After what can only be deemed as an abysmal start to the ski season, with months of high pressure and facets, we’re finally seeing some precipitation up here in AK, and I’ve finally had a chance to get out and ski in my Outdoor Research Vanguard Pants.

Outdoor Research Vanguard Pants

The Vanguard Pants, new for winter 2012/2013 are a highly waterproof, highly breathable softshell ski pant with lots of sidecountry features such as a Recco reflector and a beacon pocket. Available in both Men’s and Women’s designs, the Vanguard looks to be the pant that will stand up to all sorts of weather, no matter who’s wearing it! Overall, I’m enjoying the pants. So far, they’re as waterproof as OR says they should be, offer great mobility for touring and appear to be fairly burly. Errant Alders are no match for the material on the Vanguards…

The Good

• Most waterproof softshells I’ve ever worn- After 3 hours of resort laps in Alyeska’s infamous “Mixed Precip” (read: rain), my legs were still dry. The pants were soaked, but my legs were still dry. I then wore them for a 4-day Level 2 Avalanche course, and spent all my time sitting in pits I dug. I came home dry each day.
• Beacon pocket- I love this thing. The pocket is actually  mesh pocket inside a pocket with a clip to keep your beacon attached to you.
• Dual sided thigh vents with double zippers. Dump heat fast, but don’t worry about fumbling around with a one way zipper to get them zipped back up.

The Bad

• The Vanguards are HUGE. Definitely try them on, or order a size smaller than you normally would. Consistently a size small in Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear and other Outdoor Research Products, I chose a size small in the Vanguards. Even in my ski boots, the pants drag on the ground, and I’ve maxed out the elastic waistband adjustment to keep them from sagging down to my knees. The size guide indicates that a Small should have a 29 inch inseam. I’d put mine at about 34 inches.
• The pockets may be overkill. I love the beacon pocket, but don’t have a ton of use for the 2 mid thigh pockets in addition to the 2 front and 2 back pockets. On the plus side, I guess I’ll never run out of space for CLIF shots…

Check ‘Em Out

Outdoor Research Women’s Vanguard Pants or Outdoor Research Men’s Vanguard Pants

As temps drop and we start seeing snow on our higher peaks in Alaska, winter is officially on the brain. Early fall is one of my favorite times of the year- not because of the changing leaves or cool, crisp mornings, but rather because early fall means new gear! Time to play with all the new toys coming out for the 2012/2013 winter! So far, here’s what I’m getting stoked about for ski season:

A Pair of 163 Praxis MVP Custom Ordered Skis

Say who? Praxis? If you aren’t familiar with Keith O’Meara’s custom shaped skis out of Tahoe, get familiar, and fast. Praxis has been around for years, cranking out some of the most innovative ski technology with incredibly high quality. As world class caliber skiers such as Drew Tabke and Kevin O’Meara begin to ski Praxis skis and bring notoriety to the name, more and more people have been drawn to the brand. Keith, the man behind the curtain, has directed his focus towards making smaller batch, custom skis designed to fit a variety of riders. For my season-long pleasure, I will be skiing a pair of 163 Most Valuable Praxis, or MVP skis, in the “soft” flex with the graphic of my choosing. All of Keith’s skis are available for immediate purchase as his original designed model, or available to be custom ordered for flex (choices of soft, medium, medium/stiff and stiff), layup (triaxial fiberglass or a carbon/triaxial fiberglass blend), length, and graphic. Choose from Praxis’s badass graphic library or upload your own! Best part? All this customization comes at little to no extra price. Pick your own flex and graphic for free. If you’d like to add the carbon there is a nominal materials fee increase, and if you’d like to upload your own graphic, there’s a small fee for that as well. Look to hear more about Praxis and my new MVPs later in the season.

Outdoor Research Vanguard Pants

In the past 2 years, Outdoor Research has expanded their apparel line by 60%, and they seem to be doing a helluva job. The Vanguard Pants, new for winter 2012/2013 are a highly waterproof, highly breathable softshell ski pant with lots of sidecountry features such as a Recco reflector and a beacon pocket. Available in both Men’s and Women’s designs, the Vanguard looks to be the pant that will stand up to all sorts of weather, no matter who’s wearing it! I’m excited to test out the GoreTex softshell material up here in AK, and see how it holds up to our heavy wet snow.

Outdoor Research Point ‘n Chute Mitts

Not only has Outdoor Research expanded their apparel line, but they also continue to make killer handwear, headwear, gatiers and the like. This season I’ll be rockin the Point ‘n Chute Mitts, a fully insulated leather mitt with an under-the-cuff design. Most important feature? The snot wiper. Yup, the Point ‘n Chutes come with a “soft nose wipe,” an feature that I consider mandatory in all glove, mitten and other handwear purchases. The Point ‘n Chutes are also available in a Men’s version, which features a lobster-claw style 3 finger glove design.

Coal Headwear’s Rosa Beanie

Because who doesn’t love a good beanie with a big pom-pom? My ultimate winter wear and skiing staple, I am always excited for a new beanie. Remember the kid who was always excited about getting new pencils because it meant that school started soon? Kind of like that, except instead of math problems, new beanies mean pow skiing.

I’m sure as more and more winter gear starts hitting the shelves, my list of stoke will get longer and longer, but for now, that’s what I’m most excited to be checking out this winter!

While most of the Lower 48 is enjoying summer climbing weather already, we’re just barely transitioning out of full on winter up here in AK. Unfortunately, that transition means some rainy days amidst the snow. To keep me warm in the rain or the snow, I’ve been reaching for my Outdoor Research Havoc Jacket.

Outdoor Research Havoc Jacket Specs

• Highly weather-resistant/breathable WINDSTOPPER® shell fabric; taffeta lining
• PrimaLoft® ECO 60g insulation
• Double-separating front zipper
• Zippered napoleon pocket (great for stashing a CLIF shot!), plus a zippered internal chest pocket and two handwarmer pockets. One handwarmer pocket is intended to double as a stuff sack.
• Stretch binding on cuffs
• MSRP: $225

Outdoor Research Havoc Jacket Review

The Havoc is a synthetic insulated jacket, taken to the “next level” with Windstopper material integrated into the exterior of the jacket. What a great idea! Eric raves about this also in his own review of the Havoc. Why don’t all synthetic puffy coats come with Windstopper? No added weight or bulk, and added warmth.  Good thinking on Outdoor Research’s part. I used the Havoc as my primary insulation layer for ski touring, and often used it as my outer layer as well. The Windstopper material made it so that I didn’t need a shell over the insulation to keep the wind chill out. Awesome.

When I heard about the Havoc, I was a bit concerned that it might be less packable/pliable due to the Windstopper shell. Not so. My Havoc packs down smaller than my old Patagonia MicroPuff does, and comes with the added benefit of the Windstopper shell. Win win!

The Good

• Primaloft insulation keeps you warm, but what really adds to the heat of this jacket is the Windstopper exterior. No biting chills accidentally making it through the jacket.
• Sizing is right on and equivalent to the rest of their line.
• The hood is a great size. Big enough to fit over a hat or a climbing helmet (not a ski helmet), but not giant. Not stowable, but that doens’t phase me.
• Handwarmer pockets have a fleece lining inside them. Bonus!

The Bad

• I wish the Havoc came with a stuff sack for stowing in my pack when I’m not using it. One of the handwarmer pockets is intended to double as a stuff sack, but it seems a bit cumbersome. I like having a separate bag that I can just jam things right into without worrying about accidentally ripping a zipper.
• The Double Separating front zipper makes it a pain to zip up sometimes. Since both parts have to be all the way down, it seems I spend a lot of time fumbling with that.

Bottom Line

A well designed synthetic insulation jacket with the added bonus of a Windstopper shell. Check out the Havoc here!

The highly versatile Outdoor Research Havoc Jacket is a jacket that could fit just about everyone’s needs.

Outdoor Research Havoc Jacket Features

• Highly weather-resistant/breathable WINDSTOPPER® Insulated Shells fabric; taffeta lining
• PrimaLoft® ECO 60g insulation
• Fully adjustable hood
• Double-sliding front zipper with internal stormflap
• Zippered napoleon pocket; zippered internal chest pocket with media port
• Two zippered handwarmer pockets; one doubles as stuff sack
• Stretch binding on cuffs
• Dual drawcord hem adjustments
• Price: $224.95

Outdoor Research Havoc Jacket Review

In short, the Outdoor Research Havoc Jacket is one of the best jackets I own. It’s lightweight, versatile, and extremely comfortable. Outdoor Research got so many things right with the Havoc.

The lightweight Primaloft insulation is just enough to help take the chill off on chilly fall days and when paired with a nice mid-layer it’s great for cold winter days. The Havoc packs down to be about the size of small loaf of bread so it won’t take up much room in your pack.

I was skeptical of the value on Windstopper on an insulated jacket. I’m sold though. I think the lightweight nature of the jacket would let the wind though. The combo of the insulation and the Windstopper gives the Havoc an edge on the cold.

I couldn’t believe how comfortable the Havoc is. I’ve worn it all day (literally all day) and I didn’t get of of the typical annoyances you get with other jackets when you wear them all day. It’s also at home just anywhere from keeping you warm on the chair, as a belay jacket, hiking, and camping (even works for biking around town in the winter time).

A couple of notes on the hood: it’s insulated, adjustable, can fit over a climbing helmet (but not a ski helmet), and it’s non-removable. It also doesn’t “stow away” at all.

Hand warmer pockets are fleece-lined and roomy. Internal pocket does has a headphone port if you’re into that sort of thing. The jacket stows in one of the hand pockets.

The fit is nice as well. It does run “true to size”. I’m 6 feet, 180 lbs, and the large fits me nicely. It does have room so if you wear a mid-layer (I’ve worn it with a fleece before) you won’t be feeling squeezed.

The Good

• Versatile
• Comfortable
• Warm

The Bad

• No way to stow the hood

Bottom Line:

Hands down the Outdoor Research Havoc Jacket is one of the best jackets I’ve owned. It’s made it’s way into my permanent collection.

Buy Now: Pick up the Outdoor Research Havoc Jacket

enigma [ɪˈnɪgmə], noun
a person, thing, or situation that is mysterious, puzzling, or ambiguous

Looking for a shell jacket to protect you from all the elements? Continuing to be true to their mantra “Designed for Adventure,” Outdoor Research has cranked out some incredible equipment for Fall 2011, and among that line is the Women’s Enigma Jacket. The Enigma truly is an enigma- a lightweight yet durable GoreTex shell jacket at a super reasonable price. How often do you find that combo?

Outdoor Research Enigma Jacket: The Details

• Gore-Tex PacLite main body/Gore-Tex 3L Pro Shell fabric on shoulders and arms
• Entirely seam sealed
• Helmet compatible hood
• TorsoFlo™ double-sliding side zippers open fully from hem to armpits
• Two hand pockets with water-resistant zips and two internal stash pockets
• MSRP: $320
• Check out the Enigma Details on YouTube

Outdoor Research Enigma Jacket: The Review

The Outdoor Research Enigma Jacket has been a life saver thus far this fall in Alaska. With rain coming in feet, not inches, I’m always grateful to have good gear so that I can continue my outdoor pursuits, no matter the weather. From daily walks with my dog to ice climbing on the Matanuska Glacier, the Enigma has kept me nice and dry. I’m looking forward to making it my primary backcountry shell when ski season gets rolling.

A word about sizing- the Enigma seems to be built to accommodate layers underneath, which is a great thing. However, if you were thinking about sizing up from your normal size to have room for a few extra layers, don’t. You’ll be swimming in GoreTex. The Enigma is built with that extra room already in the width and the sleeves, and I have plenty of room for my R1, Patagonia Micropuff or a mid-weight down jacket, and I ordered the same size I would have had I not been planning to layer.

The Good

• The full side zips aren’t as weird as you’d think they’d be. I’ve never had a problem with them coming undone from the bottom up as I was concerned I might. I am not sure how much more ventilation I really need than your average pit zip, but the full zip doesn’t seem to take away from the design in any way, so why not? I see where it could be nice to be able to fully unzip your sides while wearing a pack, and really get some ventilation.
• Because of the zippers running all the way down the side, the drawcord for the bottom of the jacket actually only runs through the back half of the jacket. Again, seemed weird at first, but I ended up loving the ability to cinch down the bottom of the jacket without the front of the jacket looking like a rumpled mess.
• The PacLite/ProShell combo makes this jacket lightweight yet bomber.
• A great value at $320. Most other companies are charging in excess of $400 for their GoreTex shells, some even more than $450. For much less, you get a solid jacket with all the features that you need in a shell.

The Bad

• The pockets are not made of GoreTex material. So, if it’s pouring rain and blowing sideways, and you think you’ll warm your hands up by putting them in your pockets, well, you’ll wish you hadn’t. Though the zippers are water resistant, and the direct interior of the pocket has a small strip of GoreTex, the rest of the pocket is mesh. If precipitation is coming in from any direction besides straight down, you’ll find the inside of your jacket a bit wet if you’ve used the pockets. It was never a problem for quick “in and out” trips into the pockets, but the few times I went to stash my hands to avoid moisture and cold temps, the lovely Alaska fall weather (read: feet of rain and blowing wind) found its way right inside my jacket.

Bottom Line

A GoreTex Proshell/PacLite hybrid that keeps you dry for a decent price.

Check It Out

Outdoor Research Enigma Jacket

Outdoor Research continues to design and produce products that are “designed by adventure” with their new line of Echo Synthetic T-Shirts. Available in a long sleeve or short sleeve version, the Echo is a great lightweight, wicking piece that can be worn independently in warm weather or layered on those chillier days.

I wore the Echo L/S on a few runs and bike rides around AK, and it was great in 45-50 degree temps while I was active. After about a month of use, the Echo doesn’t stink yet! I’m still biased towards wool when it comes to the stench argument (which is why I love the Outdoor Research Essence Tee so much- the wool mix keeps it stink free), but the Echo is holding its own thus far.

Outdoor Research Echo L/S Tee Specs

• Lightweight polyester AirVent fabric with polygiene odor controls keeps you dry and relatively stink free.
• Hidden pocket with “media port” on side of shirt
• Flatlock stitching
• MSRP $39.95

The Good

• Super lightweight. Feels like you’re wearing nothing.
• Offers some UV protection (UPF 15) while still being very thin.
• Flatlock stitching keeps chafing to a minimum for those long, active days.

The Bad

• The media pocket is a nice idea, but I find that for running, my iPod wiggles around and eventually worked its way out of it. For more low impact activities, it sat right where the hip belt for my pack wanted to sit. I didn’t end up using it too much, except for biking, where it was nice to have.

Buy Now

Outdoor Research Echo L/S Shirt

My two feet have taken me lots of places. Up mountains, across passes, down canyons… I’ve run, skied, climbed, biked, hiked, and surfed a multitude of places. However, never have my two feet taken me 1000+ miles in one go. This summer, my boyfriend and I have opted to simplify our vacation time and lives by allowing our two feet to dictate the entire journey. No cars. No motors. No gasoline. Just our feet. 1000+ miles of biking. Hours and hours of surfing. Countless trails and hikes. This summer, we’ll be biking the Washington/Oregon coastline with our surfboards, living on our bikes and enjoying the bliss that is simplicity.

The Plan

To bike from Seattle, WA to Eureka, CA (the goal being to end up at the Lost Coast Brewery for a celebratory beverage). All in, it should be close to 1200 miles. We’ll be riding the coast the whole time, so after leaving Seattle, the plan is to head out to Neah Bay, WA, and then bike south from there. We’ll be towing a trailer holding 2 surfboards and taking a full 6 weeks to enjoy this beautiful stretch of coastline, stopping all along the way to surf and hike. No support vehicles, hotels or anything fancy. Just simple, pedal-powered fun.

Throughout the trip, I’ll have the opportunity to test out some great gear from Specialized, Mountain Hardwear, CLIF, CamelBak, Avenir Accessories, Outdoor Research and Merrell Footwear. Look for lots of reviews during and after the epic!

Got Ideas?

Been on a bike tour before? Tried to tow surfboards before? Just a casual biker? If you’ve got suggestions for my plan, feel free to let me know. Though I’m an avid road biker, I am an avid day-trip road biker. 100 miles at a time, at the most. Never have I tried to live out of panniers for a six weeks. Got some input? Ideas? Good backpacking meal recipes? Share them with me! The plan is ever-evolving, and I’m stoked for any input.

Lightweight is an understatement with this jacket, but don’t let its featherweight design fool you–the Outdoor Research Helium jacket is for real and not only for the “just in case” moments. The Pertex Shield fabric is light and seemingly-durable in spite of its thin-ness. It also breathes extremely-well. After a hard 30-minute run on a 45-degree day the Helium merely felt slightly damp to the touch on the inside. After 5 minutes, that had all dissipated.

The cut of the jacket is great for slapping on top of a down jacket or other puffy insulation layer as need arises. Alone with only a long-sleeve shirt underneath, I’d wish for a little more form-fitting torso. As it stands, it works great on top of puffier under layers. The hem is cut longer than many jackets of this type, so it covers your backside well even when you’re moving around a lot. The simple elastic sleeve cuffs are simple and light, but a lightweight Velcro cuff would have been great.

I brought this jacket along on a handful of ski tours as well and loved the light weight and compressibility of this jacket. Stuffing it into the bottom of my backcountry ski pack, it yielded plenty of space for other sundries.

I really dig the hood and find it necessary in a jacket like this. Should you need to slap it on in a pinch, the hood can be easily worn–leaving your noggin well-protected.

As time goes on, I still marvel at how lightweight this jacket is yet how performant it remains. Excellent overall design for “just in case” backcountry use or highly-aerobic activities.

The Good

• So light it will amaze you
• Excellent water and wind protection
• Pertex Shield fabric is really the star of the show
• Attached hood adds to the versatility
• The Fossil color is muted and dashing
• Very lightweight and packable
• Single-handed shock-cord hem cinches well

The Bad

• Missing some sort of grippy rubber along the inside of the hem to keep in place
• No hand pockets
• Front zipper is reversed (for the ladies?)
• Would like to see a simple Velcro cuff closure instead of just elastic

Bottom Line: Outdoor Research Helium Jacket

While some great Outdoor Research jackets are sometimes overlooked, the Helium should garner several double-takes. It’s light weight, packable and offers solid shelter for aerobic activity or in a pinch. The Pertex fabric breathes well and performs when needed.

Buy Now: Search for the Outdoor Research Helium Jacket

I had a great time catching up with the crew at Outdoor Research. Hailing from the homeland of Seattle, we have a good time talking rain, Cascade Cement, green trees and new outerwear. For Fall 2010, Outdoor Research is essentially jumping into the sidecountry at Crystal Mountain with full avie gear and the new Access Jacket and Pants along for the ride.

I’ve always been impressed with OR’s high-quality, but less-known products. However, many of their pieces are lost in the shuffle of their intended market. Not so with the new Sidecountry Collection. These pieces are built for hard-charging resort skiers who need extra breathability because they slay the pow, or because they like to hike for a few extra turns in the sidecountry at their local resort.

Construction looks superb and the fit is a tad baggy (resort-style), but not obnoxious–just comfortable.

Features of the Outdoor Research Access Jacket and Pants:

• Gore-tex Shell
• Light insluation (Enduraloft)
• Side ventilation (as opposed to pit zips) for efficient cooling while carrying a pack
• Cargo pant-style–very nice looking
• RECCO equipped
• Zip-off balaklava stowed in the hood
• Light brushed fleece lining for moisture wicking
• MSRP: $365 (jacket) / $265 (pants)

Buy Now: Search for Outdoor Research Products

Winter mountaineering guarantees two things for me- cold toes and frozen camel bak valves. Last season, I switched to carrying my water in a Nalgene, insulated by an Outdoor Research Water Bottle Parka. No more frozen water!

The Outdoor Research Water Bottle Parka does an awesome job insulating, and also makes it easier to access your water when hiking with a pack on. Just attach the hook and loop closure snap to any part of your pack, and you’re set. I attach mine to the bottom of my shoulder straps on my pack, making it easy to grab some water whenever I feel like it!

Outdoor Research Water Bottle Parkas

• Two different sizes- liter and half liter
• EVA molded foam around base and lid is great reinforcement! Drops, snags, rubs against rocks, the foam survives it all!
• Functions for both keeping things hot AND cold. Keeps your water from freezing, but can also double as a lightweight thermos! Hot coffee, anyone?

Buy Now! Outdoor Research Water Bottle Parka