Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 24, 2011 - 11:40am PT
Max Neale has been on a tear. Laptop Bag Review and a Messenger Bag Reviews are in. Max got all his roomates to test every bag side-by-side over the summer on their bike commutes to work and general trips to the beach, store, etc. We have searched for a more rigorous head-to-head test out there and have not found it. If you do, let us know. Otherwise, we are claiming it.
The tests revealed that messenger bags are really not that useful unless you are a… err.. bike messenger. So 99.9% of folks should just stick with a laptop backpack.
Max also finished the Summer Weight Down Sleeping Bag just in time for… winter! Ok, we didn't nail the timing of the release. But summer is just 8 months away!
We finished a Men's Flip Flops. I did this one. Ok, flip flops are not the most techy of gear categories. BUT, ever since i moved to a rare part of the Bay Area that actually gets summer, i've found flip flops are pretty much all i wear and they are not all created equal.
And now a question to you: what should we review next? Please post suggestions below or send me an email
Since you are taking suggestions, I would like to see any future pack reviews include CiloGear and Cold Cold World. I was happy to see the 20L Cilo in the climbing daypack review. Get ahold of some of Cilo's other sizes and a CCW for the Technical Pack section and any future reviews. Whenever the subject of packs comes up on this site, those two companies are always frequently and favorably mentioned. Also, it would be great if you could get Wired Bliss in your cam review.
BUMP
To me, these are the "serious" packs. Not too big, not too small. Enough "gizmos" without being gimmicry. Lightweight yet rugged. Easy to carry, not too bad to haul. Small enough to go fast on a multi pitch while carrying enough water, headlamp, wind shirt (AND rack on the approach/descent). Very tough to sort them out without actually using them.
Quickdraw reviews. Could be updated, or maybe you could do a special section on the new clean nose wire gates which are being released from a variety of companies. Petzl Ange, DMM Shield, BD HoodWire. You have the WC Helium, but they're unfortunately no longer made.
Technical ice tools. BD Cobras, Petzl Nomics, etc.
Quickdraw reviews. Could be updated, or maybe you could do a special section on the new clean nose wire gates which are being released from a variety of companies. Petzl Ange, DMM Shield, BD HoodWire. You have the WC Helium, but they're unfortunately no longer made. 
Let us know!