Why it's a top pick:

"The grams add up quickly on your trad rack, so the lightweight Aether Alpine Quickdraw is what I reach for. The rope radius of the Aether carabiner is slightly larger than most other carabiners in its weight class, which helps keep the rope running smoothly. Its clean nose makes clipping a breeze."

- Alpenglow Educator Mike

Why it's a top pick:

"In my opinion, this trail runner offers the perfect blend of cushion and sensitivity. The lightweight foam provides both protection and responsiveness, as it is distributed evenly throughout the midsole. This culminates in a shoe that is less rockered, while still responsive, and allows you to feel the trail underfoot. Combine that with a Vibram sole and you have got a shoe that meets your needs on any given terrain. This has been the trail running shoe for me for 4+ years and I don’t see it changing anytime soon."

- Alpenglow Educator Stef

Why it's a top pick:

"I love long days and nights in the mountains but I don’t love carrying a heavy pack. So I try to make my big three (shelter, sleep and pack) as light as possible. Western Mountaineering makes exceptional bags with their attention to detail and high quality 850+ ethically sourced (gathered from nests) goose down. The Summerlite Mummy Bag is rated as comfortable to 32F and with a well insulated sleeping pad and a liner or down jacket I have slept comfortably down to 25F. I use a lightweight compression sack to squish the bag down to the size of a grapefruit - I am 5’7” and I use the 6 ft bag — the weight is only 1 lb 3 oz! This bag has been perfect for summer and fall trips in the Sierras."

- Alpenglow Educator Janice

Why it's a top pick:

"I have been living in these sandals for a few years now (yes, 365). The support, protection and secure foothold is unmatched in the sandal world. Throw in light weight and superior durability and there is no reason to look further."

- Phacilitator of Phun Jeff

Why it's a top pick:

"I never used to drink my calories. I didn't think I had any problem eating and I rarely had stomach issues on big days. Then I started using Maurten and realized that I could feel even better and fuel myself even easier. 

Maurten is the ultimate drink mix because it uses their patented hydrogel technology. The hydrogel encapsulates the carbs and calories in what my body believes is a water molecule. Water is processed in the small intestine, so your stomach will send the hydrogel directly to the small intestine for processing. The small intestine breaks down the hydrogel and processes the carbs and calories. 

The small intestine is much more resilient and causes far fewer GI issues than the stomach. While it's kinda crazy, I like that Maurten "tricks" my body into better outcomes."

- Alpenglow Educator Max