I was really looking forward to testing the Polarmax Comp 4 Tech Fleece baselayer top and pants because I am always looking for the warmest baselayers possible. I get very cold, very easily, but love spending time outdoors in the winter time. The Comp 4 Tech Fleece products are part of Polarmax’s Warmest line. The [...]
While involved in almost any activity, us guys often sweat and heat up. For years, we have worn shirts and shorts with moisture wicking material while wearing boxers, boxer briefs, or tighty whities that are made out of cotton. In the last couple of years, moisture wicking underwear has really started to gain some traction [...]
Every outdoorsperson and athlete needs a good lightweight waterproof rain and wind shell that they can stuff away when not needed. The new Helly Hansen Odin Fastpack Jacket may be one of the best options out there. The company poured all its technical knowledge and experience into creating one of the lightest and high-performance rain shells [...]
I am pretty picky when it comes to undies. They are my first line of defense and have the ability to make me very uncomfortable, very quickly. The Polarmax AYG XTRDRY cotton bikini breif and boy shorts won my approval in this test. The Polarmax AYG (All Year Gear) XTRDRY Cotton bikini brief and boy [...]
My wife said it was soft and made her want to cuddle. ‘Nuff said. The Torreon Long Sleeve shirt is a new piece from Merrell with raglan sleeves, yarn-dyed stripes, and a super luxurious fabric thats right at home on the trail, out for cocktails, or at home on a snow day. The Opti-Wick™ fabric [...]
I’m one of those typical Colorado folks who like to turn up our nose at sub-zero temps and howling winds by wearing one jacket for all weather from October to May and just grit my teeth when perhaps its not quite sufficient. The Moab Softshell from Merrell is just that type of piece. The Moab [...]
Obermeyer is another one of our local companies based here in Colorado. With a corporate headquarters located in the beautiful mountain town of Aspen, the family-run, privately held Obermeyer knows first hand what it takes to protect outdoor enthusiasts from the sometimes harsh conditions of the Colorado Rockies, while also staying comfortable and looking great. [...]
Barefoot running has taken off in recent years and with that, more products have come to market. Along with that, shoes are getting more specialized- think trail versus road barefoot shoes. Outdoor footwear innovator Merrell has brought to market several versions of barefoot style shoes, among them are the Barefoot Water Current Glove. Designed [...]
The Polarmax Max Ride products, which are part of Polarmax’s lightest-weight or “Warm” line. I was initially concerned about this because I tend to get extremely cold, very quickly. When I pulled the Polarmax Max Ride crew and pant out of their packaging, I was very surprised at how lightweight and thin they were. The [...]
Norwegian brand Helly Hansen has been doing great things with its high-end Odin line in the past year (2011-2012) and the Odin Light Softshell is another winner from the company. In their (Helly Hansen’s) own words, “Odin expert series are designed, tested and developed by Helly Hansen technical experts and professional adventurers.” In my experience, [...]
This Spring, Columbia introduces the Compounder 2.5 layer shell. As we often get to test products before they hit the market, I was able to test this jacket out for a number of months in a number of activities. The Columbia Compounder Shell is 2.5 layers which can be a little hard to tell from [...]
For over 17 years, the engineers at Smartwool have been innovating and finding ways to integrate their amazing Merino wool blends into performance apparel that can be used across a wide variety of sports and activities. Socks have always anchored SmartWool’s main product lines, but in recent years they have steadily expanded to a wide variety [...]
Socks are not exactly the sexiest piece of gear in your wardrobe (at least I hope they are not), but our friends over at Smartwool have made it their mission to at least keep our feet comfortable and healthy. The Smartwool team is comprised of experts in the science of foot protection, and their engineers [...]
Finding a good boxer brief isn’t always the easiest thing to do for men. For us active men, we typically want something that will keep us secure while keeping us dry. When I first heard that I was getting a pair of boxers that were cotton and they were going to keep me dry, I [...]
I stumbled upon this brand at the Outdoor Retailer show in January. My schedule was packed, but I quickly stopped by the booth because I laughed when I saw their sign, and I had to see if Handful was actually what I thought it was. (It is.) Borrowing from the old saying, Handful is [...]
Lorpen is a quality sock brand based in the Basque region of Spain (read: tested in the rigors of the Pyrenees). Their vision is “to product the best technical socks for serious outdoor activities”. I have been wearing both the Light and the Ultralight versions on the trails for a few months. They have become [...]
Mammut clearly listened to feedback from skiers and riders when they made the Bristol Jacket, and it is an excellent choice for resort-goers. With high-end fabrics, strong attention to detail, and well-thought-out features, the Bristol jacket is a premium option in the lightly-insulated, free skiing/snowboarding jacket category. DRYtech fabric keeps the wetness out and [...]
Mammut is a Swiss brand that falls into the category of high-end performance wear, and caters to the needs of the extreme-use customers, such as mountain guides and other outdoor professionals. The Mammut Nordwand Jacket is exemplary of Mammut’s commitment to performance. The Nordwand is a hard shell featuring GORE-TEX’s top-of-the-line Pro Shell 3-Layer fabric. [...]
Sierra Designs has a fashion-forward hoody for female outdoor adventurists; the Instigator Hoody is a stylish-yet-technical piece that any woman would be happy to add to her wardrobe. With the weather this winter fluctuating from 60 degrees to 0 degrees (and back again), I have been able to test the Instigator Hoody in [...]
I have been practicing yoga for ten years and I’ve tried a lot of brands and styles, typically taking my queues from others in class. I know, I know. My attention should be inwardly-focused. Most of the time it is. But I have to admit that, sometimes in downward dog, I think, “I wonder [...]
I should confess, I have a thing with bags. I love them. This means I am fairly discerning, and the Haiku To-Go Bag did not disappoint. First, the color and design are beautifully unique. They are subtle, but just significant enough to attract the eye. With dimensions of 10”h x 11”w x 4”d, the size [...]
Buff is the purveyor of versatile headwear that is a multi-functional, stylish, unisex alternative to traditional hats for sun protection and warmth. Now Buff is venturing outside their headwear box, and has developed an infinity scarf (Infinity Lyocell Buff) for 2012, that functions much in the same way traditional Buff headwear has been used. [...]
Looking for a seamless base-layer for your winter pursuits? Look no further than the Isis Lotus Foldover Turtle. The Lotus Foldover features a seamless construction, which is perfect for layering and next to skin comfort, no matter how demanding the endeavor. I have been wearing the Lotus Foldover while running, skiing, and snowshoeing. I have [...]
