GearFlogger

Outdoor Research Banff Bodysuit

Holy catwoman! Make no mistake, the Banff bodysuit from Outdoor Research confers superhero powers, just like the men's version, the Saturn Suit. It just doesn't get much better than Polartec Power Stretch 150 over every square inch of your body.

The Banff does the Saturn one better with full sleeves, complete with thumb loops. The back, sleeves and cuffs from the ankle down are made not from Power Stretch but from Motion Fleece, a thinner and even stretchier fabric with the same sheer facing. The sheerness is the goodness, because if you're using it as an inner layer it really reduces friction between layers for more freedom of movement. Its application on the sleeves and cuffs make it easier to slide on jackets and boots too, with no bunching.

The chest zipper has a neck guard to prevent vampire bites, and there's a rainbow style crotch zipper to answer nature's call. Front-to-rear rainbow zips are the way to go, revealing much less dainty flesh to the outside elements. Flat seams and overall excellent quality complete this awesome outfit, and the weight is light and right at an even pound. Comes in any color you want, as long as it's black. If you're deep in the doghouse, the Banff will distract the SheFlogger long enough for you to get out. Until the next incident, of course. See you then.

$198.95 at Altrec

REI Power Stretch Half Zip Top

An old favorite, updated AND on sale: the REI Power Stretch Half Zip pullover is made from one of our absolute favorite materials, Polartec Power Stretch. This material wicks great, insulates great and provides just the right amount of wind and water resistance to use stand-alone, or pair with serious shells for expedition wear.

The Half Zip format is simply a must-have; it vents well yet zips up around the neck when the going gets cold and/or the action stops. REI has changed their Half Zip a few times in past years, not always for the better. The last iteration moved the pocket to the sleeve, always an awkward place to stash stuff. If they're smart, they'll leave perfect alone this time. The pocket is back on the chest, and they've kept the slightly longish sleeves with thumb holes, another favorite feature. New to the piece is a handy loop on the inside neckline for hanging it up.

The hem drops a little long in back, nice whether you're a tucker or not. The fit overall is close but not constricting, thanks to the four way stretch and appropriate for a base layer where you want as much material in contact with your skin as possible to get maximum wicking function. The Half Zip makes a great stand alone cold weather aerobic piece and layers great thanks to its trim fit and smooth finish. Reflective strips around the zipper and a reflective logo on the right rear shoulder round it out. Verstatile, cool colors and on sale too; two thumbholes up!

$49.99 (on sale from $79.50) at REI

Mountain Hardwear Advance Lightweight Zip T

Hands-down one of the most useful pieces of mountain wear is the long-sleeve zip-t. Mountain Hardwear's Advance Lightweight Zip T is state-of-the-art, unbelievably thin and light with excellent durability and serious wicking power, thanks to a channel weave construction.

The Zip T weighs in at 5.8oz, the lightest piece of this kind that we've seen. My first concern was durability, but the Zip T shrugs it all off. If you're truly ham-handed and like to rip your clothing off you might want something thicker, but for normal wear-and-tear and abrasion-resistance the Zip T has no worries.

One nice touch is no pocket; since base layers by definition go on under layers I've never understood why some vendors insist on putting pockets everywhere. The Advance Zip T has a few subtle but truly appreciated touches. A zipper garage at the neck protects your gullet from zipper bites, a longish hem will provide good overlap with your bottoms as well as not leave a seam under your harness and hipbelt, and an anti-microbial Chitosan finish made from crustacean shells keeps the reek at bay.

$44.95 at Backcountry

Cloudveil Women's Run Don't Walk Zip T

If a man says something in the forest, and the SheFlogger is not around to correct him, is he still wrong? Hmm, deep thought. Let's say the SheFlogger is around, and she is royally pissed. I know, hard to imagine, but stick with me. You need to come up with something shiny fast.

Let us suggest the Cloudveil Run Don't Walk LS 1/2 zip. It's a nicely fitted piece that is sure to make up for your past transgressions, at least back through yesterday. The RDW is a mere 9oz and wicks like a svelte, perky demon. It's got reflective logos so you can see her coming in the dark, which is good because you won't hear her due to a close unflappable fit and a zipper that locks down for extreme quietude.

The deep ten inch zip will help her keep her cool in the face of your monumental stupidity, and the flat seams ensure that she won't chafe her delicate skin as she plants her size six in your bony chest. Ah, the passion! There's even a little stash pocket in the back for... well, her stash, I guess. The Polartec Power Stretch is smooth, stretchy and sure to please your high-output honey.

$85.00 at Cloudveil

REI OXT Pace Half-Zip Long-Sleeve Shirt

You can pick up the pace and we ain't talkin' salsa. REI's OXT Pace shirt has the oh-so-useful half-zip format we've come to love, and with one serious caveat, if you haven't tried half-zip pullovers the Pace could be a great introduction. It's a bit heavier than REI's Lightweight MTS long-sleeve zip-T for colder layering or lone-wear.

The caveat is this: the cut is really tight on the biceps, so you'll want to try this thing on first. I don't have the world's biggest guns but the Pace felt constricting and bunched up on my upper arms. If the cut works for you it has some nice extras that make it a great stand-alone piece: there are thumb-loops and an arm zipper pocket for small items. The loops are great for a little extra coverage on your hands when running or hiking, and they keep your cuffs down when pulling on gloves. The pocket has an interior headphone port.

The eminently breathable Pace has plenty of stretch thanks to the 9% Spandex weave and strategically placed pit gussets. There's a welcome bit of extra length in the hem and a full zip neck band with flap and zipper garage to protect your delicate neck-flesh. There's even a hang-loop inside, a nice bonus usually missing on these things. The Pace has reflective piping along the zipper and at the cuffs, but none on the back, so face into traffic or reap the WindStar.

$29.83 (on sale from $48.00) at REI

Patagonia R1 Hoody

Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits. Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried. Chuck Norris once roundhouse kicked someone so hard that his foot broke the speed of light, went back in time, and killed Amelia Earhart while she was flying over the Pacific Ocean. Chuck wears the Patagonia R1 Hoody when it's time to go ninja.

Want to get your inner Chuck on? The R1 is a base layer with a few really nice alpinist-friendly touches. First is the integrated 'clava-style hood, eliminating cold spots 'twixt neck and noggin. Second is the extra-long hem, which will stay put under a harness. Third is the thumb-hole on the end of the sleeves, which keeps your cuffs in place when you're sliding gloves on. There's a single zippered chest pocket in case you want to wear the R1 as its own piece for high-output aerobic activity.

The R1 may be the ultimate mid-weight layer. It fits like a second skin and moves effortlessly, thanks to Capilene 4 stretch panels under the arms. The checkerboard style interior weave picks up sweat and moves it out extremely efficiently. The face is smooth enough that layers will slide over it. And it's made of 60% recycled Polartec Power Dry. I think I need another one, because I'm going to wear this one into the ground. Thanks, Chuck!

$125.00 at Backcountry

Patagonia Rash Guard

Despite its name the Patagonia Rash Guard won't clear up that 'thing' you picked up in Buenos Aires. What it will do is prevent you from becoming an accidental organ donor by leaving half your epidermis on the water, ground or wherever it is you're abrading yourself.

Great for surfing, kayaking, backpacking, Brazilian jiu-jitsu or any sport where you want to minimize the chafe, the silky-smooth Patagonia Rash Guard slides on easily thanks to just the right blend of earth-friendly 84% recycled polyester and 16% spandex. The second-skin fit will help you get your superhero on as you charge off on your next epic.

The mock turtleneck design is available in short and long sleeves and even as a hoodie, so you can choose your degree of 30+UPF sun protection. Patagonia's usual attention to high quality details in their clothing shows: the flat seams make the whole piece feel like a single piece of material, and the front hem has a loop that will secure it to your board shorts. Very cool. Especially when you're very hot.

$55.00 at Backcountry

Patagonia Minimalist II Board Shorts

If you're the kind of guy who just doesn't get the whole baggy shorts that go down to your calves scene, Patagonia's Minimalist II board shorts are for you. It doesn't hurt the planet that they're made of 100% recycled polyester either.

The Minimalist II has a close fit and a short 8" inseam that let you swim efficiently, and the ultra thin material lets them disappear in your bag as well as dry in a heartbeat. The single zippered side pocket has a grommet for draining and a cool little shock cord loop for securing your keys.

The shorts have a flat fly with three buttons and a two-hole tie. In a really nice touch you can secure compatible tops like the Patagonia Rash Guard to the upper button using the top's hem loop. These very lightweight and comfortable shorts won't let you down; be sure to order a size bigger than your honest waist - quit suckin' it in, man - as they run a tad small.

$55.00 at Moosejaw

Mountain Hardwear Power Stretch Suit

Oh ho! They said it couldn't be done: dress myself head to toe in Power Stretch in a single piece. Well, they suck butt 'cause Mountain Hardwear comes through with the lazily practically named Power Stretch Suit. I like this suit so much I tried wearing it around the house as pajamas until I built up a big enough static charge to almost kill my cat. Ah, good times!

What you see is what you wear: one ginormous swatch of my favorite multiuse fabric, good for a heavy-duty base layer or light duty shell. Suits, like bibs, get rid of the breezy gappage, promote a chimney effect to pump warm air up your body and eliminate seams for a more comfortable pack fit. The PS material breathes great and moves with you, optimal for skiing, climbing and other high-output cold weather pursuits.

You can throw a thin top on under the suit, or a thicker one over the top. There's a single medium size external zippered chest pocket, a dual action neck to crotch center zip and a big, American-ass sized knee-to-knee rainbow zipper on the rear. The butt and knees are even reinforced, a nice touch. The price won't break the bank and the mere 1lb weight won't break the back; nice!

$149.95 at Backcountry

Mountain Hardwear Transition jacket

It's hard to think clearly about gear with all this gender-bending going on. Maybe that's the naming inspiration for Mountain Hardwear's Transition jacket. It's the unholy offspring of a soft shell and a base layer, made possible by 3-layer laminated Gore-Tex Windstopper Featherweight.

The Transition does a fair job of wicking and is definitely windproof. At a mere 13oz it doesn't sacrifice on features: side stretch panels, inner cuffs with thumb loops, zipper flap, reflective highlights and flat taped seams. The inner finish is a soft tricot kind of material, and there's a single small inner zip pocket with headphone port. There's even an elastic keeper a little higher up inside to route a cord through.

The fit is trim, including the hood, and the stretch material makes it a great aerobic piece. I love it for cross-country skiing in cold, windy conditions, or as just-in-case gear to throw in the pack. I used to have an early pre-hood version of this jacket and didn't wear it much because the seams were scratchy and it felt stiff. MH is obviously listening, because this jacket solves all those problems and is a perfect lighweight backcountry partner.

$150.00 at REI