The North Face Men's Esker Ridge Mid

Advantages: Looks, Weight, Robustness,Price, Brakes
Disadvantages: Not a commuter in standard form

...Marin themselves are known world wide for making fantastic mountain bikes and the rocky ridge is no exception. I have had mine for over a year and have travelled through France both off and on road with the only problem being one puncher. The frame is one of the strongest I have felt giving you total confidence when navigating difficult obstacles leaving it down to your own abilities not the bikes. The Julie disk brakes front and rear which take a while to bed in are very good but a little slow in the wet. This is a bike that I use everyday from commuting to work in the week and off roading at the weekend. It does it all and what's more its hard to remove the smile off your face.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Great wind resistance and great ultralight fly and footprint only pitching
Disadvantages: seamtape on the fly peeled/crumbled and inside of the fly became sticky

...I bought my Tadpole 23 in 2005. I've been camping for more than ten years and owned and used many tents, including the 1999 Tadpole model. For me this tent is emblematic of the decline of The North Face's quality. I used it only one time and one time alone last year. When I inspected it before an upcoming trip I found the inside of the tentfly extremely sticky and the seamtape started to crumble and peel. This didn't happen to the other two tents in my closet. I put it away clean, dry and folded neatly and I can't think of a plausible explanation for it other than that the materials were hi-tech but of inferior quality. I also had problems with two other North Face products i had bought along with this tent: the Patrol Pack Duo and the Venture Hyvent Jacket.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Comfort, Looks, Reliability
Disadvantages: All good things come to an end

...with a package. For me. Moi! My man had purchased some funky metallic purple Airwair boots with even funkier in your face purple/black laces from eBay, brand new and at the bargain all in price of £40.00. £40.00! Well I was allowed to try them on before they were put away for Christmas (Ha! These men they are fools!) Being as this was September and the boots a perfect fit, there was no way on this planet that those beauties were going to hide their gloriousness in a dusty old cupboard until Christmas. Well come ON! And so enough of my rambling and onto my analysis: From that day to this my babies have left my feet only long enough for me to sleep. For the first month I had to wear plasters on my heels and little toes while the leather was broken in. Once that initial period of mild discomfort was over I was left with THEE most comfortable piece... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful