Showing posts with label snowboarding jacket. Show all posts
Showing posts with label snowboarding jacket. Show all posts

Monday, December 12, 2011

Enjoy the Cold Outdoors in The North Face


What do you wear when the weather is super cold, but also wet?  If you live in a rainy climate, it's a little bit tricky.  If you leave the house in a down coat and get caught in a downpour, you get soggy.   But there are solutions that will keep you warm and dry.  Check out this Brooklyn Jacket from the North Face.

It's a waterproof shell with down on the inside, so the water doesn't get near the down and it stays very warm.  The faux fur trim on the hood is removable and you can throw the whole coat into the wash when you need to clean it (sans detachable fur).  There are plenty of pockets for tickets, lip balm, id, money, etc., and the hand pockets are soft and cozy.  This coat has features that keep wind and rain out, like the cuffs, belt and zip/button down combo keeping well sealed against cold.  The fit is very snug, I recommend sizing up.

North Face makes another coat very similar to this called the Arctic Parka.  For those preferring a belt-less look, this one hits a little longer for added warmth.  Both coats have that durable HyVent 2L waterproof fabric that breathes while sealing out water and wind, in addition to ultra warm goose down on the inside of the coat.

I learned while taking the bus, or rather freezing at bus stops, that a good coat is a big deal.   When I wasn't driving, in the winter, I began to think of my coat (and footwear) as my car and with that came a lot of freedom. It makes all the difference in the world to keep warm, opening up various options like taking the bus and walking and playing outside.  Because of my proper cold weather clothing, I was comfortable taking the bus and dragged out getting a car a good extra year or two, not to mention being able to hang out in the cold and snow with my son as long as he wanted to.  Buy quality and you only have to buy it once.  Find these coat and other cold weather options HERE on the North Face website.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Columbia Alpine Attitude Jacket: Sexy Meets Function

Need something to keep you extra warm this winter?  The COLUMBIA ALPINE ATTITUDE JACKET has a lot to offer.  If you are detail oriented you will really appreciate the features on this jacket.  They thought of everything. 

Let's start with the Omni-Heat feature, a new patented technology I was excited to try out.  There are little silver dots on the lining which serve to reflect heat back to the wearer.   I don't have a lab to test this out, of course (they have videos of testing on their website), but it really did seem to work, I found the jacket to be very warm and toasty. 

If it gets too hot, there are pit zips which instantly cool it down and are ideal for winter activities.  I found this very helpful while working up a sweat playing in the snow with my son. The optional adjustable powder skirt keeps the snow from getting up under the jacket, perfect for sledding and making snow angels.  There's also a connect tab that can hook to snow pants.  The mesh inner pocket designed for goggles also works for necessities like a small wallet/id, phone, etc.

I love the way the jacket hits at the low hip (I'm 5'5) covering most of your bum and keeping you extra warm.  The hem flares out slightly making for flattering feminine lines.  Comfort cuffs in the sleeves convert to optional fingerless gloves which keep the cold out and feel soft and warm against a cold steering wheel.  I've never had this sort of sleeve and it's very handy.

One of my favorite features is the ultra soft faux fur lining around the neckline.  So many times I've had jackets rub uncomfortably around this area and this solves that problem in a very luxurious way and it looks pretty too.  There's also removable faux fur around the hood--I love it, I think it adds some sass to the coat. 

I've never tried Columbia's brand before and I must say, I'm impressed! This coat is  multifunctional--something I look for to reduce my closet clutter and consumption.  The Alpine Attitude is a great jacket for skiing, snowboarding, playing in the snow with your kids, or just looking really nice while keeping warm.  Find it HERE.



Review Disclosure