catiecoo

Bought 2 pairs for 10-day backpacking trips to Alaska. Wore a pair and wash out the dirty one by the river at the end of the day. They dried in a flash, even in 30 degree overcast weather. They fit comfortably and never ride up.

...Fast forward 11 years later, I still have my 2 original pairs, they've been holding up well and look "under aged" :-) despite regular usage. I've since been buying more over the years, and have a collection of different stripes and solids and love them all. While the fit/sizing has changed over the years, they still fit (after getting the right size) and still don't ride up. I don't backpack much now but have been doing lots of trail running. These are my 'close' companion for almost all my running adventures.

I now only wish Patagonia makes a merino version of the same undies.

It's hard to get excited over a pair of undies, and I probably shouldn't get so excited. But I simply love these. I have pretty much replaced my undies drawer with performance undies, ranging from various Patagonia synthetic ones, to Icebreaker and Ibex merino ones. And I can honestly say these are simply the best. I have a bunch of the Icebreaker Nature bikinis - which I think they got rid off and replaced with these 'hipkinis'. The Nature bikinis are great, but they have quite a few unnecessary seams and ride up occasionally b/c they don't have any lycra (100% merino). IB added a bit of lycra to these hipkinis, got rid of some seams. The result is that they fit as good as the Patagonia undies, without the potential ill-effect of synthetics, and never ride up. I was at first skeptical - it seemed IB just replaced a perfectly good pair of undies with something new and charge you more. But after wearing these for a few days, the new design is worth the money and I'll probably be buying more.

I ordered this shirt for running, b/c I have some problems with Icebreaker running specific tees (although I really love their superfine lite tees). The smartwool is a bit of disappointment. The bottom hem is curved, but it's just a tad short for me and I'm only 5'6". The fabric feels somewhat coarse - I have loads of Icebreaker and Ibex and have never had a problem w/ wool. Finally, the fabric also feels somewhat heavier than the Icebreaker Tech T Lite, which makes a difference for running in hot weather (although it's hard to measure). I think this tee works and obviously will perform just like any other merino clothing, but just not as good as alternatives. Fit-wise, other than length, sizing is right on when I ordered my usual size.

I got these just in time for my trail running and hiking trip in Moab. The days were HOT but these shorts breathe very well. The fabric are a tad thicker than the Salomon running shorts, but the mesh panels (the blue colored fabric) on the sides really help with the venting. I love the *zippered* pockets - they are big and secure. When I run, I put gels in them, and when I hike I put my iPhone in one pocket. The waist is flat and super comfy, just like other Salomon running shorts. The shorts are pretty long, which is just what I wanted. Hiking in them means putting on less sunscreen while not compromising on the airy-ness, and I can run in them no problem b/c of the light weight. The fit is relaxed if you order your regular size.

Read the care instruction on Icebreaker website before you buy. I made the mistake of getting my hands on this soft sweater, but according the Icebreaker website, this sweater is "Dry Clean Only". Even many cashmere sweaters are "Dry Clean". The difference between the two is that you can put the "Dry Clean" items in the "hand wash" cycle in the washing machine, whereas "Dry Clean Only" means just that, send it off to the cleaners who use chemicals to make your stuff smell like consignment store. For me, it kind of really defeats the purpose of buying this sweater in lieu of cashmere - although in contrast of IB merino, much of the cashmere in the market is not ethically sourced.

Let me be clear here, I own loads of Icebreaker and I've always preferred merino to synthetics. But lately I've been really gravitating away from Icebreaker. Why? Because while the fabric is extremely desirable for outdoor pursuits, the design of this shirt (and some of their other shirts) is really not. Neck opening is way too big - yes it'll assist ventilation, but the back of my neck, and my collarbone have been sunburned because I forgot to apply loads of sunscreen in places where you'd expect a real crew neck shirt will cover. The sleeves are also like cap sleeves, covers up the shoulders and not enough for the upper back arms - I've also got sunburned there b/c I'd expect a real short sleeve shirt to cover the upper part of the arms as well. What I don't get is that must IB make all of their shirts fashionable with big necks and short short sleeves? Surely a reasonable dose of "form follows function" should ring some bell to any companies that claim to make outdoor clothing?!

To add insult to injury, they've also increase the price by $10 this season compare to the last. Really?!

Let me be clear here, I own loads of Icebreaker and I've always preferred merino to synthetics. But lately I've been really gravitating away from Icebreaker. Why? Because while the fabric is extremely desirable for outdoor pursuits, the design of this shirt (and some of their other shirts) is really not. Neck opening is way too big - yes it'll assist ventilation, but the back of my neck, and my collarbone have been sunburned because I forgot to apply loads of sunscreen in places where you'd expect a real crew neck shirt will cover. The sleeves are also like cap sleeves, covers up the shoulders and not enough for the upper back arms - I've also got sunburned there b/c I'd expect a real short sleeve shirt to cover the upper part of the arms as well. What I don't get is that must IB make all of their shirts fashionable with big necks and short short sleeves? Surely a reasonable dose of "form follows function" should ring some bell to any companies that claim to make outdoor clothing?!

I've been using the pack for a few times now for my long runs, and love the fact it doesn't bounce at all. The pack fits snug without feeling uncomfortably tight. It sits very high on the back, and comes down to my mid-back level. It really doesn't bounce, even in steep downhill sections, although you could hear the reservoir sloshing a bit when it's half empty (but it never bothered me).

Pocket-wise, I use the 2 front fixed pockets for bloks and mixed drinks (a 500mL bottle fits nicely in one of the pocket), and use the 2 side zippered pockets for longer term food storage. I am reasonably flexible but the 2 side pockets cannot be reached by hands unless I take the pack off. I never used the 2 velcro/removable pockets - they are really useless, not big enough for any smartphone (maybe just for keys) and are heavy. The Salomon designers really missed the mark on this one, as there is no convenient way to stash the phone without it bouncing around. The main vertical pocket on the back is big enough to put a sandwich and a very light jacket. Then there is an inner pocket in the back with magnetic-closure - it's innovative but it's not a secure storage place - I use it to store some TP for emergency.

The reservoir is enclosed in a semi-stiff reflective sleeve - it did well to keep my water cool from the generated body heat on my runs. The sleeve is super light, and makes it very easy to put the bladder in the pack. I really like the quick disconnect of the bladder hose - since the hose is tightly routed along the pack, it's nice not having to take out the hose all the time when drying the bladder. The hose is routed from the bottom upwards, and I thread the bite valve through one of the numerous elastic attach points so that the hose doesn't bounce, and I don't need to take the mouth piece out to take a drink.

It's a fully featured pack, complete with hiking pole attachments and a whistle, but I haven't used any of that yet. But even with all the bells and whistles, the weight feels very reasonable. I don't notice it at all. The pack fits me very nicely - I'm 110LB and 5'6". I would expect the XS/SM size fit someone a bit bigger but not much more. The bigger guys should consider the Salomon skin pro 3 packs, as even the M/L size in this pack barely fits my other half who's on the skinny side. Finally, my runs have been in the mid-60's with strong sun but cool occasional breeze. The pack felt ventilated - I didn't have a huge wet spot on my back and even though the pack felt wet, it wasn't drenched.

I'd highly recommend this pack. It's well thought of (other than the iPhone issue), obviously was designed for runners by runners. It's a tidy little package that doesn't have all the extra straps and thingies dangling around found so frequently on other "running packs" such as Nathan or Camelbak. It makes you look fast, and best of all, it doesn't bounce.

I have a few pieces of Houdini's stuff, and have always been impressed. Their design is usually distinguished w/ high quality and cool colors. This shirt is no different. Ponderosa is a really nice pink shade. The picture here shows it more red, but it's really more pink, not hot pink, but a peachy shade of pink. I'm not a pink person, but I love it and have gotten compliments from quite a few "fashion critics". The weave of super thin merino produces a subtle sheen.

The sheen reminds me of Ibex Echo shirts - actually in terms of weight, I would say the fabric weight of this is a tad thinner than the Ibex Echo's and Icebreaker's superfine lite. I can't speak of durability yet, but the silk, which is as strong as steel of the same gauge, definitely adds to the durability. This reminds me of Patagonia merino tops - Pati added quite a bit of synthetic to the fabric to keep it strong, but synthetic really compromises the anti-odor quality, as well as the soft hand feel of the merino.

The Houdini shirt is one of the softest merino shirts I've own, and I have a lot of Icebreaker and Ibex shirts. Performance-wise, it's like my other merino shirts, keep you warm when it's needed, and since material is thin, it's not too hot in the 70's weather. I've worn it for multiple days straight, and haven't had any issues with smell. Even though it's underwear, it can definitely be worn out by itself. The length is long, but not too long that's characteristic of long undies.

Yes it's expensive, but it's made in the European Union, rather than China. Be warned though, once you get 1 Houdini, you will want to go back for more.

I was very happy to see Pati relaunched its merino 1 line this season, and it didn't disappoint. The fabric is super thin, yet it doesn't feel like it'll disintegrate in your hand. I think it's b/c of the poly blend they added in. Fit-wise, I ordered my usual Pati size, and fits perfect. Some people might have issues w/ the arm length. I've got normal arm lengths, and the sleeves fall exactly at bottom of my hand. But if I were reaching overhead for a hold on a climb, sleeves will be a tad short. The length of the shirt is excellent. Please visit Pati's product page for this item if you are curious about the back length - a Pati employee has posted back lengths of every size.

I haven't worn this shirt enough times to comment on durability, but I have worn it 5 days straight so far during the day, in office and out trail running (~30F weather) under a layer. It has just a hint of smell under the armpits. I never detected any hint of smell when I worn all-merino shirts, so I would attribute the slight smell to the poly filler, which unfortunately is quite high for this shirt (35%). I would like to see Pati using 80% merino content for this line, as they do for their other merino lines such as merino 2 and 3.

I love the contrasting stitching on the plum color, and the beautiful nile blue (looks like turquoise in real life). All in all, it's a shirt that can be worn all year, layered or on its own.

I wear merino shirts year round, and when I saw Patagonia put out new colors for the merino 2 tee, I immediately ordered one. Alas I am very disappointed. First the good. The fabric is pretty awesome. It's lightweight, similar to the Icebreaker tech tee lite (which is 150 g/m2). It'll be very adequate for the summer (I'm talking 90F). My husband's merino 2 t-shirts have taken him trail running in the heat of summer and never smelled. And I have the merino 2 zip neck from last season and love it for cool summer runs and hikes.

Fit-wise, it's where it really disappoints. Unless you are very well endowed, you will not fill the chest area, leaving extra fabric dangling under the armpits. I'm a A cup, and ordered my usual size. Everywhere else fits perfect, but there is simply too much fabric at the bust - too much fabric! I also ordered Pati's merino 1 shirt, which is a much simpler, classic looking t-shirt, and love it. I thought Patagonia is all about form follows function. What's up w/ the highly stylized design?! Yes I'm talking about the gathered shoulder, scalloped hem, and extra fabric at the bust.

I've bought Tech T Lite for years, and the sizing has always been consistent. Until now. This season, spring/summer 2012 (colors such as sprout, gulf, azalea), Icebreaker changed the fit to be a bit more relaxed (which I'm not too happy with) and quite a few inches longer (which I like). Therefore, I would recommend size down from your previous season sizing. Also the fabric feels a little thinner than previous seasons. The tee I received also had a twisted side seam - doesn't affect performance, but something to be aware of. My impression is that while the fabric is as soft as ever, the quality is perhaps a wee bit less than previous years models.

I got these tights a while back but didn't get a chance to test them out until last few days, where temps were in the upper 20's and no sun. I went running in the snow and these are pretty nice and warm. Any colder, I'd suggest layering with a thin merino long undies and you should be plenty toasty.

The outer fabric is smooth and the inner is soft fleece. They shed snow and mud pretty well, as after the runs they've barely got any sign of dirt on them. Definitely size up and up. I usually wear a Norrona xs in pants, and I had to size up twice!! Sure I could have gotten away with a sm, but the waist band is pretty rigid and they also felt a bit tight at the thighs, so I decided to size up to a medium. They are also quite long. I'm 5'6", and I think they should be able to fit someone who's 5'8".

One thing that's really awesome is the tight pocket. I put my iPhone in it, and it fits pretty snug and doesn't bounce at all. The other plus is the pocket is placed on the tight - and you don't usually sweat there, so no ill condensation on the iPhone after the run. You will have to play with the best way to put the iPhone in, but the pocket is a trapezoidal shape, so it's not too difficult.

Agree with the other reviewers, this p/o is a miss. Got it in my usual size. While the body fits great, if not a tad short, the sleeve is loose all the way from the upper bicep to the wrist. The sleeves are also quite short that I can't get into the thumb holes, and I haven't got monkey arms. I also found it hard to believe that this is Warm2 (fabric is very thin) and supposedly very wind resistant (from norrona website). I've got their Warm1 fleece and it feels far warmer than this piece. It does look quite sporty, the red is an awesome color, along with the birch green zipper. But alas, this line must be designed for a different body type.

This jacket gives you more than just the good looks, it's the best, most versatile fleece money can buy. It's extremely light weight, yet the Polartec Thermal Pro High Loft is the most fluffy and therefore insulating material in the market. Last week, we had an early season snow storm, and the temperature was below 20 degrees in the afternoon, I wore it with a short sleeve shirt and a very light shell, and I was warm.

The jacket fits like a dream. Length is long enough that when you bend over, your back will still be covered. Length of arm is perfect, just long enough for me to use the thumbholes. Width of the arms is great too, not loose (compare to their Trollveggen Warm2 p/o) but has enough room to layer about 2 l/s shirts under if necessary. Best of all, it's got a very functional neck. When fully zipped, the collar is tight enough that cold air won't seep in, yet it won't choke you either. It does not have a drawcord at the bottom hem, but I can feel an internal elastic band that runs inside the hem seam, so it still seals in warm air, yet without the bulkiness of all the cords and cord locks. It's got 2 hand warmer pockets, and a bicep pocket. For comparison, I'm 5'6", 110 LB, and I bought an xs. The 'Norrona Green' is an awesome color. The jacket is very good looking, I plan to use it for snowboarding, backpacking due to its extreme light weight, and any around-the-town casual wear.

After trying these on in the store, I was sold. The fit is superbe. The heel cup is narrow enough to hug my heels and ankle. Unlike my other running/hiking shoes which I can move my ankles around which allows small rocks to get in, these salomons really seal off the ankle area. The toe box is just big enough that i can wiggle my toes but not cut off circulation.

On the trails, they are so nimble and the outsole is so sticky that they gave me the confidence to go fast. They have a small footprint so i can land my feet in narrow spaces between rocks. I can make fast turns in them which really helps running on technical downhill trails. On uphill these are just as nice due to the light weight. The lugs are perfectly spaced to keep traction in mud but not collect it on the bottom. I haven't tried these in snow but expect them to be excellent - the outsole says "M+S" on it, presumably means mud and snow :-)

Even though these are supposed to be racing shoes, the ride is cushy enough on trails. I can't really tell them apart from my Brooks Cascadia 6 in terms of cush (btw, these Salomons provide much more traction in mud and loose rocks than the Brooks). Supposedly they don't have cushioned midsole at the forefoot, but the soft lugs on the outsole make up for that. I take care not to run them on pavement. Even on the 1/4 mile between my house and the trailhead, I walk in these rather than run, they just don't feel cushioned enough for the concrete.

Other than that, the speed lacing is as usually awesome like any other Salomon, and the colors are pretty sweet (black/blue). Can't wait to run in the CS version (Clima Shield) in winter - those fit a bit snugger than the regular speed cross due to the CS liner.

I've been anxiously anticipating this hoody for quite a while. I first got the 'clean cut red' color, but decided to exchange it, due to the color and fit. The fit is long and a bit boxy, a bit larger than their Eco Lounge Hoody. I usually wear xs or sm, depending on brand, and for Houdini's Eco Lounge Hoody, small fits me perfectly, but for the Power Houdi, I needed to go down a size. It's not very tailored, so if you have a hourglass shaped body, it will not compliment your figure. The 'clean cut red' is a somewhat pale red color, not very vibrant, although I really love the hood liner color, which has a stripy red pattern. I exchanged it for an xs in 'granite' and I love it. The zipper is red, which makes the hoody look very stylish. Unfortunately the hood liner doesn't have the stripe pattern, but it's red nonetheless, and it shows a lot of contrast with granite body. The hoody is made of Polartec Power Stretch, I expect it to be a mid weight layering piece. I'll report back with the functional aspect once I've had a chance to use it in non-casual situations.

I love Norrona and have a few of their pieces. But the sizing of this one is different from other Norrona lines. I have Falketind Warm 1, size XS fits perfect. So I got this hoody in XS, but it's too short in the back (I'm only 5'6"). It also fits a bit more snug than the Falketind, so that I wouldn't be able to layer anything other than just a t-shirt. I'm also a bit lukewarm on the caviar color - looks kind of like used fleece and zipper color is not as vivid purple as the picture. I did have one problem with the main zipper. As the other reviewer said, it zips ALL the way up to the top of the hood. So I tried it and zipped all the way to eye level - it's pretty weird but really cool, makes me feel like a ninja. But alas, I had the hardest time to unzip it as the fabric kept on getting caught by the zipper. I had to pull off the whole jacket to get it off, definitely not something to try in public !!! I decided to send it back - if the fit were better I really would have kept it.

I took these shorts with me on a recent summer trip to Switzerland, where we did 3 long days of strenuous hut-to-hut trekking in the Swiss Alps and 2 days boating and wakeboarding on Lake Geneva, they performed extremely well. I got them in the blue, which is a very vivid color, and you definitely will be seen on the trails. These shorts have decent rise, a bit lower than the belly button. Length is excellent for hiking, they hit just around the knee. Despite the length, they don't restrict the leg-raising motion when going uphill - they never bothered me on the hikes and the Swiss Alps is very steep. The flex 1 soft shell fabric is not too hot for summer use, but is very tough - I sat on rocks numerous times and the shorts still look new. They also dry very quickly, which is handy on the Lake. The fabric isn't stretchy, so you would want them to fit a bit relaxed. Norrona sizing is not typical European, so which means that you order your usual American sizes and don't size up.

Just got the jacket. Like it overall, but there is a small functional problem. First the positives. It is indeed made of Thermal Pro, which is a highly efficient fleece, in terms of warmth to weight ratio. At only 8.5 oz, I was planning to use it year round for backpacking and skiing. It's really fashionable, enough for daily use, the blue color is very bright, and the sewn-on Norrona and Falketind logos are bright green. Given the warmth and loft of the fleece, it'll certainly be enough for 3 season outerwear, and layering for skiing. The wrist looks a bit different from the picture here, most notably there are thumb holes, and they are low bulk and work well.

Now on to the functional issue. I know the Falketind line is designed for lightweight mountaineering, so the side pockets are placed high to make it easy for use with harness. However, the top of the pockets really interferes with the female anatomy, making it rather bulky if you know what I mean - and I'm pretty skinny. The key is you cannot wear an underwire bra - but hey when you are out there in the wild, you probably won't anyway.

Agree with the other reviewer, the fabric feels really really nice. It does fit long which is very nice for trail running. But it's absolutely not baggy, as it hugs my hip and legs extremely well, and I'm 110 LB 5'6". I am a trail runner and own 5-6 pairs of running shorts from brands such as Patagonia, Salomon, and Pearl Izumi, and the Houdinis are my most favorite. Compared to Patagonia Nine Trails shorts, the Houdinis is made sooooooooo much better at the waist - it's flat compared to Pati's super bulky waist. The fabric is also stretchy, so absolutely no problems going up at steep grades. I love the pockets, they are lined with mesh. The white stripes on the sides in the picture are reflective, and are a nice touch. I love Houdini and have several other of their fleece. As with all their stuff, these shorts are made in the European Union, and the quality really shows. I think they are worth the money, but would like to see them a little less spendy - they cost twice as the "Pata-guchi" shorts.

Unlike the other reviewer, I love this jacket. Neck is a bit higher than other brands, but that makes it very functional in cool weather. I love the pistachio color, it's very unique and like a breath of fresh air, it's also very feminine. Personal preference I guess.

It's not cheap, but it's made in the EU (European Union), and the quality really shows. The shape is straight, with a bit of room at the chest level, but not much. It definitely won't fit a curvy shape, and as it tapers a bit at the bottom, you've got to have a reasonably small hip for it to fit. This fleece is lightweight, thinner than the Patagonia R1, or other polartec power stretch. The outside is smooth for layering, and inside has a gridded pattern, which will help trap warm air. Given the fleece weight, I expect this to be a 3-season fleece, if used with additional layers. Unlike the other Scandinavian brand (Norrona), Houdini's sizing is true European, so order up a size.

Sure it's not made of merino (I love Icebreaker), but this particular jacket is made of recycled polyester.

Got this in black. Love the big buttons at the hood and the giant rainbow colored lettering. I've been wearing it in some meat lockers here in CO (some indoor places here really blast A/C at you), and had several people commenting on the style in a good way. One feature I really LOVE about this hoody is the hidden zipper pocket inside the kangaroo pocket - this is not mentioned in the description, but I was pleasantly surprised that I can keep my wallet safe while keeping my hands warm. The fabric is smooth and soft fleece. The sleeves and back are long enough to wear in winter to cover up your back and your hands. The hood fits snuggly. The overall fit is snug - I'm on the border of xs and sm, and I got this in sm. The hoody is "Made in the EU", and the quality shows. This is my first Houdini, and I'll be keeping my eyes out for more of their stuff.

I usually like shirts with more design on them, such as stripes or graphics. At first I thought this one is too simple looking, but decided to get it in sea grass on a whim, and I couldn't be more happy. It is simple, but its color and shape make it absolutely not boring. The green color goes well with dark jeans, and the fabric (Ibex's "echo" fabric) has a very subtle sheen that looks nice in certain light. Its bell-shaped sleeves, wide hem, the v-neck, and the little tuck around the neck, all give it a refreshing change, yet graceful appearance over other usual-looking shirts. That is not to mention all the advantages of merino. It's a perfect office-casual shirt, without poisoning your co-workers with bad smell. As for fit, it's semi-fitted. I usually like my L/S Ibex shirts to be a bit loose, so I went with a small. If it helps, I'm 110LB, 5'6, not curvy.

Smartwool makes decent stuff, no doubt. However, I'll have to really rant on this one. First the pros: I agree with others, wool is the way to go when it comes to anything you'd put close to your mouth. The anti-stink property is not something synthetics can beat. Icebreaker and Ibex also make neck gaiters, and their fabric is just as good if not better. Now the cons: the execution is extremely poor on this piece. Who in the right mind of an apparel designer would put a huge label on a neck gaitor?!?! Consider putting a label that's either printed on, or that's small, inconspicuous, flat, etc. But Smartwool has managed to put something quite big, double layered at that, on the inside, double stitched to the seam. You have the choice of either put it against your neck which is quite uncomfortable, or wear it inside out which makes you look...not very smart, or take a knife to cut it out. I went with the last option, and of course in doing so, while trying to get a clean cut on the label, undid the seam that holds the gaitor together. So now I have a gapping hole on the inside of the gaitor. Also, has Smartwool ever heard of flat seams?! They've managed to have the thickest seams they can put on a extremely simple piece of accessory. Unbelievable, and not recommended.

I tried this on in the store just for kicks, and fell in love. This jacket reminds me of the Patagonia Synchilla snap-t's that I had long time ago, except these are much softer, and much warmer. I have since bought another one so that I don't have to go without if one is in the wash. You see, I'm into the whole "new wool" thing. Pretty much all insulation pieces I own are made of merino wool. While wool regulates body temp really well, they are not too warm on the occasions when lots of warmth really matters, such as sitting in the cool office all day, and working at home at night. No matter how many layers of merino sweater/long undies (within reason of course) I wear, I'm always cold. With this jacket, I only have to wear a s/s t-shirt underneath, and set the thermostat in the house to 67, I immediately warm up. Even my hands stay warm. They are also soooo soft on the inside. I've washed each of my 2 jackets twice, and they haven't shed, and hopefully won't for a long time. As for colors, the red and the green ones are gorgeous.

Good ski / board pants. But oh when they say "loose" fit, they really didn't mean it. I usually wear a small, but for these I got sizes 4 and 6, and for size 6 I can barely close the zipper. They are otherwise very well constructed. Fabric is completely waterproof, or so it says on the tag. Outer fabric is rough, it looks like they can take some beating. They've got a fleecy liner throughout - can be warm enough that you just need a lightweight long undie. The side zippers (on the upper thigh) are meant to dump heat quickly, although I think they really should've been on the inside of the thighs. The zippers don't look waterproof, so if you open them and fall into a puddle while spring skiing, you'll probably get wet. Overall, these are worthy of the prestigious Swiss brand name. I would definitely recommend them.

This shirt is short. I'm of regular height (5'6") and regular torso length. But this shirt is shorter than other well built running shirt - such as Patagonia Runshade. I'm also not a big fan of the cap sleeves - it's too girly and does not provide sufficient coverage. Fabric is light and airy, good for working up a sweat. The sprig color is pretty cool looking.

The shirt is short and boxy. Sleeves are loose. The zip neck is not deep enough to dump any heat quickly. The zipper is over built - sure it's nice to have a piece of fabric behind the zipper to protect the neck, but it's too hefty. Icebreaker on the other hand has low profile piece of fabric that protects just as well. I bought it for the merino wool fabric, but didn't bother to take it outside after trying it on. The fit is poor - if you've got short torso, big and curvy hips, and thick and extremely muscular arms like guys do, it might work better for you.

These are really comfortable, make you forget that you are wearing them. They are my go-to weekend bra - unfortunately I'm stuck w/ underwires during the week at work. They are great for low impact activities as well. I use them for traveling, weight lifting at gym, mountain biking, and climbing. They wash easily in the sink, don't keep odor, and dry quickly. They are also lightweight, and breathes, which make them perfect for hot summer days when you want to wear as little as possible. There is nothing more I can ask of a bra.

Compared to Clif Shot Bloks, these don't leave your mouth wishing for water. They don't stick to your teeth, tasty, and really easy to chew AND digest, which make them perfect for running.

Even though these are billed as midweight, they are more like lightweight in Smartwool terms. Top of foot has small amount of cushion. If you want to use these for long distance backpacking carrying more than 30 pounds wearing heavy duty boots, you should go with heavier weight Icebreaker or Smartwool midweight hiking socks. But if you want to use these for day hiking or fastpacking, then these are great. These are also more tightly woven than Smartwool, so they feel like they should last longer. Finally, make sure to check sizing charts. I usually wear Medium in smartwool, but for these I had to go down to Small, and they are still a bit large.

Great bra for running. Provides enough support, yet doesn't make you feel squeezed. Breathes well. Too bad Patagonia discontinued it.

I use only Teko socks for trail running, and plan to get the heavier weight for hiking at some point. I own lots of various weight Smartwool socks until recently when their new "PhD" line started giving me blisters when I went hiking. The Smartwool PhDs have extra seams/fabric just under the forefoot where the foot bends - so they rubbed my forefoot raw. They've definitely out done it, but no thanks I don't need my socks to be smarter than me. These Teko socks never gave me any blisters. The toe seams are truly "flat", again, better than Smartwool. Best yet, after a few days of wear (I wear my socks multiple times before washing them), usually when I turn over my Smartwool socks inside out to be washed, there is almost always some wool clump coming lose - so over time, the socks get thinner. No so with Teko. So, I recommend Teko for comfort and durability.

Oh, fit-wise, I find Teko's fit large. I wear 7.5 shoes, but I had to get small, not medium which is my usual sock size.

This shirt is great for trail running, or just training in the gym. I have a bunch of merino wool running shirts and was apprehensive about buying a synthetic shirt for running, b/c synthetic shirts usually smell bad after a while. But this Pati tee does not hold odor. I do wash it more frequently than the merino shirts - after 2 uses for Pati rather than after 4-5 uses for merino. But that's fine, this shirt will hold up.

On Pati website, they said that they improve the collar this year to make it less tight yet keeping good coverage. That's very important for summer running. I find the collar un-constrictive, yet tight enough that I don't have to worry about missing a spot when putting on sunscreen around my neck.

In keeping Pati's moto that form follows function, this shirt has a simple design and forgoes fancy bi-colored panels so common on tech tees nowadays. It has well constructed shoulders that don't ride up when you raise your arms. The fabric is stretchy and doesn't constrict motion. The fabric is double layered yet feels floaty in the summer heat.

Overall, they've got everything right, with the exception that maybe a small zippered side pocket for keys would be useful. Oh and did I mention that the gecko green color is just awesome?

I have 4 of these shirts in various colors, and they are my running and training tees. I usually run in them for about 3-4 times before washing them. They don't smell at all and are very breathable. The 150 g/m2 fabric with the eyelets is the perfect weight for summer activities.

These shorts are pretty good for trail running. They are the right length - some of us younger runners hate the short inseam split design on "classic" running shorts. These are more modern looking, and look like I can stop by a coffee shop on the way back from a run and will blend in just fine.

I don't like the liner. If I'm already wearing quick dry undies, why double up the fabric and make your butt more sweaty?

Unlike previous reviewer, I don't have any problems with them riding up, even on very steep trails.

Fabric is soft, but Salomon's trail running shorts are even softer against the skin. I think that these Pati shorts will probably be more durable as a result, a tradeoff I'm willing to live with.

Pockets are good but can be better. They are zippered, so good for security. But they are way too big for keys and iPods. I wish there is a key loop to keep keys from bouncing around. My iPod nano which usually sits vertically in my Salomon short pocket, sit horizontally in these, which feels awkward and also makes it bounce. I'd recommend looking at the Salomon Trail Pro shorts, which has a stealth pocket on the back, with zippers on the side - which makes it a perfect place to put small items because they bounce less than front pockets. The men's version of these Pati shorts has a back pocket, so why not make the same on women's? I hate to rant, but it seems like women's versions on pretty much everything tend to have fewer pockets than men's. Not all of us women carry handbags when we go out!

Overall, good shorts. I'm a Pati fan, and I love their clothing made of recycled material. With a few adjustments, they will be perfect.

This is my go-to shorts for trail running or any kind of running. The legs stay put and don't bunch up even on steep trails. Material is super light, extremely soft against the legs. Contrary to the other reviewer, I love the fact that it doesn't have a liner. Pockets are plentiful and useful. There are 2 on the front that are not zippered, good for cards - I put my company security card in one of the front pockets and never had to worry about losing it. The back pocket is zippered. I put my iPod nano in there, and run the earpiece cable through and under the shirt - perfectly secure, and the iPod never shifts in that back pocket. I love this shorts so much that I bought 2 pairs. Only issue so far is one pair has a tiny snag on the leg - so the fabric is not going to be as durable as other harder-feeling fabrics out there.

It took me a looooong time of self debate and agonizing to buy this cup. My other choices were the 450 double wall or 600 single wall. Both of which are lighter and much cheaper than this one. With my new 600 double wall in hand right now, I'm so glad to have bought it. The other 2 alternatives are only marginally lighter than this. The double wall 450 would have been too small to be my all-in-one cup to eat and drink out of in the backcountry. As for the 600 single wall version, while it's plenty big, it's simply going to lose too much heat too quickly when it's cold out. I thought about fashioning some sort of cozy for the single wall, but decided that the weight (probably another 1-2 oz which puts it in the neighborhood of the double wall), the money saved (at least another $10-15), and the hassle (need to find some way to go around the handles) are just simply not worth it.

As for performance, beer in the cup tastes like it should, never foams up more as another reviewer indicated; kept my ramen hot for a long time; didn't burn my lips; water tastes good. It arrived with a small ding at the bottom, but I let it be since it doesn't affect function. However, I suggest wrap your bandanna around it in the backpack to protect the cup. It's perfect for me and my other half - he can eat and drink directly out of jetboil, and I use this one.

So in short, if you are deciding among the other versions of this cup, single wall or smaller volume, get this one and you will like it.

Love this shirt. Soft, warm, looks great. But with all the rave about it, let me not repeat what others said. I do have 1 suggested modification. The thumb holes are too big. Other merino brands like Icebreaker or Ibex all have thumb holes on some styles, but take a look at them, they are small, stretchy holes. On the other hand, the holes on these are two huge 2 square inch gaps dangling at your wrist. When it's windy out, they leak cold air into the sleeves.

This is my first piece from Peak Performance, a Swedish company with refreshingly bold design that can be found in typical European brands (like Norrona or Mammut). I'm kind of impressed, although not completely. First off, the shorts fit awesome!! When I pulled them on, I was half afraid that they might be a bit too small. But once on, they fit perfectly (I got a small). They are definitely NOT designed for curvy chicks. For reference, I'm 5'6", 110 LB with not a whole lot to spread around on the bottom. I've had problems with other shorts/pants that at my normal size, the hip is too big but if I go down a size, the waist is too tight. They sit just below the belly button. The leg length on these is perfect as well. They hit just below the knees. The legs are just a little on the skinny side, so if you have super thick cyclist legs, these might pose a problem for you. But for us runners, they are perfect. The shorts have a very polished look - I got the grey, pretty universal but at the same time not boring with the contrasting colored thigh zipper. I only counted 1 leg pocket, not 2 per the spec on this site.

Now on to the fabric. The 3XDry treatment is developed by the Swiss brand Schoeller, which started the whole "soft shell" trend. It's very stain resistant. I accidentally spilled some hot chocolate, and it wiped right off with no residue. I can't attest to the water resistant part yet, but I have other pants with 3XDry, and water beads right off when hiking in the rain.

Finally, on to the super annoying part. Now ladies, if you would please turn your pants inside out and take a look at the crotch area - where about 4 pieces of fabric meet, what do you see? Yes on most reputable brands, the seam there is flat. Now for these shorts, the seam is not, and it's standing up on the inside. Imagine when you put these on, you feel something poking in your crotch area. How annoying that feels. I almost considered it as a deal breaker. But on a second thought, I wonder if my talented local seamstress can flatten the seams, because I like the shorts very much.

One more point. These are unfortunately made in China. Now, I am one of those who don't judge the quality by countries of origin. I think there are some terrifically high quality garments that are made in China (Arc'Teryx comes to mind). However, in addition to the annoying crotch seam (which I don't know if it's the Swedish designers or the Chinese manufacturer who mess it up), some of the seams on these shorts are not straight, and the tag is missing half of the threads. Not fatal because there is no holes, but something to consider.

Previous year model was pretty miserable - what's up with the drawcord and no waist band?! For this year, the fabric is also very water repellent - water rolls right off. Fit is great, although I don't really like the elastic band at the waist and I plan to take it to a tailor to have him remove it. I have a small hip, had to size down in order to not have fabric bunching up at the hip. The pants has got a really good stretch to it. I don't see any problem trying to lift up my legs while bouldering / climbing.

Got the Tivoli stripe, looks really cute. Love the stripes. The top feels very secure. Love the removable pads - good for those of us who don't have much on the top to show for. Only problem is that by sizing chart, I should have been an xs. But I had to order a small for the back to fit properly. So if you are considering this, might want to size up. On the other hand, as for the matching bikini bottom, I had to size down to an xs. (I'm skinny / athletic all around, not particularly shapely, so if you are similar body shape, you might want to do the same)

I love Icebreaker stuff - I have probably on the order of 15-20 of their shirts. But this is the first non-shirt/tank item I got from them. As other reviewers said, this dress is extremely versatile. That's really due to the classic styling, the color (black), and the look of the fabric. It'll never go out of style. The belt is a very nice add-on. I don't think it would have looked great without the belt. I have similar issues with one of the reviewers, in that I am skinny with not much stuff on the top. Although for me, the bottom fits perfectly. With the deep v-neck, this dress is really designed for athletic chicks with moderate top, and a skinny bottom. I am 5'6", 110 LB, and went with an xs, it works, though not a super perfect fit. But I'm going to keep it, b/c it's quite versatile, and still fits pretty well.

Just got the Randy Goat Hoody in the mail. It's both stylish and functional. Fit is excellent (I'm 5'6" 110 LB, x-small fits well, but I went with small to have a bit of extra room). The rich color, the dark stripes, and above all the material (New Zealand merino) make it a truly timeless piece.

Some specific points to consider: the hood is functional, although I'd consider it as more of a design oriented hood. It's big enough to fit my entire head, but it's not a technical hood - don't try to wear it with a helmet or something. Use it in a pinch. The front size of the hood looks like a scarf, definitely adds a touch of style. But that's where the bold play with the unusual design style ends, everything else about the hoody says "instant classic". Look at the color, stripes, and shape, everything spells "versatile". Sleeve has an athletic length - long enough to hold your arms overhead and not expose your wrist. Length is perfect - if you bend over or raise your arms, the bottom stays put rather than exposing your waist. Only thing I may add is a kangaroo pocket - but that might change its intended sleek style, though useful.

Although this piece is made of extremely technical material (merino), I probably wouldn't wear it on backpacking trips - the hood might feel unwieldy and hard to layer over. But from everything ranging from warming up in between bouldering sessions, casual apres dinners, to long term adventure travels, it'll feel right at home.

Got these in brown, love the graphics. They are very comfortable - it did take a couple of hours of walking around to break them in. I waterproofed these as soon as I got them, and applied the coating twice to make sure they are lathered well. Well, it was snowing and wet and slushy in Colorado, and these didn't get wet. If you get them, I definitely recommend the waterproofing procedure. Also, you need to get them 1.5 sizes bigger. I usually wear 7.5 in Salomon running shoes, but for these, I got size 39. Although they felt just a tad big, I think 38 would have been a bit too tight. These are made in Spain, and you can tell they are made of high quality.

My first impression after getting the shirt was how silky smooth it was. The wool couldn't be softer. It's pretty similar in quality compared to the Icebreakers, except this shirt is made in Canada as opposed to the IBs which are made in China. I took it out for a day of riding in the mountains today - spring conditions and I was sweating quite a bit. But I would have never noticed - the shirt was pretty dry in most places at the end of the day. The slightly damp areas did smell like a wet sheep. But after airing out for half an hour after we got home, the shirt was smelling new and good again. I got the black, which looks very good. Hopefully they will make it in other colors too....

I have this in mushroom color, and have been wearing it for 2 years and it still looks new. It fits my head extremely well (average size), and make it look good :-) It's hard to fall in love w/ a hat, but I'm a wool junkie and this hat is made of super soft merino. On top of that, Dohm Icebox is handmade right here in Boulder, CO, which makes it even more special (how often can you buy something that's locally made nowadays?). Oh and did I say it looks good on both guys and chicks?

This hoody is my second IO Bio piece. And it doesn't disappoint. All too often, you see technical wears that look, well, technical, and not urban enough. "Form follow function (Pati's moto)" or "function is beauty (Montbell)" have very limited applications in the urban environment. Well, IO Bio changed all that. They make stuff out of technical fabric, but they don't skimp on design. This hoody is awesome. It's made of 260g/m2 Australian merino wool. Having owned so many New Zealand wool garments, I honestly can't tell which wool is softer, but it's soft. The lining in the hood and the pockets are made from IO's Contact merino undies, and the graphic design is awesome (note the photo doesn't shown the lining in the pockets, but they are lined with the same design and material as the hood). I usually wear xs or sm in US brands, and I bought a sm in the hoody and it fits great. The length is longer than conventional hoodies, which is a good thing especially if you are tall. The longer length, coupled with the material, makes it a highly technical piece of insulation. It will be perfect for snowboarding in winter, and backpacking in summer.

Got the IO grid color and love it. The Australian merino wool rivals the New Zealand wool. Feels extremely soft, absolutely not itchy. The IO grid color is really awesome. It feels very refreshing to see another company to produce high quality merino garments while adding some pizazz to it (Mission Playground is another company that makes patterned wool undies, and even old Patagonia has added stripes to the wool tops this year). Be sure to order a size larger if you plan to layer it on top of another wool underwear. I usually wear xs or sm in Pati sizes, but I got the medium for this top and it fits very well. I wear it on top of another thin wool l/s, and it looks very presentable that I can wear it outside.