Vintage clothing never goes out of style, as evidenced by the hordes of hipsters rocking your grandpa’s favorite gear from the ‘50s. However, “vintage” is not usually a consideration when searching for a multi-functional piece of outerwear. If it’s classic style and modern performance you seek in a jacket, then Sierra Designs may have the…
Category: Gear Reviews
Oboz Arete hiking shoe review
One of the first comments I got when I wore the Oboz Arete was, “are you going rock climbing in those approach shoes?” While I probably could considering the traction on the soles, the Arete are actually hiking shoes that happen to look like approach slippers. This funky style is one of the aspects that…
Mountain Khakis Rendezvous Quarter Zip review
Ah, merino wool, how I love thee. This natural fiber shaved off the backs of sheep and woven into baselayers, sweaters, and jackets is all the rage these days, and for good reason: merino wool is soft, breathable, wicks moisture away, insulates even when wet, and doesn’t retain body odor. The new Mountain Khakis Rendezvous…
Atomic 2015 Bent Chetler ski review
The Atomic Bent Chetler has been around for a few years. So why write a review about it now? Because the new, 2015 model is basically an entirely different ski. This will be the 6th version of the iconic pro-model ski from Atomic athlete Chris Bentchetler. So what makes the new Bent Chetler so different?…
Atomic Cliffline Stormfold Jacket and 3L Pants review
Atomic, a company that has made skis for time immemorial, is about to enter into the highly crowded ski apparel world. We can look forward to wearing three levels: the top-of-the-line Cliffline series, the mid-level Ridgeline series and the lower (and more affordable) Treeline series. We won’t get to see Atomic-branded labels until the 2014/15…
Capture Pro Camera Clip review
I got to see a lot of cool, new outdoor gear at this year’s Outdoor Retailer 2014 Winter Market, but the one item that made me stop in my tracks was the Capture Pro Camera Clip from Peak Design Ltd. As the producer of the KSL Outdoors show, and an outdoor writer who shoots his…
Salomon Q BC Lab backcountry skis review
Salomon is seriously getting into the backcountry game. They showed off new boots and apparel with backcountry DNA at this year’s Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, and most impressive to me were the Q BC Lab skis. They are super light despite an impressive 114 underfoot because of a unique construction made from a poplar wood…
Mountain Hardwear Sitzmark Jacket review
It’s tough to find a shell that works for every occasion. With a limited budget, how can anyone afford a soft shell for aerobic activities, plus a hard shell for wet weather or resort skiing, etc. Well, many companies have answered this by creating hybrid shells – jackets with the breathability of a soft and…
ECCO intros new boots at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market
Outdoor Retailer is great for checking out new gear from favorite brands, but I also enjoy discovering companies I’ve never even heard of, despite the fact that they’ve been around forever. ECCO is one such brand, and I’m happy to have visited their booth for the first time. ECCO is from Denmark, and they produce…
Outdoor Retailer All Mountain Demo 2014
The Outdoor Retailer 2014 Winter Market returned to Salt Lake City, and as usual, it all began at the All Mountain Demo at Solitude Mountain Resort. While we didn’t have an opportunity to test out new skis and boots this time around, we did get to check out some new products on hand, and narrowed…