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bernunlimited.com
As one tester who’s spent over a decade urban cycling can attest, 2012 marked the year of the hard helmet. Legions of single-speed city riders (like our tester) have gotten over the vanity of biking sans protection. And most of ‘em have eschewed the cycle-obsessed, aerodynamic designs for skateboard-inspired models like those made by Bern. In East Coast locales it seems as if Bern has cornered the market. With helmets like their G2, it’s easy to understand why. But let us not pigeon-hole the G2 as solely a cycling helmet. Bern has made its mark on the ski and riding scene as much as in urban cycling circles, and this versatile helmet is equally at home on the slopes as it is in the saddle. The all-weather helmet is made of Bern’s proprietary “Zipmold” hard foam, a liquid foam-injection process that delivers better weight-to-strength ratio, resulting in a lighter, low-profile helmet that meets all the safety standards. The snap-in winter liner adds additional warmth—a feature we loved on blizzard-condition days, or when we faced temps in the teens during our daily commute. Up top, an easy-access slide lets you adjust the airflow through eight strategically positioned vents, which is a great feature as you ride (or ski or bike) into spring. And when the snow melts and you are relegated to just the bike, swap out the winter lining for the EPS Summer Comfort Liner ($15) and keep on pedaling. We tested it in warm fall temps, and didn’t overheat (thanks especially to the vents), but we suspect the helmet could prove hot in the humid, 100-degree-plus days of late July and August (likely something specific to this helmet). One bit of advice: before ordering, assure your fit is spot-on. Unlike some bike and snow helmets, there’s no fit adjustment here, a feature that certainly reduces the weight but also could prove prohibitive if your hair style (and corresponding hair volume) varies more than David Bowie’s.
The helmet includes a goggle strap clip in the back; audio knit liners with speakers in the ear pads are available for $60
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www.flojos.com
Flojos, a 30-year-old California-based beach and lifestyle company, is already known for its fashionable, functional lightweight flip flops. Their designs are known for being fashion forward, but well-thought out for comfort. Recently, the company has expanded into flat shoes (think Tom’s) and incredibly comfortable, warm, cozy boots for women. The Heavenly may be the pinnacle of this foray into cold-climate femme footwear. The 11-inch-high suede leather boots boasts a fluffy synthetic fur interior along with a fun stretches of furry insulation on the outside, and after two months of testing in Oregon’s all-mountain conditions (powder, sleet, hail, rain, and low single digit temps) these boots never failed. While the upper is soft, with no rand, zips or laces, the fit is snug, with no heel slippage or foot spin. You’ll pull on these boots and not want to take them off until you’re ready for your summer sandals. For little girls, who want to be just as stylish and warm as their mother (or favorite aunt), we also recommend the Aurora ($55). You’ll find the same relaxed fit as the shorter (seven-inch cuff) boots, along with a medial side zipper to make them easier to pull on and off. Both boots are incredibly light, with soft foam soles that don’t offer a ton of grip or support, but plenty of cushion—especially when you’re carrying your skis to the lodge through a foot of powder (should we be so lucky!).
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guenergy.com
This year, our New Year’s resolution is to get back to “fighting” shape. That means more running, more skiing, and more just-plain activity. But training takes its toll. Whether it’s the bonk after a ten-mile run, or post-gym exhaustion from hours of weight training, sometimes it takes us longer than we’d like to shed that muscle pain and general fatigue. Firming up and dropping ten pounds is a great goal, but face it, we need all the help we can get. We love GU Energy Gels for a mid-workout boost, and now we have their new Chocolate Smoothie Recovery Brew, a tasty treat designed to help your muscles recover and energy levels return. It tastes surprisingly good (not too chalky or artificial), much better than the average muscle milk and protein supplements we’ve relied on in the past. It’s made with premium ingredients, including whey protein isolate, for a boost that’s tastier and nutritionally more sound than our stand-by Snickers bar.
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brooks-range.com, 15.5 ounces
It’s nearly impossible to imagine life without puffy coats. Not the super-light, somewhat anemic down sweaters that made headlines the last two years with their helium weightlessness (although we like those too), but the pillowy Michelin Man down coats that are so plush and lofty that they double as a comforter or sleeping bag on chilly nights. The 800-fill down Mojave jacket has a loft that is lush, but not exorbitant (consider it a Stay Puff Marshmallow man with six-pack abs). It offers just enough insulation to keep you warm in single digit temps, but it’s not so heavy that the jacket can only be worn in sub-zero climates. It utilizes a new treatment that renders the down water resistant—an improvement in feather insulation that arguably pushes the needle in the outdoor apparel category. There are a few companies who specialized in “waterproof” down; Brooks Range utilizes DownTek technology, a process that applies a micro-thin nanopolymer to the feathers, creating a water repellent, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial insulation that doesn’t soak up water. Our Oregon testers wore the Mojave in day-long drizzle and wet snow showers—even when the entire garment got damp from a downpour, it dried faster than traditional down by at least 50 percent (while the lightweight durable Pertex Quantum fabric shell is water-resistant, the jacket isn’t seam sealed). Better still, the down never wetted out or clumped. The jacket has a deep hood that can be pulled forward and snugged around the face with the tug of a toggled draw cord, or adjusted with a small Velcro strap to stay upright without blocking peripheral vision. Two deep, zippered hand-warmer pockets are lined with a soft microfleece and an internal Napoleon zip pocket secures phone, wallet, and chap stick. The jacket packs down to the size of a football.
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us.icebreaker.com, one pound, eight ounces
Perfection is rare, but Icebreaker might have achieved it with the new Kodiak Hood. (Why it’s called a Hood Jacket and not Hoody still mystifies us). This elegant-yet-functional hoody is made from Icebreaker’s highly insulating Realfleece 320, a brushed, 100 percent merino wool fabric with Bluesign-accredited nanotechnology that adds water repellency and stain resistance to the wool. For those not in the know, Bluesign is a group that’s dedicated to maximizing consumer protection in the textile chain from raw materials and chemical suppliers through the manufacturing process to the consumer. The nano water repellency really works, earning this jacket four-season status. In three weeks of testing in the frequently-sodden Eugene, Oregon, our tester reported that moisture beaded on the jacket without penetrating in all but monsoon conditions. But the real artistry is the fit. The hood is shaped to fall over the forehead without blocking vision, with a slight peak at the center to keep rain off the face. And in contrast to many wool jackets that get saggy with wear, the Kodiak features five-inch-wide stretchy -side panels under each arm, continuing down the sides to the hem. The panels are made of a lighter-weight wool fabric than the body (which is definitely mid-to-heavy weight) so that it breathes better, and provides a more tailored but unrestricted fit. We love the ragland sleeves that also increase the jacket’s freedom of movement. The cuffs have are cut longer over the back of the hands, a nice sartorial touch that adds warmth on cold days. On the outside is a zippered Napoleon pocket with a media cord loophole—nice when we’re listening to tunes in a blizzard.
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