I’m a huge fan of fitness. I think eating right and regular intense exercise are the cornerstones of preparing for adventures and life in general. Plus, as a member of the US Armed Forces, I’m required to stay physically fit. My fitness activities range from light days at the gym to hard core circuit courses. I usually prefer to get my cardio workouts on the trails in and around Colorado Springs, usually with a few pounds of gear strapped to my back. Unfortunately I don’t always have time to get out for cardio, so I have to rely on what the local fitness center has to offer. While stair climbers, elliptical machines, and stationary bikes all work fine for cardio, I know that the best workout in a short time is running. The problem is, I REALLY don’t like running. I’ve had to run for time pretty regularly since I joined Civil Air Patrol over 20 years ago, and I’ve never liked it. When I first joined the Air Force, my run times were average at best, I’ve never been a fast runner. As I’ve aged, I’ve developed minor knee irritations that have required a brace on occasion, which has definitely slowed my run times. While I still meet the standards for the AF, I’ve really felt that I’ve been held back a little. Last year a friend of mine posted on Facebook about a not-so-new running ‘shoe’ called the Vibram Five Fingers.

About the Jetboil Flash

The Jetboil Flash in the latest innovation from Jetboil. Like the Jetboil Personal Cooking System (PCS), the Flash is an integrated cup, stove, and heat exchanger. The integration of all the components make the Jetboil systems extremely efficient. According to Jetboil the Flash will boil two cups of water in an amazingly fast two minutes. The features and specs from the Jetboil website:

• 1.0 Liter FluxRing® cooking cup with insulating cozy, featuring Flash color-change heat indicator
• Adjustable stainless steel burner with push-button “through-cup” igniter
• Drink-through lid and insulating bottom cover/measuring cup
• Tripod base for added stability
• Available in Gold, Violet, Sapphire and Carbon
• Weight: 14 oz (397 g)
• Volume: 32 oz (1 Liter)
• Boil Time: 16 oz (1/2 Liter) = 2 minutes
• Water Boiled: 12 Liters per 100g Jetpower canister
• Dimensions: 4.1” x 7.1” (104 mm x 180 mm)

Differences Between Jetboil PCS and Jetboil Flash

On initial inspection, the differences between the Jetboil PCS and the Flash seemed fairly cosmetic to me so I inquired further. Ric Pratte from Jetboil's PR firm gave me some more in-depth information on the updates.

The technical difference between PCS and Flash is in the burner. [The] Flash burner control is a wire "bale", which is easier to access and operate than [the] knob on the PCS. The Flash igniter is low profile and comes up through the burner head, which means its less likely to be damaged than the PCS igniter. The burner head is solid stainless steel, as compared to the mesh head on the PCS, which is subject to shrinking over time and then falling out. Also, the Flash comes with a tripod stabilizer, which is a $10 retail value.

First Impressions of the Jetboil Flash

The Jetboil Flash is a pretty impressive piece of equipment. Stowed, all components fit within the Flash's 32oz. cup for easy transport. The Flash is a bit heavier than the homemade alcohol stove I currently use for warm weather pursuits but the Flash's simplicity and quick boils will no doubt be key during the colder months. In the couple boils I did to test the Flash did indeed get water to a boil very quickly, and the heat indicator on the side is a nice (though not altogether necessary) touch -- it turns orange when the water reaches 140°F. I look forward to giving the Jetboil Flash a good workout in the coming months.

What We're Looking for in the Jetboil Flash

With the Jetboil already being used by many of the top mountaineers on some of the highest peaks in the world (see Peter Whittaker mention the Jetboil as a mountaineering game changer) we anticipate that the Jetboil Flash will be an asset on our backcountry endeavors in slightly less demanding conditions.

This lightweight wool next to skin base layer should be an essential for anyone doing cold weather activities. This Athletically fitted crew neck shirt has long sleeves and offers thumb holes to keep it getting bunched up under other layers. Even giving your hand a little extra heat inside gloves. All of Stoic shirts are somewhat stylish and would look just fine spending time at the bar after making your final tracks of the day. Although I would probably wear another shirt or a vest over it to keep from being “That Guy.” But at least it won’t smell bad when you offer to buy the cute ski bunny a beverage. Design: Ultra-fine Merino Wool base layer Retail: $59 (Buy) Why it’s hot:

• Athletic Cut
• Thumb Holes
• Better Looking Than Plain Base Layers

Why it’s not:

• Thumb Holes Could Be a Tad Bigger
• Lighter colored fabrics are a little see though

http://stoicgear.com

About the Patagonia R2 Jacket

Along with my Patagonia Primo Jacket and PantsI received an R2 jacket to serve as my insulation layer.  Like I said in that article I have gotten a late start in testing my new ski gear but I plan on giving it a run for it's money in the coming months.  Before we get too involved let's take a look at the R2 jacket features from the Patagonia website:

• Highly technical R2 fabric is light, stretchy and compressible, with great breathability
• Insulating long fibers alternate with dense, supportive short fibers to optimize insulation and reduce bulk
• Directional knit wicks moisture and speeds dry time
• Inner collar lined with R1® fabric (made with recycled polyester) for next-to-skin comfort; collar and protective chin flap lined with R1 fabric (made with recycled polyester) for next-to-skin comfort
• Low-bulk R1 fabric cuffs
• Pockets: one chest and zippered handwarmers; zippers all welded and reinforced with Supplex® for snag-free operation
• Shoulder seams set forward for pack-wearing comfort
• R2® shell: 7.4-oz Polartec® Thermal Pro® 100% polyester (40% recycled) fleece. R1® panels: 6.5-oz Polartec Power Dry® 93% polyester (60% recycled)/7% spandex. Recyclable through the Common Threads Recycling Program
• 419 g (14.8 oz)
• Made in Colombia.

First Impressions of the Patagonia R2 Jacket

The first thing I noticed when I pulled the R2 jacket out of the box was how light it was, even for a fleece.  The high loft of the soft polyester fleece seems ideal for great compressibility while providing great insulation qualities.  It's quite soft too!  It is a shame that Patagonia hasn't been able to get a lightweight fleece such as the R2 with wind resistant properties like the R4 but I suppose that's the trade-off.  That said, the R2 jacket seems to be constructed to the high standards that is common of Patagonia.  I did have a few issues when I wore the jacket around the neighborhood for the first time.  The fit seems to be a little weird with a tight fit in the shoulders and arms.  Perhaps I was wearing a bulky sweater, but it still struck me as odd.  The second problem I have is similar to the many jackets sporting a napoleon pocket: when reaching to unzip the jacket I tend to grab the pocket zipper instead.  It's really a love hate relationship with napoleon pockets in general.  Otherwise there seems to be no problem with materials, design, or construction.

What We're Looking for in the Patagonia R2 Jacket

In the next few months we will be testing the Patagonia R2 jacket under hard shells while skiing both downhill and AT, on it's own while climbing in the Gunks, and of course we will be wearing it around town after a day of hiking.  We expect the R2 jacket to perform as advertised with it's light weight, compressible, insulation goodness. Make sure you subscribe to out RSS Feed so you don't miss the final review.

About the Patagonia Primo Jacket and Primo Pants

I received my Patagonia Primo Jacket and pants the other day and although I am getting a late start with my ski gear, I plan to give the Primos a run for their money in the coming weeks.  With trips planned to Vermont, Utah, and Colorado I'll be sure to test to the Primo Jacket in some challenging situations.  The Primo jacket also comes in a down insulated version (not reviewed here as I am not a big fan or insulation and shells combined).  Let's have a quick look at some of the features of the Primo Jacket from the Patagonia website:

• Lightweight, yet durable 3-layer 4.2-oz stretch-woven nylon with H2No® waterproof breathable barrier and Deluge DWR finish
• Fixed helmet-compatible hood with single-hand drawcord pull
• Drop collar with high neck to provide protection from winds and snow
• Coated, water-repellent zippers for center front, hand pockets, and pit zips
• Pockets: left chest with electronic pocket inside, two handwarmer, two interior drop in
• Pit zips
• Fully featured, zip-off, stretch powder skirt with webbing loops to attach to pants, and pass window
• Shell: 4.2-oz 50-denier 100% stretch-woven nylon with a waterproof/breathable H2No® barrier and Deluge® DWR (durable water repellent) finish. Powder skirt: 2.3-oz 100% all-recycled polyester plain weave
• 652 g (23 oz)
• Made in Vietnam.
• And the features for the Primo pants from the Patagonia website:

• Lightweight, yet durable 3-layer 4.2-oz stretch-woven nylon with H2No® waterproof/breathable barrier and Deluge® DWR (durable water repellent) finish
• Snap-closure waistband
• Interior waistband and adjustments lined with soft, brushed tricot
• Pockets: two handwarmer, one right thigh with coated water resistant zippers
• Scuff guards to protect pant cuffs
• Fully-featured gaiters with gripper elastic, adjustable cam buckles and integrated drawcord
• 3-layer, 4.2-oz 50-denier 100% stretch-woven nylon with a Deluge® DWR (durable water repellent) finish
• 485 g (17.1 oz)
• Made in Vietnam.

First Impressions of the Primo Jacket and Primo Pants

The quality of the Primos are nothing less than what we have come to expect out of Patagonia.  All seams are perfectly taped, the stitching is top notch, the zippers work perfectly, in fact there doesn't seem to be a single blemish on the jacket or pants.  The Primos are certainly on par with the best ski/snowboard clothing currently on the market.  As a plus, when we put the Primo jacket (small) on the scales it came in at just 21 3/4oz and the Primo pants (medium) came in at 16 3/4oz. both on par with advertised weights.

What We're Looking for from the Patagonia Primo Jacket and Primo Pants

For the premium that is charged for the Primo jacket and Primo pants we expect them to perform superbly in very tough conditions. We'll be on the slopes in Vermont and Utah, late season AT skiing in Colorado, climbing in New Mexico, and torturing ourselves with downpours in between. We're expecting the Primo to keep us protected from the elements as well as allowing water vapor from our sweat to escape so as to not create a sauna inside the shell. All of this is expected of the Primo in widely varying conditions.  It's a tall order, yes, but that is the reason the Primos were designed. Make sure you subscribe to out RSS Feed so you don't miss the final review.

I can’t believe it took me so long to get something like the Midweight Boot Top Bottom. I’ve used them countless times in only their first season. Incredibly comfortable they have a covered elastic waistband and flat lock seams. They are great under ski pants, climbing pants, or jeans while sticking it out though a cold fall football game. The length overlaps ski socks by a couple of inches and gives you one less thing to have to deal with around your ski boots or climbing shoes.

Quick Review:

Design: Ultra-fine Merino Wool base layer Weight: 7oz Retail: $70 (Buy) Why it’s hot:

• Exceptionally Comfortable
• Length doesn’t interfere with ski boots

Why it’s not:

• I only have one pair

http://www.smartwool.com

I’ll never go back. I have spend all of my adventure life wearing Patagonia poly-capaline. I didn’t know it could get better, but I was wrong. Not that the synthetic base layers are bad, mine still see some use. But there really is no comparison. The Smartwool’s 100% wool Sport STS Crew is just in another league. It’s has a considerable better feel next to your skin, is more formfitting and also allows for better range of motion. Made with flatlock seams it’s easy to forget your wearing it. However, my favorite thing about the Sport NTS Crew is length of the sleeves. I am 6’1” tall 175lbs and have a 3 ½” ape index. Finding any long sleeve shirt with the proper sleeve length usually means going up a size and having to accept swimming in it. Last but surely not last, it doesn’t smell bad, ever. In contrast my Patagonia base layers are worn with sleeves pulled up to my forearms and have to be kept at a distance as no amount of washing or fabreeze can rid them of their stink. I am anxious to see how well it holds up to wear and tear. I’m not worried about having it under my ski gear, but climbing off-width desert crack during our annual fall or winter desert climbing trips. Look for updates. Design: Ultra-fine Merino Wool base layer Weight: 10.2oz Retail: $80 (Buy) Why it’s hot:

• Incredibly Comfortable
• Athletic Cut With Long Sleeves
• Doesn’t Smell

Why it’s not:

• Pricier Than Synthetic materials.
• Durability?

http://www.smartwool.com

The Patagonia Crosstown backpack is a great pack for the daily commuter or the traveler on the go. With space for a large collection of papers, magazines, or books, it seems to be the perfect size for the daily grind or a day hike. A smaller section for items that you need quick access to rounds out the mass storage areas, although the advertised office organizer leaves something to be desired.  The Crosstown sports numerous small pockets providing a place for loose change, cell phones or any other small item you can think of.  From the obvious pocket on the top, to the one on the side, to the obscure pocket on the inside of the outer pouch, there are surely enough pockets to lose something in. The top pocket came in particularly handy while removing all the metal objects from my pockets while standing in the security line at the airport.  It does however, lack an earphone hole for those that like to keep and iPod in there. That said, the greatest feature is the laptop pouch on the backside of the large pouch. It's big enough to accommodate a laptop up to 17" and keep it well secured. The laptop pouch is suspended to keep your laptop from touching the ground when you set the pack down and is sufficiently padded for extra protection.  The pack does have outside mesh water bottle pockets but these never seem to work out as good as the designers intended.  I like to use the outside pouch for items I need quick access to, but I'm selective in doing so as there is no security to keep prying hands out, a problem for those commuting in high density areas.  The crosstown is also coated with a DWR (durable water repellent) to keep your wares dry when caught in an unexpected shower.

Quick Info

Design: Commuter Backpack Capacity: 26l (1,597 cu/in) Weight: 1lb. 11oz. Retail: $100 (Buy) Why it’s hot:

• Laptop pouch
• Lots of pockets
• Great size
• DWR

Why it’s not:

• No security on outside pouch
• No earphone jack
• Mesh pocket doesn't work so well

http://www.patagonia.com

I've climbed in Petzl harnesses for years. They were the first to the market with the auto double back buckles and I loved the ability to loosen up my leg loops while hanging out between climbs and belays. When it was time to retire my old Petzl Calidris I began shopping strictly for a Petzl harness and ended up with the Adjama. I was thrilled with the light weight and how incredibly breathable the harness is. There is nothing better for sport climbing during the summer months. The unmolded rear gear loops are great when wearing a backpack and your harness. While the harness is not excessively padded the fit is excellent. I have never experienced any pressure points while hanging, even for long periods of time. If you know anything about the Calidris harness it had two waist belt buckles so no matter what you were wearing you could always have the harness centered on you body. I was spoiled. The Adjama only has one waist belt buckle and most of the time it centered and fits well; however, the occasional day of Ice climbing led to an acceptable but less than desired fit. Like I said I was spoiled. Most harness only have one buckle. I miss the twin buckles and the ability to completely remove the harness by unthreading all of the buckles to take it off without having to step though anything at all, it just peels off (useful while wearing crampons). My only real gripe about the Adjama is the front gear loops. They sit too far forward on the waist belt. It makes the gear very easy to reach, but more times than not the gear ends up on the inside of your leg. Highly annoying when climbing long trad pitches. I thought it wouldn't be a problem, but after just one season in the harness I am one again shopping for a new one.

Quick Review:

Design: Light weight climbing harness Retail: $85.95 (Buy) Why it's hot:

• Highly Breathable
• Light Weight
• Double Back Buckles

Why it's not:

• Front Gear Loops
• Only one waist belt buckle

http://www.petzl.com/

The latest sleeping pad from a long lineage of quality products in the Therm-a-rest line from Cascade Designs delivers on it promises. Forgoing the insulation and foam that generally fills sleeping pads, the Neo Air instead uses a reflective materiel to reflect heat back to the body. This move saves quite a bit of space and weight while still managing to give the Neo Air a respectable R-rating of 2.5. The pad weighs in at a mere 13.375oz., rolls up to the size of a one liter bottle and still raises you up 2.5" off the ground.  Our testers found this to be the most comfortable mat by a healthy margin.  Sleeping bags stay nicely on the mat without slipping off during the night and the horizontal design of the air chambers made for a great distribution of weight.  As you would expect, the pad is constructed of very lightweight materials and gentle handling is the name of the game, although on the two week test in Glacier National Parkand Gunnison National Forest, the Neo Air showed no signs of a leak.  There have been some reports of some early distribution problems but these should ease with time.  If you are looking for the top of the line pad and can get past the sticker shock, the Neo Air is the only choice.  If, on the other hand, you are looking for a great pad that is about half the price, albeit slightly heavier and more bulky, check out the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core. Also available in four sizes; small (20"x47"), medium (20"x66"), regular (20"x72"), and large (25"x77") there is a surely a size for everyone.

Quick Review:

Design: Light weight sleeping pad Weight: 13.375oz. (Regular) Retail: $119.95 - $169.95 (Buy) Why it's hot:

• Light weight
• Great weight distribution
• Great loft
• Packs down small

Why it's not:

• Price

http://cascadedesigns.com/

There are dozens of options for convertible pants from nearly every clothing manufacturer. For this test, I tried the Mesa Pants from Mountain Hardwear (MH). I’ve gained a little weight over the last year, but according to the USAF my waist is still 33 inches. Going by the MH sizing chart, that puts me in the ‘medium’ range of pants. I ordered the long version to make sure the pants would be long enough. When they arrived I immediately tried them on and learned they’re a little snug. The medium size is supposed to fit up to a 34 waist, but that would be a very tight fit. On our trek through the Raggeds Wilderness in August, these pants performed quite well. They are fairly water resistant, and dried very quickly when they did get wet. The built in drawcord cuffs helped keep the rocks & mud out of my boots since I wasn't wearing gaiters. The convertible feature is quick & easy to use, the zipper never got stuck at all. It would be helpful if there were some identifying marks on the pant bottoms, since I tried to zip the wrong side on nearly every time. So far the pants have worn pretty well, but they only have about 50 miles on them so far. The seams are holding just fine, despite the snug fit. The pockets are just right, and managed to hold all of my electronics & other necessities great on the trail. One issue I did notice is that the built-in belt does not hold very well. I had to tighten the slip-through buckle at nearly every stop. These are a great pair of pants for light backpacking in fair weather. They’re not insulated so I won’t be using them for winter trekking, but they’ve worked well all summer. Since they run a little small, if you’re on the high end of a size, consider getting the next size up. Quick Review Design:

• Canyon™ Cloth, Lined with Micro-Chamois

Weight:

• 14oz / 392g

Retail:

• $74.95 (buy)

Why It’s Hot:

• Easily convertible
• Dry quickly
• Perfect pockets

Why It’s Not:

• Sizing a little small
• Belt slips

Backpacking in the summer, regardless of where you go, means one thing: sweat. In the past the standard polyester shirts I’ve worn have had a major problem with odor. I really like the Merino Wool Patagonia shirts, but had concerns about their durability. Enter the Mountain Hardwear Duration S/S shirt. This shirt features a wicking anti-microbial fabric that’s very fast drying. This means less time for the sweat to soak in, and less odor. On our Raggeds Adventure, hiking to nearly 11,000 feet really put this shirt to the test. I’m glad to say that after three days of sweat & dirt, this shirt was still acceptable in a local restaurant in Gunnison. Another great feature of this shirt is that the bottom seams are rotated toward the front, so your pack stays more comfortable. They’re also flat knitted, which is less likely to dig in to your skin. The fabric is pick-resistant, so even after quite a bit of off-trail trekking there were very few snags and the shirt held up great. Quick Review Design:

• 100% Polyester

Weight:

• 5oz / 154g

Retail:

• $44.95 (buy)

Why It’s Hot:

• Anti-Microbial (low odor)
• Well placed seams
• Durable

Why It’s Not:

• A little pricey for a T-Shirt