I am a big fan of do it all clothes, especially since I travel so much. I don’t want to have to pack something different I can workout and hang out in. Mountain Hardwear has that concept down pact and their Double Wicked Lite Short Sleeve T is no exception. The super light weight fabric [...]
Ever wish you could have a dress as breathable and airy as an ultra light tech tee? Fortunately, your wishes have been answered by GoLite. New for this summer, GoLite released the sporty-yet fashionable Cayambe Reversible Travel Dress. The Cayambe weighs a mere 6.3 ounces and is constructed from GoLite’s DryMove Light fabric which is [...]
The I/O Bio Signature Sleeveless hoodie combines function with fashion. I tested the hoodie on a run, while lifting at the gym and for a couple hours of errand running around town. The amount of compliments I received while doing errands was continuous. While grocery shopping, sorting the recycling, and standing in line at the [...]
If you are an old-school, purist runner who thinks minimalist track shorts are the only proper running attire, well…I disagree. I love running skirts. They are comfortable, feminine yet functional and look great on most body types. One of the many reasons I despised gym class was the unisex, elastic-waistband, puffy shorts that managed to [...]
The weather is getting steamy as summer conditions set in, so why am I writing a review about a quarter zip long sleeve top? Good question. Mammut’s Zip Longsleeve All-Year Women’s top, however, is so versatile that I have kept it in my basket of tech tees for the summer. The All-Year top is made [...]
Polarmax puts a new spin on long underwear. The polarmax Zipmock technical base layer provides maximum comfort out of wool by blending it with acclimate dry polyester, for a fit that’s both comfortably warm and moisture wicking. As a base layer, it was up to the task of both chilly morning runs and winter snow [...]
Saucony’s been around the block a few times, which means from top to bottom, they rarely ever get it wrong. The men’s transition half zip definitely gets it right. We found it to be a great piece to throw over your normal favorite shirt for an early morning or late evening run, or any time [...]
Spring is in the air, trees are budding, flowers are blooming, and rising temperatures have you looking for a new favorite pair of shorts for the upcoming warmer months. Although the name might scare off a few people, we promise you that you don’t have to be a rock climber or guide to wear these [...]
I put the Yunnan Hiking Capri through tough conditions, including scrambling up a mountain through the brush, bouldering in the canyon and even running through the crowds at O’Hare International Airport during its’ busiest time of day. In every situation, the capris held up and performed well. While blazing my own trail, the capris were [...]
When you mention the company SmartWool, most people would say, “Yeah, that sock company!” Fortunately, SmartWool makes more than just socks these days. This spring, Smartwool updated their women’s Cottonwood Jersey, and I got a chance to test it out. The Cottonwood Jersey features Technical Knit Merino fabric in the body and polyester mesh panels [...]
Finding the perfect pair of hiking pants can be a difficult task, but Mammut has made your search a whole lot easier with the introduction of the Fiamma Pants. Ideal for hiking, snowshoeing, backpacking, or traveling abroad, these pants have treated us very well. The Fiamma Pants are made of a softshell material called SOFtech [...]
Merrell says, “Why pack more?” After testing out the Lenaia by Merrell, we couldn’t agree more. The Lenaia is an incredibly lightweight wonder that can fit in most gals’ purses but can provide up to 7 different options to keep your lower half covered. The Lenaia starts off as a pair of pants which can [...]
A few years ago, the words waterproof-breathable-and stretchy, were not listed as features in one single jacket. Rather, the jacket was waterproof OR breathable, not both. These days, manufacturers, such as Helly Hansen, have found a way to make a jacket that touts all three qualities. Helly Hansen’s Barrier Stretch 3L XP utilizes Helly Tech®XP [...]
This spring I had the opportunity to test 2 jackets that utilized the latest and greatest fabric technology, GORE-TEX® Paclite®. So what is GORE-TEX® Paclite®? Well, simply put it is a fully waterproof and breathable 3-layer fabric that weighs 15% less than other 3 layer constructions. Products featuring Paclite® are designed to endure extreme wet [...]
If you are an outdoor enthusiast that is looking for an ultra light-do-everything shell, then the Meru Jacket by The North Face might just be the jacket for you. The Meru incorporates GORE-TEX® PACLITE technology and many other note-worthy features to make this jacket one of my favorite pieces this spring. First and foremost, the [...]
The Colorado weather is fickle and can change in 10 minutes. This is true year round and is compounded as you gain altitude. This fact makes clothing decisions crucial. You may encounter wind, rain, sun or snow, during a trail run or day hike. I don’t want to pack 3 shells, but I don’t want [...]
When it comes to a button down hiking shirts, I typically don’t wear or like them because they fit sloppily and I feel like I am dressed much older than I really am. Fortunately, The North Face has addressed these problems and has a new top for this spring, the Stretch Boulder Molly. The Boulder [...]
SmartWool is known for their ability to incorporate merino wool into active wear that is not only fun, as well as functional. We recently tested out their arm warmers and were pleased to find that they far exceeded our expectations. The arm warmers are constructed from merino wool (63%), nylon (32%), and elastic (5%). Because [...]
Marmot’s Trail Wind Hoody is a featherweight jacket that weighs in at a skimpy 4 ounces (or 116 grams) for a women’s medium. If you are familiar with Marmot products, you may note the distinct similarity to the Ion Wind shirt. Both tops are wind resistant, breathable, water repellant, come with an attached hood, and [...]
The Munday’s Best khaki pant by Mountain Hardwear makes an attractive, versatile addition to one’s wardrobe, no matter what your activity level. These light weight pants are constructed of 97% nylon (3% elastane), allowing for excellent wicking and ventilation for more ardent activities. These pants are equally fit for relaxing in. They have become one [...]
Sometimes you run across a piece of gear that you can’t stop talking about to your friends and anyone else that will listen (gear shop junkies included). We’ve been testing the OR Rumor Hoody for the past couple of months and are happy to report back that it might be simple in concept, but it’s a piece [...]
Columbia’s Ziggin Rollup Capri follows the trend of versatile clothing: athletic pieces with high tech fabric that can be used for a variety of activities, yet they do not look out of place in the casual setting as well. In these economic times, it is important to have multifunctional pieces. We have been wearing the [...]
The North Face Prolix Pant is a soft shell pant that not only features ultraviolet protection and wind resistance, but also looks great on and off the trail or rock face. The Prolix has some stretch and truly move with you whether you are tackling a bouldering problem or heading for an uphill hike. We [...]
