[Irene tested this jacket on the soggy Kenai Peninsula last fall - that'll put any waterproof-breathable to the test for certain. -HG]

I like this shell made of their 3 layer Hurricane fabric. Our fall weather in Alaska did not disappoint me for what to expect is to be expected, RAIN, RAIN, and tons more RAIN! This shell was a perfect topping over a couple layers early in the fall. I tend to sweat a lot on my outings, probably should go a little slower and smell the um, mud and moisture in the air at this time of year. Which leads me to another favorite part of this shell, it has under arm zips, and I love this feature, really does help to get a little ventilation when you start getting warm but it’s pouring rain. The helmet compatible hood (means it fits nicely over a bike, or ski helmet) is way cool, literally not making me cool from rain going down my neck. When not wearing a helmet, there are little string adjusters to tighten this hood to keep the elements out. The added visor on the hood also helps keep the pounding rain off your face, lots of fun little features that make a tremendous difference when you are in some rad conditions, thus, such an appropriate name for this jacket.

So just what is Hurricane fabric? Beats me, let’s look it up. Oops, big mistake, now it says has an outer Tropozone layer. Oh well, I’ll leave it up to those who are really into their gear. All’s I know is that it is most definitely waterproof, and breathable. And, now I know what hard-shell means. Interesting what lingo I’m learning writing these reviews. Hard shells like this one are made with laminates that are applied to the fabric used to make jackets and pants as opposed to a soft shell that uses sophisticated stretch woven fabrics with tight layered weaves and durable water repellent (DWR) treatments to guard against wind, rain, and snow in all but the most severe weather conditions.

Sierra Designs calls this a winter layer, yes it could be if you buy the next size larger. Pockets are small, but I guess that’s not too much of an issue because when you need a layer like this one you are usually on an outing with a pack in which to store bulkier gloves, hats, and snacks. An adjustable cinch at the waist lets you further snug the shell tighter if needed. I like the fit very well, I am growing so fond of my women specific clothing that I am no longer looking in the men’s department because I can’t stand the thought of going back to baggy clothing, even though the selection for women isn’t nearly what it should be. Manufacturers, get moving if you wanna make the big bucks.

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]

It’s been a long time since I changed up my jacket situation. There are tons of great waterproof-breathable jackets out there so it does take a lot to catch my notice. Dry-Q is MHW’s new fabric that promises to be so breathable that I wouldn’t experience that uncomfortable overheating sensation before the breathability kicked in. Honestly, every time I’ve overheated I’ve just taken my jacket off, so I’ve no idea whether normal waterproof-breathable jackets really do start venting better once you get heated up. The only time I put on a waterproof-breathable is when it’s actively precipitating anyway; for everything else I wear softshells. So it was a bit of a leap of faith to take this jacket straight out backcountry skiing in our sub-zero November to see how it performed. Funny how, although it’s my job to test stuff out, I don’t like doing it when I’m doing sports I really like, because who likes to flail around with new stuff when you could be having fun?

However, I had really loved the fit of this jacket, which was quintessential MHW perfect; slim in the body, just-shy-of-hip length, and roomy sleeves and shoulders. I cringed at the white color, knowing that the very second I touched it it was going to turn dirty brown, but if they send white stuff, that’s just the way it goes. It feels like a sort of modified softshell and I figured I should try it out in real conditions. Sadly (not) the weather did not cooperate and it was clear and sunny when we set out, no precip to be had.

It was super cold, probably a few digits below zero when we started out, but I like to work hard going uphill so I opted to wear just a base layer with this jacket on top. I could not believe how perfect it was even for that cold weather. I never got too hot and never really got cold. Neutral, unchanging core temperature the entire time. That felt pretty awesome! Since then I’ve made the Dry-Q Elite my go-to for backcountry and it’s done well every time. Bear in mind that I’ve only worn it in reasonable conditions, nothing really insane in terms of precip yet. I don’t know that I’d be able to stack a ton of layers underneath it because it is pretty slim in the torso; maybe just a low-pro puffy, but I think that good fit contributes to its performance, breathability-wise. Baggy stuff just doesn’t breathe as well, and it’s a constant problem finding stuff that has the right fit to maximize performance while allowing flexibility in layers. I also don’t like it when jackets are too long in the arms and that’s what happens if I go up a size, especially in MHW. However, fit is individual so use your own judgment there.

I’m pretty impressed at how relatively clean the white stays; probably whatever finish they use on the jacket helps to repel stains somewhat. I don’t see white as an option at any retail outlets so maybe that’s just a special sample color or something. I spent some time the other day thrashing around in a deadfall and I was surprised that the jacket came out of that relatively unscathed; I kind of expected some punctures but it held up really well and didn’t even get that dirty. Other minor features just solidify the jacket as a good solid choice: it’s got inner cuffs that really ratchet up the comfort factor; since the cuffs are built in you don’t have to mess with keeping the snow out and they’re soft and comfortable against your skin. I took the powder skirt out because of the fuss factor, but there is one if you like that sort of thing. There’s a few inner pockets and the handwarmer pockets are nice and roomy. I didn’t think I could be impressed by a jacket this much anymore, but I’m glad that Mountain Hardwear can still prove me wrong.

Best price on this jacket right now is 30% off at $294 on rei.com, pretty damn good.

Gore is rad. That is one organized company, there. Last month their crack PR team arranged a press trip for 8-10 writers, journalists, and bloggers to introduce the new Active Shell technology. We assembled in Seattle amidst a beautiful bonus summer to partake of the activites including a bike ride, a hike, and a climbing session.

I arrived just in time to catch the shuttle to the team dinner, at which we were fed more food than we thought possible to prepare. Some of the guys didn’t save room for dessert, but I’m proud to say that all of the women powered up to partake of all the courses. We were joined at dinner by the Gore PR team who are so well-traveled and interesting that just meeting them felt like dining with some sort of celebrity. Tom Boyle of Gore watched me try wine after wine without finding what I liked, and graciously took charge of the wine list, putting his French wine training to work and ordering our table a bottle that we all loved. Now this is my kind of press trip!

The awesome thing about press trips with outdoor journalists is that we are not fussy about transportation. Too Type-A to wait for taxis, we energetically hoofed it a few blocks to the Gore Active Shell launch party. My recap of this party is going to be limited because I’m not a young gun anymore and the blaring music and rowdy crowd had me cowering in the vestibule corner. I was relieved that there were others for whom an early night was desirable. The spunky young ones stayed on to dance the night away as us more matured folk headed back to our downtown hotel, but not without gaining a few more grey hairs as our taxi driver sped us through the downtown core at warp speeds.

The next morning we learned about the history of Gore-Tex which, as a friend put it, is awesome because the brand was formed out of rage and frustration. If you don’t know the story, Bob Gore was working to stretch a new material into a weavable fabric, had trouble with it, and in annoyance yanked on it, stretching it into its waterproof, breathable current form. Every time I kick my snowblower I hope to make a similarly lucrative discovery, but it has not happened yet. Gore is such an inspiration because I don’t have to let go of my inner rage in order to succeed; or at least that’s the lesson I took from the story.

After the presentation we were issued our Gore garments and bussed off to enjoy a bike ride “through a variety of environments.” In case you’ve never worked with PR, that wording is a clue that something unusual is about to happen. Sure enough, we were shunted through a very long, dark, and COLD tunnel that was formerly a train tunnel. I had dressed for a warm day so I was happy to have my Gore-Tex Active Shell for the few miles through the tunnel! After eleven miles of riding, we came across our climbing guides who had set up several top ropes on routes of varying difficulty. We all had a blast climbing, then were stuffed with pizza and beer, and chauffered back to the city where we prepared to catch our flights home. What a whirlwind!

I was issued a Gore-Tex Active Shell jacket called the Firefox (see, USA manufacturers? THAT’S how you name a women’s jacket) made by Mountain Equipment out of the UK. Since our outing with Gore was in nice weather, I got to take it home and put it through its paces in the drizzly and cold Alaska fall. It has quickly become my favorite wet weather jacket. The Active Shell material is super light and thin, and so far has indeed been utterly waterproof. It’s pretty darn breathable, too, though I’m a terrible tester of that aspect. I run or climb as hard as I can and then expect to be wicked perfectly dry by my base layer and breathable shell. It doesn’t work that way, so, yes, I sweated. But I love the fabric and I think it has huge applicability for pants, too. It’s so light that it’s easy to take along in even the smallest pack. Bonus – the super bright colors are really great! No more dull earth tones and smarmy “girly” pastels. These are bold and bright – love it! I won’t go on too much about the Firefox other than to say I’m sorry that it can’t be had in the US. For my readers in the UK, let me say that this jacket is totally worth the money – the fit is great and the Gore-Tex Active Shell is a really awesome fabric.

Thanks to Gore for the wonderful introduction to this new fabric. I am anxious to see the manufacturers put it to use.

This piece first caught my eye at ORSM10. I just loved it – so flattering! I finally got my hands on one, thanks to Isis, and have been putting it through its paces in the rainy fall weather. It’s done a bang-up job keeping me dry and I love having a piece that keeps the rain off all the way down to my knees. The design is very original; an updated trench with an extra feminine flair. You can cinch the waist to show your shape or let it be baggy; it looks cute both ways. The sleeves roll up if you want them to (which I think is weird, if it’s raining you need sleeves, right?) and it has a stow-away hood which, for me, never gets stowed away (see last comment re: rain).

I only have two complaints – one, that the sleeves aren’t long enough (a common problem especially in the smaller sizes) and two, that the front of the coat has velcro closures. I despise velcro in all but the most necessary applications, because it snags EVERYTHING and can mar your base layer, gloves, hat, shirt, and anything else it comes in contact with. Snaps would be much classier and much more useful on this coat.

I could only find it through Amazon.com for some reason but maybe everyone is just low on inventory because it’s the shoulder season. In any case, if you can find it, I think you’ll like it – I really do!

Earthtec is making me a predictable dresser, because I wear this jacket every single day. It’s the most comfortable, versatile thing I own now, and since it’s fall up here, I need to take a jacket everywhere but it’s not quiiiiittteee chilly enough for that jacket to be insulated or puffy, and sometimes I like to wear things that don’t look quite as outdoorsy as a standard softshell. The Big Sage has fit that niche nicely, and I just love wearing it.

So I just am going to admit up front that I haven’t yet worn this for anything really all that active, just around town and hiking a bit with the dog. It’s a casual piece that has won top billing on the coat rack, though, for being comfortable, versatile, flattering and even a bit swanky. I take it along with me to change into after running or mountain biking in this cool fall weather, and it’s just the thing since it’s so cozy.

As I pointed out in my first Earthtec review, I was surprised by the look and feel of these garments, which are made from recycled plastic. You’d never know they were recycled, as they are super high quality and have a luxurious feel, especially in the cuffs which are just perfectly stretchy. The same material is used on the bottom hem which is great because it stretches so much that the jacket really stays put on your curves, but doesn’t stretch out and get loose and floppy.

While the construction and fabric is awesome, I think the biggest draw of the Earthtec line is the fit. They fit PERFECTLY. Nice and trim in the torso, long enough length so you won’t end up with plumber’s crack or an unpleasant draft, with enough room in the arms for us athletic women, and sleeves that are LONG ENOUGH! I just love that! I’m so tired of having my wrists poke out of sleeves because designers are too lazy to change sleeve lengths when they change sizes. Not so with Earthtec – your wrists will stay nice and cozy warm, and the sleeves will cover up the sleeves of whatever you’re wearing underneath. Don’t you hate when your shirt has longer sleeves than your jacket? I do (obviously). Thank you Earthtec for paying attention!

I hate to fall back on my boyfriend for an endorsement again, but nearly every time I ask him which jacket I should wear, he points to this one. So there you have it. Looks great, feels good, fits perfect, and, like other Earthtec stuff, is ON SALE for Geargals readers at ClimbHighVT.com. Since they sponsored this post they decided to sweeten the pot and provide a 15% discount if you scamper over there, buy anything Earthtec, and enter “geargals” as the discount code. Go forth and purchase!

I realize that most of the rest of the country is still locked in a heat wave, but here in the north latitudes it’s cooling off fast. I will expect frost within a few weeks and maybe even snow. Most people might be bummed, but I get all excited this time of year because I get to break out my winter clothes again! Winter clothes are fun because they allow me to defy the elements, and one of my favorite pieces to wear around town is this Lole Elena jacket. I have it in bright yellow which is quite eye catching and is most likely responsible for all the comments I get on the jacket, but hey, no one can lose me in a crowd, that’s for sure.

I never get cold, either, with the 550-fill puffy down sealing out the drafts, complete with a big puffy hood to top it all off. I have about a billion puffy jackets but this one has that extra style flair that makes me reach for it when I’m out and about in the cold and want to look stylin’ and different, as Lole isn’t that common of a brand up here in Alaska just yet. The Elena manages to look different, with angled stitched baffles creating a nice, feminine look.

If you are familiar with Lole you know that everything about their stuff is quality. It’s well made, well constructed, and feels great to wear. The company is focused on women so the fit is always good, and geared towards the active woman who actually needs to USE their stuff. For pieces of such quality, the pricing is extremely reasonable and is a good buy. Just be aware that this jacket doesn’t have a waterproofing finish, just a water-repellent one, so you may not want to count on it in wet, sloppy conditions. This is a jacket for cold, dry, cold, cold, and did I say cold days? I’ll be sporting this one in our traditional 20-below cold snap in January, count on that!

Man, everything is on sale now! Backcountry.com has this jacket for nearly half-off, just $109.

I realize that Rapha is a road cycling brand so you’re supposed to wear it while looking all lean and focused on a tiny bike with itty bitty tires, pretending you don’t mind being blasted with road debris from semi trucks and beer bottles tossed at you from cars filled with over-ego’ed young men with flat-brimmed caps (seriously, are those hats the most visible mark of a total douchebag or what?) and eating hummingbird food every fifteen minutes. I also realize that a lot of Rapha stuff is designed to keep riders comfortable while road riding in inclement weather, but it’s hard enough to get me on a road bike when it’s beautiful outside so there’s less than zero chance of getting me on one when it’s crappy enough to have to wear jackets and long pants.

Mountain bikes are a different matter, though, so I took the Rapha Wind Jacket out to really put it through it’s paces on a muddy, rainy, classic Kenai Peninsula mountain bike ride. I admit this was a tough decision because the jacket is super swanky and nice. I was loathe to get it all muddy and messed up but I also recognized the ridiculousness of having a nice cycling jacket and not wearing it simply because I was afraid of getting it dirty, so into the pack it went. I was glad I had it, too, because once we hit the top of the pass it started sleeting on us and the breeze that had kindly kept the mosquitoes away strengthened into a gale that had us chilled. We still had some strenuous riding to do, though, so I needed something that would stave off the wind and rain but still be comfortable through exertion and it turned out that the Rapha Wind Jacket is really, really good at that. The water beaded up and rolled off, the wind just could not get through, and I never got too warm on the climb up or too cold on the ride down. I was really impressed by this piece.

The fit was great – sleeves long enough so that the snug cuffs fit over the tops of my gloves, keeping all the wind out. The length was great, too; long enough to cover what needs to be covered without flapping around and staying put under my backpack. I’ve absolutely no complaints over the fit or the performance, that’s for sure. There are a few missteps though. There aren’t really any pockets to speak of save one tiny, useless, totally pointless one on the left hip. Maybe road riders need this pocket for something? I don’t think that more pockets would appeal on this piece, at least not for me, so I don’t know why they bothered with this tiny one. I’ll not use it for anything, particularly when I’ve got a nice, handy backpack to put things in (road riders really should learn about backpacks).

The other feature I’m not crazy about is the offset zipper. Guys tell me this has something to do with a center zipper chafing their whiskers or something, but I’m a chick and I don’t have whiskers so I found the flappy extra collar kind of weird, and the off center zipper hard to operate while riding (especially with that pack chest strap in the way). The fact that the zipper doesn’t line up with other center zippers, say, the ones on my jerseys, makes whatever venting one could get from unzipping the jacket kind of moot. I’d rather the zipper be centered since there’s no advantage to having it offset other than having it look kind of fashiony and cool. If it’s cold enough to keep the zipper up there’s no issue, but if you have to adjust the venting, it’s a bit of a hassle.

Other than those quibbles I’d say this is one of the best technical cycling-specific pieces I’ve tried, and it works great for mountain biking, not just road riding. Its built-in temperature regulation is just the thing for riding in the mountains on misty, rainy days. The hassle of stopping to de- or re-layer can be drastically reduced by the breathable, windstopping fabric and I must admit that the cycling-specific cut is great.

I fully expected the jacket to be a muddy mess after the end of our rainy ride, seeing as how everything else I was wearing was a total disaster of muck. Strangely enough, the mud just slid off the Wind Jacket, leaving it looking perfectly new. I can’t believe it! It looks great, functions great, and I don’t even have to wash it. Amazing. Heidi Swift of GritandGlimmer.com reviewed this jacket (calling it the Stowaway Jacket but I’m pretty sure it’s the same) and had the same observation about it being hard to get dirty.

Now, for the question that everyone asks when I review Rapha: Is it worth the money? Interestingly, I rarely get this question when reviewing other top-tier stuff – I guess people are just used to dropping a lot of cash n mountaineering gear, but not cycling gear? Not sure why that is. Anyway, Rapha is spendy, we all know that. This jacket retails for about $260.00. That doesn’t seem all that ridiculous to me, knowing how much good gear costs, but it’s always – ALWAYS a discussion point for Rapha stuff. So, IS it worth it? Well, the first answer is always that it’s up to you. Everyone has their own comfort zone for buying stuff so if YOU think it’s worth it, then buy it. I can tell you that you’ll get a lot of technical use out of this jacket and you won’t be disappointed in the performance or the fit, and it will last a long, long time. To me, it’s better to spend on things that will last rather than throwaways that you have to replace every few years, but that’s up to you.

[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!

Thanks to Irene for another fabulous review from the wilds of Alaska! ~HG

In a little town in Moose Pass, Alaska, there lives a woman who loves the deep dark days of winter and is always out exploring in the snow while ice winds often howl and swirl the snow all around her. Yet, she stays warm and dry in her 100% polyester Merrell Haven Overcoat that has the look of a fine tailored wool coat. The insulation is what the manufacturer calls “Merrell Opti-Warm™” a lightweight, low-bulk, synthetic insulation to keep you warm. In addition, the DWR (durable water-repellent) finish keeps you dry.

I love this coat. It is stylish while also being a practical outer layer; and it is warm, very cute, and functional. I have a lot of outdoor clothing for outings far and away in the wilds of Alaska but was lacking a more sophisticated layer. The Merrell Haven Overcoat arrived in the mail the end of April; just what I needed for my wardrobe to offset my fleece and down clothing. This was the layer I was missing and did not know it, now that I have this coat, how did I go so many years without it?

The coat falls right above the knee, giving good coverage when wearing a dress while still offering non-restricted movement. The sizing I find to be true to how this coat fits me. However, I did read two reviews where the buyers returned the coats for a larger size. The next size larger would be too big for me. [I personally found this coat to fit a bit snug on me but I agree that the next size up would be too large. Irene and I are the same size in general but she's a bit smaller than me so this coat works better for her. ~HG] Colors available in this coat are granite, black, espresso, and undyed (read: white).

The coat has dual entry front flap pockets with snap closures and hand warmers, a “Little Red Riding Hood” detachable hood that is so cute, toggle cord closure and large button cuffs, and an interior hidden zip pocket. The finer details of this coat make it even more special. I especially like the quilted floral embossed cute as could be lining that feels like silk, ribbed cuffs and collar that fit well, feels good, and keeps me warm. Lo and behold, the Merrell overcoat is the perfect one for me, casual, or dressy, over jeans, or dress, yes! And, the Grand Finale for me is that this coat can be tossed in the washing machine and clothes dryer!!! Major bonus, sold to the woman who does not have time, or want to take time to fuss with clothing that can not make its way through the good ole’ washer and dryer.

Now for a few particulars I have noticed on this coat: but please do not get me wrong, these are not a turn off, and I would definitely not let these things get in the way of my highly recommending this coat. Currently the hood is a just right trim fit, but could offer more coverage. I think the hood could be a little larger covering more of my head. Mind you, I intend to wear this coat a lot in the winter in the howling winds, and blowing snows so more coverage is always better. Next on the list; I have a problem getting the zipper up, perhaps it’s because I’m used to wearing clothing designed for men on which zippers are opposite of women’s; why is this, anyway? The right hand is supposed to coordinate putting the left hand male part into the right hand female part, then zip, and we are off to a good start. But, sort of like the 1st or 2nd time having sex with a new partner, well, let’s just say that the female on the right hand side did not go into the male on the left hand side very easy, shucks. Oh, wait a minute, I was just thinking about some of my women specific coats, and how I do not recall having a problem with the male finding the female, so I go look at a few of my women specific coats. Guess what? Two of my favorite women jackets have the male on the left, and the female on the right, so what gives? So much for my thinking men’s and women’s coats are zipped differently. Why put the male on the right and the female on the left? Unless there are more lefties than righties.

The toggle closures are cute, but I could do without this look, perhaps because it is just one more detail I do not need to have to fool with, but that aside, I still love the coat. Last, but not least I enjoy the elegant, yet casual look and feel of being a bit more polished, while staying warm, and dry, I recommend this coat for anyone in need of a flattering outer layer for around town, and while braving the elements while wanting to stay warm.