Let's see what you've done to improve a particular piece or what you've made on your own! I'll start with some easy mods I've done and if this thread gains traction I'll add some more along with gear I've made myself.

Shock cord keeper on a pair of Raab pants that where lacking grommets or anything to attach the shock cord to.

Posted in a glove discussion thread but here they are again. Added cinch collars to a pair of Showa TEMRES. Soon we won't have to do this ourselves though.

Small detail that makes a HUGE difference. Bigger pull tabs on a pair of Patagonia Pant's zippers. Nothing worse than being at an anchor and struggling to get your fly unzipped with gloves on.

I have unfortunately lost my poles.  BD want about $118 for replacement poles for a First Light (which might work?)

However I think I might find a cheaper solution if I knew the length.  It's regular size not the Eldorado.  Any I tent owners

let me know the length or any other ideas you might have. Thanks!

Ive tortured my Cloud 6500 with many happy days carrying a 1.2lb 4500 cu in pack for a summit day. Just wanted to bring up some other's pro's vs con's of these coveted packs. How well do these carry?

YOUR IDEAS?

If you are a sno-isle library card holder (snohomish and some island counties), you can get the book with that library system.

On a side note, I requested the library get this book and they did. This library system works! If you feel your library system lacks good climbing books, request a few. (for example, Monroe library has a AK climbing guide and a sky valley rock guidebook)

https://us.samaya-equipment.com/collections/tentes/products/samaya-radical3

Sound off!

Looking for anyone's experience with pet harnesses, especially strength rated ones for climbing. Ruffwear has their Doubleback harness that's rated to 8.9kN which seems like it would check a lot of boxes. Other thoughts were to get crafty with some Bluewater 1" tube webbing. 

I know a cat that's interested in sending some of the local classics. He's built like a stacked ferret, very long and medium girth so he usually fits a small dog harness. He's a shit belayer (no belay loop needed) but MAN can he run it out on some of the local slab boulder problems. 

I used them once on a short approach to make sure they didn't fall apart (they did a bit, but probably because my DIN is too low/I am terrified of them breaking my ankle- anyhow they go back together easily).

Then I brought them to PJC and skiied 16 miles on them and they absolutely destroyed my heels- biggest blisters of my life. Imagine your entire heel was a blister.

Obviously my ice boots don't articulate like my AT boots.

What is the solution? I tried looser, I tried tighter, neither seemed to help.

So I've been using those quite a bit, but man I pack them out quick.  The ones I'm currently running (current year model) felt super packed out after a 15 mile day in the hills, and I don't think I had more than 400 miles into them. I know the life on running shoes it probably shorter than I want it to be.

I switched to the Arcteryx Konseal FL approach shoes and I mostly like them, but even they are starting to seem a little packed out...or maybe I wish they had a shank. I used some Superfeet inserts and those stiffened them up a little, but still wish they had a shank...the bones in my feet were sore at the and of the day after 15-20 miles.  My last outing in the hills with these and my feet felt no different than if I had used the Cascadias.

I know it probably has to do with that I'm a lard ass (205 right now and dropping), but I just wish I could find the perfect light weight but burley shoes that maybe had a shank or at least better support/cushion.   Maybe I need to try out the La Sportivas. I could also go back to just using mountaineering boots, but I sure like have lighter shoes for days when I'm covering more ground without glacier travel.

This is the intro:

"Like much of the content on the Internet this review is written by an amateur. I am not a paid writer nor was I given these nine jackets for free as promotional material with the manufacturers seeking free advertizing. Only two of the jackets were loaned to me for this review, the Mammut and the MEC and like the rest they were returned after a detailed comparison was made and the pictures taken. Many thanks go to Marmot in Bellevue WA and Mountain Equipment Coop in Vancouver BC for supporting my project. The other seven jackets were paid for on my credit card. Most were returned, one I already owned, one I kept and one I am still thinking about. I'll tell you which jackets swayed me and why inside the review.

Part Two will discuss a totally new collection of jackets more appropriate imo and more typically used for the Canadian Rockies/ North Cascade climbing enviroment.

I personally picked these jackets out of the dozens available. I had a winter alpine climbing project in mind that I was going to spend at least one night on the climb and two full days of technical climbing plus a long decent in the dark again as the best case secenario and if everything goes perfectly. From past experience and nights out up high in the Canadian Rockies I went looking for the best jacket available for my own needs.

So before you read further, a caveat. I am very specific on my likes and dislikes in gear. I have been climbing in the Canadian Rockies since the early '70s and this article is the result of my personal search for a new, extremely cold (-20C and below) weather "climbing/belay/bivy jacket" for my own needs. My likes my not be your likes. You may totally disagree with my conclusions and choices. My needs may not be your needs. What will work for me may not work for you. Use the info as you see "fit" ."

It is not a cheap tent, but I'm super impressed with the thought and detailed design that went into it.  I think one of the guys involved (a super small operation of like 3 people) worked at Mountain Hardwear for a while.    What I mean by this is all the storage pockets in the tent. Or the fact that the zippers on the inner tent have a completely redundant set of zipper pulls in case the first pair go out. All the materials used seem to have been thought out with durability in mind.

Using the tent after watching the set up videos I came to appreciate that they really tested this thing in the worst conditions.  I was just up in the Olympics last weekend and it was a really good forcast, but this warm wind really started blowing and gusting hard.   With a tent this light I was surprised it stayed upright, though I did have it  guyed out to the max as I was testing the setup.   I thought it was overkill till that wind kicked up.   You can provide extra support for the lightweight poles with your trekking poles and I did that...and it was necessary.  I did order some thicker poles for it for use in the winter.

For me the size is perfect for me and my dog and all my crap I bring with me into the mountains. 

I know this probably sounds like some sort of puff piece, but I paid for this tent out my own pocket and I have nothing to do with this company other than I'm a customer.  I'm just stokked to have such a nice tent, and that they are making them.  I guess perhaps maybe this is just exactly what I wanted in a tent.  I've been using a BD First Light where I'd probably use this one, and though I have made some great memories in the Ol Yellow Taco, this thing is a spacious castle in comparison and also I can tell will be way better in the rain.

I guess the only thing to add is that I've only used the tent once so I can't speak anything that long term use would reveal, nor have I had to deal with the. company for any issues so I can't speak to their service.  But maybe worth putting this company on your list of ones to check out when you get your next tent.  They do make a couple that are more "mountaineering" and "climbing" focused, but my criteria was lightweight as possible and space with a small vestibule, so those didn't meet it.

Word from this gear whore.

A like or share both go a long way!

https://universityofhouston.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3pYaMtrifHEV7cG

      The SOL Pro Breathable bivvy sack at 8oz is the best I found to date for performance and weight, for a normal sized to small person it is great. There are two other less expensive SOL breathable bivy sacks that are also good at less cost.  Look for the breathable SOL breathable bivy sacks for intentional use for camping.  The SOL bivy sacks run a good size for summer weight sleeping bags, the Pro version has a bit more room than the mid priced SOL breathable bivy sack. The lightest SOL breathable bivy sack is 5.5oz,  but open on top. I have no relation to any companies.

Good set up for not so high good weather alpine camping, can carry a light bivy sack while climbing up from camp if wanted, that is the main advantage over a tent, also tarping usually has much more internal room than tents- luxury of covered space. Main disadvantage with tarping over tenting in good weather is less bug protection,  however bug net clothing works fairly well. As a minim I always carry a bug net head cover, some bug juice. 

I would use a tent instead if any chance of really bad weather or wind, or winter like conditions (check weather forecast, consider how high you go or if going to very windy areas, mountain passes etc). May use a tent if bugs are super duper bad...

Tarps are good to about up to 30mph or so, then big trouble, but you can clamp down all the sides or make a closed in teepee  type shelter if caught out with a big enough flat tarp. Good to study some different tarp set ups and have a plan if caught out in a storm.

Dan

What I think I want I can't find,  a simple fleece with pile on the inside and smooth surface on the outside. I have a montane extreme smock and it's pile is made in this way and it works very well. I suspect pile on both sides or only on the outside would not work as well moving moisture inside out. 

Also Is waffle fleece better or worse than pile? Also Dont want any sort of wind blocker fleece. 

Alternatively I am using brynje mesh thermal top which works very well under the windshirt. Would I be better off to double up on the brynje mesh, if colder, or in more rain ? That seems a lighter option.

Thanks 

I just received a sheet of T200. It appears identical to the yellow hardman pad of yore. 

I have a few of them (got a deal on 'em) but they remind me of a novelty carabiner like you might find on a keychain. They are much denser alumimum than the novelty crap so they seem more legitimate. They are just small and light I'm almost afraid to rack them up!

Aside from the name, the only thing stamped into them is "KG <-> 1700" along the spine oposite the gate. Simply converting the KGs to LBs works out to about 3750. But most other climbing gear is not simply rated for weight, but rather impact energy (K.newtons).

Does anybody know if these safe for climbing? There is almost no info on the web on them.

Thanks

Anyone been in contact with Cilogear lately? Most of their trademark items on their site (IE worksack) seem to be out of stock and have been for a while and their social media accounts seem to have been quiet for the past few months. I have tried contacting many of the retailers that have carried their gear in the past and they all say they don't anymore and haven't heard from Cilo in a while 

I've heard various reports of the owner having battled a nasty case of pneumonia as well as that they have stopped accepting orders due to government/military orders being due. I tried contacting the shop but received no response.

Anyway - hope they are well. Just curious if anyone has heard anything.