The Best Gear of 2010/2011

I am lucky enough to see a lot of new gear.   The "new" generally gets started at the Outdoor Retailer show in January where products are shown for Fall delivery of that year,  9 or 10 months later.   But that is only half the story as many of the European manufactures don't import everything in their production lines (or show them at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City) into North America or sometimes just not into the USA.  You have to keep up on the Web sites or make a visit to Chamonix to see what is really being used and collecting a buzz..

For the first time and not the last here is my list of the best gear of 2010/2011.  My season is generally broken up by the Fall delivery of new ice gear so I'll try to do update the list every year just as summer gets started.

But unlike the yearly picks of some of the magazines once you make the list it is going to take a new and most importantly, a better piece of kit. "in my opinion" to get knocked off THE list.

My list here is gear I actually choose to use over all the gear I have available to me.  Nothing listed here that I don't have multiple choices of and have tried or still use some of those other options.  But when pushed what I have listed is the "best of the best" for my own use.  Once in a while price point helps make that decision but not often.  But it has on this list so it is worth mentioning.  What is listed here is what I would cut my gear room down to if I have to make the hard choices choices or just own one.   No surprise if some of this stuff isn't on your own list.  That is what makes a horse race and keeps every one in business.  Feel free to share your list as well in the comments or tell me why I missed the mark.  Some categories are still missing, stoves, tents and sleeping bags for instance.  And some times I have just skipped categories as it gets really confusing even to me.  If there is not category listed I have yet to make up my mind or haven't used the gear enough to make a knowledgeable comment..   At some point I'll get to those as well but in a blog effort first before adding them to the list.

If you haven't read this blog first for context, you should:

http://coldthistle.blogspot.com/2011/01/gear-smear.html

"Remember what works for me may not work for you. Always take my comments with a grain of salt and trust your own observations. I can only write what I see or experience. I don't pretend to know much, let alone know everything. Do your own research...learn through your own experience when you can what works for you. Then compare notes with anyone you can find that has similar interests, experiences or goals. Type it into Google. And always consider the original source."

If you have read much of the blog...few of these will come as any surprise.
What I have reviewed on the blog is marked  (reviewed).  You should be able to find those reviews with the search function.



CLOTHING (the outstanding pieces)

long under wear bottoms (available again fall '11)
Costco Paradox
http://www.costcoconnection.com/connection/200909/?pg=51#pg51

base layer top
Mountain Hardware Integral Long Sleeve Crew

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/mens-clothing/mens,default,sc.html

lt hoody (reviewed)
Sherpa Adventure Gear Khushi Merino wool hoody (available fall '11)
http://www.sherpaadventuregear.com/

med hoody (reviewed)
Patagonia R1 Hoody
http://www.patagonia.com/

pants
Arcteryx Gamma Lt
http://www.arcteryx.com/?EN

Bibs
NW Alpine Alpinist bib (reviewed)
http://nwalpine.com/

Sweater (reviewed)
Arcteryx Atom Lt Hoody
http://www.arcteryx.com/?EN

Insulated jacket (reviewed)
Arcteryx Atom SV
http://www.arcteryx.com/?EN

Down sweater (reviewed)
EB hooded sweater
http://www.eddiebauer.com/home.jsp?siteId=2

Down Jacket (reviewed)
Norrona Lyngen
http://www.backcountry.com/mens-down-jackets
http://www.norrona.com/

Shell
Westcomb Epoc in Neoshell (available Fall '10) (reviewed)
http://www.westcomb.com/

glove liners
Black Diamond Med weight Liner
http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us/

gloves
Mountain Hardware Hydra (reviewed)

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/mens-clothing/mens,default,sc.html

Head gear (reviewed)
Sauce
http://www.sauceheadwear.com/main.php

Eye Wear
Smith goggles
http://www.smithoptics.com/products/#/Snow+Goggles/

Native glasses
http://www.nativeyewear.com/

Socks
Wigwam
http://www.wigwam.com/



BOOTS
single boots
Scarpa Phantom Ultra (reviewed)

http://it.scarpa.net/prodotti/high-altitude/

double boots
La Sportiva Spantik (reviewed)

http://www.sportiva.com/products



TECHNICAL GEAR

Biner (reviewed)
Trango Super Fly wire gate
http://www.trango.com/carabiners_draws/SuperFly-carabiners

Locking biner (reviewed)
Trango Super Fly
http://www.trango.com/carabiners_draws/SuperFly-carabiners

Belay biner (reviewed)
Black Diamond Gridlock
http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us/

Belay device (reviewed)
Petzl Reverso 3
http://www.petzl.com/us/outdoor

Brass Stoppers (hard to find in the USA)
RPs
http://www.climbinganchors.com.au/products/RP%27s-Brass-Nuts-Individual-Nuts.html?utm_source=getprice&utm_medium=cpc

http://rockandice.com/articles/how-to-climb/article/1129-the-guy-whose-nuts-revolutionized-climbing-rp

Stoppers
Wild Country Rocks
http://www.wildcountry.co.uk/

Cams
Wild Country Helium Friends
http://www.wildcountry.co.uk/

dbl ropes
Beal Ice Twins
http://www.beal-planet.com/sport/anglais/index.php

Single rope
Beal Joker
http://www.beal-planet.com/sport/anglais/index.php

Pitons
Black Dianmond Bugaboos
http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us/

Ice tools
Petzl Ergo (reviewed)
http://www.petzl.com/us/outdoor

Crampons
Petzl  Dartwin (reviewed)
http://www.petzl.com/us/outdoor

Ice Screws
Grivel Helix (reviewed)
http://www.grivel.com/

Umbilical
Blue Ice Boa (reviewed)
http://www.blueice.com/en

Accessory
Cold Thistle Hammer (totally biased opinion)
http://coldthistletools.blogspot.com/2010/08/ice-climbing-gear.html

Helmet
Petzl Meterior III
http://www.petzl.com/us/outdoor

Harness
Petzl HIRUNDOS
http://www.petzl.com/us/outdoor

Gear sling
Metolius (reviewed)
http://www.metoliusclimbing.com/

Dynamic sling
Mammut Shock Absorber Dyneema
http://www.mammut.ch/#

Tech watch
Polar
http://www.polarusa.com/us-en/

Small Pack
Cold Cold World Ozone (reviewed)
http://www.coldcoldworldpacks.com/

MOUNTAINEERING SKI GEAR
Boot
TLT 5 Mountain TX  (version not currently available in North America but two other TLT 5s are)
http://www.dynafit.com/products-winter/boots.html

Hard snow ski
Dynafit Se7en Summit SL
http://www.dynafit.com/products-winter/skis-skins.html

Soft snow ski
La Sportiva Hi5
http://www.sportiva.com/products (availalble Fall '10)

Bindings
Non DIN
Dynafit Low Tech Race
http://www.dynafit.com/products-winter/bindings.html

DIN (well not DIN but releasable)
La Sportiva RT
http://www.sportiva.com/products

Best piece of retro gear
Dachstien Mitts
http://www.ortovox.com/classic-wool