GearFlogger

Marmot Torrey pants

Ah, the search for the perfect pant. Or pants. Whichever. I like to do my business casual shopping at REI and the like, and these days you can find styles that go from outdoor to office seamlessly, which is especially great for traveling.

The Marmot Torrey pants have been our go-to for active travel for over a year now, and we're still in love. Available in both a dark gray and khaki, the Torrey has been my go-to pant for dealing with the awesomely unusual hot weather the last few weeks. In the office the Torrey acts like a nicely-pressed khaki pant. No ginormous - and rarely used - cargo pockets here, just two open front hand pockets and two rear discrete flapped pockets, one with a zipper.

The waist has belt loops, a zip fly and snap closure, and the inside of the waist band is lined with a nice soft microfleece-like material. For trail use, the super-thin nylon/elastane soft shell has just the right amount of stretch and moves and breathes great. The crotch is cut for movement, so feel free to bring your climbing shoes. Oh yeah, did we mention it's UPF 40 for you sun worshippers?

There is very little to dislike about the Torrey; the material is noisier than cotton, but not so much that it's bothersome. It would be nice to have a smaller cell-phone pocket sewn into one of the front hand pockets to suspend a phone inside and above the main pocket, but these are minor quibbles. The Torrey is just about perfect for any weather and any wear, and we may have to spend our allowance next month to get the other color.

$74.95 at Moosejaw

Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer women's down jacket

It's a crazy, crazy world out there. Just when you think fast and light can't possibly get faster and lighter, along comes the Ghost Whisperer, Mountain Hardwear's ridiculously light seven ounce down jacket.

We tested the normal down version, but the version available now is filled with 850 power Q.Shield, MH's version of moisture-resistant down. We can't comment on Q.Shield, although we've tested the technology on other jackets and found it works as advertised.

The Ghost Whisperer is a minimalist's delight: features include two zippered handwarmer pockets, elastic cuffs, a hem pull-cord, and a full-length draft flap with zipper garage at the top. The 7D ripstop nylon shell is highly wind and water resistant, and after months of wear we can safely say it is fully downproof. That's no small thing; we see a lot of down jackets at GearFlogger, and it's common to see at least a little down leakage. With the Ghost Whisperer, not a speck. Ever.

The Ghost Whisperer sets a new standard for ultralight down jackets. The only quibble we have is the fit is a little tight around the upper torso. Maybe it's our massive superhero lat muscles (it's not our massive superhero lat muscles), and in any case it's only noticeable when reaching forward. As a layering piece or alone on shoulder-season days, you can't go wrong with the Ghost Whisperer.

$199.73 (on sale from $300.00) at REI

Howler Brothers Loggerhead Longsleeve shirt

Men like to multitask. This is a polite way of saying we're pigs. For example, the shirt you slept in last night? That's good enough for work today. If you're going to carry off this lifestyle and not scare away the women and children, you need versatile clothing that can keep up.

Howler Brothers allows us mud-dwellers to step it up a level. Their hot-weather clothing transitions from sport to port seamlessly. After living in their Magic Mesh Polo during the hot days this summer, cool fall weather brings out the Loggerhead Longsleeve.

The Loggerhead is all-polyester construction, certified at UPF 45. The details are dialed in, from the coconut buttons to the zipped stash pocket on the lower right back. There are even thumbholes, if that's how you roll. The Loggerhead looks like a classy two-button pullover for cool nights, but it's technical enough for hiking, biking and boating on a hot day. With Howler Brothers you can have it both ways.

$45.00 (on sale from $65.00) at Howler Brothers