excellent! if you want the best poles for trekking, buy these. 1) the flip lock mechanism is the best, easily usable with gloves, does not freeze easily, and does not collapse randomly when you put your weight on it and 2) these things pack down to a very short, packable length. These are super durable, mine of taken a BEATING for 3 years and hold up better than one could expect. Even used once to self arrest a light snow slope slide (don't like carrying an axe unless absolutely have to) and no problem. used in winter multiple times and the fliplock is priceless. I like these so much I will buy a pair of these again (if these current ones ever wear out). A+ design on these ones BD.

The Grivel Air Tech 28 is an near-excellent summit pack. I purchased mine nearly two years ago and love it. It is very light, folds up nicely when packing in a larger pack, and is very durable even though I have had many close calls with ice tools picks scraping across the fabric. the minimal padding and straps are optimally designed and make carrying the weight of the pack close to your body easy without much side-side sway. I would give this pack a 5 rating but have one qualm: it badly needs of an extra ice axe gear loop for carrying two tools to the base of alpine ice routes. if you can sew or have a girlfriend (or boyfriend) that does, buy the pack and custom sew one on your own. (PS: i additionally like the light weight and no-BS design of this so much that I find myself often grabbing it to transport journals, notebooks, and iPods between home and the lab)

best tools I have used, ever. I have a pair and these babies are balanced so well it is incredible. have mine on a pair of BD android leashes and wouldn't trade them for anything. if you climb ice, these are worth the price.

This little pack is all-around great pack for light alpine excursions. I bought mine on Phish tour summer 2004 when it just came out have have thence used it for 3 seasons. Perfect size for 3 days outings; packs well; just large enough to hold tent, sleeping bag, pad, food, pro, with the rope slinged over the top. The best part of the Bora packs is the weatherproofed fabric and waterproof zippers which keep gear dry during wet approaches. This thing is super durable; while climbing the NE ridge of Williamson, climbed into a bind with my buddy above me with the rope (don't ask) and had to drop my pack before jumping 23 ft down into a couloir. Anyhow, the pack full with bivy & climbing gear tumbled 400 feet over snow, rocks, and talus and held up fine - a few scrapes but fine. Only minus is the hip belt - if going more than a couple miles with a loaded pack, it becomes uncomfortable and will rub against your hips causing rashes. Forget about all that "the Bora hipbelt features four layers of foam laminated and thermoformed into a curved, cupped shape ..." - the belt sucks and who ever designed it likely never tested the product under the conditions alpine climbers would use it for. Generally am impressed by arc'teryx's gear but if it wasn't for this, I would love the pack and give it my full recommendation. but sadly it doesn't carry well so I want to get another pack, hoping for the Granite Gear Alpine Vapor...

First, I have used the BD sabertooths for 3 years now and are one of three different pairs of crampons sitting in my climbing closet. These things are made with top notch durability and mine still have much life left in them after numerous glacier climbs, water ice pitches, and crossings over rock out croppings. With that said, the durability comes with a huge price, as for alpine trips these crampons are quite heavy, too heavy in fact, probably amongst the most heavy crampons on the market. If you are driving up directly to the climb, these might be ok for you, but if you are packing your crampons in over a long approach, possibly you should consider something lighter. Being a general all-around crampon, are function "ok" for hard vertical ice, but unfortunately I have had problems with the toe bail of mine unclipping on one occasion while on lead (not cool!). In the end after all my years with the sabertooths, I find them collecting more dust in my closet as I grab for my G14s more frequently.