[from Spain with love]

I've recently been very frustrated with Barrabes. I originally ordered Grivel G12 Newmatics. They sent me Crampomatics. I complained, and they paid for shipping the new ones to me and the Crampomatics back to them. But the second time around they sent the 2Fs! No word yet on what they'll do this time.

[glasses and contact lenses]

LASIK would have to have a failure rate of about 1 in a million for me to consider it. Even then ...

Curtis, do you have any pointers to info re "intacts"?

As for contacts, has anyone used Bausch & Lomb's Purevisions or Ciba's Night and Days (only available in Canada and Europe, I think) in the mountains?

I probably will end up taking everything, but keep the advice coming! My optometrist can only speculate about what might be best, so I appreciate the practical information.

[glasses and contact lenses]

I'm looking for advice on what eyewear to take on an upcoming two week mountaineering course in the Cascades. On backpacking trips I've always worn my everyday glasses, but the combo of contact lenses + nonprescription glacier glasses seems more convenient and cheaper than the two pair of prescription glacier glasses I'd have to buy. (Two pair because I'd be helpless without glasses.) What do you other nearsighted climbers do?

[headlamps]

Several people on the Backpacking Light mailing list have done side-by-side comparisons of the Tikka and Moonlight. They all seem to have preferred the Moonlight, IIRC.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BackpackingLight

[Grivel G12s or Charlet Moser S12s or ...?]

Thanks for your opinions, guys. I think any of the ones you've mentioned will do me just fine.

[Grivel G12s or Charlet Moser S12s or ...?]

Hi,

I need to buy my first pair of 12 pt mountaineering crampons. Both the Grivels and the CMs were recommended to me. What does everyone think of these? Or is there another model you'd recommend?

Thanks,

Jon