TOOLS OF
OUR TRADE • TEXT: LOU MAZZANTE mountaineering
OAKLEY UNOBTAINIUM JACKET & PANTS Got a heli-ski ing freak in the fam- ily that can't stay warm on the big mountains? Try Oakley's newest member to the winter apparel clan, the Unobtanium jacket and pant. A removable Schoeller Comfortemp jacket liner, fu lly- taped seams, silicon-sea led adjustable venting, removable self-sealing storm hood and removable snow skirt wil l keep the nasties out. Abrasion-resistant fi lm on the shoulders and knees ensures longevity in the harshest climes, like the backseat of a Sikorsky. Available for men or women. Oakley, oakley.com, Jacket: $650, Pant: $550
KELTY, CLOUD 6500 Weighing in at a scant 1.25 pounds (main bag), the Cloud is designed for scaling the world's biggest and most fea rsome mountains. Kelty shaved weight by using threads made from Kevlar, a lightweight, bulletproof material 30 times stronger than steel. External compart- ments can be stripped off to lighten the load on summit day. A shovel/crampon pouch, gear and ice-axe loops, 40-millimeter webbing cl imbing belt, Kelty's ISO pad three-layer belt and light Beam frame complete the package. Just don't loose it in a snowdrift. Kelty, www.kelty.com. $600
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BLACK DIAMOND RAVEN Only chainsaws and Weber gril ls match an ice ax for gifts that wil l make guys grunt like Tim Allen. The new Raven uses an innovative wasp-waisted platform head design making it one of the most comfortable, ergonomic and precise mountaineering axes. At 485 grams (17 ounces), it's also one of the lightest. Black Diamond, blackdiamondequipment.com, $69.95
