Winter OR Round-Up: Gore Running Wear

www.goreapparel.com
We’ve been testing Gore Running apparel for the past six months. While the brand is a top-seller in the category in Europe, it has only recently been distributed in the United States. For Fall ’13, we are excited about their new Magnitude Outfit Systems for men (the Comp Shirt and Tights are pictured above). The performance line is designed for the long-distance runner. The tights have enough compression to shape and support the quads and calves, without restricting movement. We like the new vest and jacket with Windstopper laminate for cold-weather training, as well as the reflective and neon detailing for heightened visibility after dark, great ventilation, and smartly-positioned pockets.

Prices vary.

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Ibex Breakaway 2 Jacket

shop.ibex.com
When you wear this piece for the first time, it feels much too stylish to be dragged through the muck. But like that pretty-boy quarterback who can actually stand up to the game’s rough and tumble, the Breakaway jacket performed for our tester when conditions required on road crud-splattered winter bike rides and blustery, wet day hikes. (It’s easy to wash, too; just put it on a delicate cycle and line dry.) A durable shell at the torso and arm areas keeps wet and wind out, while a four-stretch Climawool weave on the back and inner arms lets the piece breathes easily when doing aerobic activities like biking and running. The fabric blends merino wool with Lycra and nylon to create a warmer, more durable layer . There’s a front-panel chest pocket and cavernous back pocket to stash exercise essentials, without overloading the shell with zips and trimmings (no bad thing, as it cuts a svelte outline for uses other than outdoor exploration). A patch of reflective fabric near the bottom of the left sleeve also adds another layer of visibility that was often appreciated by our commuting cycle test team, while the stylish two-tone aesthetic didn’t scream that we’d rather be on our bikes—a touch of style that helped in more fashion-forward spots we occasionaly frequent after the long ride toward home.

$275

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Rapha City Wind Jacket

www.rapha.cc
A wispy jacket that can be scrunched up and stashed in a pocket, you’d be forgiven for accidentally putting this out with your plastic-bag recycling (big mistake, though, given the price tag). In fact, this jacket may qualify as the biggest example of looks can deceive. Our tester managed to put this piece to the sword on fall and winter bike rides when conditions would fluctuate from balmy to windy to wet. The lightweight jacket—designed after the transparent rain capes worn by pro cyclists to allow for visibility of sponsors’ logos and race numbers—is surprisingly warm and comfortable. In fact, our tester even wore this out during a late-night bar hop and was pleasantly surprised to be the recipient of multiple compliments and requests to finger the lightweight micro ripstop nylon (yeah, we know, the sacrifices we ask our gear testers to make here at Gearzilla…). But cycle-specific detailing like the elastic cuffs, a drop tail, laser-vents, reflective logos, and a burly DWR laminate do keep it firmly in place on the saddle.

$200

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Outdoor Retailer: Helly Hansen Woman’s Foil Jacket

Though we seldom understand when companies mess with something that’s already working, we’re excited to see how Helly Hansen’s femme-specific Odin Foil Jacket will come out in the spring of 2013. Taking its inspiration from the men’s model, the jacket will boast a windproof, ripstop shell with a soft shell back panel for just the right measure of stretch and breathability needed while hiking, running, and cycling. The refreshingly bright model will weigh only 11.6 ounces and will retail for $150. Helly Hansen will also revamp their signature Odin Guide Jacket this spring, incorporating what the company claims to be the most breathable waterproof jacket they’ve ever made. We’re also curious to check out the new H2 Flow Jacket, out this fall. It incorporates patches of insulation at target points in the shell, so that your body head warms the air trapped between the jacket layers for a huge warmth-to-weight ratio, along with massive front zips to regulate all that heat. We’ll test it all out and report back.

$150

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Marmot DriClime Windshirt

www.marmot.com, 8.4 ounces
SEPTEMBER’S GEAR REVIEW CONTEST WINNER!
The time-tested Marmot DriClime Windshirt is probably my most enduring piece of outdoor clothing. I use it in a variety of ways, from a base layer when ice climbing or skiing to a belay jacket for long days in the mountains. I also use it as an extra layer when the weather is unstable and mild rain is a possibility. Despite its light weight and low bulk, the shirt is plenty warm as a sole layer while climbing or skiing in winter, and it breathes very well and dries quickly. If it’s cold enough, I wear a puffy jacket on top when belaying or on the lift. For milder weather, I take the DriClime as a belay jacket (it stuffs down to the size of a fist) layered over a synthetic tee, or as backup insulation. It has an acceptable ability to shed snow (especially in temps below 30 degrees), and although it is certainly not waterproof, it repels mild squalls. To top it all off, it’s quite durable (just don’t stick your ice picks in it) and, with the moderate price, an affordable, versatile addition to most people’s outdoor wardrobe. In truth it’s hard to find fault with the DriClime Windshirt. If anything, the company could add a “long” size to the lineup for folks with longer arms and/or torsos, but even then I’m not sure I would prefer it. As it is, I’m 6 feet tall, and wear a medium to great effect.
–Rodrigo Riadi
Rodrigo’s review was the best we received last month, and he wins a new pair of Keen Erickson PCT Hiking Boots (as well as a pair of comfy new hiking socks). Next up–the MSR WhisperLite backpacking stove. Enter now!

$90

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