Winter adventures are a headache. It’s nearly impossible to stay warm and dry when you’re shifting between moving quickly with a heavy pack and then taking a rest beside a snowy trail. Down puffy jackets can be too warm when I’m on the go, and breathable midlayers aren’t warm enough when I stop. But after many years of searching, I’ve finally found one do-it-all layer, built with a revelatory new technology that checks all my boxes.

By combining the warmth of a midweight puffy with stellar breathability, this new heavyweight midlayer from Bozeman, Montana-based technical apparel maker Sitka does it all. Sitka developed a single upper body insulation piece that will keep you comfortable not just in very cold weather, but also while sitting inside a heated vehicle or building: the .

I鈥檓 wearing this miracle layer as I write on an airplane flying from Bozeman to Midland, Texas. When I left home this morning it was dumping snow, and 13 degrees Fahrenheit outside. It鈥檚 probably 70 degrees or so on this plane. When I land in Texas, it will be 50. And when I wake up tomorrow morning, somewhere out by Fluvanna, Texas,听 it鈥檒l be 32. I鈥檓 wearing the Sitka Ambient 200 jacket over a light merino wool T-shirt. I won鈥檛 need to add or subtract a layer to remain comfortable throughout the duration of this trip, no matter if I鈥檓 hiking through the pre-dawn desert, riding around in a pickup truck, or sitting in a deer stand.

The Perfect Winter Jacket

Ambient 200

How does the Ambient 200 manage to provide insulation when you need it, and breathability when you don鈥檛? It’s built with Primaloft Active. I鈥檝e written about the material before. In short, its synthetic, recycled-polyester fibers mimic the structure of animal fur with an open, fuzzy construction. The loft created by that fur-like material traps a ton of warm air when you鈥檙e holding still. But as you increase the pressure inside that next-to-skin environment when your body moves and heats up, there is virtually no resistance as the warmth is pushed away from your body. That 鈥渇ur鈥� is housed inside a very light nylon face fabric that resists wind and precipitation without restricting breathability.

What makes this jacket different is that it’s much heavier than Sitka’s previous offerings, which have weighed anywhere from 75 to 150 grams-per-square-meter (GSM). The 75 weight is about as warm as a normal fleece jacket. The 150 GSM jacket is as warm as an ultralight puffy (and notable in its own right for that performance). This 200-GSM puffy? It鈥檚 as warm as the thickest insulated jacket you鈥檇 ever want to layer under a shell鈥攂ut appropriate to wear in a huge variety of conditions.

Sitka is the only clothing maker serving the American market that currently uses Primaloft Active. The brand鈥檚 designer, John Barklow, was the guy who commissioned the creation of the Polartec Alpha back in the early aughts when he was designing clothing systems for听Special Operations Forces fighting the global war on terror. Twenty years later, very few consumer-facing brands have adopted Polartec Alpha, and Barklow has already moved the fabric technology game even further.

Primaloft Active maintains equivalent breathability to Polartec Alpha, a fabric light enough to barely be noticed, across a heavier range of fabric weights and insulation levels. So, in the Ambient 200, I get as much breathability as a lighter Alpha piece, with more than double the potential for warmth.

Planning to drive anywhere in sub-freezing weather this winter? Go ahead and crank your car鈥檚 heat up to 72, turn on your seat heater, and you鈥檒l be totally comfortable wearing this thing over a light base layer. But when you step out to fill up with gas in 10–degree temperatures, you鈥檒l remain comfortable.

Going skiing at a resort? I don鈥檛 know about you, but I need to carry a day pack that鈥檚 awkward and uncomfortable to wear on the lift. That way, I have a place to stick my puffy jacket when I get too warm.听With the Ambient 200, I won鈥檛 have to change layers on the mountain at all.

I can wear the Ambient 200 in and outdoors at home as I walk the dogs, chop firewood, shovel, and come back inside.

Primaloft Active wicks moisture outwards with incredible efficiency, thanks to the raw fibers of polyester. Polyester fibers can鈥檛 absorb water and have a small surface area (the end of the thread) where it touches your body or base layer. Thanks to the larger surface area along the length of that thread, surface tension draws moisture outwards and spreads it out so that water can evaporate. Primaloft Active works with your technical base layers to keep you dry.

A very light 20-denier nylon ripstop shell enables Sitka鈥檚 Ambient range to shed a little wind or precipitation without adding any additional bulk or restricting breathability when worn under a shell. A wind-resistant shell (like a rain or ski jacket), adds at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit of additional comfort.

Venting heat when you鈥檙e moving, wicking moisture away from your skin, providing a truly significant level of insulation when you need it turns the Sitka Ambient 200 into a multitool for cold weather comfort. If you see me skiing, hiking, driving, chopping wood, or working outdoors this winter, I’ll be wearing the Ambient 200.

Wes Siler is your guide to leading a more exciting life in the great outdoors. As听翱耻迟蝉颈诲别鈥檚听outdoor lifestyle columnist, he writes about the intersections of science, news, politics, gear, vehicles and travel, empowering readers to better understand the world they鈥檙e recreating in. Wes lives in the mountains with his wife, Virginia McQueen, and their three rescue dogs.

The post The Sitka Ambient 200 Is the Only Insulation I鈥檓 Wearing This Winter appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Price: $800
Weight: 1 lb 1.4 oz.
Sizes: 惭别苍鈥檚 S-XXL, 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 XXS-XXL

The snack jacket is a quintessential piece of gear for going deep into the backcountry. That is: a layer to keep on hand for quick lunch breaks, long transitions, or apr茅s beers back at the trailhead. The all-new Arc鈥檛eryx proved to be a stand out in this genre鈥攖he听 synthetic insulated and water-resistant jacket kept us dry and warm on the summit and the skintrack.

Read more: The Best Puffy Jackets and Midlayers of 2023听

It features Arc鈥檛eryx鈥檚 proprietary 20-denier gridded nylon face fabric that utilizes a liquid crystal polymer ripstop called Hadron, which is extremely abrasion resistant. The company recently started using this fabric in insulated layers, and it scored major points with our testers for lightweight durability. Case in point: the material never showed a scratch while getting roughed up around basecamp or when testers donned ice axes and crampons. It鈥檚 also DWR-treated, so it鈥檚 weather-resistant but not full-on waterproof, which was plenty to stay dry in low-density snowstorms. 鈥淭he face fabric and shell material was crucial in Greenland when we did a lot of standing around in the fog and mist,鈥� said one tester on our Editor鈥檚 Choice trip. 鈥淚t repels moisture as well as a regular shell.鈥� This meant that our tester could simply slip the Rush on top of her shell when a cold day turned sleet-y, rather than having to take her shell off, put on her puffy, and then put her shell back on over it.

Inside, the jacket is stuffed with synthetic Coreloft, Arc鈥檛eryx鈥檚 proprietary siliconized polyester insulation that retains warmth even when wet鈥攁nd is less bulky than other loose-fill insulators. The resulting layer is not quite burly enough to qualify as a full-on belay parka, but it鈥檚 just right in temps between -15 and 25 degrees Fahrenheit. It鈥檚 also far more packable, though not nearly as much so as a down puffy鈥擶e squished this one to about the size of a loaf of bread.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the ultimate jacket to throw on for a cold, windy summit,鈥� said a tester after a winter of skiing in Wyoming鈥檚 Tetons. 鈥淭his one鈥檚 a no brainer for all but totally bluebird days.鈥� Internal dump pockets were a great spot to warm up mittens and stash skins, and the storm hood fits easily over a climbing or ski helmet. And yet, despite its summit chops, this jacket offers surprisingly good breathability. 鈥淚 would have expected it to be too warm for those mild temps,鈥� said one tester after skiing in the Steamboat Springs, Colorado backcountry. 鈥淚 kept it on during my uphill and was honestly surprised that this level of insulation didn鈥檛 become stifling.鈥� Simply put, the Rush is one of those in betweener jackets that you never thought you needed until, well, you can鈥檛 live without it.

Of course, all that tech doesn鈥檛 come cheap. But testers deemed this a worthy investment for those who spend multiple days per week in the mountains. In fact, one of our testers has eight puffies in her gear closet, yet she reached for this one at least four days a week.

Lily Krass is a freelance ski journalist whose writing has been featured in SKI, Powder Magazine, Freeskier, Teton Gravity Research, and Ascent Backcountry Snow Journal. She spends winters backcountry skiing in Grand Teton National Park and riding lifts at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, with the occasional trip to the Alps (for the food, obviously). In addition to an all-consuming addiction to powder skiing mixed with heavy doses of Type II fun, Lily takes snacking seriously, and when she鈥檚 not writing or sliding on snow, she鈥檚 likely deep into a baking project in her tiny kitchen. She is the co-author of Beyond Skid: A Cookbook For Ski Bums, a collection of dirtbag-friendly recipes inspired by life in a mountain town.

Back to the Winter Gear Guide

The post The Arc鈥檛eryx Rush Insulated Jacket: Long-Term Test appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

We鈥檝e all been there: shivering because our jacket isn鈥檛 warm enough, or sweating buckets because it鈥檚 too thick. Well, there鈥檚 good news鈥攑uffies just continue to get better. They鈥檙e toastier on one end of the spectrum and more breathable, but still cozy, on the other. These are a collection of our top picks from this winter season that will serve you well for years to come.

Aether Launch ($425)

A true trail-to-town crossover, the Launch (and women鈥檚 Senna, $375) fuses technical materials with urban design. The bomber jacket鈥檚 fit is as stylish as it is effective at sealing in heat at the cuffs and hem. Meanwhile, interior seams with elastic binding and a 16 percent spandex blend in the shell allow for superior stretch when adjusting snowshoe straps and planting ski poles. The 800-fill goose down makes this garment warmer than you鈥檇 expect given the low-bulk silhouette. (惭别苍鈥檚 XS鈥揦XL, 1.2 lbs; women鈥檚 XS鈥揦L, 1 lb)

Columbia Bulo Point II Omni-Heat Infinity Down ($250)

Cloudlike baffles stuffed with 700-fill goose down conform to your chest like a gentle hug, while supple reflective gold lining amplifies your body鈥檚 natural heat. Flurries bead on the DWR-treated shell颅鈥攎ade of recycled polyester in the hood and shoulders, and nylon elsewhere鈥攖o keep you dry on chairlift rides. It breathes capably enough, but without vents it鈥檚 better for the parking lot at the end of the day. (惭别苍鈥檚 S鈥揦XL, 1.6 lbs; women鈥檚 XS鈥揦XL, 1.6 lbs)

Fj盲llr盲ven Visby 3-in-1 ($550)

Named for a coastal Swedish city notorious for its fickle weather, the Visby is designed for maximum versatility. It pairs a waterproof-breathable hip-length shell with a zip-out synthetic-insulated midlayer that can be worn alone when the weather breaks. Fj盲llr盲ven boosts its sustainability cred by cutting the coat entirely from recycled materials. (惭别苍鈥檚 XS鈥揦XL, 2.8 lbs; women鈥檚 XXS鈥揦L, 2.8 lbs)

Patagonia Downdrift ($299)

Heritage styling isn鈥檛 the only thing the Downdrift brings back. It鈥檚 insulated with 600-fill down that鈥檚 recycled from bedding, and the shell material is made from nylon nets salvaged from South American fishermen. The exterior isn鈥檛 only durable but also protected by a PFC-free DWR coating, which makes the Downdrift equally at home on job sites, chairlifts, and city streets. (惭别苍鈥檚 XS鈥揦XL, 2.3 lbs; women鈥檚 XS鈥揦XL, 1.8 lbs)

Marmot WarmCube Novus Hoody ($250)

The Novus Hoody is the indispensable layer: a fantastic wet-weather insulator when paired with a hard shell, and a stand-alone soft shell for the skin track. Cube-shaped baffles of synthetic insulation along the back help trap warm air against the body, augmenting an already impressive warmth-to-weight ratio. The 20-denier ripstop nylon shell can take a thrashing, but it鈥檚 stretchy and breathable enough for the most rigorous climbs. (惭别苍鈥檚 S鈥揦XL, 1.3 lbs; women鈥檚 XS鈥揦L, 1.2 lbs)

Ortovox Swisswool Zinal ($370)

Stuffed with fleece made from the wool of Swiss mountain sheep, the Zinal is an eco-friendly alternative to puffers filled with petroleum-based insulation. We liked the wool鈥檚 natural odor-fighting properties, but we really loved this exceptionally warm and supple parka when the temperature dropped to single digits. Details like a buttery-soft merino-wool chin guard and adjustable cuffs make it comfy, and giant chest pockets are positioned well above your pack鈥檚 waist belt鈥攁nd double as vents when you warm up. (惭别苍鈥檚 S鈥揦XL, 1.4 lbs; women鈥檚 XS鈥揦L, 1.3 lbs)

Norr酶na Trollveggen Superlight Down 850 ($349)

Here鈥檚 the truly featherweight down puffy you鈥檒l wear year-round: it鈥檚 wispy enough for climbers, skiers, and hikers who insist on the lightest loads. Credit the filmy-thin, seven-denier recycled nylon, which allows maximum loft in the 850-fill down by limiting compression. Those baffles make the Trollveggen shockingly warm, given the scant weight and pack size (it scrunches into its own pocket). (惭别苍鈥檚 S鈥揦L, 7 oz; women鈥檚 XS鈥揕, 6 oz)

Daehlie Winter Run 2.0 ($170)

This aerobic insulator is the mullet of puffy jackets, combining baffles of ultralight synthetic insulation up front and laser-cut perforated ventilation in the back. The result is an excellent piece for high-output running, nordic skiing, and fat biking. Four-way-stretch polyester won鈥檛 hold you back, no matter how ungainly your form. One zippered lumbar pocket keeps a phone or fuel secure. (惭别苍鈥檚 S鈥揦XL, 11 oz; women鈥檚 XS鈥揦L, 9 oz)

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After nearly eight years of covering gear for 国产吃瓜黑料, I have learned to be flexible when making recommendations. When someone comes at me with a hard line on the correct flex point of a ski boot, or on the superiority of backpacking with an ultralight kit, I respond with a diplomatic de gustibus non est disputandum鈥攂asically, there鈥檚 no accounting for taste. While it鈥檚 fair to take preferences, needs, and budget into account with most gear suggestions, there is one genre in which I will hold firm: you should really invest in a comfortable听camp pad.

I have come to this strict rule after sleeping听hundreds of nights out of doors since 2000, when听I showed up to my first summer听as a raft guide without a mattress to sleep on. The decision was one part necessity and one part bravado: I traveled on a Greyhound Bus to the gig听and wanted to pack light, and I thought that sleeping in a cheap sleeping bag in the dirt would听prove my mettle to the older guides (i.e. my heroes).

Both on the river and at our base camp, my spartan accommodations went unnoticed for weeks. No one cared how much I suffered amidst what turned out to be, surprisingly,听a culture of cozy sleeping arrangements. Two sets of entrenched guides went in on thrift store futons for base camp at the beginning of the season, which turned into a race to create the most comfortable beds听possible on $50-$75 a day wages.

Weeks into getting eaten by spiders and waking up with chalky hair every morning, Crazy Davy, a class-V guide three years my senior, noticed that I was sleeping in the dirt. 鈥淒ude, sleep on my bed, it鈥檚 a queen,鈥� he said. I was thrilled. Davy鈥檚 bed was an old air mattress his dad had discarded. It was rarely more than 75 percent inflated, and any movement was easily sensed on the other side of the mattress. Davy鈥檚 constant movement听served him well as a boater and guide, but it did not stop at night. I moved back to the dirt after a week.

I moved from the dirt to a cheap, self-inflating Therm-a-Rest听knock off on the river and flea-ridden Goodwill futon at base camp the next summer. The combo lasted me over a decade until I scored a 鈥攁 cartoonishly large, heavily cushioned piece of听foam encased in raft material so it鈥檚 waterproof and lasts forever, that鈥檚 a听staple of the veteran听river guide鈥檚 kit鈥攆or an 18-day Grand Canyon rafting trip. Fortunately, my now wife, Sarah, didn鈥檛 meet me until the early Paco Pad years. Unfortunately, we only had the one fancy mattress between the two of us, and chivalry compelled me to claim her old backpacking Therm-a-Rest, a solid inch and a half below her perch on the luxurious Paco Pad. I was basically back in the dirt.

Since then, we鈥檝e really stepped up our game.听Nine years later, Sarah and I now sleep on an , and sometimes our daughter Jojo crawls in with us as well. It is incredibly easy to set up thanks to an efficient pump, can be inflated to a rigid state that is kind to my 38-year-old back,听and holds air well enough that I don鈥檛 need to top it off even on a four-night camping trip. The integrated sheet and comforter mean we don鈥檛听even need to听stress about bringing sleeping bags or bedding鈥攖he whole thing comes in one tidy,听albeit large,听package to throw in the back of the truck. When coupled with our , the setup is just a hair less comfortable than our bed at home.

At $300, the Kingdom System is quite pricey, but our usage has made it a worthwhile investment. Since we got it in May of 2019, I conservatively estimate we鈥檝e spent 30 nights sleeping on it. That works out to about $5 a night per person, and that per-use price will drop even more this summer.

Every night of sleep on this mattress has been comfortable, and every good night of rest on it has made the next day鈥檚 activities better. I find it fascinating when friends scoff at a $300 price tag for a mattress that they will spend hundreds of hours sleeping on, but won鈥檛 flinch at thousands of dollars for a ski kit that will see dozens of hours of use in a good season. Don鈥檛 get me wrong: good skis are a solid investment. I just suggest also placing a high value on getting a good night鈥檚 rest. Unless you like to be miserable鈥攊n which case I will not dispute your taste.

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Baffled by the sheer number of technical outer layers on the market? Most fall into one of six categories. Cover them all and you鈥檒l be ready for whatever Mother Nature throws your way.

Hard Shell

The workhorses of the gear closet, hard shells are extremely waterproof but typically let some heat escape. There are three main designs. A three-layer jacket sandwiches a waterproof-breathable membrane between an outer fabric and a lining for maximum protection and durability. A 2.5-layer uses a raised print instead of a lining. And a two-layer opts for a separate mesh liner, sacrificing weight and comfort for cost savings.

Our Pick: The three-layer Arc鈥檛eryx Beta LT ($399) suits almost every outdoor endeavor, thanks to a Gore-Tex membrane, a protective hood, and pit zips for extra ventilation.

Tech Talk: What鈥檚 that 10,000/10,000 rating on the jacket鈥檚 hang tag? The first number indicates waterproofness, measured in millimeters of liquid (ranging from 5,000 for water-resistant to 20,000 for stormproof). The second denotes vapor permeability, also known as breathability鈥攆rom 5,000 grams for high to 20,000 grams for minimal.

Lightweight Puffy

A thin insulated jacket is key for mild weather, be it alpine summer nights or above-freezing winter days in the desert. Lightweight puffies have less fill and more-delicate fabrics, which makes them soft and packable.

Our Pick: With 1,000-fill down, the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer UL ($375) delivers maximum warmth at minimal weight.

Tech Talk: Fill power refers to down鈥檚 loft to weight ratio. Take two jackets of the same weight; the one with higher-fill down will be warmer because it offers more insulation per feather. It鈥檚 an indication of down quality, not quantity.

Note: If you know you鈥檒l be standing still for a while, put your puffy on right away rather than waiting until you feel cold. It鈥檒l help keep your body temperature stable and avoid forcing you to work hard to warm back up.

Active Midlayer

Down fill loses its ability to hold in warmth when it gets wet. That makes it a poor choice for sweaty activities. Thankfully, an array of new active insulations excel at managing sweat while keeping you toasty. Most are formed into sheets of gauzy padding (rather than loose plumes that require baffles to stay in place) and offer some stretch for freedom of movement.

Our Pick: The soft, stretchy 颅Patagonia Nano-Air ($249) acts like a dehumidifier during high-颅output cold-weather activities.

Tech Talk: Insulation鈥檚 air permeability is measured in cubic feet per minute. Higher numbers represent better breathability. Windproof fabrics measure one CFM or less.

Heavyweight Puffy

These cold-weather toasters are what you wear if you鈥檙e not generating body heat through movement, like when you鈥檙e lounging in camp or lingering on a chilly summit. Goose or duck down provides the warmest, lightest, most compressible insulation. But because moisture is down鈥檚 kryptonite, synthetic fill can be optimal in rainy climates.

Our Pick: The Rab Neutrino Pro Down ($375) boasts hydrophobic 800-fill down to preserve loft in damp conditions.

Tech Talk: Baffles keep fill from 颅migrating. Stitch-through construction is lighter and cheaper but creates cold spots along the seams. Welded baffles help solve this problem.

Soft Shell

Thicker, stretchier, and more breathable than hard shells, soft shells sacrifice some waterproofness for better moisture management and a suppler feel. They fend off light rain but not sustained downpours, so they鈥檙e better for dry, breezy climes than for soggy rainforest hikes.

Our Pick: The Black Diamond Dawn Patrol ($199) blends nylon, polyester, and elastane into a tough four-way-stretch fabric that blocks gusts while retaining range of motion.

Tech Talk: Denier numbers indicate fiber thickness. High-denier yarns (50 to 90) sacrifice compressibility for durability. Finer, 10- to 20-denier yarns do the opposite.

Note: Unless all-day downpours are expected, you probably don鈥檛 need to bring a hard shell. Many soft shells are sufficiently water-颅resistant to protect against brief showers and offer both wind protection and breathability.

Wind Shell

Tissue-thin nylon windbreakers buffer against squalls and precipitation without totally blocking either. They鈥檙e ideal for short-term weather exposure while trail running or scrambling along a wind-raked ridgeline. Minimal weight and low bulk are key鈥攎ost of the time, this jacket will stay in your pack. But when deployed, it offers 颅comfort-saving protection.

Our Pick: With perforated under颅-arm ventilation and exceptionally 颅breath颅able fabric, the Backcountry Mad Creek ($110) shields while minimizing clamminess when you鈥檙e moving fast.

Tech Talk: Durable water-repellent (DWR) coatings traditionally use long-chain (C8) fluorocarbons to make rain bead up and slide off. Newer, less toxic alternatives use short-chain (C6) finishes or skip fluorocarbons altogether.

The post The Only 6 Jackets Your Gear Closet Needs appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

In 2010 I spent a month at Mount Everest鈥檚 Base Camp in Nepal. As part of a summit-expedition team, my assignment听was to write news, both for 国产吃瓜黑料听and , from the comfort of a tent pitched at the terminus of the Khumbu Icefall.

Say what you will about Base Camp,听but I was there to do a job, and I found my work space to be stunningly beautiful and surreal. Where else can you wake to the rumble of an avalanche at dawn,听check out expedition听setups straight out of James Bond,听and stumble across听artifacts (like a human arm) emerging from the melting glacier? Some mountaineering companies stake down absurdly luxurious glamping spreads, but ours wasn鈥檛 one of them. That鈥檚 why I grew attached to my Ugg boots. It gets听cold at 17,500 feet elevation, and those听boots kept my feet warm.

Last听January, my old Uggs died, their suede uppers听worn so thin that it finally slit at the seam. I was eager to buy the exact same pair,听but听soon learned that my 听had been out of circulation for years. To my dismay, I discovered听that the soles on the latest Uggs seemed more suited for an airport frequent-flyer lounge than the snow and ice at my home听in northern Minnesota, where temperatures frequently dip below zero.听So听I went on a hunt to find a replacement. Of course, not everyone lives in a polar vortex, which is why I tested boots in temperatures ranging听from 25 degrees to minus 20. Ultimately, I found four that will keep anyone听warm and upright in harsh winter weather.

Best for New Snow听

Steger Mukluks Klondike ($250)

Weight: 2 pounds听per pair
Temperature Rating: Minus听30 degrees

In 1985, Patti Steger started sewing mukluks in her Ely, Minnesota,听home after a ten-month Arctic expedition with her听husband, polar explorer Will Steger. She modeled her lightweight, 11-inch-tall, moose-hide 听after the footwear their Inuit friends wore. The warmth is the result of a听flexible rubber sole.听Because your feet can flex easily in these听and more constantly stay in motion, blood flows better to the听distant听appendage than it might otherwise in a stiffer structure, creating听heat. Inside听the boot is a polypropylene-lined wool felt liner, and it comes with an extra felt insole so you can double up on听the听coldest days. Steger wears her boots without socks, because she swears they鈥檙e warmer this way,听so I tried that on a minus-18-degree morning walk to watch the sun rise over Lake Superior. The Klondike听kept my feet cozy听for an hour. This particular model lacks an aggressive sole, so it can be slippery on icy surfaces. For a grippier version听that also works in deep powder, try the higher ,听the go-to boot for nordic-skiing Olympic champion Jessie Diggins.

Best for Hiking on Hardpack

Muck 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 Arctic Ice Nomadic Sport ($180)

Weight: 2.25 pounds听per pair
Temperature Rating:听Minus 20 degrees

I gravitate toward boots that I can slip on in a second, so I was thrown at first to see that Muck鈥檚 new has laces. Thankfully, a听rear pull tab means they鈥檙e still cinch to yank on without untying. I quickly learned that this boot is a lightweight hiker fit for Antarctica, with a 100 percent waterproof fabric upper, a thermal fleece lining, and a chunky Vibram outsole. My longest and coldest test in them was a six-mile hike up a frozen river north of Duluth when it was minus four degrees out. With the help of two pairs of ski socks, my feet stayed toasty without getting sweaty (an included antimicrobial, wicking footbed insert helped). The deep-lugged outsole, which is made from a rubber compound specially designed to grip on slippery听surfaces, crushed it on the icy hardpack.

Best for Doing Chores in Above-Zero Temperatures

Bogs Whiteout Fleck ($150)

Weight: 3.2 pounds听per pair
Temperature Rating:听Minus 58 degrees

The beauty of Bogs is how easy they are to pull on, thanks to big dual handles on the uppers. They鈥檙e an efficient, sturdy companion for everything from grocery store runs to mucking stables. Since through the bottom of our feet, and the is meant to wear in cold weather, Bogs听outfitted it with a thick, amply cushioned insole that acts as an extra barrier to ground chill. Its 100 percent waterproof, 13-inch-high upper, which is insulated with seven millimeters of neoprene insulation, creates additional warmth and protection in high snow. I wore the Whiteout听over several days, including on a听five-mile, snow-packed, occasionally icy trail through the woods in temperatures that ranged from 25 to minus 5听degrees. The heavily听lugged, slip-resistant outsole handled the terrain like a boss, but on the听negative-five day, my feet started to numb, making听me a little suspect of the generous minus-58-degrees rating.

Best for Icy City Sidewalks

Icebug Metro 2 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 Bugrip ($190)

Weight:听2.1听pounds
Temperature Rating: 15 degrees

If your nemesis is ice, look no further than Icebug. This Swedish company is known for its听traction technology in a range of kicks,听from running shoes to hefty winter boots. Because I walk on icy city sidewalks every day, I opted to test its听bestselling . With an ankle-high,听water-repellent, fleece-lined suede upper and a recycled polyester insole, the urban 鈥渟hootie鈥� is ideal for听sharply dressed urbanites who don鈥檛 want to break a hip. The听studded version听comes outfitted with 16 carbide-steel studs. They鈥檙e positioned evenly throughout a special rubber compound that鈥檚 flexible enough to allow each stud to听grip听independently, depending on where you weight your foot with each step. After testing the studded version over multiple days on an ice-packed city creek trail with steep ups and downs, I found that the shoes gripped as well as hiking crampons. My toes froze after about a half-hour on a subzero day, but the shoe isn鈥檛 rated for subzero temperatures.

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We at 国产吃瓜黑料 devote a lot of words and hours to caring for and refurbishing our winter听hard goods. And听for good reason: ski and board upkeep is satisfying听and delivers the immediate gratification of a smoother ride. Don鈥檛 forget your soft goods, though鈥攕taying warm and dry on the slopes makes any day more fun.听Pieces like听jackets and bibs are integral parts of your kit that can last for years听(and will help you adventure better) if you treat them right. I spoke with Kipp Godfrey, the general manager and overseer of tens of thousands of fixes听at America鈥檚 premier听technical gear-mending shop, ,听about how you can maximize your ski kit鈥檚 life and efficacy for seasons to come.听

Wash Often

The most important thing you can do is clean your gear, Godfrey says, 鈥渆ven if it is used sparingly.鈥� The key is to keep your waterproof-breathable clothing鈥檚听technical fabrics from developing听a nasty buildup. 鈥淲ith any laminate, like Gore-Tex, any introduction of dirt or oils is going to have an adverse effect on it over time,鈥� he听says. How frequentlly听should you wash technical pieces? That听depends on how you use them听and how often. At a minimum, Godfrey advises, you should wash these items听at least once a season鈥攅ven if you鈥檝e only used them听once. But if you ski听every weekend, wash them听at least once every two months, and if听you ski听all the time, especially in the backcountry, wash them听at least听once a month,听he says.

Don鈥檛 Let Jargon Intimidate You

鈥淥ne thing that deters people is听they think a super high-tech fabric is space-age science听that they should just leave alone,鈥� Godfrey says. 鈥淭he reality is, it鈥檚 just fabric.鈥� While the machines that manufacture听these products may look like they鈥檙e from the future, laundering them is most definitely not rocket science. 鈥淎nybody who has a front-load washer and front-load dryer can wash their garments鈥攅ven Gore, even technical laminates, even down products,鈥� he听says.听

Use the Right Cleaning Solution

No matter what, use a technical cleaner, not your standard detergent. 鈥淧retty much every detergent you will find on a store shelf is going to have a hydrophilic component that will leave a film on the fabric,鈥� Godfrey says. 鈥淲hat will happen is, you will start sweating in [the garment],听and immediately that internal layer of laminate will start pulling moisture in.鈥� And that鈥檚 exactly what you don鈥檛 want in a piece designed to keep you dry. While even one wash in detergent can take a toll, repeated use will definitely听be detrimental. 鈥淚t will expedite the delamination process,鈥� he听says.听

Godfrey highly recommends Nikwax products.听Rainy Pass uses ($10 and up) for waterproof laminates like Gore-Tex, ($11 and up) for down products, and ($15 and up) for听revitalizations. (Godfrey听suggests a wash-in alternative for at-home DWR treatments鈥攎ore on that below.)

You Can鈥檛 Overclean

鈥淩arely can you overclean Gore-Tex or laminates,鈥� Godfrey says. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 better to overclean than underclean.鈥� Grime buildup on the fabric will break it down over time, but the most you have to worry about from overwashing is a little extra abrasion from your washing machine.听

Pay Attention to DWR

DWR is a hydrophobic treatment that helps water bead up and run off the exterior of waterproof garments. Almost all recently made waterproof jackets will have it (but check the tag to make sure), and any formulation will need to be reapplied over the life of a jacket鈥攂ut not too often. While it鈥檚 important to maintain enough treatment to keep up water resistance, most manufacturer treatments are designed to last at least a few washes. 鈥淎 brand-new jacket can typically go through four to five washes before you need to reapply DWR,鈥� Godfrey says. However, if听you wash your garment with detergent, then you will want to immediately reapply DWR, he advises.听When the time comes, Godfrey recommends ($13 and up). 鈥淚t is really easy and no-mess,鈥� he says. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to worry about dripping DWR all over your mudroom.鈥�

Use Your Dryer

鈥淎 lot of people are skittish about tossing Gore-Tex in the dryer,鈥� Godfrey says. While the laminates and seams that keep our jackets waterproof may seem fragile, the presses that Rainy Pass uses to repair them are set to 300 degrees. 鈥淚f Gore-Tex can handle 300 degrees, it can certainly handle a dryer,鈥� he says. Laminates take very little time to dry in a tumble dryer: the key is to slough off some of the water first. 鈥淧ull the garment out of the washing machine, let it hang and drip for a couple minutes,鈥� Godfrey says. Then ten to fifteen听minutes in the dryer on low should do it.听

While using a dryer is听more convenient when you鈥檙e cleaning your gear, it鈥檚听crucial for reapplying DWR. 鈥淎 dryer expels the water efficiently, which leaves the DWR exactly where it is supposed to be,鈥� Godfrey says.听

Be Gentle

鈥淚f a product has a zipper, then that will be its weakest link,鈥� Godfrey says. Even if you take excellent care of your garment听otherwise, the zipper will eventually break. 鈥淏ut you can practice ease of use with your zipper, instead of aggressively zipping up every time you put the coat on,鈥� he says. Little acts of kindness toward听your soft goods听may not seem like a big deal on a zip-to-zip basis, but the force really adds up over time. If your zipper does break, you can bring it into a repair shop like Rainy Pass to get fixed, but that听can be pretty expensive (in the range of听$130 and up).听At the end of the day, whether it鈥檚 better to repair a zipper or buy a new jacket is up to you; as long as the garment isn鈥檛 delaminated, Godfrey says, it likely has some life in it.

Store Your Gear with Care

鈥淎nytime you are going to put gear away for a season, always clean it first,鈥� Godfrey says. 鈥淲hen something is in storage and it has oils and moisture on it, it will deteriorate.鈥� This problem doesn鈥檛 just arise from laminated ski gear, he says, but all waterproof gear. 鈥淲e see this with tents all the time. Someone will put away a wet rain fly and then pull it out completely shot the next season. Even if you only ski two or three weekends a season, still wash and dry that coat before putting it away,鈥� he says.听

To make sure your gear stays dry in storage,听he suggests poking holes in the lid of your gear-storage bins to stimulate airflow. (You can also toss in a few of those 鈥渄o not eat鈥� desiccant packets that come with all your soft goods). 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 want your gear to be exposed to high fluctuations in temperature, because that is potentially going to have an adverse effect on any sort of laminate or bonded seams,鈥� Godfrey says.听He recommends storing them听in an insulated space.听

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Winter always calls for warm, soft听clothes. But this season, as we prepare to spend the cold months听working from home and happy-houring outdoors, the hygge portion of our wardrobes seems more important than ever. At 国产吃瓜黑料, we consider ourselves connoisseurs of the fleecy and fuzzy. Here are the pieces that our editors use most.听

Patagonia Woolyester Fleece Pullover ($140)

I am a gear editor with a certain affinity for warm things, which means I have a lot of stylish fleeces, flannels, and sweatshirts in my closet. And yet, invariably, when my hands go numb at my desk, the is the one I pull on. It鈥檚 made from a blend of nylon, polyester, and recycled wool,听with a quarter-zip opening and a stretchy听ribbed hem and cuffs. Somehow听its moderately lofted material manages to feel at once cozier, lighter, and more breathable听than any other lifestyle tech sweater I鈥檝e tried. It has the warm, comforting feeling of a crocheted throw blanket鈥攑erfect when things get chilly but not downright frigid. It also has the homey听looks to match. These days, I find that comforting, too. 鈥擜riella Gintzler, associate editor听

Mountain Hardwear Monkey Woman 2 Pants ($150)

As a person who runs perpetually cold, I subscribe to the notion that there鈥檚 no such thing as a layer that is too toasty. I鈥檝e been known to sleep comfortably in a zero-degree bag on 40-degree summer nights. Fifty degrees in the shade at the crag? Better pack a puffy. The (and ) pants were made for people like me. They are so gloriously, ridiculously, over-the-top fuzzy that just looking at them makes me warmer. They鈥檙e exactly what I want to keep my legs from going numb while cooking dinner on late-fall camping trips. They even have听deep zippered pockets听and reinforced nylon knee patches, so you can kneel on the ground without issue to start a fire. It only seems extra until you put them on. 鈥擜.G.

Patagonia 惭别苍鈥檚 Reversible Bivy Down Vest ($199)

It鈥檚 no secret that I鈥檓 a vest guy. To my mind, there鈥檚 nothing more practical than keeping your core warm while your arms are free to go about their business. That certainly applies for outdoor activities, but I鈥檝e also found it to be true while riding my desk chair. My go-to this season has been the . I wear it with the partially recycled fleece pile lining on the inside and the durable recycled nylon on the outside, both for looks and comfort. It鈥檚 insulated with 600-fill recycled goose down, which bumps up your chest temperature significantly听and has been just as welcome while I鈥檓 in front of my computer in our old house as it has been around the campfire. 鈥擶ill Taylor, gear director

GoLite 惭别苍鈥檚 ReActive Boxer Briefs ($28)

I鈥檓 very picky about my underwear. In fact, as I鈥檓 sure you鈥檒l be thrilled to read, for many years I didn鈥檛 wear any because I found most options unbearably uncomfortable. That鈥檚 changed over the past few years, with myriad companies making very comfortable performance undergarments. I get to test a lot of great underwear as a result of this golden age, but when I need a little extra comfort, I reach for the . Thanks to a partially recycled polyester-spandex blend, these are the softest pair of briefs I鈥檝e ever worn. That material hasn鈥檛 sagged or faded after countless washes, while the Polygiene treatment fights off odors on a long hiking weekend or after a marathon day at work. They鈥檙e so good that I put them on just to write this review. 鈥擶.T.

Deckers x Lab 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 Ko-Z Snpr Mid Wedge Slippers ($150)

This has become my go-to听house shoe. I slide into them first thing every morning.听With their听mix of EcoTan sheepskin and a recycled wool-polyester blend in the lining, they provide听warmth without the sweatiness that so often follows. The cushioned, rockered midsole and memory-foam insole make听them easy on feet and calves after a long day of adventuring鈥攁nd they鈥檙e听downright luxurious for everyday wear. Plus, thanks to a听grippy, sneaker-like outsole, they鈥檙e ready to go if you ever leave the house. For a bit of bonus joy, I went all in with the red floral-patchwork听color, but there are lower-key black and white versions for those who want a more subtle look. 鈥�Maren Larsen, assistant editor

Outdoor Research 惭别苍鈥檚 Trail Mix Snap Pullover ($89)听

Grid-style sweaters are not new, but the is so soft that it made me rethink how plush a fleece pullover could be. It doesn鈥檛 have an outwardly fuzzy appearance, but once the collar is popped听and fully snuggled around my neck, I鈥檓 in a cocoon of warm, polyester coziness. This is听the first sweater I reach for when hanging around the house, but I also layer it beneath听a thicker jacket on low 40-degree days at the crag. At just 11.3 ounces, it鈥檚 also surprisingly light for the amount of warmth it offers, making it an easy choice when I鈥檓 packing for an outing and want to save space in my bag. The kangaroo pocket and thumb loops are welcome features when I need an extra boost of comfort. 鈥擩eremy Rellosa, reviews editor

The post The Hygge Apparel Our Gear Editors Love appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

As the COVID-19 pandemic听swept across the United States, many of us kept sane through socially distanced outdoor听gatherings with friends. In the summer months, options abounded: camping trips, park beers, and sunny backyard gatherings. But as the days grow shorter, temperatures drop, and infection numbers skyrocket, opportunities for safe outdoor gatherings are growing slim. I spent the last golden days of fall mentally preparing myself to spend winter alone, bundled up in blankets and existential dread.

That was until I found the world鈥檚 first wearable sleeping bag: the 听($170). As a lifelong cold-blooded person (otherwise known as a 鈥渨imp鈥�), I have often dreamed about an invention like the听Selk鈥檅ag during frozen nights. An for the common folk, it is essentially a ripstop nylon, water-resistant, synthetic insulated 听with legs. It looks as ridiculous as it sounds. But frankly, I don鈥檛 give a damn鈥擨鈥檓 in love.

It鈥檚 only a slight exaggeration to say that the Selk鈥檅ag has kept me sane these past couple months, allowing me to attend outdoor social gatherings I would normally forego or leave early, shivering. So far, I鈥檝e used it on two subfreezing camping trips, two backyard firepit hangs, one drive-in movie, one patio happy hour, and听much to the amusement of my housemates, several cold mornings at my desk.听I鈥檝e outlasted my most warm-blooded friends around the fire or stargazing, and as strict shelter-in-place orders resume in New Mexico, I鈥檓 eager to take it solo camping.听I comfortably strolled around a campsite in 20-degree weather,听and I slept like a baby chick under a heat lamp through that听night with only a very light 50-degree sleeping bag draped like a blanket on top. It all gave听me hope that I might actually enjoy winter camping for the first time in my life.

The Selk鈥檅ag is rated to 44 degrees for comfort and 9 degrees for 鈥渆xtreme survival.鈥� (There is also a 听($100),听as well as the new ($249), which uses听fabric and insulation made entirely from recycled materials.)听While that鈥檚 not low enough to replace your winter sleeping bag, it will keep you warm enough while you鈥檙e awake in most climates. It traps body heat exceptionally well听and, unlike a blanket, keeps that heat with you when you move. During porch drinks and outdoor movie nights, I can sip a beer or nibble on popcorn without breaking the seal of warmth. Plus, while there are always plenty of options for upper-body insulation (if you don鈥檛 mind looking like the Michelin Man), the Selk鈥檅ag also keeps your legs toasty.

The Selk鈥檅ag has four zippered vents鈥攖wo on the legs and two on the sides鈥攖o prevent overheating. In addition to the handy kangaroo pocket, a听fabric flap folds over the sleeve opening to make little cocoons for your hands. My favorite feature, though, is the zip-off booties. My piggies almost always feel on the verge of frostbite, no matter how many pairs of socks I have on, but听to my surprise, the booties kept them toasty all night. They听have sturdier fabric听on the bottom, so you can wear them for short distances around camp.

My only real complaints about the Selk鈥檅ag are that I鈥檇 love the booties to have proper soles so they鈥檇 be听more comfortable and durable. (They are a bit too bulky to wear under your camp shoes.)听The suit听is also a big pain to pee in鈥擨 found myself wishing for a crotch zipper. Since the Selk鈥檅ag zips up the side, jumpsuit-style, relieving yourself (for both men and women)听requires听pulling it halfway down. (To its credit, the bag鈥檚 warmth does make it less of a mental struggle to crawl out of your sleeping bag for a midnight bathroom break.) And while it鈥檚 great for car camping, the weight (3.4 pounds for a unisex small) makes it prohibitive for backcountry pursuits, but it鈥檚 so cozy that I might just schlep it in my backpack anyway.

If one piece of gear is a cure for the winter pandemic isolation blues, this is it. Sure, your friends will make fun of you. But you鈥檒l inevitably get the last laugh when, through chattering teeth, they ask where they can get their own.

The post This Wearable Sleeping Bag Cures the Winter Blues appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Gear sales are everywhere this week, thanks to Black Friday, but finding something you know will stand up to your adventures can be challenging. I believe it鈥檚 a good time to pull the trigger on an item that鈥檚 practical and that you would have bought otherwise, sale or not. To help you get that quality piece of gear during the melee, I scoured deals to find products that I鈥檝e听personally tested and approved.

GSI Outdoors Microlite 1000 Twist Water Bottle ($35)

Deal: 25 percent off

On Sale: November 27 through 30

Why I Love It: took the clear win on my most recent test of insulated water bottles. It鈥檚 a smoking deal, even at full price, due to its light weight and fantastic thermoregulation. It also happened to be the least expensive of the seven I put head to head. To quote myself: 鈥淚t almost never pans out that the lightest, most affordable product also demonstrates the highest performance, but the Microlite 1000 really has it all.鈥� With an additional 25 percent off, you can get a high-performance drinking vessel at a incredible price.

Honey Stinger听Waffles听($18 for 16)

Deal: 20 percent off with coupon

On Sale: November 20 through 30

Why I Love Them: These sweet performance morsels are so delicious (and not filled with creepy additives) that I find myself using them as both run fuel for myself and dessert for my family.听Unlike some bars, they鈥檙e light, easy to munch on the move, and eminently digestible.听

5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier ($200)

Deal:听25 percent off

On Sale: November 24 through 30

Why I Love It: I don鈥檛 think I need to elaborate on the benefits of an efficient piece of workout equipment in our current locked-down environment. The right one adds a layer of much needed pain鈥攁nd the resulting endorphin rush鈥攖o your at-home body-weight exercises. While the looks badass, its padding is soft and lessens the discomfort that comes from exercising听with 40 extra pounds strapped to your chest. It also fits damned well, eliminating chafing. I tested one last year and still wear it during my garage circuits and on hill-running routines when I want to punish myself in the most stress-relieving way possible.

Body Glove Red Cell 5/4/3/ Wetsuit ($500)

Deal: 20 percent off

On Sale: November 27 through December 1

Why I Love It: Surfing was my entryway into outdoor sports. I surfed at least five days a week through high school听but then fell in love with rivers and mountains as a young adult. This eventually brought me to Ashland, Oregon. My wife and I听live about two hours from the ocean here, and while it鈥檚 usually really cold in this part of the Pacific,听I still surf in relative comfort, thanks to the that I tested for last year鈥檚 Holiday Gift Guide. Hexagons of hollow fibers line the suit, allowing听it to flush cold water while retaining body heat. The design is pretty technical, but the result is simple鈥攊t makes the suit warm and comfortable next to my skin. While a five-millimeter wetsuit is probably way too much for most surfers in our country, the Red Cell is available on sale in thinner versions as well.

Brickell Daily Defense Face Lotion ($32)

Deal:听25 percent off

On Sale: November 23 through 30

Why I Love It: I鈥檝e听used Brickell skin-care solutions听for over five years now, and this face lotion is my go-to. I find that all of Brickell鈥檚 products do their jobs efficiently鈥攎y face feels clean and my skin feels good, without any fuss or fancy smells. I love because the SPF protects the aging face I created while working as an outdoor guide for a decade. It also soothes any skin inflammation.

Bee鈥檚 Wrap ($18听for Three)

Deal: 20 percent off

On Sale: Now through November 30

Why I Love It: My family has used Bee鈥檚 Wrap as a plastic-wrap substitute for years. To quote younger Joe: 鈥淭hey are malleable and sticky enough to keep bricks of cheese fresh, and easy to clean with cold water and soap.鈥� It鈥檚 incredible how many uses you can get out of these wax-covered pieces of cloth. I also personally hate the taste of plastic wrap, and Bee鈥檚 Wrap imparts no flavor on the foods it covers.

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