Contributions by Gabe up in Maine (3)

I got my Mountain Khaki Utility Pants about a year ago and have worn them two to three times a week. So that's about 130 days with them on and about 50 washes. No doubt, these are some tough pants. The price tag is pretty steep, but they're at least twice a tough as regular pants and far more comfortable than Carhartts, so they're a good value. I like the cell phone pocket and the gusseted crotch. I'll get another pair when these wear out, but it could be another year or two or, heck, maybe even five. I always wash them in cold water so they don't shrink.

I won’t review gear unless I’ve owned it for at least a full season of hard, everyday use. The Fission AR is one of the most indispensable winter products I own. It’s astoundingly lightweight, compresses easily and holds in an incredible amount of warmth without overheating. I wear it climbing in all weather, snowboarding and around town on cold days. I live in Maine and it’s usually perfect with no insulating layer under it, just a wicking base layer. The hood is a bit big for my needs (I wear a helmet, but don’t put a hood over it), and I do wish it had interior pockets. Sleeve gaskets seal nicely over my wrists. The waterproof zipper does its job nicely without a bulky storm flap. If it had a powder skirt it’d get an A+. As is it gets a strong A.

I only review products that I've owned for at least one full season. With that in mind, I think the Maverick SV is a fantastic jacket, but there are a few caveats. First the good: The material (Polartec Thermal Pro) is fantastically warm and shows no signs of wear or pilling. The plush, fuzzy pile liner holds a lot of heat, even down to 35 degrees. The wind-blocking/breathability compromise is nearly perfect. It's allegedly four times more windproof than regular fleece and 85% as breathable. It's body-hugging form layers well and it's perfect for snowboarding if worn under a thin Gore-Tex shell. Now for the bad parts: The sleeves are absurdly thin at the forearm and cuff. I have a small wrist for a 6ft 1in guy and it's perfect for me. Were I any thicker in the wrist, I think it could dig in to me. I also think it could use pit zips. It does have a thinner, non-insulated material in the pit area, but nothing beats opening up zippers after a long ride down the mountain. Finally, I wish it had a neck cinch. It gets a bit drafty in the neck on very windy days. And the pockets. They are the largest, most mysterious pockets I have ever seen. They are the entire front side of the jacket on both the left and the right side. Not bad, just weird. Overall, I'd give the jacket an A-. It’s insanely versatile, but not perfect.