I don’t pledge allegiance to any particular company. In fact, I’m usually on the lookout for deals on gear, like most other folks. When you are a hard user of gear, constantly replacing things gets expensive.

Right now, and until supplies are gone, Eastern Mountain Sports is having a %50 off sale for most outerwear, apparel and gloves/hats. You probably won’t catch me buying soft shell outerwear at EMS, as they always seem to have a boxy fit, but there are a handful of house-made EMS products that really shine.

Their “Work Glove” is only 20 bucks. The “Endo Glove” is only $17.50. Both of these gloves fit snugly and work really well for hard leads on ice and mixed terrain. The “Work Glove” is super durable to boot.

Polartec Powerstretch hoodies and tights are %50 off too. If you don’t already wear Powerstretch, it’s one of the best baselayers for really cold weather. At first it feels overly warm, but after the fleece packs down a bit, it’s the perfect weight for most ice climbing days. One advantage to wearing Powerstretch, even on warmer days, is that you can wear thinner soft shell pants that breathe and move better than the standard ice climbing robo-gear.

If you’re a dirtbag, or just looking for a deal, hop online or head to the nearest EMS. They’re dumping they’re winter gear in anticipation of an early spring. I guess this warm winter is good for something after all.