GearFlogger

Coalatree Trailhead Pants

Sometimes there's a product that we know we need to review, but we just keep putting it off, and then when we finally get around to it we think, why did we wait so long? Thus it is with the Coalatree Trailhead pants, pants that receive crazy good reviews everywhere you look because... well, they really are a great pair of pants. Once we starting wearing them, our problem became finding time to take them off to review them.

We have a soft spot for gear that does multiple things well, and the Coalatree Trailhead pants fit the bill. Let's start with the most important thing: they are ridiculously comfortable. They're made from four-way stretch material that is light and breathable and is fairly water-repellent to boot. The stretch is perfect, just enough to move with you for any activity including high-step climbing on your favorite boulder problem, but no so much that it snags when you're bushwhacking to your favorite fishing hole.

The material is light, but tough as nails on the outside thanks to its ripstop nylon material. A lot of pants with ripstop nylon don't feel that great on your skin, but the Trailhead pants have a soft, brushed finish on the inside that feels great and helps with wicking away sweat. Speaking of sweat, it won't be as much of a problem because the Trailhead material is pretty lightweight.

The elastic waist includes belt loops and a drawstring, and the cuffs have drawstrings as well, great for cycling or climbing. Pockets are perfectly basic, two open hand pockets in front, a Velcro closed pocket right rear and a flap pocket left rear. If there's anything we'd change about the pants, it would be to add a zipped thigh pocket for phones, and maybe ditch the rear pockets, but we're nitpicking here.

The fact is Trailhead pants do it all with style and performance. Hiking, biking, climbing and meeting friends afterwards for a cold one in town, it's no problemo. If there's a downside it's that it's easy to find yourself living in the Trailhead pants for days at a time, so do yourself a favor and maybe pick up an extra pair in a different color. We wore the normal fit and it worked great for us, but if you're on the thinner side they have a slim fit option as well.

$75.00 (on sale from $89.00) at Coalatree

Coalatree Kachula Adventure Blanket

Around Gearflogger HQ we know Coalatree for their fantastic do-everything Trailhead pants, but they have a much broader product lineup that includes shirts, shorts, jackets and various other stuffs. Among the stuffs is an interesting find, the Kachula Adventure Blanket, a multipurpose blanket that can do extra duty as a poncho, pillow or sleeping wrap. We checked out the Realtree version, because we have an eight-year-old boy who is obsessed with being invisible in the woods, but there are plenty of travel-inspired colors and patterns to choose from.

The Kachula has a patterned top side that is made of a brushed nylon flannel, and a bottom side that is black ripstop nylon. Both sides are treated with a durable water repellent finish, and they're both pretty durable, water and stain resistant, and soft on bare skin. The Kachula weighs in at two pounds with the included hood, and you can roll it, fold it or stuff it into its built-in pocket to convert to pillow mode. Pro tip: after you stuff the Kachula into its own pocket, fold the hood nice and flat and slip it in the side where your head will rest to avoid lines on your face in the morning!

There are snaps along the long side of the blanket, and just by snapping together two at sternum level and attaching the hood you have a serviceable poncho that covers you to the waist in front and below the knees in back. It's open in the front, but that's useful for working with your hand to prepare food and such, and if you sit you can gather the material in front of you for full coverage above the knees. The Kachula does not work as a tubular full-length sleeping bag, unless you're a very skinny child, but it does work to wrap yourself in or to cover a sleeping bag taco-style. The abundance of snaps allows multiple Kachulas to be connected if you want to roll out the flotilla at the concert or picnic.

Overall we found the Kachula to be a great-looking performance blanket for everyone from families to couples to solo travelers. The poncho configuration is truly useful because it's quick and easy to set up and provides good coverage. The materials and construction are high quality, durable - bring on the dog! - and easy to care for. If you're looking for a blanket that can adventure as hard as you do, check out the Kachula from Coalatree.

From $79.00 at Coalatree