Category — outdoor apparel

It’s cold this winter.  Global warming has apparantly been pushed back til next year.  Might as well look good in the cold though.  Check out some of the winter apparel from Juicy Couture like this Puffa Jacket.

The weather has cooled down a bit and I am relieved.   It was slightly cloudy today, and we are supposed to have light showers tomorrow, so I am keeping my fingers crossed for rain.   I LOVE hiking in light rain, and it would be such a treat after the heatwave early in the week.  Here is some hiking gear I am dreaming of for rainy hikes:

• Isis Bernina Rain Pants: Even though I have a Marmot PreCip jacket, I think I need to cross brand lines and go with these Isis Bernina Rain Pants rather than the Marmot PreCip pants.  The Isis pants just look much sleeker and more stylish.

• Chooka Koi Tattoo Rain Boots: I have no idea how these rain boots by Chooka will hold up on the trail, but I really want to test them out, because they look AWESOME.

• Marmot PreCip Safari Hat: I may not like the PreCip rain pants, but I LOVE the PreCip Safari hat because it does double duty by keeping your head cool on hot days and dry on rainy days.

Here are some great tips for hiking in the rain:

Hiking in the Rain Without the Pain

The Sideroad: Hiking or Camping in the Rain

Expert Village: How to Account for Rain on an Overnight Hike

The worst thing about spending last weekend in Las Vegas was the excruciating desert heat.  Even the breeze was hot!  I put up with it since I knew it was just for one weekend, but it did get me thinking about outdoor gear to keep comfortable in dry, hot climates.  Here are some inspired solutions to the problem:

The USB Air Conditioned Shirt by Kuchofuku isn’t exactly high fashion, but it will keep you cool.

The Insulated Evaporative Cooling Cap holds water to keep you up to 30 degrees cooler than the climate around you.

No trip to the desert would be complete without air conditioned Cool Shoes.  Apparently the heel “pumps” up and down when you walk, powering the AC.  I think I would need some practice to master walking in Cool Shoes, but at least my feet would be cool!

I am so amused by these really unique shoes by Fivefingers.  It’s claimed that Fivefingers shoes help prevent varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis, in addition to enhancing foot muscle strength and running efficiency, and can also be worn for sports ranging from running to yoga.  I don’t know how I feel about wearing shoes for yoga, but otherwise it seems like Fivefingers shoes live up to the hype.

I like the idea of running barefoot or almost barefoot, at least in theory, but I have owned toe socks and never found them really comfortable.  I love split toe socks, like the Teva Sandal Sock, but I just can’t get comfortable in the 5 toe variety, and I wonder if I would actually  prefer something like the Nike Air Rift split toe running shoe to Fivefingers shoes.

I do have to admit, though, that I have been considering YogaToes as a way of improving strenght and flexibility in my feet.   Even though I personally don’t like to wear shoes while practicing yoga, maybe wearing shoes like Fivefingers for other activities will have the same effect as YogaToes.  And I do love how unique and funny the Fivefingers shoes looks.  Hopefully I’ll find a pair to at least try on and see how they feel!

I love August because that’s when all the Fall and Winter clothes start hitting stores. However, I am a little fussy and don’t really love what some outdoor gear companies call women’s clothing, so I take my time and shop around a lot. Here’s what I’ve got my eye on so far:

Patagonia Women’s Kriya Stretch Fleece Pants: These terry fleece pants look like a comfy little bit of heaven to me. I love the v-waistband and the side vents. I only wish they came in more colors.

prAna Tenaya Pant: These pants are so sleek and stylish I could totally see wearing them on a regular basis, even when I am not planning on hiking.

Mountain Hard Wear Women’s Butter Top: I have a thing for hooded shirts and buttery soft fabric. Yumm.

The North Face Reckoning Crew: This shirt is simply fierce. Even the name sounds intimidating. I want it in Squid Red.

Unfortunately I still have to wait for the temperature to drop a bit so I can actually wear fall clothes in comfort.

…hurts your eyes after a while.”–Corey Hart

I broke my old Oakley sunglasses a few weeks ago, but it was actually a blessing in disguise, as I have now upgraded to a pair of Oakley Gascan polarized sunglasses. I have always wanted a pair of polarized sunglasses, ever since I first tried on a pair at the bait and tackle store when I was a kid, but I was always a little put off by the look of them. They just seemed so…middle aged man-ish. But there have been some huge strides in design in recent years, so now it’s possible to get a pair of polarized glasses that look as good as they function. If you’ve never used polarized sunglasses, I highly recommend you try out a pair, because they are amazing for reducing glare and providing a much sharper and crisper view. I am a little bit photo-sensitive, and there is a world of difference when I wear polarized lenses as opposed to regular sunglasses. My last sunglasses withstood a ton of use and abuse; hopefully my polarized lenses will do just as well.

Here’s an ingenious way to keep your beer cold and refreshing during a long hike: a backpack cooler! Check out the whole story at Gizmodo.

I got a Marmot PreCip jacket last year and I after several months of wear and tear, I can confidently say that I absolutely adore it. It was a lifesaver during our rainy February. The jacket is great because it is waterproof but totally breathable, so I never felt overheated while I stayed totally dry. The jacket is also really lightweight and packable; it can be folded and tucked entirely into one of it’s zippered pockets, and, according to Marmot’s website, can even be packed inside a water bottle. I have worn everywhere, from high desert campsites to long drizzly bike rides to walks in torrential downpours, and it has worked beautifully in every environment. It is also a great wind-resistant shell when coupled with a fleece hoodie, even in very chilly temperatures. Truly a great jacket.