Puddles formed on the worn trail as the water beaded off my Alpha SV. I pulled the helmet-friendly hood up and cinched it down. Even with it secure around my face, I could turn my head without being restricted. I pulled the bottom hem tight to keep in some warmth as the temps sagged down to about 45 degrees. While others hunkered down, I stayed dry and comfortable. I could have enjoyed an afternoon tea, were there willing company.

On the trail with rain spitting, I appreciated that the Alpha SV is pack-compatible. I could access two decent-sized chest pockets where I stashed a snack and later put my smart phone to keep it dry. There are two inner zip pockets for small items and a mysterious shoulder pocket, all of which can be accessed while wearing a pack or harness. My sleeves stayed in place with Velcro cuff closures. When I walked enough to generate some heat, I easily vented it through the pit zips. Arc’teryx keeps it light and sleek.  It doesn’t have much glitter or glam because it just gives you what you need.: a solid, durable shell that will keep you dry.
-Cristina Rose Mastrangelo

The level of detailing in this unapologetically lift-oriented shell would make Batman’s tailor jealous. There’s an elastic powder cuff that snaps back out of the way when not needed. Knit sleeve wristlets are augmented by Velcro cuffs. Urethane water-resistant, mesh-backed zip vents run down the chest. A luxuriously high fleece-lined collar combines with a removable helmet-compatible hood. There’s an internal chest pocket with a conveniently angled microfiber iPhone/sunglass sleeve, and the urethane zip outer Napoleon pocket even features an integrated, removeable, elastic-leashed microfiber goggle polishing cloth. Recco avalanche system reflectors are embedded in the lining. Of course. Duh. It’s more like a wearable ski valet than a shell jacket.

The Ketchikan uses Cocona in the waterproof-breathable shell and brushed lining. This coconut husk-derived fabric provided excellent breathability and good sweat dispersal on warm, sunny days, and stayed dry during humid, single-digit storms. The free-hanging liner added serious insulation value, and the outer shell was so tough we could blast through dense fir and scratchy spruce groves without worrying about shredding the duds. The Ketchikan still looks new after weeks of beater skiing.

Our only caveat? At 38.7 ounces in a men’s large, it’s too bulky and heavy for backcountry uses. But if lifts, cats, and helos are your game, this is one tough, comfy, stylish ski suit for the harshest conditions and high-mileage uses. It’ll probably outlive you.
-Steve Howe

www.hellyhansen.com

The side panels and sleeves are lined only with a lightweight brushed nylon, while the fleece torso is further lined with a loose open mesh for slippery layering and free air flow. As if that weren’t enough, two foot-long zippered vents run down the chest, and the pockets are all mesh, forming de facto vents as well.

The overall effect is a jacket that’s nearly as warm as a puffy when zipped up, but resists rain showers, transfers sweat better, and vents far more than either puffies or standard shelled fleece. The weather resistance and wide temperature range made it perfect for humid, chilly camp evenings and soggy autumn trail runs on damp, cold, 11,000-foot Boulder Mountain. It’s already become one of our key layering staples, as fall progresses into winter.
- Steve Howe

We’ve liked eVent ever since they entered the market, but they really won us over when they went the anti-Gore Tex route and stopped requiring companies to print their brand on every piece of apparel that used their waterproof/breathable technology. Instead, they decided to work with manufacturers, who could use the eVent tech in any way they desired, becoming an ingredient in a company’s proprietary technology. The end result? More, high-quality waterproof/breathable apparel across the market with a wider price range.

This fall eVent will continue to innovate with gear-makers with the introduction of the eVent DVL textile, engineered for lightweight, high-performance rainwear.  The acronym stands for Direct Venting Light, and the first products that will feature this fabric will be unlined garments tailored for high-exertion activities in conditions that don’t demand durable, bomb-proof fabrics.  Westcomb’s Focus LT Hoody (pictured, left) comes out this fall. It’ll feature a full-cut design with a Napoleon pocket, an adjustable hood, Velcro cuff closure, and a one-hand-adjustable waist. It’ll weigh 6.8 ounces and retail for $279.  And in spring 2013 Rab gets into the game with the Maverick Jacket ($225; for men and women), the men’s Maverick Pants ($180) and the men’s Viper Jacket ($260; pictured, right).

Outdoor Research can’t be accused of putting all their eggs in one basket for spring 2013. A quick glimpse into their future includes a spring-specific glove line for mountaineers and climbers, an overhaul on their storage and dry bags, a new trail-running collection, hybrid jackets that employ both hard and soft-shell technology, an expansion of women-specific products in both the active and travel categories, and a 25 percent expansion of their hat line.

Amidst all this new product, the Sensor Dry Envelope (pictured) could be missed—but it shouldn’t.  This touch screen-compatible dry bag offers killer protection for your tablet, smartphone, and other old-school documents.  The VaporLock closure protects what’s inside from water, dirt, and dust, while the see-through window lets you easily interact with the devices.  It’ll come in three sizes, starting at $15.  This new product is part of the full revamp of dry and travel bags, which will be 10 to 40 percent lighter than their predecessors, with greater durability and more features.  The Maelstrom Dry Bag ($59 for the five-liter size, the smallest of three) also wins style points; the messenger-style bag should serve nicely as a solid, weatherproof travel piece, at home in a kayak, on a commuter’s back, or tossed around a rain-streaked runway.

On the apparel side, outerwear gets a hearty update, with a variety of different tech materials integrated into the design.  The Enchainment Jacket ($199) employs Schoeller soft shell panels for excellent mobility, with waterproof/breathable hard shell fabrics at key locations to keep you protected in 95 percent of the bad weather. They’ll also expand their men’s and women’s sport wear lines, introducing new, stylish shirts and dresses that should be perfect for multifunctional travel wear. And, on the other side of the spectrum, they’ll launch the HighEx collection, targeting ultra-athletes who demand high-quality performance for 16-hour days in the mountains.

Finally, their hat line expands to 85 pieces, addressing a wide array of active and travel needs.  Packable hats like the Isla broad-brimmed sun hat ($35) and the Southhampton Fedora ($49) will sit alongside the more exercise-specific lids like the Throttle Cap ($26), which uses mesh panels for breathability and reflective overlays to keep you visible after hours.  Hats are one of our favorite ways to indulge our gear addiction without breaking the bank, and OR is poised to be our chief enabler this spring.

The Mountain Hardwear innovation that will likely garnish much of the fanfare in spring 2013 will be the cadre of active apparel outfitted with Cool.Q ZERO, which boasts “active cooling technology.”  Pieces like the Way2Cool Short-Sleeve T ($65) will wick the sweat off your skin, then use a proprietary technology to cool your body before the moisture evaporates.  We’ve tested the same tech in Columbia products (the parent company of MH) and so far it works. We’ll continue to test and let you know what we find.

Elsewhere on the apparel side, the Ghost Whisperer Down Jacket ($300) offers 850-fill down insulation in a package that weight a measly seven ounces, but should keep you warm and dry whenever the weather gets rough. As with all down products in Mountain Hardwear’s line, the Ghost Whisperer boasts waterproof Q.Shield DOWN.  The Plasmic Jacket should also be a fast-mover on the retail shelves. The hard shell jacket employs MH’s proprietary Dry.Q Evap for waterproof/breathable protection, with a  sly-looking exposed water-resistant zipper and a wide array of colors. Priced at only  $140, it could become a gateway drug to Mountain Hardwear for the uninitiated.

Finally, on the outdoor shelter front, they’re introducing the Skyledge 2 and 3 ($450, $550). The footprint for both the two- and three-tent is included in the price, which gives you three out-of-the-box pitch options: the tent and fly, just the tent, or just the fly, with the tent frame anchored in place by the footprint (pictured, above). This last option also lets you pitch your tent in the rain; just roll out the footprint, assemble the frame, toss over the fly, and then you can then pitch the tent without worrying about getting the tent interior fully soaked.  And for the ultra-lighter go-getter, there’s the SuperMegaUL 1, a free-standing one-person tent that weighs in at 1 pound, 14 ounces for $350.

Deciding what to wear in (and what to buy for) the mountainous backcountry will get a lot easier in spring 2013 thanks to the new Verto Climbing Kit from The North Face. This four-piece apparel set up delivers pretty much all the clothes you need for an alpine adventure in a ridiculously lightweight package. Start with the Litho t-shirt ($80), an all-merino base layer with a mid-rib zipper pocket. From there, toss on the Verto Micro Hoodie ($249), a featherweight down jacket with 800-fill goose down, strategic use of stretch, and Flashdry water protection. Then don the Verto Pro Jacket ($199) for Gore Windstopper protection against the elements and a pair of the soft shell Satellite Pants ($130), and you’ve got a go-to kit that collectively weighs in at less than two pounds.TNF athletes have been putting this combo to the test and we anticipate this to be one of the best-dialed alpine solutions on the market.

The North Face will also continue to refine their line of trail running products, including the Better Than Naked line of high-performance apparel for men and women, and new shoes like the Hyper-Track Guide ($120), a highly responsive runner designed to perform equally well on both the trail and the pavement.

They will also introduce a new Optifit harnessing system in their backpack line, said to greatly enhance both ventilation and load control. The Matthes Crest and Conness pack series will both boast this new technology, with a variety of custom-fit options in various sizes.  We’ve got one of these new packs in the field right now, and we’ll report back on how well it performs shortly. Stay tuned for additional The North Face product reviews over the coming months.