Posts Tagged waterproof
Crazy Mountain Hardware Guys Camp Atop Ski Resort in Chile
So there I was sliding off the ski lift at Valle Nevado resort in Chile a couple weeks ago when I spotted a dome tent with a Mountain Hardware logo on it. Curious, I skied over to see what it was all about. As this guy explains in the video, he and a couple other guys are camped out up there the entire ski season! In the daytime they ski a little, greet visitors, build igloos, and show off their gear. At night, they bundle up.
I think the point is that this gear can hold up well to the elements, even for an entire winter at 10,000 feet in the Andes Mountains. Tents, sleeping bags, insulated pants, and serious puffy jackets.
You can check out Mountain Hardware gear yourself at the following online retailers.
Mountain Hardwear at Backcountry.com
Posted by Tim in Adventure Gear on August 31st, 2010
Hard to Say, Easy to Wear: Shorts from Fjällräven
They wear shorts in Sweden? That’s what two people asked me when I told them that’s where these cool trekking shorts were from. In Scandinavia, Fjällräven is a well-known brand, with a long history of putting out quality backpacks and other gear for trekking, camping, and being outdoors. The company was founded in the small town of Örnsköldsvik in northern Sweden, so double points if you can pronounce both those words.
Summer is something to be savored up there, so these are quality shorts meant to last a lifetime and hold up in multiple weather conditions, not just worn for a year or two and discarded. This Sarek G-1000 model I’ve been trying out is comfy and durable, looking well-made and flicking off water like it’s a mere annoyance. The shorts “can be waxed and ironed for a water-tight seal, or washed clean on hot days for more breatheability.”
Yes, they are waxed shorts, which means they repel water naturally—see the pic here of how water beads up. It seems a bit odd that you would heat up your clothing with an iron or hairdryer before a hike, but apparently it works—the company has been making jackets and pants out of this fabric for decades.
The Sarek shorts are tough and have comfortable stretch Cordura. I especially dig all the pockets that manage to store lots of items without looking bulky. There’s a “map pocket,” small leg pocket with a zipper, two hand pockets and two back pockets with snaps. The Karl version is pretty much the same, but has one less pocket and is slightly lighter.
Fjällräven recently opened it’s first US store in New York City at 262 Mott street. Otherwise, get the scoop at the straight-Roman-script site www.fjallraven.us
There are few shorts I’ve bought that I can imagine still having a decade from now. These are a different story. They’re expensive at $65, but they’ll be around for the long haul.
Posted by Tim in Adventure Gear on July 29th, 2010
Vasque Breeze Low Shoes With Gore-tex
We review lots of double-duty travel shoes on this blog that can take you from airport to sightseeing to dinner, but there are times you need something really meant for hiking. There are also times that hiking is going to be messy. If you want to be ready for that without lugging around big high-top boots, these Breeze Low hiking shoes from Vasque are a good bet, especially if you spring for the waterproof ones with Gore-tex.
I took these on a recent trip when I was going to be biking and doing lots of walking in mid-March in Missouri—a dicey time for weather. Sure enough I hit a few drizzles and slogged through a fair bit of mud. All the while my feet stayed warm and toasty. Then when the sun came out and it got warmer the sweat escaped fine (in conjunction with my Swiftwick socks) and the heat didn’t build up.
I’d heard good things about Vasque and admired their array of styles at the Outdoor Retailers Show in January when I was there, but this is the first time I’ve had them on my feet. The styling is not anything revolutionary, but I did like the little loops on the heel for pulling them on and the Vibram sole had just the right amount of give. Vasque also employs a proprietary spine technology meant to increase cushioning and stability on varied terrain. It’s pretty technical, but here are the details. Men’s Journal gave them a hiking shoe of the year award.
At close to a pound apiece, these aren’t the lightest hiking shoes around, but they also feel a lot sturdier and more substantial than some others I tried on at the outdoor show. My only problem with them is that they’re a little narrow for my wider feet and there’s not much give in the construction. They do make wide versions though for some models, including this one (for men’s sizes 8-13). I would recommend getting a pair that fits perfectly from the get-go as not much is going to change in the breaking in process. With sturdiness comes inflexibility.
There’s also a women’s version of this hiking shoe, with similar features but a few ounces lighter. Each version only comes in a single color choice and lists for $129. The VST version without Gore-tex is $15-$20 less depending on the retailer.
Vasque Breeze Low VST GTX Hiking Shoe – Men’s at Backcountry.com.
Vasque Breeze Low VST GTX Hiking Shoe – Women’s
See the whole line of hiking, multisport, and trail running shoes at Vasque.com
Posted by Tim in Adventure Gear on April 8th, 2010
Outdoor Research Women’s Helium Jacket
When I’m flying to warm-weather climates in the winter months from my Colorado home, I layer like crazy so I don’t have to travel with a winter jacket. My outermost covering is always a hooded, nylon jacket that doubles as rain gear in the tropics. I’ve been using a hand-me-down from my husband that never quite fit him correctly (nor me), but now I’ve got one of my very own: the Women’s Helium Jacket in fiery “salsa” by Outdoor Research.
This jacket is super light, about 6 ounces, and it stuffs down into its own sack (it’s tucked into an inside pocket that’s usable when you’re wearing the jacket); when the jacket is compressed into itself, it’s only about 5 by 3.5 by 2. 5 inches. For this reason alone it’s great for carrying on a plane, and I’ll stick it in a day pack for hiking this summer, when afternoon thundershowers in the Rockies are not unusual. A little loop on the stuff sack means you could also easily attach it to the outside of a backpack.
It also protects against the elements. The Pertex Shield ripstop fabric is waterproof and the zippers are water-resistant. I wore it on a winter hike during a mild snow, and I liked how the jacket repelled the flakes; I stayed perfectly dry. I wouldn’t hesitate to wear it in stormy conditions: the hood and hem can cinch tight and elastic sleeves help keep water and wind out, too.
I do wish this jacket had two zippered pockets near the bottom hem; it’s got one chest pocket (with zipper) to stash tissues, lip balm and the contact-lens re-wetting drops I always like to have readily at hand (whether I’m traveling or being active outdoors), but this jacket would really shine if I had two more pockets to stick a pair of light gloves, a point-and-shoot camera and other miscellaneous stuff that I might like to carry on my person as opposed to a purse or backpack.
Another caveat: the Women’s Helium Jacket is not cheap. It retails for $140. But this is a quality piece of gear for hard-core climbers, mountaineers and other adventure enthusiasts. Me? I’m not about to climb Kilimanjaro this year, but for day hikes near my mountain home and frequent plane trips to different climates, it more than does the job of keeping me comfortable and dry.
Buy the OR Women’s Helium Jacket on Amazon.com.
Outdoor Research Helium Jacket – Women’s at Backcountry.com
Get the Men’s version at Backcountry.
Related post: Men’s OR Fanatic Jacket
Posted by Kara in Adventure Gear, Travel Light on March 26th, 2010
Nikwax Products for Washing and Waterproofing
I reviewed a variety of Nikwax products on the old version of this blog in years past, like wool wash and sandal wash. They made other formulations that are specially meant for washing base layers, down, or technical waterproof gear. After all, you can’t just toss all this apparel in the washing machine and hope for the best, plus on the road you’re often doing sink washing. So these solutions keep your gear clean and fresh.
Something else handy I’ve used a lot is their waterproofing wax for leather, which will turn a plain pair of leather shoes or boots into waterproof ones, usually without altering the color. There’s a nice applicator sponge on the end so you can do a good job without getting messy.
You would think that stuff like this would be a big mess of toxic chemicals, but the Nikwax products have been getting more and more environmentally friendly all the time. Water-based, no flourocarbons, no propellants, not tested on animals, and put out by a company that strives hard to reduce it’s impact. (Nikwax recently earned the ISO 14001 certificate for 
environmental awareness.) And of course by extending the life of existing shoes and apparel, Nikwax cuts down on churn and tossing of old stuff into landfills.
Another big improvement is one the way. At the Outdoor Retailers show I attended Nikwax was showing off some handy 1.7-ounce sizes coming out later this year. That puts them below the TSA liquids ban cut-off, so you will be able to take something in your carry-on to spruce up your hiking boots mid-trek or your sandals mid-vacation.
I’ve used a variety of these washes and waterproofing solutions before and during my travels and they have helped me keep my older gear looking good and working longer. Considering most of these solutions retail for somewhere between six and nine dollars, they’re an easy investment to justify.
You can easily find Nikwax products at your local independent retailer or you can order them online from REI, Backcountry, or Rock Creek.
Posted by Tim in Adventure Gear, General Gear on February 18th, 2010
