Clothing Reviews

The Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket is a minimalist waterproof/breathable rain jacket and a long-time favorite with thru-hikers and section hikers because it is so lightweight. Weighing a mere 6.8 ounces in a men’s size X-Large,  it is best used in warm …

Fjallraven High Coast Hike Trousers are lightweight hiking pants that are cool enough for use in warm weather. They’re ripstop nylon pants with some stretch to them, which makes them quite comfortable, and they have five pockets, including three with zippers for …

The Sitka Fanatic Hoody is a versatile hooded grid fleece mid-layer that’s great for on-trail hiking and off. It has an integrated face mask which is good for wind and sun protection, mittens sewn onto the end of its sleeves, a kangaroo …

The Western Mountaineering Meltdown Jacket is a 17 oz jacket for shoulder season and winter adventures. While it isn’t long enough to fall into the parka category, it has enough loft to keep your core warm even in very frigid conditions. As …

KUHL Renegade Cargo Convertible Pants are great for hiking, backpacking, and outdoor recreation because you can unzip and remove the lower legs if you start to overheat. They’re made with a super comfortable softshell-like fabric called Duralux which combination of nylon and …

REI’s Activator 3.0 Soft-Shell Pants, available for both men and women, are softshell pants for winter hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing. They’re water-resistant and highly breathable to prevent sweat build-up, with articulated knees and a gusseted crotch for freedom of movement. They’re rated …

The Enlightened Equipment Visp is an ultralight 3-layer waterproof breathable rain jacket with a fully adjustable hood, velcro wrist cuffs, a waterproof zipper, and drop tail, that’s fully seam-taped seam taped.  The Visp is lightweight and breathable enough that it can be …

The Outdoor Research Versaliner Sensor Gloves (Men’s and Women’s) are a two-part glove system featuring an inner fleece glove with a pocket to hold a chemical hand warmer and a removable exterior wind shell that can be layered on top for extra …

The Frogg Toggs Xtreme Lite Rain Jacket is an inexpensive and durable rain jacket with a fully adjustable hood, zippered side pockets, velcro wrist closures, and a cord-adjustable waist. This well-fitting jacket is a great waterproof and windproof layer with fully-taped seams …

Fjallraven Abisko Lite Zip-Off Trekking Trousers are lightweight, ventilated pants for use in warm climates or during the hotter summer months. Zipping off just above the knee and with two front-thigh cargo pockets, these pants are versatile enough for extended use when …

The Montbell Mirage Parka is an ultralight 900 fill power hooded down jacket, perfect for winter hiking or backpacking trips when you want to get warm fast and stay warm. Weighing just 14.4 oz in a size men’s XL, this jacket is …

REI Merino Midweight Baselayer Tops are surprisingly warm and have become my go-to layer around the campsite and and cool weather hikes. They’re also a great bargain when they’re on sale. I buy a lot of cold-weather hiking clothes through REI because …

Montbell’s Versalite Pants are 2-layer ultralight waterproof/breathable pants that weigh just 3.7 oz (in a men’s XL.) They can be used as rain pants or wind pants or when you want light layer to keep your legs warmer in camp. Montbell’s Versalite Pants …

The North Face Venture 2 Rain Jacket is a value-priced but fully-featured waterproof/breathable rain jacket that can be used year-round for hiking and backpacking. The Venture 2 has a fully adjustable hood, 8″ long pit zips, velcro wrist cuffs, two side pockets, …