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 [...]
The Amaya top by prAna is a multifunctional tank for sure. I have worn this tank to yoga, for a run, or to a quick happy hour in the neighborhood. Each time, I have felt completely covered and a little sassy with the colorful print. The Amaya is made from Chakara performance fabric which made [...]
This winter you can stay warm, look stylish and go easy on the environment in the Stone Ranch Fleece, $150, from GoLite, www.golite.com. Its super warm with eye-catching details reminiscent of a shearling coat, but made from 100% recycled materials in colors bright enough to give you a boost on the darkest winter day. Don’t [...]
In 2009, lilypond, a line of bag’s designed specifically for active women, was launched by parent company fishpond. Fishpond is a well known Colorado based manufacturer within the fly-fishing industry. After a year of success, lilypond is set to release 6 new styles next spring. Fortunately, I was able to check out lilypond’s Desert Willow, [...]
If you loved your Mountain Hardwear Phantom jacket, you are going to love the Nitrous Jacket. The Nitrous Jacket, available for men and women, packs the same amount of great warmth as my ‘ole favorite, but weighs even less and packs down even smaller. Plus, the Nitrous has some style to it with a subtle [...]
I have been testing out Patagonia’s newly designed R3® Hi-Loft Hoody in the ever fashionable purple hue. The R3 Hi-Loft Hoody has quickly become a personal and family favorite. I say this because we now refer to the purple R3 as “Grimace”. For instance, one might say, “the weather may turn a bit chilly, why [...]
The Mizuno Wave Ascend held true to its claim to be built for the mild over-pronator who requires a combination of cushioning and stability. After 5 weeks of 3-4 times a week wear on a variety of terrain, the Mizuno Wave Ascend held up nicely with only slight wear. The AIRmesh uppers only adds to [...]
The Mizuno Wave Cabrakan was an excellent shoe to test with the anticipation cooler weather right around the corner. When first stepping into the Cabrakan, the arch support and cushion were prominent. The shoe was immediately taken out to tackle the trails in Colorado high country. I was immediately impressed with the beathability of [...]
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 [...]
Looking for a shoe that will help you make the most of everyday chores and errands? Try the 1442′s by New Balance which incorporate their latest rock&tone technology. The rock&tones emphasize heel to toe walking thanks to a rocker board design that engages the muscles of your legs and backside. These shoes are designed for [...]
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 [...]
Looking for a lightweight trail runner that can handle speed and rugged terrain? If yes, check out the Vasque Aether Tech. The shoes proved to have great traction in all conditions including snow, mud, loose dirt and gravel. Reinforced fabric also kept the feet dry and the socks mud free. It also helps increase the [...]
Patagonia’s Merino II Dress has been on camping trips, to family gatherings, neighborhood bbq’s, and packed in a backpack for multiple airline trips. As Patagonia says, this dress is soft, comfortable, and ready for anything. So far, I couldn’t agree more. The Merino II has a recycled polyester core made from soda bottles. The remainder [...]
As a Chaco owner for 8 years, I was stoked to check out a new pair of Z/2 Pro’s. My 8-year-old Chaco Z/2 sandals have seen better days; nicely worn treads which make hiking on slick rock a treacherous exercise, and straps that are gunked down with sand and no longer adjust the way they used [...]
Karhu has been in the shoe making industry for quite sometime. This spring, however, was the first time I have had the chance to put my feet in a pair of Karhu’s. Like our male tester, I was also given a pair of Forward Fulcrum Ride shoes. The Forward is a neutral shoe that incorporates [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
