GearFlogger

Metolius Freenut Nut Tool

En Vogue says, "free your mind, and the rest will follow." Funkadelic says, "free your mind, and your ass will follow." Metolius says, "free your nut, and you won't have to buy a replacement."

The Metolius Freenut is a "nut tool," which is at least twice redundant in my admittedly limited and gutter-friendly lexicon. Crotch jokes aside, it's something every climber should have on their rack unless they like leaving behind $70 cams for the next guy to extract.

The Freenut has a mushroomed end to smash in frustration without bloodying your palm, and a built in clip to save a 'biner. The curve allows you to more easily get behind a difficult piece, and that's not a crotch joke, I swear. Other than that, not much else to say. It's a simple but useful tool, much like my climbing partner.

$19.95 at REI

REI Jet UL pack

I like big packs and I can't deny! Annnnd sometimes I like small packs too, like the REI Jet UL. This has become my go-to pack for short light hikes due to its 1lb 6oz non-weight and intelligent design.

The Jet packs 1,800ci while making some good design choices: sternum strap, dual tool loops, elastic compression strap, hydration compatible and my personal favorite, two mesh side pockets. Too many light packs leave out the pockets, which add so much utility for so little weight.

Three mesh stand-off pads give a little airflow on your back, and the foam framesheet can be removed to save a few ounces. The mesh shoulder straps and waist belt are contoured, comfortable and breathable, the fixed top lid has a key keeper and the main compartment has toggles for attaching your bladder - no, not that one, the one you drink from.

My only quibble: there's a zipper pocket on the right waist belt, but nothing on the left. REI and other vendors make this mistake on a number of their packs, leaving a perfectly handy location for a small pocket blank. Oh well, a small blemish on an otherwise perfect pack.

$55.00 at REI

Chariot Carriers Cougar 1 stroller

OK, I told you I wouldn't go crazy with the kid stuff, but we all know some of us are "old" and have "children" and need to "watch them" sometimes. So, in the interests of fostering familial harmony I give you... the Chariot Carriers Cougar 1 stroller.

Calling this thing a stroller is like calling Realization a good weekend project. The 1 is for 1 child; there's also a Cougar 2 for... well, figure it out. The Cougar has extremely low rolling resistance, super smooth adjustable suspension, five point safety harness, roll cage, plenty of storage, wind and mesh roll-up covers, padded handlebars and a parking brake. It folds up a little bit to fit into a trunk even.

What makes this an awesome cross-training device are the add-on kits, at least one of which must be purchased to make it useful. There are kits for biking, hiking, strolling, jogging and skiing. I've used them all except the stroller (oh the irony!) and they all work as advertised. The ski system works for both skating and classic styles, with skating being a little smoother, as well as with snowshoes. The jogging system adds a front brake which makes it useful for rollerblading downhill.

Works up to 75 pounds, so it won't be obsolete after the first growth spurt. This thing is seriously well-designed and worth its weight in gold. There's nothing like the look on a one-year old's face as he sits in the cockpit at speed while you push him down the trail!

$435.00 at REI

Black Diamond Blizzard harness

Black Diamond is not afraid of Dairy Queen's trademark lawyers, and to prove it they continue to pump out products named Blizzard, in this case a harness designed for ice climbing and technical alpine routes.

I've climbed this harness for a full season and I generally like it. It has a shaped molded waist belt that is quite comfortable during extended use, and unlike my partner it does not retain water. It has slots on the belt to take up to nine Ice Clipper screw carriers (one included), a copy of the Petzl Caritool, that make racking and access to screws a breeze. For mixed application there are four solid gear loops.

The bright orange belay loop is easily seen and checked by a partner, and only causes a problem when said partner regresses to apelike behavior and thinks the bright loop exhibits readiness to mate. Depending on how much you like your partner that may or may not be a problem. Overall, a nice system with the Ice Clippers if a bit overbuilt for fast and light alpine use.

Note about belay loops: yes you should use them to prevent triaxial loading of the carabiner. I've seen many people who should know better clipping through the waist belt because they "just don't trust the belay loop." Get a clue.

$79.95 at Backcountry.com

Denali: Summit of North America

Oh yes, it's that time again. Time to go and freeze your a** off for weeks on a monster mountain for... well, it doesn't matter what for. Go big or go home, we say. And if you're going big on Denali, this little gem of a book is required reading.

I admit I was pretty suspicious at first, but the author gets it right with his advice on tackling the Big D. The author is  Harry Kikstra, who has summitted Denali twice via the popular and non-technical West Buttress route. He also maintains the website www.7summits.com for those people whose egos are writing checks their bodies can't cash.

Whatever. The point is the book has some good advice, everything from a concise summary of the effects of altitude to dealing with the extreme cold to GPS coordinates for camps. This book rivals Coombs' Denali's West Buttress in information content and has the advantage of being even smaller (and waterproof!), as well as more recent. Kikstra takes pains to be even-handed as he describes the advantages and disadvantages of going guided vs. unguided and other topics.

As the author states, "...climbing Everest is good preparation for climbing Denali." It's a serious rock, and this book does it justice in the smallest possible format. So if you absolutely, positively have to freeze your johnson off at altitude, give this guidebook a try.

$11.66 at Amazon.com