A Guide’s Review of the Arc’teryx Atom SL Hoody The Atom is a staple of the Arc’teryx line. Walk around any Canadian mountain town on a cool day and you’re sure to see half a dozen people wearing one. They have a durable water resistant outer with just enough synthetic insulation to keep you warm. However, the Atom Hoody may be a little too warm … Continue reading The Arcteryx Atom SL Hoody Review
Arcteryx names its outerwear lines with a system, with the Beta system intended as a do it all option for hikers and general alpine travel. The Beta SV sits at the top of the line. Designed as the answer to severe weather, the Beta SV line is a versatile, high-performance shell that will truly suit most mountain activities well. Arcteryx lists it for alpine and … Continue reading The Arcteryx Beta SV Review
This summer I got my hands on the new Arcteryx Lithos SL Harness and spent a good stretch of time in it, both on rock in Squamish and at the climbing gym. Its most notable trait is its functional minimalism. Where most harnesses carry four gear loops, the Lithos SL has two. A narrow waistband and non-adjustable, size-specific leg loops keep the design streamlined, and … Continue reading The Arcteryx Lithos SL Review
The Norrona Lofoten Pro may be the last snowboard jacket and pants you will ever buy. Take them skiing, splitboarding, logging and working on your car. These are the burliest pieces of outerwear I have ever had the pleasure of shredding the backcountry in. If you aren’t counting grams but durability and days on snow, these are the ultimate freeride outerwear. What is a Lofoten? … Continue reading The Norrona Lofoten Gore-Tex Pro Review
Patagonia may be the most famous outdoor fleece provider, so when they say they have a new model you know the team at BlackSheep is interested. The R1 Ultralight is part of Patagonia’s Free Wall kit, a collection of gear meant to meet the demands of changing weather on the mountain. The Patagonia R1 Ultralight was my go to Fleece for summer 2026 and I … Continue reading The Patagonia R1 Ultralight Review
The original Arcteryx Cormac Hoody was a hard-wearing, UPF-rated sun hoody with the understated design Arcteryx is known for. It’s been a while since the brand released a sun hoody with a rated UPF, and we’re still going to have to wait, as the Cormac no longer comes with a UPF rating. Never one to shy from a challenge, I tested it as exactly that: … Continue reading The Arcteryx Cormac Hoody Review
Julbo continues to build on their fantastic collection of mountain glasses. This time around they have brought on Ultra Athlete Kilian Jornet to take the helm with the Faster L Kilian Jornet collab also called the Julbo Faster KJ. Read on to find out if they made me faster, made me think I was faster, or just avoid burning my cornea at 4,000m above sea … Continue reading The Julbo Faster L Kilian Jornet Review
opefullyThe Durston Kakwa 40, unassuming at first glance, is a premium pack made with ultralight materials that offers surprising comfort and the functionality of packs that are much more expensive. I’ve taken mine from Canada, to the Alps and then to Hokkaido and cannot imagine there is a better pack at this weight and price point. The Durston Kakwa 40 Review Sizes Available: 40 and … Continue reading The Durston Kakwa 40 review
Despite its legendary status I’d always avoided the Bushido due to its lower volume of padding. I moved from hiking boots to trail runners for the padding and a stack height of 19mm in the heel. I was wrong. These are fantastic trail shoes. Great grip, stability when the going gets rugged and just the right amount of protection make this a contender for my … Continue reading The La Sportiva Bushido 3 Review
It’s fair to say that Norda is singlehandedly pushing the boundaries of trail running shoes the hardest. That is evident in every release they make and the Norda 005 is testament. Norda’s third trail shoe combines a bomber upper, and ultra cush and bouncy Armitel midsole with the lightest and grippiest outsole compound on the market with the Vibram Megagrip Elite. The Norda 005 Review … Continue reading The Norda 005 Review
