tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68565654489104977512012-02-16T10:54:31.044-08:00Puryear Picks - Alpine Gear Reviews by Joe Puryear Alpine Climbing, Mixed Climbing, Ice Climbing, Rock Climbing, Mountaineering, ExpeditionJoe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comBlogger61100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6856565448910497751.post-67702312208782235432010-09-14T02:04:00.000-07:002010-09-14T04:12:14.616-07:00

Let's check out what I consider one of the cornerstones of outdoor wear and most crucial pieces of alpine gear apparel - the softshell pant. It used to be that a clothing company was defined by their best storm-shell/rain-jacket. Times have changed. Save for maybe the Cascades, I don't even use the typical waterproof/breathable shell jackets or pants in the mountains anymore. The new gold

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6856565448910497751.post-60909598047765632492010-08-16T16:19:00.000-07:002010-09-14T02:14:33.115-07:00

We were at 21,000 feet, and my feet were becoming dangerously numb. It was time to ask for the sacrifice of my dear climbing partner. As I pulled my frozen dogs out of the old-skewl plastic double boots and placed them on David's stomach, I vowed I would find a new footwear solution and ban these historical relics to the discard pile. We were making the first peak ascent of Kang Nachugo in the

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6856565448910497751.post-34536666568840604502010-07-07T14:26:00.000-07:002010-09-14T02:14:49.423-07:00

Today I'm going to review a product from one of my favorite companies and one that I've been including in my kit since 1994, Feathered Friends. Again, here is another amazing local company and they have been hand-making sleeping bags in Seattle since 1972. These bags in my opinion are hands-down the best in the world. You'd be hard-pressed to find somebody that has used Feathered Friends bags

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6856565448910497751.post-64961898570733752892010-06-23T17:22:00.000-07:002010-09-14T02:15:10.728-07:00

The next piece of gear I'm going to review is the CiloGear NWD 45 WorkSack.  To be sure, that's a 45-liter non-woven Dyneema backpack  Let's face it, if getting your pack from a small, grassroots company where your high-quality pack is carefully hand-made in Portland, Oregon (read: Made in the U.S.A.) isn't reason enough to get one of these, let me give you a few more reasons. First off a little

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6856565448910497751.post-87921483619541866502010-06-15T09:08:00.000-07:002010-06-16T22:03:06.930-07:00

Alright, let's kick it off with one of the most important pieces of gear imaginable - the brain bucket. My pick is the Petzl Meteor III helmet.  This is by far the best helmet I have ever used, and I've had a lot of plastic on my head over the years.  First off, a couple of summit shots (on the right). The Petzl Meteor made the first ascent of both Jobo Rinjang and Takargo in the Nepal Himalaya

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6856565448910497751.post-69226489869411110402010-06-14T19:50:00.000-07:002010-06-15T21:01:44.565-07:00

I'm going to start blogging reviews about my favorite climbing gear, clothing, and other accessories that I use in the mountains.  You won't necessarily find reviews of the latest and greatest equipment.  I'm more interested in the gear that has stood the test of time for me and has worked to successfully get me up big climbs. A disclaimer:  Yes I get free gear from companies.  And, yes I am

Joe Puryearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02961673853969677332noreply@blogger.com