The Suunto Core

Suunto is a world-class manufacturer of sport watches and fine precision instruments. The company got its start in Finland in 1936 when Tuomas Vohlonen received a patent for his liquid-filled field compass, the only one of its kind at the time. Since then +Suunto has been equipping adventurers and military alike with some of the best orienteering devices.  

The Suunto Core is an award-winning exploration watch and I'll say that since I've had it I've used it countless times in different scenarios. The features on the Core is what makes it perfect for back country hiking, snorkeling in the reefs, mountain climbing or for the person who just wants to better understand where they are.

Features: 

• altimeter                        
• depth meter
• temperature gauge
• storm alarm
• sunrise/sunset alarm
• barometer
• digital compass
• stopwatch
• date

360° compass

altimeter

depth meter

During my travels on the road the feature I had the most fun using was the altimeter. As I was traveling from Texas to the east coast to Colorado I used this feature to better help me understand the topography and shape of the land. However, the usefulness of this feature isn't quite as accurate as I hoped. I've noticed that when I set a reference for the altitude it has a hard time holding that set number. For example, in the lift shacks on the mountain we have the altitudes posted so I used this as my reference but when i leave and come back the altitude is consistently off by 100' or so.

Another feature I use often is the temperature gauge. The only problem with this feature is that you have to take the watch off to get an accurate reading otherwise your body temperature throw it off. When I do take it off say to know the temperature of natural hot springs I feel like the numbers I get are accurate. If I am hiking I take the watch off and strap it to my belt loop or my backpack for better precision.

The depth meter is also a fun and accurate tool to use. Some friends and I took turns using the watch to see who could dive the deepest in open water. The watch is great for snorkeling and shallow diving but nothing to deep because the Core is water resistant to 100ft. If you're looking for a serious dive computer then check out the Suunto Dx.

The barometric pressure and storm alarm work fine when you're actually summiting a peak or camping out for a few nights. If you have the storm alarm turned on and you're living your day-to-day life in the city then this alarm will go off whenever you step in and out of buildings due to pressure differences. You better have the storm alarm turned off until you head out to the woods for a couple days and to help conserve battery life.

The battery life is fairly decent lasting about a year with the automatic switch feature between barometer and altimeter turned off. The battery is easy to replace and only costs a few bucks from your local grocer.

Overall, I really like the look of the watch. The screen is easy to read, the settings are intuitive and the instruments are reasonably accurate. It's built tough with mineral crystal glass so I get a lot of use out of it anywhere and it's at an affordable price point of $300.

If you're looking for a watch with all the features of the Core plus a GPS system then the Suunto Ambit2 has it all. It's equipped with a heart rate monitor for training purposes and instrument precision is improved with the GPS.

pros: utility, durable, sleek, user replaceable battery

cons: some inaccuracy, rubber wrist strap prone to ripping over time

Arc'teryx Cerium LT Hoody

There are a lot of great down jackets on the market these days and it wasn't until recently when I found out I was moving to the mountains that I should probably buy one. It was perfect timing too because +Arc'teryx was about to release their first line of technical down jackets. 

When I heard Arc'teryx was coming out with a line of down products I got excited. Arc'teryx is known for their proven innovations and quality so I was anxious to see what they would come up with. They debuted on the market with the Cerium LT hoody and Thorium AR hoody. Unique to these jackets is the combination of synthetic insulation in areas prone to moisture and down fill in all other areas. Also, Arc'teryx's own Airetica textile, used in the Cerium jacket, is a tightly woven, high tenacity 20x10 denier ripstop nylon which means its durable but also super light and water resistant.

The Cerium LT hoody was my jacket of choice because it is stuffed to the seams with 850 fill European white goose plumage for the best warmth-to-weight. It also has a corded front zipper for weight and noise reduction and two warm zippered pockets on the outside. 

The hood is also stuffed with white goose down creating plenty of loft around your ears and neck while the Thorium has a coreloft hood. This adds a considerable amount of warmth especially when it's cinched against your head using the drawcords. 

The Cerium LT was designed to be a solid mid-layer piece during the winter and it really lives up to this claim. At one of my jobs I worked on the mountain as a lift operator in Telluride. This meant that I was up at 6am every morning and working outside at 11,000+ft. It can definitely get cold with temperatures dropping to -20°F in the dead of winter sometimes. The Cerium saved my confidence and motivation during these mornings because I was able to stay so much warmer.  Even for the coldest mornings layering was easy. Usually a base layer, the Cerium jacket and a shell is all I need no matter what the conditions were outside. After doing my morning routine of shoveling snow and checking the engine room I sometimes had to take the Cerium off because I was getting so warm. Not only is the jacket super warm its also has a nice soft lining. It's smooth and comfortable just like your favorite down sleeping bag. 

Overall, I love this jacket. It is the warmest piece in my winter collection and my go-to for those really frigid mornings and nights. The craftsmanship is superb with high stitch counts and proven textiles. If I could make the jacket better I would add a drawcord on the waist like the Thorium has. The hem is slightly elastic but I like when I can cinch the jacket against my waist during the windy parts of the season. An internal chest pocket would be nice too. 

pros: exceptionally warm, high range of motion, articulated fit

cons: no drawcord at the waist, no chest pocket or internal pocket, lots of feathers poking out

Oh and if you haven't seen Lithographica, Arc'teryx's quarterly e-journal you should check it out. There's some very inspiring stuff in the second issue. My favorite read is the "Meet the real men at Arc'teryx."

link: lithographica.arcteryx.com

Salomon XA 3D Ultra Pro 2 GTX

For an all around outdoor purpose shoe I decided to buy a pair of the  XA 3D Ultra Pro shoes from Salomon. After putting them through some serious abuse over the last year I am stoked to say that I have found the one shoe I need for most outdoor excursions.  Whether you're trail running in the mountains, scrambling boulders in Joshua Tree or hiking in Big Sur the XA Pros can do just about all of it. 

Specifically, Salomon's gore-tex waterproof style is my personal favorite because I can hike in mud, through creeks and in the snow without watering my socks and feeling cold. The gore-tex membrane layer also performs quite well in the winter by not letting the shoe breathe as much and keeps in some of the heat. This shoe is the only shoe I wore over the month I was on the road from Texas to the east coast of South Carolina then North Carolina and Tennessee and finally Colorado. During my r
ecent off season in April I spent 15 days traveling the west. The XA Pros got me in and out of the Grand Canyon, through Big Sur, Yosemite and Zion National Park. 

First impressions say it all and thats what I got with this shoe. As soon as you put it on you immediately feel the solid arch support and your heel lock into the EVA molded heel cup for stability. Salomon's quicklace system is essential and really a convenient lacing system to use. Most customers who try on a Salomon for the first time are a bit skeptical to use this lacing system but as soon as you show them how easy it is to loosen or tighten the shoe and tuck away the excess lace they quickly change their mind.  Granted, if your laces bust on the trail in the middle of nowhere you're pretty much out of luck unless you have a back up but that should rarely happen because the laces are made of kevlar. That's right..they're bullet proof.

What helps make the shoe perfect for all terrain is a combination of a built-in chassis for stability and the company's proprietary outsole rubber called Contragrip. The advanced chassis system is a molded layer in between the midsole and outsole that holds on to your foot all the way through your stride. The rubber outsole works incredibly well too. I've been in a couple situations where I'm in a toe-hold position and the only thing keeping me from slipping off a rock or cliff face is the serious gripping power of the Contragrip. 

The shoe also comes with a rubber toe guard and it's perfect for these same conditions. Loose rock, scrambling, serious hikes and casual wear is what makes this shoe such a great all around component to your outdoor gear cache. 

The top three things I get from this shoe are comfort, versatility and durability. For such a versatile and durable shoe the XA is lightweight but for the ultralight trail runner this shoe might not be for you. 

pros: versatile, quicklace systems, great for hiking all terrain, durable and supportive

cons: a little heavy for trail runners

Finally, Telluride.

Pagosa Junction, Colorado

Pagosa Springs, Colorado

little sister

Del Norte, Colorado