Contributions by AWDlover (5)

"Beater" is another term for what we call "Texas skiers" or "Oklahomans." You know, the folks who stay in a $1,000 per night condo at the resort but ski in jeans, Cowboys sweatshirts, baseball caps, and the cheapest Salomon rental gear they can find. Or, if they actually own gear, it's of identical vintage to the old Kastle and Olin boards nailed to the wall above the fireplace in the resort bar.

The Sixteen Penny is made from an interesting casual fabric -- it's nylon, but it feels like cotton canvas. It's not water-resistant, but it does dry rather quickly. My biggest complaint is the sizing: it is ridiculously oversized, even for a casual jacket. The bottom portion of the jacket balloons out near the waist, instead of tapering or remaining straight like most other jackets. This is very odd, since it's not especially roomy in the shoulders. The snaps at the side take about an inch out of the overall diameter but do little to alleviate the ballooning, and they always come undone anyway. It's an interesting try at a casual jacket, but the bizarre cut prevents it from ever leaving my closet now.

These boxers fill a necessary niche in my base layer lineup. The fit is close, like a boxer brief, but they're long enough (about mid-thigh) to avoid riding up. They layer well under tights. The fabric is smooth and soft. So far, the anti-odor treatment has lived up to its billing: while not 100% stink-free after several days of continuous wearing, they're must less pungent than any other base layer fabric I've tried. In comparison, my older Patagonia Capilene boxers are nearly unwearable after just two days.

These are some of the best midweight long underwear I've tried (and I've tried a lot). I especially appreciate the comfortable waistband and the smooth seams. The fit is great: tight enough to fit smoothly around the legs, but not constricting. Excellent under a thicker layer such as the Marmot Powerstretch tights. So far, the anti-odor treatment has worked. No major pungency after several days of wearing, unlike other brands' offerings.