LOWA Baikal GTX

By Rick Shandley

Baikal GTX is a load bearing winter boot LOWA put some thought into. And it shows. The Baikal GTX is a stable, Partalana insulated, nine-inch-high boot you can consider for significant pack loads, warmth, comfort, and traction.

The test grounds for assessing these Baikal’s was at a mountain retreat at more than 7,000 feet elevation, and up in the trails and canyons that spider out along the Front Range of Northern Colorado. This and frequent early morning commutes to Boulder and Denver, and lots of walking in slushy winter low-traction situations outside of the work day. These boots literally saw duty from work to play on any given day for a month. And they worked great.

Uppers are an aesthetically pleasing balance of top quality suede leather and Cordura fabric mated to stiff foot lasts, stout mid-soles with rigid inserts to manage pronation and supination, and robust outsoles. Throughout the boot the stitch work is tight and flawless.

You can choose either of two color themes the Baikal GTX is available in. Color options are brown leather with medium dark gray and black Cordura fabric. A second color choice is black leather and the same shades of gray and black Cordura. Both color themes contrast nicely with the black rubber toe and heel guards. MSRP is U.S. $280.00.

We like the narrow profile of the Baikal GTX for countless reasons.

This combination of boot upper construction and sole components make the Baikal GTX supportive of the foot, ankle, and lower shin to guard against twisting the foot or rolling an ankle on rocky, icy, terrain with or without a pack load.

It is also this rigid boot construction that allows you to haul winter backpack weights up around 50-plus pounds if that is one of your boot choice considerations. As you may know, you’d be less than wise to go ultra-light with your gear in snow country. You have to carry what you need, and what you might need just in case. And that makes for a hefty pack load even on an overnight trek. For me, the stiffness of the Baikal GTX is what I would want in a heavy-duty backpacking or mountaineering boot. And the Baikal GTX offers all the stability, under a load, you could ask for in a winter trail boot.

Narrow Profile

What stood out up front is a narrow overall profile in a winter boot that was worn daily in serious cold weather in snow, on ice, and in general low-temp conditions. This narrow profile, about 4.5-inches wide at the forefoot of a U.S. size 14 boot, makes a huge difference in your ability to drive a vehicle without the safety risk and awkwardness traditional (five inches or wider in a yeti-sized foot) snow boots pose.

I had taken delivery of these LOWA Baikal GTX boots and was on my way to Boulder, CO one wicked cold night in early December, when I plucked these babies out of the box. There they were in the LOWA box, when I hooked a left into a Safeway parking lot half-way to my destination, and laced them up. My single enormous reason for researching an insulated winter boot for every day cold-weather use was to find a pair that I could safely drive a vehicle in icy road conditions.

These boots are it. One cannot “safely” drive a vehicle on icy, snow covered roads, paved or dirt, with traditional, bulky snow boots on your feet. Bulky snow boots, in my size, tend to cover the accelerator and the brake pedal at once. It can be a scary deal. For driving, the rigidity of these boots took a little getting used to, but I’ll take it any time over bulky snow boots.

Baikal is good for cold, windy, wet weather...all day long.

Insulation and Warmth

The thing about GOR-TEX waterproof boot lining is you have the confidence that water or moisture will not get to your feet. The GOR-TEX waterproof lining in the LOWA Baikal GTX boots. Boot interiors are lined with Partalana insulation. Partalana is a synthetic/wool blend designed for cold environments. The footbeds are also lined and insulated to keep cold from coming up through the outsoles. In any event, these relatively thin fabric liners provide insulation that keep the feet warm and dry in pretty cold weather and helped reduce the profile of the boot itself.

Warmth is a subjective, very individual, characteristic to try to quantify in broad terms. There are no comfort ranges listed for these boots. So much depends on the amount of physical activity, individual vascular circulation, and tolerance to cold weather. For the most part, my feet where warm wearing single layer, and double layer, wool-blend boot socks.

During a recent cold snap, I wore the Baikal GTX boots with early morning and night time temperatures down to less than five degrees F° with moderate physical activity. My feet where warm as long as I was active and not standing still.

Throughout the span of evaluation time I wore these Baikal GTX boots, temperatures at night and early morning where usually less than 32° and generally in the mid-to-low 20’s.

On the mild side of wearable comfort, the LOWA Baikal GTX were nice to wear in daytime temperatures up to about the mid 50’s to low 60’s. And they were never less than totally comfortable.  The GORE-TEX, CORDURA, and Merino wool socks are all breathable types of fabric. Even on days when the snow is melting and the mid-day weather is mild, cold mud and melting snow can chill your feet down quick. As I experienced these boots, the wearable comfort range makes Baikal GTX a viable choice to consider for daily cold winter wear.

Panda Fleece insulation, Cordura, and GORE-TEX round out the weather barrier.

Comfort

Right out of the box, the LOWA Baikal GTX boots were comfortable. Sizes are US 7.5 - 12, 13, and 14. They required no break in time. My size 14 boots weigh more than the 3.5-pounds per pair of a men’s size 9 Baikal, but it’s negligible. At this relatively light weight, the Baikal GTX boots are good for wearing for hours without feeling like you’ve got a pair of honey-glazed hams strapped to your feet. They go on in the morning and come off late at night; can’t give a higher comfort rating that that.

The fabric eyelet (fore foot), composite eyelet (mid foot), and composite hook lacing system at the top of the foot allows the boot to wrap the foot, and the lace hooks, as a system, accommodate a quick lace up. This lacing system tends to work together to make the boot a unified part of the foot. Sizing is true to stated information. Never was there a hot spot, blistering, heel slipping, or overheating of the feet.

Outsole and traction

Sure there’s been the melt-offs of snowpack that panicked the ski resorts, but when the sun drops off the skyline on high country winter eves, it gets frigid quick. And the snow accumulation that doesn’t melt into the ground, well it just freezes solid every night. So, LOWA is happy with their new G3 sole technology, and can quantify good traction on slippery surfaces. The G3 sole unit offers supination and pronation support, a heavy-duty polyurethane (PU) midsole, and an outsole that improves traction on snow and ice by as much as 32-percent.

Texturized fabric loops on large oval lugs work with rubber compounds and tread pattern to improve traction on ice.

Regardless, the outsoles worked well in the myriad of ground and weather conditions this pair of Baikal GTX boots have been exposed to. That includes light snow over ice, heavy wind, deep snow, drift snow (with snow pants and gaiters on), mud, slush, and freezing rain.

That said, ice is ice, and you will never have the upper hand. You can only manage the downside. Yes, I slipped on ice wearing these boots. But my general confidence in the traction is high. And the frequency of a chance to slip on ice is every single day for a good part of the day when outdoors. Walking on icy roads, ranch land and terrain, it is inevitable. But I did experience solid traction in most icy conditions where there could be an inch of fresh snow on top of hard-glazed ice from previous snowfalls and the cycle of melt-freeze-melt-freeze that occurs frequently. This in no way takes away from the improved traction the G3 sole unit offers. You have to be hyper-aware of foot placement, weight transfer, and balance on icy terrain…even with crampons on your boots.

LOWA used European Norms (EN) valuations to measure traction on ice, ceramic, and steel; all slippery surfaces. LOWA engineers focused on various low-temperature soft rubber compounds that offered stickiness and designed traction lugs, and sole pattern, that put at least one traction lug in contact with the ground surface at all times. Within these strategically placed traction lugs, LOWA built loops of fabric with enough texture to potentially enhance traction. One primary lug is a contact patch at all times during the foot stride, and each lug has a fabric loop that adds a non-rubber traction aid. It makes sense, and traction on ice is commendable. There are plenty of voids between sole lugs and traction features to allow water, mud, or slush to self-clean in the process of walking.

Baikal GTX heel structure and G3 logo.

To take it a step further, and to get a little closer to what real snow tires do to make the claim “Snow tires for your feet,” LOWA can use tread micro-sipes on all the featureless surface area that remains across the outsoles. Siping is a practice of molding or cutting fine lateral grooves or slits on the tread of a true snow tire, like the Pirreli Scorpion Snow and Ice tire for instance. Look at any high-end winter tire and you’ll find tread siping for additional ice-biting capability. Siping is standard on a modern snow and ice tire, so why not have them on a boot outsole? The advantage is the same.

By way of experience with snow tires, much of my earlier media career was based in the automotive performance aftermarket. After many new tire product launches, winter driving schools, tire reviews and the subject of rubber compounds, tire savvy and traction are serious topics. Siping adds another dimension to traction on ice that LOWA can incorporate into their outsole design.  A 32-percent increase in traction is a measureable improvement, but there is still 68-percent traction left on the table.

Overall, LOWA Baikal GTX boots are awesome winter boots that have performed in a stellar manner day in and day out so far during the winter of 2011/12. It’s easy to recommend these winter boots for a myriad of reasons, not the least of which are comfort and warmth. It would be nice to see a boot like this have available information as to the general comfort range its insulation is designed for.

Here’s something you don’t expect in a winter boot: When the weather is frigid, schools are closed, and the roads may or may not be free of snow, these LOWA Baikal GTX boots look perfectly fine poking out of the pant cuffs in professional business casual dress attire. When they get muddy from a couple days of melt-off, I just turn on the hot water hydrant in the barn and rinse them off while they are still on my feet. They clean up nice.

New Sierra Designs DriDown Zissou 15

Sierra Designs launches new down-fill technology in DriDown™ with five sleeping bags at the 2012 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market trade show in Salt Lake City, UT January 18-22.

It’s cutting edge, and a vast improvement over regular down, DriDown™ features a molecular level polymer applied to individual down plumes during the down finishing process.

DriDown™ is a proprietary application method developed by Sierra Designs that ensures a hydrophobic finish.  As a result, DriDown™ stays dry seven times longer in the presence of rain, melting snow, or spills, maintains 98% loft after a night in a high humidity environment, and dries 33% faster when it does get wet for a dryer, warmer, more comfortable night’s sleep.

“Our inspiration for DriDown™ came from the need for higher performance down insulation,” said Sue Timbo, Sierra Designs marketing director.  “Due to its warmth to weight ratio, down is indisputably the best performing insulation available.  Its only downside is a loss of thermal efficiency as it becomes wet.  DriDown™ tolerates moisture far better than untreated down, improving the performance of down sleeping bags so everyone from pro athletes to family campers will sleep dryer, warmer, and more comfortably.”

Staying dry longer, lofting better, and drying faster, DriDown™ sleeping bags represent the evolution of down insulation technology, outperforming regular down sleeping bags in any given environment from arid deserts to humid costal locals to icy polar environments.  Sierra Designs is introducing five new sleeping bag styles, covering a wide range of backcountry conditions.

Sierra Designs’ DriDown™ sleeping bags include the Zissou 0 HI (3 lb, 1 oz; $299), Zissou 15 (2 lb, 11 oz; $259), Zissou 30 LITE (2 lb, 1 oz; $199), Eleanor 20 HI women’s (3 lb, 0 oz; $299) and Eleanor 30 LITE women’s (2 lb, 9 oz; $259).  All five bags feature 600 fill DriDown™, polyester ripstop shells, and polyester liners for an outstanding blend of performance, warmth, compressibility, and light weight.

DriDown™ sleeping bag retail availability is scheduled for June 1 exclusively through REI stores, Sierra Designs’

DriDown apparel debuts in August 2012. Women's Tov shown here.

first-to-market partner.  Look for Sierra Designs DriDown™ sleeping bags at other specialty outdoor retailers mid-July with DriDown™ apparel debuting in August 2012.

Sierra Designs DriDown™ FAQ sheet:

1.   What is DriDown™ by Sierra Designs and how does it work?

-          DriDown™ is natural down treated with a molecular level polymer applied using Sierra Designs’ proprietary method, creating a hydrophobic finish on individual down plumes.  This polymer enhances the down’s durability and structure.  DriDown™ stays dry longer, lofts better, and dries faster than regular down.

-          When wet, regular down plumes collapse, reducing loft and insulating efficiency.  DriDown™’s water tolerance far exceeds that of regular down, staying dry 7-times longer* in the presence of natural body moisture, humidity, rain and snow, offering superior loft and thermal efficiency for a warmer, more comfortable night’s sleep.

2.   Is DriDown™ waterproof?  Does is use a waterproof/breathable membrane?

-          The goal was not to create waterproof down, but rather down that would tolerate the presence of moisture, allowing it to outperform regular down in every weather condition.

-          Waterproof/breathable membranes are great for keeping moisture out, but they also keep a lot of body moisture in, reducing loft and warmth.  DriDown™ sleeping bags allow internal moisture to escape far more effectively, enhancing loft and warmth retention to outperform down bags with membranes.

-          DriDown™’s polymer coating helps keep external moisture from soaking into the insulation, staying dry 7-times longer than regular down.

3.   What are the advantages of DriDown™?

-          As regular down gets wet, it loses loft and therefore loses its ability to insulate.  DriDown™ helps eliminate this problem.  DriDown™ is the evolution of down insulation.

o   DriDown™ stays dry 7-times longer than regular down.*

o   DriDown™ retains 98% loft which can equate to a 15° temperature advantage.

o   DriDown™ dries 33% faster than regular down.

4.   Where did the inspiration come from?

-          DriDown™ was inspired by Sierra Designs’ commitment to innovation.  For its weight, down is indisputably the best performing insulation available… lighter, warmer, more compressible, and more durable than synthetic insulations.  Its only downside is a loss of thermal efficiency as it becomes wet.   Constantly looking for ways to improve the outdoor experience, Sierra Designs created DriDown™ to advance the benefits of regular down, enhancing its performance in a wider range of conditions and allowing anyone from pro athletes to family campers to stay warmer, dryer, and sleep more comfortably.

5.   How do you know it works so well?

-          We use ASTM-certified lofting tests, environmental chambers to simulate humid conditions, and tests to determine drying times.  Sierra Designs has also developed proprietary testing to evaluate DriDown™ performance in extreme conditions.  Field testing confirms it outperforms regular down in every situation.

6.   What is the down treated with?

-          DriDown™ uses a molecular level polymer coating applied through a proprietary method during the down finishing process to create a hydrophobic finish on individual down plumes. This polymer finish maintains down integrity and increases durability without adding additional discernable weight.

7.   Has this technology been used before?

-          Sierra Designs has developed a proprietary and exclusive process to adapt this tried and true technology specifically for use in outdoor products.  Staying true to a long history of ingenious solutions to backcountry challenges, DriDown™ by Sierra Designs represents the evolution of down insulation technology, giving the outdoor world the best-performing insulation yet.

* Results based on scientific laboratory bulk water absorption testing developed by Sierra Designs.

Protecting your face and lungs from the elements

By Mary Webb

Talus Outdoor Technologies’ ColdAvenger Pro multisport face mask will help you handle the bitter cold. Made in the USA, the soft shell fabric design is a half-mask that covers the face, ears and neck. Comfort is evident throughout the breathable fleece fabric, custom-design fit, and ease of ventilation.

One size fits all. Everyone in my hiking group was envious as I wore the ColdAvenger on our march to Mount Baldy. While temperatures have been warmer this year in Southern California, we were still at a temperature of about 30 degrees and colder on a late afternoon snowshoe trek. Last year, we went on the same wander to Mount Baldy and my face was very cold; fog and icy breezes from the north made my face quite chapped over the next couple days following the hike. It was great to be wearing the ColdAvenger on this trip.

I immediately noticed the soft feel of the elastic, water-resistant fabric, particularly the soft fleece interior, and the mask was very simple to put on. A large-width Velcro strap at the back of mask wraps you up in warmth and accommodates various head sizes.

The stitching, which surrounds the mask, offered extra support to properly place the mask over the bridge of my nose and cheek bones. A custom foam insert also comes with the mask and fits inside the ventilator to offer extra padded-protection. These pads are available for a mere $0.75 when you need a replacement.

State of the art Ventilation system

Talus’ ColdAvenger covered my ears and neck and my face felt warm and protected from the elements. The rounded-out design of the mask allowed for my beanie and sunglasses to be worn in unison. I found it best to put the mask on first, then glasses and beanie.

The mask would not be complete without the state of the art ventilation system. Made of non-toxic medical grade Polyurethane, the ventilation system facilitated breathing, even on the most challenging parts of the trail. Microbial resistance is inherent in the Polyurethane, assisting to ward off unwanted microbes in the air.

This is how the ventilation system works; as I took in the cold air from the mountain range, through the ventilation slots of the mask, and exhaled warmer air, temperate balance between the two exchanges of warm and cold air occurred in the Polyurethane. Moisture did not build up on the Polyurethane finish and my lungs felt as though they were working less even though my heart was pumping faster.

Inside temperatures of the ColdAvenger can get up to 40 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, which is pretty substantial for $59.95 MSRP. While skiing at night, the reflective Talus logo at the back of the mask helped keep goofy snow boarders from running into me. Also, I did not feel wind chill on my neck as I flew down snow-powdered runs; the neck portion of mask fit inside my jacket collar, so once I zipped up my coat, my neck stayed warm and dry.

Breathable Fleece fabric

There is a removable interior valve you will clean after each excursion. I appreciate the bright lime green color, as it was easy to find on the counter after I washed it. After it is clean, you simply pop it back in place.

Available in black or gray, the ColdAvenger Pro Softshell series mask will protect your lungs while you work or play in temperatures as low as -20 degrees.

This cold weather mask by Talus will not only warm your face, but your spirits as well, as you set your sites on winter activities.

Weight: 0.75 LBS

www.talusoutdoor.com/coldavenger

Fun-colored purple laces give an edgy look

By Kimberly Bates

Get ready to charge the 2012 hiking season in style with the classic design of Vasque’s Talus WP lightweight hiking boot. With its one piece leather design, streamlined leather eyelets, and smooth toe, this attractive nubuck leather boot offers simple lines and unmistakable quality. Laced up for a day-hike to Table Rock, overlooking the beautiful tree-filled city of Boise, Idaho, I felt the exceptional quality and support these boots offer the minute my feet hit the trail and we started for the summit. Table Rock Trail #15 starts at the Old Penitentiary parking lot and winds its way up the hill, alternating between moderately steep switchbacks, and flat areas. Vasque’s Talus WP was up for every change in terrain, as well as any change in weather.

Vasque’s Perpetuum last surrounded my foot with excellent stability and support on the uphill climb. The boots cradled my feet on the packed dirt as I traversed the trail, heading up to the top of Table Rock, and the PU midsole offered impressive cushioning, taking me up the hill with supreme comfort. The heel of the Talus WP is solid, and the shoe provides excellent ankle support, with its padded mesh collar. In addition to adding a sleek look to the boot, the leather eyelets kept my laces firmly in place, and the metal hooks secured them at my ankle. I never had to stop my trek to tighten, or re-tie my laces. The gussetting on the padded tongue also added to the comfort of these shoes, preventing the problem of the tongue slipping to either side of the shoe during the climb. I noticed my feet stayed stable on the descent, with no forward slipping or rubbing whatsoever. The toe box gave my wider feet ample room and lasting comfort while navigating steeper declines.

I was especially impressed with the performance of the Vibram Nuasi outsole. On this day-after-Christmas hike, the air was chilly, the sky was dark with clouds, and the trails were damp. Demonstrating premium traction, the Talus WP boots held tight to the trail, even in snow dusted areas in which my daughter slipped in her tennis shoes. On packed dirt, traversing loose rocks, and scaling rocky ledges, these shoes had solid grip, as well as trusty dependability. The Talus WP refused to let me lose my footing, making me feel as sure-footed as a mountain goat.

Vibram outsoles offer supreme traction

On winter hikes, one must be prepared for any type of weather, and the fully waterproof nubuck upper provides assurance against wet feet in the event of a sudden downpour, or if you suddenly get the urge to puddle-jump your way up the trailhead. The Ultra Dry membrane further protects against the elements. The membrane keeps water out, allows feet to breathe, and wicks away sweat.

In addition to navigating the trail to Table Rock, these exceptional boots also carried me around the softer and sandier plateaus surrounding the Birds of Prey Center in Boise, and were right at home paired with jeans as I hit the mall for last minute shopping before the holidays.

I loved the classic and simple lines of this heritage-style boot, and was pleasantly surprised to find the colorway I wore, Bungee Cord/Purple Plumeria was a clay colored boot, accented by feminine purple laces. If you prefer an earthier combination, lace up the Dark Earth/Rumba Red. Men can choose between Turkish Coffee/Chili Pepper and Beluga/Old Gold. Subtle in design, and sporting an old school appeal, these boots prove to be modern in their performance and technologies. At a price-point of $155, these boots are a high quality choice at an affordable value. Lightweight, comfortable, and offering superior traction, these vintage style boots won’t disappoint. When spring is in the air, and your feet are ready to roam, these boots will seem like a new friend with an old school feel.

Specifications:

Waterproof nubuck and mesh upper

Ultra Dry membrane

Perpetuum last

PU midsole

Vibram Nuasi outsole

Colorways:

W: Dark Earth/Rumba Red and Bungee Cord/Purple Plumeria

M: Turkish Coffee/Chili Pepper and Beluga/Old Gold

Weight: M 9-2lbs 9 oz

Weight: W 7-2lbs 2oz

Price:  $155

Made from 100% recycled material!

By Mary Webb

The Mountainsmith 2012 Tour lumbar pack is a viable alternative to the traditional over-the-shoulder backpack. The Tour pack features fresh design elements for the new year, an internal padded sleeve, a raised dual density lumbar control point pad, an air mesh back panel with durable water repellent (DWR), increased ergonomics and nylon reinforcements.

In addition to design enhancements, Mountainsmith incorporates tried and true features from previous designs, 100% recycled PET fabric, two deep-zippered pockets, two drink holders, mid-waist straps and removable shoulder strap.

Quality characteristics, old and new, unite together to make your hiking experience a fortified adventure. The Tour facilitates traveling as well, we experienced improved efficiency and organization on our flight to San Diego, California.

On our day hike to Lake Shasta Dam, I had plenty of room in the Tour’s deep-zippered pockets to store personal belongings, necessary for this adventurous writer to function in the great outdoors. There are two zippered-pockets in this lumbar series Tour pack, the main compartment and the front panel.

The main compartment was just right to help me store a lightweight jacket, electronic music device, GPS cache unit, trail mix, flashlight and a tube of sunscreen. An internal padded sleeve is sewn in the main pocket which allowed me to place edibles on one side and technological devices on the other. I like how the padded sleeve is made of stretch fabric, as it forgives items that may be larger on either side.

Waistband clips into place for superb support

A suspended zip up pocket is sewn into the main compartment. As the main compartment is quite deep, it was nice to have this suspended pocket to place nutrition bars and change; this permitted time to snack at our rest point instead of spending precious moments digging for power bars at the bottom of the bag.

There is sufficient room for water and juice inside the main compartment of the Tour, but you will frequently take advantage of the two water bottle pockets located on either side of the exterior, holding up to 32 ounces of thirst quenching beverages. The water bottle pockets have sewn-in elastic bands that expand and contract to oblige various sized drinks.

The front panel pocket is also deep, yet doesn’t have the volume width we find in the main compartment. I kept my keys in this front compartment, as there is a key ring sewn inside. It was nice to return home “fumble free” in search of the house key. I was eager to kick off my hiking boots, jump into the living room and relax with a book.

Both the main compartment and front panel pockets consist of yellow fabric lining, contrasting nicely to the color ways of our Tour. In addition to serving as an aesthetic liner, the yellow color promotes visibility to motorists and passersby. Additional reflective hints are found in the front panel elastic band. This elastic band can be cinched up tight to keep items in the front panel from tossing about along winding treks.

Using the Tour helped make our traveling trouble-free. The back foam panel has an open-face pocket that held our San Diego airline tickets, rental car confirmation and luggage claim tickets. The documents were held securely in place and accessible amidst the hustle and bustle of travelers.

Expandable water bottle pockets hold up to 32 ounces.

DWR is evident throughout the back foam panel. This technology was a welcomed addition on a warm California day, as quite a bit of perspiration accumulated down and along my spine. Sweat was wicked away along my lower back, keeping me nice and dry.

Many athletes know that the strength of most exercise comes from the core of your abdomen. Mountainsmith created a dual density lumbar control point pad in the Tour to secure the pack load to the lumbar region, locking it into the small of the back. The weight of the pack is ergonomically correct and will appropriately disburse weight towards the control point pad. I felt stable on uneven terrain.

I correctly used the mid-waist straps of the Tour by pulling the adjustable straps to their proper position. It was a reprieve to walk the full distance to the dam without my neck and shoulders bearing the weight of a traditional back pack.

The two mid-waist straps of the Lumbar pack not only have two mesh pockets sewn into the straps, where we kept some extra cash for coffee, but also have a tuck-away waist belt clip that locks firmly in place. When you are traveling long distances, you may require secondary support out on the trail. The lumbar Tour pack has a removable shoulder strap with a sliding pad that helps carry the weight of heavier jackets and water bottles. For those who need even greater support for the load, a strapette compatible system is also available for an additional $25.00.

Of all the enhanced features of the Tour, the high tenacity nylon reinforcements are ideal for extending the longevity of the pack. While hiking in the Tour, the mid-waist straps rubbed against my body; these areas along the straps that receive this kind of wear and tear are now protected like never before.

While we selected the heritage red color, for a MSRP of $70,00, you may choose from black, charcoal, cobalt, heritage teal, lotus blue, or pinon green. With so many colors to pick, travelers may decide to purchase two bags, one for hiking and one for travel. Fill both packs with necessary accessories, zip them up and away and ready to grab and go.

If you are traveling under the stars on the evening trail, or over the clouds by plane, the lumbar series Tour pack has your back. Mountainsmith, producing products with 100% recycled material to protect the Earth, one pack at a time.

Details and Specifications:

Details

450d PET body fabric (100% Recycled)

Patented Delta Compression System

YKK® Zippers

210d RipStop Liner

Specifications:

Dimensions:  10” x 11.5” x 5”, 25 x 29.25 x 12.75 cm

Weight:  1 lb 5oz, .59 kg

Volume:  488 cu. in., 8 liters

Benchmade 530 Pardue

By Rick Shandley

This Benchmade 530 Pardue is two ounces of folding razor. It’s just one of many functional folding knives that knife maker Mel Pardue has turned out over the years like musician who prolifically belts out guitar riffs with the bite of a scalpel.

Actually, the 530 Pardue weighs less than two-ounces. It weighs 1.88 ounces. The 154CM stainless steel blade (rated at 58-61HRC hardness) is relatively thin, but stout at 0.090-inch thickness at the hilt and through the center of the 3.25-inch modified spear-point blade.  Whether you prefer a plain edge, or combination plain edge with serrations at the back, every Benchmade knife comes to you certified sharp.

We’ve worked with enough Benchmade knives not to question whether the edge is as sharp as possible. So we just don’t go there anymore. Yes, cut. Cut to your heart’s content. If an object can be severed with a steel blade, any Benchmade is capable of doing the slicing long as the application is consistent with design.

Blade material is 154CM stainless steel in a modified spearpoint blade design.

Aside from the super lightweight of the 530, the blade is useful.  I liked the ambidextrous thumb-studs that facilitate one-handed blade actuation, being left handed. Opening a working knife with one hand is an asset for those times when you need to separate one object from another. This 530 was used primarily for slicing 550 parachute cord, cutting rope to make back country horse halters, and nylon rope. Not to test the edge, but cut the things that needed to be cut on hikes and around the ranch.

Because the 530 is so light and proportional, it is a controllable blade when your cuts need to be precise. The leverage you can apply to the 530 in cutting heavier material, like horse halter rope or lead rope, is something you can have confidence in. Yet, the thinner blade is great for slicing Hickory Farms Summer Sausage and hard cheddar cheese on hikes. The 530 is a blade that compels one to use it.

Contributing to the feather lightness of the 530 are the Grivory handle scales that add to the thin overall appearance of the 530 at 0.370-inch handle thickness. Grivory is essentially a hyper-light combination of fiberglass fused composite material that is used for making plastic knife blades, and therefore also a very hard substance.  Grip is good since the Grivory handle shells have a slightly porous and rough finish that works with the ribbed pattern along the center. Additional weight shaving components are the 420J stainless steel blade liners.

Shown at approx. 90-degrees, note AXIS locking mechanism mid-slide at back of blade..

So often a knife, whether it be a folding knife or fixed-blade, is judged by the heft as an indicator to determine quality and robust build. Aside from the ability of the blade steel to take and retain a sharp edge, the weight of a knife is a sign of value and strength. The 530 defies this measure of worthiness, and stands separate from the countless pig-stickers sold in blister packs at big box stores and strip mall liquor stores display cases around the country.   At such a light weight, the 530 could be misjudged. But that would be a mistake. The design is straight forward, and the weight is negligible, but the cutting power, edge retention, the bank vault AXIS locking mechanism, and ability to take the cutting instrument apart for cleaning all get high marks for the quality built into the 530 Pardue.

In addition to being a folder you can carry every day, the 530 is an ideal knife for backpacking, snowshoeing, mountaineering, and applications where you want to eliminated unnecessary weight and maximum versatility in your gear.

One-handed blade deployment works great with the Benchmade AXIS locking mechanism. For the 530, the

Reversible, tip-up, pocket clip is standard with most every Benchmade folding knife.

lightness of the blade gives no resistance when opening while locking in to the opened blade position. The blade actuates positively, every time. And, since the 530 is so compact and weightless, you can learn to close this little EDC using one hand…with a bit of practice.

A thoughtful feature that also makes the 530 versatile is the ability to set it up for left-handed carry by reversing the spring-steel pocket clip and using the pre-drilled holes on the opposite side handle shell.  Another nice feature is the lanyard hole that is large enough to thread a section of 550 cord through. And if Benchmade wanted to reduce the weight on the 530 even more, perhaps to boast a lead position in the “less than two-ounce knife category,” they could shave a couple thousands of an inch off the carry clip and use titanium screws to reduce weight even more. Ah, but what’s the point?

Aesthetically, the 530 looks like a little switchblade with the scalloped design pattern at each end of the handle shells along with the visible AXIS mechanism and thumb studs combining to appear more complicated and serious than it really is. Looking like an automatic folder is not a bad thing either, in my view, because with just a different application of the AXIS locking mechanism it could be.

In general, the 530 Pardue seems to be less an exercise in creating a piece of functional art, and more an example of a working folder that, even though it is artfully designed, you can’t help but use it often. Sure, the 530 has limitations since it is a rather small knife, but not many. So, the 530 is one you might have to send back to Benchmade now and then to take advantage of their lifetime offer to put the factory edge back on it for the price of postage.  Or you’ll just have to get good at putting the edge back on yourself. This is a solid, nice looking, folder that screams: “use me!”

Stats:

MSRP: $110

Benchmade Class: Blue

Made in U.S.A.
Overall Length: 7.42 inch
Closed Length: 4.17 inch
Blade Length: 3.25 inch
Blade Thickness: 0.090 inch
Handle Thickness: 0.370 inch
Blade Material: 154CM Stainless Steel
Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC
Blade Style: Modified Spear-Point; Ambidextrous Thumb-Studs
Pocket Clip: Black, Reversible, Tip-Up
Lock Mechanism: AXIS

FITS Light Hiker

Rick Shandley

With 109 years of knowledge weaving Merino wool, FITS socks are part of the vanguard creating today’s comfortable, warm, and breathable socks for active people. As a textile mill since 1909 and located in Neota, Tennessee, the Crescent Sock Company, parent company of FITS, is the oldest hosiery mill in the USA. That’s the kind of experience building a basic product that establishes credibility in quality.

We evaluated three FITS socks most applicable to our kind of outdoor interests of hiking, camping, backpacking, and alpine living. Although FITS has a full line-up of high-quality socks from dress socks to deep winter wool socks, we looked at the FITS Light Hiker, Rugged Crew, and BIG GAME socks. We’ll discuss these three FITS sock models in the order mentioned above, and break down some qualities of each that speak to the features of the individual product. However, the stand out benefit each of these socks offers your feet is cushioned comfort, uncanny fit, natural fiber odor management, and a welcomed durability.

Overview

Before moving away from California, the FITS Light Hiker, and the Rugged Crew socks were worn on weekly alpine training hikes up around Thunder Mountain, Mt. Baldy, and sections of the Pacific Crest Trail in Southern California. On the hikes, FITS socks where worn with traditional mountaineering boots with stiff outsoles. After the hikes, these socks didn’t come off; just a shoe change and back into the late summer days that often bounced between the mid 90’s and 100-degree temperatures. This is where “bulk buy” cotton and cheap synthetic socks break down, get wet, and need to be changed out most every day, if not twice a day.

With the FITS socks, the built-in cushion didn’t fade. Even after several days of wearing them, the natural moisture and odor management of Merino wool performed consistently well. We did not experience blistering, hot spots, sock bunching, or overheated feet in hot weather with any of the FITS socks assessed over the summer and winter of 2011, to this point. The FITS socks have proven breathability and the natural characteristic of wool to wick away moisture. During the cold months so far, the hot weather problems associated with poorly designed socks where immaterial. And wearing good boots with similar qualities of inner-boot materials that allow breathability, moisture and odor management, ventilation, and cushioning all worked great with these FITS socks.

Washing FITS socks is no drama. You’d think it would be necessary to use Woolite, hand wash them, and treat them like delicate silk scarves. But all you have to do is include FITS socks in with your color laundry, use regular detergent, and hit the start button. The only deviation is rather than throw your FITS socks into the dryer, you simply let them air dry at room temperature. FITS socks dry fairly quickly and are ready to go back into service in a jiffy looo. When you need to hand wash them on a multi-day backpacking trip, it really is not a problem, and they air dry just fine hanging from a gear pocket inside a tent.

One thing each pair of FITS socks we reviewed has in common is a custom fit and multi-day comfort. When you pull on a FITS sock, your heel literally drops into a cushioned pocket as if it where tailor made for your feet. The comfort and design qualities surrounding the sides and toe area of the foot is noteworthy when you first try on FITS socks. Of course we are all individual people who value different qualities from different every day products. But I enjoyed the cushion and precise fit of each of these three FITS sock products during a three-month period.

Because these FITS socks where worn often (longer than any cotton or synthetic sock) and washed with impunity, the sock construction, consistent cushion and comfort attest to these socks reliability and quality. I would recommend FITS socks to folks who like consistent performance, comfort, and durability in any of their backcountry equipment.

Upon relocating to Northern Colorado, just in time to take cover from the first fall snow storm, the BIG GAME socks were added to the FITS sock rotation along with Sorel Conquest, Kamik Patriot, and LOWA Baikal GTX insulated winter boots. As low temperatures, snow and ice where added to the equation, warmth became a factor, and the Marino wool provided additional insulation to keep the feeling in my feet for many hours out of doors working with horses, hiking, long walks up the canyon, and chilly mornings commuting to Denver.  Go to fitssock.com

FITS Light Hiker in Brown

FITS Light Hiker (MSRP $19.99)

Colors: Coal, Navy, Brown, Stone, Black

Just like the name, the FITS Light Hiker uses 65-percent Merino wool. Cushioning is added only to the sock bottoms, and they feel good. The deep heel pocket and consistent ability to conform to the shape of the foot, stay there, and remain comfortable is evident even after several months of wearing, washing, and wearing them until you feel like you’re abusing them. The Light Hiker is a solid everyday sock for the comfort and cushion alone. During the summer, these got the most wear on multi-hour hikes, switch shoes, and wearing them the rest of the day. The Light Hiker is a crew length sock, fitting just below the calf of the leg and offers good leg coverage when wearing with light hiking boots or mountaineering boots.  FITS socks uses a double-welt on the top of the sock to eliminate sock binding or slipping.  Once these socks are on your feet, they stay in place nicely.

FITS Rugged Crew in light brown.

FITS Rugged Crew (MSRP $17.99)

Colors: Coal, Navy, Light Brown

FITS Rugged Crew uses 69-percent Merino wool and surrounds the foot with cushioning. Rugged Crew, like its name, rises to just below the calf. These are a slightly heavier-duty sock than the Light Hiker, being more conducive to multi-day backpacking, camping or hunting trips in mild to cool weather. If given the choice, my sock drawer would be full of the Rugged Crew in the range of colors FITS Sock Company offers them in. Once you experience soft, cushioned socks that hold their shape washing after washing, you kind of swear not to ever buy a six-pack of white cotton socks from Taiwan ever again. The Rugged Crew is good for wearing every day, and the 360-degree cushioning makes good boots feel great.

FITS BIG GAME in light brown.

FITS BIG GAME (MSRP $18.99)

Colors: Coal, Navy, Light Brown

Using 74-percent Merino wool, the FITS BIG GAME is a workhorse sock for cold to wicked cold winter wearing. All the same fit and functionality features designed into the Light Hiker and Rugged Crew are found in this heavy-duty, boot length sock that rises to mid-calf. The deep heel pocket, form fitment, double top welt, and comfort all just ramp up a notch with the BIG GAME. With cushioning surrounding the foot, the BIG Game is a noticeably thicker sock. Used with insulated cold-weather boots, the BIG GAME held up it end for providing the warmth only wool can offer in an environment where moisture, and sometimes soggy conditions affect the foot under high activity to no activity conditions. When manufacturers of leather upper snow boots claim they are waterproof, don’t count on it after a couple years unless you apply additional water proofing like Snow Seal. Feet can get damp in the winter when you are active and operating in deep fresh snow or mid-day melting snow. These FITS BIG Game socks were subject to moisture inside the boot in high-activity (high blood circulation) conditions, and the Merino wool did its job of keeping the feet relatively warm until both the boots and the socks could be changed out to a dry boots and fresh socks. Why the BIG GAME seems to be priced below the Light Hiker and Rugged Crew, we have no idea. But these are fine cold weather winter socks, and the comfort is hard to beat. No complaints about any of the FITS socks we tried. Our only dilemma is requesting the loved ones to actually “Buy me FITS socks” for Christmas. Yes, I want more.

Editor’s Note: Another thing I appreciated about these FITS socks was the fact that the three pair we tested were not blemishes or imperfect products. It appears that many outdoor product manufacturing companies (including well known, big name brand socks) set aside imperfect products they dole out to the media thinking the media will passively say great things about their blemished “Media Sample” product, even if the product is pathetic. We come from the automotive performance industry, and if a product is excellent, we say so. If a product is substandard and blemished, we say so. These FITS socks I assessed are the same product any consumer can expect and rely on should they pluck a pair of FITS socks off the hook at their local outdoors shop. That means a ton.

Kamik Patriot 3 cold weather boots. Click all photos to enlarge.

By Rick Shandley

Kamik footwear built its reputation on extreme foot protection in seriously cold winter weather, and the Patriot 3 boot is good for the task. This pair of Kamik Patriot 3 snow boots has been on several winter trips since December of 2010.

The Patriot 3 insulated boots hit high marks on most any criteria we could assess it on for general winter activities dealing with snow, ice and slick walking surfaces. They retail for about $130.00, and for 65 bucks per foot, the Patriot 3 might be a great choice for you snowed under East Coast folk’s right about now.

Kamik’s Patriot 3 is available in men’s sizes 7 to 14. Our test pair was a size 14, and can attest the size ran true to product description. Some boot manufacturers tend to run their sizes small, which is a huge disappointment that we experienced with another brand of well regarded snow boots.

With the correct size snow boot, and ample room for a cozy pair of wool socks, these Patriot 3 boots are unquestionably warm even

Patriot 3's are warm and comfortable; worked well with the Mt. Khakis insulated mountain pants.

when you stop moving. That’s a critical characteristic this writer looks for with any insulation gear. While you are moving and burning calories, the entire body gets heated up from the tips of your fingers to the tips of your toes. But it’s when you stop moving, after grinding out a couple miles in snowshoes or shoveling snow of the walk ways when extremities chill down quick.

We loaded up these Patriot 3’s on a pair of Crescent Moon Golden 10 back country snowshoes and had a blast with them both. At first, it wasn’t clear whether the Patriot 3’s would fit properly in the Crescent Moon bindings; a consideration you’d want to answer for any understandably bulky insulated winter pack boot. Well the snowshoe bindings are well thought out and accommodated the U.S. size 14 Patriot 3 boots. The combination was more than enough to make us feel aplomb in the snow.

Built with waterproof full-grain leather, the Patriot 3 is constructed with sealed waterproof seams throughout the uppers. Although we have only had these boots since early winter 2010/2011, the workmanship appears to be very high-quality with regards to the multiple passes of heavy-gauge stitching, leather quality, and absence of loose threads and jagged seams.

Patriot 3 is uses Thinsulate liners for warmth and antimicrobial treatment of the EVA footbeds.

Insulation for the Patriot 3’s is a fixed 400B Thinsulate Ultra Liner. The 400B Thinsulate liner works with moisture wicking lining to manage perspiration, and Kamik Comfort Antibacterial EVA foot bed manage foot odor. This anti-microbial treatment is built into the EVA foot beds to continually mitigate bacteria and fungus odor. It’s not your feet that stink! It’s the fungus your feet cultivate — like a hydroponic garden — that people find offensive.  It’s OK, we understand.

EVA footbed material is pretty much considered best-practice for most all the best-built boots across all categories on the market today. Noting that any boot you might consider uses EVA footbeds for their shoes is a good indicator that little has been left on the table as far a quality components used in construction.

Were the rubber meets the snow and ice, the Patriot 3 is shod with Kamik’s TRIUMPH IceClaw outsoles with self-cleaning, non-slip lugs. Well, non-slip is a subjective event that depends on the actual surface and the person wearing the boots. In deep, fresh snow, the outsole pattern of traction cleats does a good job of self cleaning. This is due primarily to the space or voids between the traction lugs. And the rubber compound used for the outsoles is made of rubber compounds that do tend to offer good traction on icy surfaces. Yet, make no mistake, ice is ice, and a misplaced step or shift of body weight can send you to the ground regardless of the type of rubber your boot soles are made of.

For boots that really can facilitate many winter activities where you’ll need to navigate icy parking lots or ice-encased trail routes, it

Workmanship on the Kamik Patriot 3 boots appeared to be high-end. Lace hooks are rustproof and strong; laces are high-quality.

would be nice if crampon slots were to be included in the toe and heel sections of this boot. It’s certainly not a distraction from their intended purpose, which is to protect your hooves in winter wonderlands around the world, but it would up the range of uses.

From the outsoles, a flexible (even in freezing temperatures) and waterproof rubber outer shell creates a nice bumper that fuses the outsoles to the boot uppers with barrier that ties the whole boot together. It’s a sturdy package. These Kamik Patriot 3 boots are ones you can put some level of trust in, especially on overnight ventures into snow country.

Although, these boots weigh in at about four pounds each, they are built as only a snow-pack boot intended for below-zero operation can be. We do not mind swinging these warm, comfortable, and weatherproof pendulums in a swift walking gate along a snow-bound roadway. They are sturdy, and designed to protect your feet in wicked cold climates. That’s a huge benefit to consider, and one we appreciate. Sometimes gear weight is immaterial when contrasted with the job it’s designed to do. If you can’t handle extra weight on your feet, get stronger. That down-parka you’ll be wearing is not in style at Venice Beach any time of year, but it’s a lifesaver in Fairbanks, AK on a winter’s night. Everything has its purpose.

The Patriot 3 stands about 11 inches tall. That works really well with mountaineering pants that have integral gaiters to keep the snow out of your boots. And for most uses, keeping the snow out is not a big problem if you’re shoveling snow or chopping firewood, but it would be nice to see these Patriot 3’s with built-in boot collar gaiters to keep fresh snow out of the boot. It’s not a gripe, so much as a feature that is always nice to have.

Nonetheless, the insulated and gusseted boot tongue folds very nicely into the laced up boot and forms a snug fit at the tops of the padded collar.  All the Patriot 3 speed-lace eyelets are rustproof and strong. Even the laces themselves are hardy cords that allow you to pull ‘em up tight, and lace them up in frigid conditions with gloved hands.

Color is Coffee like the pair in these photos.  No worries, these Patriot 3 winter boots have been comfortable and warm to the degree that keeping the toes from going numb was never in question; but a condition one can never take for granted in any boot. Yes, we can highly recommend the Kamik 3 Patriot winter boots for anyone searching for your next pair.

Kombi Knuckle Over leather gloves worked great in bitter, sometimes, wind-driven cold these past few months. You’ve got one color option, and that would black on black. We couldn’t ask for more in a five-finger all purpose insulated glove.

Soft, supple, and rugged leather outer glove shell construction is your first clue as to the quality and utility of these Kombi Knuckle-over gloves. Not to be confused with the sister Kombi knuckle-over leather mitts, these Kombi five-finger gloves offered as much insulation, warmth, and weather protection we could hope for without going to the mitten style.

There are advantages and disadvantages between the mitten style and the five-finger style of Kombi knuckle-over leather gloves that primarily have to do with the severity of the cold. Mitten style insulated gloves keep your fingers together and allow your digits to keep one another warm in severe cold, but you lack dexterity. The five-finger style allows you to use your hands and fingers, but since each finger is individually insulated, you don’t have the ability for the fingers to radiate heat amongst each other.

The five-finger Kombi Knuckle Over leather gloves we tested were used in some pretty cold weather in the Sierra Nevada and San

Rough-out leather is used on glove palms for grip and durability.

Jacinto mountains this winter. While wearing them during active treks on snow-bound journey’s with a backpack, daypack, on snow shoes or crampons, these gloves are warm even when the temperature went down into single digits. It was when activity stopped and everything chills down, we did experience the lower limits of this glove.

When you are not active, after the tent has been erected, the food and hot liquids were consumed, cold hands are just that, cold: until you get moving and the blood going. By contrast, donning into these Kombi Knuckle Over’s (KO) in the earliest hours of the pre-dawn morning – with the boots on and having recently slipped out of a nice Kelty Foraker -15° down sleeping bag — your body is warm, your fingers fully operable, these Kombi KO’s insulate immediately.

Now the “Knuckle Over” deal simply means you have a flexible leather pleat at the top of your hand so your bony knuckles give your hand full dexterity from fist to flat. You also have flex-joints that facilitate the lower two knuckles of each hand for enhanced dexterity.

Cuff collar allows you to seal out weather and bind you to your parka.

No, you don’t have the all-around dexterity you’d expect from leather driving gloves. There are several layers of insulation in addition to the leather shell. Weatherproofing is the responsibility of liners of Gore-Tex and Accu-Dri. For warmth Kombi looked to X-loft, a synthetic insulation. The synthetic fleece lining next to your skin is soft and comfortable. With all your fingers in the right cocoon, these Kombi’s are nice to wear. A bonus is the quality of the black leather. Like we said, it’s soft and supple visually as well so they look almost like cold weather dress gloves.

Stitching quality is accurate and tight throughout these gloves. The palms of these gloves are of rough-out black leather on top of the soft glove leather. Sturdy wrist straps and cuff closure cords allow you to really secure these gloves and get into them or out of them all day long.

And because these gloves use several layers of specific liner materials, you have to take care when removing these gloves from your fingers. The reason is that each liner is its own barrier, working in harmony with the other unique layers to keep weather out and warmth insulation in. Therefore none of these layers are sewn together.

If you just yank them off, well, it’s your fault and you should not be allowed to wear them ever again. That’s a good way to kill good

Wrist strap is easy to cinch up or release.

gloves. Many modern insulated gloves are built like this. You have to be conscious of taking them off carefully so they’ll fit like a glove when you put them on. It’s not a big deal to get used to.

The Kombi leather is top-notch and something you instantly appreciate about these high-quality gloves. For price, you’re looking at less than $100.00. For quality, you should expect to pay more than $100.00 in this writers view. You do get a rough-and-tumble cold weather working glove that you can do most hand functions with them. There great when you’re using hand tools like a snow shovel, ice-ax, or a flashlight.

Overall we appreciate this style and build of cold weather glove. It’s suited for many cold weather activities winter board sports to just plain being out in the cold. They have limitations at the single digit temps where you are not active. This non-active state must include the reality of the entire body cooling down and in need of outside warmth like down insulation or a camp fire. When you are on the move, they keep your hands warm and insulated. The jury is out on the quality or durability of the hardware for the wrist strap and cuff cinches. But we view these gloves as high-quality in general.

Below are four primary ways you can lose heat from your body. These are four areas each of the unique, stand-alone, liners such as Gore-Tex, are designed to protect and insulate you from the harshness of cold environments:

Kombi leather cold weather gloves worked great for snowshoeing.Here are the four general elements that these Kombi Knuckle Over gloves address:

• EVAPORATION: Heat loss from the cooling effects of moisture on the skin. Kombi’s wicking linings address this by moving the perspiration on your hands away from the skin to the outer shell of the glove or mitten.

• CONDUCTION: Heat loss caused by direct heat transfer from something warm to something cold (placing a bare hand on a cold window for example). Kombi’s full wrap construction using the various components of shell, insulation and lining insulate against this type of heat loss.

Gore-Tex lining can be considered a standard of all weather capability.

• CONVECTION: Heat loss as a result of natural body heat escaping into the air. The Kombi multi-layered construction minimizes body heat loss by trapping air in the various components of each style.

• RADIATION: Heat loss due to the transfer of heat from a warm environment to a cold one. Here again the Kombi multi-layered system, and in particular our use of waterproof/breathable inserts, works to minimize heat loss due to radiation.

By Rick Shandley

Crescent Moon Gold-10 Backcountry snowshoes showcase modern construction with excellent performance. Snowshoes have served the historical purpose of suspending a person’s body on the surface of deep snow, rather than creating post holes with every step. The Gold 10 series float you just like they are supposed to; in the same way as age-old rawhide-laced bent willow shoe frames. These modern Crescent Moon Gold 10 snowshoes fulfill the traditional role great, but they bring technology and reliability with them.

Although the Gold Series also include the Gold-9, and Gold-17, the Gold-10 are geared for guys up to 225 pounds, and designed to function in deep backcountry snow with or without a backpack. We overloaded the G-10’s recommended weight with the backpack on, but they worked great on the trip even with an extra 40 pounds on our back.  And when there was only a day-pack/camera bag, the Gold 10’s also worked just fine. The floatation and confidence in these snowshoes were unquestioned from the start.

The first snow day to try these Crescent Moon back country shoes was up in the Mt. San Jacinto wilderness area in Soutnern California. Conditions were

Gold 10 excelled in deep snow and icy trails.

icy.  Consecutive, clear-skies and frigid days had elapsed since the last snowfall. The un-trampled snow was fairly deep, but the low temperatures caused the surface snow to crust up hard. How my truck swooped up onto an ice-coated parking area is still hard to say. But few other vehicles also made it up to that parking lot that day. We were there from early morning to late afternoon.

These G-10 snowshoes went on first thing. With three sets of stainless steel crampon cleats riveted to each shoe these Gold-10’s provided immediate traction on ice. This is a departure from historical snowshoe design by providing metal spikes on the bottom to grip the ice. That’s how we got out of the parking lot standing upright.

Strapping into the binding system with size 14 boots is relatively intuitive. The Crescent Moon SPL binding system on these snowshoes will fit up to a size 15 boot. We used them, on different trips, with a pair of LOWA Cevedale GTX mountaineering boots and a pair of Kamik Patriot 3 snow boots. The synthetic strap binding system uses a ratchet adjustment at the heel section and a webbed strap system at the front. A grab-handle for the forward binder allows you to cinch down the toe-section around the front of the boot. At the heel, the ratchet binding can be adjusted so you can pre-set the fit for easy in and out of the shoe.

Gold 10 binding system is easy on-off, and secure on the trail.

Up in Mt. San Jacinto, the trail and terrain are more vertical, so conditions compelled us to climb and dig-in with upward momentum in these Crescent Moons. We were ascending upward along the snow encased trail, sometimes scrambling while other times just trudging along. On that trip these G-10’s were comfortable to use with those stainless steel crampons on the bottom of the shoes to grip the frozen top crust over a couple feet of snow.

That session in the snow started out gripping up a crusty, frozen, snow-covered trail in the morning and softened up a bit as the sun warmed the day. With no real weight on board, hiking and striding along the trail in the Gold 10’s was straight forward walking. There were no shoe tangles or awkwardness having to become accustomed to them. The G-10’s worked intuitively for this writer. That’s saying something right there because the guy wearing the shoes is not a graceful person.

Another thing we like about the binding system is that it’s easy, reliable and secure, even with gloved hands. On a later overnight trip in the Sierra Nevada, these snowshoes went on in the dark and came off in the dark. With only a headlamp to illuminate the effort, it is nice to be able to slip into the Gold 10’s and acquire the traction quick. The nighttime temperatures were in the single digits up in the Sierra’s, and it was serious cold. It didn’t escape our observation how pliable the binding system remains, especially when the snowshoes are simply planted in the snow throughout the night. When it came time to latch on the snowshoes, the bindings are good to go.

There was no tendency for the bindings to give-up the hold on the feet. The bindings were secure throughout each hike and snow

Crescent Moon Gold 10 bindings deliver full range of motion.

session we used them on. When you do want to snug up the snowshoe bindings on the Gold 10’s, it’s just a matter of reaching down and pulling on the harness strap. The primary harness strap is easy to grab with gloved hands and it tightens the toe and forefoot sections of the binding system. Once you have the heel strap adjusted to the length of your boots, the fore foot section is the main binding you can use to get in and out of the snowshoes.

Gold 10 Series Backcountry snowshoes are constructed of stout aluminum tube frames covered with synthetic webbing made out of recycled materials. At the front section of the shoe, the toe webbing appears to be a nylon material. And from the foot back vinyl webbing provides the floatation on the snow. All webbing is securely riveted to the frame. Both the materials and overall quality of construction lead one to assess these Crescent Moon snowshoes as being well built.

At a suggested retail price of $269.00, the Gold-Series 10 snowshoes are a significant investment, but considering how many years they could serve, and how easy they are to strap on your feet and walk over the snow, they are to be a good investment for living and playing in snow country. While we had these snowshoes in with us, we scanned competitor types and found these to be on the high-end of quality and capability, in our view.

Stainless steel crampons performed on icy trails second to none.

Each snowshoe weighs little more than two pounds. If you are wearing warm boots you won’t be feeling any weight from the snowshoes. Shoe frames are anodized aluminum tubing constructed in a teardrop shape. Each frame measures 10 inches wide by 32 inches long. The pair of G-10’s we had a blast in were, as the photos indicate, bright metallic cherry red. Your other color choice is brilliant metallic green.

Up at the toe of Gold-10 there’s plenty of width and floatation directly under and in front of your foot. At the rear of the shoe, the shape of the frame behind the foot pulls into a pintail. Whether walking under the load of a winter backpack, and heavier gear, or snowshoeing without the extra weight, the Gold 10’s are great for walking and striding in a natural motion and gate.

• 4.4lbs, recommended for snowshoers up to 225 lbs
• 10 x 32 in, teardrop shaped frame for more athletic feel than traditional shapes
• Excellent flotation in deep snow and winter pack weights