Winter OR Round-Up: Icebreaker

us.icebreaker.com
As we mentioned after the Summer Outdoor Retailer, New Zealand’s Icebreaker continues to expand their line of high-quality merino wool into designs that marry their magical wool with soft shell exteriors to provide weather-proof pieces with all the all-natural qualities already associated with the brand. The Viento Jacket (hooded: $325; non: $300) and the Stealth Jacket ($300; pictured left) and Hood ($325) will boast a water-repellent, breathable, wind-proof exterior, with a comforting merino wool lining. We particularly like the fashion- and fit-forward silhouette of the women’s Viento Hood ($325; pictured center), with its slim hourglass cut.

Their GT line—technical apparel dialed for high-aerobic activity like winter running, Nordic skiing, and skiing and riding—will expand with new garments like the Drive Long-Sleeve Half-Zip top ($140; pictured right), with wool has been treated with nanotechnology to add water and stain resistance. This bluesign-accredited technology integrates tiny nano particles on a rigid surface to reduce the contact area to let mud, water, and oil simply run off the fabric.

Perhaps most compelling, however, is the slight revamp to their travel-inspired line, which expands its formerly slim/athletic fit to become a wee bit roomier. This should make products like the woman’s Vista Skirt ($100) and windproof soft shell three-quarter-length Highline Jacket ($380), the men’s Escape Hood Stripe ($140), and the Seeker Pants ($180) appeal to a broader swath of smart travelers.

Prices vary.

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Winter OR Round-Up: Arc’Teryx Gets Down

www.arcteryx.com
This fall Arc’Teryx will introduce down-insulated pieces into their line of high-quality apparel. And, as with everything this boutique brand does, they’re doing it in a new, interesting way. The down they’ll use in pieces like the 850-fill Cerium AR ($259, pictured right) and Cerium LT ($350, pictured left) jackets is “food-grade,” which means that the feathers are sourced from fully grown birds from Europe used in the production of foie gras. The feathers are consequently larger than those found in other brands. Other innovations in their new down line include a durable shell construction, with “core loft” synthetic insulation in high-compression areas like the shoulders and cuffs to eliminate cold spots. We also love the reconfigured hood design, which carries the down baffles vertically over your head/helmet, and lets the crown of the hood nestle comfortably over your head and ears. There will be a total of 11 products in this line, along with hybrid products that boast the new Gore Tex Pro Shell.

Prices vary.

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Helly Hansen Alpha Jacket

www.hellyhansen.com

There’s a lot of talk about timeless designs, but the Alpha Jacket blends state-of-the-art technology with a classic alpine ski profile. I’ve worn it for 25-plus days on Oregon’s Mt. Bachelor in weather down to -3 degrees and always felt like I was a warm island floating in the cold. The jacket packs a lot of warmth in a relatively light package. Nine circular down pouches in the back provide heat where you need it the most (on your shoulders and lower back) and eliminate the need for the excessive layers that not only restrict movement, but reduce overall insulative quality. Helly’s designers were inspired by backpacks that utilize mesh for venting—two long vertical hidden zippers from the shoulder blades to the hip let you vent on hot days—seal them off for ultimate warmth. There’s also mesh on the stretch cuff gaiters. Reinforced thumb holes are just right—big enough to slide you thumb in without restriction, but not so big that they bunch up when not engaged. Durable waterproof/breathable fabric has two-ways stretch with the feel and dynamic stretch of a soft shell coupled with the storm-thwarting weatherproofing that is Helly’s signature feature. This is a warm jacket—but the breathability, ergonomically-friendly design, and venting make it transcend super cold winter days to spring skiing. Primo features include discreet, dense foam patches on the shoulders for cushioning a pack, a tuck-away powder skirt, giant hand-warmer pockets with soft microfleece linings, and two inside zip chest pockets—one with a washable goggle cloth.
-John Bouchard

$400

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Winter OR Round-Up: Eddie Bauer and First Ascent

www.eddiebauer.com
www.eddiebauer.com/EB/First-Ascent

This year, Eddie Bauer is making a big deal about, well, a big deal as 2013 marks the 50^th anniversary of Jim Whittaker becoming the first American on the summit of Everest. To commemorate the historic achievement, Eddie Bauer is offering limited-edition, commemorative versions of the iconic Downlight Jacket and the Karakoram Sleeping Bag. We expect both pieces to be fantastic in a classic-retro way and something that we expect to maintain value for another 50 years. There are no photos of the new pieces yet, but we expect to test them in early summer, so we’ll report back before they hit the shelves in the fall. One piece that is available now that is a must-have is the BC MicroTherm Down Jacket 2.0 ($299). The warm but extremely well-venting jacket speaks to Eddie Bauer’s expedition creds—the 800-fill down parka is worthy of alpine storms, with waterproofing rated to a bomber 20K (that mean’s it will withstand a hard rain), but it weighs in at only one pound and four ounces. We love the long tail to kept snow, wind, and cold from sneaking up our backside, and the snug (but not too tight) cuffs. Plus, the hood fits over a helmet without restricting side-to-side movement or peripheral vision.

Also, at a recent dinner at Outdoor Retailer Winter 2013, Eddie Bauer and their PR team from Backbone Media hosted Jim and his family (his adventure-parnter-wife Dianne, and youngest son, Leif, who has summited Everest twice), a red-carpet list of media personalities, and an all-star cast of big time guides and mountaineers. Keep an eye out for Eddie Bauer (and its talented offspring, First Ascent) for fall ’13 celebrations of Everest’s first ascent—including a film clip of fantastic footage of the 1963 Everest expedition.

Prices vary.

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Winter OR Round-Up: Mountain Hardwear

www.mountainhardwear.com
When Mountain Hardwear was acquired by Columbia Sportswear a decade ago, loyalists were worried that the brand would lose some of its top-of-the pyramid functionality. But, if the product evidenced at Winter Outdoor Retailer is any indication, MH seems to be getting better and better. And in fall 2013 they’ve renewed their focus on gear for skiing and snowboarding.

Products like the new men’s and women’s Thermostatic Jacket ($200, oictured left) make use of their new Thermal.Q technology, a proprietary, synthetic insulation that uses a down-inspired matrix of rigid stems and soft fibers to create a ridiculously light, ten-ounce jacket that’s very packable. Once for ounce, Termal.Q is 20 percent warmer than other synthetic insulation, it dries fast, and the jacket itself has a sly street-friendly fashion sense which makes it a good go-to for traveling in colder climes. The Snowtastic 3L Jacket ($550, pictured right), meanwhile, ups the ante for female skiers, with waterproof-breathable fabric treated with Dry.Q Elite technology to help vent excess heat when skinning while still keeping you dry and warm when riding the lift. The men’s Compulsion 3L Jacket ($650) stands as the male counterpart to the Snowtastic, with a soft, comfortable three-layer face with Dry.Q waterproof breathability, pack-compatible pockets, and a removable powder skirt. Mountain Hardwear will also start working with merino wool in fall 2013 with base layers like the Integral LS Zip T ($88), made of a wool/polypropylene blend that wicks, dries quickly, and keeps you warm when you’re wet or dry—and it’s machine washable.

OutDry waterproofing (a technology MH shares with Columbia) pairs with Q.Shield insulation in the Snowrilla Glove ($110), a warm, fashion-forward everyday ski/winter glove made of hybrid leather and a cordura palm. MH is also stepping up their game with winter-specific packs. The Snowtastic 18 ($100) fulfills the need for short back- and sidecountry trips, with 1,100 cubic inches of storage for safety gear, a hydration sleeve, and a single piece of connected weaving to carry your skis diagonally—one of the most secure ski-carrying systems we’ve seen. For all-day backcountry tours, step up to the Powzilla 30 ($190). This ABS Base Unit-compatible pack (the “avalanche airbag” made by various third-party vendors) has a zip-off back panel so can access the pack interior without removing your skis or board from the pack, the same continuous webbing found in the Snowtastic, a hydration sleeve, big compression wings, and plenty of room for your shovel, probe, extra layers, and food.

Prices vary.

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