SierraDescents.com

SierraDescents | Category | Gear

TNF Apex Bionic

Climbing Telegraph Peak - 300x300 placeholder

North Face's Apex Bionic Jacket combines the best qualities of Windstopper™ fleece and a stretchy soft shell in one trim package. The Apex Bionic practically jumps out of the (more)

Marmot PreCip Jacket

Climbing Telegraph Peak - 300x300 placeholder

Marmot calls the PreCip Jacket 'full-function value-added rainwear.' Given the PreCip's bargain price, the value is easy to see. As to the question of function, the PreCip is a (more)

Marmot PreCip Pant

Climbing Telegraph Peak - 300x300 placeholder

Officially, Marmot's PreCip Pants are listed as rainwear, but that hasn't stopped them for becoming one of my favorite hard shell pants for all-around use. I wanted a lightweight (more)

North Face NSE Tent Bootie???

Climbing Telegraph Peak - 300x300 placeholder

Really the big disadvantage with these is all the taunting you'll have to endure from your friends. If you can take it, however, the North Face's 700-fill down NSE Tent Bootie (more)

Down Bags: GoreTex vs. Microfiber

Down Bags: GoreTex vs. Microfiber

I got an email the other day from a Sierra mountaineer who was wondering what the pros and cons were of getting a down sleeping bag with a GoreTex Shell versus microfiber. (more)

What Lies Beneath

What Lies Beneath

One of the things I didn't mention about my recent Pacific Crest Trail hike was that I froze my butt off at night. At first, I was convinced the problem was the sleeping bag I'd (more)

MSR Hyperflow

Climbing Telegraph Peak - 300x300 placeholder

With its various parts and configurations, MSR's Hyperflow Microfilter weighs between roughly 7.6 and 9.9 ounces total. Go with the higher number—leaving parts at home (such as (more)

God, I Love the Smell of HDPE in the Morning…

God, I Love the Smell of HDPE in the Morning…

Among the more esoteric search topics that bring visitors to SierraDescents is the question of the scent of HDPE water bottles. Do HDPE water bottles really smell bad, people (more)

Jetboil PCS

Climbing Telegraph Peak - 300x300 placeholder

Rarely does gear prove to be such a complete home run as Jetboil's Personal Cooking System (PCS) canister stove. The only conceivable knock on the Jetboil is its (more)

Vasque Breeze GTX

Climbing Telegraph Peak - 300x300 placeholder

At two pounds, nine ounces per pair, the Vasque Breeze GTX qualifies as a light hiking boot—but don't think that means they're not durable. This is the boot I used to hike and (more)

La Sportiva Trango S EVO

Climbing Telegraph Peak - 300x300 placeholder

La Sportiva's Trango S EVO GTX Alpine Mountaineering boot delivers a mighty punch of versatility and performance. What truly makes the Trango S EVO special, however, is its (more)

Teeth of Steel: Sabretooth Crampon

Climbing Telegraph Peak - 300x300 placeholder

Black Diamond calls the Sabretooth their most versatile crampon, suitable for travel from Denali to Ouray and everywhere in between. The Sabretooth is an aggressive 12-point (more)

Axes I Have Known: BD Venom

Climbing Telegraph Peak - 300x300 placeholder

Every now and then a piece of gear comes along that changes the paradigm. Such is the case with Black Diamond's Venom ice axe. The Venom directly addresses the dilemma of having (more)

Update: Quantum Love Affair Continues

Climbing Telegraph Peak - 300x300 placeholder

Just made a few quick edits to my Black Diamond Quantum review. I've now had the pleasure of using both 45 and 55-liter versions of the Quantum. I like the extra volume of the (more)

Nalgene Phases Out Lexan

Nalgene Phases Out Lexan

Nalgene has just announced the phase-out of BPA-containing bottles from its product lineup, including all polycarbonate (Lexan) water bottles. Any way you put it, this is a (more)

PREVIOUS | 11 | MORE