While I am normally out getting as much mileage as possible on ice this time of year, I actually had the opportunity to ski a bunch already this winter since Tahoe has been blessed with tons of snow. Here is some of my favorite gear I wore quite a bit last season and am still sporting this season.
Even the most outdoorsy among us may live in an urban environment or at least enjoy an urban adventure from time to time. So while crampons or a new pair of skis under the tree might be great, here are ten urban friendly yet outdoor inspired items that would make a fabulous gift for any female (or in some cases male) on your list.
Starting next fall, Columbia brings their OutDry Extreme waterproof fabric technology to winter gear. The collection will include a variety of shells, insulated jackets, bibs, and gloves. By adding a waterproof membrane and forgoing most of the stitching required with regular down baffles, look forward to a completely waterproof down puffy next season. Here is a quick look at some of the pieces–I plan to see them up close and personal at Outdoor Retailer in a few weeks.
Last spring, we got an early preview of Columbia’s OutDry Extreme technology during a gear testing trip to Colombia. An innovative approach to waterproof jacket construction, OutDry Extreme basically turns the rain jacket inside out, placing the waterproof breathable membrane on the outside of the jacket. Now, Gore has come out with their own membrane-on-the-outside technology dubbed Gore-Tex Active with Permanent Beading Surface. Intended for high-aerobic activities in wet weather such as running, hiking, and cycling, the new textile ditches the face fabric that is prone to wet out. The result is Gore’s lightest and most breathable Gore-Tex product to date according to the company, and one with quick drying times. Basically all you have to do is shake it off.
With close to 300 million people set to visit our national parks each year, how can you still experience pristine natural beauty away from all the crowds? Easy. Head to Colombia.
The holy grail of rain gear is breathability. For years, the breathability argument focused on the membrane itself, whether it be Gore-Tex, eVent, Polartec NeoShell, or Columbia’s OmniDry. Even if you could objectively determine which membrane is more breathable, it’s only one piece of the waterproof-breathable puzzle. Rain gear works through a synergy of many elements—membrane, face fabric, inner fabric, seam-taping, and durable-water-repellent (DWR) finish, to name a few. The key to a high-performance piece of rain gear is to get the construction of all of these elements correct.
