The Gear Junkie—Outdoors Clothing Coming of Age, part II
Yesterday I mused on function versus form in the apparel industry, where beauty in design often comes at the cost of versatility, performance or comfort. My argument—that a niche of young, energetic outdoors-industry companies are the only ones getting clothing right—might bump up weird with an editor at Glamour or Vogue. But I’m sticking to my guns, and here are a handful of additional apparel products I feel make my point:
Ibex Outdoor Clothing LLC (www.ibexwear.com) touts its merino wool Qu T shirt as a “rediscovery of something you thought you knew all about.” They’re talking about the humble T-shirt, that next-to-the-skin American icon that generally costs $10 or so. Well, Ibex’s goes at $85.
But the “rediscovery” the company claims I found to be true: This T fits perfectly; it’s breathable and sweat-wicking; it’s warm when needed, though cool enough to wear all year ‘round. Travel bonus: The Qu T will go for days between washings, as wool is naturally antibacterial and much less stink-prone than cotton.
I covered a Nau (www.nau.com) piece last week. But the company’s $74 Twill Weekender Short merits mention, too. These knee-covering, nearly-knickers, shorts are made with a mix of organic cotton and spandex, providing good looks, some stretch, a soft hand, and some eco benefits to boot. Belt loops straddle the spine in back and all seams veer away from bony points for comfort under a backpack.
The $60 Horney Toad Corvair shorts (www.hornytoad.com) are basic, nice shorts with triple-stitched seams sealed with a heavy-duty thread for durability. They are made of a cotton/nylon blended fabric that is lightweight, low bulk and wrinkle free. They dry fairly quickly, too.
