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nau.com
Traveling levies near-constant challenges for the minimalist packer, especially when visiting colder climates. You could go with tech-savvy weather protection—but then you look like you’re in a city solely to be outside, even when you want to museum hop or hit the latest Top Chef-established restaurant. Thankfully, Nau’s dedication to functional fashion-forward apparel continues to provide the perfect sartorial answer. The hybrid approach in the Elimeno-Pea Coat merges naturally insulating, odor-resistant, breathable wool flannel with a poly, weather-proof laminate. The outcome? A stylish peacoat jacket that also armors you from averse elements. The higher-impact areas of the coat, like the shoulders and upper sleeves, are further reinforced with waxed cotton. However it’s the tailor-crafted detailing that keeps it firmly entrenched in a GQ world, from a patterned, cotton inner lining to bound internal seams for a clean finish to its overall slim design. A strong central zip and flip collar keep out the elements, twin zipper hand pockets are deep without becoming black holes, and two internal pockets house your must-have electronics. As you’d expect from a pea coat, it’s not the most packable jacket. The price may seem a bit high,but you’re paying for quality. And if you want proof of Nau’s dedication to the outdoor world, look no further than the sleeve cuffs. They may look a bit overdone, but they’re designed to cover the back of the hand, a bike-friendly detail that makes the Elimino one tester’s go-to jacket for damn near everything, not just travel. If only winter lasted longer….
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www.haikubags.com, 3 pounds, 2 ounces
You’re literally carrying a poem on your back. Whether you’re toting Yeats, Keats, or, our current fav, Shel Silverstein, the Haiku Backpack is a sturdy book bag with graceful, feminine lines that belie the pack’s true inner strength. Outside are dual, discreet mesh/elastic waterbottle pockets, plus a roomy, easy-to-access zip pouch. Inside there are two main compartments: one with a removable 15-inch laptop/iPad sleeve, and the other, a brutally organized mini-office, with sleeves for credit cards, iPod, cell phone, and sunglasses. While the pack is a tad heavy, it’s ideal for school and travel. The computer pouch zips completely open, making it easy to display your computer at airport screening checkpoints, a TSA-friendly butterfly design that means you don’t have to take out the laptop. The durable, water-resistant textured material is made of 100 percent cyclePET (post-consumer recycled plastic beverage bottles). Each backpack uses an estimated 50 plastic bottles, which keeps waste out of landfills. Haiku also uses non-toxic dyes that contain no carcinogenic materials, heavy metals, or formaldehyde. A padded, mesh-lined back panel keeps the pack from getting sweaty on your back and provides some structure for loads up to 15 pounds. We like the adjustable chest strap and tuck-away webbing hip belt, but wish the stiff shoulder straps had some additional padding! The front of the pack has Haiku’s trademark stem and petal design. On the top, each pack is embroidered with a subtly printed poem from Rumi, the 13th -century Persian poet.
19″x15″x4″; 1140 cubic inches; colors include Blossom Ocean Blue and Blossom Ink Black
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katesrealfood.com
Ditch that five-year-old PowerBar forever sitting your pantry, and get a dose of real energy and real flavor by biting into a Tram Bar. The brainchild of a Jackson, Wyoming, ski bum who would chow down on homemade bars while waiting in line for the resort’s famous tram, these all-natural, hand-made treats are made from organic products culled from Cosmic Apple Gardens to create a flavorful burst of energy. The combo of oats, honey, peanut butter, chocolate, rice nuggets, sunflower and sesame seeds, sea salt, and dried bananas, apricots, and raisins boast 360 calories per serving and will stave off hunger, fight mid-outing bonk, and finally convince you to toss off those old, inferior alternatives.
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www.nau.com, 7.2 ounces
This vest might be basic in concept—premium 850-fill down wrapped in a sleek, silky-soft recycled poly shell—but slip it on when the temps drop, and you may never take it off. It’s soft as rabbit’s fur; the subtle quilted pattern breaks the mold of the tired, bulky down vests; the center zip reach all the way up to its high collar (with the women’s running off-angle for an added fashion flair); and two zippered pockets on each side offer both security and comfort. Better, the vest collapses into almost nothing, making it a go-to must-have item for any and all outings–fall, winter, or spring. We even pack it on summer hikes in those locales where the weather could take a nasty turn without warning; at seven ounces you won’t even notice it’s in your pack till you need it. And did we say how luxurious and comfortable it feels? One tester, who grew increasingly more pregnant as winter wore on, was utterly depressed that she couldn’t wear her down vest until after her daughter was born. Now that’s an endorsement.
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www.icebreaker.com
We get it—sometimes clothes are like comfort food. You just want to wear something cozy and accommodating, like the well-worn all-cotton hooded sweatshirt of your youth. Well, Icebreaker has upgraded that standby, both satisfying the slacker in us all and impressing the gear-head we embrace. Their Aspiring Hood employs the company’s latest-and-greatest concoction “RealFleece,” made with ultra-soft merino wool treated to feel like that cotton-era throwback—except now you get wind and rain repellency along with the bevy of merino’s benefits (warm when wet, all-natural odor repellency, and machine-wash friendly). Icebreaker has also upped the fashion/function ante by crafting a shaped hood and a more streamlined fit than most traditional (read baggier) counterparts. Twin zip pockets echo the kangaroo sweatshirts of old, a stealthy zipper chest pocket makes for a great stash spot for your misc digital accessories, and set-in sleeves make layering a breeze. The price is a bit dear, but this is likely the only hoodie you’ll ever need. And if you’re more into high collars than hoods, they also make the Aspiring Zip (sans hood) for $25 less that one fashion-forward tester loved.
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