Posts Tagged travel clothing
Icebreaker Women’s Quantum Hood
Keeping warm isn’t too hard if you want to stay inside. But that gets boring pretty quickly. When you want to venture out, wearing an Icebreaker Women’s Quantum Hood can definitely help keep you toasty.
Sometimes the itchiness of wool clothing can cause outdoor fans to conveniently forget their wool garments when it’s time to get dressed. If you’ve given up on wool, consider another try with this hoody. Made of the company’s GT fabric (merino wool and 3 percent Lycra), the mid-weight jacket is cozy and soft—but lacks the itch factor.
Plus, the Quantum Hood can be worn on multiple times before washing without smelling funky. Just think about all that quality hotel sink time you’d be avoiding!
The sleeves come with thumb loops, so you can secure them lower on your hands when the weather’s cool. The reflective front zipper comes in handy for wearing at night, and eyelet gussets in the sleeves aid in ventilation. There’s also a small, zippered stash pocket for cash, keys, or cell phone.
Take a look at the Quantum Hood’s “Baacode”; enter the number in a box on the company website to see where your wool came from.
The Icebreaker Women’s Quantum Hood lists for $135 to $180 on Amazon (depending on size and color). It’s also available on Backcountry.com or Altrec.com for about the same price range.
See more Icebreaker for Women items
Posted by Jill in Adventure Gear, General Gear on February 3rd, 2012
A Winter Wardrobe from Mountain Khakis
We feature lots of technical travel clothing on here, made from the latest wonder synthetics. But traveling or not, a lot of times what you really want in the winter is something cozy, warm, and comfortable.
Mountain Khakis, based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, puts out clothing for people who spend a lot of time outdoors. Not climbing K2 outdoors, but getting into nature and breathing fresh air. Here are some items I’ve been trying out from their latest winter line. Like the flannel-lined khakis I reviewed a year or so ago, this clothing is tough and rugged, but feels great on your body.
I’ve been especially digging this Trapper Henley heavy shirt that’s your usual cotton henley but with 20% merino wool. That gives it a little different feel, some extra warmth, and some extra odor protection. There aren’t a whole lot of “features” built into this, but it is well-made and good for layering in those times when you’re trying to stay warm, not work up a sweat. It comes in four colors and five sizes and lists for $60. You can order it direct or get it from Altrec.com.
You could pair it with this Stagecoach Jacket and fit right in out west. It’s as tough as their namesake khakis, with cotton canvas material and triple-stitched seams. This is the kind of jacket you could hang up in the cabin and keep coming back to for a decade or two. It’s go angled hand-warmer pockets and hidden zip-pocket compartments for your valuables, plus two snapping chest pockets. The sleeves are lined with nylon to make them easier to get on and off and the body is lined with a tricot weave. It also comes in four colors and five sizes and lists for $155 (or $115 for a vest version). Get it direct or from Altrec.
Mountain Khakis is regularly rolling out other new items, but “new” is a relative term; most of their styles are timeless, not trendy. Like their buttery soft Teton Flannel Shirt or Mountain Denim Shirt. You won’t find lab test results or wind tunnel data in the descriptions of their men’s or women’s collection. Just rugged clothing that can take what you throw at it, whether that’s riding horses on a dude ranch or shuffling through national parks when there’s snow on the ground. No swishy sounds when you walk and no complicated care instructions on the label. Just well-made clothing that you keep reaching for because it feels good.
See more reviews of Mountain Khakis items.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, General Gear on February 2nd, 2012
Vivarati Designer Socks
Vivarati Sidebar designer socks
Dress socks can be plain and boring. As a frequent traveler, I am constantly having to remove my shoes at airport security. It’s time to spice up my feet with clever colors and designs!
Vivarati has a full line of colorful, designer socks produced with high quality and eye-catching style. The company’s motto is creating “socks for the modern man,” and these socks are both modern and hip. Vivarati believes that socks should represent boldness and confidence, and these socks certainly express personality.
They are produced with high-quality Turkish combed cotton fiber (meaning impurities have been removed from the material before use) and have a hand linked toe meaning there is no line at the bottom of the sock connecting the base to the toes giving it a snug, comfortable fit. Vivarati.com offers high resolution photos showing the vivid designs, which makes shopping for your favorite pairs a cinch. Free shipping is another benefit, and returns are happily accepted through the use of a prepaid return shipping label.
The socks are thick and comfortable with a padded base and reinforced heels. A problem I face is that my dress socks usually end up with holes because I am walking so much, but these high quality socks feel both durable and comfortable thanks to the combed cotton material. They breathe so that your feet do not become too hot, which is another thing that I find important. The material stretches for comfort and keeps them from sliding down your leg. These socks are neither too thin or too thick making them perfect for year-round use.
Designers have also given their insight on how to pair these colorful socks with various clothing styles and colors. These socks are one size fits all. My favorite design is the Rollover, which has a certain Mad Men vibe to it. The Sidebar pair is another playful combination of colors. The socks are delivered in a classy gift box wrapped in paper making an excellent impression.
Vivarati has turned a somewhat boring piece of clothing into a fun, vibrant personality statement that is sure to turn heads at work or airport security. Unfortunately, they’re hard to find at retail at this point (online or off), so you’ll need to order direct from their own site.
See more reviews of good travel socks here at Practical Travel Gear.
Posted by Ramsey in Business Gear, Travel Light on January 30th, 2012
Adidas Outdoor Terrex Feather Shell and Windstopper Hybrid Jacket
As a family of soccer players, we thought we were quite familiar with the Adidas brand; I’ve been buying their cleats, shorts, and athletic warm-ups for years. But as skiers and winter outdoor enthusiasts, we had no idea Adidas also offers a high quality, high tech line of outdoor apparel.
The women’s GORE-TEX Terrex Feather Shell weighs in at the absolute lightest full-coverage, full-duty outer layer jacket I’ve ever tried. It features a helmet-compatible hood with built-in visor and drawstring adjustment, full-zip closure, zip-ventilation on the sides and under the arms, adjustable cuffs (perfect for fitting over winter gloves), and an adjustable, removable storm skirt. All this, and it folds up to next to nothing for packing.
I’ll admit, I was skeptical before I tried this shell. With a retail price of $495, I figured it had better be lined with gold. But what actually makes the Terrex Feather Shell stand apart is what Adidas calls ‘formotion technology’: the jacket’s design is such that it follows your natural movement. In other words, this jacket will move with you, not against you. I wore it downhill skiing, hiking, and while walking the dog (trust me, that’s an aerobic activity!) and could feel the difference from other shells.
Underneath, I paired the shell with Adidas’ Windstopper Hybrid-Jacket, which, unlike my initial skepticism of the shell, I fell in love with immediately. The Windstopper is roomy without being bulky, thick without being suffocating, and truly such a windbreaker that on all but the most frigid of days, it could pull solo duty as an outer layer. Where does the ‘hybrid’ factor in? The Windstopper is designed with different performance fabrics placed in different (strategic) locations, all targeted to work with the human body in movement. This jacket will definitely be in my luggage for every type of cold-weather travel (and in the meantime, it’s the one I reach for every day at home).
As aforementioned, the Terrex Feather Shell lists for $495, but you’ll probably find it for less at Amazon and REI. The Windstopper Hybrid lists for $200 and is also at Amazon. You’ll find both at some outdoor physical retail stores too, but Adidas just launched this whole outdoor line a year ago so the items aren’t totally widespread yet.
Bottom line: can you outfit yourself for winter travel and outdoor sports for less? Of course. But if you’re truly looking for the best of the best when it comes to performance and comfort, this may be it.
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Posted by Amy in Adventure Gear on January 24th, 2012
Polarmax Technical Base Layers
I received Polarmax’s line of women and youth’s base layers just in time for the temperature to plummet and the snow to fall. My 12-year-old son and I wasted no time taking the various styles on test drives at our local ski resort, where conditions can vary faster than you can say ‘crazy Oregon weather’.
Right out of the (eco-friendly) packaging, I knew I was going to like Polarmax’s Technical Base Layer line (separated into Warm, Warmer, and Warmest categories), primarily because I’m shallow at heart: I loved the athletic and stylish fit and the soft feel of the fabric. My son loved the MaxRide line’s understated (but fun) graphics and colors. He’s even deemed the Team Shirt warm enough to wear under his ski jacket yet cool enough to wear to school (which is great news for parents who are tired of sinking money into the tween fashion industry).
I tried both the Double Base Layer crew shirt and pant (in the Warmer category) and the Comp 4 Tech Fleece crew shirt and tight (in the Warmest category). While both sets are similar, the hint of fleece liner on the Comp 4 line really sets it apart in terms of warmth and comfort. Still thin enough to fit comfortably under waterproof ski pants and a thicker fleece or jacket, the Comp 4 base layer has you totally covered (and toasty warm). In contrast, the Double Base layer set is light enough for warmer ski days or vigorous Nordic skiing or snowshoe treks; I’ve even taken to wearing it on my early morning runs. (Both come in men’s sizes and style as well.)
As mentioned, kids are covered too: in addition to the MaxRide Team Shirt, the MaxRide line of a youth crew and pant deliver the same performance as the adult versions, with the addition of bright piping on the seams.
For year round base layer options, check out Polarmax’s AYG (All Year Gear), which includes TransDry cotton and stretch silk undershirts, camisoles, and underwear. All Polarmax fabrics include Acclimate Dry, designed to stretch for comfort, wick away moisture, breathe, and best of all, prevent smell with Scent Prevent anti-microbial treatment. (See Tim’s earlier review of the AYG underwear.)
Last but not least, I love that it’s still possible to get quality tech clothing without breaking the bank. Snag deals on Double Base Layer, Comp 4, and MaxRide lines and see for yourself!
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Posted by Amy in Adventure Gear, Kids and Family on January 17th, 2012
