Mountain Hardwear Stimulus Jacket
June 27, 2008
Updated post! I always swear I’ll come back and update these posts over the years but I rarely do. However, this event was so noteworthy that I just had to revisit this post. As you can tell from the review below and from the fact that I wear this thing on just about every trip, I really love this jacket. For those of you curious as to how long this wispy piece is meant to last, I finally know: From 6/27/2008 to 2/01/2010. For on that latter date I was severely bummed to discover that my precious Stimulus hadn’t survived the last washing. Whatever totally bizarre material holds together around the mosquito-mesh-style base had finally disintegrated. Last time I wore it in the rain I had noticed I hadn’t stayed exactly dry underneath but I chalked it up to a charming combination of sweat and rain let in by my protruding base layer cuffs. But alas, it was because the Stimulus was no longer comprised of magic waterproofing – along the shoulders it is basically just mosquito mesh. The rest of the fabric is just kind of gone. So, the Stimulus life span is a year and a half, basically. Which really isn’t too bad considering that I don’t exactly treat my gear kindly, and I really did wear this a lot. RIP Stimulus, you served me well. Good thing I bought another one of you.
Whoa. Does this thing perform. It weighs almost nothing, it is freakishly warm, completely waterproof, and perfectly cut. I don’t know who’s at the helm of Mountain Hardwear design this summer, but I’d like to buy you a drink, my friend. Everything upper-body fits me perfectly this year. Lower body – well, you owe ME a drink. More on that in other posts, I’m sure. But still – credit needs to be given where due for the flattering slim yet forgiving cut, roomy-but-somehow-trim sleeves, and absolutely heavenly tops-of-hipbones length. Don’t change a thing, this cut deserves an Oscar! A Nobel Prize! Something really good, anyway.
Anyway, the Stimulus is my go-to jacket for summertime. I don’t think it’s even made it back to the hanger – once I got over how delicate it is! This is not a tough item. I know, I know, “superlight” does not equal abuse-proof. But man, was I bummed when I tore the Stimulus the very first time I wore it. Lame! Okay, so I was climbing a tree, so when you’re innocently minding your own business and are suddenly set upon by a charging bear and have to climb a tree to escape, do not expect your Stimulus to survive the experience. That’s not why I was climbing the tree, but that’s neither here nor there.
With a little of that Alaskan staple, duct tape, and a little seam sealer, my Stimulus is back to being waterproof. But at $150+, I wouldn’t want to risk going anywhere near bushes, trees, shrubs, sticks, rocks, car doors, or corners, so it’s your call. Not to downplay the excellent performance of this piece, but this is one expensive windbreaker, people. For above-treeline pursuits, you won’t need anything else for midsummer day hikes – I know, you won’t believe that, but it’s true. Honestly, I don’t even bother bringing another jacket anymore unless it’s under 50 degrees outside. If you conduct all of your below-treeline workouts on 30 foot-wide trails (you laugh, but you haven’t seen the ski “trails” around here), the Stimulus is for you.
Speaking of duct tape, though, I think the color of the Stimulus is noteworthy. It is blessedly not neon green, turquoise, dandelion, electric blue, or orangey-red. It is almost exactly duct tape colored. Really handy when making repairs, for certain, but also a welcome relief from the fashion-driven color schemes this year. It’s not that handy when you want to make yourself visible, but honestly I love the understated grey. Whatever happened to normal colors like grey and brown and black? Or even, you know, “red” or “blue”? Am I the only one who doesn’t want to dress like a Hyperdry t-shirt (remember those)? It seems like all the manufacturers get together every year to decide on the three colors they all going to offer. None of them can break this lockstep or something bad will happen (kind of like if the Lost castaways stop typing in those numbers! Yes, I’m a few seasons behind). If you buy shoes and a jacket in the same year they’ll probably end up being the same color. I feel like an idiot riding along in a supercoordinated set of clothing that ends up looking like an “outfit” even when I didn’t intend to dress so matchy-matchy. Anyway, big thumbs up to the grey color. It matches most stuff but not in a “matchy” way. I will warn you, though, I will get mighty suspicious if everyone shows grey-colored clothing next year….
Volkl Queen Attiva Ski
February 6, 2008
Note: the ski I tested, pictured above, is the 05/06 version of this ski.
As some of you may know (oh, who am I kidding, you don’t know, so I’ll tell you), I had knee surgery this year. Getting back to skiing has been a little rough. I wasn’t even particularly enjoying skiing this year. I was able to ski the groomers just fine but let’s face it, groomers are boring as hell. I was resigned to a ho-hum season when I got the chance to try these babies.
Immediately I was transformed from the shadow of my former schussing self into a happy ski sprite, zooming down the slopes on these versatile, powerful, FAST skis from Volkl. These are marketed as more of a powder ski, and let me tell you, they do deliver in the pow pow. They have that fun diving-porpoise movement and they sing through the powder like angels on high. That’s one of my more nonsensical metaphors, but I’m so transported by these skis that I can’t make sense anymore.
One of the most pleasant surprises of these light (5-ish lbs) planks is that they still cut through the chop like butter. They’re flexible and light but the tips are somehow firm enough to hold their ground against the death cookies (been a while since you heard that term, eh? Hey, I never said I was a spring chicken). The only conditions that gave me trouble were hardpack/near-ice. The Queens are a little too flexible to grip the ice well, but who cares, who wants to ski on ice anyway? Surprisingly nimble for being fatties, the Queens are even enjoyable in the bumps and are versatile enough to hold any type of turn on the (ick) groomers. They are incredible in the powder but truly are an all-mountain ski. Added bonus – they’re nice and light, perfect for climbing.
Extra big points to Volkl for making a women’s ski with such cool graphics, too. A women’s ski that’s black, red and gold – now that is awesome. Volkl’s going to have a hard time shaking me off their bandwagon now, and everyone’s a winner.
