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Rossignol announced the launch of their women’s initiative called “We Rise” today, following behind Blizzard’s Women 2 Women program and the K2 Ski Alliance. I have a lot of issues with these sorts of marketing initiatives. Solid women’s offerings no longer deserve special accolades. Skis like the Blizzard Dakota and the Volkl Aura and Kiku … Continue reading Rossignol We Rise: Co-opting a movement

Since publishing, TNF has updated their product information for weights on these items. This past January, The North Face announced Futurelight, a new, proprietary waterproof membrane that was pitched as a revolution in “climate control.” They borrowed a page out of the playbook from the Salomon Shift and K2 Mindbender launches and fired up the … Continue reading TNF Futurelight & Strange Fake Pants

Back in July, I published a Shit on Sale, and my friend Jeff reached out asking where the love was for men’s gear. My gut response was “literally any other gear blog.” Women’s gear rarely gets the same coverage, and pretty frequently, manufacturers will launch product in men’s version and quietly add women’s the following … Continue reading Shit on Sale – September 2019

Let’s get ready to rrrrrumble! It’s time for a brand-level sustainability showdown! Recycled synthetic fabrics are exploding in the market and all the major outdoor brands are pouncing to push their eco lines, but which brands offer the most comprehensive selection of recycled goods? Before diving into the countdown, let’s do a quick rundown of … Continue reading Brand Cage Match Showdown: Recycled Fabrics

I think your anti-odor treated clothing kind of stinks. Anti-odor treatments rely on antimicrobials to kill bacteria, and there’s a major problem with pathogenic bacteria becoming resistant to many of our go-to antibiotics. The pipeline for new drugs is pretty dry, and the World Health Organization considers antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to be one of the … Continue reading Anti-Odor Treatments Stink

Happy getting close to the end of summer. Fall-Winter assortments are starting to launch, which means retailers are starting to drop their summer prices, and everything lingering from last winter is truly getting slashed. Here’s the best shit, and note that Steep & Cheap has a 10% off code (2COOL4SCHOOL) going through the 16th for … Continue reading Shit on Sale – August 2019

Underneath all of your technical layers, there’s one piece of clothing that gets worn all year-round, on all types of outdoor escapades: your adventure underwear*. (*unless you’re team commando – we’ll talk about you too). I fielded your questions on outdoor underpants, and despite common knowledge about your rain gear and down puffies, there’s a … Continue reading Adventure Underwear 101

The Marmot Scree Softshell just hit the Marmot End of Season Sale with a nice fat discount (Women’s are $66 at Marmot, and start at $39.95 at Steep & Cheap; Men’s down to $55), and they’re one of my most loved softshells. I totally struck gold on them – wandering into REI 4 years ago and … Continue reading Gear Review: Marmot Scree Softshell Pants

Dissatisfied with last week’s 4th of July sales? You’re not alone. Sales events are meant to drive profit, so you’ll rarely find the bargains that pop up on the clearance rack (unless it’s one of those unicorns that’s always full price). So if 25% off a few apparel brands left you less than enthused, here’s … Continue reading Shit on Sale – July 2019

I want to start this review with a confession. I bought the Bight Gear Solstice Hoody because of the color. I reasoned that they’re all wicking polyesters tested to a reasonable UPF, so it really didn’t matter. I’d wait to find one under $40 in a color that wouldn’t clash heinously with my multi-colored quiver … Continue reading Gear Review: Bight Gear Solstice Sun Hoody