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.
Rab Microlight Jacket
September 27, 2009
Rab gets it right with this piece – which is absolutely zero surprise to me since I’ve been lucky enough to be able to check out a few offerings from Rab. As I mentioned in my review of the Rab Latok Alpine Jacket, Rab is an established company in the UK and is making its way across the pond to the US. It’s still a bit of a rare sight in the US to see someone in Rab gear, and I get a lot of quizzical looks and questions when I wear the Microlight out, especially in Alaska where being ahead of anything involving clothing or fashion is pretty much a lifetime achievement. So yeah, I’ve finally done it – been ahead of the fashion curve. Whatever will I do with my life now…
No matter what I decide to do with all this new-found free time, I will definitely be warm and cozy with the Microlight jacket in my clothing arsenal. Like everything Rab, the Microlight is cut trim and slender with a flattering silhouette, yet still maintains good range of motion for climbing. The many baffles keep the down equally distributed and there’s no reason to fear cold spots just because of the baffles. I have tried a lot of insulated jackets with all different types of baffles, and have never experienced the “cold spot” phenomenon, so just relax about that. This jacket is warm, and the baffles provide uniform warmth AND a snazzy, eye-catching look.
The Microlight, like so many other super lightweight insulated jackets these days, stuffs into a pocket for compression. What makes this jacket stand out in the crowd, though, is that the jacket stuffs into an interior pocket, leaving the outside pockets unfettered by zippers. This might make gadget-carriers cringe in fear, but there’s no need to worry – the pockets are also designed differently than the standard, with a more, er, bucket-like (?) shape (why yes, I AM a professional writer) that keeps items secure and hands toasty warm. The pockets aren’t just diagonal slashes, they are curved at the top so that the opening is 100% above the actual body of the pocket. Got that image? No? Well, you’ll just have to write in with a better way to describe it then.
Okay, so if you’re big on the monkey bars, like to ride the Zipper at the county fair, or commonly engage in the kind of ice climbing that requires one to become inverted (like this guy) you might lose some stuff out of the pockets. Otherwise, you’re golden. And you always have the zippered interior pocket if you really really need to be sure something won’t fall out.
I’ve been consistently impressed with Rab – the fit and quality is top-notch. Sizing is also consistent, and is true to real sizing, and I do mean real – not inflated or deflated; so you better order your ACTUAL size, don’t fight it. Most Rab items are cut trim, so take that into account when choosing your size. Me, I like the body conscious fit, so I stay with my regular size and have had good luck with Rab sizing.
I like being the only one wearing Rab locally, but I’m a fan of the company so I look forward to seeing the logo out and about. Rab keeps setting a high bar with each new item, and I think it’s only going to keep getting better.
Lowa Bora GTX QC Hiking Boot
September 12, 2009
All right, the boss is out of town and she left me the keys to the web site! Yep, she’s off at the Outdoor Retailer trade show and, last I heard, was too exhausted to keep tabs on the site. So, when the cat’s away….the mice do as they’re told. You see, I got back from my trek on the Kesugi Ridge the day the Head Geargal left for the show, and she told me in no uncertain terms that I was to get this review posted while she was gone. The kind folks at Lowa have been waiting long enough, she sternly admonished. And here it is, Thursday already, and I’m just now getting this done. I know HG is busy at the show, but I swear I can feel the glowering from here. So here it is! [And here I am, posting it the following Friday. ahem. -HG]
Thanks, Lowa, for being patient. Sometimes we have to find just the right trip for the gear that comes our way. HG insisted that the Kesugi Ridge trip I was taking would be perfect – and how right she was! Not only is the Ridge a great, iconic Alaskan trip, but I had these nice, lightweight, supportive boots to take along. At first I was concerned that they wouldn’t be beefy enough, since they have a flatish sole and I’m used to a more curved, lugged sole – hard to describe. I even had a little trouble adapting, and turned my ankle a few times before I got used to the soles. That sounds like a negative, but it really wasn’t – Once I got used to placing my foot flat, it wasn’t a problem.
I was actually a perfect fit for this boot as I usually wear regular running shoes for hiking – yes, I’m an outdoors infidel – and I don’t like overly engineered footwear. These boots are kind of like regular sneaks on steroids, perfect for people who want just a little more than a running shoe and a little less than a high-tech clunky backpacking boot. These boots convinced me that I am not too good to wear a hiking boot, especially one as light and comfy as these. They didn’t have any break-in time and were impressively, consistently waterproof. Even though I’m still in trouble for not getting my review in on time, I still win, because I get to abscond with the boots because it’s not as if HG is going to want them back after a week-long backpacking trip with no showers available….
Carhartt Double Front Dungarees
September 12, 2009
It seems that gear today is all about ultralight, barely there, shave-every-ounce technical fabrics. If you’re in on that trend you likely wear lots of whisperlight clothing items weighed in ounces and divested of every last extra feature, because nothing weighs you down like a ten gram zipper pull. Ultralight gear certainly has its place, but for some assignments, only the tough will do. So when I accepted a gig demolishing and burning remote structures, I turned to the tried and true: Carhartt. Carhartt is the signature uniform of a true Alaskan, and for good reason – Carhartt gear is absolutely indestructible.
I knew I’d be facing some bushwhacking, hard travel, and grinding physical labor with hand tools, so I went with the standard classic Carhartt double front pants, with a double layer of denim on the fronts of the legs. This isn’t ordinary denim, either. I don’t know what it is but it’s much thicker and tougher than your designer jeans. It’s also thicker and tougher than the denim on regular Carhartt jeans, so I don’t know what the deal is with that. I do know that if you need your tender flesh protected from scrapes, cuts, and gouges, you can’t do better than Carhartt double front pants.
I wore the pants every day, 17 hours a day – much of which was hard labor – for five days, and they have no sign of wear, not so much as a fray or a scratch. And I don’t have so much as a scratch, either! Stomping around a demolished house, banging on things with sledgehammers, building giant bonfires, and using power tools to cut through metal are really great ways to ruin your clothes and cover your legs in bruises, but not with Carhartt. After a trip through the laundry they looked brand new, and my legs were protected completely. I can’t so much as walk to the laundry room without a fresh bruise, so this was a miracle.
I really must be Alaskan because I think the pants are also pretty cute. Maybe that is just the brainwashing brought on by living in this place for a long time – here, we look approvingly on Carhartts and suspiciously on designer shirts. If a dude showed up for a date in Seven jeans and a coiffed hairdo I’d probably laugh myself silly. I wonder why I don’t go out on many dates. hmm. But I really don’t think I had to sacrifice too much form for function with the Carhartts, and I added a pretty significant badass factor as well (in my own mind at least).
Now, be warned, they don’t have lycra or anything like that, so they don’t give at all. I wanted full mobility so I bought two sizes up and didn’t regret it. Even buying two sizes big, I didn’t end up with any gaps at the waist. This is a genius design that even $200 jeans can’t seem to get right. The pants shrunk a little in the wash, but since I bought big, it didn’t matter. They stretched out again pretty quickly. You’ll have a choice of leg lengths, something overlooked far too often on women’s pants. You get nice roomy pockets, that cool carpenter ruler pocket on the side, and nice boot-cut pants that fit well over, well, boots. You also get to have pants that will last for the next decade, and that’s worth $40 if you ask me.
Leki Diva Trekking Poles
September 12, 2009
If I were not a gear tester, I would never get to try new stuff. Mostly because I am cheap and I hate shopping. Why buy new trekking poles if my old trekking poles still work just fine? So what if I have to disassemble the locking mechanism and rebuild it a few times a year to get it to grip?
So what indeed. I got to check out the new Leki Diva trekking poles, and I found out why it is important to buy new trekking poles more than once every ten years. Of course, before finding this out, I had to get past the fact that these are called the “Diva”. Seriously, now, does EVERYTHING need to be called the Diva? I have Diva boots, Diva jackets, Diva hats, and now the Diva trekking poles. This is lazy marketing and it sucks. It must stop; do you people know what a diva really is? It’s not a pleasant thing and unless you have a serious case of narcissistic personality disorder you don’t want to run around advertising you’re a diva. Interestingly enough, these poles are called the Diva according to Leki, but the poles themselves insist they are called the “Shiva” which I like much better. Go with the Shiva, Leki.
Anyway, since the poles don’t say the word “Diva” on them, I am not embarrassed to carry them in public. So when I did, I was really blown away by the advances in trekking pole technology since I bought my last pair in 1999. The Divas/Shivas are lighter, thinner, and have a much more subtle antishock. The grips are the same size, and I kind of wish they were a little smaller, but they are fine regardless. They still have the twist-grip technology which I find a little cumbersome. Evidently there is another version coming out soon with the flick-lock grip system, which I think might be better. Until then, I’m stuck with spending the first ten minutes of my hike twirling my poles around trying to get them just the right length. Once they’re set, though, they stay where they’re put, which is nice. I’ve had trekking poles slowly shrink all day long until I finally noticed they were at mid-thigh instead of hip level where I put them. The Diva/Shiva locks really do a nice job of eliminating such shrinkage.
My old poles have an antishock feature that is noticeable; if you lean on them you can push them down a fraction. This always seemed like a gimmick to me and actually wastes a bit of energy. The rebound on the antishock on old poles isn’t sufficient to really provide any antishock benefits, so you just waste energy stabilizing yourself on a pole that gives a little. The Diva/Shiva poles allegedly have antishock, but it’s not the same; it’s not even noticeable when you’re going downhill. The result is a much more stable pole that gives the hiker a good, solid placement; much safer and much more helpful. I’m not sure how the antishock on the Diva/Shiva works; I just know that I like it much better.
The weight savings on the Diva/Shiva seems significant. I’m sure there are lighter poles out there, but these are such an improvement over my old pair. It’s not like hauling a pair of bricks along for a hike and occasionally leaning on them. Yet they still feel substantial and strong; very important when descending steep slopes. At my age, it’s not going up the mountains that is hard; it’s coming down, and I need all the help I can get.
Highgear Enduro Axio Altimeter Watch
June 30, 2009
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!
Pearl Izumi Sugar Bike Knicker
June 20, 2009
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.
La Sportiva FC 1.1
June 6, 2009
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.
Mountain Hardwear Quark Jacket
May 27, 2009
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.”
