Chaco Z/1 Sandal

Posted on July 5, 2009 by geargals

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Yep, another one of those stories in which there is a lesson to be learned. The lesson is, as it so often has been in the past: read the directions! For years I thought I couldn’t wear Chaco sandals because they were always too tight. I could never even get my toe through the toe loop some Chaco models have. Rather than develop a complex about my tubby feet, I just wore other sandals, admiring Chacos from afar. That all changed last week when I tried the Z/1 sandal and actually read the adjustment directions conveniently printed on the box. Oh hey, you can just adjust the fit any way you want! Good grief – you’d think someone could have told me that earlier. Once adjusted, I was completely stoked with the Z/1s. They are super comfortable, and because they’re essentially held on your feet with a continuous loop of fabric, they don’t have any velcro or plastic parts to rub you raw. Well, the buckle is plastic but it’s on the top of the shoe so it doesn’t rub or get in the way. The Z/1 is a model without the toe loop, which is my preference, but if you like the toe loop you can, of course, get a model with that feature.

We’ve been having this insane summer of good weather up here, perfect for sandals, so the Z/1s have been a staple. They’re so comfortable and stable on your feet that you can wear them almost anywhere – a friend just wore them up a ridiculously steep mountain, but I don’t really recommend that. Aside from the occasional rock that worked its way under my foot, I thought the Z/1s were almost as comfortable as regular footwear, and I really need them because of the ridiculous sock tan-lines I have. I need the sandals to try to even that out! I wish these sandals came in a bike version, with clips on the underside. How cool would that be? They’re not elastic so you’d still get a somewhat stable shoe, and you wouldn’t get the bike socks tan lines. I dream of such a day. Anyhow, the straps on the Z/1s don’t have to be tight to keep the sandal where it belongs, and you can adjust the straps easily even while wearing them just by tugging on them a little bit. I see these sandals everywhere, there are tons of people wearing them and I sure see why! I even love the color of mine – same as in the picture above. Very cute, and there are many matchy-matchy options if you like that sort of thing. If you eschew fashion, you can always get basic black which I’m sure can transition from daytime to evening pretty easily, at least if you live in Alaska where black Chaco sandals count as formal wear. Definitely a winner, and I’m retiring my velcro-style sandals, or at least relegating them to fishing duty.

Filed under: Chaco, footwear | Leave a Comment »

Mountainsmith Modular Hauler 3 System Deluxe

Posted on July 1, 2009 by geargals

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How much do I love my Mountainsmith system? So much that I designed the gear racks for my car around the Mountainsmith bag. I never go anywhere without it. I like to keep my stuff organized and this is a CDOers dream. CDO is much like OCD except that all the letters are in alphabetical order, as they should be. But anyway, back to the Hauler. It’s basically a big bag with three smaller bags inside it, but it’s so much more than that. The three smaller bags are different colors so you can easily access whatever gear you want, and it still stays organized easily. You’d think it would get too heavy when full, but it never does. Those zippers hide portals to another dimension, I swear. It’s easily hoisted out of the car and back again, and since everything has its place, it’s a one-step operation.

The big bag has a rubber-reinforced bottom so it can be set on rocks, dirt, what have you. Why you would want to do that if you’re going to put it back in your hyper-clean car is beyond me, but maybe others aren’t quite as worried about their perfectly clean carpet. Each smaller bag has its own haul straps if you need to grab just one, and they’re all made with great construction and padded sides to protect your stuff. The big bag zippers shut over the smaller bags, giving others the illusion of organization even if you are secretly a cube slob. Whether you’re folding carefully or wantonly stuffing, the Modular Hauler has a place for everything.

One of my favorite features is the interchangeability of components. I took out one of the regular inner bags and substituted the K-9 Cube to make sure my dog not only had all his gear but that it was organized as well. It fit just perfectly, and since there are lots of specialty cubes to be had, you can customize the hauler to carry whatever you want! If I were to design the perfect cube combination, I’d take the K-9 Cube, the Bike Cube, and the Boot Cube. Oh, and the Cooler Cube and a Basic Cube for good measure. Hmm, guess I need a bigger hauler.

Filed under: Mountainsmith, stuff for haulin' stuff | Leave a Comment »

Highgear Enduro Axio Altimeter Watch

Posted on June 30, 2009 by geargals

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It’s no secret I am not a tech whiz, but it is a mystery how I end up reviewing all the tech stuff that comes our way. I rarely wear a watch and tend to just flat out not care about things like my heart rate, the altitude, how long it took me to do something, or, oh yeah – the time. I don’t have an odometer on my bike, I have never timed a hike or climb, and my answer to “how high is this mountain” is usually “who cares?” I’m just not one of those tech-addicted, number-obsessed people. I am not going to tell you a mountain is not a mountain because it’s only X meters away from some other mountain, or run home to mark on a map the latest choss pile I climbed, or bang out a long dramatic blog post about how far I ran that day. I mean, it’s all just so randomly inane and fussy.

Numbers just don’t matter to me. So it’s pretty funny that Enduro’s latest offering has really won me over. I was so stoked with this gadget’s cute look, ease of use, cool altimeter, and well-fitting wristband that I actually checked the time before and after my ride, AND monitored the altitude the whole time! I have to admit it’s kind of fun to see whether the pressure is dropping, and just how high you’ve climbed. It’s rare for a tech watch to actually fit a small-boned wrist, and the Axio fits great, with room to spare for those tiny, tiny people. The watch face is a reasonable size; not one of those gigantic watch faces the size of a frisbee. You can wear this watch and still look cute; it’s classy enough to make the transition to social use. Now, admit it, you know it looks ridiculous when people wear enormous dive watches out to dinner or to the movies. It’s like a billboard, “Look at me! I’m outdoorsy!” If you really need to advertise your hobbies, you probably want a more in-your-face style of watch. This one is streamlined, pretty, and subtle.

The device seems very intuitive; I could figure stuff out without the instructions. This is a big deal, everyone. I usually can’t figure out how to manipulate the controls and then give up after a few minutes, and end up wearing a beer can-sized watch with the wrong time and with a billion wasted functions. This one, I got, though. I got the time figured out and was able to find the altimeter with just a few button pushes. Now that I’ve read the directions, I’m more confused than I was before, so I recommend going with the “intuition” method. There are a ton of functions – I was keen to see that there’s even a little weather forecast icon! Too bad it didn’t have a ‘thunderstorm’ picture, because that’s what I got stuck out in, but it did warn me clouds were coming. It also has a compass, which is pretty neat, although that requires calibrating which is too much work for me. There’s also a data function for those who want to track their total altitude, and many, many alarms, including a hydration alarm for people who can’t figure out if they’re thirsty. OK folks, I draw the line there. I like playing with the functions on this watch, but if you really need your watch to tell you to drink, you must put down the technology and back away slowly.

So I’ll never use the hydration alarm, but this watch has converted me into a watch-wearer. I love the look and the fit, and the ease of access to all the functions. If only all electronics were this easy and attractive!

Filed under: Highgear, electronics | Leave a Comment »

Original Buff

Posted on June 21, 2009 by geargals

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Buffs are well-known from that TV show, you know, the one that gets me scornful looks when I mention it. I want to talk about the Buff, and so I have to mention the show so they know what it is, so then they give me a look and say “you watch that show?” For the record, no, I do not watch that show, or any shows for that matter, or any television at all, mostly because I get really disgusted at the way television programs people to want stuff and buy stuff and act like the people on TV and look like the people on TV, etc. So it is a tad ironic that I’m a huge fan of the Buff which got its start on TV. Of course no one else watches that show either, so the Buff usually gets called a “do-rag” instead. Whatever. I think that TV show really gives the Buff a bad rap because I really love these things. They come in any conceivable color and pattern, and can be manipulated in any way you want. I usually wear them under my bike helmet to keep flyaway hairs in check and soak up all the sweat. They are perfect for this as they aren’t too tight or too heavy.

They also come in several different lengths and weights. You can use the winter wool weight as a balaclava, hat, neck gaiter, or anything else really. The lighter ones can be hats, hairbands, bandannas, bandeau tops, bracelets – there are infinite possibilities. I’m tossing out my old standard bandannas – there’s a new kid in town and it’s far and away a better option. The Buff isn’t just hype!

Filed under: balaclavas, hats | 1 Comment »

Pearl Izumi Sugar Bike Knicker

Posted on June 20, 2009 by geargals

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Notice a lot of posts about bike gear lately? Yes, it’s bike season, and it’s a short season up here so for a few months it’s all about the biking. I have to admit I pretty much like most bike shorts I wear, because if they aren’t comfortable I sure won’t be wearing them. These knicker-length bike shorts are no exception – they’ve got good padding and are pretty comfortable thanks to a lower-than-usual waistband (cut higher in back for modesty). These are definitely not thermal, so they don’t do much to keep the cold at bay when it’s chilly, but they’re good for slightly cooler days and days in which bushwhacking is on the schedule. Here in Alaska we have something called cow parsnip. It’s a plant that is pretty innocuous unless you happen to come into contact with sap from broken stems or leaves, and then go out in the sun. Then it leaves horrible welts that last months. Thing is, most XC trails around here are chock full of cow parsnip, and in mid-season it grows up to completely cover the trails. If you want to ride the trails without cow parsnip issues, you have to wait for a rainy or very cloudy day, wait until the vegetation dies back in the fall, or wear long sleeves and long pants. If you don’t want to wait, then just get used to bushwhacking even though you’re on a well-traveled trail.

I’ve found that the knicker option is actually pretty effective, as I can at least bump the plants back with my knees which are protected by the knicker. My shins and calves don’t seem to contact the cow parsnip very much. So far, so good – so these knickers get a lot of action mid-season.

While these aren’t very warm, they’re still good for when weather is unpredictable. The downside is that it’s impossible to put on leg warmers with knickers – you have to put them over the knicker and then the grip doesn’t work and they slide down. You pretty much have to put pants over them or just deal with having cold shins. I like the waistband which is low-cut in front – my preference is for low-rise; it’s more comfortable – but is more than adequately cut to cover the bum in back. It has a regular string drawstring which I find I prefer to having an elastic waistband.

My other complaint about these pants is the seam that runs down the center of the legs. It’s not uncomfortable, but it does leave marks straight down the center of my legs that remain for several hours afterwards. I don’t notice it when I am actually wearing the pants, but it’s kind of annoying to have marks on my legs all day after riding. I’ve also noticed that the padding is not as long in the rear as I’m used to, and when I’m on and off my seat, it can catch on the front of my seat when I’m trying to remount the bike. When I try to get back on while going downhill, this can be a real hazard. Other than that, I find that the padding on these shorts is among the most comfortable of the shorts I own, and I have to say that’s probably the most important part of a pair of bike shorts, as far as I’m concerned.

Filed under: Pearl Izumi, bike shorts | Leave a Comment »

Sugoi Neo Pro Bike Shorts

Posted on June 15, 2009 by geargals

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As I’ve recently discovered, bike shorts aren’t the most convenient things to wear out, especially when one is in the middle of a 30 mile XC ride. It is always sad when a favorite piece of gear wears out, but bike shorts’ failure can be catastrophic. Why? Come on, you all can figure this out. Was a tad awkward. I should have seen it coming from the fraying hems and weakening spandex. Ah well, at least I was with friends.

Anyway, the sad passing of my Sugoi Neo Pro shorts made me realize that I’d never reviewed them for the site. Strange, because these have been my favorites for the last year. Yep, I wore out a pair of bike shorts in one year. And the bike season up here is only really four months long! I’ve pretty much lived in these shorts, having worn these for 90% of my rides. I can see how much I’ve been wearing these from the intense tan lines on my legs. Perhaps it’s time to try a new length to even out the tan situation, but I do love this length. They are (were) just right, hitting just at the end of the hamstring muscle – a nice length because it doesn’t feel like a boa constrictor around the muscle. They have (er, had) great padding and a nice soft chamois. The waist (about the only thing that’s left) is cut on the bias, so it’s higher in back to allow for the road-biking-hunch thing, if that’s your bag.

I really loved these shorts. Now that I’m thinking about it, it’s pretty impressive that they lasted as long as they did, because I’m not too gentle on any of my bike gear. I ride every day, sometimes more than once a day. I crash a lot, get really dirty, and greatly enjoy thrashing through bushes and tree branches. Bike shorts do not have an easy life in this household. So I can attest to the lasting power of these shorts, even as I’m off to buy another pair.

Filed under: Sugoi, bike shorts | Leave a Comment »

Merrell Chameleon Arc Mary Jane Shoe

Posted on June 8, 2009 by geargals

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So this web site came into being because it seemed as if women had fewer gear options than men, and I wanted to change that, or at least point it out. Well, ladies, it’s our lucky day because it turns out that in some cases, we DO have more gear options than men! In the shoe department, we are pulling ahead, at least in footwear styles. Don’t get me wrong, I know there is still a huge gap in the amount of technical footwear available for women vs. that available for men, but at least we can all take some comfort in the fact that we get to wear Mary Janes and the guys don’t; that is, unless they can find these fabulous shoes in their size. See, it sucks when you want a pair of shoes but can’t find the right fit, doesn’t it, boys?

I didn’t know what to expect from the “technical Mary Jane” category, but this offering from Merrell blew me away. They are super comfortable and supportive; just like a normal hiking shoe. Plus, they are cute! Cute as a button! They are the perfect match with a pair of shorts or an outdoorsy skirt. Best of all, you don’t have to worry about hiding your callouses or lack of pedicure – and you STILL look adorable. I don’t see how we can possibly lose with this one.

No more clunky, awkward sandals, no more supportless flip flops; Mary Janes are a great compromise and the Chameleon Arcs can handle just about any type of trail – really! They fit like low hikers – you won’t even miss the laces – and feature a lugged, nicely stiff sole for bopping over rocks and scooting down screes. I constantly look for excuses to wear these fab Mary Janes. I’m tempted to make a hiking date so I can demonstrate my ability to scamper up slopes while still being just ever so adorably feminine. I know, I know; I’m being all cutesy. But look at my shoes! How can I not inject some cute here?

Filed under: Merrell, footwear | 1 Comment »

La Sportiva FC 1.1

Posted on June 6, 2009 by geargals

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Today we are celebrating our 100th post by featuring something from our tried and true La Sportiva line. I’m such a La Sportiva fan. I’m kind of surprised they keep sending me stuff, as if I’m ever not going to like it. After burning through last year’s Sandstone GTX-XCR hiking shoes, I was thrilled when they sent their new FC 1.1 (which evidently stands for Flex Control 1.1. I don’t know what the 1.1 is all about) low hiker. A solid, reasonably stiff, waterproof hiking shoe, it’s light, comfortable, and strong enough for multi-day trips. La Sportiva says this shoe has a highly adaptable fit for all types of feet, and I have to concur that it really will adapt itself to your feet, and quickly. I was kind of unsure about the FC’s when I first put them on, but an hour later I kept saying “I really like these shoes!” and they’re the ones I reach for now on reflex.

The FCs feature my favorite IBS system, too! Yes, I love IBS! I can’t stop making that joke. IBS, in La Sportiva terms, stands for Impact Brake System, and it’s meant to reduce impact forces on the legs of wearers of IBS-equipped shoes. As an impact-forces sufferer, I think it really does work. These shoes grip really well and can be counted on to descend the loosest of screes and the slickest of wet rocks. It also makes going up, as in up a mountain, much more pleasant, since it doesn’t slip on the up or the down.

Once again I’m left short on words to describe a La Sportiva offering, because there’s simply nothing else to say, other than “These are great! You’ll like them.” Sheesh, good thing I’m the boss around here, or I’d get some serious nagging about my word count.

Filed under: La Sportiva, footwear | Leave a Comment »

Mountain Hardwear Quark Jacket

Posted on May 27, 2009 by geargals

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Anyone who has gone anywhere with me in the past year knows how obsessed I am with my MHW Stimulus Jacket. I wear it everywhere, on hike trips, bike trips, ski trips, you name it. I have serious Stimulus love. I even bought a second one just in case something tragic happens to the first one. So naturally I was stoked to try the Quark, which is the hooded version of the Stimulus, kinda. It’s much the same; with the same ultrathin, ultralight material, same basic styling, and same ability-to-be-stuffed-into-its-own-pocket, but there are a few differences. First, the fit is much more relaxed. I really think this is meant to accommodate the pit zips, which the Stimulus doesn’t have. If you like pit zips, you will like this modification. Personally, I despise pit zips. If you need that much ventilation, take your jacket off! Put on a different layer. Just leave the jacket in one piece. That way, all jackets can be more streamlined and pretty. As it is, I feel like this jacket has a bit too much extra fabric everywhere. Too baggy, even though it’s the same size as my venerated Stimulus.

It also seems a bit longer than the Stimulus, just a tad. It could be just an illusion because of the bagginess, but it does seem as if there’s a little extra length, but no extra width to go along with it. Since it hits a little lower than hip bones, being slightly too snug in that area creates still more bagginess, since the hem of the jacket is bound to ride up a little. Sigh. Perhaps this is one for the taller ladies. One more design difference – the Quark has rip-and-stick (otherwise known as Velcro) cuffs. My instant dislike of most things Velcro makes me think this is a major step down from the Stimulus’s elastic cuffs. Again, just a preference thing – but I don’t really get the appeal of Velcro cuffs on a lightweight jacket. You’re not likely to be wearing gloves or mittens so you don’t need a cuff that can snug down over the cuffs of your gloves, do you? Who knows, maybe you do, but I don’t.

The hood is OK, if you like hoods. I suppose that’s the whole point of the Quark, having a hood, so there you have it. I got to use the hood as a mosquito shield yesterday, and I was darn glad to have it, so I can tell you that it works well for that, anyway. I know I sound as if I’m being really negative about this piece, so don’t get me wrong, it’s a great jacket and will keep you warm and dry in all kinds of conditions, and is superlight and super compressible to boot. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this jacket, other than that it has pit zips and I don’t particularly like pit zips. It has Velcro cuffs and I don’t like Velcro. Therefore, I am biased – but let me fall back on that little caveat of opinion. With the pit zips, it’s just not as good as the Stimulus, or so I think now, while it’s not raining out. I guarantee you that the first time I’m out in pouring rain in the hoodless Stimulus, I will be thinking, “hmm, wish I’d brought the Quark instead.”

Filed under: Mountain Hardwear, jackets, superlight | Leave a Comment »

Mountain Hardwear Vail Computer Bag

Posted on May 26, 2009 by geargals

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Everyone who knows me (or reads this site) knows that I am pretty merciless when it comes to making fun of stuff. Bloggers are currently in my crosshairs, especially outdoor/adventure/sports bloggers.

Since the Geargals site has become more popular, I’ve been pinged by a few outdoorish blogs so I got curious and did some reading. My conclusion: blogs written by outdoorish people are bad. Hilariously bad. As an outdoorish person with a web site, I really don’t know what to think about my conclusion, but my opinion stands. I’ve read five accounts of the same endurance race, written by five different participants – each covers not only their story but everyone else’s story, and each of them are remarkably the same: “It was far, really far. And very cold, and really snowy. I got really cold. I had to ski and ski and ski and ski and then I slept. And then I ate a bunch, and then slept, and I was cold so I skied to get warm. Then I ate. [Insert name of other participant] was struggling, because it was very cold and the race was very long, and very snowy.” The tendency to mention other bloggers is my favorite part. You get these people together and they ALL have to blog about each other, and make ego-massaging comments about how badass and hardcore the other bloggers are.

And the pictures! The pictures. Oh, my. How many billions of pictures do they need to post? “Here is the view from the start. Here is the view 20 minutes later. Here is the view from my lunch spot. Here is a picture of my muddy boot. Wow, that mud hole sure was muddy! Here is a picture of my skis. Here is a picture of my totally disgusting sweaty, blistered, shriveled feet. Here is a picture of my car at the end of my hike.” God! Give me a break. Stop. Please stop. No one wants to see the 11th picture in a row of the same micro-dot on a hillside a quarter mile away that you claim is a mountain goat.

I also can’t get over the number of people who go on a trip and then scamper home to their computers to post the (usually rather mundane) photos all. over. the. Internet. In the course of my research for this article I found a few local folks who post the same trip reports over and over again, on over a DOZEN message boards. They use the same username on all of them. And post the same stuff. Hee! It’s too good. How much of a badass hardcore skier/biker/climber/whatever are you if 90% of your day is spent posting on the Internet – and not even hiding it? And I know I post on the Internet via this site all the time, but that’s different! It’s my actual JOB. It’s not the same. Shut up.

Hypocritical, you say? Hear me out – this blog is about gear. Lots of different kinds of gear, how it performs, and what it’s like. Most outdoor blogs are about….the blogger. One person who is convinced that the interwebs need to know their every move and thought. Hardly any actual, useful, interesting information is posted on these blogs because they are too focused on being soooooo self-contratulatory.

It’s painfully transparent that each and every one of these people is seeking attention, sponsorships, and/or jobs, but since very few of them can come up with anything other than the I’m-so-badass-and-committed-yet-amusingly-self-depracating schtick, none of them stand out. And because these blogs and message boards are just too good to be true and too funny not to be completely in-your-face serious, we’re honoring the outdoor blogger by featuring this MHW laptop bag. Of course, this is a women’s laptop bag, and my few hours of outdoor blogger research revealed the unconfirmed theory that most outdoor bloggers are dudes, so this might not be of help to actual bloggers. Which is OK, since they don’t seem to ever put their laptops away, so they probably don’t need a bag anyway.

First, though, we’ve got to make fun of some folks. For your entertainment, I’ve collected The Very Best of Outdoor Blogs and Message Boards (at least the ones that my one day of research uncovered), in all their hysterically self-important glory. I’m not sure what to do about giving credit where credit is due, but I’m also not sure anyone wants to actually claim any of these quotes. So I’ll post them without sources for now, unless anyone spazzes.

  • ” I have got to say that I’m EXTREMELY impressed with myself.”
  • “What I have not revealed up to this point is that I loaned [her} my bike, which she knows is a crazily exotic bike, thereby causing her untold intrepidation. Nobody drives so slowly and overcautiously as in a borrowed Ferrari." OK, OK, we get it, your bike is nice and you liken it to a Ferrari. I'm also pretty sure that "intrepidation" is not, you know, a word. Try "trepidation". Now, if any bloggers find this post, I'll be deluged with heaps of criticism about my own grammar and spelling, mark my words.
  • "But the blood and humiliation was all worth it to have a chance to meet the master." Note: "the master" is....another blogger. We're not talking meeting Ed Viesturs, here.
  • "Sitting at the kitchen table one day later raw is how I feel, like I rubbed my whole being hard up against the earth, scraping away layers, physical and deeper." Now, this person is talking about a ONE DAY ski trip in great weather with good conditions. Drama much?
  • "I rode X miles up X feet in elevation in X amount of time in [insert dramatically inclement weather here].” OK, that’s not a direct quote, but it sums up the content of 99% of outdoor blog posts. Trust me, I just saved you a bunch of time.
  • “the doc also issued a stern warning that he meant ‘normal for normal people, not normal for [me].’” Oooh, you’re so abnormal. We get it. Eyeroll.
  • “I weighed myself about 36 hours after I finished, and I had lost 4 pounds. At that point, I had already eaten about six big post-race meals, and my feet and ankles were still very swollen. At the finish, I was probably 6-8 ponds lighter than normal. For the first week afterwards, I was consistently eating 5-6 full meals a day. I weighed myself again a week later, and I was back to my normal weight. All in all, not a lot of fluxuation.” The fussy hyper detail just to let us know that his weight didn’t change is what got this one into the Best List.

Two words sum up these blogs: WHO CARES? Trust me, bloggers; no one besides your spouse and your mom care about the mundane details of every little trip outside your front door. Give it a rest, already. But for those of you who set their best PRs sprinting for their keyboards to make a post after every hike you go on, take a gander at this MHW laptop bag. It’s spiffy! It’s got bold black and white styling; you won’t look boring and corporate. It’s MHW so everyone will know you’re outdoorsy, even though you’re sitting at the local Starbucks, typing and posting pictures for three and a half hours. The handy outside zippered pocket holds your thumb drives, cell phone, and whatever you can think of to clip to that little spiral telephone-cord looking thing inside the pocket.

For some reason, the zippered opening is not as big as the actual bag itself, so laptop size is limited. My 15″ MacBook fits in the bag with a bit of maneuvering, but those of you with those desk-sized machines are out of luck.  There’s not a ton of extra space for much else, so if you travel with a (small) laptop, a normal-sized notebook, and a few other knickknacks, this will be perfectly sized for you. Have fun typing away!

P.S. I totally have a bet going as to how much hate mail and accusations of hypocrisy I’m going to get over this post, so let ‘em rip. At least I know you can’t get me on the pictures, I just post gear pictures, so there

Filed under: Mountain Hardwear | Leave a Comment »

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