Contributions by Canadian Ski Bum (21)

Fabric-wise this shirt is fairly nice, but not quite what I was expecting. Honestly I was a little underwhelmed by it. Beyond that I can't tell you much because I haven't really worn it - it doesn't fit. I've been buying Arc'teryx for quite a while so it's not like I ordered the wrong size. According to the Arc'teryx size chart I should be ordering large size clothing. Most things I've purchased in that size have fit fine, but recently every so often I buy a piece of clothing and it is just way off. Such is the case here. This thing fits like a hospital gown. It gets very frustrating getting the clothing only to have to turn around and pay ship to ship it back. I'm sticking to exclusively to ordering Mountain Hardwear from now on. Their stuff is top quality and at least with them I know their sizes fit true to their sizing chart.

Comfortable and warm. The form-fitting compression fit helps to keep muscle vibration to a minimum, thus reducing muscle fatigue. It's very versatile - all alone under my softshell on a mild day or as part of a layering system when the mercury dips low. It's smooth outer face keeps other clothing from catching. It fits small, similar to Mountain Hardwear or Arcteryx.

Comfortable and warm. The form-fitting compression fit helps to keep muscle vibration to a minimum, thus reducing muscle fatigue. It's very versatile - all alone under my softshell on a mild day or as part of a layering system when the mercury dips low. It's smooth outer face keeps other clothing from catching.

The Windwall Glove keeps the wind out, but that's about it. The interior feels uncomfortable against the skin. The so-called grip is slippery and actually makes it harder to hold onto things. Shell out the extra twenty dollars more and buy the vastly superior Pamir Windstopper model instead.

I was at first a little leary about spending so much on sothing that seemed so flimsy, but my ski buddy swore by them so I figured I'd give them a try. They did not disappoint! They're light, but don't let that fool you...by keeping the wind out they reduce the need for bulky insulation. Unlike big, fur-lined gloves your hands don't sweat in them which makes a big difference throughout the day. I wear them while inbounds skiing on all but the coldest days. The grip is awesome for hanging onto poles or a steering wheel or anything else for that matter.

The prairie winters get pretty cold where I am, but keeping the wind out makes it so much easier to stay warm. The Windstopper softshell outer helps keep the chill out and the the Windstopper softshell outer combinied with the synthetic insulation keeps the heat in. For normal everyday use around the city this jacket is good for temps down to -20C or so. People are always asking how I can walk around in the bitter cold in such a 'little' jacket while they're all bundled up in their parkas. It also looks nice without appearing overly technical. For a cold day on the mountain you can remove the hood and wear it as an extra-warm midlayer under a shell. Pit zips are there when you want to cool down between runs. It compresses nicely to fit in a pack if things start to warm up. I've tried similar jackets like the North Face Redpoint Optimus, but with the added features of Windstopper, pit zips and removable hood this one beats it hands down for only a few dollars more. I would have been happy to pay a little more for PrimaLoft insulation, but otherwise it's all one could ask for in this type of jacket.

As a zip-in or mid layer it works great! It comes fully loaded...pit zips - something not even found on comparable models from other manufacturers for hundreds more (Most outer shells have them, but the midlayer is where they really work well to cool you off). It's pretty minimal when it comes to bulk - nice and light, yet still warm. It packs down nice and small, making it an ideal piece to put on in the morning and then throw in your pack for the afternoon when it warms up (or visa versa if it starts off nice and then turns cold). It also doesn't have the stiffness of a softshell and the ultra smooth nylon outer lets it move freely against the other materials you might have on, giving complete freedom of movement. The brushed inner feels super comfy. As a standalone outer layer it's a bit less hearty compared to other models, so if you're looking a synthetic insulation jacket to wear all winter you might want to move up the scale and try something a little more expensive. All in all, though I've only had to use it a couple times, it's been great for me. As a midlayer you couldn't ask for more.

Great for on the hill or just wearing around town in the cold of winter. I love the multitude of pockets for carrying all my odds and ends. Take the lining out in when you just need a shell, or zip it in when the temperature drops. Sizing fits pretty standard to other Mountain Hardwear products, but it's a bit smaller than some other brands. If you want a good quality, functional jacket but don't want to pay the premium price for GoreTex, this is the product for you.

I didn't know what good boots were until I got these. I moved up after a couple years on a pair of Performa 6's and WOW...what a difference! My feet feel locked-in and the boots are responsive without feeling uncomfortable. The only drag is the out-of-place red and white coloring on the inside of the boot (probably not coincidental that all the product photos are taken directly from the side so that you never see it) that looks so wrong on these things. I can't help but be reminded of old Zubaz clothing whenver I see it. Just a cosmetic detail though...otherwise they rock!

This shirt looks sharp and feels great to have on, but for a supposedly rugged shirt it just doesn't stand up. I've gone through two now in the past year. They snag on the smallest little things. Who wants to wear a shirt around with a bunch of thread pulls all over it?

I needed something light yet warm that could be used in the spring and fall or cooler evenings. I had tried the Arc'teryx Covert hoody, but found it very disappointing for the money - severely lacking any real weather protection especially when it came to wind. The Fugitive is a full zip, hooded version of the Tau pullover. I own the Tau as well, but love the Fugitive for its versatility. The Polartec Windpro keeps gives reasonable wind and water protection and the fleece inner is buttery soft and ultra comfortable. It could have used another pocket somewhere, otherwise it's awesome. If you're thinking of buying the Covert, spend the few extra bucks and move up to the Fugitive - much better bang for your buck.

Though it's not the absolute perfect pant, for the money it can't be beat. Great for skier or snowboarder, the Cargo pant has many features not found on more expensive pants. Tons of pockets. The mesh lining turns into a soft thin fleece lining around the seat to give just that little extra warmth while sitting in the snow or riding the lifts. The removable knee pads are a nice bonus too. If you are looking for a pant that's a little more burly looking than the rest, look no further. As for waterproofness, they kept me dry while skiing in the rain at Panorama this spring, so no problems there.

Had a chance to try these out a few times now and in terms of weatherproofness they seem to hold up well. The relaxed fit is stylish and quite comfortable and despite what the description says, they do have leg zip vents - on the inside of the thighs. However, I found a few issues while wearing them. First, no adjustable waist. There are belt loops, but that just means one more thing for me to forget to pack. Second, the cargo pockets are placed over top of the waist pockets. What good are they there? Lastly, the cuff guards are the smallest I've seen on a pair of ski pants, which worries me that I'm likely to be patching cuts in the future. As I said, as a whole they are decent pants, and much of these issued are just personal preference based on what I've been used to in the past, but from my own experience there are better options out there that don't have these problems. Try the Marmot Cargo Pant or North Face Freedom Pant instead.

Best value fleece EVER!!! For under $100 you just can't go wrong. Has all the features of a fleece worth twice as much. Great styling and good weight actually feels like you've got something on. With a napoleon pocket, interior zip pocket and the hand pockets there's always plenty of room to put your stuff. Plus I love the interior cuffs. One very small annoyance, you can feel a little coldness of the pitzip zipper on the inside of the sleeve when wearing just a t-shirt underneath. Could have used some sort of cover or lining there.

Looks like most everyone else here has drank the Arc'teryx Kool-Aid, but I purchased this sweater about a month ago and to be honest it's the first Arc'teryx buy I'm actually regretting. Sure, the super-soft fleece is ultra comfortable, the detailing is stylish and the cut fits well, but beyond that I really can't find much functionality-wise to justify the huge price tag. It's fine on its own as long as it's not too cold, but even a light wind cuts right through it. For the price, a little windproofing isn't too much to expect. It's good under a shell (except that I hate the feeling of a bunched up hood underneath), but no more so than any other of the dozens of quality pullovers and sweaters out there. All that comfort seems wasted to me because I can't wear it on it's own if there's even the hint of a breeze on a cool day. Like "Husko" says, there isn't much here that you can't buy for a lot less elsewhere. I think the Tau is a much better bang for your buck - too bad they don't make a hoody version. Definitely a case of buyer's remorse.

As good as it gets in shell technology. Super comfortable - never 'crinkly' no matter how cold. The minimal fleece lining makes the interior incredibly comfortable. It could do with some reinforcement or maybe a little different material in key parts though - I wear a small hydration pack and after half a dozen or so uses I've noticed areas around the chest and shoulders that have started to 'fuzz' due to the slight rubbing from the pack straps. I'm admittedly a little disappointed considering how much I shelled out for this thing. Hopefully it doesn't affect the jacket's performance down the road. Otherwise I'm completely happy.

Really great pant for winter activities. I bought them for skiing and they work pretty good, but really they are not made to be worn with ski boots. The leg openings at the bottom are fairly narrow and I find they tend to bunch and ride up quite a bit. Don't get me wrong...they are great winter pants, however, if you are looking for a pure ski pant consider the Freedom Pant instead.

Great vest for when you want to add a little extra warmth without a bunch of bulk. Perfect for those warmer days on the hill when you need a little more than just a baselayer under your shell, but a full midlayer jacket is too much. The primaloft insulation provides good warmth for such a light piece of equipment and it packs down super small to make it easily fit in your pack. Bonus: The interior MP3 pocket fits my iPod Nano like a glove.

Deceptively light...I was a little skeptical at first if this jacket would keep me warm as an outer layer during the cold Canadian prairie winter. Well, after the first really cold snap this year I'm a true believer! I wore it around town in -20 C (-4 F) temps with a light sweater underneath - no problem. The ONLY annoyance I have with this jacket is the design of the hood. As it is basically integrated into the collar as one piece, you can't really have the collar zipped up without the hood either on, or awkwardly bunched up at the back of your head/neck and around the ears. On top of that, I find the hood a little too big and without a drawstring or any way to tighten it it really doesn't keep nasty weather out effectively.

I'm a huge fan of Mountain Hardwear, but in my opinion they missed the mark slightly here. Like the other reviews say, this piece does its job well. It keeps you warm and dry in cool weather. Unfortunately I find it very itchy and irritating, especially around the seams, which seem quite thick and obtrusive. I've read this from other reviews as well. Maybe it's just a few people that have sensitive skin, but I have similar style garmets from other manufacturers and none of them have these issues. Of course this is all solved by putting a light base layer underneath, but then it kind of defeats the whole purpose of 'N2S'.

Can't say enough good things about this pullover. Sure it may be expensive, but it's totally worth it. Great as an outer layer on spring/fall days. Works excellent under a shell as an insulating mid layer. The inner fleece is so soft and the outer face repels water and wind effectively. One thing of note: I found the sizing to be a bit off with this piece. I normally fit perfectly into an Arc'teryx Large, but found I was swimming in this one. The Medium I exchanged it for fit great. Maybe the tags were mixed up at the factory?