Posts Tagged double-duty gear
Aventura 2-in-1 Dress and Dharma Tank
It’s official: I have a new favorite dress. Actually, I have two: the Aventura 2-in-1 organic cotton dress converts to a skirt and back again in the blink of an eye. I love cotton dresses for travel because your entire outfit takes up half the space of a pant-shirt ensemble, and doesn’t wrinkle to boot. This dress, however, does one better: it can be worn as a dress or a skirt, potentially saving double the outfit space. Made of incredibly soft organic cotton, its rich color (Aventura calls this one ‘dragonfly’ but I reviewed ‘tabasco’) is simple yet striking, and matches many simple tops (and most Aventura swim suits).
So how exactly does this convertible dress convert? It’s easy enough that even a fashion-challenged girl like myself could figure it out. The dress can be worn as a halter top dress (halter strings tie at the neck) or as a strapless dress (with the halter strings tucked in). If you’re wanting a skirt, simply fold over the pleated waist (which is the chest-portion of the dress), tie the halter strings in a bow at one side, and wah-la! You have yourself a casual, swishy skirt.
I took the convertible 2-in-1 dress with me on a recent cruise, where I wore it as a halter dress over my swimsuit, and as a skirt to dinner. In either style, the dress is super comfortable, though I’ve developed preference for the skirt style. The waist is soft and stretchy (which anyone who’s been on a cruise knows is a plus) and it’s easy to slip it on over a swim suit.
I’ve paired the 2-in-1 more than once with Aventura’s Dharma Tank, which is also made of organic material (super soft bamboo), and is fitted while remaining slightly stretchy.The top is sleeveless, has an elegant surplice neckline, and a pretty back graphic, all of which adds a little flair to the ensemble.
The dress style is classy enough to wear away from the beach or pool as well, and could even pull an evening shift for a casual dinner. The skirt is an ideal travel day piece, and could also be worn around town or during any sort of touring. When worn as a dress, the hem falls to just above the knee (though I’m short, so apply that information accordingly) and when worn as a skirt, it falls to mid-calf/below knee. It’s machine washable, and features a classic cut (not too fitted, but certainly not boxy).
The 2-in-1 is also available in dragonfly (shown), tabasco (a rich coral), black, or white, and will set you back $67 at the Aventura website…a very good value for what you’re getting. The Dharma top is also available at the Aventura site, lists for $49, and comes in four colors, including a white which looks great with everything.
These don’t seem to be showing up yet outside of Aventura’s own site, but check Sierra Trading Post later as they usually have at least five pages of Aventura clothing deals.
Posted by Amy in General Gear on May 22nd, 2012
Lowepro Photo Sport 200 AW
Camera bags aren’t always easy to bring along on outdoor adventures. If they’re sturdy enough to protect your DSLR and lenses, they’re often also heavy, or they lack the space necessary to combine your gear into one, convenient bag. But the Lowepro Photo Sport 200 AW is a backpack and camera bag, in one convenient package.
The pack is lightweight but sturdy, and its padded shoulder and hip straps are enough to keep it securely attached to you. Even more straps are included for additional gear. There’s also a built-in rain cover, to keep the pack protected from the weather.
The padded camera pocket protects your camera gear with an extra cinched section to keep it from bouncing around while you’re out being active. A side-access pocket allows you to rotate the pack to the front, unzip, un-cinch and get to your camera quickly. Much better than having to take the bag off and dig around for your camera, only to have the perfect photo moment pass you by.
You can see a slick HD video with eye candy scenery of all this in action at this link, the narrator alternately trail running along the ocean with this pack and whipping out his camera to get some good shots.
The upper compartment of the pack provides up to 13.9 liters of volume for you other items—whether you’re out for a multi-day hike, or a day of mountain biking. There’s also a hydration pocket for a 2-liter hydration reservoir, however the reservoir is not included.
The Lowepro Photo Sport 200 AW comes in orange or black and lists for $199.99 on the Lowepro website. It’s also available at Amazon and Summit Hut.
Posted by Jill in Adventure Gear on April 20th, 2012
Teva Fuse-ion Shoes
Water-friendly shoes often come in two forms: big clunky sandals and neoprene booties. Usually, that means you’re changing your shoes to something that looks a little nicer when you do anything other than hit a beach bar after your outdoor adventure. But with the Teva Fuse-ion, you can keep your water shoes on for your urban adventures as well.
Designed in a cool sneaker style, the Fuse-ion uses ion-mask, a liquid-repellant technology that keeps the shoes lightweight (at 11 ounces), breathable and stain resistant. The perforated upper lets water drain out, so you’re not sloshing around when you’re on dry land. Even if you’re not jumping around in the water, that same perforation allows for maximum ventilation for your feet.
The Spider Rubber + JStep sole has good traction, whether you’re walking around on the deck of a boat, or hopping rocks in a river. The hundreds of small pods independently move and flex, offering a more grippy sole than many other water-friendly shoes.
The footbed and the tongue are padded, to make your adventures a little more comfortable. The collapsible heel lets you slip the shoes on and off easily (aided by the heel pull loop), but equally important for travelers, it makes the shoes collapse flat so they’re easy to pack. And speaking of packing, since the Fuse-ion can cover outdoor and urban adventures equally, you can lighten your load and bring fewer shoes on your travels.
Teva Fuse-ion shoes list for $90.00 on the Teva website. A men’s version is available for the same price. They’re also available at Amazon and Zappos.
See more reviews of travel shoes on Practical Travel Gear.
Posted by Jill in Adventure Gear, General Gear on April 13th, 2012
Snow Angel Veluxe Graphic Zip T-Neck
Women’s thermal clothing often has a hard time striking the balance between pretty and performance. But the Snow Angel Veluxe Graphic Zip T-Neck is both powerful enough to wear as an insulating layer for long outdoor adventures and pretty enough to wear out to coffee.
Made of 88 percent antimicrobial polyester and 12 percent spandex, the shirt is breathable and wicks moisture—so it can easily handle that long hike or ski session without making you want to quit. The fabric is also lightly “peached” on both sides for a soft, cozy feel. Once you put it on, it’s difficult to want to take it off. But because the shirt has an antimicrobial finish to keep the athletic aroma away, you can keep it on for hours.
The long, raglan sleeves have thumbholes, so you can keep them in place under other long-sleeved garments, or just pull them down to keep your hands warm. In some clothing, the thumbholes aren’t optimally placed, and they end up making you feel as if your sleeves are about an inch too short. Not so with this shirt. Use the thumbholes or don’t use them, but you’re perfectly comfortable either way.
The graphic print and hourglass fit may make you want to wear this shirt on the outside, too. Nothing’s wrong with looking good while you’re on an adventure.
The Snow Angel Veluxe Graphic Zip T-Neck lists for $70 from www.snow-angel.com. You may be able to get it for less at Amazon.
See more reviews of travel clothing for women.
Posted by Jill in Adventure Gear, General Gear on March 2nd, 2012
Keen Emerald City 3-Point Sandals
It can be difficult to pack the right pair of shoes for a trip that includes both walking around a lot and dressing up in the evenings. Usually, you’ve got to bring different shoes for each activity. But with the Keen Emerald City 3-Point Sandals, you can narrow that packing list down to one pair of shoes.
The leather sandals have a cushion sole, which is perfectly comfortable for hoofing it through city streets. The 3-point structure makes the sandals far sturdier than flip-flops and you don’t have to overwork your toes by gripping onto a little piece of leather all day. After spending all day walking, my feet felt just as good at the end of the day as they did in the morning.
The heel strap is adjustable and a little stretchy, so you don’t have to wear them exactly as they come out of the box. The placement of the strap’s buckle is in a spot that didn’t rub on my foot. That saves the Band-Aids for better uses.
The rubber outsole gives you the right traction to avoid slipping on wet cobblestones without looking burly. And the heel height is only 1 inch, which is enough for a little height without sacrificing function.
For sandals that are so comfortable to walk miles in, they also look good for evening — when you don’t necessarily want a chunky travel sandal. The slim, elegant look lets you pair them with pants, shorts, skirts and dresses equally. Isn’t that one of the best requirements for travel shoes?
The Keen Emerald City 3-Point sandals list for $65.99 on Zappos. They’re also available on backcountry.com for prices ranging from $59.47 to $84.95, depending on color.
Posted by Jill in General Gear, Travel Light on February 10th, 2012
