Eddie Bauer has long been known for their incredible down products. In fact, Eddie Bauer was the pioneer of down development in the late-1930′s, and he patented the first down jacket in America in 1940. Eddie Bauer also developed the first down flight suit for U.S. airmen in World War II, and outfitted the first Americans [...]
With a corporate headquarters located in the beautiful Aspen, Colorado, the family-run, privately held Obermeyer knows first hand what it takes to protect outdoor enthusiasts from head to toe in the sometimes extreme Colorado Rockies. They offer a full line of winter gear that not only includes great jackets, but also pants, fleece, base layers, [...]
Patagonia. When I think of the brand I have an impression a bit like I get from American truck brands: no-frills, solid performance, great durability. Patagonia focuses on making great gear with technical features for performance sake. You won’t see a lot of neon colors or features with names you can’t pronounce in the Patagonia [...]
Having the right pair of gloves can make or break your day on the slopes. If you like your hands warm and dry all day long, then you should definitely check out the Columbia Sportswear Mountain Monster Gloves or Mittens. I have worn the mittens on several recent visits to the slopes of Summit County, and [...]
Having spent the last 14 years enjoying 75 degree winter days in Phoenix, Arizona, I forgot how important it is to own a good pair of boots. In preparation for my first winter in Colorado, I decided to try out the Columbia Sportswear Bugaboot Omni-Heat winter boot. While it actually does not snow very often [...]
Relying on good-old-fashioned, native ways to keep your hands warm may raise some eyebrows in this high-tech era, but if it worked for the rugged Cree Indians, it can certainly work for modern man. It’s no secret that mittens are warmer than gloves, and the Cree tribes that inhabited the areas around northern Minnesota, [...]
The Ortovox 3+ is an avalanche transceiver with smart antenna technology. This means that it uses intelligent position recognition to automatically find the best transmission antenna for where you are. The Ortovox 3+ is small, fairly lightweight, and sleek. When I initially took the beacon out of the box I had a bit of [...]
The Helly Hansen Mission Jacket has become my go-to ski jacket for the winter season. This jacket is a perfect choice for the resort skier who wants a bit of insulation without too much bulk, allowing the option to layer up or down according to weather. The Mission Jacket is stylish, functional, and has some [...]
If you are in the market for a pair of versatile ski or ride pants, look no further than the Outdoor Research Aspect Pants. These pants are available for men and women – equal-opportunity awesomeness. The Aspect Pants are composed of a highly-breathable, waterproof, soft shell fabric (Ventia Dry). I found these pants to be [...]
Mammut’s Arctic Mitten features a combo of 600-fill goose down and synthetic fill. Together, the insulation is designed to keep your hands toasty regardless of the temperature or type of adventure. I am a good mitten/glove tester because my hands are typically colder than most, even when sitting around the evening fire. Therefore, I have [...]
If you are anything like me, you spend hours, days, and weeks researching and comparing the latest products for all your favorite activities, as new gear is released each season. We spend our hard earned money on the best products that we can afford…sometimes because of our superb abilities…and sometimes because we believe the [...]
For the skier who is in search of the best gear on the market, The North Face Enzo Pant might just fit the bill for you. I’ve been testing out the North Face Enzo Pants over the past few months on the slopes of Keystone, Breckenridge, and A-Basin and hiking and snowshoeing on the trails [...]
The Helly Hansen Enigma Jacket is the greatest jacket that I could not use because of a fatal fit issue. The Enigma is Helly’s top-of-the-line insulated ski jacket and it is one of the most comfortable and feature-packed things I have ever worn. No expense was spared in the creation of this jacket and [...]
Winter boots often times are full of function, but as many of us know, most lack fashion. While I am not a fashionista, I do enjoy a good looking and functioning piece of gear. The Sorel Kitchner Frost High is a winter boot that has the classic leather outer and a rubber toe box area. [...]
With winter in full swing and lots of people heading to the slopes, I hope to bring you this jacket review just in time to help your ski jacket purchase decision. Over the past few months, I’ve been testing out the Mountain Hardwear Vertical Peak Jacket while skiing at Breckenridge, Keystone, and Arapahoe Basin. The [...]
Finding the right balance between warmth and breathability/ease of movement is always a challenge in cold weather sports apparel. Obermeyer has achieved that elusive combination with its Coco Jacket — not too hot, not too cold. Carving turns on the Beaver Creek slopes with my board, my torso twisted about with ease in this lightweight [...]
The Bleecker Stretch Pants by The North Face are women-specific, ski/ride pants, new for this winter. The Bleecker Pants feature more than simply feminine colors and slightly smaller sizes; TNF has tailored these pants to the female body in order to optimize shape and comfort. The Bleecker cut is a low rise, straight fit through the [...]
When it comes to cold weather, Isis has you covered with their Whisper down products. Isis offers a solution for all of your active and casual needs with the Whisper Jacket, Whisper Hoodie, Whisper Hoodie Vest, and Whisper Coat. A few years back, I reviewed the shorter-length Whisper Hoodie, and this year I had the [...]
As most people know, goose down is one of nature’s best insulators and the benefits of its use in outerwear is readily apparent. Depending on its fillpower and amount, down clothing can be a full-on, heavy-duty jacket for the most brutal cold, or a nice insulating layer to add under a shell when temperatures [...]
Sorel, once again, mixes fashion-forward and function with the Tofino Canvas Boot. Last year, I tested out Sorel’s Cate the Great and fell in love instantly. Since the Tofinos arrived, I sadly have not stepped foot in my Cates. The Tofinos are not only attractive, they pack features that make them worthy of calling themselves [...]
The Aerial Arson Shell from Columbia Sportswear is a light-weight, high-performance ski jacket that will also serve you well while hiking, snowshoeing, or grabbing dinner in your favorite mountain town. The ultra-breathable, waterproof Omni-Dry® slub fabric outer shell will cut the wind and seal out the rain, and the Omni-Heat® thermal reflective liner will keep you nice and warm. The [...]
Ski and Snowboard season is upon us and what better way to kick off the season to do some product testing on The North Face Perception Jacket. The Perception jacket is a Primoloft Eco insulated jacket with Gore Windstopper to help keep out the elements. Primoloft for those of you not aware of the insulation [...]
Winter is right around the corner. What shoes are you going to turn to when the snow and slop invades the sidewalks? Boots are great, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes you don’t need all of the extra protection that a boot offers. Slip-on clogs often fit the bill; as they are easy as pie [...]
