Clothing Reviews

Ben’s Invisinet XTRA Head Net with Insect Shield is a black colored head net that’s pretreated with Insect Shield to keep insects from biting your head and neck. While you can slather DEET or Picaridin on your head, face, and neck, I’ve found I get much better insect protection by …

REI’s On The Trail Sun Gloves are fingerless Lycra stretch gloves with a UPF 50 rating to protect your hands from harmful solar radiation. They have a sewn-on synthetic suede palm that extends over the index finger and thumb to help prevent blisters if you use trekking poles when you …

Outdoor Research ActiveIce Sun Spectrum Gloves are lightweight fingerless gloves that protect your hands from the sun’s harmful rays. They’re great for hiking, backpacking, paddling, running, or fishing because they eliminate the need to carry suntan lotion while protecting your hands from blisters and biting insects. They have anti-slip palm …

The Montbell Versalite is an ultralight waterproof/breathable rain jacket that weighs 7.0 oz in a men’s XL. It’s by far the best backpacking rain jacket in my gear closet in terms of the features important to hikers. It has pit zips, a four-way adjustable hood, hook and loop wrist cuffs, …

The Columbia OutDry Ex Blitz Rain Jacket is an inexpensive waterproof/breathable rain jacket that doesn’t have a DWR coating. It’s made with OutDry so it’s waterproof layer is on the outside of the jacket eliminating the need for a DWR coating like the ones needed for Gore-tex jackets and other …

REI Minimalist GTX Mitts are waterproof/breathable mitten shells that have velcro wrist cuffs and are seam-taped. I use them as rain mitts over a pair of thin wool or fleece gloves. I’ve used other rain mitts in the past including Mountain Laurel Designs Rain Mitts and I like these better. …

The Kuhl Klash Pants are a comfortable yet durable, lightweight softshell pair of women’s pants perfect for active outdoor use in cool weather.  They provide excellent freedom of movement and venting for scrambling on hot days, they dry quickly when they get wet, and have lots of pockets so you …

The Outdoor Research Refuge Air Hooded Jacket is water and wind-resistant jacket insulated with OR’s Vertical X. Designed for cold weather wear, it claims to incorporate thermo-regulating technology that keeps you cool, dry, and comfortable during high-exertion activities.  Named after its VerticalX Air technology, the Refuge Air is designed with …

The Odlo Performance Blackcomb Base Layer Shirt is a hooded and body-mapped synthetic baselayer shirt that’s good for aerobic cold-weather sports where you need a wicking baselayer that pulls moisture away from your skin so you stay dry and don’t get chilled. Specs at a Glance Weight: Men’s XL – …

Have you ever wanted to wear long underwear on a cold winter day, but decided not to because you know you’ll sweat too much? Imagine having long underwear with side zippers that you could vent if you get to warm, or even remove completely without having to take off your …

The Fjallraven Keb Eco-Shell is a 3-layer waterproof/breathable jacket built for backpacking and technical adventures. Made from Fjallraven’s recycled Eco-Shell fabric, the Keb Eco-Shell Jacket breathes, wicks, stretches, and completely protects against wind, snow, and rain. With a highly adjustable hood, ample chest pockets, side ventilation, and adjustable wrist cuffs, …

Sealskinz Waterproof All Weather Ultra-Grip Knitted Gloves are waterproof/breathable knitted gloves with a silicone grip that are great for keeping your hands dry while snowshoeing or hiking in the rain in three-season conditions. Specs at a Glance Palm material: Nylon with gripper print Fabric: 96.5% nylon, 3.5% elastane Lining fabric: …

The Arcteryx Proton LT Insulated Hoodie is a synthetic insulated jacket that can be used as an active outer layer in cold weather. It’s designed as a self-regulating insulation layer that vents excess heat and moisture through a combination of air-permeable fabrics and insulation. The goal is to eliminate the …

Outdoor Research makes great gloves but their Inception Aerogel Gloves fall short of expectations. Although they are insulated with Aerogel, they’re shockingly cold and uncomfortable to wear in colder weather. If you’re looking for a high dexterity insulated winter glove for climbing, skiing, or hiking, I’d look elsewhere. Specs at …