For years now, The North Face Denali Jacket has been a popular choice among outdoor enthusiasts and people who want to own a warm fleece jacket to wear when the temperatures drop.  It seems to be a rite of passage … Continue reading →

Want to get more out of each workout? Have you ever considered using a weighted vest to give your workout a wow factor? Or how using a weighted vest could help improve your longevity out on the trail? It’s never … Continue reading →

No, you don’t always need down. And for that matter, you don’t always want down. For the enthusiastic snowshoer who wants to get out in the snow in the early season or stay out well into the spring, conditions might … Continue reading →

Take it from a woman’s first-hand experience on the snowy trails, the Patagonia Ultralight Hoody lives up to its name.  While it is ultra light, it’s a non-bulky “puffy” jacket that’s not so puffy, which is a nice change of … Continue reading →

It’s been a while since Snowshoe Magazine has reviewed anything with the Patagonia brand attached to it, and doing so is considered a huge step for our matured gear review process – refined throughout our eight-year history. While most of … Continue reading →

This is a technical jacket. The core specifications – Polartec's new NeoShell fabric, taped seams, storm hood – are impressive. But most importantly it performs well. As with anything new, it's a little stiff when you first put it on, but that concern quickly fades away as the totally bomber nature of the Zion is realized. While you're still standing in the store trying it on, you are transported to icy crags and powder days.

Continuing my series on Batman's preferred outdoor clothing and gear, I now focus my attention on the Nau Asylum jacket.  This hardy, three-layer winter garment is waterproof, windproof and an all-conditions masterpiece – particularly suited for harsh, snow-covered environments.  Snowshoers, pay attention! 

Sure, we've all heard the term quiver. Typically it's used to reference skis. Or rather a great all around set of skis: as in “my one-ski quiver.” Even “queen of quivers” denoting someone with enough money to own more than, say, ten and enough time to use them all. But quiver isn't usually associated with clothing, until now. Columbia Sportswear's new women's Windefend Half Zip is a must-have performance mid-layer for when it's cool but not cold.

When I found out I was going to gear test Columbia Sportswear's shell offerings for a heli-ski trip I was planning, I had mixed feelings. I love gear but I wasn't sure I would love Columbia's. I even questioned my friend Randy on a morning mountain bike ride. Without prejudice I asked, “When I mention the brand Columbia what immediately comes to mind?” His reaction was the same as mine – words like heavy, non-technical, and entry-level spilled from his lips. Then the jackets - the Women's Peak Power shell and the Men's Peak 2 Peak shell - arrived at my doorstep and I was forever changed. This is not your neophyte-neighbor's outdoor wear.

One of the newest trends in outdoor adventure clothing design is the hybrid down. Perhaps inspired by the hybrid car, the new version of down offers the same amount of warmth in a trimmed down sportier model. Columbia Sportswear is leading the charge with its new Reach the Peak down hybrid jacket.