Gear Army: Sugoi Verve Running Shorts
Ask any serious runner about their favorite piece of running gear and they will likely tell you about their super-technical shoes, lightweight polarized sunglasses, or distance/calorie/pace tracking-stopwatch system. And their running shorts? Shorts are probably the last piece of gear runners think about.
The funny thing is you spend just as much time in a pair of shorts as you do in your running shoes, so you want to have shorts that feel good, fit and perform well. And I have learned the hard way in the past that the right pair of shorts can make a world of difference (bad shorts = chaffing, the bane of any runner’s existence). I recently tested the Sugoi Verve running short; ($45), a low-rise, lightweight running short with mesh panels and a mesh liner for moisture wicking and breathability, and was quite happy with how well the shorts fit, felt and performed.
Fit: These shorts fit true to size and are a bit longer than the traditional half-split running short. At first I thought the length would inhibit my stride, but I didn’t have any problems with that while running. The Verve shorts have a drawstring waist and a mesh liner that wasn’t too tight to feel restrictive and wasn’t too loose to make you want to cut the darn thing out of the shorts!
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November 06, 2009
Field Tested: Best Big Wall Climbing Gear
What do you bring up the northwest face of Yosemite's Half Dome in early October? Answer: not much. It’s a 1.5-mile approach gaining 3000-feet in elevation with multiple class 4-5 scrambles, followed by a 2000-foot wall of sheer granite. My climbing partner cut his toothbrush in half to shed weight. I left mine at base camp.
Climbing isn’t—and shouldn’t—be about the coolest newest gear. It’s about what works well. That’s why we brought whiskey.
Below is some of the essential non-technical gear I used. Whether you’re an ultralight backpacker, big-wall climber, or just happen to like stuff that works, this gear will deliver:
SmartWool Adrenaline Light Crew Socks ($18)
Since I wasn’t planning on bringing a second pair of socks up the wall, I needed something that would keep my feet warm and comfortable in a variety of conditions; from hiking in 80 degree weather down in the valley to subfreezing bivouacs on the wall. And, they would have to handle my notoriously sweaty (read: stinky) feet. This light, half-cushioned merino wool-and-nylon crew sock stayed fitted without bunching up, even after several days of heavy use. My partner also commented on the improvement of my foot odor when we were bivouacking. I’ll pack these again the next time I go play in the mountains, for sure. Tip: turn them inside-out to get an extra day of use out of ‘em. You won’t even notice the difference.
Five Ten Marvel Trail Running Shoes ($115)
No hiking boots? Damn right. They’re heavy, and generally totally unnecessary for everything but carrying a pack that’s probably too heavy for you too far. Stealth Rubber, on the outsole, stuck to the granite slabs like suction cups, and the low-profile upper of the shoe made working with the aiders more bearable—especially in high winds when they would flap around like Buddhist prayer flags. Before the trip, I had been running three to eight miles every day in the mountains near Santa Fe in these shoes. Snow, mud, scree, goatheads—they handled everything, without making me feel like I was wearing too much shoe. Mesh panels and breathable lining helps the shoes dry fast, and the ultra-light compression molded EVA midsoles have a shock absorbing heel wedge that eats up shock, letting you play hard all-day.
Patagonia Simple Guide Pants ($125)
I’ve used these pants for everything; mountaineering, cross-country skiing, hiking, whitewater canoeing, yoga, climbing—the first good date I had, I was wearing these pants. These pants are versatile! After four years and three different continents, I’ve only put one hole in them. And that came from a 20-foot upside-down lead fall while wearing crampons. The double-weave of all-recycled polyester and spandex with DWR-coating offers remarkable durability and weather-resistance while remaining lightweight. Water-resistant zippers close the pockets: two welded-in front, one thigh and one rear hip. And my favorite features: a draw-cord elastic waistband that eliminates the need for a belt, and a two-way zip fly for easy use with a harness.
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November 05, 2009
The Gear Junkie Scoop: Topo Ranch Topo T-Shirt
It ain't a technical top. Some people think its prairie-dog-with-wings motif is silly or childish. But the Topo T-Shirt, an organic-cotton, casual short-sleeve, has been an unlikely wear-everywhere jersey for me over the past few years.
I am on my second one. The $36 shirt just fits right, and its 100-percent organic cotton fabric stays soft and supple after many washings.
About the graphic: It gets a lot of attention. There's something cute but also melancholy about the hopeful rodent that's seemingly just met his doom and is rising to heaven. Or is he ascending in rebirth like a phoenix? (That's what the sales copy suggests at toporanch.com.)
The singer and pianist Ben Folds was once caught on film crooning with a Topo T-Shirt on. To me, that elevated the quirky design to a cult status of some sort. Or maybe I am simply partial to rodents with wings.
--Stephen Regenold writes about outdoors gear at www.gearjunkie.com.
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Gear Army: Aquapac Waterproof Backpack
Simply put, the Aquapac Waterproof Backpack ($85) is a gem: it’s compartments are easily-accessible, using it takes no frills, and it's craftsmanship is sturdy.
My first impression was that this drybag-like pack would be a raft guide's nightmare. It's material felt surprisingly lightweight (read: snaggable) and it had a multitude of straps hanging off the pack (read: also snaggable). I was skeptical that the supple material wouldn't hold up to the rigors of a river man's daily life.
From the start, I knew that the bag had very good features such as ultra-convenient and nicely-sized side pockets, hydration-bladder compatibility and a "wet bag" section inside to keep wet and dry gear separate. That said, I needed convincing that the bag would stay in one piece through the violent surf season on West Virginia's New River.
Bottom line: my durability skepticism was for naught. The bag held up to the demands of the daily grind with ease.
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November 04, 2009
Field Tested: Yakima's HoldUp Hitch-Mount Bike Carrier
The Yakima Holdup bike carrier has a built-in bottle opener. Yeah, I know, so do flip-flops these days, but still.
But first, why the hitch-mounted tray-style bike carrier? Hitch-mounted racks make transporting bicycles easier because you don’t have to be Yao Ming or carry a stepladder to get your bike on top of your roof. If you are driving a four-or-all-wheel-drive rig, you are already nodding your head, especially if your ride is a 50-pound downhill mountain bike. Second, hitch-mounted racks save gas over roof-mounted models by reducing your vehicle’s aerodynamic profile. I couldn’t find any studies on it, and I’m not the sort who records my mileage, but I’m pretty sure you’d pay off the cost of the rack ($415, yakima.com) in a season or six in gasoline cost savings. Some people don’t like dead bugs getting welded onto their bikes when they are transported on the roof. Those people probably won’t care about the Holdup's bottle opener (just saying), but hitch-mounted racks fix that too. Why the tray style, which supports the bike from below rather than dangling them from the frame? Loading bikes onto the Holdup is very fast—like 10 seconds—even with mountain bikes that have strange geometry and don’t easily work on the less-expensive dangler-style models.
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November 03, 2009
The Gear Junkie Scoop: Cutter Cyclical Shell Jacket
Touted to be a "storm fortress" with a pedal-specific cut, the Cyclical Shell offers a solid waterproof/breathable top with a svelte look tailored for commuters and the urban single-speed set. It employs
eVent fabric, which is commonly used in outdoors- and mountain-oriented outerwear, to make a form-fitting, sweat-dispensing jacket that repels rain, sleet, snow, and wind. And it comes in both men's and women's models.
At $299.95, the shell is expensive when compared to other cycling-specific rainwear (you can get it on sale, though, while it lasts for $179.97 at cutterbike.com). The price may be high, but it's performed almost flawlessly on the road and trail in my tests so far.
There's no doubt the Cyclical jacket was designed by cyclists. It has a "pedal-specific cut," as the company puts it, meaning the lines and seams are made to cover and fit a person crouched over handlebars. There are long, hand-covering cuffs, waterproof zippers, and extra long coverage on the "tail" (lower back area) to help block tire spray on clothes.
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October 30, 2009
007's New Ride
This sounds like something Ian Fleming would've dreamed up: a vehicle that's both a surface watercraft and a self-contained submersible. It may look like a yellow submarine, but it's technically a Scubacraft with an internal-combustion engine, electric thrusters, and the capability of diving down to 100 feet, according to Wired.com. Water sports junkies will be intrigued, but Scubacraft's company is focusing more on marketing the product to film producers looking to get more coverage both on and in the water.
--Aileen Torres
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Gear Army: Avia Avi-Stoltz
For a runner, is any piece of gear more important than the shoe? Conrad Stoltz doesn’t think so. That’s why the three-time Xterra world champion co-developed and tested the Avia Avi-Stoltz ($114), Avia’s first line of Xterra off-road race-ready shoes.
When I trained with the Avi-Stoltz, I noticed how well they performed on inclines and declines. The outsole is serrated, which helps maintain traction on undulating terrain and around spotty corners on the trail. A groove in the middle of the outsole, called the Ess Rocksteady Plate, protects your foot from rocks and roots and anything else that might cause bone bruising.
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October 28, 2009
The Gear Junkie Scoop: Stormy Kromer Bunkhouse Trousers
As recently as five years ago, Army-Surplus wool pants were a stalwart piece in my winter outerwear getup. I'd pair the coarse, jungle-green trousers, which were purchased for $20 to $30 at secondhand shops, with a Gore-Tex shell jacket for ice climbing and head outdoors into the chill air of northern Minnesota or Ontario's Orient Bay area, where ice axes and tall, cold cliffs afforded a venue for the ascent of frozen icefalls as high as apartment buildings.
Kick a crampon through the tough matte of wool above the ankle cuff and, oh well, the pants didn't set you back all that much. They were warm, too. And, unlike hard-shell pants I'd paid hundreds of dollars for, the cheapo woolies breathed so well you could feel subzero air seeping in and out just slightly with the wind.
This winter, wool pants are back. Though the price has shot up, the Bunkhouse Trousers from Michigan-based Stormy Kromer (stormykromer.com) hold true to my vision of a solid pair of winter pants. They are made with thick and plush--but tough--wool blend.
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Gear Army: Julbo Bivouak Glacier Sunglasses
Think of Julbo's new glacier sunglasses, The Bivouak ($120), like a Transformer. At the base level, they're a wraparound frame with a stylish shape for moseying around town. Now, attach the fire engine red side shields and you have a glass that is ready for maximum sunlight (like on a glacier or a high-altitude river).
As basic sunglasses, the Bivouak works well thanks to its high-quality lens, light frame, and adjustability. Over half of the arms (shown in red, at left) are made from sticky rubber that is also flexible. This equals grip as well as a fit that can vary depending on your helmet or hat. By bending the rubber around your ear, you can avoid losing them if you, say, have a yard sale while skiing.
The Bivouaks are available with multiple lens colors (for varying environments) including one that they claim can block out glacial light, but they are all vented with notches to eliminate fogging. It worked on both the river and the snow for me.
Now, onto those protective wings.The magnetic side shields block light from the periphery and allow sharp focus on the what's in front of you and come on and off in a flash. The only downside is that, because they are magnetic, they are easy to lose when they're detached. Don't lose 'em, and you'll be glad you bought these.
--Justin Bobb, a native Santa Fean, can be found rafting on the Rio Grande or snowboarding in the backcountry of Northern New Mexico's mountains. If he's neither place, he's probably mapping little-explored cave systems.
Want to test gear for Outside magazine? Apply to be a member of our Gear Army, here.
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