GearFlogger

Pearl Izumi Summit AmFIB Bike Pants

Soft shell pants are an indispensable part of an active outdoor wardrobe, and when it comes to soft shell pants that can handle the crappiest weather while keeping you warm, dry and comfortable no matter what you're doing, Pearl Izumi has you covered. From the waist down, in this case, with the Summit AmFIB bike pants, PI's warmest bike pant for cold weather riding, skiing or anything else that involves charging hard in cold, wet and windy conditions.

Let's talk performance first. AmFIB is PI's soft shell technology, and it delivers reliable wind and water resistance. It was darn close to waterproof in our testing, while still remaining highly breathable to help you dump heat when the going gets tough. This is helped by the breathable panels behind the knee, which also make articulation easier while pedaling. The thickness of the material means this is cold-weather gear for active pursuits, although we also found ourselves pulling it off the shelf for shoulder-season weather where we might be standing around more.

What we really want to talk about is the fit. The Summit AmFIB displays Pearl Izumi's typical great fit, with wonderful articulation and a customized feel. But that is definitely not all. PI pulled out all the stops to make these pants a work of art expressed in the details: even the ankle zips have zipper garages! Thoughtful details extend to the handwarmer pockets, which have the zipper at the front of the pocket so when you're in the seated position you can put a hand straight down into the pocket. There are two front snaps for security, and on each side are two thin strips of hook-and-loop material with tabs so you can really dial in the fit.

There's a thigh pocket good for a smart phone or equivalent on the right side, and inside the left waistband is a small hang loop. The only caveat we have is that they definitely run a notch small, so you might want to order a size up if you're near the cutoff. Wearing the Summit AmFIB pants is truly a pleasure, they are just that well designed and executed. The overall fit and finish feels like it was custom tailored, and the performance is equally good. We have no hesitation is saying this is a high-end product that justifies every penny you spend on it.

$185.00 at REI

Outdoor Research Interstellar Jacket

Some days are just great gear days, and the day we put on the Interstellar jacket from Outdoor Research was one of those days. The Interstellar looks on the outside like just another hard shell, and yeah it's that but also so much more. It's no exaggeration to say the Interstellar can be your only shell jacket, a true quiver of one.

First, the tick list: the Interstellar is light. As in ultralight, weighing just 11.6 ounces. Features include a zipped chest pocket and two zipped hand pockets, full-length draft flap with chin protector, velcro cuffs, and drawcords on the hem and helmet-compatible hood. Sounds vanilla, right? But the magic is in the details...

Let's talk perfect pockets. The chest pocket has a second stretchy mesh pocket inside for a phone or wallet. It holds our oversized iPhone 6 Plus just above the bottom of the main pocket, which is really appreciated if you're moving around a lot; also you don't have to worry about it falling out when you're grabbing something else. But that's not all, and we're still talking about the chest pocket! It has a corded key clip, so when you're a hundred feet off the deck no worries about losing your car keys.

The hand pockets are also great. They're mesh-backed so if you need venting you can leave them open. Also, wet gloves or hats will dry against your body without need for an extra dump pocket inside. The pockets also pass our critical test: if you leave the zipper open, there's enough of a lip so a phone or keys won't slide out during casual use. Final point of coolness: turn the left hand pocket inside-out and stuff the jacket inside, then zip it up. Beautiful. All zippers have just-right-sized pulls, and the main zipper has a second critical feature: when all the way up it forms a perfect cup around the chin, whether the hood is up or down. It's funny how many jackets get these two critical features wrong, but you'll appreciate both in daily use almost more than anything else.

Fit and finish are fantastic. The cut overall is trim without being at all restrictive, with perfect articulation for making the big moves. The hem is just long enough to fit a harness over, and the pockets are just high enough to access over the harness. The hood can be pulled over a bare head without unzipping, and - critical feature #3 - the brim can be tucked in if you're not wearing a helmet so it doesn't flop over your head. The shell material is stretchy and quiet while still being waterproof and breathable. Literally the only thing we would add to this jacket is a second chest pocket, but that's just our thing. The Outdoor Research Interstellar jacket is the cream of the crop, and the only shell jacket you need.

$299.00 at Moosejaw

Black Diamond Deployment Hoody

In a fresh take on the classic cotton hoody, Black Diamond updates the format to take it into the 21st Century and onto your favorite project. The Deployment series from BD uses a blend of 60 percent merino wool and 40 percent nylon for the best of both worlds: the classy look and lush feel of fine wool and the technical stretch and performance of nylon.

The Deployment Hoody has a snug fit overall, a little more so in the arms with ribbed elastic cuffs that bunch just right at the wrist. You have full freedom of movement in this piece, with the option of pulling up the drawstring hood when warming up between sets or just lounging around the campfire after a hard day's play.

Two open handwarmer pockets and an interior open elastic cell phone pocket down low on the  round out the feature set, and are our only ding on the Deployment Hoody: none are zipped, and the outside pockets are shallow enough that they can only serve as handwarmers. The elastic on the inside pocket does not make it secure enough to trust your phone to for anything more than sitting around.

The price is also an obstacle: two hundred clams for a sweatshirt is really pushing the red face test. That said, if you're looking for a unique mix of casual and classy without regard to overall practicality the Deployment Hoody may just lighten your mood along with your wallet.

$199.99 at Backcountry

Rab Baltoro Guide soft shell jacket

We backcountry folk have simple ways. We work hard on the way up and play hard on the way down. On the ascent we need breathability, on the descent weather protection, and the fact is these are hard qualities to balance in a material. Polartec has taken one giant leap for backcountrykind with it's new Power Shield Pro fabric, and UK seriouswear company Rab has crafted a great jacket in it.

The Baltoro Guide, a.k.a. Guide Pro, soft shell jacket is built to be epic-proof. On the inside it alternates high-loft and mid-weight panels that feel plush when you slip it on. The fit is definitely on the trim side; we're normally a solid medium, and the medium Baltoro leaves room for exactly one light or midweight layer. Insulation will be going on over the shell as God intended.

The Baltoro Guide hits the tick list with two deep zipped pockets outside, great for venting, and two smaller zipped pockets inside. For adjustability there are the standard hem and hood drawcords and rip-and-stick cuffs. The hood has a nifty little wire stiffener and is helmet compatible even for large volume helmets like Petzl's Meteor III. Articulation is great, and there's a small strap to roll it up. And do we love the pockets! We used to swear by reach-across Napoleon-style pockets, but the Baltoro's deep pockets are the holy grail: great access even when wearing a pack, and you can still use them to stick your hands in, which is not comfortable at all on the reach-across design.

The performance is astounding. Anyone who has ever dug out a tent platform Every. Effing. Day. knows that shoveling is a great test of breathability. Here in Anchorage we've gotten a few feet of snow the past week, and we used the dump to test Power Shield Pro's breathability. Hood up and zippers closed, we worked up a head of steam for hours and could not get the Baltoro to clam up on us. Wonderful. And let's face it, soft shells are the most livable jackets and pants out there, as well as dealing effectively with 99% of weather conditions unless you're living in a serious rain zone. In which case move, and find a jacket like the Rab Baltoro Guide made with Polartec Power Shield Pro.

$300.00 at Moosejaw

The North Face Jammu jacket

Soft shells are the best shells. Except when they're not waterproof, but who rolls that way anymore? Have your cake and eat it too with The North Face Jammu jacket. It's one of the first waterproof soft shells made with Polartec NeoShell, a new tech that is much more breathable, quiet and stretchy than traditional hard shells.

The Jammu is a standard three pocket design: a zipped chest pocket and two zipped handwarmers. The hand pockets are extremely tall and zip up from the bottom, allowing easy access over a harness or your pack's hip belt and also providing additional venting through the mesh pocket backing. The adjustable hem drawcords are inside the pockets.

The adjustable hood is well articulated and unusually tall, making it very easy to fit over high-volume helmets like our lightweight fave, the Petzl Meteor III. One thing we always look for in a jacket is a chin guard that comfortably fits over the chin when zipped, and the Jammu does that nicely. No cranking your neck forward to warm up your Dudley Doright.

The overall fit of the Jammu is tailored, except for the sleeves which are on the long side. That's nice for those of you with a high ape index - you know who you are, banana-face - and for those of us who like a little coverage over the hands. The NeoShell material lives up to its hype, breathing like a teenager watching after-hours cable. Unlike said teenager, NeoShell is quiet too, which seems like a minor thing until you have to live in your jacket on extended trips. It's great to see Polartec reclaim the textiles technology crown with its new materials. Try it, you won't go back.

$399.00 at Mountain Gear

Outdoor Research Ferrosi jacket

We've raved about the Ferrosi line from Outdoor Research before, but it's worth a redux. OR came out with the Ferrosi line for men and women a year or so ago, and while you can't find the products on their website you can still get great deals on them online if you look. Consider this our plea to OR to keep 'em coming. And bring back the orange!

The Ferrosi men's hoodie is a hooded lightweight softshell jacket that is seriously livable. As in, live in it 24/7. The material is light but tough, 88% cordura and 12% lycra, so you get some serious four-way stretchy lovin'. A zipped chest pocket and two zipped handwarmer pockets are complemented by large open mesh pockets inside on both sides. Stuff your gloves, hat, water bottle, snacks or whatever inside.

The hood on the Ferrosi moves with you, and because the material is so thin it fits well under a helmet. If they could just extend the chin coverage a tad it would be perfect; as it is you can tuck your chin but you have to duck a little. The Ferrosi sheds light wind and rain, but it absolutely shines as a go-go piece for biking, hiking, climbing, skiing and just about anything else. It also packs down to nothing, so throw it in your pack and fuggedaboutit. We love it; OR, are you listening?

$74.97 (on sale from $124.95) at Backcountry

Mountain Hardwear Effusion Power jacket

Mountain Hardwear is getting all crazy innovative these days, especially on the materials side. Their latest is Dry.Q, a family of waterproof-breathable fabrics that includes Elite, Active and Core variations. The Effusion Power jacket features Dry.Q Active for high-output activities like running.

We tested the women's Effusion and found it perfect for runners, bikers and cross-country skiers. The Dry.Q Active material is on the front (blue material in picture), where it matters most for velocity freaks, and the back is a breathable single-knit jersey material so all your competitors see is your heat plume.

There is plenty of attention to detail here. Seams are flat, small reflective strips and patches in strategic locations, and the high collar has an effective zipper garage to protect the delicate SheFlogger neck. The single chest pocket is zipped with not just a cord port but a tiny fabric loop at the collar that maintains control of your headphone cord: very cool! The only adjustment point is the hem drawcord, and the overall fit is slim for minimum flappage as you bust a move downtrail.

The cuffs are also a bit different, adding to the thumbhole a flip-over mitten like those found on children's clothing. If you're like the SheFlogger who gets cold fingers just watching snow through the window you'll appreciate this little detail. The cuffs are really three position: mitten, open or stowed, plus thumb in or out. In use it's a very effective design. With the new Dry.Q Active material and a few smart design ideas, the Mountain Hardwear Effusion Power jacket is a title contender.

$150.00 at REI

REI Endeavor vest

One vest to rule them all! We're big fans of REI's Endeavor line of clothing, and this vest absolutely rocks. The double-weave 89% polyester/11% spandex material is the best of all worlds: UPF 50, breathable, wind resistant and repellent of light precipitation. It's the ultimate travel clothing, the shorts having survived a month of bushwhacking in the Yucatan among other tests.

Lately we've been living in the Endeavor vest. It's a format we've been looking for lo these many years, an ultralight vest with two reach-across chest pockets and two hand pockets, all zipped. Why ultralight? Sometimes all you need is a little wind protection, just a tad more warmth, or a few pockets. OK, fine, it's the pockets that sold us. Why some vendors only include one chest pocket has always been a mystery to us. The big deal is you can warm your hands and not worry about losing essential small items such as wallet and cell phone, which are tucked safely in the chest pockets.

The Endeavor vest has a soft tricot collar lining and a hem drawcord, and that's it. It has a close athletic fit, and if it came in black it would be an awesome addition to your work wardrobe. The material - did we mention it rocks? - is tough and stretchy, always returning to a classy pressed look with minimal care. Highly recommended. More colors please.

$59.50 at REI

Outdoor Research Alibi women's jacket

OK, so here's the deal: occasionally somebody tries to do something different with a new jacket design. It almost invariably fails miserably, and it is universally and deservedly mocked. But once in a great while, that somebody actually succeeds in building a better mousetrap. Today, that better mousetrap is the Outdoor Research Alibi jacket.

We got ahold of the women's version, and here's the skinny: it's a hybrid shell with waterproof hood, shoulders and outside sleeves. There are four pockets with water-resistant zippers: one high outside left chest, one high inside right chest with cord port, and two lower outer hand warmer pockets. Shock cord adjustments include hood opening, back of the hood and left and right hem, plus rip and stick cuffs on the sleeves. All this stuff works great. Next: three very cool innovations.

First, not only is the hood helmet compatible, but there is a balaclava style inner hood that stows in its own pocket where you don't even notice it for weeks (oops). It fits under your helmet for wicking and warmth while the normal hood goes over. Beautiful. Second, the cuffs have little flip-out inner cuffs with thumb holes that keep your sleeves inside your gloves. Gorgeous. Finally - and here's where the Alibi gets freaky - there are side zips that go from the armpit all the way down to the hem, fully opening the sides of the jacket. Worried about flapping? Not to fear, each side has a snap to keep the hemline intact.

It's beautiful man. This is serious venting, plus - wait for it - when the SheFlogger is seven weeks months pregnant she has no problem with sizing or venting. She loves it! I'm a hero! Really, the Alibi would be a top-line shell anyway, but with the trick features that actually work well it's ground breaking. Save this item until you are deep, deep in the doghouse, and use it to worm your way back into her good graces. Note that it fits just a tad large, although it doesn't look it because it's contoured. Awesome piece of gear, and on sale now at Altrec!

$158.99 (on sale from $249.95) at Altrec

Arc'Teryx Scarabee women's pant

OK, here's the thing: we love Arc'Teryx for their fit and quality while cringing at the price. Only you can decide if the tradeoff is worth it, and we understand if you're looking to score a deal on discontinued items. If you're a skier or boarder looking at the Scarabee pant here's what you need to know.

The Scarabee is designed to go down, like... like... well, let's just leave that one alone. The outside of the pant is Gore-tex Soft Shell, a bomber waterproof breathable soft shell that's really more of a half soft, half hard material. It's a nice combination, and it'll last forever unless you do something truly terrible. Fit is relaxed, not as trim as a lot of Arc'Teryx clothing, so keep that in mind. It's got a RECCO avalanche reflector, so if you regularly go out of bounds at resorts that have the detection gear that might matter to you.

There's an instep patch for crampon protection and boot rubbing, two thigh pockets with waterproof zippers and flaps, a zipper fly with snap and a removable waist belt with a nice flat buckle as well as redundant belt loops should you choose to add your own. Built in rubber-lined grippy gaiters with lace hooks keep the pow outside where it belongs. A fleece lining means you can wear it next-to-skin without any clammy action. The pattern even has a built-in forward lean.

For some reason descriptions of this pant sometimes say it has thigh vents, but it doesn't. Otherwise, it's a solid pant at a discount and will give many years of service.

$279.27 at Backcountry