Mountain Hardwear Natasha Hat
December 30, 2008
I have to grit my teeth and force myself to post this review, because as far as I know I’m the only person in town with the Natasha hat and I really would love to keep it that way. It’s so unique and adorable that I want it for my One Hat (my precious!). But it’s my job to share the joy, so here goes.
Not only is this a super cute and original way to block out the elements, but it is also one of the warmest hats I’ve ever tried. Wait, now that I am really thinking about it, it really is THE warmest hat I’ve ever tried. I was close to devastated when I couldn’t find it the other day and was facing a 12 hour day working outside in zero degree weather with no Natasha hat (luckily I did find it, so everyone breathe a sigh of relief). It’s really thick and plush, and has magical wicking powers! OK, not magical, but pretty darn good. It’s hard not to sweat in this hat since it’s so warm, but at least it does its part to keep me dry with that wickishness. It’s long enough to cover my ears and roomy enough to accommodate a high ponytail without getting all lumpy and weird. It stays super soft no matter what you do to it (within reason, people) and is undeniably perfect for the frozen north with that Eurasian flair. It even got the thumbs-up from my college-age students, which unfortunately makes me worry that I’m doing that age-inappropriate clothing thing (shout-out to my friend Kristen, who says “you know, if you have to ask….?”). As long as the age-inappropriate clothing doesn’t involve showing too much skin, though, I’ll take my chances and keep my Natasha hat. Once word gets out about this hat, it won’t be one of a kind anymore, but go on, go
buy it if you must.
Isis Monashee Jacket
December 28, 2008
Get the Monashee on sale at REI.com – click here!
FINALLY I feel fashionable on the ski hill. This is a jacket made for ladies only. It’s a super warm, waterproof, high-performance shell that also flatters. Because Isis makes gear just for women, the fit and styling is not just a women’s version of a men’s jacket. This jacket is for women who want warmth and performance while not sacrificing mobility – it’s cut just right. I like that shell jackets are moving away from parka styling and more and more of them, like the Monashee, are cut to hipbone length. It helps eliminate bulk and those weird issues you can get from the waist drawstrings on the parka-style jackets. You know, when your mid-layers ride up so that they kind of sit on top of the drawstring? That sucks, looks goofy, and is uncomfortable to boot. I think the longer parka-style with the waist drawstring might have worked well for men, since they typically don’t have to contend with pesky things like waist-hip ratio, but I have long thought that that style did not translate well to women’s jackets. I don’t see much benefit from the longer parka-style, and much prefer the more streamlined shorter cut of the Monashee. It doesn’t do weird things with your base and mid-layers, I can tell you that. Your inner fleece is free to fit just like it’s supposed to. I can even fit a light insulated layer underneath without feeling too stifled, and it’s still easy to access pants pockets since the jacket doesn’t go halfway to one’s knees.
The Monashee gets lots of positive comments on the styling and color. Most of the outdoorswomen I know will wear good gear even if they don’t like the color, but they will indeed complain about it. I think the top complaint I’ve heard from women is that manufacturers offer women’s gear in colors that are, frankly, stupid. You’ve probably seen references in other posts to gear that is the color of flesh, puke, road signs, etc. Not the Monashee – it’s got a nice selection of very agreeable color choices. They still have kind of stupid names (Fire, Lagoon, etc – what is wrong with “orange”, “blue”, “green”?) but the colors themselves are nice and the jacket is awesome. You’ll stay warm, dry, and fashionable. And you will get a little note in the pocket that reminds you that “you are a goddess” which is cute if you’re into that kind of thing I guess. I find it kind of interesting that gear now comes with personal affirmations; it’s very Stuart Smalley and all that. Personally I don’t need to be a goddess, but I do need to be warm and dry, so I’ll toss the little note and take the Monashee out to play.
Isis Peony Crew
December 28, 2008
$53 at backcountry.com. Click here!
It took a while for me to actually test this as an activewear base layer, because, frankly, it’s such a cute shirt that I kept wearing it as a stand-alone piece. I don’t know what’s up with the product photo because the shirt is really cute but the picture is not, so just take my word for it here. It’s soft, silky, and flattering, but I knew that I’d have to actually make a post about its performance so I grudgingly wore it for actual exertion. Because I’m becoming familiar with the Isis base layer line, I was not surprised to find that the Peony Crew performs like the rest of the Peony line – perfectly! The Peony fabric is so smooth that it slides over both your skin and your outer layers, surrounding you in comfort and harmony. There’s nothing to bind, pull, or chafe, and the fabric will wick away moisture, keeping you comfortable and warm. And the shirt is cute enough to wear straight out on the town for aprés ski/climb/run/whatever. Another excellent offering from Isis.
Scarpa Star Lite A/T Ski Boot
December 23, 2008
ON SALE at REI.com for $439! I canNOT believe that price. Click here to purchase!
Shhh, don’t tell Scarpa about this review. I am supposed to be using these boots as part of an “extended test” and I want Scarpa to think I still need three more weeks with them. Just between you, me, and the Internet, though, I knew I loved the Star Lites from the first day I wore them. And just now my brain jammed with joke possibilities, ranging from “they had me at something something” to an extended discussion about that show that had women dress up in wedding dresses for this millionaire guy they hadn’t met but who had somehow chosen one of them to be his wife. He announced his pick and came out on stage to meet his new fiance and they started playing that Savage Garden song that goes “I knew I loved you before I met you” as this poor woman stood there on national television looking like a poster child for Hideously Trapped In Incredibly Awkward Yet Entirely Of Her Own Making Situation syndrome. It was really obvious that neither of these idiots even liked each other let alone were fulfilling some star-crossed destiny that made the lyrics of that song at all applicable. Too funny. And after that debacle, someone picked up the ball and made a show about two dozen ditzy gold diggers competing for a dude who was only pretending to be a millionaire – but the girls didn’t know he was a fake. Comedy GOLD!
OK, now that the Scarpa folks are bored out of their minds with that reality show recap and have all stopped reading, we can talk about the boots. The Star Lites blew all the other boots out of the water. It really was love at first buckle. And bear in mind that since the pair I used are just tester boots, I didn’t bother to bake the liners to fit my feet, so they’re still shaped to fit some other tester’s feet. Ick – I try not to think about that. Anyhoo, even with the liner fit slightly “off”, I was really happy with the general fit and feel. The Star Lite is a three-buckle boot for ski mountaineers who really like to shave weight from their equipment. If you recall, last year I tested the Scarpa Divas and wondered if the fourth buckle on those boots wasn’t superfluous. The Star Lite proves that it is indeed, because I didn’t miss that fourth buckle at all. The ankle strap just sucks your foot back in the boot and eliminates heel lift and shifting. The top buckle combined with the power strap provide plenty of support to the lower leg for driving today’s big fat skis.
My first day on the Star Lites was a touring day with my superlight powder setup, and I can’t imagine a better fit for these boots. The Star Lites are Dynafit compatible, light, and nimble – just perfect for long tours and great powder; my raison d’etre, as it were. More weight = more tired, and the Star Lites are as streamlined as it gets for ladies who like to shred. I didn’t feel as if I was sacrificing any power or feel by using such a light boot. Then I thought perhaps it’s unfair to only go out skiing in perfect conditions; all boots and skis feel good on sunny powder days. So I bit the bullet and really put the boots to the test by clicking them into my latest test setup – big, massive, burly planks with big, stiff, powerful bindings. With no powder in the forecast, I decided to see just how much power the Star Lites packed within their dainty white-and-gold shells. I hopped on a chairlift and set out to ski the crusty mank on my monster boards and the Star Lites. Those big skis required some drive to make them turn through the crust and needed a responsive boot to get them gripping on the ice, and the Star Lites delivered. More than I had hoped they would, to be honest! The boots are well-balanced and shaped to fit a smaller foot for efficiency in transferring weight shifts to the ski. As with the Divas, I didn’t feel as if I had to smash my shins against the front of the boots for control. I could just balance in the center of the ski because the boots held me in just the right position to cue the skis. I think of this as the “new” aggressive stance – it’s not as oriented towards power/drive/shin-bruising methods of pushing into the skis, it’s more of a nuanced, controlled, balanced way of pushing the limits. I sure hope that makes sense to someone besides me. It’s just that skiers seem to be moving towards flow rather than forcing tons of turns. That’s not really news to anyone, but I think that ski boot technology has evolved along with ski style and the Star Lite seems very flow-oriented. Om, namaste, and all that stuff.
The Star Lites don’t come with the spare extra-stiff tongue like the Divas, but I didn’t miss it. The power strap gives plenty of lower-leg compression and the forward lean of the boots is naturally pretty aggro. I still had to supplement with a heel wedge, as per my usual, but I think that’s more of an issue with my own anatomy since I have that problem with every pair of ski boots I’ve ever tried. Still, I am tempted to try the stiff Diva tongue on the Star Lite and really do some charging. I wonder why the extra tongue is just a Diva thing?
I also appreciated the comfy, flexible walk mode for long tours and, well, walking. The walk-ski mode lever took a little bit of force to flip, which I guess is OK since it’s unlikely to flip accidentally. It might also have been an issue from the tester boots being kind of rode hard. You never know what those tester boots have been up to before they arrive in your hands. Still, I didn’t want to give them up even if they were well-used so I prepared my best puppy-dog eyes in an attempt to get Scarpa to let me keep the boots. As it turned out I couldn’t wait that long and went ahead and just bought my own pair. And for a girl who gets multiple pairs of boots to test every year, actually spending money on boots is a pretty ringing endorsement.
Isis Long Jane
December 18, 2008
Oh, ooooohhhhh the Long Jane. It is a sad day at my house when my Long Janes are too dirty to wear. They are far and away my favorite base layer. So silky smooth, soft, and perfect, they fit under almost anything and are so comfortable you will forget you have them on. They are completely seamless (or so I think, but if they do have a seam, I have yet to notice it) and incredibly comfortable. The legs are long enough and the waist is high, which sounds strange until you actually wear it and realize how awesome it is to have the high waist there to keep your outer pants from chafing your skin. And you know that if I say a high waisted set of pants is good, it must really be good. Trust me, this one time, you WANT the high waist. The waistband itself is essentially just an extension of the pants – no drawstring, no elastic band, nothing to pinch or chafe.
The Long Janes are made out of the same material as the Peony Crew, and as I said before it must be some kind of miracle fabric. How that waistband stays in place seems to defy physics, but stay in place it does. I have worn the Long Janes on super cold days with another layer of tights on top, and I can pull on the second set of tights over the Long Janes without the Long Janes riding up or catching. The fabric is smooooooth and stays soft even after washing. The Janes move with your body like a literal second skin. And no, I’m not one of those people who gets “literal” and “figurative” mixed up. These are LITERALLY like a second skin. You will think they are a part of you. They’re awesome. You can tell I really like something when my vocabulary deteriorates into “awesome”. Sometimes it’s harder to find the words to describe something really great, and these are really great. So with “great” and “awesome” I guess I better sign off before I end up writing “Long Janes good. Buy Long Janes. Long Janes keep Geargals warm. Me like Long Janes.”
Dakine Targa Glove
December 18, 2008
Get your grab on at backcountry.com – ON SALE at $59.96!
One of the most eye-catching gloves in my arsenal, the Dakine Targas have quickly become one of my staples. That could have something to do with how they PERFECTLY match my orange and brown (cooler than it sounds) ski outfit, but it also is because they are sized correctly for women’s hands and are very warm and water resistant. They have a rather rare form-fitting cuff that doesn’t end up pushing your jacket sleeves up your arms. The cuff is also shorter than usual which is nice for getting your sleeves over them. I like its precise fit and the adjustable closure that gives you as close a fit as you want.
They’re fairly warm, though I’d say they’re for milder winter temperatures from upper teens to upper twenties, but their real attraction is their water resistant nature. It took many, many wearings for these gloves to let any water through, and that was after pretty much digging through slushy snow with my gloved hands for a while. They also tend to get wet when I’m working with snow with my hands, because the short cuff tends to let snow in when I reach down into the snowpack. But honestly, most people won’t be plunging their hands into snow so I think you’ll be fine.
I thought they might be kind of gimmicky because of the trendy design, but I was pleasantly surprised and found that they have significant function value as well. I think I use them most days unless I know it’s cold enough to need mittens. And, extra bonus: the flashy design attracts commentary, which is a good way to strike up a conversation with your favorite ski instructor. And what Geargal doesn’t like a good, healthy “conversation”?
Brooks-Range Sharktooth Mini-Pro Avalanche Shovel
December 16, 2008
Whoa, is that a long product name. I have to apologize to Brooks-Range for taking so long to review this shovel, but I really did want to do my duty and test it first and we didn’t have any snow, and then my ski boots were broken so I didn’t go skiing at all, and excuse excuse excuse. But this weekend I finally took this shovel on a long avalanche training weekend, so here it is!
The Sharktooth is named for the serrated teeth on the metal blade, meant to help carve up that mean, nasty avalanche debris. And it works! Those teeth mean business. I dig a lot of training holes in the winter and having an extra edge in the form of serrated teeth really makes the whole process a lot easier. This is an aggressive shovel for difficult digging conditions. The shovel also has an expandable handle which is probably the longest handle you’ll see on an avalanche field shovel. The handle extends to regular shovel length! This makes it a little harder to fit into your pack, but it’s a trade off. It’s sure nice to have a long handle when you’re doing a lot of digging. The handle can also be used in conjunction with other Brooks-Range products such as the Rescue Sled/Tarp, which you’ll see in an upcoming review.
I tested the “mini” version of the shovel which has a 13 inch blade, but there is a regular version with a 15-inch blade. The shovel blades are etched with avalanche rescue instructions, which is cool but also scary because really, are there people out there who need their shovel to tell them what to do for companion rescue? Yikes. I guess since there probably really are those people out there, I need to remind everyone once again that this shovel has TEETH and they are SHARP. I’m an avalanche dog handler and I was a little concerned about using the shovel around my dog, because those shovel teeth can do some damage. This should also be noted during companion rescue. The teeth will help you get through the debris faster but you could also conceivably carve up your friend, so be careful. The shovel comes with a teeth-guard to protect your pack when you stow the shovel. I lost the guard this weekend but it’s really just a piece of tubing sliced lengthwise, so it’s easy to replace.
This shovel is a Geargals favorite because it comes in PINK and also can be personalized with your name on the blade. The avalanche technician I was with really thought the instructions for rescue were cool, so maybe I’m being unnecessarily snarky about it. I admit they provide good review and could be helpful to inexperienced rescuers having a moment of panic after an avalanche gobbled up their friend. So, probably a good idea to have the info on there. And if you’ve ever dug in actual avalanche debris, you can appreciate how much the sharp teeth on this thing can help. Smart backcountry travelers always have their trusty shovel, and smart, stylish Geargals now have their trusty pink personalized shovels for the backcountry!
Patagonia Ice Field Jacket
December 12, 2008
My new favorite jacket. Boy, am I fickle. But the Ice Field won me over immediately with its cozy-warm insulation and waterproof-breathable outer shell. I’m almost not really sure what to write, here, because I think it would be hard to go wrong with this piece. It has tons and tons of high-capacity pockets, which is a major bonus for me because I like to keep all my stuff separate in the pockets, you know, like when you keep all your food separate on your plate so that it doesn’t touch? Oh, it’s only me that does that? Well, someone else must do that too; who else would think of all these pockets?
So, it’s got pockets. It also has purposefully long sleeves, which some reviewers complain about but are admittedly nice to have when you’re climbing (fine, or driving) and you have to raise your arms up a lot. Normal length sleeves will pull up above your wrists when you do this, but the Ice Field, like most things Patagonia, is designed for motion. It’s also designed for cold weather, and it’s just perfect for exertion in temperatures from single digits to low twenties, and for standing around in weather warmer than that. The outer shell is H2NO (again: hee!) waterproof fabric, which is great because being wet sucks, at least when it’s 15 degrees out.
Fit is going to be kind of up to you on this one. The size small (my usual) fits me fine, but I heard some grumblings from my medium-size testers that they didn’t like the fit because it just seemed as if the jacket were a proportionally larger version of a small, which doesn’t work because a 5′8″ woman is not just a proportionally larger version of a 5′2″ woman. It’s called the Law of Similitude, or something. Anyway, so this jacket violates that law, allegedly. I can see how that could happen, because there is not a lot of extra room in the “upper torso” of the Ice Field. It works fine for me, but more, er, “blessed” women might find the chest too binding and the waist too large. So, just give it a shot and hope it works for you, because if it doesn’t, you’re missing out. The other thing I wasn’t crazy about is the SUPER high collar. It seriously comes up to my nose and took some getting used to. I know it’s supposed to help keep out the elements, but if I really need the elements to stay THAT far out, I probably will not be outside. Call me a sissy, whatever. It’s recreation, not suffering. But now I can not-suffer in even more types of weather, because the Ice Field Jacket is so awesome.
Kahtoola Microspikes Traction System
December 11, 2008
A great holiday gift. I know my mom loved them, and I don’t have to put ice melt on the driveway when she comes to visit anymore. $53.08 at Backcountry.com.
So, one thing I’ve learned about gear is that everyone needs a lot of it. And the reason you need a lot of it is that it’s all about the “in-betweens”. You might have a great jacket for climbing Denali, but when you’re at sea level and it’s merely “a bit chilly” and not “80 degrees below zero” you need something to wear that isn’t too Ed Viesturs-ish but is still warmer than a T-shirt. See – the “in-betweens” need to be covered.
And the same is true with non-slip footwear accessories. On Denali, you need crampons. On your driveway in summer, you need flip-flops. But sometimes you need something “in-between.” And for all those various snow-ice-slippery-surface combinations, you need all different types of grippy things for your footwear. For those days where little rubber things covered in metal spirals, or little thumbtacks turned upside down and glued onto your shoes just won’t do it, you need the Kahtoola Microspikes.
Many styles of ice grippers rely on stretchy rubber to hold them onto boots and shoes, and most of the time these work fine as long as the wearer is on perfectly level and bare ice. Loose snow tends to peel them off and leave them, cold and alone, lost forever. Can you tell I’ve been watching angsty emo television? Anyway, Kahtoola obviously can’t bear the thought of its Microspike ice grippers entombed in an icy living death (for pete’s sake, where is this stuff coming from???) because they’ve addressed that issue with a better design for the, er, rubbery part that holds the grippers on the boots. The grippers themselves are almost a kind of mini-crampon – no cute little thumbtacks here. These are SPIKES, folks. As in, do not forget to take these off before you get into your car.
And they are effective spikes. They stay on, even in loose snow, and for me that is important because there is nothing more slippery than ice covered in loose snow. I mean, that is just DEADLY. They pack into a pretty conveniently small jumble, and as long as you’ve got them in a tough-ish case, you can carry them in your pack as a light alternative to crampons. I, for one, will be carrying them in my winter-gear duffel in my car, because they are just the kind of thing that I might someday need really badly. Far superior to common ice-grippers, the Kahtoolas are the way to go.
Dakine Poacher Pack
December 8, 2008
Get the Poacher ON SALE for $116.96 at Backcountry.com! Click here!
So, it’s no secret that Dakine makes great packs. Dakine packs are consistently the most well thought-out winter/ski packs available, and their Poacher is no exception. It’s my favorite pack design for search and rescue and other technical pursuits because of the tons and tons of pockets, multiple access options, and reasonable yet ample size. My absolute favorite feature is the rear-access panel, which is only one of many ways I can access my gear in this pack. Gear access is the most important issue for SAR professionals, or at least it’s the most important issue for me. I like to be able to reach all of my stuff without moving all of my other stuff. The Poacher has top access, back access, front access, and side access. It’s as if they knew about my access thing and made the pack just to address that issue. “FINE, HG, here is your stupid access pack. Happy?” Yes, I am, thank you! This pack is organized well, carries well and has almost every feature one could reasonably think of. I love the camera pocket and the multiple compartments in the lid. I also like having a sleeve for my shovel handle. If I was a hydration bladder kind of person I’d love the anti-freeze hydration tube insulation as well. Generally the pack is awesome. But I can’t quite give it a patented Geargals rave, because it’s so obvious that this pack is made for dudes. The harness is just plain huge and the back panel is pretty long too. When I’m wearing it, I’m usually inwardly bemoaning the fact that it doesn’t fit me.
Now, I know from reviewing the Dakine Heli-Pro Girls Backpack that Dakine can make a pack that fits women perfectly. They’ve got the design and the sizing right – so where is the Poacher (and its big brother the Guide Pack) for women? OK, fine, so the taller ladies might be able to fit the Poacher all right. I do know some lady ski patrollers who swear by this pack, and I can see why. But it sure would be great if we could have a pack the same size, with the same features, but with a harness sized to fit a female user. That would pretty much be my dream SAR pack. So how about it, Dakine? A Lady Poacher? A Girls Guide Pack? I swear I would actually put down my own money (and for a gear tester, that is a big deal) for a Poacher or Guide pack with Geargal proportions in mind. If this pack fits you, you’re in luck, but if you’re smaller, help me put pressure on Dakine to add the Girls Poacher to the lineup!
