FemiGnarly

My Black Crows Atris Birdies remind me a lot of Elle Woods. First of all, I’ve got one of the older topsheets that’s covered in pink. Second, they got me hooked with the bend and snap. The mid-100s width class is chock full of sameness: moderate flex, middle-of-the-road mount point and turn radius. It’s not … Continue reading Gear Review: Women’s Black Crows Atris Birdie Skis

Every year, I help people build touring setups, and I’ve found one major tip helps people make their decisions: manufacturers make 4 major weight classes of gear based on different purposes, and you’ll get the best results when your skis, boots, and bindings are built around a similar purpose and classification. Your body transfers input … Continue reading How to Build a Ski Touring Setup

Today’s blog comes from Grace, who popped into my DMs to ask about men’s skis. I thought this conversation would be relevant to many other women besides just Grace, so I wanted to post the conversation in spot where others could benefit too. Here’s Grace’s note:   “Hi! I’ve loved reading your articles on women’s … Continue reading Can Women Ski Men’s Skis?

The first chilly, rainy days of fall hit Seattle this weekend, which means that it’s rain gear’s peak season. Web search data shows the same trend every year, where PNW states see a spike in searches for rain jackets and rain pants like clockwork every year in late September. It should also be noted that … Continue reading Rain Gear 101

If you’ve been thinking of thinning the quiver, this is the season to do it. The used market is going to be much hotter than usual. When the pandemic broke out in 2020, brands were too far gone with production to make many changes to the ’20-’21 lineups, but they were able to make big … Continue reading This is the Year to Sell your Skis.

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 … Continue reading Shit on Sale – August 2021

Let’s talk Victoria’s Secret. They’re going through a rebrand, ditching their Angels, adding in a “Collective” of women from business, sports, and entertainment with more diverse bodies and backgrounds. The merch will change and work for more bodies and skin tones than they have in the past. But will it work? In Part 1, I … Continue reading Will Victoria’s Secret Rebrand Work? Pt. 2

Everyone’s writing about Victoria’s Secret. They’re breaking from L Brands (aka Limited Brands) and attempting a major image overhaul that centers the female consumer over the male fantasy. Every business journal is covering their termination of the Angels model mascots in favor of an advisory / spokesperson panel of diverse women role models. They’re writing … Continue reading Will Victoria’s Secret Rebrand Work? Pt. 1

On July 1st, Patagonia issued a recall for all of their UPF sun protective clothing. They have all the details on their website, but there are a few truths that are stated in ways that protect the brand’s image over the customer, and I think they’re important to discuss, because some of it’s a little … Continue reading Patagonia’s Sun Protective UPF Recall

This past week, I was working with a friend picking out a wider ski to sit alongside her Volkl Yumis, and it came down to 2 options that were essentially the same ski for the same customer persona. One was a touch better in crud, the other had better edgehold and groomer performance. I was … Continue reading Blackout Tuesday and Outdoor Brands – 1 Year Later