Our Favorite Gear for Summer 2023
With summer coming to the Pacific Northwest, we wanted to highlight some of our team member’s favorite gear. With mountain bikers, climbers, endurance runners, and backpackers on our team, we have some unique tastes in gear and what we value in it.
Rob Birzell - Principal
Rob’s favorite piece of gear is something that has stood the test of time and just continues to work. In his own words, “The MSR Reactor continues to be one of my favorite pieces of gear. I’ve had the same one since 2009 and even after using it for more than 100 nights of backpacking and hundreds of clinics, it still amazes me how fast it is. It puts a smile on my face every time I use it.”
Want to learn more about the Reactor and how it was created? Check out the Reactor origins at the SUMMIT REGISTER.
Adam Bridier - Advertising and Content Manager
As the resident weight-weenie of Summit Sales, Adam’s favorite gear is as light and functional as it comes. He turns to the Therm-a-Rest Vesper 20 and XLite Sleeping Pad for his sleep system when he’s putting in the miles backpacking. The sleep system is one of the easiest places to shave weight when backpacking and a quilt and NeoAir pad means weight is at an absolute minimum.
When not backpacking or mountain biking, you can usually find Adam at the climbing gym, where he prefers the SCARPA Drago. Super sticky and flexible, the Drago helps him send the most technical boulders.
Colin Trettel - Sales Rep - Alaska & Montana
Colin’s gear picks are all about versatility, and having go-to items that just work every time you need them. First up is the Osprey Talon Pro 20. This pack is Colin’s daily driver whether that means a day hike or fast-and-light alpine mission. He frequently uses it loaded with a climbing rack while scrambling to routes and appreciates it’s stability and body-wrapping fit while climbing as well.
On the way to his route, Colin also reaches for the SCARPA Golden Gate Kima. While the Spin Ultra is his usual shoe for putting in miles, the Kima has become his lightweight approach shoe for scrambling or easy descents.
Brendan Michell - Digital content and Merchandising specialist
As a mountain biker, and someone who runs hot, I tend to appreciate gear and apparel that’s lightweight, breathable, and a little baggy. My go-to for the summer is the new senja equaliser shirt from Norrøna. Even though they’re designed for trail running, the slightly roomier fit and lightweight back and underarms are perfect for winching up fire roads on sunny days.
I’ve also been getting into climbing more and more and as a pretty new climber I’ve been using the SCARPA Quantic shoes for everything. They’re definitely more snug than rentals, but not uncomfortable and definitely a huge upgrade in terms of feel and traction.
Austin Piper - Sales Rep - Oregon & Idaho
Austin’s favorite gear is all about versatility. From Austin himself, “I have practically lived in the Norrøna Falketind Warm2 Octa Hood for the past seven months. The combination of the extra wind resistance on the front, super breathable and stretchy everywhere else, and extra warmth from the Octa fabric makes this an incredibly versatile mid-layer that I have a hard time not taking with me. Backcountry skiing, resort skiing, rock climbing, and mountain biking – I’ve found I love the Warm2 Octa for anything I’ve used it for. To top it off, if is a really cozy and soft jacket for everyday wear during the cooler months, too.”
Austin also frequently turns to the MSR Alpine Pot Scraper. In addition to being as a cleaning tool for backcountry cooking, this little guy has found a permanent home in his backcountry ski pack. This 0.8oz life saver is invaluable for dealing with icing issues on skis and skins in the backcountry. Don’t underestimate the possibilities of keeping one of these nifty little tools in your regular kit.
Tyler Haasch - Sales Manager - Washington
Tyler’s gear represents things that are durable and he can reach to, year after year. His first piece of go-to kit are the MSR DynaLock Ascent Poles. As an avid splitboarder and alpine climber, Tyler highly values poles that can collapse down small enough to be stored inside of a pack. The carbon construction keeps the poles light and stiff and he is constantly amazed at how burly they are.
Tyler also frequently finds himself in a pair SCARPA Rapid shoes due to their incredible versatility. He’s covered 8 mile runs on techy single track, hiked to the local crag, covered deep approaches to alpine objectives, and even moderate 5th class climbing. While the Rapid is slightly less durable than traditional leather approach shoes, it’s a trade-off Tyler is willing to make to save some weight and have better breathability.
Finally, if you’ve ever had a meeting with Tyler you probably saw him wearing his Norrøna Falketind Alpha 120 Hoodie. He wears it because it just works on almost any day. The Polartech Alpha fabric keeps him comfortable across a wide range of temperatures and levels of exertion. He’s noticed that he can work harder before he starts sweating in this layer than he would in other fleeces. The open nature of the Alpha fabric allows for great cooling, but also creates a great lofting layer when you put a shell on top of it.
Consensus Gear Picks
When asking for gear picks, I (foolishly) didn’t think that the company would come to any consensus picks on gear we love. Below are the items that all of us love.
Platypus quickdraw filter system
The Platypus Quickdraw System checks every box our team could have for a filter; ultralight, compact, super fast flow rate, and minimal maintenance required. Most of the team brings this along with a smaller water bottle so they can save weight carrying less water, but can refill their bottles super quickly when they reach a water source. With a 3 L/min flow rate, the refills are super quick by just rolling up the bottom of the dirty bag, eliminating the pumping you need from some other lightweight systems.
Norrøna Falketind Flex1 pants
The Falketind Flex1 Pants are a do-everything pant for our team. In Colin’s own words: “A perfect balance of light, rugged, and versatile. These have become my go to for almost every warmer season (late spring, summer, and fall) alpine pant. Warm enough for cooler spring/fall days on rock or on snow. Also, these are VENTED which is hard to find in this category of pants.”