Minor inclement weather should never deter your adventuring. Let nature thin out the crowds and enjoy a little more peace of mind. Winter conditions call for additional gear to accommodate for increased hazards, but you can still hit your favorite trails as long as they don’t get too extreme. A piece of equipment that sometimes gets […]
Outdoor Clothing
U.S. Mountain Field Jacket | Cockpit USA
There is an undeniable sense of enthusiasm when I get a new piece of gear and try it on for the first time. Gear has that special power, it’s not just an article of clothing, a bag, equipment, or accessory. Instead it is a purpose driven piece of gear to assist me in my love […]
Triple Aught Design Ranger Hoodie | A Minimalists 4-Season Jacket
In calling the Triple Aught Design (TAD) Ranger Hoodie a 4-season jacket I am making a bold statement, but one, I believe, this remarkably versatile jacket achieves. My gear reviews focus on equipment that I believe is versatile, durable, and reliable. I have very high expectations and expect my equipment and gear to meet or […]
Techrock GTX Jacket | by adidas Terrex
Since age three, I’ve been clumsily sliding down hills with skis attached to my feet. It’s truly a passion of mine. No other sport allows as much freedom, variety and exilleration as Alpine skiing. Well, for me at least. My mother, a Swiss native, spent her winters teaching skiing in Vermont. Sealing my destiny on […]
The Solo Jacket by Prometheus Design Werx
Prometheus Design Werx, also called PDW, is no stranger to producing amazing outdoor gear and apparel. Founded by Patrick Ma, the founder of Triple Aught Design, Patrick has a long history designing and producing some of the most highly favored apparel and equipment used by professionals all across the world. Based in San Francisco, PDW […]
Triple Aught Design Bastion Hoodie: Quick look
I just received the Bastion Hoodie yesterday and was impressed the moment I put it on. Thanks to the new Polartec Power Fill insulation, the jacket retains all the warmth without all the bulk of traditional winter jackets. I wouldn’t say the jacket is an athletic fit, but there is no unnecessary bulk anywhere. More on […]
Condor Aegis hardshell jacket | Waterproof and under budget
Condor Outdoors has been making products for over 20 years now. Starting with camping supplies, the Irwindale, CA based business soon expanded their product lines to include tactical gear. While their foreign-produced products gained some notoriety years ago for lackluster quality-control, I’ve heard from a number of people that Condor has tightened up their program […]
NW Alpine Belay Jacket: Chosen for it’s warmth, toughness and minimal packed size
The NW Alpine Belay Jacket is a compressible and very comfortable synthetic-fill jacket built for cold and damp environments. What’s intriguing about this jacket is the apparent design quality and the company’s manufacturing location. NW Alpine began in 2010, and has since continued to produce top-quality alpine gear, cut and sewn in Portland, Oregon. It is […]
NW Alpine Black Spider Hoody: Functional in a wide variety of conditions
The Black Spider is the moniker given to a formidable, 1000-foot-tall wall of volcanic rock and ice on the eastern face of Mount Hood above the Newton-Clark glacier. This area contains some of the most sought-after and heart-pounding alpine routes in the Pacific Northwest. NW Alpine has designed a hoody capturing the namesake of Mount Hood’s most […]
Infiltrator Jacket by Outdoor Research | Tactical Outerwear
In 1980, Ron Gregg, a dedicated mountaineer, found himself in trouble on the slopes of Mount McKinley. Due to a poorly designed gaiter, his climbing parter suffered from severe frostbite requiring an immediate airlift to safety. Despite the blown expedition, Rons gears immediately started turning and he began to work on a better solution. The […]