Shannon, our fabulous female tester, takes gear testing to a new level for women. When not at work or school, she is most likely training for a marathon, climbing one of Colorado’s tallest peaks, riding her road bike, or skiing down a mountain slope. Like many women, Shannon gets cold easily, therefore, we try to test the best all weather gear to help her stay warm and dry during all day outdoor pursuits. In the warmer months, Shannon enjoys exploring the Colorado backcountry with her friends and dogs and attempts to escape for as many trail runs as her schedule allows. Shannon is a great women’s tester because she gives readers true insight into how a product may perform for an active woman.
Thank you SmartWool for redesigning your the Lightweight collection. The Lightweight Tee has been the best tee, hands down, that I have tested for hiking and my other outdoor pursuits in at least the last 2 years. Now that is saying a lot, as we do lots of testing of base layers and performance tops [...]
The Verona has quickly become a life saver in my transition from grad student to working professional. I used to tote all my must haves in a backpack and have thankfully traded in my heavy pack filled with books and a laptop in for Sherpani’s stylish Verona shoulder bag. The Verona is a generous sized [...]
With the changing of seasons comes changing and unpredictable weather patterns; a time when you need versatile gear. As odd as it sounds, capris are an example of versatile gear as they keep your knees and quads covered during moderate temperatures and prevent overheating by letting your lower legs air out. New for Fall 2011, [...]
Sperry Top-Sider’s! Let me guess, you are thinking of the classic 2 Eye Boat Shoe that your parents (and maybe you) had when you were a kid. These days, Sperry Top-Sider is offering more than their classic boat shoes and are making a splash in the casual, dress, boots, sandals, performance shoe lines. The shoe [...]
The Leki Micro Stick Trekking Poles are geared for those that are weight conscious, or always looking to shave a few ounces from their gear to get to their destination faster. The Micro Sticks do this by adding a new spin on an old concept. The Micro Stick’s are not your standard telescoping trekking, rather [...]
When it comes to super warm fleece options, Patagonia has you covered. The Re-Tool fleece comes in a jacket, pullover, and hoody version for Fall 2011. I have been testing out the Re-Tool Hoody for the past month or so and am happy to say that this is more than your old-school fleece jacket. For [...]
Smith Optics Interlock Whisper sunglasses are perfect for just about any challenge. For starters, the Interlock Whisper’s, like their name suggests, feature Smiths’ INTERLOCK Interchange system, which allows you to quickly swap out lenses to meet your needs and changing lighting conditions. Each pair of Interlock Whisper’s come with a pair of clear and ignitor [...]
Chaco makes more than sandals and belts. Now your four legged friend can sport a fashionable and durable collar and leash combo fit to match your adventures. The collar is made from Chaco’s own webbing and has been very durable and kept up with Aspen and Suki’s every move. These dogs go just about any [...]
Bear Naked is long known for their yummy granola. This summer, Bear Naked has entered the cereal market with the launch of their Nut Cluster CRUNCH cereal, which is available at Target and comes in two flavors: Maple Nut and Honey Almond. Of the two flavors, my favorite is the Honey Almond. I am a [...]
You need not be a fly fisherman to enjoy some of the latest and greatest products from Redington. In 2010, Redington launched its’ women’s apparel line and with the 2011 season they have expanded their collection. The Chelan Tee is one of the additions to their line up that I think is worth taking a [...]
prAna asks the question, can a t-shirt initiate global change? It seems that the answer is yes! prAna is one of five companies in the USA that have produced a Fair Trade Certified garment. The Soul T, featured above and aptly named has done some serious traveling by the time it enters your closet. The [...]
Spring 2010 saw the entrance of Black Diamond into the world of backpacking. The Innova 50L, a women’s specific pack, was one of its’ first offerings. I have had the opportunity to test out the Innova over the course of the last 2 months while navigating the airports, using it as a carry on, to [...]
The Clara and Lulu frames are new from Native Eyewear for Spring/Summer 2011. Native Eyewear has kept up with the changing times and styles and now offers some fun options for active gals that want to combine function and fashion into their shades. The Lulu and Clara sunglasses are not simply male styled glasses that [...]
A few weeks back, my new hubby and I went on a West Coast adventure honeymoon that took us along the coast from California to Washington. Patagonia helped equip me for the adventure by providing a swimsuit to tackle any of our water pursuits. I received the Kupala Top and the Sunamee Bottoms in the [...]
You expect superior quality and cutting edge technology when you think of Mountain Hardwear products. So you are probably confused to read that this review is of a dress, yes a dress! Not only any dress, the Loess dress which is ready to handle just about any occasion: and look great right out of your [...]
Are you looking for a capri ready to tackle open spaces and city streets? The Escala Capri by Patagonia have been a favorite among our female tester’s and may be the right capri for you. The Escala’s are constructed from a super sturdy cotton canvas with some added spandex to provide just enough stretch to [...]
Backpack, tote, laptop bag? I am not sure how to label the Cambridge bag from Overland Equipment because it is just so versatile! The Cambridge has the ability to be carried like a tote thanks to adjustable loop straps that can be used to carry the bag over one shoulder or tightened up to be [...]
The Lole Romp Capri is made from technical fabrics that are suited for the trail, yet the cut and styling of the capri hold their own in the city as well. The Romp Capris are comprised of 84% recycled polyester which allows you to not feel too guilty about buying another piece of gear. The [...]
For starters, we loved the name of this bag, The Black Hole! Patagonia allows you to select from three different sizes to determine how big your Black Hole needs to be to match your base camp and travel needs. We tested out the 60L version, however the bag is available in 90L and 120L with [...]
Long gone are the days of wearing cotton tees for running and other high intensity activities. Races, large and small, now give away wicking tops for swag which causes the ole outdoor industry to raise the bar and bring us new and improved tech tees. Thanks to companies like Columbia, our search for an incredibly [...]
POW is a Seattle based glove company that produces three major hand wear lines: ski, bike, and golf. This ski season we have had a few testers wearing the POW Feva glove, designed for women. For starters, our tester felt that the sizing was a bit snug; while testing out a medium, she was wishing [...]
The Outdoor Retailer Winter Market gave us a chance to check out what is new and different for Fall 2011. Mountain Hardwear created a lot of buzz with the launch of their newest waterproof-breathable technical fabric, DryQ. MH’s DryQ will be available in 3 sport specific designs: active, elite, and core. DryQ Elite will be [...]
Patagonia thinks of everything. I didn’t know that I needed or even wanted a softshell vest until I started testing Patagonia’s Hooded Guide Vest. The vest is a spin-off from Patagonia’s most successful, aka popular, softshell the Guide Jacket. Since I received the vest, it has been easy to put the vest to good use: [...]
