Stuck for days on end on an icy ledge at 15,000 feet, cold is your enemy—even more so when idle tent time and dwindling food intake hinder the body's metabolic furnace. To stay warm in conditions like these, Nott always packs the Phantom Jacket ($225), insulated outerwear using ultra-quality 800-fill down shelled in a diamond-quilted nylon facing. "This jacket is so lightweight that it's perfect for multiple days on the mountain," says Nott. "If it's really cold I wear it under my shell to add warmth, and I can still move around with a full range of motion for climbing. It's hard to maintain your core temperature, and the Phantom is perfect for brisk mornings and cool nights." Contact 800-330-6800; www.mountainhardwear.com
Mountain Hardwear Trango 3.1
Downtime is inescapable on big mountains, and in lesser tents with fewer creature comforts, that's a recipe for cabin fever. Nott takes all this in stride inside the Trango 3.1 ($550), her number-one tent pick for its combination of features and high-altitude durability. "I love the window for weather checks, and it's been bombproof in Patagonian winds and high-altitude Himalayan storms," she says. The ten-pound, eight-ounce tent, made for three to four people, uses four-pole architecture to endure heavy snow loads and buffeting winds. In the comfort department, the Trango serves up a spacious 48-square-foot floor and roomy twin vestibules, along with stash sleeves to organize gear. "I love all the pockets to organize my essentials. It's roomy for long expeditions where downtime is unavoidable and many days are spent inside," she adds. Contact 800-330-6800; www.mountainhardwear.com Black Diamond Cobra with Android Leash
Tools are a climber's lifeline to the mountain. Period. For the ultimate life-and-limb connection, Nott swings the one-pound, nine-ounce Cobra ($270), a beautifully balanced ice tool with a carbon-fiber shaft that bites easy even when fatigue sets in. "I've been using this tool for many years," she explains. "The clearance is perfect, and the swing translates into solid placements—you don't have to overdrive the Cobra because it holds well with just a few teeth." A longtime staple of ice-climbers, the Cobra this year is updated with the new Laser Pick, using a thinner taper and lower-volume tip that penetrates easily because it displaces less ice. Nott also uses the Android Leash ($40) to secure her tools, of which she notes: "It's easy to get in and out of to place gear, and it always stays tight on my wrist, so I don't have to over-grip." Contact 801-278-5533; www.blackdiamondequipment.com
Tecnica T-Rock Thermal Mountaineering Boot
Boot choices represent a delicate balance for mixed-condition climbing: you want leakproof, insulating comfort, but not extra bulk to make climbing moves clumsy. For Nott, these requirements mesh with the T-Rock Thermal ($350). "I spend lots of days and nights in these boots, and they really hold up," she says. "They're streamlined perfectly to fit a crampon without being too bulky, and they're warm enough to protect my toes when I can't risk taking them off while bivying." The lightweight, four-season, all-purpose boots use Tecnica's Bio-Flex Wrap System to maintain boot shape, along with a stiff carbon-fiber footbed for additional support. For winter conditions, Primaloft Insulation is used to provide warmth without bulk. "I like the fact the T-Rocks aren't overly stiff, which allows for motion control on mixed ground, but they still support my ankles when I'm laden with a huge pack on approaches." Contact 800-258-3897; www.tecnicausa.com
Suunto Vector Wristop Computer
In the high and vertical worlds, information takes the guesswork out of critical calculations. On that note, Nott doesn't leave home without the high-tech wizardry of the Vector Wristop Computer ($215). "You can't go wrong with an alarm, altimeter, and barometer—all at a glance. It accurately measures and records data I depend on through multiple days of travel and mountain climbing." Yes, it looks and performs like a timepiece, but that's where the similarities end. In altimeter mode, the Vector ranges up to 9,000 meters in elevation (as if you'd need more), has an adjustable altitude alarm and 24-hour logbook memory, and records ascent/descent rates. The barometer gives data in one- and six-hour increments, with an auto memory that helps predict storms. In compass mode, the Vector features a bubble level for accuracy within two degrees, as well as magnetic/true north adjustments. Contact Suunto 800-543-9124; www.suunto.com
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