Gregory’s Alpinisto 25 and 50L packs shine in their functional versatility, carrying comfort, and their balance of light weight with durability. Over six months, IFMGA… Read More »Gregory’s Updated Alpinisto 25 and 50L Packs Merge Alpine Features with Backpacking Comfort
YETI sent us a duffle, gear case, water bottle and cooler to see what we thought. IFMGA Mountain Guide Mike Lewis tested these items through… Read More »YETI’s Sturdy Organizers and Bottles Provide Ease and Reliability on Expeditions and Weekend Getaways
PrimaLoft’s Gold, Silver and Black insulations are made with sustainability in mind and are durable, have high warmth-to-weight ratios and remain warm when wet. IFMGA… Read More »PrimaLoft Gold, Silver, and Black: 100% Recycled and High Warmth-to-Weight Ratios
Mammut’s Eiger Nordwand Pro SO Hooded Jacket and Pants are very well-made with intention toward functionality, durability, mobility and multitasking, and even a little, or… Read More »Mammut’s Eiger Nordwand Pro SO Hooded Jacket and Pants: Versatile Mountain Crushers
MSRP: $149-165 (depending on color) Onboarding to new fashions and tech trends takes me a hot minute, or several years to be honest, but eventually… Read More »The La Sportiva Machina Tech Pants: Low Profile Adjusting in a Skinny Softshell
![Mike Lewis wears the Phantom Down Parka on a cold day of ice climbing in the Colorado backcountry last winter. [Photo] Yaroslav Lototskyy](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xmountain-hardwear-phantom-parka-1-1-900x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.tBxcbwLcXp.jpg)
Mountain Standards Gear Review: IFMGA/AMGA guide Mike Lewis has been using the Mountain Hardwear Phantom Down Parka for several months. He writes: “Its 800 fill… Read More »Mountain Hardwear’s Phantom Down Parka: Warm, Lightweight, Compressible
![The Dragon Alliance PXV2 Snow Goggles shed fog as the author wears a nose and mouth covering to comply with COVID-19 protocols this past winter at Loveland Ski Area, Colorado. [Photo] Catherine Houston](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xdragon-alliance-pxv2-goggles-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.XwdcqF4nfi.jpg)
Mountain Standards Gear Review: IFMGA/AMGA guide Mike Lewis has been using the Dragon Alliance PXV2 snow goggles this past winter. The goggles come with two… Read More »Dragon Alliance PXV2 Goggles: Sun protection for a range of activities and conditions
![Mike Lewis stacks the Trango Agility on a rope tarp in Clear Creek Canyon, Colorado; the red rope ends are clearly distinguished from the rest of the rope. [Photo] Mike Lewis](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xtrango-agility-rope-1-1-900x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.Tnj3WcCuka.jpg)
Mountain Standards Gear Review: IFMGA/AMGA Mountain Guide Mike Lewis has been appreciating the Trango Agility 9.1mm rope for its handling and added safety feature of… Read More »The Trango Agility 9.1mm Rope: Red Flags are a good thing
![The author slides the pinky rest up the shaft and rest steps up snow to approach the next pitch of ice. [Photo] Yaroslav Lototskyy](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xblue-ice-akila-ice-axe-3-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.SFAVfsTJJI.jpg)
Mountain Standards Gear Review: IFMGA/AMGA mountain guide Mike Lewis has been using the Blue Ice Akila ice axes for a variety of missions. He writes:… Read More »Blue Ice Akila Ice Axe: An excellent hybrid multitasker
![The author using the Trango Vergo to rappel down into the Zen Wall near St. George, Utah. [Photo] Catherine Houston](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xtrango-vergo-2-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic._EDshARUvW.jpg)
Mountain Standards Gear Review: IFMGA/AMGA Mountain Guide Mike Lewis announces that the Trango Vergo has replaced the Petzl Grigri in his kit, awarding the Trango… Read More »The Trango Vergo: Assisted braking made easier for belays
![The author takes a snack break off trail in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, Colorado, while wearing the Dragon Alliance Flash LL Ions. [Photo] Catherine Houston](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/dragon-flash-ll-ion-sunglasses-1-1-930x620.jpg)
As an IFMGA/AMGA guide, Mike Lewis spends a lot of time in the mountains in all conditions, rain, snow or shine, and he appreciates the… Read More »Dragon Alliance Flash LL Ion sunglasses: High quality with a big, bold style
![Mike Lewis holds the Nemo Chogori 3-person Mountaineering tent in its compression stuff sack. [Photo] Chris Wood](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/nemo-chogori-tent-1-1-930x620.jpg)
Mike Lewis finds that the three-person Nemo Chogori Mountaineering tent provides a good in-between option between lightweight tents and expedition tents. The former don’t fare… Read More »Filling the Gap: NEMO’s three-person Chogori Mountaineering tent
