Tag Archives: The North Face

Outdoor Research Highcamp Mitts

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In preparation for next winter, I bought these Outdoor Research Highcamp mitts to replace my North Face Nuptse mitts. Haven’t had a chance to test them much, but from what I can tell, they should be a great mitt.

Cost: Around CDN $80

www.outdoorresearch.com

From the Outdoor Research website:

Super warm waterproof protection for cold, variable conditions.

With incredible versatility for extended backcountry adventures, these modular mitts are the warmest in the HighCamp™ family. Removable liners provide warmth and waterproof protection in variable conditions. A waterproof/breathable Ventia Dry™ nylon shell keeps hands dry on the ice, and a wrap-around water-resistant leather palm ensures a confident grip on even the wettest routes. The included 100-weight fleece insulated liner gloves, combined with integrated heat packet pockets and the natural warmth of the mitt design, provide warmth in freezing winter conditions.

Avg. Weight (oz./g): 8.9 / 252 L

Features:

  • Features: Shell:
  • Ventia Dry™ construction
  • Waterproof/breathable Ventia™ insert
  • Waterproof/breathable, durable nylon shell Insulation:
  • PrimaLoft® One Insulation: 340g on back of hand and thumb
  • Moonlite Pile fleece palm Palm:
  • Wrap-around water-resistant leather palm Features:
  • Enhanced pre-curve, boxed construction
  • New thumb construction for enhanced articulation
  • Carabiner loop on back of hand
  • Ladder-lock wrist cinch with easy-grip tab
  • SuperCinch™ gauntlet closure
  • Removable Idiot Cord
  • Removable Liner:
  • 100-weight fleece
  • Silicone prints on palm provide solid grip and keeps liner in place under shell
  • Heat pack pocket on back of hand

Here at Outdoor Research, we are committed to developing truly functional solutions for Human Powered Adventure.

OR products are Designed By Adventure™ and from this, we deliver the hallmark of all Outdoor Research products – functional gear that works and lasts. By placing quality and function first, we can offer the finest guarantee in the industry for each and every product – OR’s Infinite Guarantee™.

We believe so strongly in the quality of what we make that if, at anytime, our product fails to meet your needs, we are happy to exchange or return it. Because of this solid belief, our products are guaranteed forever and are designed with this in mind. Your total satisfaction in our product is our goal.

Though we doubt you’ll ever need to, if you ever have to use our Infinite Guarantee, see the Returns and Exchanges section above.

Helly Hansen HH Dry Revolution Baselayer

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Bought two Helly Hansen Dry Revolution Long Sleeve Baselayers last week and tested one of them on a hike in North Vancouver, B.C.

Over the baselayer, I wore a Patagonia Better Sweater™ as a midlayer, and a North Face Venture jacket as a wind/rain shell.

After roughly 40 minutes into my ascent I was expecting my baselayer to be at least somewhat damp, but was surprised to find it basically dry to the touch.

On a cool day (which it was) the HH Dry Revolution is warm without being too warm – just enough to take away the chill. During the decent, I packed away my midlayer and was perfectly comfortable with only the baselayer and my shell.

The fit of this particular baselayer by Helly Hansen is “skintight” without feeling like you’re suffocating or being constricted. This is a good thing since your baselayer should be worn close to the skin so the fabric can properly capture perspiration and wick it away from you. The fabric is ultra soft, stretchy, and has no seams, so it’s very cozy.

Overall I am pretty happy with the HH Dry Revolution LS baselayer. It’s lightweight, packable, very comfortable, and effectively wicks away moisture.

In a survival situation, shelter and protection from the elements is critical. Don’t forget that your clothing is your primary shelter and clothing should therefore be well thought out.

Shelters are effectively micro-climates which allow us not only to survive, but to live and settle in environments that would otherwise be quite inhospitable. Proper clothing is what allows us to leave our shelters (homes, buildings, vehicles etc.) and move around. Therefore it is essential to think of our clothing as a shelter… After all, our clothing does in fact protect us from the sun, wind, rain, snow etc…

From Helly Hansen’s website:

HH DRY REVOLUTION LS

With long sleeves for warmth and all-over wicking power, this baselayer has everything you need for maximum comfort. The HH® Dry Revolution fabric is made from new Lifa® fibres that are even softer and more effective at drawing excess heat and sweat away from your skin, allowing you to maintain an optimum body temperature throughout your activities. It has a minimum of seams, sewn with flatlock stitching for a smooth look and feel, inside and out. Lifa® stripes add a splash of colour to the lower sleeves.

HH®Dry™ Your second skin and the heart of our effective 3-Layer System™. It is a moisture super highway creating a dry layer next to the skin, keeping you comfortable during highly aerobic activities in a wide range of conditions.

Cost: Around CDN $70

www.hellyhansen.com

 

The North Face Montana Mitt

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Got these over the holidays as a gift and so far I’m quite pleased. Although not for extreme winter conditions, they are very comfortable and excellent for mild winter weather. The rubberized material on the palm provides great traction on slippery surfaces.

From The North Face website:

ABOUT THIS PRODUCT

All-around, all-mountain snowsports mitten for cold days at the resort. Designed with a waterproof, breathable, HyVent® 2L fabric at exterior, insulated mitt features slightly different amounts of insulation at palm and back of hand for warmth and mobility where it counts.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

Fabric
back of hand insulation: 150 g Heatseeker™
Fabric
insert: HyVent®
Fabric
lining: brushed tricot
Fabric
palm insulation: 100 g Heatseeker™
Fabric
palm: PU
Fabric
shell: HyVent® 2L

HYVENT®

The North Face® HyVent® clothes are highly waterproof and breathable and deliver long-term performance for skiers, snowboarders, mountaineers and climbers. Learn more about our innovative HyVent® fabric at The North Face®.

 

Cost: Around CDN $60

www.thenorthface.com

The North Face Hoser – Men’s Winter Bomber Hat

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I’ve had this winter hat for roughly a year now, and overall, I’ve been very pleased.

Plush faux shearling and fleece on the inside, this winter warrior has flaps that cover a good portion of your face, snapping together under your chin.

This really comes in handy on windy winter days – not necessarily to keep the hat on your head, but to protect your face from frostbite and/or windburn. If you really need to hunker down, the forehead flap (held in place by two snaps) also folds down, essentially covering your whole face. The outer nylon/polyester shell is quite durable and readily repels snow.

This piece of winter kit is very simple yet highly functional. It does one thing…and does it well…It keeps your brain box from becoming an ice box. The Hoser from The North Face is ideal for very cold weather.

Aside from the small pocket on the side which is really too small to be practical, and a slight reduction in your hearing, the Hoser is a great investment in winter kit.

Well made, cozy, lightweight and not extravagantly priced.

Cost: Around CDN $60

www.thenorthface.com

 

The North Face – Nuptse Winter Mitts

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I’ve had these mitts for roughly four years now and they’re on the verge of being replaced. They’ve been through a lot and overall they’ve served me well. Winter here in Manitoba is extremely cold so these mitts have definitely been put to the test.

In terms of warmth the Nuptse mitts keep your hands and fingers pretty warm. They’re lightweight, cozy and very comfortable. They are elasticized at the wrist and have cinch cords at the end of the gauntlet to keep them snug and prevent snow from entering – although they are quite dangly and can get caught. I got one snagged by accident and it was torn out…mind you it was caught in a tubing lift and was torn out quite aggressively…otherwise the pulls are quite sturdy. This pair also features a little clip that helps keep the mitts together when not worn – very handy.

Over time however, you can tell the insulation isn’t as puffy and therefore not as warm. Although 10 – 15 minutes in the dryer helps to bring a bit of life back to the insulation, eventually it’s time to start looking for a new pair. I’ve extended the life of these mitts by inserting a pair of slender winter gloves to act as an additional layer of insulation, which works quite well. Nonetheless, the tips of the thumb are beginning to wear away and they’re reaching the end of their life.

During last year’s igloo building courses, the mitts held up well for several hours before the outer leather palms became saturated and I had to switch to a back-up pair. There is a suede-like material which runs the entire length of the top thumb portion which is great for runny noses in cold weather conditions.

From shoveling the driveway, walking the dog, to building igloos…I’m sad to see these trusty mitts go…but they’ll likely end up in the trunk of my car as part of my emergency gear.

Great mitts.

Cost: Around CDN $100

www.thenorthface.com