I plan on writing a series of gear reviews now that I can speak to the long-term durability and function of the items I use. :
I swear by OutdoorGearLab.com as the most reliable source for reviews and comparisons. I almost never make a gear purchase without consulting their great “price vs. value” charts. Their “Best Buy” is often the option I choose.
Clothing
Outerwear: Arcteryx Beta AR hardshell, Marmot ROM softshell jacket, REI Mistral softshell pants, Red Ledge full-zip rain pants
Insulating: MontBell Alpine Light Parka, Arc’teryx Atom LT Hoody, Patagonia R1 fleece hoody
Baselayers: Smartwool midweight merino, Minus 33 Allagash lighweight merino
Hiking: Prana Stretch Zion convertible pants
Footwear: Salewa Rapace GTX mountaineering boot, Zamberlan Crosser Plus GTX boots, La Sportiva Ultra Raptor trail runner
Outdoor Equipment:
Backpacks: Black Diamond Speed 40 (strippable day/overnight pack), Gregory Palisades (weeklong expedition pack)
Trekking Poles: Black Diamond Alpine Carbon
Headlamp: Black Diamond ReVolt
Crampons: CAMP Stalker (steel universal crampon)
Sleeping Bags: Marmot Plasma 15
Sleeping Pad: Thermarest Z-Lite, Thermarest NeoAir XTherm
Tent: MontBell Crescent 2
Stove: SnowPeak GigaPower
Skiing
Skis:
Touring: Dynafit Denali/Dynafit Speed Radical;
In-bounds: K2 Annex 98/Marker Baron;
Old skis: BD Revert/Dynafit Vertical FT
Boots: Technica Cochise Pro Light
Ski Mountaineering: Dynafit 100mm Crampon, BD Whippet self-arrest pole
Beacon/Shovel/Probe: Arva Evo3+ beacon, Snow Eco shovel, Light 240 probe
Electronics
Camera: iPhone SE Panasonic Lumix TS-2 (rugged, waterproof point and shoot), GoPro Hero3+ Silver
Watch: Garmin ForeRunner 210 (GPS/HRM)
Climbing
Helmet: Petzl Meteor III+
Harness: Black Diamond Momentum AL
Shoes: 5.10 Coyote
Cycling
Road bike: Trek Madone 4.5 2011
Shoes: Specialized
Pedals: Shimano SPD
Wishlist:
Dynafit TLT boots, MSR reactorJetboil, a proper 4 season tent
Elevated 