Mountain Hardwear Hooded Nitrous Jacket
October 26, 2009
Our newest reviewer wants to be known as the “GrayingGeargal.” She wrote the following review for us to demonstrate to our readers that outdoor gear is not just for epic adventures; even urban adventurers need gear as well. It’s unlikely that GGG is going to climb any 8000 meter peaks (or, honestly, any 1000 meter peaks) but she does get outside when it’s fiercely cold, and, since she’s been wearing the same 25 year old jackets for a loooong time now, can really give some insight into the industry’s dramatic leaps in technology. Oh, she’s also obsessed with the word “ort. She’d be heartbroken if I edited it out, so for those of you who didn’t own the Word of the Day calendar in 1982, here’s the definition: “bit of food leftover on a plate.” -Head Geargal
First, a few confessions. I was raised to clean my plate. I was raised to work hard and to fulfill obligations. Over the numerous years of being a working mother, I developed some time saving habits: wear minimal make-up, wear the same two necklaces to work, and do not spend time shopping for clothes. I usually buy the exact same clothes as the old, worn out ones and definitely buy the same brands year after year. The resulting wardrobe is loose and comfortable; it is definitely not stylish or trendy. Frumpy also comes to mind.
When the teenagers went to college, I learned that I had osteoarthritis and devoted any free time to exercise. (Loosing weight was part of the treatment; however, the clean-your-plate syndrome was impossible to break when there are orts to devour!) Fortunately, frumpy clothing covers everything! Shopping for new clothing was still not part of my plan. Exploring new technology in outdoor wear was not even considered – too time consuming! I added weekly hiking, 6 to 10 miles on bike trails and park trails in addition to daily treadmill exercise. In our unpredictable ever changing climate, I layered clothes in order to survive my lengthy treks away from the car: shirt, sweatshirt, down coat, rain coat with lots of pockets, hat, gloves, ear muffs, fanny pack, umbrella. These items were toted, worn, and carried throughout the day; I actually resorted to a net bag to help carry items not in use at any given moment. The large items of apparel were tied around my waist. I was prepared for everything, but I was packing quite a load of clothing.
When I first tried on the Mountain Hard Ware Nitrous Hooded Jacket, I timidly zipped it to the neck; I expected to immediately feel confined and hot in some snug fitting fabric. First, I was stunned by the lightness. Second, I was amazed that I have full range of motion in my arms and back. I had never before experienced a fitted jacket that did not pull across the back when I reached forward with both arms. Even my dressy blouses feel snug when I reach forward with both arms. Third, I immediately noticed that that the sleeves were amply long. Since I utilize trekking poles when hiking, I swung my arms and discovered that the sleeves moved lightly and easily; my arm movement did not pull the sleeves away from my wrists. I also did not develop a backache from shoulder muscles tired of carrying heavy garments. This jacket is so light that it is an invisible weight.
I have hiked with the Nitrous jacket each week for a month in temperatures ranging from low fifties to 36 degrees. I must admit that I was hesitant to leave everything in the car on the first hike, but I made myself trust in the new technology. I bravely walked with only my trekking poles and fanny pack for gloves, sunglasses, and earmuffs for the entire month. It is amazingly lightweight and comfortable. Using trekking poles is SO much easier than when I wear loose a rain parka with baggy arms. When my ears, cheeks, and hands are cold, my torso and arms are perfectly comfortable: neither too hot nor too cold. I have been wearing a cotton turtleneck under the jacket; I neither overheat nor get chilled as the clouds obscure the sun or as winds modulate throughout the day. Wind does not penetrate this jacket! Having been raised during the period in which warm down coats were three inches thick, I am stunned at how the combination of goose down fill, quilted construction, and EcoSensor Ripstop fabric combine to keep the hiker at a perfect temperature throughout a day of changing weather conditions. I do not have to take off one layer at a time as the hiking day warms up; I do not have to lug a load of clothes around my waist or in my tote bag. In rainy weather, I stayed warm and dry. Rather than a flannel hat, I used the fitted hood to keep dry.
I accidentally tested the EcoSensor Ripstop fabric when I inserted a fistful of keys into a sleeve while rushing out the door. Everyone has heard that sound of fabric catching on solid objects. I searched the inside of the sleeve diligently. There were no snags, runs or pulled threads!
The Nitrous Hooded Jacket is highly recommended by this “GrayingGeargal!”
Julbo MonteRosa Sunglasses
October 19, 2009
When sunglass samples come in the door, there’s no question who gets to test them: it’s always me. I have unbelievably sensitive eyes and I wear sunglasses every single day no matter the weather. So let me tell you, I know sunglasses. I think I have every pair of sunglasses ever made, that’s how often I wear sunglasses. I think nothing of spending hundreds of dollars on a good pair of sunglasses to avoid having painful, swollen eyes later in the day. I also have tinted windows on my car so that I don’t have to wear sunglasses when driving, because in addition to sensitive eyes I have sensitive skin, and wearing glasses constantly can really cause skin irritation. Yeah, it’s awesome to be high-maintenance me. So you can take my opinion as, like, gospel on this one.
So let’s just say it. These are RAD. The moment I put them on I realized how sunglasses are supposed to fit. The MonteRosas are a true women’s specific frame, and cradle smaller faces like I cradle my precious coffee mug in the morning. Fitting squarely straight out of the box – a rarity, most sunglasses need some sort of adjustment even when brand new – the MonteRosa has a fitted, close fit to block out as much light as possible. The superdark lenses are a wonderful relief in bright sunlight and the snap-on side shields block even more light. Folks with normal eye sensitivity would have no problem using these for glacier glasses; even I’d be tempted to try it on cloudy days (but I’d probably regret it). I do, however, wear them for just about every hike I go on these days.
The Julbo samples don’t typically come with much information, so I’m just taking a guess here, but I think the lenses on mine are the class-4s, without the anti-fog feature. If I were to spring for these glasses I’d go with the anti-fog lenses, because any sunglass that fits close to the face and is meant to be used during athletics will undoubtedly fog up. I’ve had this issue a few times but it doesn’t diminish my love for the MonteRosas. Well done, Julbo; even my $450 Prada sunglasses (true, I even tried Prada sunglasses. Shameful, but true) don’t fit as well or block as much light. I’ll even go so far as to say that the MonteRosas are cuter, too, and there’s less chance of seeing the same sunglasses in some paparazzi shot of Britney Spears (which really did happen with those Pradas. Talk about blowing my gear cred).
Evidently these are not available for retail sales yet, but when they are, I’ll update this post with a link.
Columbia PFG Eddyline Shirt
October 16, 2009
I worked hard to not judge this shirt by its color as I am extremely not a fan of pink. Luckily I was saved by the tag, which indicated the color to be ‘melon’. Whatever happened to a good blue or purple? I don’t think the fish care what color the shirt is. Sorry, I’m a little sensitive about the color thing. I must admit that I was told I was easy to spot in the woods by a friend traveling with me while I was wearing this shirt. Which would make me feel better, but at the time I was following a side trail to a toilet.
I’m not sure what makes a shirt ‘performance fishing gear’ and I decided to not research that aspect of the shirt. I went on a twelve day backpacking trip instead. I wore this shirt all day every day for hiking with a 50 pound pack. The weather was mostly sunny with some rain. Which made me really appreciate that the sleeves rolled up. Normally I make fun of shirts with sleeves that roll up and have a little loop to hold the cuffs in place. I think I will have to stop doing that now. At several points I even rolled them up higher than the cuff straps allowed. In the end I needed the sleeves down to protect my sunburn when I ran out of sunscreen, very effective.
The brand label was on a little Velcro tab on the left upper front of the shirt. I have no idea what the intended purpose of this is, but I found it useful for keeping my hydration tube near my thirsty mouth. Eventually it got saturated from my leaky bite valve and wouldn’t stick as well in the afternoon as in the morning.
On about the fifth or sixth day I discovered an amazing feature; this shirt has pockets! I had need to walk a few miles without my pack and was delighted to discover the pockets. Tiny seam zippers hide the mesh lined slits and they are roomy enough for my whole hands or wallet and cell phone.
As you can imagine a person gets to being a little stinky after sweating all day while hiking. After day two I was requested by others in my party to see if I couldn’t get some of the stink out of my shirt by washing it in the creek by camp. Their wool shirts didn’t stink at all, but mine had a greater versatility. I did rinse the shirt out every couple nights in a creek and it helped considerably with the smell. I can’t say it was exactly dry in the morning, but it wasn’t soaking wet either and some evenings were fairly chilly, so I don’t know that is a reflection of the fabric really. The fabric itself seemed to take the abuse of a pack and hiking alright, but I did notice some strange wear spots or pilling that didn’t seem at all related to the pack strap locations. It looked kind of like it had been washed with Velcro and gotten snagged, but I know this didn’t happen.
Overall I was pleased with the performance of the shirt and it will very likely make an appearance on my next hiking trip for its versatility. I suspect the vented back would be pretty effective if I didn’t have a back pack on, so I may try it with a waist pack next just to see. If I was buying it just to look pretty I might be a bit concerned about the unusual wear spots on the fabric, but it didn’t seem to affect the performance.
Mountain Hardwear Nalu Pack
October 16, 2009
I got to try this pack on a Mountain Hardwear-sponsored hiking trip for a group of us media types. We each got to try a pack from the 2009 line, and since our hike was to take us softies to 10,000 feet, there was a bit of a skirmish for the smaller packs. I lost that battle, but ended up winning in the end because I got to try out the Nalu, which is one of the best-fitting women’s packs I’ve worn. Admittedly I was too much of a sea-level dweller to actually put a lot of weight in the pack for a hike at altitude, but I was impressed with how well the pack fit so I wore it despite it being nearly empty. If I had more stuff to carry, though, the Nalu could do it, with an impressive main compartment and lots of convenient stash pockets elsewhere. The waist and shoulder straps are light and comfortable, which is nice for me since I really dislike thick, heavy pack straps. I don’t know about you, but I don’t find enormously thick waist belts to be any more comfortable, and quite frankly I think they are just too clumsy to be comfortable. If a pack is well-balanced, like the Nalu, you just don’t need an inch of foam to pad your hipbones.
The simple hook closure makes fooling with your stuff quick and easy, so sandbaggers might be disappointed with how little time they can waste fiddling with pack closures. As a matter of fact the lack of insane straps all over the damn place makes this pack streamlined and functional, and you don’t feel like a total noob with pack straps flapping everywhere. We’ve all had that experience with a pack, trying to figure out what goes where and how to stash the strap ends somewhere, and why in hell doesn’t this clip fit into this other clip exactly opposite from it, and who needs to strap that much stuff onto their pack anyway? No, the Nalu is designed for things to be carried IN it, not ON it, which is my preference anyway.
My only issue with the pack was that the lumbar pad was made from a non-breathable fabric and therefore led to some serious under-pack sweat issues in that area. The MHW pack designer said that the nonbreathable panel was there for strength and structure in the pack, and that had I bothered to wear proper (technical) clothing fabrics on the hike I may not have had that problem. Still, he agreed to think it over and maybe make some changes to the design in future. If I weren’t from Alaska and dealing with temperatures that day that before I’ve only experienced in the tanning bed or on the beach in Mexico, it probably really wouldn’t have been a problem, and I wouldn’t hesitate to wear the pack again in a climate I’m more used to.
It was able to compress down pretty well, for a gigantic pack carrying only a banana and some water, and I really didn’t have any issues with the fit even with the light load. Despite my begging, I wasn’t able to take the pack home to load it up in an oxygen-rich environment to test it further, but honestly if I needed to carry a big load, I would reach for the Nalu because of how well it fits. With a true women’s fit, lots of room, and lightweight construction, this pack is sure to be a winner.
Mountain Hardwear Expedition Duffle
October 9, 2009
All ladies appreciate a good bag, right? Well, I was recently reminded of how much I appreciate this tough, water resistant, roomy bag that was part of my OR09 swag (thanks, MHW!) and which recently accompanied me and all my stuff out into the field for a week. You know how when you go on a trip, your stuff seems to expand and multiply even though it’s the same stuff you left with? Why a crumpled dirty sock takes up more room than a clean crumpled sock is a total mystery to me. Hmm, must be all that dirt taking up more space.
Anyway, as my trip progressed, I kept having to stuff what seemed like more and more things into the Expedition Duffle. While other bags that were along for the ride gave up the ghost, busting zippers and rendering themselves useless, the Expedition Duffle gamely accepted the overflow, which let me tell you was an incredible relief. Not only did the bag end up carrying all of its original contents, it also gathered up the contents of the broken-zipper bag (which I left behind in disgust) with a minimum of complaint. It turns out that no matter what, you can usually find another nook or cranny in this bag, and the clever design of the lid means you can always close the zipper, regardless of how full you stuff the bag. And the zipper is heavy duty, a big relief after having two zipper failures from other bags on the same trip.
An added bonus was the waterproof fabric. On the last day of the trip, we awoke to 6 inches of snow, and had several hours of work to do, meaning that our stuff was going to sit around and get wet. But not my stuff, since it was in the Expedition Duffle. All I had to do was brush off the snow. The zipper itself is not waterproof, so don’t go throwing your stuff into a river thinking it will stay dry, but the lid covers up the zipper well enough so that water and snow just roll off the top.
The Duffle comes in several sizes, and I’m not sure which one I have since I was so keen to use it I just ripped off the tags and sallied forth. I’m pretty sure it’s the small size, and to put that in perspective I packed for a week’s trip and then some and it all fit into the bag. I’ve seen the large size and I could pack for a month trip PLUS fit my own self into that bag, so choose your size accordingly. I also recommend the wheeled version for you heavy packers, especially if you’re going by regular airplane. And with that, I can finally get to the real reason for this review: it was all just a setup so that I can brag that I traveled by private helicopter so I didn’t have to worry about airline security, schlepping through the terminal, and all that tedious non-private-helicopter stuff.
Wenger Standard Issue Ladies’ Watch
October 9, 2009
I admit, I was not a watch wearer before testing watches for Geargals. Now, thanks to a parade of PR samples, I have to wear a watch or I end up looking at my naked wrist as if it has something to tell me. Most of the watches I get to review are the techy kind, the size of soft drink cans with so many features I’m left cross-eyed. All of my watch reviews start with some disclaimer about how non-techy I am, so I was stoked to open the Wenger package to find this dainty little tells-time-only beauty. This time I can review ALL of the features, I thought to myself. Naturally, I haven’t figured out how to change the date on the watch yet (okay, so I haven’t even tried), so in my world it’s the 24th today.
Wenger stuff pretty much oozes quality, so it’s not surprising that the Standard Issue is a sleek, sexy, time-tellin’ machine with some serious impact resistance. I ran over it with my car, shot it with a .22, and gave it to my dog as a chew toy, and it still came out telling time like crazy. Okay, so we all know I didn’t do any of those things, but the watch is built for military use (Swiss Army – hello) and I’ve no doubt that it can take abuse. Maybe not being run over by a car, but I bet if it really did get sent through my dog’s digestive tract, it would come out ticking.
I have found myself wearing this watch a lot, mostly because it’s comfortable, unobtrusive, and gorgeous. I do like my beauty simple, and here is the epitome of simple watch beauty. No gaudy numbers on the face, no sparkly things, nothing to detract from its simple elegance. I don’t think I ever would have purposefully chosen a white-banded watch, but I have to say it really goes with everything and is very flattering, especially with my golden Alaskan tan. No, really! I got this tan in Alaska, really, I did. We had an epically hot summer and I actually got a real Alaskan tan. And I swear I will keep it, no matter the cost in airline tickets to Mexico, because I have this fabulously beautiful white watch to tell the time AND complement my tan.
Go GaGa Gondola Bag
October 6, 2009
This bag quickly became one of my favorites. I tried to use it as a gym bag, as it’s perfect for a pair of shoes, a change of clothes, an iPod, and a few other gym necessities; but as it turns out there’s a reason that gym bags are made with mesh. Stinkapalooza!
Bag safely aired out, I switched it over to use as a laptop bag. I dislike traditionally styled laptop bags, so I’m always on the lookout for new styles. This one is great because the top opens up nice and wide for even the most substantial computers, and it has just enough little pockets for various things like pens and notebooks. Not too much room, now – you can’t overload this thing, simply because it won’t let you.
It has two side pockets for water bottles, which generate my one complaint – they are not quite big enough for a Nalgene. Now that would be perfect.
One of the more unique features of the bag is the stretchy, expandable shoulder strap. Spreading out the material helps distribute the weight, and the bouncy fabric reduces impact. The main body of the bag is tough, durable, and stiff, and is slender enough to easily be tucked away in a nook to protect your laptop. It’s perfect for medium-length plane trips and general schlepping around town. I would love to see bigger bottle pockets or have them have expandable stretchy panels to accommodate bigger bottles; and maybe a version with a mesh lid for gym use? Trust me – you don’t want sweaty clothes confined in this gem of a bag for too long! Save it for your laptop, and wait for the mesh version.
Zippers
October 6, 2009
Industry, let’s have a talk. You’ve made such incredible gains in technology and design lately. Every year your products get better, lighter, tougher, and more fun to play with. Except for your zippers! What gives? This year I’ve had zippers fail on more products I can think of. Jackets, backpacks, storage items – nothing is worse than having a zipper fail in the field. OK, well not NOTHING. But still, it’s pretty sucky.
Yes, most of you have a good warranty and will fix zippers at no cost. But come on! I don’t want to be without my precious gear for the six weeks it takes to send it in to you to get a new zipper. Every time I send an item back for repair, I am a little anxious about getting it back. I’ve always gotten it back, but still. Who knows if you’ll decide to just replace it with a different one I won’t like as much? The last thing any of us need is added stress in our lives, especially about things as petty as zippers.
And the thing is, I can tell immediately when zippers are likely to fail. They feel flimsy and weak, and zip all weird, and it’s easy to tell that a zipper is crap. I know if I can tell, you can tell – so why are you sending out garbage zippers? I know there are a lot of weight weenies out there. I bet they can suck it up to deal with a few extra grams of good zipper if needs be. A jacket that stuffs into a pocket doesn’t do much for me if the zipper that seals the pocket busts immediately. A backpack with a bad zipper – useless.
You can probably tell that I recently experienced a negative experience with a zipper. I was stuck in the field with a bag with a broken zipper. This is an issue when you’re traveling by helicopter and the rotor wash scatters all your stuff every single time the helicopter lands. It’s also an issue when it rains or snows and you want to keep your stuff dry. Face it – it’s just an issue.
So please, please, don’t send us crap zippers. We know that you know they’re crap. This zipper failure epidemic has really only started in the last year, so something is going on when reliable manufacturers suddenly are releasing products with shoddy zippers. QC, people, QC.
Xtra-Tuf Steel Toe Boots
October 6, 2009
Recently I got a little feedback about being negative about relationships in one of my latest posts. It was just a riff, honest! I love a good relationship, I really do. It’s just that they’re so rare. Most of them are crap, admit it. But when one good comes along, believe me, I know how to hold onto it. So I got to thinking about relationships that really have worked out well, and one of those is the one between me and my Xtra-Tuf boots. Xtra-Tufs have long been referred to as “Alaskan sneakers” because most Alaskans have and use Xtra-Tufs on a regular basis. In Southeast Alaska, if you don’t have Xtra-Tufs, you are not only uncool but you’re probably very miserable and have wet feet a lot.
I was headed out for another field assignment in which I got to destroy and burn things, so of course when I was packing I reached for my trusty Xtra-Tufs. I put them on and realized, “hey, these aren’t my Tufs. . . .” After a few phone calls I figured out that one of my girlfriends was wearing Tufs that she didn’t think were hers. Mystery solved. That’s how common Xtra-Tufs are in Alaska, you can’t even tell which ones are yours. We didn’t have time to switch back so I wore hers on the field assignment, and since they were the steel toe version, those are the ones I’ll review in this article.
I really did luck out with getting a pair of steel toes for this trip. They were a little warmer than the regular ones, with a thicker sole and the added safety of the steel toe. This was very handy while destroying structures and walking over nails and broken glass and having things fall on my feet. I guess all I can really say about that is that I never had any sole punctures and when things feel on my feet it didn’t bother me because the steel toes saved me. I never had cold feet even in freezing temps, which seems weird with chunks of metal over my toes, but I’ll go with it since it worked. The form-fitting uppers fit well under pants, though some of my colleagues wear their pants tucked into their Tufs – whichever you prefer. Now that I’ve tried the steel toe version, I highly recommend it – I don’t see the downside. Regular Tufs are great for fishing or walking, and I’ve even hiked in them a time or two. They do last a while, even if you ignore the recommendation to not fold them over. I wore mine folded over for six years and eventually they did wear through, but they are easily patched with JB Weld, or, in my case, by a good friend who builds and repairs rafts for a living.
Like most Alaskans, I reach for Xtra-Tufs when temperatures are moderate and there’s any possibility of wet ground. If you come to Alaska to visit, and want to fit in, grab yourself a pair of Tufs and no one will possibly know you’re a tourist. Unless you carry your regular shoes with you to change into later – that’s a blazing red “TOURIST!!!” neon sign if there ever was one. Suck it up and wear your Tufs at the office like an Alaskan.
