Mountain Hardwear Compressor Jacket
July 31, 2008
I wish I had a cute story or funny post to write about this jacket, but the magic just isn’t there today. Where’s the magic? Well, it’s been sucked up by the Compressor jacket! There is absolutely nothing for it but to rave about how great the Compressor is. It’s a super lightweight, non-bulky, ultra-warm synthetic-fill, perfectly cut little piece of heaven. It’s very simple – just a normal jacket with two pockets and no special frills or oddly placed logos or extra pockets – but there’s nothing wanting. It’s perfect. It’s light and compact – not bulky or puffy. A gal can still look slim and trim while staying warm at the same time! No marshmallow look here. The Compressor is my go-to for staying warm on chilly evenings, and since it stuffs into its own pocket for storage, I always have room to bring it along. Besides, I get lots of compliments on it, so naturally I bring it everywhere in case I feel the need for attention. And let’s face it, I’m a blogger – I like attention.
Like other super lightweight items, the Compressor is not made for abuse, so keeping it puncture-free is practically a full time job if you care as much about your gear as I do. I learned the hard way with other superlight gear, so I’m just a bit more careful than normal when wearing the Compressor. I’d love to wear it ice climbing, but I’m a klutz with the tools so I know my darling Compressor would get shredded. I don’t go bushwhacking or tree climbing or sliding down rock faces on my stomach (like ya do). I’m extra careful when zipping the pocket when the Compressor is stuffed inside; catching the fabric on the zipper would be tragic. But babying my stuff is worth it when it’s as good as this jacket. It’s not winter yet (though you wouldn’t guess from the weather), but I’m estimating that the Compressor will be warm enough in temperatures down to the low twenties. For below-freezing fall (and Alaskan summer) days, the Compressor is all you need. And don’t be a total fool like I was, and try to stuff the Compressor into the wrong pocket while complaining that there’s no way to close the zipper. If you can’t close the zipper, use the other pocket. You know, the one with the double-pull zipper. Fool.
Update: The double-pull zipper on my beautiful Compressor failed after 8 months of use. And as one of our ever-supportive Gearguys said, “wow, and you really take care of your stuff.” I took care of the Compressor and it caved under the pressure. Still, MHW has a warranty and will fix the zipper, but that means I’m without my favorite lightweight jacket for 4-6 weeks. Anyone else had this issue? Let me (and MHW) know by posting a comment.
Patagonia R1 Balaclava
July 24, 2008
So, it snowed on the mountains above town today. July 23. Snow. Summer hasn’t even arrived yet around here, and now it’s over. Nothing to do but accept it, so let’s talk balaclavas. We’re going to need them soon.
The R1 balaclava is hands down the best balaclava I’ve ever worn. Ever! And I’ve worn a lot of…okay, that’s just ridiculous, I’ve only worn a few, but that’s plenty to tell me that normal balaclavas are kind of weird, usually too tight, not warm enough, and pretty much just feel like you dragged your brother’s old sock over your head and are peeking out the holes made by his nappy toenails. But enough about family – this ‘clava is so good that I just couldn’t understand why there are any others out there. It’s not even ridiculously expensive! Cheaper, in fact, than many other extremely inferior balaclavas, which is kind of weird considering that it’s made from Patagonia’s venerable R1 fabric, which is, in turn, not cheap. So, yay! Excellent, highly superior balaclava for normal, average balaclava price.
It’s soft, it’s warm, it’s maneuverable (you can wear it as a neck gaiter, a hat, or a balaclava – for real, not just “in theory” like other balaclavas). It’s light and compressible. The eye hole has a dashing “ninja” shape, so the R1 balaclava can double as part of your Halloween costume, or your day-to-day samurai outfit, if you’re into that. It’s toasty warm and somehow manages to not immediately develop an under-nose crust while you’re skiing. I’m not techy enough to figure out how the fabric holds the nose crust at bay, so I’ll just say it must be a miracle.
It’s hard to find in a size small, as most ladies would probably need, which is the one bummer about it. I’ve actually never seen it in a size smaller than a medium, and after turning to the All-Knowing Internet, I was unable to find a retailer who carries the R1 in anything but medium or large. The medium is a tad roomy on my wee pinhead, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for the size small, and report back if I find that they do, in fact, make it in a small. If they don’t, I’ll just grouse about things like “why call it a medium if there’s only two sizes” and “hello, not everyone has a melon for a head” and “my ‘sexy ninja’ costume looks stupid with a slightly baggy balaclava.” But role-playing aside, at least I’ll be warm and comfy with the R1 protecting my face and head from the nasty elements (which will be here any day, if the snow is any indication).
La Sportiva Slingshot Trail Running Shoe
July 23, 2008
[Readers, you should take this tester's comments to heart. She recently went out just to "improve her time" in a marathon-length mountain running race, and instead went ahead and won the women's championship. So she knows a thing or two about mountain running. Just thought you should know. -Head Geargal]
In the garage we have a 6ft x 6ft book case filled with shoes. No, I am not Imelda Marcos, we use a lot of specific athletic footwear, like running shoes. Trail runners are really close to my heart, because I want them to fit well, last at least a month or two, and give me the sensation of light feet that can feel what is underneath them. I stumbled across La Sportiva Slingshots in my size at a sale section of local mountaineering store and, since there were a few inches of extra space on my shoe shelf, I bought them without even trying them on. It was not until the first trail running race that I realized what a treasure I had just stumbled upon. There was no heel lift, they fit like a glove (well, not literally but you know what I mean). And they weighed nothing [again, not literally - HG], yet gave enough traction and support for on mud, rocks and roots. Because I’m a bit worried that such a light race shoe won’t last through all the training miles, I have dedicated these shoes for racing only, which works out perfect since as soon as I put them on I feel like a pro of sorts. They just make you feel fast! My first Slingshots are just starting to show wear and tear after a full year of trail racing. Time to get a new pair!
Patagonia Houdini Jacket
July 15, 2008
They say that there are 10 outdoor essentials and one of them should be a super lightweight wind breaker. I have one with me on all outings, be it a trail run, a mountain bike ride, a backcountry ski day, or a full blown expedition. The problem is that they show wear and tear quickly, but then again that is a great excuse to upgrade or try something new in this category. I have blown apart several different wind jackets [Remember I said she was hard on gear. – Head Geargal) so it was indeed time to try something new. I chose the Patagonia Houdini. This is a full zip jacket with hood and one minimalist pocket. I loved it as soon as I picked it up, as it weighs just over 3 ounces. I thought that zipper itself would weigh more than that! On its first outing, it kept the ridgeline winds from stripping the heat from my core on a hike. On the second outing, it was a perfect outerlayer while skinning up for a touring ski lap. The hood fits nicely without restricting vision.
The overall slim fit of this jacket has cut down the bulk many wind layers have, which makes me look more contoured than the sack look many other jackets offer. The triple ripstop also gives at least a promise of a longer life span than its predecessors. In a few months I will know for certain. Now if I could just get over the color name, Poppy Fields, please….
Osprey Xenon 85 Expedition Pack
July 15, 2008
I have to admit I have been partial to my old expedition pack for the last 15 years, the loyal pack that has hauled my stuff on month-long mountaineering trips with vengeance. Not that I’m against trying new things, but why change if the tried and true solution still works? Well, I was enticed out of my comfort zone when the Head Geargal dangled a shiny new Osprey Xenon 85 in front of me as I was preparing for a three week trip to climb and ski in the Alaska Range. I was excited not only because it came in pretty Pacific – not Atlantic or Arctic but Pacific – but also because my husband observed “That pack is so big it makes your butt look small!” [She does not have a big butt - I think her hubby might have to pay for that remark, and hopefully pay for it in the form of beer and pizza for the Geargals. -Head Geargal] Aesthetics aside, I was excited for the ReCurve suspension system with heat moldable hip belt and the possibility of the AirScape ventilation keeping my back dry even when huffing 70-pound loads in the Alaska Range.
Before leaving on the trip, I had no time to get the pack correctly fitted for me, which was somewhat of a mistake on my part. I was motivated to figure out the suspension system in the field by the first unbearable few days carrying the ill-fitting pack. [I warned her. -HG.] The Velcro closures on the suspension make adjustments easy enough even on the glacier, but it would have made the first impression on the pack better if I would have taken the time to at least read through the instruction manual before taking this load carrying beast out in the elements. I guess the best outcome is that I learned very quickly how to adjust this pack to make it comfortable. And that is what this pack is all about, lot of options for adjusting for specific torso lengths and hip widths and so forth. Yes, both ReCurve and AirScape worked. Welcome to the new age of in-the-field custom fitted packs!
My gear mantra has always been “simple, easy to repair in the field and light weight”. [Note "repair." She's hard on gear. -HG] When there are a lot of zippers, compartments and special features, those three characteristics usually get buried under less desirable bulk and complexity. And this pack has an abundance of features, some of which I was quite skeptical about. Like the sleeping bag compartment, never been a fan…nor have I ever used a lumbar pack option in any of my packs. But after few weeks of use, I had grown to like some of the special features. I was able to utilize the outside front pocket to have my avalanche safety gear easily accessible and the ski and ice ax loops worked really well. The zippered side pocket was awesome and I used it daily to keep sunscreen, snacks and camera in an easy to find spot. The three front straps and the side straps allowed me to adjust the volume of the pack from big hauling machine to slim day tour pack. And I did like the LNT principles inside the pack, nice little detail from an environmentally conscious brand.
Despite being a big load carrying beast, it was able to switch gears for different uses from ski mountaineering to alpine climbing and glacier travel. The stretchy material on the outside got a few rips from sharp tools, though, and is definitely not too resistant to abrasions either. I was little bummed that the hip belt requires two hands for tightening, which is not ideal when you already have two ski poles or at least an ice ax in your hand. I suspect that this is to account for the heat moldable hip belt, as a one-strap system might pull the hipbelt out of place, but it is one of those small preferences that might matter to some. Still, this pack got tested for the first time under gruesome conditions on a three week expedition in the Alaska Range and all in all I give it a pretty high mark. My old pack might have a rival….
