Meet Rick-Pittsburgh, February's most helpful reviewer

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Rick-Pittsburgh, February's most helpful reviewer, is as prodigious a backpacker and hiker as he is a reviewer. Hailing from the Iron City, Rick gets himself out to the wilds of southern Pennsylvania regularly, then reviews the gear.

Full article at http://www.trailspace.com/blog/2012/03/06/rick-pittsburgh-february-most-helpful-reviewer.html

Congratulations, Rick! Thanks for sharing your reviews with the entire Trailspace community. We appreciate it!

I'm sure I'm not the only one eagerly awaiting that 5,000-word shoelace review...

Props, my friend :) Glad you got recognition, you've done a lot of great reviews! 

Well deserved Rick!

Thanks everyone. I really have fun writing these. I am glad others have found them helpful...

Rick, you've motivated me to review my OR Odd Job hat! Wonderful review!

Thanks Seth. ;)

way to go man, good work!

Rick's insight to gear and the outdoors I have to say is very good.  Nice job Rick and congrats.

iClimb & skibum12, thanks.

Ya know I gotta give a bit of thanks to everyone in the land of TS that I have had interaction with over the few years that I have been "lurking" around here.

I have taken quite a bit from all of you, learned quite a bit, and am always learning more. 

You all rock. Glad I can give a lil back. 

Just have them forward your goodie box to my address in Vegas. I have it on good authority the contents of that box are better served here. And Congrats!

Most excellent Rick!

I read your gear report soon after you posted it and I knew it would be hard to beat.

Now....about those shoe laces, I do hope you also plan a visit to the factory where they are made and shoot some video for us. Haha.

Mike G.

Well deserved. I know, speaking from personal experience, that Rick has helped me out on more than one occasion.

Always fantastic reviews- great photos, pertinent info and gives a fair rating, both positive and negative points. Motivated me to put a little more effort into my Unna review after seeing the BA Copper spur review. I know the 'goodies' aren't for that specific review but I've spent a considerable amount of timing looking over various other Ricky P reviews. On second thought, thats why I havn't been more productive working on some chores around the house!

You the man Rick, you gave great information and I did like the OR hat review, you set the mark for all of us.

Mike H.

Very nice Rick :) When do you review the Addidas Run DMC (Dedicated Mountain Climbing) Jumpsuit? Optional walkman with helmet mounts for earphones would be a real plus...

Congrats Rick!!!

just send me the beanie if ya get one, you northern folks shouldn't wear anything without ear flaps anyway.

earl

Way to go Rick! Well deserved for sure.

You've set the bar rather high for thew rest of us.

Thanks to Rick I got the boots I am wearing to Nepal. He was a huge help there.Good going......now, about the....G-O-O-D-I-E-S

It looks like I'm a little late to the party here, but congrats Rick.  You really do write comprehensive reviews.  As someone who painstakingly researches each product to death before buying, I can tell you detailed reviews like yours are very helpful.

This topic is a good reminder to myself as well to catch up on those reviews I've been meaning to write, since after all, they are a core part of this site :).

p.s. I'll probably pass on the 5,000-word shoelace review, as captivating as I'm sure it will be :)

Most excellent!

Now ... "the rest of the story" ....

"There are TWO sides to every story", by-the-way.

Probably, like me, Rick knows too much about hiking, camping, backpacking gear.  AND, he does his "homework".   Very, very unlikely that he might acquire gear that he may suspect to not be up to his "lofty standards" (like my own standards).

Also; Rick knows the VALUE of fine, high-end gear, and understands the wisdom of investment for long-term usage, in today's "designed obsolescence / throw-away-and-replace" mind-set of marketing.

Can Rick objectively test gear that is essentially "bottom-feeder JUNK"?    Sure.   Would he buy it ?   Not likely.

Therefore; I suspect Rick's testing and evaluations will mostly be for "the good stuff".   "Four or Five Star"- rating material.

In perusing at random, various gear-reviews here at this website ... by ALL reviewers  (not Rick) ... almost ALL seem to be 4 or 5 "Stars".    What gives with that?   The "credibility factor" becomes suspect.

                                  *

                        pax vobiscum

                             ~ r2 ~

                      a dubious brother

                                 *

The average rating across all reviews on Trailspace is 4.02. From what I've read, this is actually slightly lower than on many review sites; I believe the web-wide average is somewhere around 4.2 or 4.3.

Why is that? For starters, the quality of products on the market today is generally quite good. Second, good reviews tend to be self-reinforcing: people buy more products that get good reviews, hence those products are more likely to garner additional positive reviews. Finally, people generally prefer to tell others about the things that they really like and think that others will like too.

Just because Rick (or any reviewer) is discerning enough to buy mostly high-quality gear doesn't make his opinion suspect. In my experience, those who have that level of discernment are more picky and are able to more objectively identify small flaws in otherwise solid products.

If you've read any of Rick's reviews, you know that he is intimately familiar with the details of each piece of gear. Whether you agree with his overall assessment, his reviews leave little doubt about how he arrived at his conclusion.

Which is not to say that Rick, or any reviewer, should have the final word on a piece of gear. Trailspace is a community effort, and it really takes all of us. If you think a product that you've used is too highly-rated by other users, there's a simple solution: write your own review, sharing your experience and opinions of the gear you use. Do a great job and maybe you'll be next month's most helpful reviewer.

I agree wholeheartedly with what Dave said above.

Good job, Rick, and thanks to you and every one of our members who write fair, helpful reviews for the benefit of the Trailspace community.

I should also note, in case there's any confusion, that "most helpful reviewer" honor is based entirely on community feedback -- "was this helpful?" votes -- received by the review.

The star rating does not factor into the "most helpful" determination in any way; a well-written 1-star review has just as much chance of winning as a well-written 5-star review.

Yes, through community feedback the "most helpful reviewer" honors the quality of the review itself and its author, not the product being reviewed or its rating.

As a consumer who has occasionally purchased something and regretted it, I HAVE given low ratings. One was a solar charging device I got on Steap and Cheap that was cheap and did NOT perform AT ALL. Good to be able to warn people about that. Additionally, the boots I wear and love have had some issues that Rick and Others, due to their efforts at finding the best gear, were able to point out to me. As a result, even though I still wear the boots, I have back ups in case the particular malady they experienced occurs on my long trip. Gear reviews and feedback about gear at this site have gone a super long way to make my upcoming trip of a lifetime a better trip. And, dare I say, without the gear advice as well as other advice I have received here, the trip would have stood a bigger chance of me not being ready.  So, while I thank Rick and congratulate him for a really well written review, I thank you all for your willingness. A review that is detailed can hardly be suspect. When objective facts such as "a lug fell off the boot" or "I soaked the boot for X time and it failed to keep the water out" are present, one can hardly call that  suspect unless they are calling the facts misappropriations of the truth. I went to read some reviews from you R2, for the other side of the story...alas there was nary a one.........

~Sunkist Ninja Defender of all that is good and right in the world! BON APATITE!

Wow, this got pretty big fast lol...

Seriously everyone, thanks a ton for all of the kind words. All the feedback that I am receiving makes me really want to get elbow deep into a new review.

Thanks so much. 

Trailspace is such an awesome community and site but I have to say...

All of you folks as well as the other members out there make Trailspace what it is as a whole and to me well...

Thats nothing short of great. Thanks again for the feedback. 

Plain and simply put. As far as "sites" go there is no other community I would rather be a part of. 

I couldn't be happier than I am for stumbling across TS back in 2009. 

Again, thank you all so much. 

 I am enjoying the comments, and the controversy.

I shall post later, for a follow-up ... as I relish a good debate.

Please note that I am not "attacking the messenger" (otherwise known as "Rick-Pittsburgh").

I am endeavoring to draw attention to the efficacy of the gear-review policy and procedure at the website ... and to draw attention to outdoor-related publications with gear-reviews.

Also; I shall explain why I have chosen NOT to review gear here, or any other website or publication; even though I feel eminently qualified to do so.

Ideally, this would / should be under an entirely new post-topic.

I don't want to take anything away from Rick-Pittsburgh's efforts and due diligence.  

 Not my raison d'etre.

                                        *

                             pax vobiscum

                                    ~ r2 ~

                                        *

Robert Rowe said:

Now ... "the rest of the story" ....

"There are TWO sides to every story", by-the-way.

Probably, like me, Rick knows too much about hiking, camping, backpacking gear.

I don't think it is theoretically possible to know "too much" about gear or backpacking. The more you know about the item you are using the easier it is to remedy/avoid any problems you may run into with said gear.

AND, he does his "homework".

I do a tremendous amount of research when I have my eye on a product. I don't know anyone who wouldn't want the best they can get for their dollar spent. That's just spending your money wisely. 

Very, very unlikely that he might acquire gear that he may suspect to not be up to his "lofty standards" (like my own standards).

I actually have acquired a few items over the years that; well lets just say they weren't up to snuff.

Also; Rick knows the VALUE of fine, high-end gear, and understands the wisdom of investment for long-term usage, in today's "designed obsolescence / throw-away-and-replace" mind-set of marketing.

I am one of those individuals that if I can get a pair of boots for instance that can handle quite a few resoles and they fit I will buy them. I don't need the latest and greatest new fangled waterproof/breathable technology that is on the market. I just want something that can handle what I will put it though. I also don't mind the maintenance aspect of owning gear. 

Can Rick objectively test gear that is essentially "bottom-feeder JUNK"?    Sure.   Would he buy it ?   Not likely.

This would be solely dependent upon what I am using it for. I have had lower end gear before and for what I subjected it too it did just fine. I think some just need to understand what a products intended purpose is and stick with that. 

When people push boundaries it opens up the door for potential failure. Now my thing is this. How many failures that have happened out there are actually the products fault? I mean it surely wasn't due to user error right? 

"I understand ya bought a UL tent, took it to camp 4 on Everest, and the material shredded. It was definitely a lack of quality in the construction of the tent. Must be made in China...."

"Wait, wait... There are quite a few tents at the various camps on Everest that are made in China... There goes that theory."

I have alot of gear. Yes, I do own alot of higher end gear but at the same time I also own quite a few items that many would consider "bottom feeder junk" and it works just fine for its intended purpose.  You also have to look at the fact that not everyone has the $$$ to drop on a $600+ tent. 

I always like to say get the best you can afford and also shop around.

I have saved $1000s on the gear that I own just for the simple fact that I shopped around, waited for seasons to change(summer is a great time to buy winter gear.)

Therefore; I suspect Rick's testing and evaluations will mostly be for "the good stuff".   "Four or Five Star"- rating material.

I will review anything. Better yet, what differentiates between "the good stuff and the bad stuff?" Price, where it's made, etc. 

I have had a few high end items bomb on me while on trail over the years. So their goes the cost=quality theory. Then again I have had Chinese made tents that took a pounding and came out unscathed. I personally do not think all Chinese products are garbage. I do have to say that I will not buy boots made in China. 

That's just a personal preference of mine based from a few past experiences that put me in an awkward spot. 

In perusing at random, various gear-reviews here at this website ... by ALL reviewers  (not Rick) ... almost ALL seem to be 4 or 5 "Stars".    What gives with that?   The "credibility factor" becomes suspect.

Hmmmm, suspect. Why? All but one item that I have reviewed came out of pocket. So, explain this to me so I understand this theory.

Why would I(or others) purchase a product, it fails catastrophically on me, then I turn around and fire out a review saying it was a 5 star product and recommend anyone and everyone to buy 2 or more. 

That doesn't make any sense whatsoever. Plus it makes me look like a real tool when a few folks here purchase the product based on my glowing review and they all bomb on them as well. 

As stated above; if you disagree with a review of a certain item(s) please by all means feel free to write a review. I am sure with the vast amount of experience/gear you possess you would definitely help someone out. Pics are useful tools as well. 

I find that they sometimes explain details better than words do. 

Great Job Rick. The standards for review quality have been set high in this community. Unlike R2, I like to assess every piece of gear I have, in the hopes of learning as I go and hopefully providing some learning for others.

I have a lot of work to do. Items for review in cue to be completed by the  end of Summer:

Omega Pacific Mountain Axe Piolet 75cm

Jansport Salish 34 liter backpack

Komperdell Mountaineer 30 cm snowshoes

Marmot Altitude Gloves

Mummut Mirage Climbing Harness

Black Diamond Sabertooth Clip Crampons

Asolo Titan GV Mountaineering Boots

Helinox Featherlite Lever Button trekking poles

Victorinox Champion Plus Knife

Alps Mountaineering Aztec 2 tent (2 person, 3 season)

Alps Mountaineering Slick Rock 0 deg long sleeping bag, Primaloft

Primus ETA solo integrated cooking system

Brunton Vapor AF multifuel stove

Kelty Camp Hauler 3

Kelty Veil House Screen/Shade structure

Teva Omnium multi-sport sandles

Lowe Alpine Sierra Lite softshell pants (son's)

Lowe Alpine Sierra softshell pants (wife's)

Kombi 7795 backcountry GTX Primaloft gloves

Lowe Alpine Torre Vest (son's)

Thermarest Wrap It camp pillow/sleeping pad stuff sack

Klymit X-Frame UL sleeping pad

Terramar Woolskins long underwear bottoms

6 different NikWax products

Kenyon Polartec lightweight base layer bottoms (wife's)

CamelBak Trinity 30 liter Hydration Pack - 100 fl.oz reservoir. (wife's)

Columbia Sportswear Off Way Jacket (son's)

Lorpen Cold-Weather System Stalker Hunting Socks - Merino Wool

Wenger Eiger Hiking Boots  - (son's)

Columbia Sportswear The Echo Park Jacket (wife's)

Carlisle Compression Dry Bag, eVent (20 and 30L)

Columbia Sportswear Cats and Dogs Rain Suit - 2-Piece (son's)

GSI Outdoors Ultralight Cutting Board

Lorpen Merino Wool-Argyle Snowboard Socks - Over-the-Calf

Columbia Sportswear Cyclocross II Pants

Stanley Outdoor Coffee and Tea Infuser

Marmot Precip pants

Teva Dalea T.I.D.E. Shoes - Waterproof (daughter's)

Lorpen PrimaLoft® Ski Socks

SmartWool Hiking Socks - Merino Wool, Crew, Medium Cushion

Terramar Underwear Boxer Briefs - Four-Way Stretch

New Balance Mens 1520 Trail Runner (son's)

Columbia Titanium waterproof duffel

Eagle Creek Continental Voyager Pack - 80L                       

Eagle Creek Continental Voyager Pack - 45L  

my typing fingers will be tired...

Xterro- That's not that big of a list... You can get all of those done in a few hours. I have faith in ya. Go for it lol.

Just keep a fire extinguisher handy so you can put your finger tips out when they burst into flames... :)

XterroBrando said:

Items for review in cue to be completed by the  end of Summer:...

 Then you best git ta typin'!

f_klock said -

"Then you best git ta typin'!"

I give myself until the end of the Summer because some items have not yet been put through the proverbial "ringer" if you will.

add also Teva B1 Brittania trail shoes, Timberland Merino Hiker Socks, Gerber Gator Jr Machete, and a whole slew of Buck knives, and a GCI tripod backpacking stool, and I may hit 200 reviews this year. At that point I'd have to retire...or I may be banned and sent to rehab by TS for ECRD - excessive copulsive reviewing disorder...

XterroBrando said:

ECRD - excessive copulsive reviewing disorder...

 That's funny.

typo! oh dang! meant excessive compulsive reviewing disorder...lol

XterroBrando said:

. Unlike R2, I like to assess every piece of gear I have

 But , I DO,  Brandon.

You know ... at some point, one may realize he/she has just about EVERYTHING NECESSARY to pursue these outdoor activities.

I reached that point quite some time ago.  While I still acquire various and asundry items related to hiking, backpacking and camping ... it is generally to replace something that has worn out, or the newer item is vastly superior in some way.   At which time, I "retire" the older item, or give it away.

Timex watches used to use (may, still) an expression for their advertisements:

Takes a licking ... and, keeps on ticking ....

I am probably more critical regarding gear than most here, believe-it-or-not.

Especially, VALUE.

I have a few clothing items from Arc'teryx.   Very fine quality, no doubt.   Value, in comparison to similar others,  dollars-and-cents wise?    Gimme a break.   

Another example:

I have 4 1/2  (looong story on the 1/2)  vehicles.   How many do I need?  ONE.   My "main-squeeze" / "daily driver" is 30 years old,  has nearly 300,00 miles on the odometer.  No air-conditioning ... No power-steering ... No radio.   It is a diesel, and provides terrrrrrific VALUE.  Probably the reason I can afford the others.

                                   *

                        pax vobiscum

                               ~ r2 ~

XterroBrando said:

excessive compulsive reviewing disorder...lol

 

Have no fear. We would never ban you for such a "disorder." Rather, we're your enablers.

Thanks for all the useful reviews you have written already. Your contributions to the Trailspace community are very much appreciated (see...more enabling in action).

Robert,

I think you may have missed XterroBrando's overall point.

XterroBrando said:

"Great Job Rick. The standards for review quality have been set high in this community. Unlike R2, I like to assess every piece of gear I have, in the hopes of learning as I go and hopefully providing some learning for others."

If I am not badly mistaken he was referring to writing gear reviews as indicated by his statement "...hopefully providing some learning for others."

If I am wrong XterroBrando is free to correct my assessment of his statement.

Mike G.

In the world in which I live, nothing means anything without supporting evidence. Someone can come in to court all they want and make bald assertions, but there must be evidence to corroborate these assertions or the bleating of these witnesses are not allowed. Rick (and pretty much all the other reviewers) take pictures of the gear in use, gear being tested, hikes undergone etc. That lends credibility to the statements they write about the gear or area they are describing. Without that, how could anything uttered or claimed be given value? You can claim you have this, or have been there, but with no evidence to suggest any of that has actually happened, it is discarded as fiction. So, R2, while you have been here a year, posted over 1100 times with a wide array of pontifications, all you have to support it is a picture of a guy doing yoga and a guy holding a cat. This despite posts describing cameras you are carrying on your alleged trips. Sorry. Just the way I see it. I find it odd and somewhat passive aggressive,  in that hide behind the internet kinda way, that you would challenge the validity of well written, well supported gear reviews, (all the while touting all the cool stuff you either have or can afford to have because you have not spent the money to have it) given that as a back drop.

Merda taurorum animas conturbit

Very well stated, Trout and Gift. 

Sorry R2, by "assess" I did mean review - thank you Trout for the clarification on my behalf.

R2, given your many posts on TS forums, I would love nothing more than to read your reviews as well. Please share some, or one, for that matter. I feel like yours would be candid, well crafted, and entertaining as a read.

GiftoGab,

Your post rekindled some dormant fibers of my being from my days of working for my father, an attorney of 30 years...Evidence!

I don't post enough pictures/videos of my experiences with my gear, and that is something I must improve upon in my reviews. I just videotaped my boil test of 16oz of water in my new Primus ETA Solo. It will need heavy editing before I post it (and the stove needs more time in the field before I can post a credible review), but I am continuously impressed by the quality of efforts put into review and posts by our regular contributors. It is both humbling and inspiring, pushing me to progress in my contributions.

And Alicia, yes your are enablers, and that's just fine :)

I'm not looking for a pill to cure ECRD either. Just more time to test my gear more often! Now if only my kids wanted to do competitive backpacking, mountain biking, and mountaineering instead of competitive dance. lol.

So, Rick, how are ya feeling now about having gotten this award?  LOL :)

Congratulations on some well deserved recognition Rick.

@bheiser1- I'm happy about it. It kinda opened my eyes in a way to just how many people actually read them and find my feedback helpful. Like I said, now I just want to write them even more. 

@MoZee- Thanks. I appreciate that. 

{flame suit on} Superfluous Latin FTW! For a second, I thought I was reading Hegel there...

We should start a new thread, entitled "The efficacy of the things R2 says..." so that this one can get back on-topic...starting with Rick response to XterroBrando's request for an Adidas Run DMC Jumpsuit review...

Pllow......NO SUCH THING AS SUPERFLUOUS LATIN! And to get back to Rick I just say this:

semper ad meliora!

pillowthread said:

starting with Rick response to XterroBrando's request for an Adidas Run DMC Jumpsuit review...

 Xterro be illin just because I be hikin with a panther... ;)

"Hike this Way!..."

Nice.

congratulations,well deserved!your review of mtn. pass helped me tremendously,i was wondering if you are the same rick"pittsburgh"mann founder of hike-usa?

Hey unk, nah thats definitely not me. Then again maybe there are 2 of me? I'm gonna have to take a look at the hike usa site. That is a new one to me.

You have written great reviews.  It means more to consumers looking for products that are reviewed by actual users that do not get compensated to try a product.

Cheers!

Thanks cool feet, I really appreciate that. 

I have alot more gear to cover but I want to make sure I hammer on it enough before I actually fire a review out. 

Keep an eye on the boards. I will most certainly be writing more.

Happy hiking. 

what photo next Rick ?

Hey Callahan, ya mean review?

I just fired out 2.

One for The Ultimate Gear Guide by Andrew Shurka:

http://www.trailspace.com/gear/national-geographic/the-ultimate-hikers-gear-guide/#review24867

And I did this one on OR's Salamander Gaiters:

http://www.trailspace.com/gear/outdoor-research/salamander-gaiters/#review24889

Definitely more on the way.

I read The Ultimate Gear Guide one. I also saw Andrew Shurka posted about your review on his Facebook page..Very cool..

I saw that as well. Gotta say the book (as far as I am concerned) is a must read.

Regardless of your skill level you will definitely take something from it. 

I've noticed there's been a lot of hype about that book.  Frankly the title put me off a bit - after all, it's my belief that no one person is the "ultimate" authority on anything.  The power of knowledge comes from sharing out collective knowledge.  Well, maybe except for The OGBO :D.

But I decided to give it a shot - based in part on Rick's review.  I bought the Kindle version so I can read it on a iPad, iPhone, Mac, or PC.  "We don't need no steenkin' paper books" :) (one of my goals is to never buy a paper book again unless it's something I absolutely must have and it's not yet available electronically).

So I have my reading assignment for this weekend :)...

Maybe he meant ULTIMATE in the sense that it is COMPREHENSIVE?

giftogab said:

Maybe he meant ULTIMATE in the sense that it is COMPREHENSIVE?

Yeah, I was probably taking it too literally.  I've gone thru the first section, and just got into Section 2, and have to say - I really like it ... very down to earth, and clearly based on tons of experience on long hikes.

I really don't care for his "30 miles per day" and "must go at least 15 hours per day" approach, but that's OK :).

Part 1 is short. Part 2 should take ya a lil longer to get thru. ;)

bheiser1 said:

giftogab said:

Maybe he meant ULTIMATE in the sense that it is COMPREHENSIVE?

Yeah, I was probably taking it too literally.  I've gone thru the first section, and just got into Section 2, and have to say - I really like it ... very down to earth, and clearly based on tons of experience on long hikes.

I really don't care for his "30 miles per day" and "must go at least 15 hours per day" approach, but that's OK :).

 Now seems two positive endorsemebts of the book. Time to make a run to the book store this week.

No, I meant photo, as you keep changing it. But the next review will be good too.

Lol. I think I am going to stick with the one I have up. It represents a few of my favorite things: 

• Snow
• Solo
• Night hiking
• solitude

I am going to try and do a new pic to cover the major holidays like I did for the Easter one.

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