GearFlogger

Sierra Designs Gnar Lite down jacket

What magic is this? Down that is dry? Just when you think innovation in outdoor gear has stalled out, along comes new tech like the Sierra Designs Gnar Lite down jacket. It's been out for a couple years now, but it's still state of the art and even better, you can find it on sale!

The Gnar Lite uses 800 fill DriDown, which unlike a lot of vendor buzzwords actually means something great: the down feathers are treated with a polymer to make them ten times more water resistant than untreated down. As a result DriDown retains 170 percent more loft when wet and dries 33 percent faster, according to SD. Other claimed benefits are increased durability and better warmth to weight due to its ability to resist normal background levels of humidity such as your own skanky sweat you nasty pig-dog of a creature.

The treatment doesn't wash out over the normal lifespan of garment, and it doesn't add any measurable weight. Given the overall wonderfulness of the technology it would have been easy to overlook the other design choices in a jacket, but SD didn't even break stride. The Gnar Lite is based on a proven design and is a rockin' jacket in its own right. Weighing just 11 ounces, with three of those ounces being fill weight, the Gnar is a beautiful minimalist light down jacket that is comfortable down into single digits.

A polyester ripstop shell houses two zipped hand pockets backed by two open interior stash pockets and an interior zipped chest pocket. The zipper parks in its own little garage to prevent a chafed neck, and there are thumbholes on the cuffs if you're into that, you kinky bastards. Even if you're not, the cuffs are cut a bit long and have an elastic opening, which is great both for pulling over and slipping under glove cuffs. There's an internal hem drawcord, and it even comes with its own stuff sack. The sack is redundant, because you'll be wearing the Gnar everywhere; it has that "livable-ness" that almost prevented it from getting reviewed since it so quickly became just the thing that lived on our back. And yes, the colors are just as cool as they look. Highly recommended.

$157.73 (on sale from $229.00) at REI

Sierra Designs Flash 2 tent

Sierra Designs is one of the leading innovators in outdoor gear these days. The Flash 2 tent is a great design that provides quick pitching and great livability if you're willing to pack just a little extra weight and give up a bit of storm tolerance.

The Flash 2 is a three season, two person shelter that weighs in on our scale at 4lb 4oz for the complete package, including guylines, stakes, tent, sack and poles. Or should we say HOLY MOTHER OF GOD POLE! There are two poles, one just a meter long and the other an unholy conglomeration of three poles in an H layout. Don't let yourself be intimidated, it actually speeds up pitching a lot. Just snap everything together, lay it on top of the tent fabric and you should have it done and done within a few minutes. It's really pretty slick.

Once up you've got a hybrid single/double wall design. The main part of the tent has a bathtub floor and mesh walls and ceiling, with a permanently attached fly that has two small awnings at the ends and two large vestibules on the sides. Here's where the magic comes in. Each side has it's own big-ass door, and this combined with the steep inner walls makes it feel very roomy inside, especially for those of us who have come to expect that "two person tent" means two very good friends (make your buddy smile!). It's a neat design for those who spend a lot of time in a tent. Each person having their own vestibule makes gear storage a snap, as well as facilitating those late night and early morning "call of duty" exits. There is superb ventilation, and two small flaps on the ends can be dropped for a marginal increase in airflow.

The Flash 2 is a little porky weight-wise, but not so much for the increased livability. The only other caveat is that it's not a free-standing design, it really needs to be staked out, and guyed well in high-wind areas. Other than that if you're looking for a little more room, easy entries and exits, and the increased storage and utility that two vestibules offer (camping with two dogs?), the Flash 2 is waiting for you.

$270.73 (on sale from $339.95) at REI

Sierra Designs Super Stratus down jacket

Sierra Designs has been a Gearflogger fave for years. Our first experience with DriDown was their Gnar Lite jacket, which has been first in rotation when Fall weather hits. Now the choice is tougher with the new Super Stratus DriDown jacket, SD's warmest backcountry piece. DriDown, in case you've been on a desert island, is a treated down that resists moisture longer, dries faster and insulates better when damp. And oh yeah does it work as advertised.

The SS is basically is the Gnar Lite on steroids, but in a good way (don't do drugs kids!). The SS runs true to size and has a more generous cut, more poofy-goodness 800 fill DriDown, and a drop hood. The single-cinch-cord hood is fully helmet compatible, even with the higher volume models out there - yeah, I'm looking at you Petzl Meteor.

The hem has adjustable cords in each pocket and has a longer drop as well, which combined with the two-way zipper makes the Super Stratus a killer belay parka. The sleeves have a little extra length and elastic cuffs with thumb-holes that are helpful in belay-slave mode too, providing a little extra warmth over your hands while you wait for Hangdog Harold to GTFO the rope.

Pockets are standard: inside zipped chest with cord port and two exterior zipped hand warmer pockets. On the inside are also two big open dump pockets with a a little secret: a fabric loop that you can use to clip hats and gloves and stuff in if you're really worried about losing it. If you're looking for an over-jacket for belay duty or any cold weather application, the Super Stratus is a fantastic jacket at a great price.

$279.00 at REI

Sierra Designs Tov women's down jacket

Sierra Designs is really hitting it out of the park with their latest down jackets. We were impressed with the Gnar Lite men's down jacket and its DriDown technology, but what really made an impression was when we realized it had suddenly become our everyday go-to coat.

SD does SheFlogger a solid with the women's Tov, featuring 600 fill DriDown inside a design that manages to hit all the right notes. The Tov has a cut that looks flattering on the curves, but it doesn't go all nuts with overstitching. The down compartments are roomy enough to loft completely, making the Tov toasty warm.

The elasticized hood drops around the collar to maintain the Tov's good looks, but don't mistake this piece as being all flash: the DriDown means performance, and the Tov wants to hit all the ice climbs and powder stashes you can find. The two-way zipper makes it a great belay jacket.

Two zipped hand pockets, an inside zip pocket and an inside dump pocket leave room for the essentials and a bit more. There are thumbholes if you're into that, a full length zipper flap and dual hem and hood draw cords, and a low-volume helmet fits nicely under that sexy hood. The Tov is one of those items that is hard to review because it's always out in the field, and that should tell you all you need to know about this stellar jacket.

$259.00 at REI

Sierra Designs Enforcer glove

Oh ho ho, and what have we here? Just a smokin' hot pair of ski gloves from Sierra Designs. The Enforcer glove has the look, no doubt, but it also has the mojo to rip it up on the slopes or anywhere you need warm, waterproof and padded hand protection. In fact, you may be looking at the perfect ski mountaineering glove.

The Enforcer starts with a waterproof/breathable Tropozone insert, adds G150 Thinsulate insulation and wraps the whole enchilada in supple deerskin and tough nylon. Of course there's a soft snot rag on the back of the thumb, reinforced leather palms and perfectly sized gauntlets - with drawcord and leash, natch - to keep the powder where it belongs: outside.

The fit on the Enforcer is fully dialed in: these articulated gloves are all about dexterity, and you won't have any problem working your poles or handling a belay device. And here's the really cool parts: the palm has gel and foam padding to soak up shock from those bomber pole plants, and on the back of the hand is a zipped pocket sized for a heat pack to add a little extra warmth when you need it. If you're looking for a backcountry workhorse of a glove that handles like a sports car, check out Sierra Design's Enforcer.

$108.95 at Altrec

Sierra Designs men's Revival and women's Jubilee packs

It's a pack-a-palooza! Sierra Designs, absent from the pack market lo these many years, storms back onto the scene with two of the most livable general purpose packs we've humped. Humped as in hiked with, not... you know.

The men's Revival and women's Jubilee have identical features for both the men's and women's 65 and 50 liter models: floating top lid with two compartments; spacious main compartment with six inch drawstring collar and hydration pouch and dual hook hangers; front pocket with two mesh open pockets; shove-it pocket; dual water bottle pockets (quart bottle sized on the 65 and slightly smaller on the 50) and dual waist belt pockets suitable for camera, snacks, or a gerbil.

There are more lashing points than you can shake a forked stick at, including dual trekking pole and ice axe loops. The shoulder straps have a clip high on the right strap for a radio, GPS or whatever, and on the left is a bottle opener which is more useful as a carabiner clip-in for additional gear like bear spray or an LSD pez dispenser. Why don't they sell those anymore?

The organization overall is outstanding. From the inner zipped security pocket with key clip in the top lid, to having pouches on BOTH sides of the waist belt instead of just one (pet peeve here at GF), to the really cool secret stash feature: the inside of the front pocket has a hole at the top to reach into the main compartment, and the entire piece of fabric separating the two compartments zips open top to bottom to allow easy access almost to the bottom of the main compartment. You have to see it to realize how insanely useful it is.

Fit is very comfortable on both models, with a plastic framesheet and single aluminum stay providing plenty of backbone for loads up to 50 pounds in the Revival and 40 pounds in the Jubilee. The hip belt is a pull from both sides design - love it! - and there are load lifters, snuggers and two compression straps per side on the main compartment to really dial it in. The shoulder straps on the women's model are curved in all the right places, and the massive shoulder and hip pads make absorb trail shocks nicely. Bottom line: highly recommended.

Men's Revival 65, $239.95 at Altrec
Women's Jubilee 50 $199.95 at Altrec

Sierra Designs Rad jacket

B-I-G. That was our first thought passing the waterproof breathable Sierra Designs Rad jacket around. The sleeves hung down past our fingertips, and the whole jacket has a boxy feel about it. That said, it's kind of a comfy boxy. If you've got an ape index that's way up there and are looking for something to cover a long torso and longer arms, or just like to wear your shell over your poofy insulation, a little Rad'll do ya.

The Rad is a burly 1lb 9oz jacket, with big beefy zippers and Sierra Design's nice little personal-massage-device-shaped zipper pulls. The pit zips are generous, as is the pocket selection (five external and four internal!) and size. The low-down handwarmer pockets are truly comfortable to rest your mitts in, and the chest pocket has a nice deep lip on it to prevent things from tumbling out when opened. The two sleeve pockets are big, but somewhat awkwardly located: objects in the inside left bicep pocket tend to settle at the inside of your elbow, and the inside right forearm pocket has the same problem with objects settling against the inside of your wrist. On the bright side all exterior zippers (all five!) are waterproof.

Interior pockets are fabulous. All are a stretchy fine mesh, with the two lower pockets being oversized, easily swallowing quart bottles, and the two uppers smaller. The lower left and upper right are zipped, while the upper left and lower right have an elastic opening for quick access. Got all that? One thing the Rad totally gets right: an oversized chin guard that gives you that warm fuzzy feeling even when the helmet compatible hood is down.Full adjustments include hood (3-way!), waist and hem drawcords and rip-and-stick cuffs. The only thing missing is a powder skirt.

Waterproofness and breathability are excellent, with fully taped and sealed PVC-free seams; and don't forget the monster pit zips if you need them. The zipper flap has velcro squares every five inches that do a nice job of keeping the flap secured, and the main zipper is two-way so you can unzip bottom-up if you need to accomodate a harness. The roomy fit does a great job of giving you room to move, whether you're poling hard in the pow or reaching high with tools. Overall, the Rad is an interesting design at a reasonable price point. If you're a cargo cult type who likes to carry a lot of stuff in your jacket, or if you have the wingspan of Tommy Caldwell, the Rad might be your ticket to ride.

$238.95 at Altrec

Sierra Designs women's Lunatic Hoody jacket

"The lunatic is on the grass..." Well sure, but that's just California, and that vote legalizing pot would have passed if any of them had remembered to vote. Anyway, if you're heading to the dark side of the moon and need a little soft shell company, check out the Lunatic Hoody from Sierra Designs.

The Lunatic is a shapely little number that comes ready to climb from the top down, starting with a spacious helmet-compatible hood that provides excellent rotation for your brain bucket and a generous brim to keep the nasty off. The Barricade soft shell material sheds light precipitation effortlessly and provides just enough stretch to move with you.

One zippered chest and two zipped hand pockets are complemented by two interior stretchy tight-weave mesh pockets, a small right side zipped pocket and a larger open top inside lower left pocket, perfectly sized for a pair of bulky gloves, a hat or a 20oz water bottle. Dual sided pull cords snug the hood and hem, and rip and stick tabs big enough to be operated with gloves on take care of the cuffs. The Lunatic is a lot of jacket for the money, and the feel is top-notch, especially the interior which is velveteen soft. Men looking for a gift take note, it's a perfect ten on the get-out-of-the-doghouse scale.

$168.95 at Amazon

Sierra Designs Gnar jacket

Sierra Designs throws a few curves in its new down jacket, the Gnar, available in hooded and naked, and in men's and women's. We tested the naked men's version; the fit looks to be different on the women's, which has a much more contoured look. The Gnar is a lightweight 11.7oz 800 fill down jacket with a down-proof nylon DWR ripstop shell. That's easy enough. The curves it throws are in both the fit and the features.

The fit is boxy in the torso for a medium. This is not necessarily a bad thing unless you're looking for a trim fit for stand-alone or inside layering use. If you're the kind of knuckle-dragger who throws his down on over his shell, or if you've got a barrel-chest appropriate to growing up at Machu Piccu, you'll appreciate the extra room in the torso. The sleeves are cut long for another curve: thumb-holes, common in fleece layers but a first in our experience on a down piece. Again, neither good nor bad: if you like thumb-holes (we do) or you just like a little extra length in the sleeves you'll really appreciate it. The elastic cuffs and adjustable hem keep the drafts and powder out, and a full-length zipper flap and garage make a nice little nest for your chin. One quibble: the zipper pulls are teeny-tiny, almost unusable with anything thicker than liner gloves, so you'll need to tie off a cord pull of some kind because it's not included.

Both hand pockets are zipped as is the external chest pocket, which could use a cord port. The inside pocket arrangement is a bit peculiar: each side has a 6in wide by 8in deep pocket toward the front next to a narrow 2.5in wide pocket toward the rear. The narrow pocket is not really useful; anything you drop into it disappears and has to be pushed back up from the bottom. Except for numchucks, which stick out the top perfectly. On the left inside only is a single zippered stretchy mesh pocket on the inside of the large and small open pockets, spanning both. It would have been better to simply have this useful - and zippable - mesh pocket on both sides, and just ditch the open pockets.

That said, inside pockets are unusual and appreciated in a lightweight down piece like this. If you must have the pockets, and the sizing works out for your body type, you'll find the lofty and highly-compressible Gnar delivers on what it's supposed to do: keep you warm without taking over your pack.

$198.95 at Altrec

Sierra Designs Jive jacket

Sierra Designs has decided that carbon based life forms deserve carbon based clothing. They've partnered with Cocona to produce what you could call either a hard soft shell or a soft hard shell, depending on how you see your glass. The very wearable Jive jacket uses Cocona's xCellerator fabric, which is derived from coconut husks and has a very soft hand while providing highly breathable waterproof protection.

The lightweight (one pound) Jive makes all the right moves. The reach-across chest pockets don't interfere with your pack's waist belt, and they have mesh backing so they partner effectively with the pit zips to vent your next-to-skin nastiness outside to where your partner can enjoy it. The pit zips start just below the pit and extend to the elbow; at first we were worried that wasn't sufficient venting but it seems to work just fine, probably because the fabric itself breathes so well. Also, pack straps usually get in the way of pit zips that go farther down the torso so the design makes sense.

The hood is helmet compatible, although wearing a helmet does cause the hood opening to ride up over your chin, especially with larger volume helmets like the Petzl Meteor III. Oddly enough we liked that just fine, and the hood is articulated enough that it provides excellent visibility side-to-side. We're very particular about hood design around here, and we really liked the lay-flat design of the Jive's hood, and the fact that the fairly trim opening kept the elements out even while open.

The microfleece zipper guard rests comfortably against your chin, and the rip-and-stick cuffs, hem and hood drawstrings provide ample adjustments. There is a left bicep pocket that is just tad too deep as items fall around your elbow, and an inside left zipped pocket on the chest. Performance is great; light rain sheds quickly and heavy downpours stay outside thanks to the waterproof zippers and fully taped seams. Breathability is good while buttoned up and great when fully vented. There's minimal clamminess if (when) you overheat, nothing that a light wicking layer - which you're wearing anyway, right? - can't easily handle. Built for backpacking, Sierra Designs bills the Jive as a 3-season jacket. We think they're selling an excellent jacket short, and there's nothing to prevent it from doing winter alpine duty as well.

$279.00 at Sierra Designs