Michael Lindsley

Whether you liked the 80's or not it's hard not to like the classic shape of the Frogskins. They sit comfortably on the head, fit most head shapes, and lend a sophisticated look in the summer. In addition to this Oakley has by far some of the best UV and anti glare technology, even without polarization. Think of these as an awesome take on classic driving glasses.

I am now on my third Custom X, and I still regard this as the go to board for daily riding. The response is excellent, as it carves well but is not so touchy that it can catch. It also has a very good smooth ride, without compromising the overall feel of the board. If you consider the Vapor the Ferrari (Fast but touchy) of the Burton line than the Custom X is easily the BMW M3 (Almost as quick but oh so refined). Everyone should own one as their go to board.

I love this board for two reasons; The feel on it is incredible, I can carve the terrain better than on any other board I own due to how well I can feel the snow beneath me. Secondly the weight is so incredibly lite. I have been snowboarding for close to 13 years now, and over the years I have beat myself up a bit. For this reason over the course of a day on the slopes generally joins and muscles strain a bit more quickly then they used to. When I combine the Vapor with lightweight bindings and boots the sheer lack of weight that I have to carry is incredible.

However I cannot recommend this board for beginner, and some intermediate, riders. The ride can feel a bit rough, and the responsiveness of the board and its edges can be a bit much at times. You need to wield a delicate touch when using this board, however it's well worth every penny.

The first thing I noticed about this jacket was the seam construction, or lake there of. This is excellent in a down jacket, as less sewn through seams means less cold zones for heat to escape. In addition to this it shuns the standard 550 fill rated down for a jacket of this price, and bumps it up to 600. I also love that it has an integrated powder skirt. If you are like me you have a few hard shells that lack this feature, but you still like to use them on the mountain. This powder skirt is awesome as it allows you to use these shells over your jacket as a more snow sport focused piece. Well thought out design. Kudos to TNF

TL;DR Excellent mid layer piece, our outerwear on dry days.

This particular jacket hits the sweet spot of good features, good price, and good styling, in one piece. The down insulation at 550 fill power is excellent for it's recommended casual use. In addition to this it's also fully waterproof, and the HyVent technology has decent breathability. If you are not a fan of the faux fur you can always remove it, or the hood altogether, for a sleeker look.

TL;DR Excellent streetwear jacket with higher end features.

For those of you yearning for the technical specs on this jacket they are as follow:

10k / 10k MVTR Rating
80/20 DWR Finish
550 Fill Power down insulation
Fully taped seams
Removable zip in powder skirt
Internal goggle pocket, and leather goggle chamois.
Tricot lined pockets
MP3 player pocket with headphone pathways
Two way pit zips
Polysuedge chin lining
Pocket key clip
Stretch wrist gaiters

Chances are good if you are familiar with Holden you know they are a classic snow sport brand, well known for their quality. I have the utmost trust in most of their products and this is no exception. The price point is excellent for a down Holden Jacket, the fully watertight construction reduces the need for a hard shell (thus reducing the weight, and the classic straight fit allows for moderate layering underneath.

Over all if you are on the market for a good, warm, ski jacket this is an excellent choice.

TL;DR Fully featured for the money. Good price point for a Holden product.

With this particular jacket it seems as though Peak Performance is trying to hit that moving target of the premium quality seen in Patagonia or Mountain Hardwear, but with the aesthetic quality of Moncler or Aether. Regretfully with this particular design you get a compromise on both.

I was excited to see the blend of synthetic and natural down insulation, as this does add improved resistance if the insulation happens to get wet. It also explains the slightly heavy weight for this jacket, as synthetic insulation does tend to weigh a bit more. The shorter length is also decent, as it does allow for easier layering under a hardshell while wearing a bib style pant.

So why one stars? It all comes down the price point. At $3-400 this jacket would easily garner five stars. However at this price point I expect a fully watertight jacket, with seam taping, highly breathable materials, and full down insulation to increase warmth while reducing weight. If the jacket were waterproof it would not need to have a blend of synthetic down mixed in. You can easily find a down insulated jacket (800 fill rating or higher) in the closer to 1 - 1.5 lb mark, and fully waterproof, from Peak Performances competitors.

TL;DR $3-400 features in an $700 jacket.

Ride is known for decent, rugged quality, and this jacket is no exception. For those of you whom are curious it utilizes a 550 fill power down insulation.

To start off with the pros of this jacket the fully seam sealed, and watertight zippered construction, are rarely seen in a down insulated jacket at this price point. In addition to this the fit is roomy enough that you can easily fit a couple of layers underneath for extra warmth on cold days, and the long length is great for full back coverage.

However this jacket does leave some room for improvement. The down fill is a medium quality, having 20% feather to 80% down. Most companies now utilizes a 10 / 90 minimum in down to feather ratio, as it helps prevent down from leaking out via feather punctures. In addition to this if they were to upgrade to a 700+ fill rating they could further reduce the weight, by requiring less insulation, while increasing the warmth.

TL;DR Good jacket for the price, but not the best option on the market in this range.

I took a trip to The North Face store here in Portland, OR and ran into the same issue. The jacket fit fine, and had a decent amount of down, but the feathers were poking out along the seams quite a bit. Looking at the other jackets on the rack it seemed to be a common problem. I suspect the feather to down ration in this jacket is a bit higher than most, in the feathers favor. For this reason the harder feathers are causing down to leak out. I would check out something offered by Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, or Patagonia instead.

DC has a great deal of potential to dominate in the snow sport market, as they have a large and loyal customer base already. However with this particular jacket I do have a few qualms. The fit is listed as baggy, which is very accurate as it is very loose. The problem is that the down insulation is only truly effective when held snugly against the body. For this reason every time I moved, so did the air inside the jacket, and it was never able to really warm up to it's full potential. I would like to see a slightly trimmer fit for the insulated portion, as well as disclosure of the down type included int he jacket.

I like the styling of Spyder products, and the fit as well. It is a nice not too loose, not too tight, cut across the board. In addition to this I like the fact that this particular product is a slightly longer length than most companies offer. The only real problem with this particular jacket is that their is not anything particularly unique. At the price point, and the feature set, why not purchase the Patagonia or Mountain Hardwear versions that are more heavily insulated and provide a higher quality? If Spyder wants to get into the down sweater competition they have their work cut out for them.

This jacket is very unique, which works both with and against it. To start off with what I liked about it I will first mention the fit. It has that classic, loose, snow sport cut to it that allows for excellent layering underneath. However slimmer guys may find it to be a bit baggy, as I did. In addition to this the ability to zip the jacket into a corresponding pair of Volcom pants is a feature I wish would be standardized across the industry. Nobody likes powder rider up their jacket after a spill, but you don't always want a full suit. The zip in option is excellent for this.

So with all these good points why 4 instead of 5 stars? I am not a fan of the storm flap covering on the chest, instead of a watertight zipper in an almost $500 jacket. In addition to this the MVTR ratings are a little low, as they should be more on par with a Gore-Tex Pro Shell or eVent laminate at this price. However that being said I am sure a great many people will love this jacket and make it there go to piece.

Just like its hooded brother the Patagonia Down Sweater is an essential piece in any gear heads closet.

The fit is slim, but not tight, and holds the insulation properly against the body where it traps the maximum amount of body generated heat. In addition to this the material is soft, and supple, comfortable against the skin, and breathes very well. Lastly the chest pocket is an excellent edition as it is poised perfectly for quick access when this garment is worn under a hard shell.

I will admit it, as much as I love my Mountain Hardwear and Marmot gear the Patagonia Down Sweater is a staple in any gear heads closet.

It begins with that classic slim Patagonia fit, that holds the insulation snugly against the body without feeling tight. In addition to this the 800 fill down is of excellent quality, and wicked soft. I find myself wanting to wear just a t-shirt underneath this guy, because it is that comfortable.

In addition to this the inclusion of a chest pocket, with enough room to hold a standard mens wallet or iPhone means that I do not have to worry about fitting necessary items where they can be easily accessed. Still a classic, and I hope Patagonia does not change it.

I have a great deal of Burton products in my closet, and they have been very reliable throughout the years. Especially those which are part of the AK line. That being said I was a bit disappointed with this jacket, considering that for the price it should have significantly more features.

For instance offerings by Burton's competitors in this price point tend to offer premium synthetic down fill, or an 800 fill rating. In addition to this while the 2 layer material offers the awesome waterproofing Gore-Tex is known for it also suffers from the breathability issues that are known to plague Gore products. This is something that can be compensated with synthetic insulation, however with down any build up of condensation will greatly effect the ability to keep me warm.

On the plus side it's not all bad news. The styling is excellent, on par with Burton's latest offerings. In addition to this the use of a YKK standard zipper also means reliable function and easy repairs if necessary.

This is going to be a very popular choice for those whom are looking for an excellent mid insulation choice. It features 850 fill down, giving it a higher rating than offerings by competitors Patagonia and Mountain Hardwear, and weighs in at a svelte 18 ounces, based off of the size large. I also like the fact that they utilize Pertex material in the face fabric, as it is highly abrasion resistant.

This particular jacket is awesome as an insulating mid layer, or an outer layer on colder dry / calm days. It features 700 fill power, making it one of the best insulated pieces that Columbia Sportswear offers, and the fit is true to size. In addition to this the security pocket on the inside is perfect to fit both a wallet and an iPhone, and the mesh goggle pocket easily fits a pair of Oakley Crowbars. In addition to this it is one of the few jackets on the market that features a two way chest zipper. If they added in wind proofing I would easily give it 5/5 stars!

This jacket is awesome, not only for it's heritage, but it's versatility as well. The material is a soft supple softshell type, that oddly enough does not seem to snag or pill with regular use. In addition to this it utilizes Dry.Q Elite, which makes it the lowest priced air permeable laminate jacket in the MHW line up. In addition to this the fit is loose enough that you can layer underneath it easily, and use it in cold wet weather. My only qualm is that it does not feature a powder skirt. Add in a removable powder skirt and I am sold for life.

Take a look at Everest photos, or maybe some behind the scenes shots of the Planet Earth crew during their arctic filming. Notice a big puffy guy with a boom sporting that nut logo? How about an athlete at base camp getting ready to attempt one of the great peaks. This suit has long been known in the industry for its incredibly warmth, waterproof / breathable / windproof design. I got lucky and had the chance to demo it on Mt. Hood in Oregon. I lasted all of 20 minutes before I was too warm in sub freezing conditions. Excellent technical climbing suit.

Whether you know it or not you have probably seen this jacket, or its full suit brother. This has long stood as the professional athletes choice for a high altitude insulated jacket. The 800 fill down is incredibly tight, and welded baffles prevent the cold zones inherent in sewn through baffle construction. In addition to this the fully watertight design is not only breathable but cuts out 100% of windchill. If you are serious about mountaineering you need to own something like this.

Excellent jacket, great features, compressible and warm. The material can be a little prone to snagging, then again a material that light weight will inherently have a trade off. The chest pocket is awesome. It sits high enough that it is not pressing the contents directly against the chest, and is easy to access from under a hard shell without fully unzipping the content. The included stuff sack is a nice touch. This should be an essential gear piece in every outdoor enthusiasts closet.

This is easily one of the most comfortable pieces that I have used. Incredibly lightweight, and the material feels soft against the skin. In addition to this although the jacket is filled with 800 fill rated down the amount of sewn through baffles allows for excellent temperature control, to help you keep from overheating. My only qualm is the exterior of the hood. I wish they would add a more water resistant material on the outer portion, as down loses all of its ability to retain heat when wet.

I was excited when I first say the Fairhavens, and living in Oregon I knew I would need a waterproof shoe. I tried them on in the store and they felt awesome, I showed them to the friends I was with and got the style thumbs up, and the fit / road feel was excellent. Supportive, but not numb. Cushioning, but not soft. So why the tree stars? It all comes down to the tongue. It does not feature a stay to secure it in place via the lacings. Due to this while running, and even casually walking, it tends to drift off to the left or right. At first you don't notice it, but after a bit too much drift it gets very uncomfortable. If they could fix this I would easily give it five stars.

I will admit it, this jacket is loud. Like 'Am I suddenly back in the 80's and acid wash jeans are cool again?' loud. However it serves a purpose. This jacket is certainly geared towards a snow sport user. The bright colors increase visibility on the slow, the jacket itself only weighs 2.8lbs. In addition to this the laminate they use breathes wicked fast. When I was demoing this jacket I found myself heating up, but at no point did I feel too warm. In addition to this on the ride back up the lift I didn't suffer from that extreme chill you experience halfway up. Kudos to Columbia.

I really like this hoodie; its soft, warm, and comfortable. I only wish it had a more 'true to size' cut. I am 5'9, and about 140lbs (except after thanksgiving dinner), and find that the small still fits pretty loose. I understand I am not the biggest guy, but this fit me a bit more like a medium would. If you are a slimmer or more athletic built customer I would recommend purchasing one size down.

This is an excellent emergency shell, or general use shell, especially for the price. However don't expect to be wowed by it. While it is definitely watertight the breathability is not incredible. I do not sweat a great deal but still found myself feeling a little humid in warmer wet weather. The good news is that it definitely works in regards to keeping you dry, and the roomy cut allows for good layering.

I loved this jacket. It is a nice edition to the Heat Elite offering, as I found that the original was much too bulky. This one is not as heavily insulated, which you can tell from the moment you try it on, but it is soft and warm without being too warm. In addition to this the lower profile design makes it excellent under a hard shell. While I cannot recommend it for use as a stand alone jacket it does make an excellent layering piece.

I would like to start off by saying I heard about this jacket around 6 months before it came out, and was stoked to get one! I almost ordered one sight unseen, in whatever color I could find first. However being a fairly thorough guy I decided to try it on first.

I will preface this by saying I am not the largest guy out there, at 5'9 and 140lbs. However I have always found good fit with Mountain Hardwear products. From the moment i tried on this shell I liked quite a bit about it. True Alpine fit, held close to the body and snug but not tight. Very comfortable face and backing materials, soft supple waterproof zips, and good flex across the body.

The only real challenge I came into was the length. Generally Mountain Hardwear lists their center back length off of the large size option, and you add or subtract an inch for each size you go down and up. This gives the Drystein a center back length of 27 inches for the size small. This becomes a challenge because my mountain hardwear insulating layers (Nitrous, Compressor, Zonal...) all exceed the length of the jacket. I am generally not overly picky about length, however I do believe that a companies product line should work together cohesively.

All of that being said I still decided to pick one up. Their new Dry.Q Elite technology is truly, and very noticeably, breathable. In addition to this purchasing a bib pant solved the mid layer problem, and the fit overall was awesome.

This jacket is like that piece in your closet that wants to be your go to winter coat, but isn't quite there yet. Let's do a quick run down of what I felt were the ups, and the downs, of the new Hunker Down Jacket.

To start I loved the fit. At 5'9, and 140lbs, I am not the biggest guy but I have longer arms and find while most smalls fit in the body sleeves are short. This was not the case with the Hunker Down. The sleeves extended just slightly past my wrist, and the adjustable cuffs kept them from sliding up and down during use. In addition to this the feel of the coat was nice, sitting right at my belt line, and close to the body, but in a non restrictive manner.

To break down the insulation, which of course is the key feature in this jacket, lets talk about how well I found it worked. I generally run a bit cooler than most people but I still felt comfortably warm using this jacket in near freezing weather. However I do wish they had chosen 800 fill, rather than 650, as it could reduce on the bulk and made the whole thing a bit lighter. I also was impressed with the DWR, but did find that anything beyond a light rain or bit of melting snow, would overpower it. Still it fits okay underneath a hard shell, just not as well were it slightly bulky.

One feature I want to point out is that the abrasion resistant material wraps around the entire wrist area of the sleeves. This is awesome, as it means the velcro on the cuffs will have a barrier to work through before wearing away at the surrounding fabric.

TL;DR version; Good all around jacket, but not awesome. Gets the job done though.

With the loss of the Sub Zero and Sub Zero SL products offered by Mountain Hardwear the Chillwave does an excellent job of filling in this space.

A slightly less heavily insulated version than the Absolute Zero, this particular jacket utilizes the new Dry.Q waterproofing technology. I would consider this a significant improvement as it involves the partnership of eVent and Mountain Hardwear, making it one of the most comfortable weather resistant jackets on the market.

I personally found that it ran slightly larger than some of Mountain Hardwear's other products, however nowhere near as large as companies like Columbia Sportswear or entry level North Face apparel. I am 5'9 and 140lbs. The reason I mention this is because when wearing the Chillwave in size small it sat about 2 inches below my belt line, which offered decent but not full rear coverage. The sleeves sat comfortable at my wrist, extended about an inch beyond the wrist line.

Let's talk about features. The velcro adjustable cuffs were a nice touch, however they tend to rub the material around them a bit creating some abrasion wear. The storm flap zipper covering is nice, but a waterproof zipper would be a preferred choice. I also enjoy that it is fully windproof, however I am curious as to why they would back the face fabric while not taking the extra step of taping the seams for waterproofing. This is a glaring oversight at a $340 MSRP.

I also enjoyed the micro-chamois lined collar. It gives a lightweight velvety feel that I found made me want to lean my face against, due to its soft and warm texture. I also enjoyed the way that the insulation was held against my body, offering warmth but in a non restricting manner.

Overall I would say that this jacket is a good choice for the price, but leans closer to the 3.5 out of 5 star mark rather than 4.

To begin with don't be alarmed if you purchase the Nitrous and it sheds a bit. I have ran into this as well, and after a bit of research it is common for the Nitrous to leak down in small amounts over time. One trick that I found is by pulling the feathers back into the jacket from behind, preventing a hole from forming and more down falling out.

To get down to the actual use of the jacket I have worn mine in urban settings, going from the office to the car, as well as on hikes and as a mid insulated layer for snowboarding. It has performed very well in all of these situations, keeping me warm without over heating. I suspect that this is due to the 800 fill down, and very low denier face fabric.

It could do with a slightly heavier duty DWR finish, if you plan on using this as an outer layer, and the missing chest pocket this year is a bummer. I love to have a quick access pocket high up, so I do not need to fully unzip my shell to get to it.

One key feature I felt was really helpful was the inclusion of a two way zip on the lower left pocket. This allows you to stuff the whole jacket into it's pocket, and it even includes a loop to hang the packed jacket from. The contrasting interior color on the blue is very nice as well. With some minor improvements it could earn 5 stars.

I have owned the standard Caribou for years, and they have generally been my go to boot. The traction is optimal when used in packed or slushy snow, although the tread offers less surface area on ice. I love the rugged construction, and the ease when getting them off and on. It could do for a revisit in the sizing as they do run big. I generally wear sizes 9 - 10.5 depending on the brand, however in the latest Sorel's (including the Caribou) I have been purchasing a size 8. This still allows for room to use a heavy wool sock. They are standard 'D' width for those whom are curious, although sizing one full size up feels very much like a 2E. In addition to this the waterproof is not via the use of a membrane, such as Gore-Tex or OutDry. Instead they use what appears to be a rubberized backing along the seams, as well as a waterproof full grain leather upper.