GearFlogger

Under Armour Streaker Run Quarter Zip Shirt

Under Armour deserves recognition, if for no other reason than successfully maintaining the British "ou" in their name in the American market. That aside, their gear deserves consideration by anyone who needs to keep their cool outdoors, and their Streaker Run Quarter Zip long sleeve delivers.

The Streaker - and c'mon, give it up for the name! - starts out with a great fit. It's not too clingy, not too loose, and the flat seams mean no chafing no matter how much you writhe. And we know you like to writhe, so stop it for a moment. The zip is the perfect depth as well, about 8 or 9 inches. We'll let you make your own comparisons. The material is UPF 30, and there's a full-length zipper flap and a neck protector at the top: check, check and check.

What's different about the Streaker is the light reflecting logos and stitching to help keep you safer in low light traffic. Bonus! Yet the ultimate test is, of course, funk resistance. We're happy to report that the Streaker tapped our skank out with no problems. We've always held that a lightweight quarter zip long sleeve shirt with some degree of sun protection is an essential piece of gear in any outdoor wardrobe. The Streaker may cost a bit more than the average shirt in this format, but it's a quality piece and the reflectivity is smart.

$54.99 at Under Armour

Lems Mariner Sonora Shoes

If you're the kind of person who thrives on minimalism, chances are you've looked at Lems shoes for your footwear needs. If you haven't, it's time to start. Lems has a rich stable of minimalist footwear for your every need, and in case your every need involves any kind of activity on the deck of a boat, well they've got you covered there too.

The Lems Mariner Sonora is the love child of a moccasin and a boat shoe, and although moccasins aren't known first and foremost for their stylishness, the Sonora must take after the other parent because she's a beauty. Kind of like how Liv Tyler is somehow the product of Steven Tyler. You get the idea.

The Sonora is a featherweight, a mere nine ounces of raw, breathable leather with no lining and a zero drop. They really shine when you slip them on barefoot, providing just the right amount of protection and padding while maintaining a zen-like connection with the ground. This is helped by the fact that they do have just a bit of pronation, rolling the foot ever so slightly inward. We normally expect some discomfort when breaking in a new pair of shoes, especially barefoot, but weeks in the Sonora have yet to produce a single complaint.

The leather laces easily stay locked in all day, and the soles have excellent traction wet or dry. The toebox is a tad wider than normal, and your toes will thank you for the extra room to spread out. Added bonus: the shoes wipe clean very easily for you clodbusters out there. As a boat shoe, travel shoe or just for lounging around, the nonmarking soles let you go anywhere in perfect comfort. We still feel that given their focus on quality and design, Lems shoes provide some of the best footwear value around.

$105.00 at Lems

Pearl Izumi Trail N3 Shoes

Gearflogging is hard work. I know, I know, "What do you mean? What about the naked speed-dating in a giant chocolate fondue fountain?" Sure, and that's fun and all, but eventually you have to sober up and actually get on your feet to, you know, go do something. And when that something is running, we cringe because we know a little part of us dies with every step. That's because running is insanely boring, repetitive and redundant. And repetitive. Maybe that's why 2 million people came to their senses and stopped running last year. Seriously, that's not bitter us talking, that's science! (Ed: that's not science, that's a wanton misreading of the data.)

In any case, there is one exception: trail running. Running in the woods is awesome, not least because once you're behind some trees, you can stop running and just puke your hungover guts out in blissful solitude. And yet there are ways to make even trail running suck, and that's with minimalist running shoes, which allow you to feel the full pain of every rock and root that you land on. Road runners clued in a while back to the fact that more padding is better, and now the revolution has come to the backwoods: behold, the Pearl Izumi Trail N3.

The N3 has a whopping 30mm heel stack, yet manages to feel supremely nimble and stable in all directions thanks to a wicked grippy sole. A beautifully tuned rocker ensures that every bit of energy you put into your stride is seamlessly translated into smooth forward motion. The uppers are supremely breathable, and the seamless construction and muted colors make the N3 a truly classy looking shoe that can walk to the office as well as pound up a mountain. The toe bumper provides adequate protection versus the inevitable incidental contact, and the no-slip laces really do stay put. After a month solid on our feet, wear is minimal.

The Pearl Izumi N3 is the real deal: high performance plus extreme comfort in a tough and good-looking shoe that can stick with you anywhere. Highly recommended.

$135.00 at REI

Leatherman Skeletool Multitool

Some marketing exec at Leatherman is sitting around one Saturday morning, probably stoned, watching Masters of the Universe and eating a third El Capitan-sized bowl of Crunchberries. Because stoned, because Colorado because legal now. "Skeletor," s/he thinks after watching the evil villain be defeated by yet another dumb do-gooder trick, "is a Skeletool!" Hmm, s/he thinks, I could use that...

Luckily the product engineers are sober (ish) and able to convert, and the result is the best backcountry multitool available. It's light at 4.9oz, and it's efficient, with just what you need: blade, needlenose/regular pliers, wire cutters, four double-sided bits (Phillips #1 and #2, flathead 3/16 in. and 1/4 in.), removable pocket clip and wiregate 'biner clip that doubles as a bottle-opener. A $12.95 bit kit available separately gives you a chromosome's worth more double bits (40 total) including Pozi #1 and #2.

The feature set is impeccable, the quality typical Leatherman high-bar, and the usability great with an adjustable. The fine blade is a versatile drop-point with a thumb-hole for one-hand opening. The CX version costs a worthwhile $20 more over the full stainless version and adds four things: a scratch-resistant coating (nice), a 154CM blade (very nice), a piece of carbon fiber in the handle (um, OK, subtract 1 gram in weight - no, I'm not kidding) and a serrated bottom half of the blade (best for cutting cord and webbing). Kudos to Leatherman, this is the perfect backcountry companion.

$89.95 at REI

Black Diamond Magnetron VaporLock Locking Carabiner

Carabiners are the glue that holds the climbing world together, and you can never really have enough of them in your kit. Black Diamond has always made stellar biners, and with the introduction of their Magnetron technology - available in the VaporLock, RockLock and GridLock models - one-handed locking and unlocking has never been easier.

We've always loved the VaporLock for its light weight, pear shape - effective for increasing friction on belays - and general all-around utility, including the ability to effectively work a Munter hitch on ropes up to 9.4mm. For those reasons it's been our go-to biner on three trips up Denali. Last time up we tested the Magnetron locking system on the RockLock and GridLock and found it to work great, even in subzero icing conditions.

The Magnetron VaporLock is only a fraction of an ounce heavier than the screwgate model - 2oz versus 1.8oz - and otherwise nearly identical. Both models have large gates to accomodate their respective locking mechanisms, and the nose profile on the Magnetron is slightly larger to house the steel inserts for the magnets to grab onto, but you won't notice that on your rack. What you will notice is the ease of use, resistance to snagging thanks to the keylock nose, and large 20mm gate opening. If you're only rocking one locker on your rack, the Magnetron VaporLock is the way to go.

$27.95 at REI