Confession: I’ve never worn a light hiking shoe. It’s not that none have tickled my fancy, it’s that I don’t have enough room in my closet for a shoe for every activity in my life. And truthfully, sometimes hiking shoes are so heavy and masculine that I’m not drawn to them. So often, my running [...]
I just returned from two days at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market (ORWM), an outdoor industry trade show. ORWM is where all the labels (large and small) showcase their new product for the following year, in this case Fall/Winter 2012/13. Retailers come from all over to see and touch the new goods, and to place their [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
If you are planning an upcoming trip, you should check out some of the latest products from Lole, including the Passage Pants and Theory Top. The Passage Pants have quickly become a key player in my wardrobe due to their versatility and comfort. The Passage Pants can be worn for many days in a row [...]
The Exofficio Give-N-Go® line has been a hit for outdoor enthusiasts and jet-setters alike for its light-weight performance and low maintenance. I recently tried out the Give-N-Go® Short-Sleeve Tee and was happy with the experience. I wore the shirt both as an undershirt and on a trip to the gym, and it worked great for each. The shirt fit well, [...]
prAna is known for making great travel and hiking friendly pants. That is why I had such high expectations for the Cadence Cargo Pant. Unfortunately, these pants did not live up to their predecessors in my book. It wasn’t the fabric or construction that bothered me, rather the fit. Before getting to the fit, let’s [...]
The Penumbra Dress by Horny Toad is another top performer in the casual and travel category for fall and winter. The Penumbra is available in ginger, shark, and walnut. I’ve been testing out the dress in shark and for starters, I am not totally convinced that the dress is gray. It almost looks blue when [...]
Traveling this fall has been made easier thanks to the Nadia dress by prAna. The Nadia dress is ready for just about any occasion within a few minutes of pulling it from your pack-carry-on or suitcase. The Nadia achieves this simplistic style thanks to a perfect balance of rayon made from bamboo, organic cotton, and [...]
Horny Toad’s Chekov Pant offer a versatile cotton twill pant that one can get by with wearing at the office or easily pair with a t-shirt for more casual affairs. These cotton twill pants feature a 50/50 mix of your run of the mill cotton and organic cotton. The combo allows you to feel a tad better [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Sure, I’ve often been lectured about the benefits of ‘travel clothes’, packing light and wash n ‘wear. But I never paid attention. Jeans, extra jeans, hiking pants, etc. My mantra is throw it all in the bag and see what you need. That is until I discovered Lole’s aptly named Explore One Pant. I was [...]
The Vona Cardigan by ExOfficio is a super soft sweater that not only keeps you warm, but doesn’t make you feel extremely guilty while doing so. Yes, the Vona is a green product: the fabric is a combination of wool, nylon, and soybeans (15%). The Vona’s fabric blend is super soft and cozy like typical [...]
Being a female and short in height, it can be hard to find a pack that fits and fits comfortably. I already accepted that I fit in kid’s sized hats, but I wasn’t ready to give in and use a kid size backpack. My body was getting used to knots and pain in the shoulder [...]
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 [...]
Sea to Summit is always looking for a way to shave the weight of your pack, whether its super concentrated soap, silk weight compression sacks, or their latest Pocket body wash, shampoo with conditioner, hand soap, laundry wash, or shaving soap. We recently went on a 2 week trip and only took the pocket wash [...]
As a value shopper I like to get the most bang for my buck. I typically buy the largest bottle of shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen, lotion, hand sanitizer, and camp soap because it is the best value when broken down by price per ounce. The bad thing about buying in bulk is that when you are [...]
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 [...]
Cushe (pronounced koosh-ee) is a UK lifestyle shoe brand established in 2004. Cushe states that they create footwear for dynamic, unique individuals with an appetite for adventure but who know how to chill with the best of them. Cushe loves the small details and it shows in the construction and materials of the Baja Chill. [...]
A light weight camp stove is a must for any traveler that wants to go fast and pack as little as possible. However, it has to work or the consequence can be serious. M.S.R. has been making stoves and other cookware for 40 years and they know that keeping things simple is the best way [...]
