SierraDescents | Tag | reviews
April 1, 2013
Tecnica Cochise Pro Light
Yes, those are indeed tech fittings you see at the heel and toe of Tecnica's new Cochise Pro Light ski boot, and believe me, they're not just for decoration. The Cochise Pro (more)
November 24, 2012
Nikon D800
Perhaps the best way to introduce Nikon's full-frame D800 DSLR is to note that it is not at all the camera Nikon enthusiasts were expecting. In hindsight, there is a certain (more)
October 13, 2012
Osprey Talon 11
Osprey's Talon 11 gets three key daypack requirements exactly right. It's light, it's (relatively) cool against your back, and it's structured enough to carry loads well. On that (more)
September 28, 2012
Blizzard Kabookie
Blizzard's Kabookie ski was one of two new Alpine Touring standouts I found at the 2012 SIA show—the other being Garmont's Cosmos boot. Like the Cosmos, the big news with (more)
September 10, 2012
Black Diamond Twilight
The water-resistant/breathable Twilight replaces Black Diamond's Winter Bivy as the lightest bivy sack in the Black Diamond collection. The major difference, aside from a color (more)
September 3, 2012
Mountain Hardwear Direkt 2
Mountain Hardwear's new Direkt 2 is a single-wall tent built in the style of Black Diamond's Firstlight, but updated in a way that makes it both more and less useful. The twin (more)
June 7, 2012
Thermarest XLite
Thermarest's Neoair XLite replaces the original Neoair pad, offering upgraded warmth (from a spec value of R2.4 to R3.2) at a slightly lower weight—one ounce less overall. The (more)
June 1, 2012
Ortovox 3+
I say Ortovox's 3+ is one of the best choices in today's crop of avalanche transceivers. The class of 2012 offers us a lot of innovation, but it also offers a lot of complexity. (more)
May 26, 2012
Black Diamond Mission
The big news with the climbing-oriented Mission 50 pack is that it employs Black Diamond's patent-pending 'reACTIV' suspension system. ReACTIV suspensions, and the more (more)
May 25, 2012
Salomon Speedcross 3
Salomon inarguably makes some of the most popular trail running shoes on the planet, but for my taste their lasts have tended to offer too much rigidity and/or support. Happily, (more)
May 3, 2012
Smith Parallel
Smith's Parallel replaces the discontinued Factor as their go-to performance multisport sunglasses. Smith says the Parallel's styling is a little more contemporary, which is true. (more)
April 25, 2012
Smartwool PhD Ski Ultra Light
Believe it or not, I was a dedicated cotton socks hiker for a long time. I liked the extra texture of cotton, which kept my foot from slipping and sliding inside my shoes. Of (more)
February 20, 2012
Atomic Smoke Ti
Atomic's Smoke Ti is a frontside carver that makes shop owners and skiers happy alike—it sells well, and it delivers a lot of ski for the money. Probably Atomic wouldn't (more)
July 30, 2010
Thermarest DreamTime Mattress
I may be biased toward ultralight gear, but a select few heavier items have a place in my heart as well. Case in point: Thermarest's luxurious DreamTime sleeping pad. Calling the (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)
