![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/xdragon-flash-ll-ion-sunglasses-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.HWOaLOFVfk.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/xnemo-chogori-tent-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.zH3_lbb3sW.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
![The author wears the Ortovox Col Becchei softshell jacket on the trail in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. [Photo] Chris Wood](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xortovox-col-becchei-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.AxzKumBR3K.jpg)
Mike Lewis finds that the Ortovox Col Becchei softshell jacket is well designed for alpine and rock climbing as well as backcountry skiing, but he… Read More »The Ortovox Col Becchei Jacket: Well-made with top-notch materials
![Mike Lewis carrying the Blue Ice Warthog 40L pack in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. [Photo] Chris Wood](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xblue-ice-warthog-backpack-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.0ss6gCKlo7.jpg)
After lugging the Blue Ice Warthog 40L backpack around the mountains for several months, IFMGA/AMGA guide Mike Lewis came to some conclusions: the pack is… Read More »The Blue Ice Warthog 40L Pack: a worthy, alpine-specific workhorse
![The author with the Blue Ice Yeti 50L backpack in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. [Photo] Chris Wood](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xblue-ice-yeti-backpack-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.Ij3Tpo-HBv.jpg)
Blue Ice is a small, relatively new company that started in a garage in Europe and now has a presence in North America. IFMGA/AMGA guide… Read More »The Blue Ice Yeti 50L Pack: Small innovations that make an impact
![Mike Lewis sits cross-legged as he pulls out the map on Mt. Rainier. [Photo] Mike Lewis collection](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xpatagonia-850-down-sleeping-bag-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.mRfTGw2T1r.jpg)
Mike Lewis spent 58 nights in the Patagonia 850 Down Sleeping Bag (19°F/-7°C) and slept well enough to award it five stars. He noted that… Read More »Front and Center: Patagonia’s 850 Down Sleeping Bag 19F/-7C performs well, starting with the unusual zipper location
![Mike Lewis wearing the Stetinds with crampons on Flattop Mountain, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. [Photo] Mike Lewis collection](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xboreal-stetind-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.6-AZFfu5hv.jpg)
Mike Lewis used the Boreal Stetind boots for six weeks of guiding on snowy mountains in the Pacific Northwest and reports that the boots have… Read More »Boreal Stetind: Light and comfy for slogging, but not well designed for technical climbing
![Mike Lewis guides the North Face of Longs Peak (14,259'), Rocky Mountain National Park, in mixed conditions. [Photo] Eric Stoutenburg](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xpetzl-irvis-hybrid-crampons-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.3-9w9Zs5ov.jpg)
Part steel, part aluminum, and with Dyneema cord in place of a metal bar to connect the two halves, Mike Lewis finds that the Petzl… Read More »An Innovative Balance of Strength to Weight: Petzl Irvis Hybrid Crampons
![Mike Lewis climbs Hidden Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park with the calf snaps closed on the Dynafit Yotei pants. Lewis reports that he liked the calf snaps because they adapted the fit of the cuffs better for ice climbing after he used the pants for ski touring. [Photo] Eric Stoutenburg](https://alpinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/xdynafit-yotei-pants-1-1-930x620.jpg.pagespeed.ic.oHLm8dAbuA.jpg)
The Dynafit Yotei GTX Pants proved to be a versatile piece of outerwear for Mike Lewis, an AMGA-certified alpine guide, who reports that the pants… Read More »The Dynafit Yotei GTX Pant sets a new standard for getting around in the mountains
