WINTER GEAR GUIDE - CLOTHING
Montbell Ignis Parka
If you follow this site from one season to the next, you’ll know we’re Montbell fans. Montbell makes lightweight minimalist gear for lovers of fast and light adventures. Their down jackets have no equal. They pack high fill down into light jackets that pack up tiny. But if you could take any points away from Montbell, you could say that some of their pieces sacrifice durability at the sake of minimal weight. It’s hard to make a featherweight piece that holds up to years of abuse. While I would call many of Montbell’s down jackets classics, none have been as functional and detailed as the Ignis Down Parka. First, the Ignis has 1000 fill power down, which simply means they put a lot of warmth in a thin package. As you know, down is pretty worthless when it gets wet, so they protected it with a waterproof/breathable GoreTex Infinium membrane. Montbell says this jacket is best suited to cool to cold conditions where moisture could cause problems. Basically, it’s the perfect jacket for Pacific Northwest Winters. This has become my go-to jacket for around town comfort as well as mountain adventures. It just handled a gusty night snowshoe on Mt. Hood with confidence. I find that the Infinium membrane really boosts the warmth retention of this jacket. Other touches like lined pockets and soft material around the face are welcome. The velcro closures on the cuffs are minimal but completely functional. I’ve found that for cool temps, I just run a thin wool base layer, and for cold temps, I just run a midweight base layer, and an optional thermal mid-layer for true cold. I can’t recommend this jacket enough. It will become your new favorite jacket and you’ll get every penny you spent because you’ll wear it all winter. I’m guessing it will last several seasons too.
7mesh Skypilot Jacket
7mesh has really made its mark in the cycling clothing market with obsessive outerwear that simply works wonderfully and fits just as well. The Skypilot is actually an evolution of their well-loved Guardian Jacket. The Guardian was great because of the fit, the light weight and the sheer comfort of the 30d C-knit backer fabric. We thought we would miss velcro closures on the cuffs, but we don’t. We love the generous hood that fits easily over a bike helmet. There are no unnecessary barrel locks or hardware. Just pull on the elastic cords to cinch the hood tight. The pockets moved down a bit on the Skypilot, whereas the Guardian has pockets that are placed to be accessible when wearing a pack. I definitely prefer the placement on the Skypilot pockets. We absolutely love the Skypilot for being as protective as it is and still taking up minimal space when packed. The bottom line, though is that its simply comfortable to wear and provides excellent protection. Another essential piece from 7mesh.
Kitsbow Icon Shirt
I finally got a chance to try out a Kitsbow Icon Shirt! As a long time fan of Pendleton shirts, I was anxious to try out Kitsbow’s take on them. What drew me to Pendleton’s are the lovely colors and beautiful plaids. They last forever too. We’ve followed Kitsbow’s story for some time, having taken an editorial trip years ago to their headquarters in Fairfax, CA. They’ve sinced moved to Old Fort, NC and have committed themselves to making as much product in the USA as possible. So, what’s different from a vintage Pendleton? Well, as you can see in the photo, they’ve lined the inside with a breathable mesh, perhaps to keep the wool away from your upper back. The shoulders and elbows are lined with Schoeller fabric for water resistance and added durability. The fit is perfect. Some models of Pendletons fit strangely, but the fit of the Icon is cut to move, but still looks great off the bike. We go on and on about how we love versatility in our clothing. If it’s a piece you love and you can wear it both on and off the bike and you wear it day in and day out, then it’s well worth the $220 price tag, and you have a shirt/jacket that you’ll get years of pleasure and use. We like we’re Kitsbow is headed.
Houdini Thrill Twill Pants
We’re still getting to know Houdini. This is my second pair of pants and for some reason, I decided to size up to a Large, perhaps based on the model photos, which said 6 foot model wore a large. My Commitment Chinos were a favorite as well, but they were a bit short in the leg. I chalked that up to the style, but now having tried a size up, I think the mediums were just a bit small for me. I have literally worn these pants every day since I’ve gotten them. They have a bit of sportier look to them, with their zip front pockets and tapered legs. I thought maybe I could wear these mountain biking. I just wore them showshoeing with merino long underwear underneath and they were perfect. I love that kind of versatility. I want pants that work for every activity that I want to do in a day. Houdini calls their approach to patterning “Made to Move” I’ll let them describe it: “Made to Move is an innovation in garment construction. Instead of traditional 2-dimensional pattern cutting, we have draped the garment on a moving body from a single piece of fabric. This way, you get a pair of pants that will follow every stretch, bend and reach you make.” These are great pants that I’m guessing I’ll keep wearing until they wear out. Oh by the way, Houdini makes clothes that are completely recyclable. If you bring a new brand to market these days, you have of offer a new way of doing things. I think Houdini has a few tricks up their sleeve.
7mesh Gryphon Long Sleeve Crew
Such a simple piece that works for a lot of different situations. It’s basically a fleece sweatshirt, but 7mesh puts their impeccable paneling to work to make it fit well for a body in motion. As far as I can tell its the same Polartec Powergrid material that they used in their Mission Jersey, but the cut of the shirt is slightly baggy and not as form fitting. The warm and wicking polartec material is 38 percent recycled content. I’ve worn this crew around the house, I’ve worn it mountain biking, as well as XC skiing and showshoeing. That kind of versatility is hard to beat. One of my favorite new pieces that I keep coming back to. Warm, breathable, and wicking. Highly Recommended!
Montbell Super Merino Light weight Round Neck Shirt
I’ve been super impressed with Montbell’s merino base layer top. As I said with the Houdini pants, sometimes you get a sample piece and you just want to wear it every day since it’s so dang comfortable and it just works. It seems Montbell found the sweet spot for lightweight wool. Some winter days in Portland are close to 50 degrees, and you just need a shell or mid weight thermal piece. This Super Merino top seems to wick well, while offering a good deal of stretch. The hem is a bit on the long side, but I don’t feel that it gets in the way, it just offers coverage for winter activities - tuck it in and go! I just discovered the “Spiral Slant-Tec” cuffs while shooting this top. In Montbell’s words it “eliminates the bulky seam stitches while providing better fit.” I appreciate small little details like this that prove they’re thinking about your comfort as a technical layering piece. The only thing that prevents me wearing this top everywhere out in the world is the fact that it’s a bit sheer and a bit thin to wear out and around, which keeps it solidly in the base layer category. A great piece that will get lots of use regardless.
Gore C5 Thermo Jersey
I think maybe I’m new to thermal jerseys. I can’t be sure. I put this jersey on and didn’t want to take it off. It’s perfectly warm and fit like a dream. I’ll avoid it though, if I put on any holiday weight. It’s what GORE calls Aero fit, for dedicated roadies. I’m not sure if I qualify, but it’s nice to have some form-fitting pieces in the closet in case I need to layer a jacket on top. The only quibble with this jersey is that the back pockets are snug, meaning they hug the jersey and don’t necessarily expand much. If you’re one of those riders that packs the kitchen sink for your long rides, this may be a deal breaker. I like that GORE is designing to keep your overall look sleek, and I’ve had plenty of room for my emergency jacket and cell phone. Overall a very warm and comfortable jersey that I’ll be glad to wear throughout the winter.
Gore C5 Thermo Bibtights+
The Gore C5 Thermo Bibtights PLUS are perhaps my favorite bibtights of the season. The first thing I noticed about these tights was the fit. They fit like they should with no excess bagging, and not overly snug. Gore calls this fit FORM FIT. Next, (and this is why you buy GORE), is that they’ve placed Windstopper material along the groin. While perhaps not entirely necessary, who would say no to some extra protection up front where you get wind and spray blasting for the duration of your winter ride. The straps are so comfortable, I never notice them. They disappear under your jersey. For all of my rides, these have been the perfect weight. They seem perhaps a bit warmer than some of my other bib tights. Highly recommended.
Santini Alpha Glove
By now you know that Polartec Alpha is the magic synthetic fill and is showing up in all kinds of clothing. Frankly, I didn’t expect it in a glove liner, maybe as a layer in a glove, but not a standalone glove. Of course, these are liners that you’ll need to pair with a shell, but I had to try them out, since they’re so dang light. I paired these with a barely-there Montbell mitt shell. My concept for these was an uber light emergency hand warrmer to bring bikepacking or hiking. So far I’ve tested them snowshoeing on Mt. Hood and they worked really well. My only ding is that my samples arrived with some gaps at the seams, so that doesn’t bode well for long term durability, but time will tell.
Montbell U.L. Shell Mittens
These are basically windbreakers for your hands. It’s worth noting they weigh only 9 grams! As Montbell says, “Ideal on windy cool gray days when a bulkier option would be too much, use the UL Wind Mittens solo in late spring thru early fall and pair them with a light thermal glove for a versatile system when tackling colder conditions.” I’ve had good results with these snowshoeing on Mt. Hood so far, and I’m going to include these in by bikepacking kit. Maybe not ideal for grip on technical terrain, they’ll be great for keeping chilly winds at bay.
7mesh Co-pilot Jacket
It’s been a wet winter here in the Pacific Northwest, and La Niña has given us her worst, so I was thrilled to be testing the newest version of the Co-pilot. While 7mesh calls it the “ultimate back-up shell”, I’d say it's more of the ultimate, maybe-rainy-day (aka every day this winter) jacket. Packing down small and light enough that you don’t have to give it a thought if it’s not actually raining when you head out the door, gives complete confidence that you’re covered no matter what the day brings. I especially appreciated the relaxed fit that gives a little extra breathing room on warmer days, and enough space that on colder days I can easily layer up underneath-- even with a thin puffer-- and not have trouble zipping up. I found the zippered pocket to be plenty for what I needed to carry without missing out on a second place to stash stuff, and the sleeve closures have semi-elastic so your wrists are protected while you can easily get your arms in and out. Time and again, I’d marvel at how the Gortex Paclite® material kept the weight so low. That being said, it doesn’t seem flimsy and I’ve even worn it on dry days as an extra layer to keep out the wind. Whether for mountain biking, commuting, or gravel riding, you’ll be covered with the Co-pilot.
7mesh Revo GoreTex Shorts
I’ve been coveting the Revo shorts for a while so I was excited when they arrived to give them a spin. They are especially attractive to me as not only a mountain biker, but as a daily commuter (yes, I’m an essential health care worker and I’m riding to work this winter when I can). The problem with most rain pants is that on my long commute unless it’s a total downpour I end up sweatier on the inside than I would if I wasn’t wearing rain protection at all. So the Revo cut-- designed with a scalloped opening to cover the front of the knee (with pads on the trail!) while a bit shorter behind allows for great protection while still allowing for that all-important airflow. A total game-changer for the rain rides here in the Pacific Northwest that is often more of a drizzle than a deluge. The gusseted construction makes them more durable where your bum hits the saddle feels a bit strange when standing disappears on the bike-- a well-executed 7mesh design. The one caveat I have is that while I’m usually a women’s size L (American 10- 12), the supposedly “relaxed” fit is slim on me and hits my waist very low. If I were a longer-torsoed woman, I think the waistband might be too low, and if I was closer to a solid size 12, the large would be too small, so you might want to size up.
7mesh Gryphon Crew Long Sleeve
Nubby and cozy and just about perfect. If I could own 3 or 4 of these I would be in heaven. After wearing it the first time, I found myself planning my laundry days so it was ready for the exact adventure-- or work day-- I wanted it for. The cut on the Gryphon is slim enough it’s flattering to wear it as an everyday piece, but also designed well enough that whether I was skiing, biking or hiking it wicked well and somehow kept me warm without overheating. The inner surface of the shirt has what they call the Polartec Power Grid, which is really just small squares a few millimeters in wide and long that make the most comfortable, tiny nubs and bring an intense comfort to the design. Hence why I want to wear it all the time! The length is well designed-- I’m a bit short-waisted, but there’s plenty of coverage for those that have longer torsos. It’s also easy to care for and while I find many mostly-polyester shirts get stinky quickly with as much as I sweat, after many wears and washings the antimicrobial is still going strong, which is a huge plus for me. This is one of those occasional pieces that actually make you look forward to the dark, cold days of winter.
GORE R5 Women Gore-tex Infinium Tight
I was looking for a good new winter tight for XC skiing, hiking and bike commuting. I really quickly fell in love with the weight and wind protection of these tights. The material was soft against my skin and didn’t cause any friction, while still keeping out the elements. I especially appreciated the long ankle zippers that made them super easy to take on and off-- no yanking at the bottom remove them. My one issue is that though they are advertised as a “slim” fit, I found it to be too small-- and by that, I mean it fit my skinny legs great, but where many women who fit size large (myself included-- I’m usually an American size 10 or 11) and are a little softer around the belly-- the fit at the waist was too small. It was so small in fact that it’s a little tough to pull them up over my hips but worse yet, I sometimes get panicked trying to get them off in a timely fashion when I’m using the facilities-- especially if I’ve sweat the least bit in them as they tend to stick to my skin. The waistband was sometimes a bit uncomfortable when I was seated-- driving to the trail or riding the bike. If you’re soft at all or are deciding between a large or XL, I’d recommend sizing up as even for those of us that are athletic these are not true to size.
GORE Thermo Long Socks
I was not expecting to be “wowed” by a pair of socks, so when we were sent these to test they weren’t the first things I grabbed for. But on that very cold day, I was heading out on my bike, I figured it was time to check them out-- and boy, was I impressed. Since the fit is a bit bulky, I was expecting the 40% poly/30% wool blend to make my feet sweaty-- the death knell of warmth. I was pleasantly surprised to find how both cozy and wicking these socks were. I didn’t get the dreaded chill from sweat build-up, and they kept the cold air out much better than anticipated. I loved them so much, I’ve tried them hiking, xc skiing and snowshoeing all with excellent results. I do save them for the coldest days, as here in the humid Pacific Northwest a sock this sturdy isn’t always necessary, but I’d highly recommend them for any active day below 40℉. I usually wear a U.S. shoe size 8 (Euro about a 39) and these were a touch roomy, but again, they performed perfectly so I’m not sure if that’s not how they’re intended to fit and the lovely grip design through the foot and mid-calf held them nicely in place with nary a blister.
Trail Butter x Territory Run Co. Loowit Athletic Trucker Hat
I’ve had my eye out for one of these technical ball caps. I’m not trying to be a baller, I just like keeping the sun (and sweat) out of my eyes. I like that Trail Butter teamed up with Territory Run Co. on these. It would be easy to pop for cheapo Chinese caps, throw your logo on there and mark them up, but no, Trail Butter found a cool local company and made a cool collab instead. That’s how you do it, folks. I mean, their business is food for the trail, but if you’re going to bother to put your logo on something, the overall effect says something about the brand. In this case, I’d say they care about their community and they care about quality. Those are the kinds of brands we stick with. Keep on truckin’, with Trail Butter!