The Gerber Crucial comes with a carabineer to clip on your to your belt buckle or zipper, making it easily accessible, it also doubles as a bottle opener when it’s time to kick back. Other tools included with the Crucial include a set up needle nose pliers, flat head and Phillips screwdriver, wire cutters, and a 3 inch serrated knife with a blunt head. The Gerber Crucial weighs in at 5 ouches and its 3.6 inches in length. With an MSRP of $40, we found the Gerber Crucial to be a great bang for your buck. For more information, please visit GerberGear.com

Are you looking for the perfect all around Spring/Summer Jacket?  We may just have a solution for you.  The Patagonia Simple Guide Jacket ranked #1 out of all the jackets we have tested out for the Spring.  Between performance, fashion, and price, this jacket is superior.

Whether you’re out running in town or on the trails, hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, climbing, spring skiing, or snowshoeing, the Simple Guide is an amazing performer. The Simple Guide is made of a highly breathable and stretch woven softshell fabric that keeps you dry while exerting yourself in high energy activities and keeps you protected from the harshest weather.

Since many of us like to use one jacket for a lot of activities, we often like a jacket to work in varying temperatures and weather conditions.  This said, we sometimes like to wear a t-shirt and in cooler temps wear a thicker long sleeve for added warmth. The Simple Guide layers nicely with a variety of baselayers, while also maintaining a streamlined fit.

With a MSRP of $119, we found this jacket to be a steal.  It’s a jacket that you will be able to use for a number of different activities and look good around town.  The material is also super durable which helps with the longevity of the jacket. As you might imagine, we have found this jacket to be our editors choice for this spring jackets.  For more information, please visit Patagonia.com

The pair I reviewed had the vented Transition lenses. The Transition lens adjusts the tint of the Jawbones to the outside light. This helps justify the high price to some degree as they can be used in a variety of conditions. I found the lenses to work well from sun up to sun down. My only issue is that on very sunny days I would have liked the lens to get a bit darker, but I was never squinting or grabbing a different pair. The venting along the top and side of the lenses helps to keep fogging up. These vents work well for running or cycling, but on slower days, like snowshoeing or skinning I did experience some fogging. Adding to the technology of the lens is Oakley’s hydrophobic coating. This coating is permanent and keeps any water or perspiration from leaving streaks across the lens. It also helps when cleaning the lens of fingerprints. This doesn’t sound like much, but when you have sweat dripping off your face and into your shades it’s a nice feature. I’ve had several occasions while racing my bike that I was able to simply squirt some water on my face and into the shades to clear them of sweat and grime.

For those that do not opt for the Transition lens, Oakley has several tints to choose from, and every pair comes with 2 sets of lenses, again making them more versatile. Lens changes are made easy due to the hinge at the nose-piece. Simply lift up the nose piece then push the lower section down to release the lenses.

The fit is close as it should be for what it is intended for. While cycling the wind and dirt was kept out of my eyes. Oakley has long used their Unobtanium rubber on the nose and ear sockets to keep the shades in place. While I’m not sure what the name is all about, I can say that the more you sweat the better they grip. Each pair comes with two interchangeable nose piece sizes allowing you to customize the fit. The size of the Jawbones is larger than other sunnies I’ve worn, but I like that. More coverage means more protection. Given a neutral color, mine were a light grey and silver mix, you can wear them around town as well.

Oakley offers the Jawbone as part of their Customizable program. With this program you can choose the color of the upper and lower parts of the frame, the ear socks, icons, lens color for both lenses, and have text etched into one pair of lenses. There are some truly crazy colors to choose from so you can really make them your own.

While not the cheapest option for sunglasses, the Jawbones offer a level of technology and style that few can match. Having used these in all sorts of conditions and activities I can say that the Jawbone’s perform well no matter what. Find out more at www.oakley.com.

MSRP $195.00 – 300.00

Snowshoeing is a great form of cross training for runners or anyone just looking to break up the monotony of their favorite sport. The best thing about snowshoeing is that the learning curve is short; if you can walk then you can snowshoe.

Whether you plan to run on packed trails for fitness or jump into one of the many snowshoe races throughout the country, the Run Snowshoe by Atlas, will fit your needs. Weighing in at a mere 2.71 lbs, the Run, as opposed to its counterpart the Race, can handle deeper snow but still not recommended for snow over a foot deep. This snowshoe performs best on packed down trails. No matter the terrain, you will have traction via lightweight heel cleats and toe crampons that really grip while ascending and descending hills and on any patches of ice you may encounter.

After my first time wearing the snowshoes, getting into them was much easier. The snowshoes use a webbing system that with one pull, will cinch down and through experience stay tight through the whole workout. The back strap stayed in place and did not slip down my heel throughout my run allowing me to focus on the views and getting a good workout in.

The Spring Loaded Suspension and V Frame shape is what I liked best about the shoes. While running, I didn’t experience any of the snow kick back and could run using my natural running stride I use when running on the trails in running shoes. The Suspension System also helped keep my foot stable even with off camber terrain.

The Run is designed for wearers from 75-190 lbs including load. For more information on the Atlas Run Snowshoe, please visit AtlasSnowshoe.com

MSRP $199.95

What started out as a simple way to carry water while biking or hiking has turned into a huge product category all it’s own. Camelbak started things off years ago and continues to be the leader in the hydration pack market. The Hellion is in the snowsports line and at 1478 cubic inches, it is big enough to carry the backcountry essentials, but is still small enough for a simple day at the resort.

Hydration is the name of the game and the 100 oz. reservoir carries plenty of water for the day. The bladder has it’s own dedicated compartment located on the back of the pack. Initially, I thought it might feel odd to have the reservoir so close to my back, but once on I couldn’t feel it at all. By keeping the bladder close to the body, the water stays warmer due to your body heat. To keep the water from freezing in the hose it has an insulating thermal cover and is run through the shoulder strap before exiting out of a zipper. This works very well at keeping the water from becoming a solid block of ice. I have used this pack skinning, resort riding and on a few day trips to the backcountry and have yet to have it ice up on me. One trick that helps is to blow into the hose after you drink to keep water out of the mouthpiece and hose. If you do this, you should have flowing water all day long.

With the hydration covered, Camelbak gave the Hellion some other great features. Starting with the exterior, backcountry users will appreciate it’s ability to carry boards or skis. 2 adjustable straps cross the pack and use buckles for carrying a snowboard. For skiers, there are Velcro loops and straps to carry your skis either A frame style or diagonally. 3 small loops stitched at the top are good for attaching a helmet to the outside of the pack and there is a shovel blade pocket as well. A medium sized waist belt with stash pockets keeps the pack from moving around and the pockets are perfect for a bar or multi-tool. The chest strap is fully adjustable and stayed put no matter how tight I pulled it, a big plus. Excess strapping from the waist belt and shoulder strap is kept in place by a Velcro or elastic loop. This keeps them from flapping in the wind on the ride down, or hitting your hand as you hike up. I was always able to adjust the fit to what I wanted and never felt constricted.

Inside the pack, the features continue. The main compartment layout is very good. I am not a fan of having lots of little storage areas on a pack. Sure it means things can have their own spot, but I find I have to go through 3 pockets before finding what I’m looking for. Give me 2 main pockets and a few small internal pockets and I’m good. The Hellion gets high marks for it’s organizational layout. On top of the pack there is a small zippered pocket, not really needed in my mind, but good for a bar, and a lined goggle pocket, which I do like. There is 1 main compartment with a water resistant sleeve running ¾ of the way to the top for keeping damp items separate. There is plenty of room for extra layers, gloves, food and 2 vertical tube sleeves on the sides to store your probe. 2 compression straps around the main compartment allow you adjust the amount of room you need. At the top of the compartment are 2 small mesh pockets, good for hand warmers or ski straps and since I can easily see what’s in them I like them. During a day trip to a local pass I was able to carry all the essentials, plus extra gear for myself and friends. When I tried the Hellion at the resort I lost some room on the lift, but it wasn’t terrible and I could still bring the bar down.

Whether you ski the resort or search for fresh powder on the pass the Camelbak Hellion is worth a look. Features like a big reservoir and a smart layout and plenty of space make it a good choice for any skier or boarder. Check out the Hellion and other Camelbak products at camelbak.com.

CamelBak Hellion MSRP $110

There is one product segment that is vitally important to everyone, yet gets little attention. It provides a level of protection that everyone needs and can even save your life. Of course I am talking about sunscreen. Yes, sunscreen. Colorado has 300 days of sunshine each year, and at 6,000 to 14,000 ft. the sun is intense. It doesn’t take long for the pain of dried out skin to hit you, so you better bring protection. With all the time I spend outdoors I consider my sunscreen a critical piece of equipment. I’ve used just about everything out there and certainly some products work better than others.

For a sunscreen to pass my test, it has to meet certain criteria. First, it has to block UVA and UVB rays, have an SPF of 30 or more, not drip into my eyes and sting, not be greasy, have a good smell and preferably use natural sources. Recently I came across a product that met all of these and has become my sunscreen of choice. WinterSport from All Terrain is now a part of my must have list.

Going through my criteria, WinterSport passes them all. It blocks both UVA and UVB rays and provides and S.P.F. of 30. I see no need to go any higher with the S.P.F. level since it hasn’t been proven to be more effective. Plus, I usually re-apply on super sunny days anyways. While most sunscreens can meet those criteria,doing it naturally is the key with All Terrain. The entire sunscreen line uses all natural ingredients and utilizes Z-Cote, a transparent zinc oxide that blocks more sunrays than anything else out there. Z-Cote is recognized by the F.D.A. as a Category 1 skin protectant, the highest level there is. Personally, I can attest that it simply works. No matter how sunny it is I have yet to get a little red let alone a burn. WinterSport also helps prevent chapped skin with the use of botanical extracts. Wind can be just as hard on your skin as the sun, so an extra layer of protection is welcome by me.

The consistency is like a lotion and works into your skin with no residue left behind. Nothing is worse than applying sunscreen then having wipe the slick residue from your hands. I also find the smell to be pleasant, not that chemical smell most sunscreens have. When using WinterSport on highly aerobic days I have yet to feel the painful sting of sunscreen hitting my eyes.

So the All Terrain product passes my test, but there is more to like about All Terrain. All of their products use recycled, recyclable or biodegradable packaging. You can purchase All Terrain products online at www.allterrainco.com, or use their store locator to find a local retailer near you.

Snowshoeing has grown in popularity over the past few years, and it’s easy to see why. If you can walk, you can snowshoe. You can use the same summer trails you enjoy and it requires only 1 piece of special equipment, the snowshoes themselves. Athletes that excel in summer sports use snowshoeing as a way to cross train in the winter. With the sport’s profile rising, more and more snowshoe races are popping up as well. To meet the needs of those athletes that really race these events, Atlas has stepped up with their new Race edition.

The Race is designed with one thing in mind, going fast on packed to light snow. To keep weight down, Atlas uses titanium in the foot and heel cleat and pairs it up with their lightest aluminum frame, total weight is only 2.08 lbs. for the pair. How light is that? Well, when I first put them on for a short hike I kept looking down because I thought they had come off.

The Race also uses Atlas’ spring loaded suspension, which keeps the snowshoe close under foot. Basically, this allows you to keep your run stride normal so you don’t have to alter your stride. I found this to be true when I went for some easy runs on packed trails. Just run and don’t think about the fact that you have snowshoes on. I also felt like the Race was a bit narrower than other shoes I’ve used so I didn’t have to worry about the shoes banging together. I also noticed that there was much less snow being catapulted up towards my backside. Often with bigger shoes snow is thrown up as the shoe comes through and you find yourself soaked. This seemed to be kept to a minimum, even when I got into some fresh snow. I think this was in part due to the Spring Loaded Suspension, but also to the short tail of the shoe.

Getting into the shoe is fairly simple. Webbing straps criss-cross the front of the snowshoe. Once you slide your shoe in, you simply pull on the top webbing strap to secure the front of the snowshoes. The back is kept in place by a rubber strap that wraps around your heel and is secured by notches in the strap. It took me a bit to get into the shoe, but once in I had no slippage and never had to stop to re-adjust.

The Race is designed with a specific usage in mind. On packed trails, or less than a few inches of new snow, this shoe is great. Even if you don’t race, if you know you will be on packed trails, this shoe could work for you. For more information on the Atlas Race Snowshoe, please visit AtlasSnowshoe.com

MSRP $309.95

The Mountain Hardwear Fluid 10 is the perfect pack for those looking for a good all around 1-6 hour activity pack.  We tested this pack during mid distance trail runs, 10-15 mile hikes, road rides on the bike, and tooling around town.  Weighing in at 1 lb. 4 oz., the Fluid 10 allows for plenty weight to be added with up to a 3 liter bladder, while also having room for two water bottles, snacks, and extra clothes that you may need on your adventures.  Your valuables, such as a digital camera, sunglasses, or cell phone, can easily be stashed in the fleece lined pocket near the top that keeps your goods well protected from potential scratches.  The shoulder straps on the Fluid 10 are lined with a stretch breathable fabric that doesn’t rub your shoulders wrong, which can be an issue for some while out on longer trips.  The one complaint we found on the bag was when we would put our 3 liter bladder into its separate hydration pocket the load lifter straps seemed to get in the way and it was a tight squeeze. Filling your bladder when it is alread placed in the bag would easily avoid this, however, we are not a big fan of this because of the potential for water spillage. Once the bladder was secure, we liked the added feature of the load lifter straps, something you don’t always see on smaller packs

When checking out smaller hydration packs similar to the the Fluid 10, many of the hydration packs tend to blend together. However, true to Mountain Hardwear’s heritage, you can tell they have paid close attention to the small details for this pack.  For instance, the pack has reflective accents all over the back of the pack to enhance visibility.  In addition, there is tubing on the zipper pulls which allows for an easy zip and unzip.  There are 2 mesh hip pockets to stash bars and gels, and a ventilation system on the frame to help regulate your body temperature while exerting yourself.  Overall, we were very pleased with the Mountain Hardwear Fluid 10 and give the pack our stamp of approval.  For more information, please visit MountainHardwear.com