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?

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:

Exquisite baffling lines elongate your figure, and the pretty, soft tricot and taffeta lining is just as inviting as the jacket’s lightweight warmth.

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:

Omni-Shield® advanced repellency fabric on the exterior guards against wet weather, spills, and stains.

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]

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!

I’m glad that I talked with Columbia about what this shoe is for before evaluating it. They told me that it’s not meant to be a running shoe, but one more for speed hiking and fast travel without much actual running. I told them I’d use it on my daily power hikes up the ridge by my house, and they confirmed that it would be perfect for that. So use it I did!

I really like this shoe. It’s beefier than a running shoe, with a plastic cap over the tongue that helps a lot with dispersing the pressure that laces can put on the top of your foot. It’s got a stiff heel too, for keeping your foot in place. The stiff heel also makes for a long break-in period, so keep that in mind. I’ve been using this shoe a few times a month for the last few months and I still find that I can’t wear the shoes for long periods without discomfort. However, the shoe isn’t meant for long periods of wear so that doesn’t bother me – and I also figure that I’m still in the break-in period since I’ve never worn them on a long hike (over one or two hours). My advancing age means that I no longer wear light hikers for long days or heavy loads, so I wouldn’t find this shoe appropriate for anything but a light-and-fast day, which is exactly the point of the shoe so Columbia hit the mark there for certain.

A highlight of the shoe is the traction it provides. Did I mention that I’m creaky and decrepit? I have trouble descending steep slopes sometimes; my life of running, sports, and general body abuse is catching up to me. Shoes with no grip are dangerous and can cause injury to knees and joints, so I look for footwear that grips the trail and won’t cause me to tweak my knees by letting my feet slide around (ever torque your knee when your heel slips downward on a trail? Yikes, it hurts), and the Master of Faster has great traction on mud and loose dirt. Speaking of mud, it also sheds mud pretty well and though I never call any shoe “waterproof” unless it’s made by X-tra Tuf, this one is really water-resistant, as I don’t usually end up with wet feet even when out and about in wet weather. I tend to choose these shoes on wet days for that reason. You can get them at backcountry.com on sale for $82 by clicking here.

[The Graying Geargal is back! Her last review was so popular that I just had to have her as my tester for one of my Featured Brands. I sent her the Peak Power Shell to test in the drizzle of an Alaskan "spring." ~HG]

I have only worn this jacket for two weeks; however, I must blog immediately because so many women have stopped me to admire the jacket and to ask where they can buy it. Of course, I refer them to the Geargals site because they can read about the latest apparel and obtain honest reviews. [Shameless plug! But I like it. HG]

I have worn this shell on several hikes in temperatures that range from the high 30s on a sunny day to low 60s on a windy day. I confess that I like being warm so I took a light down jacket along on the first hike just in case the day did not warm into the 40s. After all, this was the first time using the shell, and one does not want to be far from shelter when weather does not cooperate! As it turned out, I never used the extra layer.

This is a wind-proof jacket! I will not reiterate the scientific details about Omni-Dry, they are available on the Columbia website. I will confirm that the shell performs exactly as they state. On the first hike, I was comfortable all day with the jacket completely zipped. Even though I did not open the underarm vents, I did not get too warm. I did not get too cold either. As Goldilocks would say, I was just right all day! I LOVE the sleeve length and the extra length in the back. I use trekking poles when I hike so I appreciate sleeves that allow me to move my arms without restriction and without sleeves that pull back from the wrists.

On the second day, I started out with zippers closed, but I opened the under arm vents as the day warmed. Since the wind was brisk, I kept the front zipper closed. This was another “just right” day.

I love the bright turquoise color (officially Oxide Blue) paired with the two-toned grey collar and lining. Since I do not like to shop for clothes, I have been envious of my friends who were wearing this trendy color for weeks. The shell comes in black and tan also if you prefer neutral colors.

I have not tried the attached hood yet, but I did notice that it has three gray thingamajigs that enable the wearer to adjust it to perfection. Without any help from Head Geargal, I figured out how they work! It has not rained since I obtained the shell, but as a true gear tester, I rallied to find another alternative and now I can attest to the fact that these zippers are waterproof! While enjoying my favorite white chocolate mocha, I felt a drop fall from the lip of the coffee cup onto my new coat. DRATS! It landed perfectly on the front zipper where everyone would notice! Nothing worse than cleaning coffee off a zipper when you are nowhere near water except having to wear the obvious spot for the rest of the day on a NEW jacket. Readers of
previous blogs will recall that I really do leave new clothes in a closet for months and admittedly years before I use them. I dearly love new, perfect clothes! Prepare for a shock: I blotted the zipper with a tissue: coffee bubble GONE! I cannot state that this fabric will not stain; however, liquid does not permeate this ultra-light laminate membrane.

This is a women’s shell! It fits a women’s body! Wow! Have I been getting compliments! My athletic friends immediately noticed that the sides tapered at the waist to provide a flattering line for active women. Having just lost twenty-seven pounds after decades in frumpy clothing, I appreciate the contour and am inspired to lose another fifteen pounds in the coming months [evidently the Graying Geargal is on a quest to disappear. ~HG]. I really like the look and usefulness of the cute Velcro dots at the wrist. There are several spaced for flexibility in desired tightness around the wrist.

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT: I intend to give up my hoarding tendencies and embrace new
technology as soon as I acquire new clothing!

This jacket was my first introduction to Columbia’s Omni-Heat technology. Technically they sent me a few samples last year but evidently they didn’t make it through the gauntlet of Canadian customs because I never got them. Some border person got herself some nice swag, I’ll wager. So, poor Columbia had to send me out a new round of samples and for that I thank them heartily. It’s hard to be a PR person and make sure the samples are sprinkled evenly throughout the land, I’m sure! So I finally got to try this parka and I’m pretty stoked about it.

Let’s chat a little bit about the Columbia brand. I’ll be very up front and mention that many people are snobbily derisive towards Columbia. It’s true that Columbia is more of a price point brand than some of the other super high end and conversely super high priced brands, but as a very wise teacher of mine says, the best gear is the kind that works for you that you can afford. If you can’t afford a $400 outer shell plus a $275 insulating layer like those offered by some of the mega brands, then I’d strongly urge you to take a gander at the Frosty Forest parka from Columbia, which gives you both for a price range of about $280, or even $150 if you look for a bargain. Why the price difference? Well, part of it is because people have this bias against the Columbia brand. They’ll pay twice as much for a similar item that has a fancier label on it. Look, I’m not going to name names here, but there are some pretty popular brands that cost twice as much as Columbia and have exactly the same materials and workmanship. So…be a brand snob if you really want, I won’t stop you. BUT be aware that if you spend more money you won’t NECESSARILY get more gear for the buck. You just have to be in the know, which is why I’m writing this review.

Another thing to note about price differences is that on price point pieces, the small details will be different. On a $400 insulating layer you might get a soft chamois type of chin flap; on a price point piece you get to scrape your poor raw, cold chin on the end of a zipper. Do you want to pay $200 to protect your chin? It’s up to you. I have no opinion on it one way or another since I have many options open to me at any given time. I’m just tellin’ you the facts, readers. I will say that I choose my Columbia Frosty Forest Parka fairly often, sooo…take from that what you will.

At first I didn’t realize that the FF parka was a three in one piece. Once I bothered to take a closer look I noticed that the inner liner zips out and becomes a stand-alone insulated jacket, and the shell becomes a regular shell. I remember when this was super cool back in the ’90s and I don’t know why it went away, because it’s pretty rad to have two pieces for the price of one. However, I only discovered that the jacket is a transformer because unfortunately it didn’t fit me super great when it was put together as one jacket and I started poking around at it in disappointment, only to discover the miracle of the zip-out liner. I am a strong girl and I’ve got some guns for arms, and the arms were a tad tight for me when the liner was zipped into the shell. The liner alone is fine and the shell alone is fine, so probably that little bit of extra compression was causing the discomfort. If you’re not as into pullups as I am, you will be fine with this jacket as an all-in-one.

I can tell that yellow is coming back in a big way because the inner jacket of the FF was a bright yellow, and it’s the second yellow piece I’ve gotten recently. So, hope you’ve done your Color Me Beautiful consultation! You Spring people have hit the jackpot for 2011. I’ve been wearing it on its own a whole bunch lately and I think there is something to this Omni-Heat thing. The inside of the jacket is a metallic shiny mesh type of thing that allegedly reflects your body heat back onto yourself, keeping you 20% warmer, or so say the marketing claims. I think it works because dayum this thing is warm. I have never once put it on and failed to have to take it off later due to overheating. This is not too common since I’m one of those skinny no-body-heat bitches who needs insulation like she needs water. I can only conclude that there is something to Omni-Heat.

The shell, now…the shell. That’s the part I really love. I don’t mean to discount the insulating layer; it’s just that as a gear reviewer I literally have a closet full of insulating jackets. Hardly any of them stand out from the others. Insulation is insulation, yes? Mostly I choose by color, these days. But the shell of the Frosty Forest…that was a sleeper. I put it on as an afterthought one day as I was snowblowing the driveway and I was blown away by the fit. It was reminiscent of another high end brand that may for some people invoke a “Rodeo Drive” ethos, if only to poke fun at the high prices. But the FF fit just like my absolute favorite super high end jacket. Well! Imagine. I love the fit because it’s past the hips but not waist-elastic-circa-Tommy-Lee-Jones-in-The-Fugitive style; and flattering without being dramatically form fitting. Love at first wear!

I admit I haven’t beat this jacket up quite as much as I usually do before posting a review. I’m sure I’ll have to update later. So far, though, everything seems kosher and of decent quality. It’s the minor details that give this piece a lower price; the chin scraping might be an issue for some, and the pockets don’t have cozy linings like the ones you find on expensive parkas. The fabric on the insulated jacket could be a little better, and the stitching is a little tiny bit sloppier than on a twice-the-price parka (you might find a loose thread end or something, but that’s just cosmetic), but none of these issues are major. The fit and performance are excellent and I see no reason why this piece would not serve many consumers very well indeed. As a matter of fact I just recommended the Frosty Forest to a friend who is looking to get more into winter sports and was looking for information on good gear. I can’t justify recommending an $800 upper body clothing system for a beginner, and Columbia fills the gap nicely with no reduction in performance. Sure, the Frosty Forest is a bit heavier than one for which you’d pay five times the price, but seriously – if you’re not taking this on any major alpine adventures you’re doing yourself a disservice by overlooking Columbia’s offerings. So go forth and check it out.

Hey, it is my first video review! And my first time directing a movie. Summer blockbuster, here I come!

If you didn’t get the point from that incredibly informative video, I will sum up: I wasn’t sure about these shoes at the beginning. If you are going to get in the water, surely go for sandals, yes? So I had to kind of make myself try them. Wouldn’t you know it, I really like them. I have worn them in the water (see above), sockless on short hikes, and with thin socks on longer hikes. In all scenarios they have been comfortable, no rubbing and no blisters. I love wearing shoes without socks so I greatly appreciate this. Yes, your feet will get dirty, because these shoes are made of mesh, but if you just walk through the water, they will get clean again. It’s like magic. I like how close they fit at the ankle; it keeps the gravel out and also looks cute.

I have found that on very loose, uneven ground, the highish heel makes it slightly more likely to turn an ankle, so watch your step on that type of ground. On well worn trail or in the water, you’re gold.

My gear has an interesting life. I love hate to brag but I travel to some pretty unique places. Nothing worthy of a reality show or anything, but definitely places that most people never get to go to at all. Lots of such places, lots and lots. Most of those types of places are not exactly known for their amenities or easy ways to restock with supplies. As a result I have learned the knack of the packing balance; the fine art of bringing exactly the things I need to survive and those few extra things that will make survival fun. So on a recent trip to the wonderfully remote Aleutian Islands, I considered my packing balance carefully. I like to pack light (because, remember, I hate to carry things) but I also don’t like to suffer, so I had to pack my food, cooking gear, clothing, sleeping bag, decent work attire (like, normal work, not gear testing work) and research materials into one medium size duffel bag. I chose well, as far as duffels went, so I didn’t worry much about my gear getting wet as it sat on the open deck of the 100-foot crabbing vessel that was making its way through 15-foot seas to take me to my destination. I told you, things get interesting when I travel. However, seeing my tiny duffel teetering on top of an overflowing crab tote, swinging wildly in the wind while being hoisted over the water to the deck brought a flash of alarm and one thought: “My shoes!”

You see, my essential luxury item for this trip was running shoes. Running shoes are a tried and true way to get a workout in the bush (that’s what Alaskans call remote communities). I knew I wouldn’t be able to run out of the main village because of the very real and very substantial threat from grizzly bears, but even running circles around town is better than nothing. So I packed my latest true love, my Columbia Ravenous trail running shoes.

The Ravenous(es? Hm. Grammar conundrum) made the cut out of my impressive collection of trail running shoes in large part because they are my lightest pair. If I have to schlep bags I may as well make my life as easy as possible. I had a few running days on the Ravenous before this trip, but I wanted more time before writing a review so that I could get to know them better. The Ravenous shoes also came along because they are, quite simply, exquisite running shoes.
I’m a neutral runner with high arches, strong quads, and a penchant for running fast when she shouldn’t and therefore need a lot of padding. I put in a lot of miles, all of them off road, so I need good tough soles. However, I’m a delicate running flower with high, sensitive arches and touchy shins thanks to a healthy dose of pain-ignoring back in my team sports days. This is a balance that most shoes cannot strike, hence my joyful hysteria when I find good ones. The Ravenous hits the mark squarely and surely; appealing to a broad spectrum of runners while addressing the very specific (some might say fussy) needs of a small number of runners who just like it the way they like it.

I admit, I had my doubts about the Ravenous. It was so lightweight and flexible that I didn’t take it seriously as a trail running shoe. Until I ran in it. My first few runs in the Ravenous were in the Pacific Northwest of the US and the lower mainland of British Columbia, with loamy, smooth(ish), winding forest trails under my feet. I immediately knew the shoes were something special; they conformed to the trail yet kept my heel anchored in place. Ninety minutes into my first Ravenous run, my shins weren’t complaining, which is rare. On those first, early runs, I found that the Ravenous’s one weakness is twisty trails; the shoe is just too flexible to give a ton of support in those conditions. The heel cup helps to stabilize as much as possible, but I did experience ball-of-foot slippage during high-speed sharp turns. What can I say, I run on “interesting” trails. Anywhere else, though, you can’t go wrong. The soles are grippy and dependable, the heel cup is just stupendously cuppy, and the light weight minimizes fatigue. They are unbelievably comfortable with zero break-in time. If you encounter water, you will get wet; these are not waterproof in the slightest but they are not supposed to be. The good news is that they will dry fast and stay light.

Best of all is that they do have a women’s specific version. Of course they do, or else why would I be reviewing it here? The fit might be a tad bit better for long, slenderish feet, but I have normal sized, average feet with (as I mentioned) high arches, and they fit just fine in my regular size. For the first time in years, though, I’ve been able to run long enough for my feet to swell, making me wish I had 1/2 size up. So if you are buying the Ravenous you may want to consider that – it’s such a great shoe that you will want your runs to last forever.

So, all that is why I took them on my trip. And, no lie, I had two of the best runs of my LIFE in these shoes on that trip. I will never forget those runs. True, there were some other factors involved in making those runs so good, but as any runner knows, when you get in that zone you remember every detail. I remember the strange, particular volcanic gravel that made up the roads and how it felt like miles and miles of ball bearings, making things not slippery but easy, feeling like the world was rolling away from under my feet and rising up to meet my steps, and knowing that my next stride will feel the same. And I remember the shoes, the light, marvelous shoes, making me surefooted and strong, propelling me forward and on, under the Arctic sun. Which is really more like Arctic fog, where I was at. Regardless, now, when I head out for a workout, I just think back to those runs and remember that feeling, and try to get it back.

OK, so how good can a T shirt be? This good! Before my faithful “I don’t like your positive reviews, post more rants” reader can get too upset, I want to point out that this is just one of several shirts that Columbia sent for the spring season and it’s the standout by far, so it’s not like I’m just spewing good stuff about any random old T shirt I end up with. This one is really good. It’s just going to be hard to explain because yes, it’s just a T shirt, but it’s pretty incredible how many variations of cut, design, style, and fabric a plain old T shirt can have. Every few years I have to go stock up on technical T shirts, and when I find one that I find tolerable I just buy a bunch in each color. Using this bulk-purchase method, I rarely have to go shopping; however my look is not too varied, so new T shirts are a novelty. Dare I say, even a luxury sometimes?

All that reading just to find out I don’t shop for T shirts much, I know, I know. My point is that although I have a full compliment of T shirts, the Silver Ridge is a standout. I will cop to saving it for social occasions because it’s too nice to wear in anything rough-and-tumble (seeing as how I have so many others to stain up as I please, you understand). To sum up: it’s flattering, soft, comfortable, and very quick to dry should you be so gauche as to actually sweat in this lovely thing. At least I know where to go when I need to do my next T shirt supply run…so look, it’s a $30 T shirt, sure. But I would actually buy another, so that might speak for itself.

Could the name for this fleece be any dorkier? Here we go on a jammin’ journey! Good thing I love this top so much or I might not be able to get past the name. Ironically I wore this fleece every day on my own jammin’ journey to Canada – it was my trip staple because of its comfort, warmth, and, yes, cute looks. Wrinkle free and comfy, it didn’t even get too stinky on the five day trip, which I’m so sure is more due to the miracle nonstink fabric than the fact that I was basically just sitting still in a car for hours upon end. Plus, I don’t stink. Right?

Every few years I come across a half-zip fleece that sparks a sort of obsession. When I find a fleece that I like, I have been known to buy several of varying colors just to make sure that I’m never without. I still have a stockpile of past favorites in the closet that I just can’t let go of. What’s more versatile than a good fleece? The “Jammin’ Journey” (yeesh, do I have to keep typing that over and over?) is more versatile than most, with a superlong zipper that fits over a helmet or opens to allow airflow in those in-between temperatures. Best of all, this fleece has a really great cut. It’s longish but not ridiculously so and trim without being supertight. To my endless delight, it also has perfectly cut sleeves that accommodate actual muscles, and are long enough to actually cover my wrists and stay put when my arms are bent. Best of all, NO THUMBHOLES. I used to love thumbholes, but recently it seems that every single top out there has thumbholes and the accompanying superlong sleeves. Agh! Enough! I feel an editorial coming on.

So, no thumbholes on the JJ. Excellent! How many colors does it come in?
Buy ‘em all up before I clean them out.