Simply stated: THE sport shoe. Just comfortable enough for a single pitch without mutilating your poor foot. Every feature is well thought out and works as designed. I love the lacing system especially, which is so much easier to put on than normal lace-ups. The slingshot rand feels powerful, and there are no air pockets anywhere in the shoe. It honestly fits me like a glove. That being said, as with any shoe, I would definitely recommend trying them on before buying them. I have a narrower foot, and La Sportivas seem to fit me well. People with wider feet may find American shoes fit them better. These shoes are lined, so they won't stretch as much as unlined shoes. Worth every penny, and I will definitely be buying these again.

I have owned this rope for a while now. The features that I like the most are its light weight for easier clipping and its fantastic hand. Its sheath has a very unique weave that makes it run through the hands *very* smoothly. However, I also found it to be a dirt magnet, even with the dry treatment. I have owned two Maxim ropes and I found they both got dirty far earlier than my friend's Bluewater. They both seemed to wear faster as well. I also found it a frustrating rope to belay with as it tangled and kinked easily. Overall, though I found it to be a fine rope, with more innovative and interesting features than my friends Bluewater, I think my next rope might be a Bluewater. When the Glider worked, it worked great. When it kinked or touched dirt, it became a pain in the ass.