It might not have the room for three offered by the VE 25, but the rugged Mountain 25 Tent from The North Face offers the same highly wind resistant performance while shaving a couple of pounds off your overall pack weight. With a trail weight of seven pounds, 12 ounces, the Mountain 25 tent is the lightest four-season expedition tent made by The North Face. A brow pole up top creates a lift venting profile that offers excellent cross flow while minimizing humidity. Like many of the best designed mountaineering tents, the Mountain 25 has an integrated polyurethane view window that's cold tested to -60F so you can check on the weather without compromising any of the warmth inside the tent. The guy-out points are numerous enough to weather big blows and the No-Stretch Kevlar guylines with camming adjustments are ideal for pitching in open spaces. The Mountain 25 comes with internal storage pockets for gear, but if you really want to organize (and possibly dry out) your mountaineering and backpacking gear, get the fully-compatible #2 Gear Loft from The North Face. If you're going minimalist, don't forget to buy the Mountain 25 Footprint so you can add a floor to your poles and fly configuration.

Outside gave the Trade Wind its "Gear of the Year" award in 2006 because it does it all-Drizone protects 800-fill goose down from moisture, while tuck stitching keeps seams away from water and potential abrasion. On the nastiest, coldest night you can imagine, jump on in and cinch down the ergonomic hood, seal 'er up, and sleep comfortably with an ergo foot box and cozy Pad Locks. The Trade Wind goes high alpine in the summer, ski touring in the winter, and laughs off the harshest weather you can find. Tough to beat-the Trade Wind won "Gear of the Year" from Outside magazine.

The thrill of ice climbing comes from seeing nature at its rawest and putting the ever-changing ice puzzle together. There are only two constants in this variable ice equation. The first: once you begin the climb, you've made total commitment. The second: staying toasty warm in your women's Outdoor Research Chaos Parka for while you evaluate the chosen pillar for points of vulnerability. Designed by ice climbing women, this jacket was made to fit you and your habit to a T.

If you stop and think about it, a dependable climbing jacket is as essential as a reliable mountaineering rope. A four-season mountaineering shelter can save you from the elements and a -40F rated sleeping bag can provide adequate warmth, but it's your jacket that's going to protect and insulate you all the way back to civilization, which is why this 650-fill down Sub Zero SL Hooded Jacket is such an essential fit for expeditions and extended climbs. It offers waterproof/breathable performance in the form of a special Conduit SL laminate that facilitates vapor transfer without sacrificing body heat. You'll find reinforcement fabric along all key abrasion areas of the garment and plenty of internal and external pockets for gear.

Columbia's premium winter protection package includes Omni-Tech waterproof breathable shells with the famous Columbia Interchange System liner, enabling you to swap layers to suit changing conditionsColumbia Sportswear gives you all the tools to make your own microclimate.