Outdoor Research - Incandescent Hoody

Outdoor Research - Incandescent Hoody

Price: $350
Pros: Lightweight, packable, warm.
Cons: Down wets quickly, hood not adjustable.
Worth the buy: Yes, depending on intended use.

I have been looking forward to trying out OR's Incandescent Hoody for a while, unfortunately it did not fulfill my needs the way I was hoping. I recently stepped off on the first of many events put on my a new organization called the Endurance Society. A group of unique individuals hell bent on putting their bodies and minds to the test out in the mountains and wilderness. The first leg of the journey was to ascend Mt. Mansfield in northern VT, which tuned out to be one hell of a climb and temperatures at the summit were around -30. Just before the summit I thought to myself, "what better time to put this jacket to the test", so I got out my Incandescent Hoody and settled in for the last bit of the climb above the tree line.

Where the jacket performed and where it did not...
Did the jacket keep me warm? Yes. Was it packable and light, taking up minimal room in my pack and saving me weight? Yes. Would I take it again on the same trip? No, and here is why. Once I took the jacket off after getting back down into the treeline I removed the jacket, I immediately noticed that a good amount of surface area was wet. Once down gets wet it is useless and the weight of a wet piece of gear only increases. Therefore if I was on a multiple day trip or event, it would be useless from then on. The jacket uses Pertex® Quantum, a water "resistant" material and DWR coating, and from my experience with that material it does not hold up well in minimal snow and extreme cold. Lastly, the jacket packs up into its own pocket. The only problem here is that you almost need two people in order to accomplish that with any kind of speed and efficiency. I would have rather seen it come with a stuff sack.

When to use the jacket?
So the jacket is not perfect for every situation, however there are still a lot of great uses for it. I love being able to throw this jacket on when the weekend rolls around, its super light and easy to throw in a bag "just in case". Camping, this jacket is IDEAL for winter camping, not only because it is light weight but because when you are camping and not in need of having a pack on your whole body stays nice and warm. I questioned the durability of the jacket at first but after snagging it on a nail and having no damage to it whatsoever I was sold and impressed.

The OR Incandescent Hoody is a definite "high end" piece of gear that you should really think about before purchasing before doing so. As long as you are using it for the right purposes it is a great addition to any gear closet, but be careful and know what your are getting it for. Are there lighter jackets out there? Yes. Are they just as expensive? Yes. Are there jackets just as warm? Yes. Are they just as expensive? Nope, you can find jackets just as warm for a more reasonable price. You buy this jacket for the weight, size when compressed, and of course for the amazing guarantee Outdoor Research has with all its products.

Interested in checking out the jacket? Here it is!

Extreme testing to come...

To those who love all things gear and extreme conditions...

 I have been relatively quiet lately building myself a new kit of serious cold weather gear. The reason I have not yet posted reviews of my new toys is because of the event I have coming up on January 17th. Extremus, an event put on by the Endurance Society (http://endurancesociety.org/) will be a 60 mile non stop trek through some of the highest and coldest peaks in VT. 50 brave / slightly crazy individuals will be setting out on this adventure with the drop out rate being... less than favorable. One key component to finishing, along with a strong body and mind, will be gear. I intend to put some very high quality gear to the test in these conditions. Here are some of the pieces that I will be testing, my concerns with them, and why I am bringing them along:

1 - Outdoor Research Incandescent Hoody - At a steep cost of $350 the jacket is impressive in its fill (800+ Power Down), weight (17.9oz), and ability to repel water (Pertex® Quantum). I am bringing it along because it is very light weight and very compressible. The jacket fits into its own pocket and when compressed is 6X10.5 inches. My concern is simple, due to the fact that it is made to be so light weight the fabric seems to be very frail. Also, the jacket is down and not synthetic, if there is any amount of considerable rain or snow it will become useless. Durability, warmth, and practicality in the field remain to be seen. For more on the OR Incandescent Hoody...

2 - Ribz Wear Front Pack - A great piece of gear for everything from running to trekking. This piece will hopefully be my "ace in the hole". This trek will be non stop, only short breaks for going to the bathroom, regrouping, and changing out layers. Having a front pack or chest pack is ideal for keeping the things i need (food, extra gloves, headlamp, batteries) at the ready and easily accessible at all times. For only $64.95 this was a no-brainer purchase for what I will be attempting. My only concern is that it is just another piece of gear I need to take off before changing out layers. Check out the chest pack here...

3 - Salomon Toundra Boots - My reasoning behind getting these boots was simple, they are the warmest boots Salomon makes. They claim to keep feet warm at -40 Degrees while active. They are also waterproof and extremely comfortable. My concern with these boots is overheating as opposed to not being warm enough. I will be bringing plenty of extra socks and foot care products just in case. Want to keep your feet warm? Check them out.


Finish or not this will be a great event for gear testing. I am looking forward to the challenge and being able to provide you guys with everything you need to know about the best products out there.

Black Diamond - Storm Headlamp

Black Diamond - Storm Headlamp

Price: $49
Pros: Great buy for the price, waterproof, versatile.
Cons: Time consuming switching out batteries.
Worth the buy?: Yup!

I love gear that is versatile and has many uses. Considering the price and the fact that this headlamp is waterproof, its a no brainer, I have dropped it more than enough puddles and it always comes out working just the way it should. I have used this headlamp for about a year, for everything from multi-day trips to going running at night, and cleaning out gunk from my dog's ears. Having a piece of gear that is waterproof is a huge relief and one less thing thing to worry about if a quick storm comes in. It has two length adjustments on either size of the lamp itself and brightness can be adjusted as needed. Lastly, is the size, it is a very small for the lumens it puts out (up to 160). I can leave it hanging around my neck or throw it in a small chest pocket, it does not take up much room and is not excessively heavy. For the price and features, it is more than worth the buy whether for an overnight adventure or a late night stroll with the dog.


Thinking about picking one up? Check it out here!

Voormi - Drift Jacket

Voormi - Drift Jacket

Price: $249

Pros: Breathable, warm, style, durability.
Cons: Not waterproof, heavy.
Worth the buy?: Yes

The Voormi Drift Jacket is another piece that I have been looking forward to for a while. The first thing you notice about the jacket is the weight, it is heavier than I expected. It is a solid mid-layer that can absolutely be worn as a jacket on its own. I recently took it on a short backpacking trip where the temperature dropped to around freezing. Wearing just a simple cotton t-shirt and the jacket I was fairly comfortable as long as I was moving around. I can imagine throwing on a simple tec-shirt, base layer, and shell on top it would be a combo to wear out in the depth of winter. The next big aspect of the jacket that I love is that it is very breathable. So while making the trip up the mountain to the campsite it keeps you warm and even when preparing the fire you are good to go. Lastly, is the durability, the jacket can take a beating. Running around to gather up firewood or brushing by dead tree limbs, I came back from my night in the woods with the jacket in the same condition as when I revived it in the mail. Do not underestimate the value of a jacket that is both breathable and warm, while this jacket carries a higher price tag than competitors it is well worth the buy. 

Check out the jacket here!

Rocky - CT4 Boots

Rocky - CT4 Boots

Price: $79.00
Pros: Light weight, durable, quick drying.
Cons: NOT a winter / wet weather boot, traction not great.
Worth the buy?: Absolutely.

I have used these boots for a variety of activities over the year and a half that I have had them. I've used them for weekend backpacking trips in the mountains, relaxing around a fire on a cool spring night, endurance events, and even a handful of crossfit workouts. My main reason for getting them was because of how light they are, each boot weighs less than a pound, and when trekking out in the mountains every ounce counts. They also come with convenient drainage/air vent holes on the side so when you are really putting out on a big hike your feet can breathe. If you do happen to get the boots wet then you are still good to go, they drain well and thankfully do not smell as long as you maintain them after getting wet. Another nice feature is the laces they are ACTUAL para cord and you can tell the second you go to tie them, para cord can take a good beating, unlike some very high end expensive boots that can still come with cheaper cotton laces. As long as you are not planning on going out in the rain or snow these boots are fantastic. They are durable, light weight, and for the price of $79 you can not go wrong.

Want to know more? Check out the boots here!

JetBoil - Flash Cooking System

JetBoil - Flash Cooking System

Cost: $99.95
Pros: Light weight, simple to use, convenient for advanced or beginner backpackers, reasonable price.
Cons: Smaller amount of water able to boil at once.
Worth the buy?:  Yes.

I love getting outdoors, be it a day hike up a local mountain or a weekend trip with good friends. Some people enjoy protein bars, power bars, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when they are hungry. However if you want to save space, travel light, and have quick warm meal then you want to carry a JetBoil Flash. What sets a JetBoil Flash apart from most backpacking stoves?
1) Its compact and light weight - It takes up very little space in a day pack or large backpacking ruck.
2) It is simple to use - all you need is water and your fuel source. Unlike some other stoves this one comes with a built in ignition, which gives you one less thing to worry about.
3) Price - Considering the importance of having a good warm meal, the price point of $99.95 is a great deal.

Coming in at only 14 ounces, it only takes about 2.5 minutes to boil two cups of water. Those two cups of water are perfect for almost any freeze dried meal you can buy for about $4. This is what makes the JetBoil great, the ability to feed 4 people in around 10 minutes with only one unit if your in the mountains and on the move. On the other hand you can bring along a JetBoil to your next kids soccer game and make some hot cocoa on a cool fall afternoon. The JetBoil is a great piece of gear for a wide range of activities and well worth the price for such a convenience.

Get the JetBoil here!

Red Line Gear - WOD Shorts

Red Line Gear - WOD Shorts

Cost: $59
Pros: No Velcro fly, durable, multifunctional.
Cons: Slightly bulky around waist.
Worth the buy?: Yes.

I am a Crossfit Coach who spends the majority of the year in workout shorts. I've worn everything from lightweight running shorts to the traditional mesh shorts for everything from Crossfit workouts, obstacle course races, endurance events, and just a simple day at the beach. Surprisingly, there are very few companies that make a pair of shorts that are great for all of these activities. So what makes these shorts so special and different? Red Line uses a four way stretch material for the fly where most companies make a similar design but use velcro that is too rigid to be comfortable. They use the same four way stretch material in the crotch for ease of mobility. Lastly, the polyester material they use for majority of the short, its durable, does not absorb sweat the way cotton does and can take a serious beating. Red Line is a young (less than a year old) apparel company that makes a great pair of shorts for a reasonable price. If you are in the market for a versatile short, here they are.

Get the awseome shorts here!