GoLite Softshell Collection
February 5, 2011
GoLite sent a softshell grab bag consisting of the Wind River pants and the Black Mountain Thermal jacket and vest. I’ve been liking this set for a while, but hadn’t given it a proper test in the NW because it’s rainy in the NW and rain and softshell are not compatible. What are compatible are cold, dry conditions, softshell, and exertion, so I tested this set extensively this winter by skiing in SW Colorado and most recently while ice climbing in Ouray last week. Basically, I’m in love. I’m a big softshell fan by nature (hm, that might actually reflect on my love for cold dry conditions, but I digress – as per usual) so I was very keen to get back on the softshell train.
I was surprised to find that the size Medium samples sent my way fit reasonably well. I usually get all whiny and bitchy when I get Medium samples, because they’re always too big and believe it or not, it’s really hard to figure out whether something is good or not when you’re drowning in it. It seems that GoLite has not yet succumbed to the Great American Size Creep in which sizes are becoming bigger and bigger; what used to be a M is now a S, and what used to be a S is now an XS, and what used to be an XS just doesn’t exist. GoLite’s sizing is pretty decent though I suspect I could go either way (S or M). The jacket and vest were a tad roomier in the torso than I typically like and the pants fit everywhere but the waist, where they were insanely too big and required a belt. I had other items in this GoLite shipment that were mediums and were indeed to big, so maybe err on the smaller side if you’re going to purchase.
Since the waist of the pants was too big, I had to wear a web belt and suffer through an annoying break-in period in which the pants weren’t very comfortable. I’ve learned from this gear testing gig that pants need to be worn a few times in order to feel just right. That makes it really hard to figure out if you want them just by trying them on in the store. Hence this web site. We come full circle, no? Anyway, once I wore the pants a few times with a belt, they felt better as is usually the case. I found the one belt loop in the back to be inadequate; it is way better when there are three belt loops in back; this seems obvious but was left out in this case.
The pants look great, with a low rise and flattering boot cut which was just big enough for my ski boots. The inner gaiter was not at all big enough for my ski boots, though, and I contemplated cutting it out. I’m glad I didn’t, because it worked really well for my ice climbing/mountaineering boots last week. The inner gaiter only has one stirrup loop, though, so I couldn’t tie the pants down around my boots like I usually do for ice climbing – instead, I threaded the strap to my crampons through the loop and that worked like a charm. I’m still not sure why there’s only one loop there….maybe because we’re trying to “go light” and two loops would be heavier? I really don’t know. But I made it work.
The pants also come with suspenders, which in my opinion is just a waste of time and weight on women’s pants. First of all, no suspender can solve the issue created by the curves of a woman’s body. The suspenders go over your shoulders and down the curve of your shoulder blades, and then contact NOTHING until they get to the pants. This creates a very unflattering clown-like bucket look. My climbing companions joked about putting my spare layers and lunch in the pants bucket, and that’s not a bad idea, though I really don’t want to eat a sandwich after it’s been in my pants all day. There is also the problem of peeing. I am not a fan of anything that makes me take off layers to pee. I just want to drop the drawers, do my thing, and zip back up. None of that off-with-the-jacket, off-with-the-midlayer, remove the suspenders, drop pants, do business, repeat in reverse order for me. No, those suspenders won’t do at all. They are detachable, though, so they are easy to remove. I just don’t get why they are there at all in the first place.
I like that both the jacket and the vest are a nice long length; well past the hipbones. I was able to fasten my climbing harness over both layers and they stayed put nicely. The downside of this is that I could no longer use the pockets, and there was no Napoleon pocket which would have been a nice addition.
Performance-wise, the entire set is very good. All the pieces are light, breathable, and very stretchy, allowing for full range of motion. Bells and whistles are kept to a minimum, with only two pockets per upper body item and three on the pants (hip pockets and one thigh pocket) which is fine, though I do appreciate a Napoleon pocket on jackets as I mentioned. High friction areas are reinforced a bit, which is nice, especially for me as I knee-jammed front-pointed my first real mixed pitch LIKE A BOSS the other day. That dirt stain on the knee of my white GoLite pants? Um…I must have leaned up against my dirty car. That’s it, it’s from the car.
I’ve worn this set during activity in some seriously cold weather and it’s been great. Like any softshell, once you stop moving you better throw on some more layers, but while you’re moving you’ll stay warm and dry. It’s pretty tough material for something so lightweight, and it mostly survived some crampon stabbings with only the expected damage. The pants could be a bit longer, but the sleeves on the jacket are nicely long so I’ll take it. I’d estimate that this set is good in exertion to temps well into the lower teens, and possibly lower if you’re really working hard. I have both the black and the white, and I recommend the white for a snazzy look, though it’s likely you’ll get dirt all over them like I did. I’d love to see a selection of pants in other fun colors, but for some reason the outdoor industry is loathe to let go of the black pants, bright color jacket scheme. At least the white pants are a nice change.
GoLite Cayambe Dress
July 8, 2010
You can expect to see quite a few dress reviews coming up, and you can thank GoLite for that. They send this cute little number for me to try out, and I promptly fell in love with it and became obsessed with dresses. Dresses for hiking, dresses for biking, dresses for travel, dresses for everything. And this is the one that started it all. I’ve had some sort of epiphany and I don’t know what I was thinking all these years. Planning out ensembles and outfits – I could have just grabbed a dress and gone. This sounds elementary, but as a woman who spent most of her girlhood AVOIDING dresses, it wasn’t that intuitive a leap for me. Dresses were for events and formal occasions, not for, you know, fun. When I first started this site, I never would have thought I’d be reviewing dresses and calling them “gear” but these days, they really are. It’s common now to find me on my daily hike in a dress, or running in a skirt, and even wearing dresses to casual occasions. And I am getting very sick of hearing “you look like a real girl!” or some such comment from, well, everyone I know.
I just love the concept – a super packable, wrinkle-free, quick drying reversible travel dress that doubles as a hiking outfit and can easily go out to a fancy dinner as well. I was skeptical of the reversible idea, as in past iterations (meaning: my second grade wardrobe) it has not seemed to be implemented all that well, but the Cayambe is perfectly designed to serve as two dresses in one. My favorite color combo is the one shown above, the light blue paired with dark grey – it’s gorgeous and with the dark grey on the outside, you even have a hope of keeping it at least looking clean after a hike or other adventure. There is a variety of color options available so you’re bound to find something you like.
I appreciate the bra-friendly straps and bodice, and the well-thought out ruching at the bust which prevents gappage. That’s right, bend and stretch as you please; you won’t be giving a peep show while you do it. Well, it IS a dress, so you know, bend and stretch as you please within reason and you won’t give a peep show.
Dresses are one of those options that women don’t appreciate as much as they should. Sure, we typically don’t get as many gear options as the dudes (and Geargals is of course working to help change that) but the humble dress has certainly come a long way. It’s no longer a hindrance to outdoor sport – it’s an enhancement. Now, WE get the best gear: the simplest, most versatile, and easiest-to-pack gear option on the market. Now, I have no problem with dudes in dresses and I do know a probably higher-than-average number of men who are willing to wear a dress or skirt. But I think dudes are really missing out, here. I love hiking in a dress; it’s cooler and simpler; a nice space-saver. I don’t have to think about the whole shirt-pants-shorts-capris thing; just throw on the dress and there you are – dressed. I love it. The hiking/travel dress concept is so good that my gearguy has started wistfully talking about wanting to wear a kilt. This I gotta see.
Anyway, back to the Cayambe – for those worried about the modesty factor, you don’t have to worry. The full, swishy skirt can be easily arranged to properly cover yourself in any sitting position, and there is more than enough drape to hide panty lines and other bulgy bits – a good thing, for this is a very lightweight item with thin fabric. The cut is a bit empire-waistish, which some will like and some will not. I don’t tend to like an empire waist, but I don’t mind this one since the cut of the dress is fitted enough to avoid the pregnant-lady look. It’s a cute, attractive cut but modest enough to wear to work with no qualms. Most importantly, it’s a great functional option for travel or hiking. Enjoy!
EDIT – A reader wrote in to ask me about sizing, so here’s the skinny. The Cayambe is true to size, maybe even a little generously. I usually wear a small and that’s just about right for me in this dress as well. I tried a size M as well and although it worked OK, it was just a bit too voluminous. Very comfy though. Long story short: order your normal size.
