My gear acquisitions were minimal this year and granted some of my opinions are biased.
First Lite Uncompahgre Jacket - I really like this jacket a lot. My only complaint is the zipper which isn't bad, but is fiddly. IMO, waterproof zippers are great, but normally more hassle than they are worth.
First Lite Softshell Pants - A radical departure for me. Heavy but perform great. I prefer the wool Kanab pants but most of my time out the past few weeks has been sloppy , sloppy , sloppy and the soft shells were great.
Vasque Talus Boots - I am a trail runner to snow boot type of guy .. but this year the conditions were sloppy , muddy, mucky with some snow and a bit more slop. I put about 15 days in and yes, I'm noticeably slower, but at least in my opinion they are a very nice boot. They feel more like a shoe, but kept me pretty much dry.
What else, well i really like the Paradox pack with a 4800 bag. I don't know of anything else that carries as well over a long time. I used the day talon a lot this year and thought it was great for quick hikes and peak bagging. I have some tents I've used I thought were pretty darn cool as well
I just did not acquire much gear this year.
