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 [...]
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 [...]
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 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 [...]
Helly Hansen’s Women’s Pace Singlet is a sporty, attractive, and functional top that should be added to your 2011 wardrobe. Every time I hit the trails in the Colorado Mountains I find myself putting on my Pace Singlet. The Pace Singlet is ultra light. There is nothing worse than on a 90+ degree day wearing [...]
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 [...]
It is the sound and the look of my shoe hitting the pavement that makes me smile these days. When I run, I make it a point to enjoy every second of it because being a mother of two, every second counts! At first glance, the Saucony Pro Grid Mirage caught my attention. It is [...]
There is something special about trail running. For me, it is the thought of being able to make my own tracks, the feeling of freedom and letting each stride take me there. Robert Frost captured trail running best, “The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go [...]
Named after a mountain range in Switzerland, the Lowa Albula GTX WS is designed to take you where you want to go, whether near or far. The Albula GTX WS is women’s specific backpacking/trekking boot, hence the WS acronym. Lowa is known for making high quality mountaineering to hiking boots, therefore their standards or definitions [...]
Whether worn leggings, jeans, running tights or with boots and knee socks, the drop waist and shawl collar of the Evolt tunic is fun and figure flattering. An Eclon nylon, polyester and elastane knit fabric (Lole calls it their Travel Knit) resists wrinkling, even when rolled and stuffed in a duffel bag, stretches where you [...]
If you haven’t heard of Looptworks, it’s time, www.looptworks.com. The Portland, Oregon, company started in 2009, and uses pre-consumer manufacturing excess materials to create quality, limited-edition products. In addition to creating unique and functional products from t-shirts, to computer bags to coats, Looptworks ‘aims to rid the world of waste while inspiring a generation to [...]
Whether it is long sweeping turns on a stretch of fresh courdory, skating down the last run of the day, or hitting a powder stash in the trees, the Salomon Origins Topaz skis are ready to take the challenge. The Origins Topaz skis were the only skis we used for the first snowy month of [...]
The Asics Gel Speedstar 5 is a prime example of a company listening to its’ customers and creating a shoe to match the growing trend of minimalist running. For those that are not quite ready to bare all of their 10 toes, the Asics Gel Speedstar 5 may be a good launching point for those [...]
The Civetta Jacket from Mammut is more than your standard ski jacket. For instance, the Civetta jacket is extremely versatile for those that are seeking to head out into the backcountry-sidecountry-or stay in-bounds, because with the Civetta you get three jackets in one. The outer shell features Pontetorto® No Wind® that acts as a windblocker; [...]
I may not have grown up on the slopes as a ski racer, however I have always wanted a pair of leather mitts to look like one. Fortunately, Kombi’s Downy Mitt fits the bill and then some. The Downy Mitt is super warm and looks pretty stylish too. The Downy Mitt is available in white, [...]
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 [...]
Helly Hansen’s Women’s Verglas 3L Jacket features top notch fabric that provides ultimate weather protection. The Verglas 3L feautres HH’s Helly Tech R O2 that comes with the highest waterproof and breathability rankings; with 20,000m waterproofness and 20,000g breathability. You get all of this weather protection in a super light-compact package that can be easily [...]
Last year, I had coat envy of one of our male testers: he got to try out Patagonia’s Nano Puff Pullover and raved about it. This year, I received the Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody jacket to review. I am glad I was patient enough and waited my turn because the full zip design and added [...]
Versatility is an extremely important quality for a jacket to have. The North Face Eurus Jacket has this quality and many other excellent features. The Eurus is a new jacket within TNF’s Summit Series collection and is designed for aerobic alpine adventures and received approval from some of the most extreme outdoor athletes. I have [...]
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 [...]
New Balance released the new 870′s at the Chicago Marathon expo at the beginning of October. Fortunately, we were given a sneak peak at the women’s model and have been running in them since mid September. The first time I took them out for a spin was on an 18 mile training run. Typically, new shoes [...]
