Review:
Mountain Hardwear
Now that our reviewer has had two knee surgeries, and is in her mid-sixties, she doesn’t like wearing shorts anymore. So, the search is on for a great looking, comfortable, flattering and cool Capri. You would think this is expecting the impossible, but she found all these in the Petralla Capri! These pants can be worn for just about every activity, from backpacking, to going out on the town.
The stretch is so soft, yet the nylon fabric it as tough as nails. This soft fabric with tons of stretch for freedom of movement even has an inseam gusset for mobility. It can have a low profile waistband with drawstring adjustment. The two rear pockets have low profile envelope openings so items won't get lost and the side zip pocket fits most smart phones.
Men's Justo Trek S/S TThis is a great shirt to pack on a long trek or a hot day. First off, the Natural Chitosan antimicrobial finish controls odor so a long trek is not longer for your trail mates. The flat-lock seam construction keeps the body very happy beneath the wicking, fast drying and stretch fabric.
That means no chafing while wearing the Justo. Also, there is the factor of the sun while playing outside. Actually it is not much of a factor considering the Justo Trek has a UPF50 rating. So wear this shirt in comfort and confidence it will take care of you even if you do not take care of it.
This shirt is designed for hiking and it is great for a few days or even longer of just that. Right from the get-go it has UPF25 sun protection and a collar that can flip up. The sun will have a tough time making any hike uncomfortable with the Ravine Short Sleeve shirt. If the day gets hot or rainy the material is fast drying as it wicks away moisture quickly. Not that our reviewer sweat a lot during the week-long hike in the Smoky Mountains. Not because of the weather, it was hot and it rained often. There are mesh linings on the upper back and on the sides to keep cool from the heat.
The pockets are big, useful and very breathable. The upper left pocket is sealed with Velcro and the perfect size for maps, a media device and/or my favorite--snacks! The counterpart pocket on the upper right of the chest has a zipper which is ultimate security for anything you need close to the vest. Of course the best part is what I call the "butt flap". The shirt hangs down a little further in the back to protect the backside from mud splatter as you run down the hill. If not it can keep the view comfortable for your fellow hikers behind you if you bend down to lace your boots.
This super light tank is just about perfect for any outdoor activity- biking, hiking, backpacking, running- you name it!
Weighing it at only 2.2 oz it is a great piece for backpacking, especially since it is wicking and dries incredibly fast. It uses a natural, Chitosan anti-microbial treatment that controls odor, which we all know is important if you are going to spend multiple days in on tank!
Our tester like to have her arms free, especially in warm weather, usually opting for a tank- but when you are backpacking this can usually result in rubbing and raw spots of your back or shoulders. Not with this one- it has full back coverage and the straps are wide enough for the shoulder strap on your pack.
She had brought other tanks, but ended up wearing only this one since it was so comfortable- Thank you Mountain Hardwear for the anti-microbial odor control!
What a great Active short! This short was tested camping and hiking in the Smoky Mountain National Park as well as backpacking in the Grayson Highlands on the Appalachian Trail and performed up to par and better!
Specs-wise it's al there- Water repellent, UPF 50 sun protection, Dri-release fabric lining which wicks moisture away from your body, lots of pockets….but they are SO much more!
They are very comfortable, using a durable stretch fabric for movement you never feel restricted in your movement. The inseam gusset makes adds a little extra movement without tugging. There is a lining on the waistband that is not lays softly on the skin but also wicks moisture to help with those super hot days and hot spots! They are a little bit of a longer short which is very flattering!
And just to add a little more to these already complete shorts, there is a flip-up hem with reflective elastic for visibility- important if you are going to be walking anywhere near traffic!
Spring and Summer camping/ backpacking can sometimes be tricky to select gear for. It can be 60 degrees at night or it can be 40 degrees! We all know that getting a good night's rest can severely affect your enjoyment of the trip!
The Down Flip is insulated with 600 fill goosedown and can be used on one side as a 35 degree back or flipped to the other side in milder weather as a 45 degree bag.
There is plenty of room in this semi-rectangular fit- one of our testers is 6'4" and it still felt nice and roomy. However, it has a easy to pull drawstring to feel more fitted on those cooler nights.
I like to use rectangular nags, especially while camping, because unlike mummy bags you can zip it together with another bag for a little snuggle warmth!
I learned about Mountain Hardwear's OutDry Waterproof Technology during the product testing of the Jalapeno Glove. It essentially bonds a nylon shell to the outside of the OutDry membrane. This eliminates seams so as to keep water, wind and the cold out. Of course the insulation on the back of the hand was a big help as well. My hands stayed warm all the way down to 15° with overcast skies. For anyone with poor circulation in their hands these workwonderfully.
The gloves have leather on the palms and around the fingers. They wore only slightly, but it was less than what I expected. The Jalapeno pulls over the cuff of the jacket and uses SimpleCinch technology to tighten them up. It was very easy to use even with the first glove on. It required only two fingers to tighten it as well as loosen them up. The most important feature of any glove for me, aside from warmth, is the nose wipe. Yep, there is a nose wipe patch on the back of each thumb. I use it the most and I always appreciate having it there when my nose is a little runny.
Pandra Long Sleeve Mockneck Tee
Everybody loves wool for its natural wicking and antimicrobial qualities, its warmth, and its ability to dry quickly, but not for its feel. Wool has traditionally been scratchy to the bare skin. The Pandra top, by Mountain Hardwear, has created a wool/poly blend that gives you all the natural benefits of wool while being delicate to the touch on the skin.
This is one of those tops that performs great in the outdoors!
This is a great travel jacket! Nice and light is packs well. Even though it is not technically waterproof I was wearing when I got caught in light rain a couple of times and the water just beaded up on the jacket and rolled right off.
The jacket has an extremely stylish and slimming design. I am a tall woman and usually jackets that have a more fitted fit are usually snug in the shoulders and have shorter sleeves. The shoulders have a nice fit and allow for a generous range of motion. It is nice to see a company that realizes that you can always roll up a sleeve but you can not make them longer. The sleeves are actually long enough on this jacket- yay!
I took this jacket on the road, camping, and hiking where it performed extremely well. I am still wearing it as my everyday spring jacket- I love it!
Living in Michigan you can get all kinds of ski conditions, from 7 degrees to 40. It is important to have a ski pant that can be flexible with layers. These pants are fully waterproof and made of a breathable and are highly breathable so on warm days I wore just a thin base layer and they worked great. On colder days I layered up and found them to be extremely comfortable. They have a micro-chamois adjustable waistband so depending on the amount of layers you will always have a great fit.
They have a lower leg side zip, which makes them easy to get on and off. There are two fleece lined hand warmer pockets and small zippered leg pocket great for id and money.
These pants worked just as great for cold weather Nordic skiing as well as down hill. With a light weight base layer they performed great and were extremely breathable, even in 17 degree cold!
Mountain Hardwear is definitely well known for their top layer pieces and the Cloud Jacket does not fall short of the standards to which they aspire. This supple GORE-TEX® Performance Shell provides excellent waterproof/breathability in this versatile backcountry jacket.
Some of the features include:
- soft, warm lining for comfort
- One-handed, single pull hood adjustment system for precise fit.
- Micro-chamois lined chin guard eliminates zipper chafe.
- Extra beefy brim for protection.
- Extra-long pit zips for ventilation.
- Zip chest pocket for ID, keys, other small items.
- Interior water bottle pocket.
I loved this piece for alpine skiing; it was windproof and I could layer pieces depending on the temperature of the day. Not only is this a performance piece but I found that I was grabbing for it if even just to run to the mailbox.
I used this jacket out in Salt Lake at Solitude where the days ranged from 40 degrees and sunny to 18 and snowing. It was really important for me to have a shell that would that could solo for the warmer days and be layered with for the colder temps. Here in Michigan the weather tends to be in the teens and since the ski sloes are much shorter you don't get the opportunity to work up your body temperature so you rely more on the jacket to keep your core warm.
This jacket was great no matter what the temperature. The High collar and optional hood added more warmth when necessary.
There are lots of pockets to keep you organized with out being too many that you lose your odds and ends. The ski pass reel and lift ticket ring on hem are definitely nice features. Nice under arm zips for ventilation.
This is such a delightful jacket, warm, cozy and beautiful. It is perfect for getting rid of the chills. Because it has such a large temperature range, we used it inside and outside, in windy 50 degree weather, or cool homes. It has been a long time since our tester felt sexy and cuddly with a jacket. Some of the features we loved were:
- Soft, snug rib knit collar
- Micro-Chamois™-lined chin guard prevents zipper chafe
- Interior zip pocket stores ID, keys, other small essentials
- Zip handwarmer pockets
- One-handed hem drawcords seal in warmth
If you are looking for a mid weight jacket for walking in the 30-60 degree weather, or great Nordic skiing jacket, this is the one for you. It is perfect for travel because of the wide variety of activities. Our tester loved the ability to zip off the hood and the powder skirt. Mountain Hardwear seems to have thought of everything. The hood even has a brim that shields your face from the elements. Listed below are the specs that make it so special:
- Micro-Chamois™-lined chin guard prevents zipper chafe
- Water-resistant zippers throughout
- Articulated sleeves for movement
- Superlight, welded pit zips for ventilation
- Laminated front zip storm flap protects against the elements
- Chest and handwarmer pockets for storage options
- Ski pass key reel and lift ticket ring on hem
- Interior mesh glove and goggle pocket
- Interior MP3 pocket with earpiece cord exit
- Interior zip pocket stores ID, keys, other small objects
- Interior water bottle pocket
- One-handed hood and hem drawcords for quick fit adjustments
The Mountain Hardwear Terra Shell jacket is designed for the serious mountaineer, or for someone who wants serious protection from the extreme elements that is light weight and compactable.
With wool or synthetic base underlayers this shell can fight off some extreme weather. It features welded, waterproof, stretchy seams, interior mp3 pocket with earpiece cord exit, one-handed single-pull hood adjustment system, interior water bottle pocket, and a 3-layer conduit shell that is waterproof and breathable.
When the rain or snow hits unexpectedly and I have the terra shell I know I'll be comfortable and protected.
http://www.mountainhardwear.com
...Fiftysense Product Review Panel