance superior to anything I've ever owned. Precise footwork and edging is easier than ever. The size 40 fits my women's size 10 feet perfectly, and I haven't noticed much stretch during the break-in period. And I don't care what anyone says; I like the flowers! From EMS for $155.

Disclaimer: The Petzl Elia Women's Climbing Helmet I received from PembaServes to test definitely would've made this list, but I dedicated an entire post to it already this year! I did not buy the First Ascent Peak XV Down Jacket; I won it in a twitter contest sponsored by First Ascent. Regardless, it's my down jacket of choice.

Gear Review: La Sportiva Women’s Nepal EVO GTX Mountaineering Boots

Ready for climbing! by Carla Cue.

With high arches and narrow heels, I’ve found La Sportiva climbing shoes fit me perfectly. When I heard they were coming out with a women’s-specific pair of mountaineering boots, I knew those were the first boots I had to try on my quest for the perfect pair.

My first look at leather boots came after a less-than-comfortable experience with plastics on an ice climbing and mountaineering trip in the Adirondacks.  I bought the La Sportiva Women’s Nepal Evo GTX boots in advance of a late summer Mount Rainier climb. I chose them over women’s models by Scarpa, Garmont and Asolo knowing the quality and fit of La Sportiva boots worked for me.

The first obstacle I ran into was finding a place to buy them in the correct size. Finding them in a size 42 was more difficult than I expected, and 42 was the largest size I’ve seen them sold in. I was concerned they were almost too small for my women’s size 10 feet.

Ricketts Glen, by Mark Trybulski

The first thing I did was to replace the insoles that came with the boots with Superfeet; the stock insoles felt much too thin.  The toe box is wide and allows plenty of space for extra socks, which came in handy on Rainier. I wore one pair of liner socks with a thick pair of mountaineering socks, and my feet stayed warm even as the temperature dropped to 10ºF. With temperatures below zero, I would consider switching to plastics; the Nepal Evo GTX boots are not made for extreme cold. Other features include insulation and a Gore-Tex waterproof breathable membrane, which keep feet warm and dry. They do not need to be treated for waterproofing out of the box. The lace locking system takes a little getting used to. The laces are locked down in the center eyelet, enough that I had to yank on the laces to get them unlocked. But it ensures they stay put and can be tightened down enough, and the removable tongue insert helps further ensures a snug, warm fit.

The boots were comfortable on the way up Mount Rainier, and I never had trouble with blisters. For mountaineering boots, they feel relatively lightweight. In addition to climbing on Rainier’s glaciers, I took them on many a training hike on the East Coast. They are full shank boots and are about as stiff soled as boots come, which means they are not made for hiking. However, on ice climbing trips, they worked like a dream. The stiff soles and toe box cushioned my feet while I kicked into the ice and my feet stayed put. They’re also designed to allow your ankles to flex despite the stiffness. I used them with both strap on and step in crampons without any trouble.

The only discomfort I had was on the descent of Mount Rainier; I had major issues with my big toes slamming into the front of the boot, enough to cause bruising. Tightening them down helped, but such stiff boots can only be tightened so much. This can be a sign that the boots are too small, but given that it had not been an issue on any hikes or ice climbing, adjusting sock layers was a good remedy.

Overall, I would definitely buy these boots again, and recommend them for mountaineering and ice climbing. They are pricey, retailing for $480, but are well worth the price. I have a feeling they will last me quite a while!

Gear Review: My Love Affair with Haiku Bags

My new Haiku Bag! Image from REI.com

I recently returned from an extended work trip to Monterey, California with and addition to my growing collection of Ways to Move Important Things Around - a new messenger bag. And it's just so awesome, I absolutely had to share it on Adventure-Inspired!

Before my introduction to the beautiful, "poetically functional" Haiku Bags, I'd used the same messenger since college. Bright red with "Carpe Noctem" sew on in thick Gothic lettering, it definitely fit me then, but didn't any longer. I decided it was time my bag better matched who I am as a grown-up, especially on work trips.

Enter Sharon Eisenhauer and her ability to execute the perfect marriage of function and beauty in bag form. I hadn't heard of Haiku Bags until a search revealed my perfect new messenger on REI.com - the Calligraphy Messenger. The bag comfortably holds my laptop, several folders, a water bottle, and has several interior pockets for holding smaller things. It's exceptionally well padded and durable; I had no qualms about putting my laptop inside without a separate case. I spent three weeks toting it all over Monterey and the only complaint I had was how heavy it got. That's mostly my fault. But I've also heard the Rumi Collection laptop bag is a bit lighter.

Now, If you haven't already, you'll notice if you click on the link that the bag isn't available any longer. Then, you'll ask yourself, "what kind of gear review is this if I can't even buy the product Katie's telling me she loves?" When I come across a new-to-me company that meets needs I didn't know I had, or hadn't been met before, I like to think that same needs might exist for others. My needs:

• a laptop bag for work that captured a little more of my personality without looking childish (like this), or too casual (like this, even though I adore it!)
• a bag that can hold more than my laptop without feeling too bulky, something I've experienced with Timbuk2 bags
• a bag with a story, and not just a story, a bag made with a greater purpose than simply carrying things
• a bag that comes from a socially responsible company (the Rumi Collection is made from post-consumer recycled fabric made from recycled bottles)

Sharon and Haiku Bags have created everything from wallets to backpacks, and although I'm not sure all would meet my work needs, the Rumi Messenger and Laptop Stash certainly would. Knowing where Sharon's idea for Haiku Bags came from, I'd definitely purchase a Haiku Bag again.

Dear Elia, I Think I Love You. (Gear Review: Petzl Elia Climbing Helmet)

I have five helmets in my gear closet to cover skiing, biking and climbing. It might seem like overkill, but like most quality equipment, each is sport specific. Each meet sets of safety standards for their intended uses and they generally aren’t interchangeable.

I consider helmets to be essential safety gear in climbing, and I had questions when I started investing in equipment almost two years ago. What sets a climbing helmet apart from my bike and ski helmets? What safety standards govern climbing helmets? What features should I look for? The first place I went to for guidance was to my outdoor community on Twitter; my peers and the companies I follow are my best source of information. Brad Werntz at Pemba Serves answered my call for help. Now, two years later and (at least a little) wiser, I got to test out a new, innovative women’s specific climbing helmet for them!

Testing the Elia at High Rocks State Park, Far Face Direct.

Prior to receiving the Petzl Elia from Pemba Serves, I’d been on the lookout for a climbing helmet that really, truly fit. I already had two to work with, the lightweight and simple Petzl Elios and the heavier, less ventilated Trango CPU, but neither was quite right. If the helmet doesn't fit, it's not going to make it on my head as often as it should. Enter the Elia, heaven’s gift to women who climb.

Petzl designed the Elia specifically for women. A reasonable buy at $65, it's a durable and lightweight foam helmet with four clips to hold a headlamp in place. But right out of the box, I could tell there was something special about it. The instructions for use show a woman with a ponytail and how to adjust the OMEGA headband to fit around it. The light blue headlamp clips and neon green padding don't scream Girl Helmet, but add enough pizzazz to make it look good. And it fits like a glove.

Headbands on standard helmets can be the bane of any long-haired climber girl's existence, and the way Petzl addressed this with the Elia is its most unique feature. The headband features a cutout that fits perfectly around my ponytail and adjusts on the sides rather than in the back. These independent lateral adjustment buttons prevent wisps of hair from getting snagged and also provide a better overall fit. The helmet felt just as secure with my hair down. (Read: the Elia can work for guys, too!)

The Elia on belay at High Rocks State Park.

Ponytail problems aside, I’ve forgone helmets in the past because an ill fitting one will slide all over the place. The last thing I want while I'm heaving myself up a burly overhanging route is to simultaneously have to survive an attempted choking. But the Elia just stayed put, comfortably. I almost forgot it was there. The removable padding absorbed sweat on my forehead, which I need desperately climbing in East Coast humidity, and provided the perfect cushioning for my noggin.

In trying to be a diligent reviewer, I thought hard about any feature missing or anything I didn’t like. The only initial concern I had was that the shape of the back of the helmet would compromise safety. In comparing it side by side to the Elios, I saw that the cutout in the shell of the Elia itself is minimal; the real difference is in the headband, which isn’t what truly protects the head from the impact of a falling object. Its function is to keep the helmet secure on my head. The Elia is CE (European Committee for Standardization) EN 12492 and UIAA (Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme) certified, which put my concerns to rest.

I have yet to take it out for ice climbing or mountaineering, but all the preliminary over-the-winter-hat testing I've done at home makes me think my opinion won't change. My theory is the Elia will be even better on ice than the Elios; the arrangement of ventilation holes might further block falling debris. Odds are the rest of my helmet collection will sit gathering dust in the gear closet while the Elia and I go out and play.

Covetable Cold Weather Gear

Covet \’kə-vət\: to wish for earnestly ; to desire inordinately or culpably.

I know it's mid-September. It's not even officially autumn yet. The first snowflake won't fall where I am for another three or four months, if one falls at all this winter. But I've already got a growing list of toys I'm coveting. I blame the existence of this list on Petzl; their release of the newest, coolest ice tools for the upcoming season got me going, and then I couldn't stop! This list encompasses things that (a) exceed my budget, (b) I would use in activities I've still got a lot to learn about, or (c) are just darn good looking.

Photo from Petzl.com

Petzl QUARK Ice Axe
I've ice climbed twice. Three times if you count the total number of days independently of the number of trips. But I absolutely love it, and have a few friends to do it with this winter! Lucky for me, I had the opportunity to test out three different types of ice tools and the Petzl QUARKs were my favorite. Between the weight (it's the lightest of Petzl's ice climbing tools), the handle (not a huge fan of the Black Diamond Fusion handle), and all of the interchangeable parts, it's a great piece of gear to covet. This year's model looks even better. According to Petzl's website, there are a couple of new and improved features on the QUARK this year. First, the modular head. The QUARK is designed to be both a technical ice took and mountaineering axe, and the modular head makes for super easy adjustments. Second, the modular handle, which allows for a many different grip combinations. I've climbed with leashes and without, and this grip looks perfect for leashless climbing.

Photo from LaSportiva.com

La Sportiva Olympus Mon EVO Boots Now, I'm going to be honest. I covet these not because I'm an experienced high-altitude mountaineer, because they're $900, or because I have habits of being in places where it's mind-numbingly cold. I covet these because I dream about getting myself into a situation where I'd need them! These, for me, are like the golden chalice of cold weather sports. To progress far enough in mountaineering where these would be necessary is something I'm pretty sure I'd love to do someday. Of course, on Everest, it doesn't have to be winter for these to come in quite handy.They're incredibly light weight considering their size, and kevlar on the calves means gaiters aren't necessary. The inner lacing system, according to reviews on Moosejaw, lets you leave your climbing partners in the dust getting ready in the morning. And if Melissa Arnot uses them on Everest, they've got to be pretty great. She knows her stuff! Now all La Sportiva needs is a women's specific model...

Camp Muir on Rainier. Photo by Tiffany Royal.

Mountain Hardwear Trango 3.1 Now if I'm going to covet hardcore mountaineering boots, I might as well pick a tent to go with them! The Trango tents have been long-standing favorites for mountaineers and I can certainly see why. I had the opportunity to sleep in one at Camp Muir on Rainier and found that, despite my past experience with 3-person tents barely fitting three people comfortably, the Trango 3.1 did. Tiffany, Sara and I did have to take turns spreading out all of our gear to pack for our summit bid, but that was the only time the tent felt cramped. I could kneel comfortably in it, and the vestibule provided plenty of room to store three packs and three pairs of boots. Mesh storage pockets run the length of both tent walls. Despite strong winds, the tent felt bomb proof, secure and warm, (which was thanks to our wonderful RMI guides who set it up for us).

Photo from Eddiebauer.com

First Ascent Downlight Sweater
I'm the proud owner of the First Ascent Peak XV Down Jacket and absolutely love it. It just fits, all of it. The hood stays where it's supposed to and everything's the right length. But winters around these parts aren't cold enough to warrant an 850 fill down parka, and I'd love to have something not quite as warm to wear around town, or as an insulating layer in place of fleece. I tried the Downlight Sweater on at Whittaker Mountaineering's gear shop and loved it. The best part - it comes in petite and tall sizes for those of us who don't meet standard specifications. The sleeves were almost too short for my arms in the standard sizes, but the torso fit perfectly. I never imagined a down jacket could be flattering! And the beautiful cyan blue one pictured to the left is particularly covet-worthy.

Photo from Piperlime.com

Merrell Spire Peak Waterproof Boots Merrell makes some of the best shoes and boots, casual and functional, I've ever worn. For hiking shoes, they're my go to company. When I moved to Alaska in 2006, I bought a pair of ankle boots similar to the Tetra Catch for walking around in Anchorage during the winter. They were the most comfortable, stylish winter boots I'd ever worn, and I finally retired them after I'd worn them to death and they fell apart three years later. They seem to have a nack for producing casual shoes that look good, feel good, and strike the perfect balance between the effort-free outdoorswoman and the girl in me who cares about looking cute. Every girl needs a good pair of tall boots, but not every girl needs to worry about whether or not she'll actually be able to walk in them. They even stretch a little to accommodate athletic calves. And they'll last for more than one winter!

What's on your wish list this winter? Anything good I left out?

My Mt. Rainier Gear List

All packed up for Camp Muir/Summit Day!

One of my favorite parts, and one of the hardest, about life-changing trips is coming home and attempting to process everything that happened. For me, that's still in the works. Until that process is complete, you're stuck reading about my gear!

Between test packing at home with a scale close by, packing to board a plane to Seattle, repacking at Tiffany's house, unpacking at Mesdag Basecamp, repacking for climbing school, repacking for our trek to Camp Muir, unpacking at Camp Muir, and repacking for our summit bid, I could get everything in its place in my backpack in my sleep.

(When Melissa woke us at midnight for summit day, that's basically what we did!) But all of the packing, unpacking and repacking served a much greater purpose - ensuring we had all of the proper gear to stay safe on Mount Rainier.

Big City Mountaineers and RMI provided the Summit for Someone climbers with an extensive gear list prior to the start of our 4-day program in Ashford. The first day served as our gear check, the second day was climbing school, and the third and fourth days made up the summit attempt. We had to have the proper clothing and gear for each of those days. Given the varying weather and temperature changes, that meant a lot of testing different layering systems.

Below is a complete list of my clothing and gear for climbing school, our trek to Camp Muir, and summit day. My biggest issue was finding bottom layers that were long enough; I discovered some of my favorite gear companies produce pants with a 32" inseam and call them "long." Thanks to help from our wonderful guides, I managed to figure out exactly what to wear and was, for the most part, pretty comfortable with what I chose!

All geared up on the descent from the summit of Rainier.

 Key: used just at snow school | used just to Camp Muir | used just on summit day | used on all 3 days 

Top Layers
Patagonia Women's Active Classic Cami, Mountain Hardwear Wicked Lite Short Sleeve Tee, Mountain Hardwear Advance Zip Tee, Smartwool Midweight Crew, Eastern Mountain Sports 6 year-old crossing guard yellow fleece, Mountain Hardwear Cohesion Jacket, First Ascent Peak XV Down Jacket

Bottom Layers 
REI Midweight Polartec Power Dry Long Underwear Bottom, Mountain Hardwear Yuma Convertible Pant,
Mountain Hardwear Winter Wanderer Pant, Marmot PreCip Full Zip Pant

Head, Feet and Hands
Petzl Elios Helmet, North Face Wool Beanie, Petzl Tikkina Headlamp, Julbo Colorado Glacier Glasses, La Sportiva Women's Nepal Evo GTX Mountaineering Boots, Black Diamond Sabretooth Crampons, Smartwool Liner Socks, Smartwool PhD Outdoor Heavy Cushion Sock, Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiters, Mountain Hardwear Women's Powerstretch Gloves, Burton Gore Tex Gloves 

Other Gear
Black Diamond Primrose Climbing Harness, North Face Badlands 60 Backpack, Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe with Awesome Summit for Someone Logo, Leki Khumbu Trekking Poles, Back Country Access Tracker D.T.S Avalanche Beacon, Granite Gear Compression Sacks, 1L Nalgene Bottles, Green Superfeet Insoles,

Things I Brought and Didn't Use
Marmot Safari Hat, Eastern Mountain Sports Mittens, Smith Optics Ski Goggles 

Stuff I Wish I Had or Remembered to Bring
Buff, lip balm with actual SPF, trail shoes for the base of the mountain

Why I Buy - What's Your Value Proposition?

The business and retail side of the outdoor industry fascinates me, both because I'm one of the best customers they'll ever have and it's an incredibly complex industry. I had the opportunity to able to mull over what influences my outdoor gear and clothing purchasing decisions thanks to Pemba Serves, and write about it!

"We in the #OIBIZ spend a lot of time trying to figure out what makes outdoor customers and influencers tick. There are charts and graphs with consultants to carry them around, many of them with big degrees and big data-sets with lots of numbers. We thought that we might try a simpler, more straight-forward solution: We asked an influencer,”Why do you buy?” It seems we struck a nerve, as we got such a good response to our first post we decided to do it again. Here’s this week’s post from our Tweep Katie Levy, and we’ll let her tell us all about it…"

Read on for my list of value influencers here!

Favorite Gear of 2009

I'm not sure I'd necessarily say I'm obsessed with gear, but I definitely have a lot of it, especially when it comes to hiking, backpacking and climbing. I put a lot of thought into the purchases I make not only because outdoor gear and clothing tends to be pricey, but because I need it to last and keep me safe. I think I made some great gear decisions this year, and would like to share some of my favorite things!

Marmot Gravity Jacket

I always know I can count on Marmot to make exactly what I'm looking for. I added this jacket to my outerwear collection because I wanted a shell I could wear climbing, something between a winter jacket and a windbreaker, and could also wear to work. I've had it for quite a while now, and have definitely put it through it's paces, including daily walks to the office and the #jtreetweetup. I wore it almost 24 hours a day during the Joshua Tree trip, and as if by magic, if never really looked dirty! It's sleek looking, easy to move around in, durable and most importantly, warm. The fleece interior is supersoft, and although the exterior doesn't make the jacket waterproof, I've never been soaked in it. I also have long arms, and find the sleeves are the perfect length. The fit makes for great layering, too. ($150 on rei.com Photo courtesy of Eileen Ringwald).




Camelback Helena Hydration Pack

As a guide for TerraMar Adventures, I typically run climbing and hiking events. They're my two favorite things! This summer, I needed a pack that could hold enough water for a day hike along with everything else I need to lead hikes: extra layers, my first aid kit, snacks, and maps. I had trouble fitting it all into my old hydration pack. I love Camelback stuff in general, and this female-specific pack came with all the features I needed. The largest pocket is large enough for the full 100 oz. reservoir, my first aid kit, a rain jacket, and any other clothes. The smaller pocket can accommodate snacks, my cell phone, and other items with plenty of room. I love the additional water bottle holder, too! It was definitely designed with a woman's form in mind - the sternum and waist straps are in exactly the right places. There's even a small pocket for sunglasses on top. I keep finding new features of the bag every time I use it! ($49.93 2008 overstock on rei.com).


Scarpa Techno Rock Shoes


Anyone who's ever climbed anything knows that how your shoes fit can make a huge difference in how you climb, and how comfortable you are! Fit will be different for everyone, of course, but quality seems to be universal. I bought these after I blew through the toes of my La Sportiva Mythos shoes in a matter of months, and love them. These fit me like a glove and they're great all-around shoes. They've performed well in all sorts of situations - edging at the gym, slab and crack climbing for three days in Joshua Tree, heel hooking at Livesey Rock, bouldering, and just standing around. They're snug, but not too snug, and have not stretched in the several months I've worn them. I've heard amazing things about Stealth rubber, but the Vibram XS has served me well so far both indoors and out. I was pretty impressed with the results of this climbing rubber test, too. I wear a women's size 10 and bought these in a size 40, they're a perfect fit. And I was surprised to see my climbing partner, Nina, bought them too! ($129 on rei.com)


Smartwool Midweight Top

I bought this top for the second time when it came up on Steep and Cheap several months ago figuring I might as well stock up on one of my favorite layering shirts! I somehow can't seem to get cold with this shirt on, even though it's only a midweight baselayer. But my favorite part of this top is where Smartwool placed the seams; Smart wool indeed! The shoulder seams are in just the right place to avoid chaffing or skin irritation when I've got a pack on, and the side seam placement makes the top quite flattering. The length of the sleeves is perfect for my 6' wingspan, (even though I'm only 5'8"). The first of these tops I bought lasted through a winter in Alaska and several backpacking trips, but was no match for my kitten's claws, sadly. ($75 on rei.com)

Novara Divano Road Bike
Now I'm no cycling expert, and don't pretend to be, but when it came to choosing a road bike, this was definitely right for me. I needed a bike for the City to Shore ride and enough time to get comfortable riding it. Buying a road bike is a big deal, and I got to the point where I'd exhausted all research options and was limited both by time and my budget. REI to the rescue! I did my homework, asked twitter friends for advice, badgered the poor REI bike salesmen to death, and finally settled on a bright red Novara Divano. It has a carbon fork, Tiagra shifters and Tiagra/Sora derailleurs, which were among my required specs. I chose a non-gender specific bike because it fit, but definitely see the merits of a women's-specific bike. The men's saddle was uncomfortable until I got used to it, and might invest in a women's saddle next year. The only down side I found was that the pedals aren't of the highest durability, but I plan on replacing those with clipless pedals at some point. It's a great bike for the price, and perfect for recreational cycling. The best part - the bike went on sale shortly after I bought it, and REI refunded the difference! (2009 model out of stock, 2010 model $849 at rei.com)


Ibex Shak Glove Liner

I love, love, love Ibex, and knew when I was looking for the perfect liner glove, Ibex was where I needed to look. I love Ibex not only because of the quality of their products, but because of their message as a company. I bought these to wear around town and as ski glove liners. So far, they're perfect - warm enough to wear on their own, but still fit snugly under my gloves. They're longer than other liners I've used and come several inches up past my wrist, which will help keep the snow off my skin during ski season. I'll put them to the test in January when I take the EMS Climbing School 3 Day Accelerated Mountaineering class, but for now, they've passed! I bought a medium and might get a small if I buy them again, they are unisex. ($35 on ibexwear.com)

Joshua Tree Products

I was ecstatic to hear that Joshua Tree Products was sponsoring the #jtreetweetup and providing us with all sorts of stuff to test out! I tried the Healing Mint and the Desert Shimmer lip balms, and put them both on what seemed like every hour over the course of three days in Joshua Tree. Both worked great, and the Desert Shimmer made me feel a little less dirty and a little more cute than normal on a climbing trip! I love that it looked nice and slightly girly, and actually worked! Highly recommended over any lip balms I've ever bought at the drug store. Of course, I tried out the famous Joshua Tree Climbing Salve as well, designed to heal fingertips after a rough day on the rocks. I'd used it before after climbing indoors and loved it, but the salve really made a difference after climbing on gritty JTree rock. (Lip balms $4-5, salve $5-15 on jtreelife.com)

Gear Review: Yakima Roof Rack, Copperhead Mount

*screeeech* *rrrrip* *crunch* "Okay, I think it's in." *slam* *crash* "The trunk won't close!" *click* *pop* "Okay, how 'bout now?" *slam* *crash* "Nope, not quite."

All of these words and sounds represent a typical morning in which Dan and I tried, with our best effort, to disassemble both of our mountain bikes and get them into the back of my little 2004 Corolla. Fitting a full suspension and a hardtail mountain bike into the trunk, seats folded down, took a serious amount of finagling. We were training for our first adventure race, and I was just learning the in's and out's of mountain biking. The last thing I wanted to focus on was trying to fit my bike in the car and the process took away from our valuable time on the trails.

I finally broke down and went to REI for a bike rack. Choosing between a roof rack and a trunk rack was easy. I've heard stories about trunk racks damaging cars, being unstable, coming loose from the car, and damaging the bikes themselves. My little Corolla came with a super cool spoiler as well, which virtually eliminated all of the trunk racks anyway. Choosing Yakima over Thule was as simple as realizing the Yakima racks were slightly cheaper - the competing brands, to be honest, don't seem too different to me.

I was shocked at the prices in general and the different types of components I had to buy. Of course, Yakima has to create racks and components for every car known to man, and it made sense that the racks have to be assembled in pieces. Between the Q Towers ($299), crossbars ($70), front and rear clips ($70), and core locks (6 at $75), things got quite pricey. I was a peeved about having to buy the SKS locks separately, but can see why manufacturers would do that. You have the freedom to choose the number of locks you purchase, and if you purchase a few extras, you can get them in a larger package and they'll all use the same key.

Being the price-sensitive outdoorslady I am, I chose the cheapest, easiest mounting accessory for the bike itself, the Copperhead Bike Mount ($99). So far, for the price, the quality has been precisely what I was hoping for.

Pros: It's cheap, or relatively so. The mount is a piece of cake to use - the skewer fits into the fork on your bike and tightens to hold it in place, and the rear wheel attaches to the rack with an adjustable strap. My older K2 Zed 1.0 bike fits perfectly on the mount, and I've driven down a highway for a number of hours without the bike moving a centimeter. I'm completely confident that the bike is secure, and can focus on driving rather than worrying.

Cons/Problems: While on the highway, I definitely noticed the air blowing over the rack, it makes noise. But the noise is minimal, it doesn't bother me at all, and if you want to continue spending money on the rack, you can buy the faring, which I did later on, and it makes a huge difference. For cyclists with thinner wheels and mountain bikers with different forks, be careful. Thinner wheels can prevent a tight fit, and this mount does not fit all forks. Luckily, I have a standard mountain bike, and it fits perfectly. Be sure to check beforehand and make sure your bike fits the rack you buy. 

It's definitely not the most secure locking system. The lock designed to go on the skewer only prevents potential thieves from opening the clamp on the fork. It is absolutely possible, if the thief was determined, to remove the skewer without opening the clamp. They can also take the clamp itself when there is no bike on the rack.

Moral of the story: I'm happy with my purchase so far. Although the security of the system leaves a few doubts in my mind, I would never, ever just leave the bike sitting on the rack. If you want a more secure system, spend a bit more (the Steelhead, for example), buy a cable or chain lock, or don't leave your bike unattended sitting on the top of your car. If someone wants to steal it, they'll find a way, all racks and locks aside. I'd consider spending a little more on the bike mount if I were to replace the Copperhead with something secure, but you get what you pay for, and I'm satisfied.

Gear Review (Ahnu Tilden II) and Good Times

the Ahnu Tilden II's and I near the Puget Sound.

One my favorite feelings in the world is arriving at camp on a long backpacking trip and removing my dirty, stinky, feet from my ankle-protecting, extremely stable and unflexible hiking boots. I love allowing my feet a bit of freedom while setting up the tent, cooking dinner, and organizing things for the next day. 

I bought the Ahnu Tilden II sandals a month or so ago after deciding flip flops weren't cutting it as around-the-camp shoes. They'd slip off, and don't provide any sort of stability. In the Adirondacks and Catskills, we'd cook a few hundred feet from camp to keep the bears out of our campsite, and getting around in flip flops was impossible.

Ahnu Tilden II's to the rescue! I couldn't find a pair of Keen sandals I really liked, despite the countless recommendations I heard. I have narrow feet, but am a size 10, and all the Keen's I've tried made my feet look enormous. I haven't taken the Tilden sandals on backpacking trips yet, but did test them out on lower elevation trails in Mt. Rainier National Park and this weekend in French Creek State Park. 

They're very comfortable, pretty darn cute, and did very well on light hiking trails. I found them to be quite grippy, not like the Vibram soles on my hiking boots, but more than I was expecting from a pair of water sandals. They are extremely breathable and light.

The only problems I've found so far are that they don't dry very quickly, aren't 100% friendly to my high arches, and were a little difficult to get on the first few tries. But in general, they're a great sandal. Priced at $85 on rei.com, they're a great value, and I anticipate they will last a long time. They also contain recycled polyester and bamboo, which makes me feel better about buying them.

Member Jason taking in the view on Mount Tammany.

I had a chance to test them out both light hiking and mountain biking yesterday at TerraMar's Annual Adventurer's BBQ. It's an event we hold for our members around this time every year to eat cookout food, goof around, and to thank them for spending time with our group. We met around noon at French Creek State Park, and split off into various activities. I led a short, flat hike around the park, then went for a quick half-hour mountain bike ride around Hopewell Lake. I definitely need to get the bike on trails more often, I was pretty out of practice. But I came back dirty and sweaty - characteristics of a successful ride, in my opinion. It was a great afternoon with great people.

Saturday was our second Hiking and Pie event, this time up Mt. Tammany in the Delaware Water Gap area of New Jersey. The summit provides some incredible views of the Delaware River, and is part of the Appalachian Trail. The river forms the border between PA and NJ in that area, and between PA and NY further north. The hike, just over three miles round trip with 1250' of elevation gain, was just challenging enough to allow us to work up an appetite for pie from the Village Farmer Bakery, located on the PA side of the Water Gap. One apple, one mixed berry, one pecan, and one pumpkin pie later, we were all full and happy. It was a great weekend in PA.

REI Anniversary Sale Bounty

I drove the four hours home to Ithaca, NY from Philly this weekend for Mother's Day, but not without a stop at REI to make my contribution to the Anniversary Sale. I'm usually pretty careful about what I purchase, especially if it involves a significant investment, but I know I can count on REI to have exactly what I need! The products I left the store with:

Patagonia Women's Bandha Dress in Morning Glory - I am not typically a dress-wearing girl, mostly because I have trouble with the way most dresses are cut, and the fabric (too many flowers, too floofy, etc.). I look for dresses that are feminine but not girly, and that I could both wear to work or around the city comfortably. This dress is cut to flatter just about any figure, including mine, and the fabric is beautifully soft. My longer limbs and swimmer's shoulders are tough to fit, but Patagonia, as always, pulled through.

Patagonia Women's Capilene® 3 Crew in Shoreline Blue - I can never get enough of Patagonia's base layers, especially in preparation for my four day backpacking trip in the Adirondacks this weekend. My body seems to have difficulty regulating its temperature, and I quickly vacillate between much too cold and much too warm. But these base layers provide enough protection to keep me comfortable through the cold Upstate New York nights and hikes up Mt. Marcy. And it looks pretty darn good on, too! (editors note: it shrunk in the dryer, and I gave to a friend.)

Yakima Bike rack with Copperhead add-on - I've been toying with the idea of getting a bike rack for some time now, and finally committed when I learned they were all 20% off. Taking apart two bikes and fitting them in my tiny Toyota Corolla was getting tiring. Yakima and Thule seemed interchangeable, and the Yakima was a bit cheaper. I opted for a roof rack due to information from friends about the drawbacks of a trunk rack, and my own reservations about trunk racks in general. The entire set up - clips, towers, bars, and the Copperhead - came to less than $400. Win.

Bear-resistant Food Canister - These are required in the Adirondacks, and after three trips with a $5/day rental fee, I decided this would be a good investment. They're definitely heavy and awkward to pack, but easy to use, and I feel much safer knowing my dinner is protected, and relatively bear-proof!

Patagonia Women's Active Classic Cami - This is another one of Patagonia's one-style-fits-and-flatters-all pieces of clothing. I have two already, and have worn them climbing, backpacking, running, gymming, and out to dinner. They dry super-fast, and all the different patterns are sure to please. I have one in black, blue, and now green.

I can't wait to test everything out!