Client Endorsements

November 6, 2012

Thanks Tom.

Was in a canyon outside of Tucson Sunday with Scott Betz and a group. Scott had his Scuttlebutt on and I decided I really needed one of those. :)

Scott also had his new Imlay pack, just like mine. It's the third time I've used mine and the thing is great. MUCH more comfortable than the (other brand) I had previously. Packs up great and the hip strap is very comfortable. Really glad I bought that one.

Thank you! I have been doing slot canyons in Zion since college about 15 years ago and you have always been and will be the best resource. I just got a permit for one canyon I haven't yet done and looked up this site (I don't often look up info. anymore because I know many of the canyons so well) and it is amazing.  Just wanted to say thanks and that I have appreciated Uncle Tom and the information for years.  

Cheers,
Sara Roberts

May 8, 2012

Tom,

Just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate the canyoneering site. I'm new to canyoneering (just started last September) but now I'm an addict and have conquered a healthy handful of canyons. Your site is a common tool amongst most canyoneers I've talked to. The information is fantastic, the layout is great, and I really appreciate the effort and the consciousness of everyone's safety and fun.

Sincerely,

Jake

May 8, 2012

Tom,

Your guide book, website, and maps have helped me in the planning of a number of very cool adventures.  Thanks for all your hard work.  Us non-locals really benifit from published beta.

Nick

May 3, 2012

Not sure if you personally read these emails, but I've always wanted to say "thank you" for your beta on Zion. I remember reading you were a Course 2 MIT grad (as am I). First came through Zion ~8 years ago on a trip through the Narrows on a cross-country road trip after graduating MIT, and have since been back to Zion 1-2 x / year every year since for another canyoneering adventure. Last visit was for my bachelor party last October, doing Englestead with the groomsmen. Next trip through is brief in June, en route to adding one of the forks of Upper Deer Creek in to a trip to Lower Deer Creek (did just the Lower a few years ago). Finally about to finish my emergency medicine residency in California and hoping to grab a slice of life closer to the high desert! Anyway, I follow your team's blogs from afar and appreciate the hardwork you put into manufacturing your gear, which I've only recently started to use. (I have plans to travel back to Australia where I was a few years ago, and had a chance to do many canyons in the Blue Mountains. Those guys never used rope bags and it drove me crazy! Every big rappel, we were undoing knots and hoping for the best on that first toss! I promised myself I'd bring them back some of your rope bags.) Anyway, your work gives me hope to escape the grind more than just 1-2x/year to find a different pace of life and some work with my hands I can be proud of. 

Hoping I can meet up with you or some of your team one day for some first-hand learning! Unfortunately, living afar and dropping in only occasionally means I don't know the "in-crowd." Either way, thank you for what you do.

Best,
Dale Cotton

April 12, 2012

Thank you for such a great site.  We’re planning a big reunion & camping trip to Utah – 1 week plus, 13+ folks, and your site has been invaluable for planning the trip.

Dale Honeycutt

November 7, 2011

Dear Mr Jones -

A quick thank you for your wonderful "Zion: Canyoneering" book. I was in Zion a year ago and decided to try an off-trail hike - an ambition that lasted approximately fifty feet and one pool into Echo Canyon. I then bought (and read!) your book and came back one year later with wetsuits and neoprene gloves & socks, helmets, rappel gear, map and compass, and, most important, an experienced friend.

We had such a wonderful time. We explored Echo Canyon from the bottom, and also did Orderville Canyon from the top and The Subway from the top (as well as Observation Point). Your book was magnificent and astonishingly accurate, down to the uneven landing at the bottom of Keyhole Falls and the precise location of the last rappel ring in the Subway. (The only slight problem we had was initially bypassing the parking lot for the Orderville trail head - The Book said "11.4 miles" and we had counted "11.1 miles," and The Book could hardly be wrong, now, could it?) You also installed a healthy respect for all the things that can go wrong in a canyon, and although I hope to do more, it will only be after proper training sessions.

You will be happy to know that we removed one stray banana peel and one trailbar wrapper from Echo Canyon, and saw not a single piece of garbage on either of the other two hikes.

Many thanks - greetings from Cambridge, Massachusetts -

Stefan McDonough

September 29, 2011

Imlay Canyon Gear Kolob Pack Review
By Charles at Summit Hut

As a Summit Hut employee since the early 2000s I have had the chance to use and abuse a number of packs from a variety of different brands. While no pack is going to work for every activity/situation my favorite all around pack has become the Imlay Canyon Gear Kolob. Imlay Canyon gear is based in Southern Utah and is run by avid canyoneer and canyon guide Tom Jones (check out his online canyon guide and Zion Canyoneering book) - these packs have been designed specifically for canyoneering, but the features make it a great pack for general use.

Why do I love it?

Durability: PVC panels protect the sides and bottom of the pack and other external areas are 1000 denier cordura. Until this pack I never had a pack that lasted more than 2 years (often developing huge holes it the bottom of the pack) - my packs has some wear but is going strong after 5 years!

(Deceptively) Simple, (highly) Effective Suspension: I was initially suspicious about such a simple looking system - but I have to say that this pack carries really well! The combination of aluminum tubing, plastics sheet and closed cell foam turns out to be incredibly effective at transferring weight to the simple but effective hip belt.

Bottom Cut: The squared off bottom you will find on some larger packs tends to 'catch' as you try to scoot off a ledge and can be awkward when scrambling. The angled cut of the bottom of the Kolob prevents the 'catching' - a great detail when off-trail and when scrambling.

Canyoneering Details: If you have gone for a swim with your pack you will know that most packs hold water just as well as they hold your gear - the Kolob has mesh behind most areas of the pack body that allows the pack to drain very quickly (key in a wet canyon). Rack strap on the inside to keep your gear easy to get to. The foam back panel comes out and unfolds - nice detail in an unexpected bivy. Quick release shoulder strap buckles - a great just-in-case feature to make it easier to get out of the pack in an awkward situation.

The Kolob is not an ultra-light pack, comes in only one size and is a on the large size for a day hike (if you love the idea of the Kolob but it is too big check out the Imlay Canyon gear Spry) - but for me it fits great and it has become my most used pack because it is incredibly durable, carries great and has enough size to swallow technical gear (or your friend's lunch) but is small enough not to get in the way while scrambling off trail.

September 17, 2011

Hello Tom,

I decided to give my husband his gift for our anniversary which was September 11th instead of waiting for his birthday. I thought you would like to know that he LOVES your rope. He doesn’t get excited easily but I wish you could have seen his face when he first saw it. He said that the Canyonero is the best rope on the market and the only 9mm approved by the BSA. (He’s been a scout leader for about 100 years now.) He’s been rappelling for over 30 years and he said that this is the best rope he has ever owned.

On your website’s order page in the pull-down “select color” box the last choice says “Whatever - it’s only a rope!” Well, my husband really likes the fact that your rope is a different color from his other ropes. On all the other ropes maybe color doesn’t matter, but on your Canyonero rope it does.

Since last Sunday the rope has been laying on our dining room table instead of out in the gear room with all the other equipment. The other morning I caught my husband actually petting the rope. I don’t know if I should be jealous of it or not!! He’s never been affectionate with any of his other ropes.

Anyway, I thought you would like to know how much he appreciates the Canyonero. He’s always been very frugal and none of his other ropes have special containers or bags for them. He says that he needs to get a silo for this one. I guess that’ll be his birthday present after all.

Thanks for making an awesome rope. We can’t wait to get out on the rocks and break it in.

J.J.
Las Vegas, NV

August 27, 2011

Tom,

Hi, it's been a few years. This is Stuss Leeds. I teach canyoneering for Outward Bound out of Moab. We met when I was looking to do early season Englestead and you loaned me and my bro crampons.

The pack I bought from you probably in 2007? is still going strong. (It think it's the Heaps -- the turquoise) Hundreds of days of beating the living shit out of it, and besides some exterior buckle and strap damage -- good as new. I've gone through four or five pairs of approach shoes and two canyoneer boots in the time I haven't been able to kill my ICG pack. Sweet!

My pot shot from the same time I bought the pack, just died. It was in Quandary (Swell) yesterday. Full of sand and landed in sand, but must've landed wrong because it exploded. All the stitching blew out on both sides of the bag in this one event. Not complaining though, it's been through a lot. And obviously we managed to get out of the pothole anyway.

So I'm in the market for a pull cord, 2 pot shots, an alpine aider, and some bolting gear. Can you help me out? I will sing ICG's praises to all who will listen.

Thanks a lot,
Stuss Leeds

Outward Bound
Moab, UT 

July 29, 2011

Tom,

As a long-time desert rat, but a newcomer to real canyoneering, I want to let you know to keep on giving your frank advice. My story is a case in point.

I’m 50, in good shape, and I hike and back-country ski a lot. Spent my youth growing up in southern Utah (my Dad was principal of Wasatch Academy until 1974 when we moved to Blanding – many interesting stories about life as a gentile behind the Zion curtain) and what we called hiking in those days would pass for 5.4 30’ on a good day. More than once, we had to jump into the pool due to no rope. Ended up as a mining engineer who works for environmental groups, but that’s another story.

Anyway, a 60-year-old outdoors friend from Washington D.C. decided the North Fork was a must-do bucket trip for him, and since I professed to know Zion and had hiked up to the lower falls in my youth, he asked me to join him. I did the usual “book reading” and geared up with minimal equipment and 30-year-old memories of last rappelling when I was in College (much of it wrong, at it turned out – like 10.4 mm rope). Was headed for disaster as you probably are thinking, but I made one good move after all. Based on past experiences, I made a date with ZAC (and Calvin Laatsch, as it turned out) for a canyoneering orientation day. In short, I soon learned I was perhaps technically competent (great pretender anyway), but lacked experience and was by no means ready to lead others on the technical parts. My wife was by no means ready for the trip (didn’t mention that part eh, and she’s heads over heels more fit and more able than most of the 0.1% of the population who’d be willing).

So the next day we headed to Lava Point CG to meet the group. Pulled up and saw my friend plus a 70-year-old hiker, and two 40-something way out of shape geeks. They had harnesses, nothing else. We spent the morning trying to dissuade them, but to no avail; they’d come a long ways and wanted to do the trip. I relented and said ok, we’ll take it one day at a time. I had at least rented nominal equipment from ZAC. So off we went... We managed one mile off-trail into Wildcat before the first of the group (the oldest) gave up. Probably ¼ mile from where things open up, but much to my relief, they all decided to turn back.

Spent the next day teaching them to rap at Snake Alley, where we some orienteering, and then went down Keyhole (it took them 5 hours and they were thrilled). I had enough time after two days to realize that as leader, I have a lot to learn.

I bought a slug of gear from you recently, and am planning on doing this as a new adventure. We traditionally spend several weeks a year in southeast UT (I am going to have to rap off Comb Ridge evenutally, now that I have the bug). I'm curious as to how you’d recommend we get some time with an experienced guide – classes, guided trips, and do you offer anything yourself?

Thanks again for your tales of precaution – it led to our success (or at least not becoming another statistic – an engineers and fun lovers worst nightmare).

And yes, in a couple of years we will do North Fork. When we’re ready and not displaying “non-adult behavior.”

Jim K

James (Jim) Kuipers, P.E.
Kuipers & Associates LLC
P.O. Box 937 (mail)
118 E 7th St., Room 3H (office/shipping)
Anaconda, MT 59711

April 3, 2011

I recently picked up your Zion: Canyoneering book and have been quite impressed. Thanks for putting your knowledge down for others to benefit from. I hope that more people will begin to follow the ethics and practices that you lay down in the book.

Michael Lewis
Grass Valley, CA 

March 17, 2011

Hi Tom,

Got the balance of the order today, as you predicted. Again thanks for the excellent service! Your webstore will be my first place to check whenever I need slots of gear.  And BTW, thanks for that amazing "guidebook" of a website of yours.

Jim Akers
Logan, UT 

November 27, 2010

Tom,

I have been very pleased with the performance of my larger Imlay packs and other gear. So glad you have focused your design talents and passion in the canyoneering area. Thanks for the personal attention and e-mail reply.

Wishing you a happy holiday season and a prosperous new year.

John English
Salt Lake City, UT

November 4, 2010

Dear Tom,

Thank you very much for the refund on my returned items. I can assure you that everything I returned was never used or altered, so it is safe for others. Even though I returned several items, I was very pleased with everything I received from you. The shoes were just too small, and, in fact, the reason I returned the rapides was my misunderstanding of their rating: I thought they were rated and marked the same way as carabiners (so, the 500kg is their Breaking Load, and hence I was hesitant to use them for rappels), but then I learned that rapides are marked with the Safe Working Load instead, which is 10-15 times smaller than the breaking load. Well, you got just a beginner here as a customer ….

On the positive side, I just passed my “canyoneer’s exam” by emerging alive from the Leprechaun (at 9pm, though). Your gear and advice you sent me by e-mail before the trip proved very useful – there were some thunderstorms a week before, so there were four pools in the East Leprechaun Fork (the last one, after the merge with the Main Fork,  was a swimmer), and your 2mm neoprene socks worked very well combined with 0.5 mm (Hydroskin) Farmer Jane wetsuit. The Atlas gloves were perfect, and Pirana allowed using any rope diameter by having several friction settings. Having knee and elbow pads allowed me to use the stronger elbows and knees to push against the walls in narrow places, not my (much) weaker and recently broken wrists.

Overall, as a beginner, I  found your store to be a very useful source of info, with your comments for the items you sell resembling more a friend’s advice, rather than a salesperson’s. Rare and precious thing.

I did not want to get you all tired reading this, just wanted to deliver my Thanks.

Thanks.

Best wishes,

Irina Morozova
New York City, NY

August 2010

Tom,

Just thought you should know that years ago I bought the original design of your Imlay Canyon pack, before the netting was covered on the sides, etc. The only issue ever was that the bar tack on the shoulder snapped, but you provided awesome service and had me send it in. When I got it back the problem was solved and the pack was better than when I sent it, as you had fixed the shoulder, but also made repairs to other natural damage created by myself to other parts of the pack. Since then no problems at all. I guide here in AZ so I can honestly say that it has been through canyons at least 200 times, between work and personal use. It is so faded that you can barely even tell that it was ever red. I beat the crap out of my stuff and typically expect destruction in no time.  However the pack is still going strong and I love it. You did a great job designing this pack and I really just wanted you to know that I think your products are as good as it can get, as is your service. It seems hard to find this sort of quality in this day and age, so to have stuff that works this well is great. I will always recommend your gear, 150 percent, to anyone who asks, and continue to wear and use Imlay Canyon Gear on all of my journeys. Thanks again, Tom.

Garrett Bennett
CenterFocus Reservations
Sedona, AZ

June 2010

Tom,

Just a quick note to let you know how incredibly happy I am to have recently purchased multiple Imlay gear products and could not be happier that you guys exist.  No one creates gear for canyoneers like you do. I purchased the HEAPS, 2 fire ropes (120 and 200), a canister, and rope silo. I look forward to new Imlay gear that I may, or even may not need, but will certainly need to have to show it off to my buddies and bring you new customers. Thanks again!

Jack Stebner 
Phoenix, AZ

June 2010

Tom,

I have been using (and ordering) your gear for years now through Aaron and James. I have taken your gear through all manner of canyons in AZ, Utah, and even Italy. Very satisfied with your selection and your recommendations. I don't know if you get feedback on them, but my friends and I all like your honest product descriptions and recommendations. It may seem like just a small touch on a website, but they actually speak volumes to your commitment to canyoneering and your interest in furthering other peoples safety and overall enjoyment. Thank you very much.

Jeff Rothermel
Mesa, AZ