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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 brands beginning in 2013.
Outerwear for Warmth, Survival on extreme Wilderness Trips
Our contributing editor looks at a genre of outerwear he swears has helped him stay warm and even survive on adventures around the planet. These jackets and pants are light, water resistant, and filled with synthetic insulation that stays effective even if wet.
Pump it up: Jacket has ‘On-Demand insulation’ via inflatable chambers of Air
A Utah company has a new model of an inflatable jacket that can mutate from “a windbreaker to an insulated ski parka” with a hand pump or cartridges of argon gas. There’s a valve in the hand pocket, and with some pump action the coat bulks ups its air chambers to keep you warm.
Shower Test: Water-Resistant Down Puffy gets soaked in Bathroom ‘Lab’
Treated down feathers from Sierra Designs are marketed to resist water and keep their loft even if soaked by rain. We put the claim to the test under a blast of artificial rain courtesy of a showerhead in our writer’s Denver home.
Lenses, Up-the-Face Zipper distinguishes Winter Coat
Is that a zipper on your face? An Italian jacket maker goes a tad overboard with its all-in-one design, which to us has a look perhaps more a fit for a Flaming Lips concert than a ski hill.
Startup Outerwear Co. to be ‘100% Made in USA’
Take a look at the tag on a piece of your outdoor apparel. Chances are it will read “Made in China.” A new outdoor apparel brand will soon hit the market with a goal to change that.
‘Mac in a Sac’ is Solid Rain Jacket for Price
Born in the harsh climate of Northern Ireland, the “Mac in a Sac” is an affordable rain jacket we put to the test on a recent trek. Here’s what you get for $36.99. . .
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Sailing Jacket put to Test in Alaska
A sailing-specific jacket from Helly Hansen keeps our tester dry and warm on a day-long trip to sea. We test the HP Race model on the open ocean near Homer, Alaska.
Sleeveless Rain Jacket? Coat offers Bare Arms for Breathability
Waterproof, windproof, breathable, but equipped with short sleeves — that’s the unexpected design proposition of a new jacket from Gore. The jacket is meant for days when “temperatures don’t quite warrant a full-coverage rain shell.”
Diversity of Shells: Article covers ‘Coats for any Climate’
From an Arctic parka to a wind shirt, Gear Junkie’s column on Outside this week highlights ten shell jackets for “every thinkable activity and climate type.” Here’s an overview of the coats, parkas, puffys, and shell jackets covered in the mix.
Pillows of Goose Down Line this High-End Ski Coat
For a cool $700, Helly Hansen offers a be-all, end-all performance ski jacket. Pillows of goose down inside make it unique. Our writer wore it for a long, cold winter test.
Not Tights, Not a Wetsuit. . . ‘Water Pants’ are Something Else
Filling a niche between a wetsuit and a drysuit, the Barrier Pants from Season Five borrow fabric technology from the world of wintertime outerwear. Our editor tests the pants on an icy Oregon river during a series of surfski paddling sessions this month.
A Bear in Khakis: Grylls models ‘Dockers’ pants in new Campaign
Taking time off from the jungle and other far points of the globe, Bear Grylls, he of “Man vs. Wild” television fame, stars in a new advertising campaign for Dockers. He was photographed by celebrity lens-man Koto Bolofo in the “wilds” of Manhattan.
Water-Resistant, ‘Impenetrable’ Down-Insulated Jacket
Wear this big, puffy down jacket in “the wettest of conditions.” That’s the pitch from Brooks-Range, which is offering a treated water-resistant down in the to-be-released winter coat.
Holy Grail? ‘Hydrophobic’ Down Insulation by Sierra Designs
The company backs off just short of saying “waterproof.” But a new down-insulation treatment used in a line of to-be-released sleeping bags and jackets from Sierra Designs is billed as more “water safe” than anything on the market.
Loki ‘Shape-Shifting’ Parka for Women
Superlative warmth, hidden (integrated) mittens, a face shield, and a long, insulated body make the Stockholm Jacket from Loki LLC unique. Our writer gave the jacket a winter test last month in the woods and steep terrain in and around the mountain town of Bend, Ore.
Retro ‘Extreme!’ Steep Tech Line Lives on at TNF
Remember Scott Schmidt and the early ’90s? The famous proto-freeskier was known for his sick drops and a signature North Face ski suit, which the company still sells an iteration of in its revived Steep Tech line.
Colored Goose Down as ‘Bling’ in See-Thru Jacket
A transparent shell fabric and dyed goose down create a unique look for Hi-Tec’s 2012 Timaru jacket. New “Color-Tec” treatment increases loft of down as bonus, the company cites.
Redux: ‘Don’t Buy This Jacket’
Love it or not, Patagonia’s recent “Don’t Buy This Jacket” campaign added a new voice to the holiday shopping conversation in one bold and opinionated move. Our contributor looks back on the ad’s effects now two weeks out.
Arc’teryx Makes ‘Capes’ for Homeless
For the third year, Vancouver-based Arc’teryx will give capes made of Gore-Tex fabric to the city’s homeless. Called the Birds Nest Project, the annual charity leans on end-of-roll fabric remnants and Arc’teryx employees who volunteer their time.
Gloves, Shirt Sold as ‘Sun-Wear’
The harsh sun of tropical places demands clothing that can protect. A new shirt and gloves fight UV rays and yellow sunbeams all the same, plus provide extra benefits for paddling a boat or gripping a fishing pole.
Canine Coats and Jackets for Dogs
Your dog needs warmth and protection in the winter months, too! Our editor looks at two “doggie jacket” options for his Weimaraner, a fit dog with thin fur and a propensity to howl when it gets cold.
Review: Wool-Based ‘Active Jacket’
For those not-so-cold active days, this wool-blend Ibex jacket has become a Gear Junkie favorite. A streamlined, hood-less design, a thin breathable back, and a jersey pocket on the rear make it unique.
The North Face: ‘Commitment to the Core’ for 2012
Significant technologies for 2012, including a new down insulation alternative, were unveiled in Colorado last week by The North Face. Gear Junkie was on site to cover the launch and get a glimpse at the “core” products coming to stores next year.
GearJunkie/YogaSlackers Visits Ibex Outdoor Clothing
This week, in the sleepy town of White River Junction, Vt., we visited Ibex’s headquarters to meet the men and women (and dogs!) behind the merino wool products we have worn for years. Plus, we got an exclusive first peek at the company’s 2012 product line.
High on Argon: Q&A with Founder of Inflatable Jacket Company
Handheld cartridge air pumps are usually reserved for bike tires. But Utah-based Klymit thinks it’s found a better way to insulate jackets and sleeping pads with tiny cartridges or argon gas. Our contributor interviews the company founder and CEO.
Stingrays and Pixie Dust: Columbia Sportswear 2012 Product Peek
Last night, at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, amid dinosaur bones and live stingrays undulating in a shallow pool, Columbia Sportswear previewed its spring 2012 product line. Gear Junkie gives a run-down of the ceremonies and the company’s unique new wares.
Waterproof Cotton ‘Rain Shirt’
Among the strangest apparel products we have tested all year, this button-up cotton shirt is touted as a performance piece for city biking. Its strange fabric has roots in clothing made for British jetfighter pilots, midcentury mountain climbing, and old-school Antarctic exploration.
See-Thru ‘Wisp of a Bike Jacket’
It packs to the size of a hockey puck. It weighs just 3.5 ounces, as scant as a single Clif bar. But unfurl this Castelli jacket and you get a layer to protect against inclement weather and cold wind.
LG Cycling Kit: ‘Designed for Pros’
This crazy-expensive bike suit was tested in a wind tunnel and touted to “exceed the standard for aerodynamic performance and speed.” Our writer gave it a three-month ride test.
Primer: CORDURA Fabric Explained
A quick post about the brand behind our ‘Search for the Most Durable Person’ contest this month. CORDURA makes fabric for everything from bike-messenger bags to spelunking suits.
