Reviews by User: Babak Sakaki (39)

I am writing this from the University of Utah library, to where I have trudged 2 miles uphill in my Shift Welder hoody to complete a paper. I had no intention of writing another review, but its performance today compels me to write this. Its a complete blizzard right now in Salt lake city, with winds up to 20+ and snow making it a total whiteout. All I wore was my R1 fleece underneath, and I was COMPLETELY warm and dry the entire way. I was so gracious for the fleece lined pockets for I had left my gloves at home (stupid, I know). The cut of this jacket allowed for complete protection from the elements, while the materials allowed for an uncompromising range of motion. Its seriously the best jacket I own.

SO I just got this jacket earlier today, and I must say its quite an impressive piece. I have tried on the MHW Synchro, Marmot Super Hero and TNF Cipher and must say this jacket has its ups an downs. Pros: The length of the arms are great, I got this in an XL but the Cipher in Large. The availability of pockets is also killer, as are the thumbloops. I have yet to try it in rain, but the windstopping ability of this jacket is incredible. It truly is 100% windproof. The Watertight pit zips on this jacket are also a plus Cons: The fabric feels odd against my skin. Its easily the least comfortable Next to skin as compared to the Syncrho or Cipher. The pit zips are what really get me. They are watertight on the outside, but the zipper can rub against your skin. WTF, why isn't there some sort of covering around it? The Super hero felt way better against your skin.

I have literally waited months for a jacket of this type. Truly, this is your do it all softshell. From skiing, to climbing, to biking and just hanging around, this jacket does it all. Its INCREDIBLY water resistant, almost waterproof even, and has a fit that is honestly second to none. All of the nice little features really round out this jacket: the in pocket hem cinches, the fully adjustable hood, the awesome double zippers and pockets (fleece lined), complete with impeccable articulation on the arms truly make this jacket your go to softshell. This jacket will easily replace three of my current jackets the thing that can do it all. GET IT this jacket you wont regret it. I have owned a number of different softshell, such as the MHW Dragon, TNF Cipher, Marmot Super Hero and Patagonia Slopestyle and the Welder beats them all in both fit and comfort. A word about the Carbon color, its a bit lighter than the picture tells, more like a grayish than gunmetal.

If you happen to live in a cold, dry climate, this jacket is your ticket on chilly fall and winter nights. However, if you live in a windy city (like Chicago or NYC) or somewhere that receives significant amounts of wet precipitation (i.e. Seattle, or PNW), then I would suggest you look elsewhere (MHW Windstopper Tech for your Chicago folks, and MHW Synchro for you folks in wetter climates). While very warm, the Denali lacks a wind blocking membrane that is essential for retaining warmth. The cut of this jacket is on the larger side, but its meant to have layers worn underneath. Its a great casual piece that can be zipped in as a very warm midlayer.

This is a must have for any skier/snowboarder. Complete with thumbloops, stretch panels and a ninja hood, the R1 hoody keeps you warm and toasty underneath layers like nobody's business. The hood works great as a balaclava, key on those cold Baldy Runs

The Wool insulates and breathes while the zip dumps heat. This piece never gets smelly or irritable against your skin. It works well with a Rime or R1 pullover and still allows for the zip to function. Thumbholes are choice, as is the subdued logo. I will have this for quite some time.

Honestly, I love 100% of my Backcountry.com brand products- except this one. I have had it for less than a month and it is already leaking profusely around the edges. I have only used this a handful of times and there are no visible signs pointing to a cause of aleak.

This is a great midlayer and substiute for the Patagonia R1 Flash, and is far warmer and wind resistant. It's pajama comfy, seriously but is super warm. It's bulkier than the R1 but layers better. I have but a few gripes: 1. Chest pocket could be deeper. It stretches to fit my iPhone. 2. No thumbholes Also maybe colors like Red and Green would enhance his product. Either way, if you are looking for a great midlayer but don't want to shell out as much as an R1, this is your ticket

This jacket is one of the warmest things to ski in ever. The Primaloft mixed with the Windstopper make for a super warm, super mobile piece that you can ride in with just a baselayer under. Its awesome. It does, however, not have Pant-a-locks like I expected.. north face should fix that up. Oh, and the screen printing is awesome on the inside. If you want a warm jacket for the Rockies, this is it!

Maybe its good luck, but I have been nothing but impressed (for the most part) with my TNF products, particularly this piece. I initially had the Apex Kinetic jacket, which is all apex aerobic. It moved very, very well and was quite water resistant. unfortunately, it was not very warm and allowed for wind to cut through rather easily. The Cipher is a greatly improved Kinetic Jacket, with much needed Windstopper panels throughout the chest, sleeves and pack. Its perfect for cool (not cold) nights, active or not. The Apex parts work great even though there are no pit zips. I actually bought this jacket on a whim, but I am so very glad I did. Wearing this on campus is great, especially while riding your bike. It lets in just the right amount of wind to cool you when you are working up a sweat. This jacket has 1 fatal flaw: the lack of interior pocket. Add one ala Mountain Hardwear style with a headphone port and it would be PERFECT. The fleece weight is far from 200 though. Note: it is NOT an insulating piece, but a highly wind resistant ,breathable, stretchy soft shell.

My favorite hoody by far. VERY soft interior material feels great on skin and the jacket is cut long enough. The large fits great, similar to a TNF Large, which comes down past the hips. The stash pockets are great, as are the hand pocket hem cord. I have a few gripes though: 1. It is not very waterproof/water resistant. you WILL get soaked in a downpour 2. It doesnt cut the wind like a windstopper 3. The outer material has the potential to get snagged, however not as bad as a fleece. perfect jacket for 35-50 degreest

I have recently been turned onto Patagonia gear, and I must confess it lives up to the hype. This particular fleece is absurdly comfortable and lightweight, utilizing variable length fibers that mimics 'fur' for maximum warmth. The weight to warmth ratio is fantastic, quickly replacing my TNF Denali fleece. With a BC.com Merino Crew underneath, I could wear it down to the mid 20s. With a shell of sorts, you could certainly meander about in temperatures near zero. however, like the Denali, it is not windproof. Hence, if there is wind or precipitation of sorts, a shell is necessary. The R1 interior material is very comfortably against the skin, and stretches very well. The pockets are conveniently snag-free due to the use of supplex around the zippers. At roughly 15 oz, the R2 is very packable and relatively lightweight. Honestly if you want only one midlayer, for most of you, this is would be it. But for frigid regions, a Polartec Windpro fleece would be better suited (like the Patagonia R3 or Mountain Hardwear Windstopper Tech Jacket). I have only two gripes: first, is the lack of internal pocket (just one for an iPod wouldn't hurt!) Secondly, the material, like all fleece, attracts pet hair. This could be a problem for some, which would make a softshell jacket a feasible alternative.

I took this shell to the Rothbury Music festival last summer. During the last days of the fest, it rained unholy amounts of rain. This was the type of precipitation that truly tests the quality of your gear. Honestly, in this industry you usually get what you pay for. Anyway, most of our group had soaked through tents and jackets. My tent was soaked through as hell, but I was bone dry, outside in my Rain shadow. Lightweight shell, packs into nothing, and stops rain as good as goretex (up to 47psi apparently).

I have two of these, along with the Zip Tee and a Patagonia Wool 3 that round out my baselayer quiver and I must say these BC.com crew shirts not only feel good, but look good as well. The thumbholes are trully a godsend, and the material is incredibly comfortable. Note: The Crew is made in China, the Zip Tee is made is Canada. Honestly, the Chinese made garment is just as good.

I received this jacket as a gift, and I must say, its the best gift I have ever received. I usually wear it as a baselayer its SO COMFY and wear it to bed on a regular basis. If you want something with water resistance, get the Backcountry.com Rime pullover. Its a softhshell, and is nearly as comfortable as this supple pull over. If you want handloops, get the R1 hoody

These are becoming my favorite water bottles of all time. They dont keep the taste and smell of plastic containers and insulate amazingly. I find that the non-blue containers come with a plastic cap, which I prefer over the steel caps. They are incredibly dent proof and are always in my backpack while at school, work or on a bike ride.

Bought this along with a Patagonia Rain Shadow, and ended up returning the Patagonia. Although more waterproof, the Patagonia does not breath as well and has stubborn zips. Despite lacking a watertight zip, the Typhoon works marvelously. My only two gripes: Comes slightly short on me, lacks a dropback hem like the Patagonia and lacks an internal pocket to keep my iphone dry.

This is a great lightweight jacket that is as light as a hoody, but will keep you FAR more warm. Its SUPER packable and very warm. I use it from the Fall to the Spring, as an all around jacket. I have even skied in it a few times. It is not very water resistant though... I was caught in a torrential downpour and although I stayed warm and dry, the jacket was saturated. It dried very fast though

This is a great cold weather layer. Perfect for those cold days when you really want a warm layer. I already own an R1 and figured a Cap/Wool 4 would not be necessary, but this combo (Wool 3, R1) paired with a shell is unbeatable for breathability, weight and warmth for anything on the mountain. Works awesome with the BC.com Rime, better in the warmer months though

I have owned lots of footwear in my life, however none have been as useful and durable as the Oboz Firebrand. I needed a waterproof shoe to use throughout the winter months in Utah, and this shoe does the job. In cold weather, my feet are always toasty and in warmer temperatures they breathe great. Although I have not used them in summer months, I think they would work exceptionally well as a summer hiker. The Sole is something that truly sets it apart. It somehow never retains debris and is always clean. I don't know how they do it. Also, the footbed on this is incredibly comfy, however very stiff. The fit is very true to size. Comfy like Keen

The silicon grip on these things are RIDICULOUS. Its obscene how well these things grip my steering wheel on those freezing cold mornings. They are very warm and supple, but are very lightweight. My new favorite glove. They are not that water resistant though. If you live East coast or PNW, you might want to check out the In Motion gloves.

For biking, hiking, touring, climbing and any high exertion activity, this jacket provides the protection and breathability that I need.

After a few weeks of use, these gloves have proved to be with me at all times during these colder Utah months. In the mornings on bike rides to school, to heading down to the bars at night, these gloves keep my hands warm and dry. Please look at the sizing chart, for it is very accurate in regards to the size of the glove.

This shades prevent ANY leakage of light into my eyes. If you have a larger face and need mad coverage, get them, you wont be disappointed. Go polarized, or go home

These are great all around glasses, from chilling to skiing. My only gripe is that they did not provide enough coverage for my big eyes, so I went with the Super methods. Get these, you wont be disappointed

I have had a few pairs of Oakleys throughout the years, particularly the gascans. Although good glasses, I just couldnt handle the relatively narrow coverage. An friend of mine suggested I try the hijinx, and honestly, these are the most comfortable glasses I have ever worn. I am usually a Smith fan (I own a half dozen of their glasses and LOVE every pair), but these Oakleys just fit my face well. I will be honest though, their optics arent as good as Smiths, contrary to what anyone will tell you, but they are a very durable pair of sunglasses. I found that the Polarization is rather "weak" compared to Smith or even Spy glasses. Honestly, I think Oakley made a winner with these glasses rather than making an overpriced and trendy piece of eyewear.

I SWEAR by my Backcountry.com merino products, but these socks leave my merino ones in the dresser. The ankle cut is awesome for the gym and so is the odor resistance.

Living in Utah, this jacket is a godsend. I can wear it with just a T shirt in up to 30 degree temps, anything more than that and I put on a light baselayer and I am good down to 20 degrees. With my merino baselayer and Rime pullover, this jacket is good for near 0 degrees. Is INCREDIBLY light, far lighter than my TNF redpoint optimus, which I quickly sold in favor of this jacket. My only gripe is the lack of a windflap (although I have never felt a gust, it would be good to have) and the lack of an INNER pocket. The fit is amazing, as is the stretch properties of the fabric. its made with Primaloft Sport LM, a lower loft version of Primaloft One. This jacket is really something special. The styling is great, as is the fit and weight. Its my go-to jacket for everything casual between 10-50 degrees. Perfect for fall nights, winter and cool spring days.

I have a few Kleen Canteens, but I keep my 40oz next to my bed and in my car for at hand hydration. The large capacity is essential for hydration. This puts SIGG or Nalgene in the dust.

I just got this thing today, and can't stop wearing it. Its quite wind resistant, but the stretch and comfort well make up for it. Its fairly thin, but has a very soft fleece inside, such that I wear it as a baselayer. Paired with an outer softshell, its essential in any layering system. On sale, this thing is a steal.

This has been my favorite shirt of all time. From the thumbloops, to the zip, to the anti-odor properties I love this thing. I take it on trips with me, because it just DOESNT SMELL AT ALL. I just wish I would have snagged a BC.com merino crew when they had them. Do yourself a favor and get this shirt. I wear this, and my MHW Dragon Jacket, and I need to vent for cold bike rides down to 25 degrees, under that and you might keep those pit zips closed.

These socks are light, comfy and fit very well. I have used them for biking, hiking and just walking around and I must say that they are not as good as BC.com's Merino socks. Although superior to cotton socks, these Cocona socks are great looking and fit well, however do not have the odor resistance of the Merino socks. I would personally suggest spending the bit more and get the Merino ones offered by Backcountry.

Since getting them a month ago, I have worn them nonstop in this Fall salt lake weather. My feet never overheat in these shoes, and they provide excellent cusion and grip. The anti-microbial finish comes off fast though, but you can wash them very easy. Perfect late spring to early fall shoe. The fit very true to size, if anything. The Venice is noticeably narrower than the Newport H2.

A friend of mine has the 06/07 Super Hero that he wears in Bellingham WA all the time. For climbing to walking to class its his softshell of choice. I tried on his on in Large and it was a bit tight and a bit short in the front. I went ahead and ordered the 08 version in XL and the fit was whack. Short but baggy in the body, saggy in the arms, and the front rode up so much it was just under my belly button. I am 6'1 and 180 pounds, so not too tall, but the fact that this jacket rides up so much was a deal breaker. I returned it for a Mountain Hardwear Dragon softshell which I am wearing as I type. Generally MHW has a short cut, but this XL was waaayy longer than the Super Hero XL. I am sure its a great jacket (the fleece lining is super comfy and warm; the zip out liner works better than OR's) but the fit was just not for me.

after no more than 2 days of wearing this jacket, the seams within the pockets are coming apart. NOT what I would have expected in a MH piece. Additionally, the interior lining of this jacket is very irritating to bare skin. The pit zips and seams rub against your skin and are not covered by any sort of soft material. I probably going to return this jacket as the irritability of the material just doesn't cut it for me. hopefully they will fix this in their next version, but it looks like Marmot or Arcteryx will be getting my money this time.

This goggles are incredible in the way you are able to view the area in front and around you. The peripheral vision this gog provides is unreal, as well as the anti-fog. I am never going back to Oakley

There are only two things keeping this jacket from a perfect 5 stars: 1. the lack of pitzips- the jacket gets incredibly warm fast while hiking and what not. Could REALLY use some pit zips 2. this is the FATAL flaw of this jacket. It would be the perfect blend of functionality and form IF ONLY IT HAD A HOOD. A hood is necessary to keep warm. The headphone ported Napoleon pocket is $$$