| The Big Outside

Gear Review: Arc’teryx Envoy SS T-shirt

June 4, 2013 by Michael Lanza

T-shirt
Arc’teryx Envoy SS
$69, 5 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XXL
arcteryx.com

On a mid-May day of sport climbing at Idaho’s Castle Rocks State Park, I was reminded of why I like wearing a T-shirt made of natural fibers instead of a synthetic: Aside from natural fabrics being environmentally friendlier than something based in petroleum products, they’re just more comfortable. This 56 percent cotton, 46 percent Merino wool tee feels soft against skin and has a casual fit that allows for completely unrestricted freedom of motion for climbing, hiking, running, or any other warm-weather outdoor activity. It also looks much better than, well, a garment made from petroleum products.

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Gear Review: Westcomb Crest Hoody

May 16, 2013 by Michael Lanza

Ultralight Wind Shell
Westcomb Crest Hoody
$140, 5 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s XS-L
westcomb.com

With the plethora of very similar, five-ounce-or-lighter, nylon wind shells out there to wear on a trail run, ride, or dayhike, it’s hard to choose. But the Crest Hoody stands out in this pack for one reason: the wicking ability of its Pertex Equilibrium fabric. On spring trail and street runs and mountain bike rides, from the Boise Foothills to New England, I was surprised at how well the jacket wicked moisture off my sweaty base layer, even when I had this hoody zipped up to my neck.

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Gear Review: Outdoor Research Torque L/S Tee

April 3, 2013 by Michael Lanza

Lightweight Top
Outdoor Research Torque L/S Tee
$69, 6 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XL, women’s XS-XL
outdoorresearch.com

For high-output, three-season activities where you inevitably sweat a lot, like trail running or carrying a pack uphill on a warm day, the key to staying comfortable is a lightweight top that wicks moisture from your skin and dries quickly—so that you don’t get suddenly cold if you hit wind or a long downhill stretch. The long-sleeve Torque Tee has become the top I pull on for trail runs or hikes in temperatures from the 30s (as a base layer beneath a warmer top or a jacket) to the 40s and 50s (by itself).

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Gear Review: Arc’teryx Tecto FL Jacket

March 25, 2013 by Michael Lanza

Lightweight Jacket
Arc’teryx Tecto FL Jacket
$369, 10 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XXL, women’s XS-XL
arcteryx.com

Rain shells in the “ultralight” category—which might be loosely defined as 10 ounces and under—tend to sacrifice some performance and durability. Not so the Tecto FL. I practically lived in this Spartan jacket on most of a four-day September trip in the Olympic Mountains, where we got slammed with strong wind, rain, hail, and wet snow, with temperatures in the 30s, for a solid two days, followed by a couple days of sunshine but chilly wind and temps in the 30s and 40s, during which I wore this jacket much of the time. We also bushwhacked for miles through pine boughs that would pour buckets of water over us in the Bailey Range. While my soft-shell pants and my waterproof leather boots eventually soaked through from that deluge, this jacket kept my upper body dry. I give it a 10 for waterproofness and durability, because it looks as new now as the day I got it.

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Gear Review: Black Diamond Dome Beanie

January 31, 2013 by Michael Lanza

Lightweight Hat
Black Diamond Dome Beanie
$19, 1 oz.
One size
blackdiamondequipment.com

Nordic skiing, backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, ice climbing—those high-energy winter activities require a little head coverage to stave off a chill, but too much hat will make you overheat. Enter the Dome Beanie, perfect for aerobic activities when you only need light insulation on your head. I’ve worn it for several days of skate-skiing and backcountry skiing and found it ideal in temperatures from the mid-20s to 30s when I’m exerting at moderate to high levels. This stretchy skullcap feels soft, covers your ears, fits under a helmet or even a warmer hat (as a wicking layer in deeper cold), and dries lickety-split.

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