Ski Europe Now

Patagonia Merino Wool Review Update.

I bought a few items of Merino wool from Patagonia this season out of the blue thinking a few items wouldn't hurt, especially if I want to continue to rave about Icebreaker I think I should know what some of the competition is up to.  So, I bought a lightweight top and bottom, and a midweight top and bottom.  The product line from Patagonia is limited with only seven or so items available this past fall, and the color schemes were, to say the least, loud (think safety orange and green).  The midweight top was a hoody and both it and the lightweight top had a small bit of cord sewn into the sleeve end for a thumb loop (nice touch as many of the Icebreaker tops, especially the heavier weight ones, have thumb loops with a lot of material which tends to make putting on gloves tedious.)  The Patagonia wool also doesn't sag and droop as much: they are using a fair bit of nylon in the material (up to 25% in some items) so not as environmentally friendly as the Icebreaker stuff (normally 3% lycra).  I also like how the Patagonia tops are a bit longer in the body so they stay tucked in pants and under layers better.  Still, I think the Icebreaker line is better quality and more selection.

Patagonia Los Lobos Jacket Review (Part 2).

I was wearing my Patagonia Los Lobos jacket recently on a cold winter day recently, and found out that when you zip up the jacket fully, there is no inside zipper guard to protect your neck.  Which leads to the small knives at the top of the zipper digging into your neck.  Painful, very painful.  I had to unzip the jacket a few inches to spare my neck.  WTF Patagonia?  Whomever the f*ck!? designed this should be shot, or slathered in beef juice and then locked naked in a room full of rabid weasels.

Icebreaker Merino Wool Review (Update 1).

It has been a while since I gushed on about Icebreaker merino wool and since I recently purchased more of their stuff, I thought it was time for an update.  I bought several tops and bottoms and as always have been very happy and impressed with my purchases.  I have blogged in the past about the durability of the Icebreaker line and overall have been very impressed except for the leggings.  While the tops never seem to wear out, I have had one pair of leggings completely wear out in the crotch and another pair is well on the way there.  To be honest, the blown out pair is four years old and I have worn them probably well over 100 days working so considering my pants and bottom layers normally wear out in the crotch in this amount of time, I guess the durability is pretty good.  Considering how well the bottoms work otherwise, I am not complaining.

This most recent purchase also included a vest and several hooded tops with full zips.  Icebreaker hasn't produced many full zip tops and hoodies until this year it seems.  I like the full zip tops because the full zip allows for more venting while hot and can be put on and taken off without having to take off your bib pants.  Plus, they have a hood which adds a lot of warmth on colder days.  I used the full zip Sierra hood this past Sunday on a race and it was a cold windy day but with the hood over my hat I was much warmer. 

I had blogged in the past about the saggy nature of Patagonia merino wool tops and bottoms, and I think this was due to the fact Patagonia used 100% merino wool.  Icebreaker uses a little bit of lycra in some of the tops and this helps them from sagging.  Strangely, most of the Icebreaker tops and bottoms I own are 100% merino but no saggy issues.  Must be higher quality manufacturing or a tighter weave. 

Again, Icebreaker is not cheap but look at it as an investment in your comfort.  Great stuff.

Klim Togwotee Bibs Review: Best Ski Pants Ever.

After three weeks of using the Klim Togwotee bib pants, I can easily confirm that they are the best ski pants I have ever owned, period.  I have spilled ham juice all over them and never noticed it (my coworkers had to tell me I was covered in ham juice).  They cleaned right up with a damp rag.  I have run around in a field looking for avalanche tranceivers, worked on an avalanche drill (normally a super sweaty activity), sat in two inches of slush on a 20 minute chairlift ride several times, stood on a race course in minus 10 degree cold, wallowed around in waist deep snow for an hour resetting ropelines and bamboo, and not once have I gotten wet from water or snow leaching through the pants, gotten sweaty and had the goretex get overpowered (very breatheable pants for their weight), had snow sneak its way into my boots past the burliest snow gaiters I have ever seen, or gotten cold.  I lent a pair of Klim Klimate insulated bibs to a fellow patroller to use while being buried in the snow for an avalanche drill and he said it was the first time he was ever warm during the entire drill (and he was buried three times for about 90 minutes per burial).  I used them this past Friday to powder ski on a day off at the Kaiser and I made six laps in 90 minutes, and normally when powder skiiing I tend to get pretty soaked from the snow melting on my thighs and ass from skiing and sitting on a snowy chairlift but not with the Klims.  Never got wet or even a little damp, and I stayed quite dry.  I wish I had bought a pair of these pants years ago and not messed with other brands.  If you want the best ski pants, get a pair of Klims.  Utter perfection.

Best Ski Pants in the World: Klim Togwotee Bibs.

Klim is a outdoor clothing company that caters to the motorheads of the world with a broad spectrum of clothing for motorcyclers and snowmobilers.  Based in Rigby, Idaho, they are only about 75 miles from Jackson.  I have seen snowmobilers, especially those who ride a lot such as the professionals, wearing Klim and I wondered about the durability.  After talking to a fellow ski patroller who is also a long-time snowmobile guide, I thought to give them a try.  I contacted the company and they graciously gave me VIP status and the ability to order their products at a reduced price.  I ordered a pair of the Togwotee bibs (uninsulated) and a pair of the Klimate bibs (insulated).  I would have also ordered a pair of the Free Ride pants but they were out of stock of my size.  After wearing the Togwotee bibs one day, I can say they are the warmest, driest, most durable, and useful ski pants I have ever owned (and I have owned a lot: Marmot Alpinist bibs, Patagonia shell pants, Cloudveil RPK pants, Mountain Hardwear bibs, Nike, Karbon, etc.)  They are not any more expensive than most other high quality bibs (around $400.00) but definitely several steps above in terms of quality and durability.  If you work and live in ski pants and want a pair that will last for several seasons, look no further than Klim.  The list of features on these bad boys is too long to list here so go to the Klim website for a full listing of features.  The perfect ski patroller work pant, by far.  Score:  99 out of 100.  I took one point off because they are so warm that you might overheat (a minor point if you ask me.)  Plus, the stuff is made here in the good ol' US of A, not in some sweatshop in Vietnam or China.

I was able to copy the features list of the Togwotee bibs from the Klim website.  Impressive.  Go to www.Klim.com for more neat stuff.

• Guaranteed to Keep You Dry®
• Gore-Tex® Three-Layer Pro Shell Comfort Mapping Technology
• Klim’s exclusive seat dry tech construction
• High tenacity and ripstop nylon shell materials
• Aggressive patterning
• Max flow ventilation: side zips
• 500D Cordura® underlays and bib upper
• Internal comfort liner
• Max visibility 3M Scotchlite™ reflective trim
• Non-restrictive gusseting
• Elastic back waist gathering
• Full length wrap-around side zips
• Side bib stretch panels
• 6 external pockets (2 hand, 2 chest, 2 thigh)
• Removable anatomically shaped knee/shin pads
• Double stitching in key stress areas
• Water resistant ykk® zippers
• Integrated powder hater boot gaiter design
• Glove-friendly zipper pulls
• Non-slip adjustable suspenders
• Double head center zipper
• Kill switch D-ring

Patagonia Los Lobos Jacket Review.

I recently purchased a Los Lobos jacket from Patagonia and it arrived just before the deep freeze we had through most of December so I wore it quite often.  It has a furry outer layer on the torso and hood, and a lighter synthetic material for the arms (similar to the old school capilene 3 base layer).  It has two zippered hand warmer pockets and a small zippered pocket on the left bicep.  It is a full-zip jacket so no messing around with pulling it over your head.  Nice.  I like the hood: just big enough to pull over a hat but not so huge as some hoods.  I wish it had an interior pocket and a small chest pocket.  The Los Lobos jacket is not wind proof or even slightly wind resistant so some sort of shell needs to be used in inclement weather.  This does raise one issue:  how the f*ck do you access a zippered pocket on your left bicep if it is under another jacket?  Pretty stupid design, and this snafu renders this pocket useless.  I would also like to see a different material used on the sleeves or turn the current sleeve material inside out so the smoother surfaced material in on the inside.  As currently designed the sleeves are Polartec powerdry which is smooth to the touch on one side and somewhat furry-fleecy on the other.  The problem with the current design is the fleecy side is inside and this makes it tough to put the jacket on over long sleeves: you definitely have to keep a fingerhold on your long sleeves underneath as you put on the Los Lobos jacket or you'll end up with a wadded mess at your shoulders.  I think reversing the fabric would make this issue go away, or at least make it much easier to put the jacket on over long sleeved sweaters or base layers.  Otherwise, a nice warm jacket to keep in your pack or the car for a bit of a warm up at the end of the day.  Rating:  85 out of 100.

Note to Patagonia designers:  how about making the retro-x jacket with a hood?

Patagonia Better Sweater Hoody Review.

A couple years ago I purchased a sweater from Patagonia called the Better Sweater Hoody.  I love hoods (if you haven't been able to tell so far from my posts) because they are so warm and easy to use.  Plus, you can hang up the coat by the hood and not those crappy little hang loops which always tear out of the coat.  Anyway, I love hoods so this looked like a great sweater.  I bought the brown color and got it a few weeks before I left for Chamonix in April 2010.  The colors available for this sweater tend to be more subtle and subdued which is perfect for Europe.  It has been my experience that most folks in Europe don't like to wear flashy or very colorful clothes on the street (on the slopes that is a different matter entirely; I think the world wide market for neon is suppored by European skiers.)  Anyway, the styling and color of the Better Sweater makes it a perfect piece of clothing to take to Europe:  warm enough to ski in or wear under a shell in really cold weather, nice enough to wear walking around town or to dinner.  The sweater material is a heavier polyester fleece but looks like wool, and doesn't pill up very bad (my sweater does have some pilling going on but considering how much I wear it not so bad).  It is relatively wind and water resistant but a hard shell or some other really wind/waterproof shell over it is a good idea.  The handwarmer pockets can be zippered closed, and there is small zippered pocket over the left chest.   You can also store some larger items inside the sweater because the handwarmer pocket bottoms are sewn into the sweater hems and thus make another pocket from the inside.  Neat.  A great sweater for the price.  I love my brown one so much that I bought another in blue this season.  Get 'em while they're hot.

On a weirder note, I have been getting some odd comments on my posts.  My best guess is robocommentor because no normal human being would write such drivel (except me but thats what this blog is for.)

Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody Jacket Review.

I bought the Patagonia Micro Puff hooded jacket last season as a replacement to an older Cloudveil Enclosure hooded jacket I have had for several seasons but is now wearing out (zippers failed, rips in interior sewing, etc.) and now that the colder part of the season is on us, I can wear it without looking more foolish than normal.  It has a less poofy outline despite having 100 gram insulation and is a pretty warm jacket.  It has two handwarmer pockets, an interior zipper security pocket with included stuff sack, and an interior mesh pocket for a hat or a pair of gloves, say.  An exterior chest pocket would be a nice addition as well as another mesh pocket.  The handwarmer pockets are easy to put your hands in even with gloves on but small stuff has a tendancy to fall out when sitting down in the car with the pockets unzipped.  Be careful.  The hood is roomy, even when wearing a hat under it but I don't think a ski helmet would fit very well under it (a climbing helmet perhaps), yet it is snug without being tight (and this on an XXL size jacket; other jackets that size have hoods that are monsterously huge, almost unusable).  There are drawstring pulls in the handwarmer pockets to tighten the hem.  I did mention in an earlier post about the potential durability of the outer shell.  It has a very smooth, silk-like feel to it and slides easily under other layers but I foresee it catching on snags and tearing quite easily.  While carrying my ski boots over my shoulder by their velcro straps, I could feel the outer fabric catching on the velcro.  Hmm.  Not a good sound or circumstance.  I would avoid tree skiing in this jacket.  Patagonia has a good guarantee program where you can return an item at any time for a repair, replacement, or refund (Patagonia decides) so if the Micro Puff did suffer a lot of tears and rips, you could send it back.  However, I think that is a pain in the ass.  Why not incorporate a slightly heavier shell from the start and avoid the issue entirely?  This is a big hang up for me with poofy jackets in general:  the outer shells are so flimsy and tear way too easy.  A full bore hardshell outer isn't necessary but some happy medium would be nice (see my Outdoor Research Stormbound review for more on this).

So, the initial review is good but with some reservations.  More reviews on this item as the season progresses.

I also had a lot of traffic yesterday, almost 100 visitors.  Dang.  Must be the equipment reviews.

Swix Bamboo Hat Reviewed Plus 700th Post!

Holy Crap!  My 700th post!  I can't believe I have babbled that much thus far.  Amazing.  Anyway, today's post is a review of a couple new hats I bought from Swix.  They came and much to my surprise a couple were made with bamboo.  The hat liner is made of bamboo and is not scratchy at all.  When I saw the bamboo tag I had visions of bamboo slivers under the fingernails, huge bamboo splinters digging into my skull, and all the nasty, splintery bamboo I deal with while ski patrolling.  Not at all with this hat.  The main body of it is a wool/nylon blend and the liner is 100% bamboo and is surprisingly soft.  The weave of the hat is on the lighter side and is more appropriate for medium to high activity sports or warmer days (I could clearly feel the wind blowing through the hat on a blustery winter day on Snow King).  Probably not the best hat for colder weather either.  Nicely made and quite stylish as most Swix hats are.  Well worth the price.

Outdoor Research Stormbound Jacket Review Continued.

About a year ago I wrote a review of the Outdoor Research Stormbound Jacket and raved about it.  It has been cold recently in Jackson so I have been wearing the jacket again.  Again I will rave about it.  Plenty of pockets for all your stuff, nice warm down that doesn't settle into the bottom of the jacket, and a nice water repellant semi-hardshell outer.  This last point is a huge deal for me; many times I have worn other puffy and semi-puffy jackets from other manufacturers and those jackets have a much ligher ripstop nylon outer covering.  Not very effective as a cold weather ski jacket, or a cold weather jacket at all.  Case in point:  I have a Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody and it is a nice jacket except for the lightweight ripstop nylon shell.  I wore it about a week ago and now have a couple small tears on the left arm (from what I don't know).  So, not exactly bomber construction.  Perhaps the idea of the lightweight shell is to allow water vapor to escape easier but that is silly.  These type of jackets are worn on cold days and you don't want water vapor to escape too easy because if it does, so does the heat trapped by the jacket.  There is a fine line here and I think the Outdoor Research Stormbound Jacket walks it much better than other insulated jackets.