Columbia Midweight Stripe Omni-Heat Base Layer
January 2, 2012
I talked about these base layers in my last trip report, but they do deserve their own review.
At first look, this is a pretty standard design; long sleeve upper, full length lower. Lowers are really nice and long for you tall gals, and the sleeves on the upper are long enough too; no fit problems to speak of for a good range of body types. The “extra” is Columbia’s Omni-Heat fabric which has little metallic dots on the inside to reflect body heat back to you. At first I thought it couldn’t possibly make a difference, but a little voice spoke up reminding me that we use space blankets to reflect body heat back to injured people in the backcountry, so it should work to use the same idea integrated with clothing…?
I admit that I didn’t notice much of a difference when using these in the reasonable temps (above or equal to zero degrees F). They seemed pretty average at first, but since it wasn’t cold enough, my standard layer system was fine and the Omni-Heat wasn’t being put to the test. It had to dive well below zero for me to realize what a difference the Omni-Heat makes. It really, really works.
I have nothing whatsoever to say about these that isn’t an utter rave. They’re comfortable , well made, and they work to keep you warmer. Actually, I want them in more versions – like always, I would love a crewneck 1/3 zip version of the top, and a ski-length option for the bottoms. What say you, Columbia?
Columbia Reach the Peak Hybrid Down Jacket
December 28, 2011
Another review from Irene – a super legit Geargal from the Kenai Peninsula. Last time Irene and I got together, we hiked in nuclear winds to a high pass, heralding the end of the snowless season by trekking from bare ground to 6″ of the white stuff. Always the functional fashionista, Irene wore a skirt over her leggings and was only turned back because it was too icy to continue safely. She’s a badass. Trust her to test stuff by dumping chainsaw oil all over it (see below). She’s also absolutely tiny so she gets all the stuff that’s too small for me.
Although this jacket in my regular size fit me okay, it was a tad snug in the arms and I knew it would fit Irene a lot better so I sent it to her for testing. I have noticed that this year’s Columbia line tends to be small in the arms, so if you’re a Georgette-of-the-Jungle muscly type like me, you might need a size up. -Head Geargal
This ever so stylish, light down jacket from Columbia is now my favorite cool weather layer. Its lightweight 700 down filling combined with the Omni-Heat thermal reflective liner is so comfortable and warm when worn over a base layer, or two.
I first wore this jacket when our temperatures dipped to minus 10 degrees in late November. The first morning I stepped outside wearing this layer I noticed my sides and under my arms were cold due to a very clever heat regulating non-insulated panel running from the wrist clear down to the waist. I would soon find out how great this chilly panel is and how wonderfully it works to cool you down when you’re beginning to sweat up a storm.
No frills to this jacket; just two hand pockets, and one main zipper – and yet it’s so cute. Oh, there was a drawstring cord in the hem that I cut out as I had no room to snug this jacket to my hips. I love women specific clothing, especially clothing that adds a bit of chic. Here is what Columbia has to say about this piece:
Aha! “Elongates your figure;” no wonder I look so good in this layer.
Depending on the item, I usually wear a small or a medium size [Trust me, it’s only the Euro brands that necessitate the medium – Irene is super small, smaller than me and I am a size S across the board. Except in Euro stuff, so there you have it. –HG]. This jacket was a small and after two layers under it I was beginning to feel like a stuffed sausage, therefore, I would purchase a medium for a little more wiggle room.
After wearing this layer on my personal outings skiing I decided to take it to work where I do a variety of tasks outdoors. Currently one task I’m not too keen on is heading out on a snowmobile to cut fallen trees from across the trails [I would quite enjoy this task. I have a weakness for power toys tools. -HG]. Though, this one particular day I was quite pleased because my partner and I got to hike instead of ride (the lake we would traverse to get to a portage trail was not frozen enough for snowmobiles), but then I was to soon find out this partner of mine grabbed the biggest chainsaw with the longest bar we have. Argh, sorry what I said about not liking snowmobile travel….
Hiking uphill trudging through snow that was not so deep we needed snowshoes yet deep enough to be a difficult hike was first on the agenda. I kept thinking I probably shouldn’t be wearing this pretty jacket today but I needed to keep warm and not let exertion get me too sweaty on this minus 6 degree day. When it was my turn to carry the ridiculous “Paul Bunyan” chainsaw I was very careful to have the power head resting on the top of my pack and not on my jacket, a strategy that did not pay off, as when I returned from the outing I discovered a large spot of oil on my sleeve. However:
When I returned to the office I quickly took the jacket to the sink and washed the oily spot, and thankfully it came out. The shell is a ripstop nylon, the company says, with advanced repellency. I found out when it’s raining, or dumping heavy wet snow, this layer gets soaked rather quickly. I knew it probably would; for Pete’s sake, this is a thin down layer after all – but I just had to put it to the test.
I enjoy this jacket so much for work and play that I have to admit there was one day I had to retrieve it from the dirty laundry bin at 6:45 A.M. as I was frantically searching for it on my way out the door to work, only to remember the rather stinky layer needed to be washed. Didn’t matter as I was heading to work with smelly guys, I’d fit right in. And, one of the other best parts to this layer is indeed you can throw it in the washer and dryer!!! Even the label says so, major bonus for me.
I highly recommend this jacket, it seems that when I’m wearing it I am not having to stop as often to add or remove layers of clothing quite as often as I normally would, or should. Hard to imagine such a thin layer can have such a big impact on my comfort in the out of doors. Good job Columbia, and thank you Head Geargal. [You are most welcome from both of us I'm sure! -HG]
Mountain Hardwear Butter Zippity
December 1, 2011
I just saw a picture of someone else wearing this shirt and all I can think of to say is really? Really? My arms are that short? I’m that freaky? How does someone else look so great in this and I’m looking like I’m wearing a base layer designed for a chimpanzee! I’m normal looking, I swear. On the small side. Not short, not skinny exactly, just…compact. Efficient. Why waste energy swinging long, willowy limbs around anyway? I can get my arm around in probably half the time it takes Gisele to land a punch.
You’re probably getting my point; that tall folks or people with high ape indexes will fit this shirt fine, and they’re lucky because it’s a great piece. Super warm and toasty, it’s got an unusually soft texture (probably why it’s got “butter” in the name) and is very quick-drying. It’s simple, with a 1/3 zip (mandatory for any base layer if you ask me) and one simple pocket down by the lower rib cage area. Sadly for me, I can’t really wear it very comfortably because the sleeves are way, way, way too long. I usually endorse adding a little extra length to sleeves because clothes aren’t usually small enough in the body and long enough in the arms for me – I have to settle for too-short sleeves or too-baggy torsos – so this is the first time ever that I think an item has sleeves that are too long. Even the hem of this piece is bordering on too long for me. the good news is that it fits nicely in the torso so you long and lean chicas will be happy with this one.
I’m 5’5″ so I’m not super itty bitty, so I’d say that this piece is probably best for women 5’7″ and above, or just very long-limbed. At least make sure to try it on before you buy to make sure you’ll like the fit. Other reviews have stated that the fit is spot-on, so it’s possible that my Butter Zippity is suffering from sample-itis, which is what happens when samples get sent to media and are changed a bit before they’re mass produced. If anyone has their hands on a retail version of this shirt, please weigh in on the fit.
If you just wanna roll the dice, you can order it at Backcountry.com for $69.
Inversion Therapy
November 28, 2011
A ragtag band of skiers joined forces on Saturday for that rarest of rare days: sunny and warm (up top at least), windless weather lighting up stable snow and knee-deep high-quality powder. Moving up through the clouds towards the yellow glow of the sun pushing through the gloom was a surreal and soul-feeding experience, but it paled in comparison to the quality of the skiing.
The day started out a little rough, with our group turning around from our first objective on the strength of a vague bad feeling (mine) which may have been unfounded in regards to snow stability (though the massive crown face we saw on a NNW aspect on another peak later may indicate otherwise), but was validated when one of our telemarkers clicked out of his bindings when we hit the parking lot to move to another spot, and snapped the binding effortlessly in half. He didn’t even notice it had broken until one of us found the broken piece lying on the ground. That poor soul had to drop us at a more northerly trailhead and head back to Girdwood to get the binding fixed, and we ended up skiing a fairly well-traveled mountain instead of the silent untracked paradise we were seeking, but we all agreed that a few laps on Tincan Proper were preferable to being stranded way out on Kickstep or Pastoral with an inoperable binding.
The snow was so good on the first lap it resulted in some extremely inspired skinning on our part as we wanted as many laps as possible that day. I got a bit of a laugh on the way up the second time as my partner, who is even smaller than me (long legs make a difference, don’t think they don’t), was pushing the pace in a way she hadn’t done on the way up the first time. There was just no way to go wrong that day and though nothing can beat perfect powder in the alpine, I got a respectable amount of deep powder turns in the trees, too – a few hip deep pockets are stashed out there for the farming. Even the parking ticket on my truck didn’t do much to harsh our glow.
The rime feathers on top of that perfect powder are now getting buried by heavy, wet snow and a massive warm front is moving in. Goodbye to the perfect, light powder for now, but it’s only November and it will be back. I don’t remember getting skiing of that good quality in November before, so I hope this bodes well for the rest of the winter.
D-Fa Puff Doggy (Dog) Jacket
October 30, 2011
[Geardog is not in any of these photos, by the way. These are photos courtesy of D-Fa and their professional photographer Fredrik Larssen, which is why they are really good photos and not the utter crap that happens when I pick up a camera.]
Most of you readers know by now that Geardog, my trained search and rescue/avalanche dog is my most trusted and important partner. We spend a ton of time working and training together, and since Geardog looks to me to make sure all his needs are met, I have the responsibility of making sure that he’s able to do his job at any time in all conditions.
There is a perception that search dogs and handlers go racing quickly into the scene to save the day. This is rarely true in the sense that most people think of it – “responding quickly” is done in an organized fashion that looks painfully slow to people used to made-for-TV drama and action movie scenes. No one goes sprinting into danger, especially when responding to avalanches where, though time is of the essence, there are many scene safety considerations that must be addressed before any responders can go to the scene to start searching. This is especially applicable in training, where there is absolutely no reason to take big risks. Therefore, training (and sometimes responding) can involve a lot of standing/sitting/lying around and waiting. If it’s wintertime, we’re talking about standing around in the deep cold and waiting. And waiting some more.
I don’t know about you, but I get cold standing around waiting, and so does Geardog and his compatriots. All the avalanche dogs around here have some form of coat to wear from what I’ve seen, but Geardog is lucky enough to have D-Fa as his sponsor (don’t get the name? Say it fast, D-Fa Dogs…try it with a Kiwi accent. Got it?) so he’s sporting the fab Puff Doggy when the action is slow. He’s got enough fur to compensate for all conditions but standing around in the bitter cold, and the Puff Doggy is just the ticket.
The Puff Doggy is like a down jacket for dogs, with attention to detail not usually found in doggy gear. Puffy coats for dogs are just not that common; manufacturers usually opting for fleece or something similar. The Puff Doggy is the real deal for the dog in the backcountry, with a water resistant Pertex outer layer and a strap system meant to keep the heat in. I like that the Puff Doggy extends over the chest and down over the dog’s elbows, trapping more heat and keeping important joints warm. When Geardog lies down, the coat forms a little tent over him to keep the drafts out. The Puff Doggy, like your down coat, stuffs down small so it’s relatively easy for me to keep it in my 24-hour SAR pack just in case my furry partner needs a helping hand staying warm someday.
D-Fa is not your typical line of dog clothing. It’s designed for big dogs to use in tough conditions. Many of D-Fa’s testers are ski patrol dogs, search dogs, and other working dogs who really do need good gear. This isn’t for the Sunday stroll kind of dog; it’s for the working dog, and in my experience the gear really does deliver.
D-Fa is not too easy to find on this side of the pond but you can buy it directly from the D-Fa USA store here.
Featured Brand: MHW Integral Base Layers
September 25, 2011
I’ve tried every iteration of this base layer now, and I’m a total believer. I know, after 350 reviews I just kind of cut to the chase these days. Because I didn’t go to OR last summer, and MHW has changed up their PR crew, I got a pile of these to try but without guidance ended up kind of left in the dark about what they are made of and how to use them. Some people are snotty about whether manufacturer feedback should be important to a tester, but I think it’s super valuable. Did I mention I have 350 reviews under my belt now? I’ve found that learning what the product is made to do is really vital. How else can I pass that information on to you fine people? In this case, though, I had little to go on. I figured it might be kind of cool to just give them a try, see what I thought, and THEN do the research. Totally intentional.
After a few months of blind-ish testing, this is what I wear when I want to make sure I can be warm when I need to throw on a layer. What, I’m the only one who doesn’t use base layers as base layers? Can’t be true. The Integral series is so thin that it was hard to trust it at first, but I soon learned that I’d be sweating if I misjudged the temperature so I started bringing the Integral tops along as midlayers since it’s not cold enough to need them as base yet. My favorite is the Zip T (I think any shirt without at least a 3/4 zip should be illegal) though I expect to use the L/S version when the weather really gets cold and I don’t have to climb or anything (good excuse for an actual resort day, someday).
So I liked this base layer. It wasn’t until I sat down and started writing this review that I looked up the composition. I was surprised to find it is 65% merino (wool) and 35% polyester. I must say that I’m not a huge wool fan; I usually find it clammy, itchy, weirdly slippery, and not all that warm. I sometimes shy away from reviewing it because so many people love it; I figure it must be just a preference and as wool is clearly not my preference, it’s unfair to say I don’t like a product just because it’s wool. This is the first wool product that has made me think “oh…THAT’S what they mean when they say they like it.”
I shouldn’t really surprised about the wool composition, because the Integrals have that weird warm-but-not-warm way about them, but since it really did trend to the warm I liked them. It must be the high polyester content that keeps them from being itchy and clammy. They aren’t at all wind resistant but that is probably what keeps them breathable. If you are actually using them as a base layer rather than an outer- or mid-layer, like I do, this won’t matter to you (the lack of wind-resistance, I mean). The product info says that the underarm panels are 100% polyester to allow for breathability, which, given my experience with the garment, makes total sense. I tend to get warm at the areas covered by the merino blend, while not in the underarms, which was a weird sensation and took some getting used to, but was kind of awesome once I did.
Typical to most upper body Mountain Hardwear, the fit is really nice. Sleeves long enough, cut trim with ample room in upper arms, and long enough in the torso to either tuck in securely or stay put easily. I say “most” Mountain Hardwear, because lately they can’t seem to match up their jacket designs with their base and mid layer designs – all the sleeves on the jackets are much too short and the jacket torsos could use a few millimeters as well.
Unfortunately the tights are not engineered quite as well. The fabric is great but the fit has some problems; again, common to wool because it doesn’t hold its shape. Because of that (I assume), MHW put in a big elastic waistband, but made it too loose so the drawers will droop in short order. I hardly ever wear the tights for that reason. It’s a real shame because the fabric is technically quite good. The fit of the tights seems to be a lazy mistake that is not typical of MHW. I’m usually not a drawstring fan but a drawstring would have helped out, here. Still, there are body types that might do OK with this design so they are worth trying on; just count on the fact that if the waistband is even a little bit loose, it’s just going to get looser.
An excellent base layer that is much warmer than you will think when you pick it up. Buy it at Backcountry.com by clicking here.
Featured Brand: MHW Epic Glove
September 14, 2011
I sent these gloves to petite Irene because they were too small for me. I did hang onto them for a while, hoping that my hands would become magically smaller, because I loved the gloves and wanted to wear them; they looked great for ice climbing. When it was time to send Irene a shipment, though, I gave in and included them since she’ll get more use out of them. Here’s what she reports:
The Mountain Hardwear Epic Glove for Women. The manufacturer says: “Designed for a woman’s smaller hands, a windproof, and waterproof, breathable glove for all backcountry sports. Brushed lining adds warmth and wicks moisture. Durable, high grip, synthetic palm.”
Well, my first response to a woman’s sized S/P glove is to run the other way. Though my hands are small, petite, with long thin fingers, unlike a man’s thicker hand and small stubby fingers, so when I shop for gloves I usually head to the men’s department. Quite a switch for me, shopping in the men’s department is mostly a no for myself. I stray towards more room in finger gloves primarily so my fingers do not get cold from being too constricted, same idea as for fitting shoes/boots: it is generally prudent to have a little more wiggle room, and, never snug.
Surprise! These gloves fit like a… well, “like a glove”, imagine that. Who would have thunk it? Certainly not me. These gloves fit my fingers and hands well, not too tight, comfortable, just right.
In early spring (that’s still cold in these parts) these gloves kept my fingers warm and I had the satisfaction of them also being a nice protective layer while roller blading. These are now my standard glove for my roller blading pack. The area I travel a lot is always windy, and quite often raining, these gloves are wonderful for these conditions. The outer layer is 100% nylon, the inner layer is 100% polyester, and for some reason, known to the manufacturer, they do breathe well. As I think about the winds I face heading home from the Glacier I just came up with a brilliant idea while writing this review. If I start my trek at the Glacier, instead of the beginning of the 8-mile road, I could perhaps skate into the wind going out, and have the wind to my back coming home? But then, this would add an additional 16 miles of driving my rig, darned it, I want it all. Brilliant idea turns into a dilemma, well; at least I have the gloves to suit my needs. Wish I had a second pair for my daypack, and a third pair for my backpack. I find that when I start switching gear from pack to pack, something gets lost in the shuffle, I am spoiled, and that is a good thing. (I do the same – where the HELL is my Down Shirt????) -HG
There is a simple to use clip to keep these gloves together when not being used. Unlike some clips that are a pain to undo, this clip is simple and works well. A small Velcro closure at the opening helps to open the gloves at the writs/arm a little wider making it easy to get the glove on and off. These gloves extend 2 inches above the wrist, easy to wear under a coat. Guess I’ll have to stop and smell the roses a bit more in the women’s glove department, funny how you can be so set in your ways, only to have someone prove you wrong, thank you Mountain Hardwear.
Priced at $59.95 at backcountry.com. Probably some good sales coming up one of these days too.
Featured Brand: MHW Fluid 32 Pack
September 13, 2011
I have loved my Fluid 10 pack for mountain biking, so I was stoked to try a larger version of a Fluid pack to see how I liked it. Unfortunately, the pack is not sized for smaller torsos like mine, so I shipped it off to Amy Jurries at thegearcaster.com since she’s taller than me. Sounds like she had a good time with the pack – and the pack had a good time too, since it got to go to Italy!
Here’s what Amy had to say:
The Fluid 32 from Mountain Hardwear is a lightweight, top-loading pack that can be used for everything from day hiking, climbing, or summit bids, to multi-day ultralight backpacking trips. I was excited to test out the pack during my multi-sport Dolomites adventure as it reminds me a lot of one of my favorite fast and light packs, the Black Diamond Speed Pack.
The single, roomy, 32 Liter main compartment enables you to pack in a ton of gear with good stuffing technique. The quick drawstring closure system takes awhile to get used to, but when you do, makes opening and closing the pack quick and easy to do with one hand.
The Fluid 32 is hydration compatible with a separate zippered pouch to keep any spilled water away from the rest of your gear. A full hydration bladder will take up quite a bit of space inside the pack so keep that in mind when planning your load.
A wide front pocket is perfect for securely storing your climbing helmet, climbing shoes, or an even extra layer such as your rain jacket. The fixed top lid, with multiple zippered storage pockets, fastens to this front pocket using a hook versus a normal buckle closure. In theory this makes opening the lid quicker and easier, but unless the Fluid 32 is completely full, this hook comes undone, flapping around the back of your pack.
Two zippered pockets on the hipbelt are convenient for storing your snacks, lip balm, and even a small camera for the day. Mountain Hardwear has recently gone minimalist with their hipbelts, to the detriment of many the female wearer. The padding tends to stop right on top of your hipbones with a thin piece of webbing and buckle completing the belt. Not only does this usually leave you with an unwelcome muffin top when the hipbelt is tight, but bruised or blistered hipbones by the end of the day. All the female guides I know who use Mountain Hardwear packs have switched out the hipbelts for older models.
The Fluid 32 features Mountain Hardwear On-The-Fly compression straps that enable you to cinch the pack in closer to your body by using pull handles at the end of the long, zigzagged webbing running down the side of the pack. This compression system keeps the pack from bouncing if you are running along the trail or gives you’re a nice low profile for climbing. Once pulled tight however, the handles and excess webbing hang down below your pack and tend to get caught on rocks or any other protruding object.
The breathable spacer mesh back panel uses air channels to help ventilate and keep your back cool and comfortable during hot days outside. The lightweight shoulder straps are padded with perforated foam to further help with ventilation.
Two stretch side pockets can hold full size water bottles if you don’t like using a hydration bladder. An ice axe loop and tie downs are convenient for storing your trekking poles if you are using the pack for hiking or backpacking. If you are out on a multi-day adventure, the bottom of the Fluid 32 includes two buckled tie downs to hold your tent or sleeping pad.
Both my husband and I were actually able to use this unisex pack as we have somewhat similar torso lengths. There is enough adjustability in the hipbelt and shoulder straps that we both could wear the pack comfortably.
Overall, the Mountain Hardwear Fluid 32 is a comfortable and extremely lightweight pack that provides tons of storage room for gear, whatever your outdoor activity.
Featured Brand: Patagonia Ultralight Down Shirt
September 7, 2011
Damn, damn, damn, damn! I have lost my Ultralight Down Shirt on one of the many trips I’ve taken it on. I suspect this is because it packs down so tiny in its little stuff sack that it was somehow easily overlooked and left somewhere. I can’t imagine where I would have left it, as it was such a vital piece of kit for so many of my endeavors this year. It’s the perfect extra layer to throw into your pack even when you think you won’t need it – it takes up almost no room and weighs almost nothing, but can probably save your life if you get caught out in an unexpected cold snap or you get injured and need to bivvy. It’s the lightest-weight insulated layer Patagonia offers, meant to fill that tiny gap between “no insulation” and “down sweater” (which is also a good piece of gear, by the way).
I find that insulated (down or synthetic) layers are the best thing for me to bring along to stay warm. As a smaller person I generate less heat and need insulation to keep it in when I’m not exerting myself. When I get all heated up on a climb and then stop, I get cold within minutes if I don’t throw on an insulated layer. On summer climbs, a full down jacket is overkill, but the down shirt has been great. I’ve even used it on mountain bike descents, which are guaranteed to have me shivering by the end. The down shirt fits in even my smallest mountain bike pack and is thin enough to fit under even my trim-cut bike jackets. It’s even a good layer to sleep in if it’s really cold. Yes, I loved the Ultralight Down Shirt.
How could I lose such a great piece of gear? I’ve torn my house apart several times looking for this thing. I’ve gone through every pack I own (and that’s a lot) multiple times. My other half is sick of me moaning and complaining about my lost down shirt. I figure if I complain loudly enough, the little stuff sack might hear me and come rolling back, like the rocks came to Ludo when he called them. Here’s hoping.
In the meantime you can buy one at patagonia.com – make sure to keep an eye on the web specials!
Featured Brand: Columbia Dolomite Pant
September 5, 2011
Total pant love, here. It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of Columbia stuff and they’ve really hit a home run with this flattering, lightweight pant that. This is THE cut that I’ve been trying to find in hiking pants. I’m not a fan of baggy, floppy hiking pants (especially the ones that taper at the ankles, ugh and double ugh) but most of the ones that were designed to be a little more fashion conscious were too constricting or too boot-cut, which is a problem when you’re out hiking and climbing; those floppy hems get COVERED in mud. The Dolomite pant hits the perfect note.
Andrea from Columbia PR suggested I try these pants and included them with a pile of samples for the season. She warned me that my regular size might end up being too tight, and yeah, she was right about that. She sent me another pair a size up and they are almost perfect. Don’t get me wrong, they are still a slim-cut pant and if you’re not comfortable with showing your body shape, these may not suit you, but I REALLY love them not only because they look great, but because their lightweight, stretchy fabric and slim cut make it easy to slide on a pair of rain pants over, should you get caught out in inclement weather while hiking. They are kind of boot-cut-ish, but not so much that the hems get totally caked in mud and dirt from brushing against each other.
The most genius feature of these pants is the adjustable waistband. I’ve seen many try and fail, and this is the first one I’ve seen that actually works. It’s got a wide elastic band sewn into the waist that you can adjust to be tighter or looser. Since my waist tends to be small and my booty tends toward the badonkadonk, I usually windup with pants that are tight in the ass but still loose in the waist – terrible, and a common problem from what I hear. The Dolomite pants really do fix all that!
The one sizing issue that I have come up with, and my one criticism of the pants is that because they run small in circumference, some of the other proportions are off. They are meant to be a lowish rise pant, but because I have to wear a size up, the rise is too long for me, giving me a bit of a sag. Now that I’ve written that, though, I realize that with pants this lightweight, a sag is much, much preferable to a camel toe situation, by far. So maybe I’ve no complaints after all.
I’m pretty convinced that despite their thin fabric, the Dolomites are pretty tough. They really have shown no sign of wear this season and they survived my yearly roof-cleaning session, which involves crawling around on abrasive tiles trying to get the moss off while managing a very bizarre fall-protection system involving anchoring myself from my chimney. From this adventure, I found that the Dolomites are great for wearing under a climbing harness as they don’t bunch or catch on the leg loops. The waist was high enough to sit under the waist belt of the harness quite comfortably. I’d take these pants climbing for certain. I’d take them traveling, too, and pretty much anywhere because they are so comfortable and they never end up looking sloppy.
A great addition to these pants would be a reinforced knee-and-booty version for a little more abrasion protection. We don’t have that yet, but we can always dream, right, Columbia?
Strangely they are kind of hard to find on the online shops. Many shops only have the men’s version, boo! You can get them direct from Columbia.com for full price of $70, but I found them at AltrecOutlet.com for over 50% off, a great deal! That last link will get me a teeny tiny commission if you buy, which should make you feel good while you’re saving almost $35, so everyone wins!
