Skull cap
No ordinary beanie, the skull cap is, without a doubt, the most comfortable and functional cold weather hat that I have ever used. I have tried somewhere in the neighorhood of 20 or so beanies over the past 15 years and have been consistently disappointed with each and every one. Why has this been such a difficult thing for the outdoor industry to perfect? I suppose people just don't typically put a lot of thought into this type of headwear. The most common problem I've had to deal with the fact that I have sensitive skin on my forehead, and the materials that all my hats were made of would make my forehead itch like crazy! Manufacturers would make all kinds of claims about the comfort of their materials, but none were even close to satisfactory. Proper fit was another issue that seemed to elude every design. Some beanies would fit like the Pope's hat, towering above my head in a comical waste of material, while others would barely cover my ears. Alas, the whining and complaining is finally over. I have found true hat-love and I shall search no more. I'll let you know if I find any drawbacks to this cap, but don't hold your breath.
Stovepipe Sweater
Once again, I am surprised by the comfort and functionality of a relatively simple design. The first thing I noticed about this fleece was how warm it is. Granted, it's no full-blown windstopper, but I have found it to be a very effective midlayer when used with almost any shell, (as well as a dang fine looking sweater to wear around town!). It recently accompanied me on a February kayak-camping trip where, under a lightweight rain shell, it kept me quite comfortable on a 38 degree morning. The only area where I see room for improvement would be a full circumferential stitch where the collar trim material is fastened on the inside of neck (it has a tendency to fold upward when pulling the garment over my fat head). Definitely, though, my new favorite piece of cold-weather gear! If you see me in the shop this winter/spring, chances are I'll be wearing it (incidentally, I'm wearing it right now!).
Hike Short (Now called the "Treck" Short)
I bought these last summer and I must say that, once again, I am impressed by the practical simplicity of the design. A very low-profile layout in conjunction with a quick-drying (and VERY durable) fabric makes for a winning combination. I found the inseam length to be just right, which is a constant battle for me and my freakishly long legs. And although I must wear a belt with the size medium waist (I'm about a 31"-32"), they appear to run true-to-size. I really tried to destroy these on a little trip last fall in which I waded through endless seas of blackberry vines, manzanita, sharp rocks, and poison oak. The shorts held up just fine through Mother Nature's torture chamber. My lower legs, on the other hand, did not fair so well. They have also seen heavy use at work, as well as numerous, not-so-gentle, walk/wade fly fishing excursions into the brush-choked canyon of a local stream. My one complaint about this garment is the rather noisy zipper-pulls on the lower pockets that jingle and jangle whenever I take a step. The good news is that the new style "Treck" shorts have eliminated this problem by placing a cover flap over the zippers.
I'm am very anxious to try Kuhl's Convertible Guide Pants this season. I have always been a fan of convertible pants for use in all of my outdoor pursuits, but have yet to find one that really stands out from the rest. I'll post a review as soon as I feel that they have been sufficiently used and abused to prove themselves worthy.
If you want to see this stuff for yourself, check out:
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