Gear Junkie Fashion Week, part II

This is the second of a two-part blog on “High style in the great outdoors,” or at least my take on it. . .

Nau Acoustic Jacket
Something about this piece reminds me of Star Wars. Like Lando Calrissian in Cloud City, or Hans Solo in that seedy bar on planet. . . ah, forget it. Nau designed the Acoustic Jacket to be subtle and sleek, a low-profile, artsy piece that also breathes OK while repelling wind and water. Made with 82% recycled polyester and 18% stretch-polyester, the jacket has saddle-stitched seams placed away from “irritation points”; sculpted sleeves and contoured cuffs; a DWR finish to add water repellency; and laser-cut and welded zip hand pockets. See! Lasers. What’d I tell you? Lando? Hans? ($165, https://www.nau.com)

Cloudveil Cache Creek Windshirt
I don’t know what to think of this piece. Or where to wear it. The windshirt, as Cloudveil calls it, is half jacket, half shirt, not really excelling at either. But for those rare in-between times—say a misty mid-October day when it’s 48 degrees outdoors—this shirt/jacket can do the job. The company calls it a “slick mountain-town utility shell.” Right, I could see bros (bras?) in Park City or Jackson sporting this for sure. It has “high performance function and retro flair.” Again, Cloudveil’s words, not mine. Technically, this top is more of a jacket than a shirt, with a shell face that’s wind and water resistant and a sweat-wicking lining. The semi-iridescent cowboy buttons are a nice touch, too. ($85, http://www.cloudveil.com)

Horney Toad Corvair shorts
These are basic, nice shorts. Not too much to say beyond that. They fit well, have cargo pockets and “triple needle stitching” with heavy-duty thread for durability, plus the shorts are made of a cotton/nylon blended fabric called Singletrack that is lightweight, low bulk and wrinkle free. They dry fairly quickly when wet, too. OK, there were a few things to say after all. ($60, http://www.hornytoad.com)