My favorite way to write gear reviews is about stuff that I’m genuinely excited about, regardless of what it is or how I got it. The Montrail Rogue Fly trail running shoes are one of those cases. This is a story of a girl and her shoes. They were not perfect, but they just felt [...]
As I lay in bed I could feel a burning. My muscles, while sore, were not the problem. I fell back asleep. The next morning as I ate breakfast I realized my problem. Touching anything and everything evoked pain from my finger tips. With the the two weeks spent bouldering in the gym and a [...]
With climbing shoes there seems to be a dichotomy of opinions on fit and performance. It’s impossible to please everyone with such divided desires. Do you want stiffness or sensitivity? Tight shoes or comfort? Crack climbing or Sport? Laces or Velcro? Down-turned or flat? With the addition of the Katana Lace, La Sportiva has rounded [...]
One of my climbing goals for myself for 2011 is to work on projecting climbs. I have a strong tendency to idolize my dream climbs and save them for an onsight go. Sometimes, this works out great (as with Sunshine Dihedral). Other times, it does not. Although onsighting is a great skill to have, I [...]
The concept of a super fuzzy fleece is not a new one. I have been attracted to them for a while, but until now, I’ve always been disappointed: I’ve had major fit or function issues. Although it isn’t perfect, the Patagonia Hi-Loft R3 (revamped for Fall 2010) is pretty darn awesome. As a functional mid-layer, [...]
As I was hiking down the talus to the base of Mt. Conness, I was happy my toes were covered. Sanuks are no ordinary sandals. They combine slip-on comfort with toe coverage in a lightweight package. My first pair of Sanuks was the “No Sweat”. I was looking for an easy slip-on and they fit [...]
It was early season at Lover’s Leap. Memorial Day meant snow was still on the ground and the trail contained more water than dirt. While approaching the climbs, I made big strides between slippery granite river rocks. My feet never slipped and I was very impressed with my footwear. In my opinion, the real place where [...]
Although Luke had already tried several pairs of Sanuks, I was skeptical. I am extremely attached to my Chaco Flips (especially now that I have the Flip Pro). However, I am a girl, and I like shoes, so I was willing to try some Sanuks. I’ve now had a pair of the Laurels for several [...]
Having a pack that fits right is a big deal, for me. When my well-loved and well-abused Black Diamond Sphynx 35 (the 2006 model) needed retirement (the bottom is reinforced by multiple layers of duct tape), I was totally psyched to try out all the women’s packs on the market. It was very disappointing to [...]
In case you’re short on time, here’s the gist of my review here: the Patagonia Women’s Rock Guide Pants are, hands down, the best climbing pants I have ever owned. Period. If you want to know why these are the best climbing pants ever, then read on. I’ve always had a hard time finding good [...]
The rainy winter and spring have given way to a beautiful summer. All of a sudden things started getting warm, which means more time outside for Lizzy and I. This also means we have more opportunities to play with gear! I was excited when I heard La Sportiva was making a new approach shoe, the [...]
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