Reviews by User: Kirsten Valentine (10)

This brand's boots are almost regulation issue (along with Carhartts suits) in cold, dark, frozen interior Alaska. Sorel's are successful because they insulate well, are stable with enough room in the foot area for blood to still circulate, and last FOREVER. Sorel's are not successful based solely on their fashion appeal. If you're a woman who wants a good pair of serious boots for serious snow and winter and these look good to you, buy 'em up. If you like the look of these boots for the five days per year that you'll be at a resort or snow dusts your town, save your money, these will be clunky overkill.

The fabric is a lighter gray shown in the picture- a tad darker than the picture of the "steam" hoodless shift softshell. The blue (the background of the current backcountry.com header) zippers add really pretty contrast. By helmet compatible, they must mean people with helmet-HAIR or fits under a helmet, I can't imagine fitting even a super-low volume helmet under the hood. Seems very well constructed though, backcountry.com stuff runs slightly on the small/slim side (what, backcountry enthusiasts are thinner than the average American? No way...)

These are cute. Very cute. Full marks on attractiveness. They are not, however, the stylish vegan's answer to serious winter. The wool-looking lining you can see poking out of the top? Yeah, that's all it does: poke out of the top. It does not line the boot, it only extends about an inch down from the top. Other than that, all that's between you and snow is thick canvas. These feel much more like snug comfy slippers than boots. They keep the snow out (but not snow melt, not the cold) and look good. That's all. If you've got a real man's job for a real man's boot (but happen to be a woman, wanting some women's boots) check out something bigger with leather. I guarantee you'll be happier with them.

Maybe this jacket is flattering on skinny skinny little bikers and runners, but not me. I looked like a marshmallow she-man in this jacket. When I was trying to decide between going through the hassle of returning it, or keeping it for it's awesome fabric, I compared it to the combination of my trusty fleece pullover and thin softshell. The two together took up much less room than this jacket, still a marshmallow after I took it off. I sent it back. The fabric is pretty sweet, but there are other jacktes out there, I'm not desperate enough to settle for this.

I got this pack for ski touring... and haven't used it for that purpose once yet. I suggest leaving the red emergency pack at home, or putting the stuff you'll only need in an emergency in it. The pack lacks organization in the main compartment like a larger/overnight pack might have, but that's okay with me, I don't lose stuff by putting it in the wrong place, it's all there together. The body closes with not one, but two drawstrings about 6" apart. I'm sure there's a reason, it's just lost on me. The lid has a mesh zippered pocket on the underside of the lid that rocks, and the lid itself holds an amazing amount of junk. The waist belt has zippered stretchy mesh pockets on each hip pad, and I have found them extremely useful for keys, bike tools, cell phone, chapstick, snacks, you name it. What I love so much about this pack is how well it fits and how comfortable it is. When I go on short little day hikes, I offer to carry all my friend's stuff just to justify bringing this pack rather than my camelbak. I use it all the time, it's sitting next to me in my office as I type.

Some softshells are the equivalent of lofty fleece with a "bombproof" outer side. The fabric on this jacket is more like that bombproof outer side on top of a fuzzy fleece knit. Don't buy it for it's insulatory powers- buy it for it's non-stinky flexible breathable softshell value. It's great though, and there's a cinch on the bottom edge to combat any hula-hoop issues.

I only just got this (and weather I can use it in) so it's really only been to parties, the store, and campus, but I love it thus far!

I have a five year old version of the jacket (antique, not children's), and I love it. It now has holes all over the elbows from campfire incidents, and holes in the pockets from my OCD fingers, but I refuse to throw it away. The various layering combinations of this and a fleece top seem to be able to handle most of what I throw at myself.

I love this shirt. I have super sensitive skin, and there was a whisper of an itch that few other than me would feel. I don't have a good sense of smell either, but I didn't notice anything after wearing it for a week straight! I like how it fits.

Just to clarify: the RECCO avalanche reflector on the arm DOES NOT keep you safe in slide-prone terrain, it helps ski patrol find you if there's an inbounds slide and you weren't wearing a beacon. RECCO reflectors aid in body recovery, they do not act like avalanche repellent, they do not "reflect" avalanches. If you're paying $500 for a jacket, there are two likely scenarios: 1- you already know this 2- you're a rich dumbass and probably needed to be told this (amongst other things)