It may have been late arriving, but don’t let the slow start fool you: winter is still alive in the Wasatch. With more snow in the forecast, it’s not time to store your cold-season gear just yet. In fact, now might be the perfect time to make sure you have everything dialed. If you need an upgrade on eyewear, base layers, or hand protection, read on for three pieces of gear that will get plenty of use before it’s time to head to your favorite slot canyon hideout.
Seirus Heatwave Plus Burst Glove
A part of the Serius Heatwave Plus line, the Burst is a five-finger glove that will keep your digits toasty on the coldest of days. A dual kinetic/reflective heat system on the interior will break down escaping vapor to boost the temperature within the glove. Sounds fancy…and it works! I’ve worn the Seirus Burst gloves on some mighty cold days, and they kept my hands happy no matter how long I stayed out. I’ve found the optimum temps for these gloves to fall anywhere from -5 to 35 degrees F. Beyond 35F, they are just too hot to handle. I’m sure they could happily go below -5F, but honestly it never got that cold here in Utah (at least, when I was riding anyway). The Burst isn’t just warm, it’s rugged to boot. Goatskin leather palms are tough enough to withstand grabbing edges (and holding on for dear life to tree branches, if you end up doing that kind of thing), and the overall construction on the glove is impressive. Not a wayward stitch or janky seam to be found on these. Additionally, the Soundtouch technology on the index fingers is is touch-screen compatible, and works quite well.
My only knock against the Seirus Burst glove is that my hands are always cold on the first run or two. You need to work a bit for the reflective heat system to boost the temperature of the glove. Not a big deal on a warm-ish day, but you’ll want to make sure you put them on as soon as possible if the needle is dipping low on the thermometer.
Minus33 Acadian Lightweight Wool Boxer Brief
Earlier this winter, I reviewed the Kancamagus Wool Bottoms from Minus33, and the Acadian boxer brief is the perfect match. As with other Minus33 base layers, expect a high quality Merino wool with outstanding construction. The Acadian boxer is definitely supportive, and feels almost like a compression layer. Ah, but the softness of wool is quite forgiving against your skin, and does an outstanding job of regulating temperatures in your most delicate of regions. Not only do they breathe, but these wick away sweat like a champ. On backcountry tours I found them to be ideal, keeping me comfortable no matter how warm or cold it might be outside. I also experienced no irritation, something I can’t say for all wool base layers. The fun doesn’t stop when winter ends though, as these briefs have also been ideal for hiking and biking. I expect to get use out of these all year long, but they certainly shine when it comes to battling the elements of winter.
Before copping a pair, you should know that they fit a bit longer in the leg than your day to day boxer briefs. In fact, I’ve had to endure some good natured ribbing from my wife when I rock the Acadian brief. But you know what, it’s worth it! If you absolutely had to wear underwear for more than one day, this is the pair for the job. Luckily, they are machine washable and dryable, so bringing them back to good standing won’t be a hassle.
adidas Sport Eyewear Wayfinder sunglasses
Snow, while beautiful to gaze at, can do a number on your eyes. All that pretty white stuff means a lot of rays reflecting straight into your peepers. I’ve been protecting my eyes during backcountry tours and winter hikes with adidas Sport’s Wayfinder sunglasses, and they’ve kept me shielded while looking cooler than I deserve to. A 2(3) standard rating for the Wayfinder means that it blocks out 100% of UVB and UVA rays. These two varieties of light rays are the ones doing serious damage to your eyes and skin while out on a winter’s walk. Proof that these are the real deal: I had them on while covering the NCAA Ski Championships, and my eyeballs were the only part of my face not sizzled in the sun. The Wayfinder shades are straight up awesome; but two features stand out above the others. First, these things are light! The SPX frames are so minimally built that it barely feels like you are wearing sunglasses. Second, the double-snap nose pads are grippy as all get-out. It doesn’t matter if I’m hiking, biking, touring or running down the trail after my dog, the Wayfinders always stay put. Even when I’ve been sweating heavily, these sunnies hold fast to my face.
And did I mention they look great? Styling that is more “SoCal surfer” than “running my third 10k this week” means you can go from the skin track to the apres BBQ without swapping your shades. In my book, that’s a winner. If you need legit eye protection and don’t want to sacrifice on style, then these might be the sunglasses for you.