Apparel

Future Gear! Peek Inside The North Face Products Lab

We traveled to The North Face’s headquarters this month for a look inside the company’s R&D lab. Here are six innovations that caught our eye,…

Written by Stephen Regenold October 24, 2013

Seven New Premium Gore-Tex Pro Jackets

Dozens of jackets featuring a new Gore-Tex Pro waterproof/breathable fabric are available this fall. We checked out seven from top brands at a product launch…

Written by Sean McCoy October 18, 2013

Top Flannel Cities Unscientifically Revealed

Duluth Trading Company developed some fun infographics depicting the top 10 flannel cities. We found them entertaining and want to share the flannel love.

Written by Sean McCoy October 09, 2013

Reveiw: Packable Patagonia ‘Houdini’ Jacket Gets Rain Test

Our review of Patagonia’s Houdini Jacket found it light, packable, water-resistant, and highly breathable and appropriate for rainy, cool weather or as an emergency shell.

Written by Sean McCoy September 11, 2013

Rain Jacket Design From 1960s a Highlight in New Patagonia Line

Patagonia celebrates its 40th anniversary this fall by redesigning 10 iconic items from the brand’s past. Here’s a look at our favorites in the line.

Written by Amy Oberbroeckling August 30, 2013

A Workout and a Tour. Inside Look at Under Armour HQ

To learn about sports-apparel juggernaut Under Armour, be ready to sweat. We got a tour and an hour of exercise at the Baltimore-based sporting goods…

Written by Sean McCoy July 21, 2013

Race Ready! Team GearJunkie/WEDALI Custom Kits

This post offers an inside look at the process of getting a custom team uniform made. Our made-in-Minnesota kits come from Podiumwear, a company just…

Written by Amy Oberbroeckling July 02, 2013

Best Jackets of the Year? Polartec Awards Outerwear, Apparel Innovation

Style, function, workmanship, innovation, and fit of the garments are the criteria for Polartec’s in-house product award program.

Written by Stephen Regenold June 21, 2013

‘Performance’ Base Layers, now with Superhero motifs

Of course you’re not a superhero. That doesn’t mean you can’t look like one in Under Armour’s new compression gear.

Written by Sean McCoy May 01, 2013

Jackets made for biking through ‘April Showers’

We tested two rain- and weather-fighting jackets this spring from niche brands O2 and Showers Pass. 30 days of biking later and here are the…

Written by Patrick Murphy April 30, 2013

See-Thru Wind Jacket Made For ‘Fast & Light’ Crowd

The Salomon Light Jacket weighs less than an iPhone. Folded up, it fits in a front pants pocket. But in unexpected high winds the backup/emergency…

Written by Stephen Regenold April 08, 2013

Down jacket is rare combo of Waterproof, Warm, Breathable

A waterproof shell and puffy jacket in one? We put the Eddie Bauer First Ascent BC MicroTherm to the test this winter in Colorado through…

Written by Sean McCoy April 01, 2013

Rocky Mountain-raised Sheep provide wool for Apparel Startup

Sheep raised on the open pasturelands of the Rocky Mountains have tougher, more durable wool. That is the theory of a new Colorado company called…

Written by Sean McCoy March 19, 2013

Old-School softshell jacket (read: Made of Wool)

At $499, the made-in-Norway Telemark Knitshell jacket is a premium purchase. But for that price you get a unique, classy coat that is about as…

Written by Stephen Regenold March 11, 2013

Eddie Bauer Parka among ‘most iconic in history of outdoor sports’

This spring marks 50 years since Jim Whittaker stood as the first American on the summit of Mount Everest. His bright red Eddie Bauer parka…

Written by Stephen Regenold March 06, 2013

Cold Weather Kit: Head-to-toe winter biking gear breakdown

Snow, ice, wind, slush, dark commutes and distracted drivers. . . winter biking in a city can be tough. Our assistant editor reviews products she…

Written by Amy Oberbroeckling March 04, 2013

‘Not a Costume’ snowboarding apparel is breathable, burly

Homeschool Snowboarding touts performance before style with its base layers and outerwear. But any time you insert long johns with a rainbow-on-black motif it pretty…

Written by Stephen Regenold March 04, 2013

That’s a bike jersey? Stealth cycling clothing from Giro

Giro may best be known for its bike helmets. But a made-in-the-USA apparel line launched this week, called New Road, got our attention for its…

Written by Stephen Regenold March 02, 2013

Puffiest ‘Puffy’ jacket of all time launched this week by Patagonia

Move over Michelin Man. A new puffy character is in town. The Encapsil Down Belay Parka from Patagonia has a heretofore unheard of 1,000-fill insulation…

Written by Stephen Regenold February 28, 2013

Gore jumps into ‘Compression’ game with Running Shirt

You know Gore from its waterproof-breathable shell jacket fabrics. But the materials behemoth has its own house brands for running and biking, and for this…

Written by Patrick Murphy February 13, 2013

Glow-in-dark Running Jacket? Now a reality

No joke. You “activate” the fabric on this jacket from New Balance by leaving it under strong lights for 10 minutes. Light is absorbed. Then…

Written by Amy Oberbroeckling February 12, 2013

Black Diamond Struts out with Outerwear, Apparel lines

Your ice axes and carabiners can now match your jacket. Black Diamond will soon sell outerwear and clothes. We were there in Utah last month…

Written by Stephen Regenold February 06, 2013

Hat made of new Cork-based material

Your hat won’t smell like merlot. But a new fabric from Schoeller Textile used in a hat from Tilley Endurables employs cork that could otherwise…

Written by Stephen Regenold January 28, 2013

Winter Bike Commuting: Head-to-Toe Gear Breakdown

Who says you can’t bike commute all year ’round? We sought out specialty cold-weather cycling gear to keep us pedaling in the most frigid conditions.…

Written by Patrick Murphy January 16, 2013

Click & Choose: Online App lets you design Custom Jacket

A customization app from Wild Things lets a buyer build outerwear to their exact specification. Everything from fabric color to insulation type is in your…

Written by Patrick Murphy January 10, 2013

Water-Repellant Goose Down ‘Not a Gimmick,’ company touts

Goose down traditionally clumps up when wet. So when a few companies last year began selling down in a water-resistant configuration antennas went up around…

Written by Stephen Regenold January 02, 2013

Military-Spec Jacket Material soon available to Masses

It was developed by Polartec for the U.S. Special Operations Forces. Now declassified, the first-of-its kind insulating material will be used in jackets by outdoor…

Written by Stephen Regenold November 11, 2012