Thanks everyone for the advice, guidance and insight!! Very helpful!! A student of SERE, so I am no stranger to survival skills and land navigation - hope to use this foundation to build off of (thinking comfort of course! lol). I look forward to picking up (not so much picking out) some new goodies to make my experiences in the outdoors all that more diverse and enjoyable. I will be sure to share what I finally decide upon.

I think the next adventure will be ice climbing this winter and some rock climbing next summer -- good thing there is a local pro shop as I think I remember only enough to be dangerous.

Thanks again everyone!!
Jeremy