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2009 Guides Choice Award Winners
We have announced six new Guides Choice Award winners for the 2009 spring and summer season. Through extensive testing by our guides, in many different locations, conditions, and applications, these pieces of equipment have proven to exceed all performance expectations, based on all gear evaluated over the past testing periods. Congratulations to those receiving the Guides Choice Award this season, and we thank all the manufacturers that have submitted equipment for us to review. |
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NeoAir Sleeping Pad by Cadscade Designs
The NeoAir sleeping pad excels above all other pads on the market for several reasons. Weighing only 14 oz, and packable to the size of a 1 liter water bottle, it is currently the lightest and most packable full length, 2.5" thick air mattress you can buy. It also boasts three times the warmth of other non-insulated air mattress type pads; by it's one-of-a-kind reflective barrier technology. Cascade Designs has developed the Triangular Core Matrix, making it the most stable non-self-inflating pad on the market. Testing of the NeoAir pad ranged from weeklong summer conditions in the Cascades, to subzero temperatures and high altitude conditions on Denali. Every AAI guide who tested the NeoAir agreed that they would buy one themselves. With the NeoAir pad you can be assured that you will sleep warm and comfortably at night on any trip. |
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Drymax Fiber Technology by Drymax Socks
Our guides found that Drymax Socks did a better job at keeping their feet dry inside their boots, than any other sock that was tested. Drymax has not built a sock that "wicks" moisture away from your feet. Instead they have engineered a fiber technology, that keeps water, and sweat from bonding to the socks fibers on a molecular level. This means that moisture does not need to adhere to the socks fibers to move away from your feet. This allows the warmth of your feet to mechanically force the moisture out and away from your foot much more easily than the typical wicking process. When our guides took these socks to Alaska, they found that they performed great in plastic mountaineering boots. If Drymax Socks kept our guides feet dry and comfortable at 20,000 feet and in subzero temperatures, imagine how they could make your feet feel on your next trip! |
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Bivouak Glacier Glasses by Julbo
The Julbo Bivouak glacier glasses were loved by our guides due to their versatility on and off the mountain. With different lens options ranging from basic category 4 lenses to a polarized, photochromic, anti-fog lens you know that you will have your eyes safe and shielded from the suns rays. The Bivouaks also sport a cool new magnetic side shield fastening system, making adding and removing the side shields very easy. The list of features continues with fully adjustable Grip Tech temples, to keep them securely attached to your head, and venting slits in the upper corners assure that you won't get foggy goggle syndrome. Whether you are on the mountain, at the beach or just hanging out in town the Julbo Bivouaks will have your eyes protected in style. |
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Super Dru Jacket by Rab
The Rab Super Dru Jacket has been through two full seasons of use, by 28 of our guides. Some guides used the Super Dru in excess of 100 days over one season. That equates to several years of use by the typical weekend warrior! Even after all the use and abuse, the Super Dru was still holding strong and breathing great. Equipped with eVent, the Super Dru will keep you dry in the wettest of conditions. The Super Dru has three ample sized pockets for storage, a helmet compatible hood with a wire brim, and water resistant zippers all around. At only 400 grams and full of great features that any climber, hiker or backpacker would need, the Rab Super Dru has made number one on our list! |
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WorkSack Series by CiloGear
CiloGear and AAI have been working together since 2007 on testing and improving the WorkSack line of backpacks. After a few tweaks over the past couple of years, we are pleased to say that the CiloGear WorkSack is the best carrying and lightest line of packs there are. Whether you are going out on a weekend ski trip with the 40 liter, or going on a multi-week expedition with the 75 liter, you can be sure that a majority of the weight on your back is due to your essentials inside the pack and not the pack itself. The largest pack that CiloGear offers, has a max weight of 5 pounds, but when stripped down to it's minimum, weighs just over 2 pounds! The WorkSack line is the perfect example of sleek trim alpinist style backpacks. |
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Solaris Solar Panels by Brunton
Brunton Solaris Solar Panels are an essential piece of gear for AAI guides on expeditions. When a source of power to charge batteries, phones, GPS and other types of technology is non-existent, your solution is the Solaris Solar Panel. The feature that sets the Solaris panels apart from the rest is the use of CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide) technology, which allows you to get an adequate charge in less than adequate light conditions. While in Alaska our guides reported having no problems keeping the sat phones and the essential mp3 players charged during their entire trip on Denali with the Solaris 26. Solaris Solar Panels are available in 3, 6, 12, 26 and 52 watts of output, allowing you to buy the perfect size no matter what your backcountry power needs may be, not to mention all the sizes fold down nice and compact to fit easily in your pack. |
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