I put these boots to the test on Denali. They sailed me up and down the mountain attached to snowshoes, skis and crampons. I wore them nonstop for 21 days (when I wasn’t sleeping or lucky enough to be in my down booties) and never got a single blister.
Petzl again led the pack in bringing us this super versatile, self-braking belay device. Most other manufacturers have scrambled to follow suit, but the Reverso still gets my vote for simplicity and smooth feed in all categories.
When La Sportiva first came out with the Exum Ridge approach shoe, it was a winner. I wore mine up and down the Grand Teton guiding moderate routes during many long days in the mountains until they practically fell off my feet, threadbare.
For me, a good mountain boot not only has to climb well, it has to get me to the climb. I’m not carrying a boot on my back, I’m going to wear it all day, there and back. I checked out the Vasque M-Finity on the 13,770-foot Grand Teton during the early part of last summer.
I am psyched that winter is on its way, so I can start using the Marmot Lithium Sleeping Bag again. Before I received this sack, I had been using a negative 20-degree option lined with a waterproof shell, from a leading competitor. When I first tried the Lithium from Marmot, I was amazed at how warm it kept me, at almost 2 pounds less in weight.
We have just received some samples of the new Exposure packs from Osprey. The haulers look nicely built with lightweight materials and many of the features that I personally tend to like, such as gear loops, removable lids, and “lockable” ski straps, something many packs lack. The big story about these packs is their moldable waist belts…yes, just like the liners of your plastic boots.
Mammut is well known for making very nice climbing ropes and the Infinity 9.5mm is no exception. It fits the bill perfectly as many climbers seem to be choosing skinnier and lighter ropes these days for the majority of their climbing endeavors.
The Mammut Courmayeur Pant is our choice over the popular Champ due to it’s reinforced patches over the knees, seat and cuff. They add durability and longevity from the daily wear and tear of crampons, ski edges and rocks.
It took me a while, but I have finally collected a bunch of Mammut Dyneema 8mm slings. You definitely notice the reduction in bulk and weight when you have a full allotment of these puppies for your rack, with all sizes from 30cm to 240cm lengths.
The Trango S EVO GTX is just as much a boot as it is a mouthful to say. It is one of the most versatile and comfortable three-season mountaineering boots ever. The last is wide enough for our fat American feet and the sole is moderately stiff which allows it to still be flexible enough for many miles of happy hiking.
