Aaron, I was in the same boat as you when looking at this jacket. I ended up deciding to just buy the jacket and hope that it came with all the info I needed to make an educated decision and either keep it or send it back for something else. This is what the Slopeside gives you: -Guaranteed waterproof to 10,000 mm -Guaranteed breathability to 10,000 g/m2 -Critically taped 13mm seams Now that's a nice jacket. Needless to say, I kept mine.

If you don't want to spend the extra money for gloves with a warmer pouch, I would suggest taking a pair of one-size-fits-all-liners (if you don't already have some, they cost $2 just about anywhere) and wearing them under your gloves. This way, you can slide the hand warmer between the gloves and not risk irritating your hands. The only drawback is, of course, if you need to grip anything like ski poles the warmers will get in the way. Good luck!

In that case, you may have just bought a pair of poles that can't do what you expect them to, which is to stay tight for an entire hike. The twist and lock poles are kind of an outdated technology as far as poles are concerned. The threads inside the locking mechanism are just asking to get worn out or stripped every time you make an adjustment. It's a catch 22. If you don't tighten the poles tight enough, they don't stay at the height they are supposed to. If you tighten the poles too tight, every time you do the threads will become less effective. I would recommend finding a pair of poles that have the FlickLock system. You simply pull a lever out from the pole to adjust, and then clamp it back down to tighten, much like the quick-release lever on bicycle tires and seats.

I can't really tell with the picture, so you'll have to tell me if the pole extensions have a twist and lock or a lever clamp.

In that case, you may have just bought a pair of boots that can't do what you expect them to, which is to stay tight for an entire hike.

I don't know anything about the Interlaken shoes, but my boyfriend recently got the Nairobi runners. They are listed as trail running shoes, but he uses them for it anyway and I know he really likes them a lot.