Gear

So Hans and Yuji got me all psyched up to get back in climbing shape and I find that the easiest way for me, as a vegetarian and lazy cook, to get protein, is from protein powders. Most experts seem to think that the best protein powders are whey protein isolate (which is different from whey protein concentrate). The Hammer Nutrition folks say that soy protein is actually better if you are in the midst of an event, but mostly want it for recovery. The problem is that most protein powders are full of sweeteners, which I find yucky (I don't care if the sweetener is healthy or not, I just don't like it!).

So here's a list of unsweetened protein powders that I've found. Most are unflavored too. Only the Solgar Whey to Go powder is flavored, but not sweetened. If you know of others, please add them in the comments. If you know of a really good deal on an unsweetened powder, please add the link in the comment. I think that links in comments will be put in as plain text, but I can edit it them after the fact and make them work right.

1. NOW Mega Pack ($76.99 for 10 pounds). This is the best deal I could find and I have it on order now. Damn, though, 10 pounds is a lot to order. That's 162 servings with 25 gms of protein in each serving (most manufacturers have servings with about 20gms of protein). Only the unflavored version is unsweetened.

[Update: since I wrote this, I received the two shirts I ordered. They are slightly thinner than the Smartwool shirt I have, but otherwise every bit as good. All in all an excellent purchase and really like these.]

I've always hated fleece. When I got my first fleece pullover in the early 1980s, the static and what not literally gave me a headache. Then there's the stink. Before that, I managed to ice climb in sub-zero temps in Vermont and stay warm and reasonably comfortable with wool sweaters, wool knickers, wool socks, and even Dachstein wool mitts. Of course, this was all over a layer of Duofold cotton/wool underwear. Despite what the "Cotton=Death" crowd says, I never climbed with anyone who died because of wearing Duofolds.

I don't know how long you'll be able to find the Beeline on sale, but people keep coming to my Moonstone Lucid page and I get emails asking where to get one at the sale price, but they're long gone. No idea how long the Beline and Fission will be available at the sale prices (I'm writing this on 2 Feb 2007), but I have some links to places where they are available at the regular price so at least if the sale links go dead, hopefully the whole page won't as it did with the Moonstone Lucid. If one of these links is no longer working, or the price is no longer correct, please take a moment to save others from wasting their time and add a comment with the correct information. Thanks!

So, I haven't been in much of a shopping mood since my wife's accident. I had all these great plans of finding all the killer winter deals and posting them, but I'm a slacker. Sorry. It's hard because I only like to post about products that I really like and which are on sale, which doesn't happen that often. Anyway, this just appeared in my email and it was too easy to not just put it up here quickly and since it's just money off, you can apply to products *you* really like, on sale or not (I think).
Receive $15 off your order of $100 or more plus free ground shipping! Valid January 8 through January 26, 2007.

The Black Diamond Speed 30 is my favorite daypack. Figures that it's being discontinued, but on the plus side, it's on closeout sale at Mountain Gear. If you want to help me out with a little commission, click the Mountain Gear banner below first

I just noticed that Moosejaw has
Montrail Men's Hardrock on sale
at 20% off. These are my favorite hiking shoes. I tried on a pair and once I went for a hike in them, I vowed I'd get a second pair once I found them on sale. As soon as I saw a 20% off sale, I nabbed a second pair and then a third.

Rocky Mountain Trail is also having a

which includes a lot of the same items as the Moosejaw North Face sale and I can't keep track of the zillion different Apex jackets North Face has, but I know I love my softshell, alas ripped while pacesetting a stupid NASTAR course this winter.

Both sales have a variety of Apex jackets and lots of other stuff I don't k

Cloud Walker ($60 at REI)

CamelBak H.A.W.G.
($100 at REI).

Unfortunately, the 30% sale has expired. The HAWG is now back up to $100. At that price, I really, really, really prefer the Cloud Walker. As I say below, if you own a 100oz bladder, it will go just fine in the Cloud Walker. Anyway, the links work again, but no special prices. That means that the Cloud Walker is $60 (minus 10% if you are an REI member, so $54), whereas the HAWG hogs a full $100 of your budget.

Here's my original Camelbak Hawg and Cloud Walker review

The Camelbak Hawg is not my absolute favorite day pack. I prefer the Cloud Walker, but I'm highlighting the HAWG because this is the deals page and it's currently 30% off at the Backcountry.com Outlet (marked down from $99.95 to $69.95). That said, my favorite small daypack, the Camelbak Cloud Walker, is actually cheaper at $59.95.

Moosejaw actually has tons of rock shoes on sale, but La Sportiva Miura's are my current shoe of choice. If they don't fit your foot, they don't fit your foot. If you want to go cheap, I've heard and read good things about the all synthetic Mad Rock Mugen for $70.

The Moonstone Lucid 800 Down Fill 20 Degree Sleeping Bag looks like it has the right numbers for summer: 20 degrees, 800 fill and 2 lbs 1 oz. I'll try to find something this good for the cruelty free option, but I don't think a synthetic bag will ever get down to that 2lb number.