Posts Tagged outdoors
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
Grand Trunk Bamboo Blend Sleep Sack
A high-quality sleep sack is a traveler’s best friend whenever you find yourself in less-than-ideal sleeping accommodations, or are crashing somewhere that doesn’t provide bedding, like a hostel, yurt, or backcountry hut. I thought I could get by without one—using my heavy backpacking mummy bag whenever the situation called for personal bedding—but after trying out Grand Trunk’s Bamboo Sleep Sack, I won’t be going back.
First off, this sleep sack is so soft, I don’t think I can ever go back to cotton. It’s lightweight, so it works beautifully in warm climates, but can be paired with a sleeping bag or blanket in colder weather. It’s roomier than my mummy bag, and features a nice slit down one side that can be tied back up for easy entry and more space. Best of all, it has a pillow pocket, so you can insert a pillow, which won’t slip around and disappear during the night.
I took the sleep sack along on our Mt. Hood, Oregon wilderness snowshoe overnight, in which the rustic hut we were trekking to came included with communal sleeping bags. I’d need the warmth of the bag, but didn’t relish the idea of sleeping directly where a stranger had the night before, so I wiggled into my sleep sack, then slid into the bag. The arrangement worked perfectly, and since the bamboo sleep sack is only 16 ounces, I avoided carrying in a heavy bag.
I also brought it along when I rented a room for the night through a vacation home site in Portland, OR, since I didn’t know ahead of time whether the rental included linens. Turns out, it did, but I was still glad to have my personal set in the form of the sleep sack. You can use the sack in tandem with a made-up bed, or shimmy into it under the sheets, to give you a nice barrier between hotel or rental sheets and your body. My only complaint is that the sleep sack tangled up and twisted a bit more during the course of the night than I’d experience in my mummy bag, presumably because it’s roomier and of lighter material.
The bamboo viscose material is soft, stretchy, and washes easily in a regular washing cycle. The feel reminds me a little of ‘t-shirt material’ sheets, but better. Plus, since it’s bamboo, it naturally wicks moisture away from your body. And of course, bamboo is a sustainable, renewable fiber, so you’re doing the planet a favor, too. Nothing synthetic here!
The bamboo sleep sack rolls into its own small cinch sack, retails on the Grand Trunk site, a new favorite in my short list of green travel companies, for $69. It’s even less on Amazon. While you’re checking out the sleep sack, take a look at their hammocks, shelters, tents, and hammock compatible sleeping bags!
Posted by Amy in Adventure Gear, General Gear on April 10th, 2012
Hi-Tec Cloud Chaser Shell
I’ve field tested a good number of jackets and shells this winter, so when the Hi-Tec Cloud Chaser arrived on the scene (just in time for spring), I have to admit to being a bit blasé. After all, once you’ve seen one waterproof shell, you’ve seen them all, right?
Wrong. (But you knew I was going to say that, didn’t you?) So what sets the Cloud Chaser apart? Three things: feel, portability, and price.
Feel:
Unlike some waterproof shells that can be stiff and unyielding, the Cloud Chaser feels almost supple, and you certainly have full movability. The Dri-Tec material is soft and breathable while still being completely seam-sealed. In fact, at first glance, I doubted the Cloud Chaser could be truly waterproof, because it’s not slick like a rain jacket or ‘rubbery’ like the ski shells I’m used to, and it’s extremely lightweight. I put it to the ultimate test: two hours on the sidelines of a kids’ soccer match in the driving Oregon rain…in March. No water got through this shell. Again, I’ll admit it: I was surprised, and impressed.
The outer shell is polyester ripstop and the lining is nylon, but because of the ventilation zips, you don’t sweat in it like you would in a traditional rain jacket. You’ll want layers under the Chaser in extreme temperatures, but on mild spring days with light drizzle, you could wear it over a single layer and be comfortable.
Portability:
The feature of the Chaser getting the most attention is the fact that it ‘packs into its own pocket’. At first, I wondered what exactly this meant: did the Cloud Chaser come with a drawstring pouch of some sort? Did the hood convert to a pocket? Turns out, it’s nothing that complicated. They mean exactly what they say: you can roll up the shell and stuff it right into one of its own front pockets. I tried it, and it does indeed work (shrinking to just a little bigger than the size of a softball.) I left the Chaser stuffed overnight, just to see how it would pack for a trip, and while it was marginally wrinkled when I took it out the next day, the wrinkles shook out within the first twenty minutes or so of wear. The hood is oversized (so it will fit over a helmet or thick beanie), and rolls up to be packed away at the back of the collar when you don’t need it. There’s a nice drawcord cinch at the bottom, and you can adjust the fit at the wrists, too. All the pockets and ventilation slits have waterproofed zippers/closures.
Price:
The fact that the Cloud Chaser is only $99 restores my faith that a quality waterproof shell doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. The price makes it possible to add this shell as a travel piece you’ll use again and again, and reach for at home for walks, light hikes, and, if you’re me, endless soccer matches. The women’s Cloud Chaser comes in four colors (two of which are two-toned): Sprout/November, Haze/November, Dover, and Black. Pick one up at Amazon or the Hi-Tec online store. Discount online sites like ShoeBuy have a nice selection of colors and sizes as well.
See more Hi-tec product reviews
Posted by Amy in Adventure Gear, Travel Light on March 27th, 2012
L.L. Bean Insulated Fleece Jacket
Sometimes fleece seems to be the right choice for cold weather, but the wind still seems to blow right through it. If you’re looking for more warmth with your fleece, try L.L. Bean’s Insulated Fleece Jacket, which combines wind- and weather-resistent fleece with a layer of insulation.
Stretch Thinsulate Flex insulation is sandwiched between two layers of Polartec Wind Pro Fleece, adding more warmth without the jacket becoming too bulky. On top of that, Polartec Power Shield fabric is pieced at wear areas for added weather protection, to resist wind and repel water. Toss the jacket in the washer and dryer, and you’re set to wear it over and over.
The Insulated Fleece Jacket is great for cooler-weather activities, like hiking and bicycling—but that doesn’t mean you can’t just wear it on your travels or at home to run errands. Two deep zippered pockets are useful for your hands, or items you want to carry with you. A smaller, zippered chest pocket is perfect for an MP3 player, because there’s a small hole through which you can string your earbuds.
Pull cords are at the bottom of the jacket, so you can tighten them as you wish, to avoid a draft. The collar can fit up around your neck for additional warmth, and the zipper doesn’t jab you in the chin.
The drawback for me was the extremely limited color choices: raspberry and teal. I get that it’s a jacket for women, but we all don’t love the girly colors. The men’s jacket, on the other hand, is available in a darker blue and deep red. Add a black or gray to each offering (like the image), and I’m sold. No, my clothing colors may not stand out in a crowd, but I like it that way.
The L.L. Bean Insulated Fleece Jacket lists for $149 from the L.L. Bean website. There’s also a men’s version for the same price.
Posted by Jill in Adventure Gear, General Gear on March 9th, 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
