Posts Tagged waterproof
Ultra Sil Pack Cover from Sea to Summit
I was pretty disappointed to find out that the pack cover that came with my Kata Digital Rucksack (reviewed here) didn’t stay put when I any kind of active with the pack on. While the pack keeps my gear safe and is made of sturdy enough material to keep my electronics dry in most conditions, there are times when it’s just pouring rain or there’s crazy over-spray from the water. The pack cover is supposed to add extra protection, right? But it’s got to fit right do so.
Sea to Summit makes pack covers that fit but good, stay in place, and act like a rain jacket for your pack when the weather is just too wet to rely on the pack material alone. The covers are made from waterproof ripstop material that’s lightweight and tough. It’s got a stretchy cord that pulls tight for the best fit. The little stuff sack is sewn to the cover so you can’t lose it (a nice touch). The larger sizes have an additional strap that keeps the sides in place — mine is an XS so I can’t say how well that works or how much of a hassle it is to deal with. There’s a little hook on the end of the cinch strap — I used that to attach it to a loop on my pack just in case it did come loose, but it stayed in place during all kinds of outdoor foul weather activity.
You do have to pull the cover away to get in and out of your pack, but because there’s plenty of stretch, it was easy enough to manage, and I liked the extra protection for my electronics in those wet conditions. The pack covers come in four colors — gold, grey, green, blue and red — and four sizes. The XS fits your standard day pack and the measurements given on the Sea to Summit site are correct; I checked and measured to select the right size for my camera gear pack.
Sea to Summit makes lots of “keep your stuff dry” bags and pack covers and more. The pack covers start at about 35 dollars for the small. Replacing a water damaged camera costs a lot more. Keep your gear dry and get a pack cover at Backcountry.com.
Posted by Pam in Adventure Gear on April 22nd, 2011
Enigma Gore-Tex Pants from Outdoor Research
I had the good fortune, a few years back, to visit the Outdoor Research (OR) test lab here in Seattle. They had a machine for repeatedly poking holes in fabric, and a washer full of golf balls, and a number of other things to test the durability of the clothing they make and the materials they make it out of. I was impressed and inspired to do my own testing. That’s why when I got my Enigma Gore-Tex pants from OR, I put on my wellies and stomped around in the choppy, knee deep waters of Puget Sound. The result? I was a little damp around the edges, but that’s all. The rest of me stayed warm and dry.
OR doesn’t skimp on the detailing — this shows in the Enigma pants from the ankles to the waist. There are zip out gaiters (though I’d probably lose them if I took them out) that keep snow and water out of your boots. They’ve got rubber grippy stuff to keep them in place, too, and double velcro closures that make room for bulk if you need it. There ankles cinch up, nice if you’re short, like me, so your pants don’t drag or get caught under your heels. The inner ankle area has tough reinforced fabric to minimize wear from friction. And oddly, there’s a little zippered pocket at the ankle on one side, a good place for that emergency cash for milkshakes after your hike.
The pants have extra fabric where you need it for movement — gussets in the crotch and articulated knees. The waist is super adjustable, there are tabs at each side and a built in belt in the front for more — or less — room as you need it. The zips are all taped for waterproofing — on the legs they run from waist to ankle so you can get in and out of them without taking your boots off. OR throws the ladies a bone by putting flowers on the buttons and detailing the hip and ankle, but they don’t skimp on any of the toughness.
This is a great pair of outerwear pants to add to your travel kit if you’re going to be outdoors in windy or wet conditions. If you add an insulating base layer, you’re good for just about anything — hiking, camping, a walking tour of Seattle in March… They don’t take up a lot of space in your bag and bonus, they’re light weight, so if you need to be prepared for less than ideal conditions, OR’s Enigma pants are a fine addition to your kit.
Want your own? Check OR’s dealer list, do a search at Sierra Trading Post or see what the latest prices are on Amazon.
Posted by Pam in Adventure Gear on April 1st, 2011
Meadowlark Trail Pants by Merrell
Spend five days getting in and out of your snow pants in all kinds of weather — rain, snow, wind, general messiness, you’ll absolutely find out if they keep you warm and dry. I packed Merrell’s Meadowlark Trail Pants for my Antarctica trip and put them to the test. They passed. While all around me, people discovered that their supposedly waterproof gear was, oops, not actually waterproof, I stayed dry. And warm, with only one light pair of long underwear underneath.
I’ll start at the top. The pants have built in Velcro cinches at the waist to adjust the fit. (I got a size too large, it turns out, I could have used a belt — there are loops — but I erred on the side of too big for movement rather than too small for being penned in.) The waist is lined with fleece; no itchy stuff next to your skin if you cover up the Velcro. There are two zippered front pockets and one lower down on the side — good for small things, I wanted a back pocket for my keys.
The legs are vented with taped zippers on the inner thigh, I never used those, I was never too hot. At the ankle, there are zips and sewn in gaiters. I wore these pants with wellies and I never got water in my boots. Grippy rubber along the bottom of the gaiters holds them in place around your ankles. And there’s some cute floral decoration for just a little bit of girliness while you’re out being tough in the elements.
The outer fabric — Merrell’s breathable Opti-Shell — is completely wind and waterproof, and the insulation kept me warm without making me feel overly bulky. I wore these in snow, in pelting rain, in sharp winds, I was never cold or overheated. The pants are tough, comfortable, and after a week of rugged use, they’re showing very little wear.
You’ll have to make space in your luggage for these, but if you’re playing outdoors in bad weather, they are absolutely worth it. I tested them. I know.
Merrell’s Meadowlark Trail Pants come in white or black. Directly from Merrell, they’re 149.00 or, check out what’s available via Amazon.
Related: Columbia’s Back It Up Snow Pants
Posted by Pam in Adventure Gear on March 18th, 2011
Wenger Boulder Shoes Are Ready for Rock-hopping
Wenger is best known as a manufacturer of Swiss Army knives, but they also put out a whole array of rugged footwear meant for taking on the extreme outdoors. These include a soon-to-be-expanding line of boots with built-in rechargeable heating systems.
I’m not that hard-core. I just want something that will get me across mountain rocks and colonial city cobblestones, keeping my feet dry all the while. So I’ve been trying out these Boulder shoes that are good for scampering.
From the top shot they look like a lot of other multi-terrain shoes, with leather and ripstop nylon uppers. There’s rubber on the front and a reinforced layer up front where your toes will hit. There’s also an OutDry waterproofing system that lets your feet breathe while keeping out the raindrops and puddle splashings. As you can see on the shot below though, the lacing system goes down further than most other shoes (except the popular GoLite Lime Lite shoes I reviewed last year). So it’s easier to adjust these to fit your foot peculiarities and to make them snug.
These do great on rocky trails thanks to the HyperGrip system, which utilizes rubber lugs on the bottom that move independently. There’s plenty of padding all around and a lightweight but thick midsole.
There’s one odd thing about these shoes though that makes them especially good ones to buy right now: they’re still on the Wenger site in Switzerland, but they’ve disappeared from the U.S. website. I couldn’t get a confirmation, but all signs say this model is in close-out mode stateside. The most obvious sign is the very reduced price on Amazon: just $46 and free shipping! When’s the last time you saw a pair of quality waterproof hiking shoes for under 50 bucks? The year Gore-tex was invented?
Go buy them now while you still can, but I’d advise you to go down a half size from what you normally buy: my pair is about a finger’s width longer than any other pair of shoes I’ve worn in that size. And I try out a lot of shoes…
See other reviews of travel shoes and hiking shoes.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, General Gear on March 9th, 2011
Columbia Back It Up Snow Pants
Columbia’s well designed cold weather sports clothing is fast becoming a favorite of this traveler who loves to play outside but hates to be cold. I wrote up their Frosty Forest parka here — a great companion for that jacket is their Back it Up ski and snow pants.
The pants are made out of a breathable waterproof material that lets moisture escape and keeps you dry. They’re lined with Columbia’s Omni-Heat fabric — it’s designed to reflect your body heat inward while still letting sweat escape. All the technical stuff is great, but alone isn’t the reason why I like these pants. It’s the details. Where to begin?
The waist has a soft fleece inset at the back — it effectively raises the waist of the pants without giving you that classic 70s high-waisted ski pants look. That inset zips out if you don’t want to use, but I rather liked the extra height at the back for keeping the cold out. The sewn in gaiters have rubber grippy stuff around the ankle, are made of nylon, and will keep you dry in deep snow (and probably about eight inches of water, though I didn’t test this). Zippered cuffs make it easier to deal with clunky boots and to secure the gaiters. They’ve got extra reinforcement on the inner ankle, too, to protect against wear and tear.
Mesh side vents let in just a little bit of air — enough to cool you off without flapping around. The pockets are fleece lined to warm your hands and zippered to keep your lip balm secure. I would have liked a zippered wallet pocket on the backside, too, a minor shortcoming. Unlike a lot of other gear I’ve been trying on lately, the sizing on the pants seems accurate — my size fit just right with a pair of long underwear underneath.
The pants are comfortable, it’s easy to move around in them, and hey, they look cute, they’re a flattering cut. They’re bulky, so if you’re looking for low profile, super light gear, this isn’t it. But if you want to stay warm and dry when you’re playing in the snow, and look good in the process, Columbia’s Back it Up Pants are just the ticket.
They’re $150 from Columbia (where there’s also a version for men), or you can get a pair from Amazon.
Posted by Pam in Adventure Gear on February 25th, 2011
