SierraDescents | Page 68
October 31, 2008
Marmot PreCip Pant

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)
October 16, 2008
Falling Headfirst Down an Ice Cliff

Blame it on Chamonix—exposure to the big mountains of the French Alps made a big impression on me. I bought a Charlet-Moser axe and crampons, intending to incorporate the (more)
October 10, 2008
North Face NSE Tent Bootie???

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)
October 3, 2008
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)
September 19, 2008
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)
September 15, 2008
MSR Hyperflow

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)
September 14, 2008
PCT: Onion Valley to Cottonwood Pass

Horseshoe Meadow, California — I take one last look inside my car, checking to be sure nothing will appeal to the bears, and then I lock the doors. It feels kind of spooky as (more)
September 5, 2008
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)
September 4, 2008
Jetboil PCS

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)
August 7, 2008
Dept. of Propaganda: BPA Facts.org

Perhaps by now you've heard the radio spot on KFI AM 640: A concerned female voice warns consumers: 'Soon, many common everyday products could disappear from grocery store (more)