leadbelly2550
1,487 reviewer rep
1,038 forum posts
joined Feb 7, 2007
Full Name:
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male hiker
Cabin John, MD
male hiker
Cabin John, MD
Occupation: lawyer
Email: private
Email: private
Mountain Hardwear Hooded Phantom Jacket
A puffy heater of a jacket. This is a very warm, very light down jacket with just enough functionality to make it supremely useful for cold…
March 15, 2013
Lowe Alpine AirZone Pro 45:55
The Lowe AirZone Pro is a lightweight internal frame pack that can serve a lot of different purposes. Because it has the "Airzone' back that…
February 22, 2013
Outdoor Research Alti Mitts
If you absolutely need the warmest mitten available, these are the gold standard as far as I am concerned. The combination of a windproof/waterproof…
January 28, 2013
Patagonia Alpine Guide Pants
A fine cold weather outer layer that works well in a wide range of conditions. Clearly designed and sized with winter in mind but also a good…
January 16, 2013
L.L. Bean Maine Hunting Shoe
Rain boots suitable for walking in wet and muddy trails. not so good for hard core steeps and rocks. Comfortable and built to accommodate heavy…
December 27, 2012
The North Face Denali Glove
General duty fleece gloves. Decent/thoughtful construction. Not very comfortable without liners. There are better options. These are what i…
December 7, 2012
Eddie Bauer First Ascent Peak XV Down Jacket
This is a preliminary look at the jacket's fit, features, and construction, which I will supplement after using it this winter. This looks and…
November 29, 2012
Sazzi Digit
Sazzi's take on the traditional water sandal provides some unique and helpful innovations. Having independent toe movement helps with balance…
November 8, 2012
Feathered Friends Hyperion Vest
A very lightweight yet warm down vest. Features are minimal, what you would expect to keep weight limited. Relatively trim fit. Overall outstanding.
November 1, 2012
Platypus Big Zip SL
Originally purchased as a backup, this has become my favorite hydration option. Easy to fill. I like the bite valve on this a fair bit better…
September 26, 2012
CamelBak eddy Glass
This is a review of the CamelBak eddy glass bottle. For those who fear chemical leaching from plastic, the glass bottle offers a chemical-free…
September 14, 2012
Sazzi Decimal
A unique revision of the flip-flop that has some nice foot stability and ground feel. Their light weight, relatively sticky sole, and improved…
August 25, 2012
Rocky Mountain Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 70
Sun protection that keeps you from getting fried and that truly does not wash or sweat off. Broad spectrum, doesn't irritate skin (hypoallergenic).
June 24, 2012
Marmot Zion Jacket
Lighter and better-fitting than I expected, I look forward to cold weather. This started as a preliminary review about fit and features. I am…
June 19, 2012
CamelBak Antidote Reservoir
I'm not sure this is the antidote. While I appreciate a number of the features that Camelbak has added to this system, it has a persistant moisture…
June 4, 2012
Patagonia R1 Pullover
these serve as a great light/mid insulating layer or a heavy base layer. very versatile, very comfortable, and extremely durable. if i were…
February 29, 2012
Patagonia R1 Pants
this is a fairly warm synthetic base layer, loose enough to serve as a mid-layer. i recommend wearing alone for cooler weather and beneath a…
February 29, 2012
Patagonia Merino 3 Midweight Crew
This is a midweight merino wool/polyester blend base layer that Patagonia just reintroduced (yet inexplicably but happily put in the 50% off…
February 28, 2012
Patagonia Micro Puff Pants
Heaters. these are shell pants with synthetic insulation, Primaloft or some equivalent. they have a fairly loose fit. the waist adjusts via…
February 4, 2012
Cabela's Polartec Classic 300 ECWCS Pants
heavyweight fleece pants for sitting around in the cold and damp. not so great for walking around unless it's obscenely cold out. on the positive…
January 9, 2012
Rab Latok Jacket
I have had this shell for a couple of months and really enjoy it. things I like: excellent quality, both construction and attention to detail. …
December 29, 2011
Spyderco Para-Military2
Short of chopping wood or extremely heavy work best left to a fixed-blade knife, or tool-like versatility you would get with a multi-tool, this…
November 10, 2011
Integral Designs eVent Shortie Gaiters
I could not be happier with these inexpensive yet highly effective gaiters. I purchased these to keep splash/mud/debris out of the tops of my…
October 31, 2011
Black Diamond Trail Shock
I have been very happy with these poles. they were a significant step up from my previous poles for the following reasons: Grip - these have…
October 1, 2011
Backpacker's Pantry Scrambled Eggs
For a comparative Instant Camp Eggs Cook-Off, I tested and reviewed the following packaged plain egg products: Adventure Egg Anywhere Scrambles,…
September 21, 2011
Adventure Egg Anywhere Scrambles
For a comparative Instant Camp Eggs Cook-Off, I tested and reviewed the following packaged plain egg products: Adventure Egg Anywhere Scrambles,…
September 21, 2011
Cache Lake Foods Outfitter's Choice Scrambled Eggs
For a comparative Instant Camp Eggs Cook-Off, I tested and reviewed the following packaged plain egg products: Adventure Egg Anywhere Scrambles,…
September 21, 2011
AlpineAire Foods Scrambled Eggs
For a comparative Instant Camp Eggs Cook-Off, I tested and reviewed the following packaged plain egg products: Adventure Egg Anywhere Scrambles,…
September 21, 2011
Backpacker's Pantry Organic Scrambled Eggs
For a comparative Instant Camp Eggs Cook-Off, I tested and reviewed the following packaged plain egg products: Adventure Egg Anywhere Scrambles,…
September 21, 2011
Wild Things Superlight Alpinist Pants
Wild Things is retooling their gear offerings, so whether something like these pants will still be available is entirely unclear. This is…
August 27, 2011
Optimus Nova
Purchased four or five years ago to replace a twenty-year-old MSR XGK — which is still operational, by the way. In addition to the XGK and…
August 11, 2011
TrekSta Evolution
unquestionably my favorite trail runner/light hiker ever. i hadn't heard of this company until recently. this is a low trail running/light…
July 31, 2011
SmartWool Microweight Tee
i purchased this primarily for the fabric - very lightweight, non-itchy merino wool. not surprisingly, it performs as i expected. it doesn't…
July 7, 2011
Icebreaker Hopper Lite
almost ideal hiking shirt. the fabric is very smooth and comfortable in a pretty wide range of temperatures. it wicks moisture fairly well and…
July 7, 2011
SteriPEN Traveler
by now, the technology is no mystery - UV light kills the DNA in whatever bacteria, protozoans, even viruses may be in your water bottle. …
April 21, 2011
Granite Gear Round Rock Solid
lightweight, durable, effective. couldn't ask for anything more in a compression stuff sack. I have used one for several years for sleeping…
April 15, 2011
Gregory Baltoro 65
This is a load-hauler for a backpack of this size. It has proved to be not only comfortable but also very durable. Plethora of features is nice.
March 31, 2011
Patagonia Houdini Full-Zip
less truly can be more; this might be the perfect wind shirt. it weighs next to nothing, about four ounces. It stops moderate wind, it breathes…
March 1, 2011
Outdoor Research Gripper Gloves
these may be the most versatile gloves i own, and certainly the gloves i use and abuse the most. I am on my second pair. the gripper gloves…
February 22, 2011
Vibram FiveFingers TrekSport
As interest in barefoot or minimal footwear builds in the running and trail communities, Trailspace assigned three reviewers to test the utility…
February 16, 2011
CAMP Ice Rider
this is a review of the camp ice rider auto crampons - i wear them with scarpa inverno boots. these must be worn with a rigid mountaineering…
February 9, 2011
Mountain Hardwear Ghost SL -40
This is a first look that focuses on the fit and finish; i plan to post a follow-up review after taking this to deep cold weather, which i have…
February 2, 2011
Marmot Sawtooth
This is a well-made sleeping bag with a lot of function for the price. It is insulated with 600 fill goose down and weighs about three pounds.
February 2, 2011
The North Face Apex Bionic Jacket
this is my first soft shell top or bottom, a gift. as a hard shell lover, i was prepared to be disappointed in how this would perform. instead,…
December 16, 2010
Cold Cold World Ozone
Bottom line: simple, tough large daypack with a lot of positives. love the bright red! I bought this backpack to fill a particular need - winter…
October 5, 2010
Keen Hydro Guide
this is my favorite Keen water shoe by a pretty wide margin. it represents a fairly significant departure from existing Keen water shoes in…
September 23, 2010
Integral Designs eVent Rain Pants
To be clear, this focuses almost completely on fit, not on the capabilities of the gear, and intended to assist online purchasers who may not…
June 11, 2010
Wild Things Snowkite Jacket
These are my initial impressions of this eVent jacket purchased on clearance, well under half price. some preliminary thoughts: First, it is…
May 17, 2010
Balega Enduro Quarter
Balega is a South African company that makes the best thin running sock I have ever put on my feet. I tend to wear them with running shoes but…
April 5, 2010
Mystery Ranch Snapdragon
First impressions of a new acquisition are excellent. This is a large daypack, 2300 cubic inches of volume. This pack does not have a lot of…
March 31, 2010
SmartWool Mountaineer Sock
My favorite winter hiking/camping sock for several years. thicker and warmer than anything else i have been able to find (caveat - i'm testing…
March 10, 2010
SmartWool Expedition Trekking Sock
My standard, go-to hiking sock the past several years. I use these with ankle-high, all-leather boots, sometimes on their own, sometimes with…
March 10, 2010
Bridgedale Endurance Summit
I purchased a mid-weight and heavyweight pair of Bridgedale socks because I had heard so many good things about the brand. This is the heavyweight,…
March 10, 2010
Bridgedale Endurance Trekker
I have withheld a five star rating only because there are a number of very good brands of socks on the market these days. That said, these are…
March 10, 2010
Vasque Velocity
Other than paying full retail, I really like this shoe. It is very stable, very comfortable, and fits my foot well (including orthotic inserts).
March 1, 2010
Fällkniven P
My favorite small folding knife for hiking. It's simple, it works, it's practically indestructible. Blade is under three inches long, made of…
January 7, 2010
Benchmade Mini-Griptilian
one of my two all-time favorite small knives. mine is 154CM stainless, plain edge. it stays sharp but is reasonably easy to resharpen. the locking…
January 7, 2010
Marmot Randonnee Glove
this is my glove of choice for cold but not frigid conditions. the insulation is pretty good. if you are moving around and active, it's feasible…
January 7, 2010
Mountain Hardwear Sub Zero SL Parka
a few preliminary statements about philosophy. i try to assess gear for its intended purpose, and how well it fulfills that purpose. if i were…
January 2, 2010
EMS Glacier Down Jacket
i bought this jacket as the warm, sitting-still layer for winter mountaineering. as a basic warm garment, the price is tremendous. is it the…
December 13, 2009
Sherpa Snowshoes Modified Bearpaw Snowshoe
I have owned and used the same pair of Sherpa snowshoes for over twenty years. the dimensions of the snowshoe are nine inches by thirty-six…
April 8, 2009
REI Flash 50 Pack
purchased this pack to bridge the gap between a day pack and a true weekend/short multi-day bag. it fits that niche very well. i compared it…
March 24, 2009
The North Face Dark Star -40
i purchased this as a dedicated cold weather bag (it was purchased used - the prior owner used it for one season). i winter hike in the white…
March 20, 2009
Cabela's Polartec 300 Hooded Jacket
This is a jacket made from polartec 300 classic - the term Malden Mills uses to describe their thick, standard (not windblock or power stretch)…
March 2, 2009
Merrell Moab Gore-Tex XCR
A great lightweight hiking/trail shoe. these replaced a somewhat heavier and sturdier Merrell gore-tex shoe, the Chameleon, which were very…
February 24, 2009
Scarpa Inverno
A good general purpose mountaineering boot. After a few years, I purchased insulated high-altitude liners that substantially increase their…
January 31, 2009
GoLite Shadow Pants
this is a pair of lightweight gore tex pants. Very lightweight - to the point where i would be concerned about durability. However, the pants…
December 15, 2008
Limmer Standard
My most comfortable pair of shoes. I bought these in 2005 and have worn them steadily since then. I have taken them hiking in tropical storms…
December 2, 2008
Cabela's Mountain Sherpa Jacket
this is an extremely thick, warm, windproof fleece jacket. i wore it extensively last winter and plan to again this year. this is an exceptionally…
November 20, 2008
Merrell Chameleon Wrap Gore-Tex XCR
i bought this shoe primarily for urban workouts and light hiking, but it has become one of my favorite weekend shoes for hikes, soccer games,…
October 28, 2008
Marmot Exum Jacket
first impressions of my new bad-weather shell. it has not yet seen the sub-zero bluster of winter on mount washington, but i wore it for several…
October 27, 2008
The North Face Mountain Light Jacket
I have a long history with this jacket. I purchased my first one in 1992. It was a long favorite until the seam tape delaminated around 2000.
October 16, 2008
Patagonia Rain Shadow Jacket
If used for the intended purpose, this is a very fine rain/foul weather jacket if properly maintained. In my mind, this jacket is a lightweight…
October 16, 2008
Chaco Z/1 Diamond Stealth
Purchased mid-summer as a third sandal, to compliment a pair of Chaco z/2 Unaweeps and a pair of Keen Newports. Quickly became the go-to water/walking…
September 7, 2008
Chaco Z/1
an update about Chaco sandals that i discovered while researching a good internet price for Z/1 and Z/2 sandals. Late last year, Chaco announced…
July 7, 2008
Chaco Z/2 Unaweep
I have been searching for the perfect water shoe for a long time. I'm still looking but like these Chacos as much as any other shoe I have worn.
July 5, 2008
CamelBak Omega Reservoir
I use a three liter reservoir with the 'big bite' valve. the reservoir itself is great. It hasn't ripped, split, or leaked despite some rough…
May 27, 2008
Nalgene 32 oz Wide Mouth Tritan
I recently replaced all my ancient Lexan Nalgene bottles after reports about the effect of BPA. I hope BPA isn't too bad because I have been…
May 11, 2008
GoLite Ion
I purchased this pack to substitute for a much heavier, much more complicated day pack and as a summit bag. This pack is nearly perfect if you…
May 11, 2008
Arc'teryx Amp
My only daypack for the past several years. I have used it for nordic and alpine skiing, cycling, day hiking, trail running, and as an informal…
April 30, 2008
Mountain Hardwear Absolute Zero Overboot
My winter hiking experience is almost all in the Adirondacks in New York and the White Mountains in New Hampshire. I have spent several weeks…
January 29, 2008
Stephenson's Warmlite vapor barrier socks
I purchased two pair of Stephenson's Warmlite vapor barrier socks for a winter mountaineering trip. They are very inexpensive, two pair cost…
January 4, 2008
Mystery Ranch G6000
These are first impressions, as I have only taken this on a few hikes. I will give it a year or two then update. So far, I have taken a few…
November 14, 2007
Limmer Light-Weight
Bottom line - this will probably be the best hiking boot you have ever owned. I purchased a pair of Limmer Lightweights to help keep my Limmer…
September 28, 2007
Marmot Bridger
Bottom line - a well-made weekend pack with nice features, comfortably carries 40 pounds. I purchased this pack to close the gap between a small…
September 28, 2007
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