Shit on Sale – September 2020

Shit on Sale is a monthly round up of damn good deals scraped from the clearance rack. I’m a huge fan of getting the best quality you can get with your budget, and finding items that’ll serve you for years to come. As an eco-conscious reminder, remember to buy what you truly need and pass along or recycle any items you’re replacing. All prices pulled from 9/23 and covering fairly comprehensive sizing at that time.

• Mountain Hardwear Women’s Exposure 2 Gore Tex Pro – $194.97 (MSRP $649.95; 70% off): It’s Gore Tex Pro, so top notch waterproofing, with few sacrifices on breathability and membrane durability. Think top notch Arc’teryx shells. I’ve only seen this construction hit $219, and that was with the Marmot Alpinist that could be a little hit or miss with fit.

• Mountain Hardwear Men’s Exposure 2 Gore Tex Pro – $224.97 (MSRP $649.95; 65% off): Same deal as the women’s version, listed above. Super rare for a men’s basic/versatile Gore Pro shell to drop below 30-40% off, and when it does, it’s usually in fringe sizing and weird colors.

• Adidas Outdoor Terrex Women’s ClimaHeat Down Jacket – $99.99 (MSRP $349; 71% off): Is it common to find an 800 fill, mid-weight puffy for just under 3 figures? Yes. But this one from Adidas is different. The face fabric is Pertex Quantum, which is a coated nylon that makes it much more water, wind, and tear resistant. I’ve also noticed that it blocks dirt & oil from seeping into the jacket and matting the feathers, and less loft means less warmth. The cut is feminine, which isn’t just for aesthetics – it minimizes air gaps and keeps you warmer – and has features like a longer cuff and substantial thumbhole cuffs that keep warm air from escaping.

• Trekmates Women’s Expedition Gaiters – $9.99 (MSRP $20; 50% off): Most gaiters on the market are made of Gore Tex, and I don’t get it. Gore Tex is a really good compromise between waterproofing, breathability, and membrane durability. But I think proprietary PU membranes are better suited for the job. When the membranes are thick, they’re quite waterproof, but only kind of breathable. And that’s fine; my ankles aren’t particularly sweaty. PU also requires less laundering, which sounds appealing given that gaiters aren’t the easiest to just throw in the wash with another load thanks to all the Velcro and hooks.

• Marmot Women’s Neothermal Polartec Power Grid Hoodie – $59.99 (MSRP $125; 52% off): This is made with the same construction as the Patagonia R1, a perennial favorite layer for winter recreation, both inbounds and out. It provides good warmth for its weight, but also breathes well and wicks moisture, making it a great choice for intense, start-stop activities in winter.

• The North Face Men’s Thermoball Eco Jacket – $89.99 in Fiery Red (MSRP $199; 55% off): Essentially a carbon copy of the Patagonia Nano Puff, with 60gsm of Primaloft Gold Eco and recycled polyester fabric. Is it the most packable, lightest, most breathable synthetic layer? No. But it’s super versatile as a summer puffy, inbounds ski day midlayer, and everyday jacket for around town. That’s a strong value, even at MSRP.

• Mountain Hardwear Men’s Kor Strata Climb Hooded Jacket – $64.97 (MSRP $224.95; 71% off): This is a similar synthetic jacket to the Thermoball, listed above, but has less bias for casual wear. They drop insulation to 40gsm, and swap the face fabric for a more weather and tear resistant.

• Kari Traa Women’s Sjarm Wool Base Layer Pants – $29.99 (MSRP $90; 67% off): It seems like every summer, Kari Traa wool base layers drop to $25-30. But this season might be the last. Kari Traa’s 20/21 collection has dropped a lot of their wool styles in favor of acrylic (literally no one does this. Super cheap, unbreathable, environmentally terrible in production and microplastics). There will still be a few pieces, the overassortment and subsequent overstocking might be a thing of the past.

• The North Face Men’s Free Thinker Ski Jacket – $279.99 (MSRP $649; 62% off): The TNF Free Thinker is a shell jacket made with 3-layer Gore-Tex Pro, one of the most advanced waterproof, breathable, and durable waterproof membranes on the market. Neoshell and eVent breathe better, but are less waterproof and need more washing, respectively. And the rest of the proprietary membranes have major tradeoffs between waterproofing and breathe. This ski jacket’s perfect whether you’re headed inbounds or out. It has all the design features you’d look for in a ski jacket – long hem, goggle wipe, powder skirt, and plenty of internal and external pockets to skip the ski pack for the day.

• Columbia Women’s Plus Size PFG Sun Hoodie – $29.98 (MSRP $60; 50% off): In this summer’s Sun Hoody 101, I talked about the “real deal” sun protective garments treated with Zinc Oxide, and the ones with UPF 15 protection that merely relied on the inherent sun protection in polyester, making the production costs more in line with the standard active tops you’d find at Target or Old Navy. This is the real deal. It wicks well, has thumbholes, (and a ponytail slit, if that’s your thing).

• The North Face Men’s Gore Tex Pro Bibs – $199 (MSRP $575; 65% off): These are the end-all-be-all when it comes to waterproof bibs. Like the Free Thinker jacket above, it’s made of Gore Tex Pro for top notch waterproofing, breathability, and membrane durability. It zips fully down the sides, making bathroom visits and layer adjustments nice and easy. Lots of pockets, and while none seem to be specifically made for beacons with the lanyard strap, they’re big enough to carry one.

• Marmot Women’s Palisades Gore Tex Ski Jacket – $119 (MSRP $325; 63% off): The Marmot Palisades Jacket is a great budget ski shell because it maximizes waterproofing and has a pretty durable construction without breaking the banks. It’s a 2-layer Gore Tex, with a tightly woven, protective liner that’ll maximize the lifespan of the waterproof membrane almost as well as the pricier, 3-layer construction. It has the essential features, like a powder skirt, pit zips, and pass pocket, and keeps the cost moderate with no interior or chest pockets and a zipper placket in lieu of a waterproof front zipper.

• Outdoor Research Women’s Hemispheres Jacket – $179.96 (MSRP $599; 70% off, Large available on OR site with same price): This is the best price I’ve found on a 3L Gore ski shell, but what makes it even better is that this one has Gore Tex Stretch panels, a new and pricey feature that makes the jacket move with you and makes it more comfortable for multisport adventures.