Reviews by User: Merebea Danforth (30)

These shorts are pretty sweet. I had the Fox Racing Sierra Bike short and liked those a lot too. The Diva has a removable inner liner short with a decent chamois, and it's really nice to finish a ride and get out of the chamois, but be able to throw the outer short back on for your post ride beers without getting a second pair of shorts dirty. I liked the chamois on the Sierra slightly better. I just wish the chamois on this one covered a slightly bigger area as I feel the edge of it sometimes. I really like the length of both the Divas and the Sierras. They offer good coverage without riding up. I could do without the butterflies on these, but for me they're not a deal breaker. I'm 5'4" 135 lbs. (with a lot of weight in my legs) and wear the medium, and I have to cinch the velcro waist tabs in a bit.

I recently got the Platypus Big Zip SL bladder in the 2.0 liter size to put in Patagonia's 750 cu Endurance Pack, primarily for mountain biking. I thought that the basically glorified zip lock bag design would be good for easy filling and drying out. (I always like to get my hydration bladders as dry as possible so strange things don't start growing...) I also liked that this bladder comes with a shutoff valve and 90 degree bend for the mouthpiece, unlike with CamelBak which sells the bladders and shut off valves separately unless you buy their whole backpack. The piece that makes the drink tube removable does add a bit of bulk, but with a bulkier mouthpiece and shut off valve, it is nice to be able to route the tube in the other direction and just leave it there. It also gives the added bonus of helping the tube dry out more quickly when it is detached. For now I'm pleased, though I'm wary of so many "extra" parts that could break. All the more reason to get this through Backcountry because of their sweet return policy. I guess only time will tell. I know people who prefer the Platypus mouthpiece to CamelBak's, but for me it's taking a bit of time to get used to. Overall, I think it's a neat design, and if you're looking for an alternative to CamelBak's bladders, I would definitely recommend you give this one a try.

It's a toss-up between the Phenom and the Heiress for which is my favorite goggle. What can I say? Smith goggles have excellent optics (especially those in the spherical series), and look great. The Phenoms work well on a range of face sizes and shapes, are very compatible with helmets. I used to have a Leedom helmet, and now I have the Smith Intrigue, and the Phenoms are great with both. The Platinum Mirror lenses are great for sunny days, and the Sensor Mirror are excellent on storm days. I like the Ignitor Mirror lenses for those in-between days, and for when you're in and out of the shade in the morning.

I bought this top in the Patina Taj print and medium, and think it is a really fun design. I was going to use it primarily for Bikram (hot) yoga. I'm 5'4' 135 lbs. and don't fill out the shelf bras in the medium size too well. I like size medium for prAna tops so that they are form fitting, but not skin tight. I decided to return it as this top would not provide me with enough coverage for bending over poses. In general though it is a fun design, and nice cotton-feeling material with technical wicking capability. Though it didn't fit me quite how I would like, I would still recommend this top, and for those of you looking for more coverage, I recommend the Tizi Sport Top by prAna.

I love wool long underwear, and the boot top length is perfect for skiing - no bunching in your boot! I'm partial to Icebreaker, but I snagged a pair of these SmartWool midweight bottoms at a great price, and they're quite nice. I agree with the other reveiwer who likes the waistband. It's a comfy, thin rollover band of wool. I also agree with her on these remaining more fitted than Icebreaker bottoms. In really cold weather, I still find that midweight wool is not warm enough under non-insulated ski pants, but they're great the rest of the time!

These goggles get the job done, and Smith makes excellent lenses. These frames are a solid choice for those of us with smaller to mid size faces. I think the spherical series goggles are a step up though. Smith's mirror lenses have great optics, and there are good ones for every kind of condition. Platinum Mirror are great for sun, and the Sensor Mirror are excellent in low, flat light on storm days. I like the Ignitor Mirror for in-between days, and for morning and late afternoon when you're in and out the shade (though not as much of a problem in the spring). I have a pair of RC36 lenses, and I'm not overly impressed. I'd stick with the mirrored varieties!

I'm a huge fan of Smith goggles, especially the spherical series. They've got great optics and great looks. The Heiress is a nice frame for the ladies and those with somewhat smaller faces, and comes in some really fun designs. The Heiress goggle is a bit narrow with my Smith Intrigue helmet, and it makes me wish that the goggles were slightly wider as there's a bit of a gap between the end of the goggles and the front sides of the helmet. They would be perfect for my face with a hat though, and they still look great with the helmet. The Phenom is a better fit with my helmet width-wise, but I think the Heiress fits better along the top. I have a few pairs of Smith goggles with different lenses, so I'm set for all different light conditions: Platinum Mirror for sunny days, Sensor Mirror is excellent for storm days, and Ignitor Mirror for the in-between, partly cloudy days and in and out of morning shade. It's also pretty easy to switch lenses using the same frame. For goggles that are really easy to switch, check out the I/O which comes with two lenses.

The Smith Intrigue Helmet is a great looking, simple helmet, just what I was after. It's warmer than the helmet I replaced, and fits me better too. It has plenty of holes for ventilation, and I like the three settings (fully open or closed, and half-way). I find that my Smith Phenom goggles are a better fit with it than the Smith Heiress. The Heiress goggles are just a bit too narrow, and leave a bit of gap on the sides between the side edges of the goggles and the start of your helmet. The ear pads are close fitting and much warmer than those on my old helmet. (I used to have to wear a headband over my ears or a balaclava all the time. I don't think that will be an issue with this helmet except on the coldest of days.) My only complaint is that I have a harder time hearing people with this helmet compared to my old Leedom. All in all, an excellent choice, and I'm very pleased with the fit, quality, and looks.

These are my favorite new pants, and I've already been made fun of for wearing them for several days straight. They are incredibly comfortable, and are pretty cute (much better looking on you than in the picture). They aren't really fitted in the thigh, and are a wider leg with a nice drape. I'm usually an 8 or a 6 (and am actually a 10 in Patagonia), and I ordered the 6, regular length. The waist was slightly on the snug size when I first put the Cottonwood Cords on, and they quickly stretched a bit to be wonderfully comfortable. I'm about 5' 5", and they are ever so slightly long, but perfect with the right shoes. The berry color is great, and I'd say a bit darker than the picture. Now I want a pair in Slate Blue! I highly recommend these, and other Mountain Khaki pants.

These are great, and I think I'm now a convert to Bridgedale for my ski socks. These socks are well made, and pretty warm for how thin they are. The Precision Fit Lightweight socks are thicker around the toes and under-foot, have padding along the shin, and are quite thin elsewhere. I'd say they're comparable to SmartWool's Ultra Light ski socks. I wear a size 9 street shoe, and have a narrow, low volume foot, and sized down to a Medium. The medium stretches to fit and there is no bunching! Also check out the Heel Fit socks, but they are lacking in the extra material/warmth under the foot and around the toes. I wish Bridgedale would combine these two socks into one!

The Heel Fit Lightweight socks are very well made and fit quite nicely. They're warm for how thin they are, but I find them just a bit too thin in the toes. My toes are always cold skiing, no matter what socks, but they seem to get cold a bit more quickly in these. I like the extra padding in the heels, which does seem to help lock my skinny heel and ankle down. I just wish they had the padding underfoot and around the toes like Bridgedale's Precision Fit Lightweight version. I'm a size 9 with a very narrow, low volume foot, so I sized down to a medium which stretches to fit perfectly. No bunching!

The Cloudveil RPK Jacket is my every day ski jacket for my 100+ day ski season, mostly in-bounds. I had a previous version of this jacket, and after 3 seasons the zipper started separating from the bottom too frequently. I sent it back to Cloudveil all faded and worn, and they sent me a gift card to get a new one. I just got this year's version in Tempest, size medium. I'd say the Tempest is a bit lighter in the flesh than in the picture. I'm a pretty big fan of the color, and have already gotten a few complements on it. I'm 5'5", 135 lbs., about 35" chest diameter with slightly broader than average shoulders, and the medium is a good fit for me. My original jacket held up incredibly well after 300 or more days of skiing, and while my jacket was rather faded, the Gore Tex was still keeping me perfectly dry. The newer version has "body-mapping" light thin fleece lining on the back, which I'm not a huge fan of, but I can live with it. Other than that, it's more or less the same. It's sized to fit layers underneath, and I can wear a synthetic jacket/sweater underneath on really cold days. The main thing I would change about this jacket is make the pit zips longer, as they're rather short. Other than that, I'd say it's a really well made, durable jacket that is a great blend of function and good looks.

I'm a wool convert for pretty much all of my long underwear needs. I find wool to be less smelly and warmer when damp than synthetics. Icebreaker wool is top of the line merino wool from New Zealand, and it's never itchy. I find I can wear the BodyFit 200 Oasis Crewe Top for a few days straight for skiing, and it's a perfect base layer in all conditions. It's easy to wash in the machine on warm, and then it quickly air dries. Though Icebreaker is expensive, I highly recommmend the line and think it's worth the extra money.

The Marmot Precip Jacket is nice and light-weight, and feels nice enough on the inside against bare skin. It's fully waterproof, and packs down small. It's sized to fit over a few layers. I generally wear a medium, and that's what I have in this jacket, which fits over a mid to heavy-weight fleece. It's perfect.

I used the Kelty Sunshade when camping in hot, sunny conditions in the desert. It was so nice to escape the sun! We had the medium size, and fit 6 people in chairs set right next to each other along the shady edges. Some sort of side wall or two would be nice, as when the sun is at certain angles it comes in from the sides it doesn't provide all that much shade. Most of us had to duck slightly to get under the medium, but we were very happy to have it. The sunshade sets up really easily, and has a nice simple design. Winds were pretty calm, and we had no problems with it blowing around, and we staked only the bottoms of the poles, not the extra lines coming off of it. This sunshade is nice and simple, and gets the job done. Much better than no shade at all!

I bought this top primarily for Bikram (hot) yoga. The Kari provides better coverage on forward bending moves than a lot of other sport tank tops. It's also a nice length as it doesn't ride up and show your stomach when you stretch up. It's made from organic cotton, which you can feel good about. I have a medium which is form-fitting, but not skin tight, which is my personal preference. I'm 5'4" 135 lbs. with a lot of weight in my legs and about a 35" chest, and I wear the medium. The gathering at the top is slightly funny looking in my opinion, but it adds a bit of flare, and probably looks better on someone who fills out the top a bit better than I do.

I really like Hammer Nutrition products. They've got what you need, and not much more. They don't go too nuts on the flavoring, which is great. The Complex Carbohydrate Energy Gel really does the trick when you're bonking. These gels taste good, and get you're energy up quickly. My personal favorite flavors are Espresso and Apple Cinnamon, which tastes a lot like a delicious gooey apple pie!

I bought this top primarily for Bikram (hot) yoga and I love it. The fit on the Bandha is very flattering, even for those of us with less than flat tummies, and it is still form-fitting. It offers good coverage for bending over moves. It does not have an internal shelf bra, which is good for me as I often don't fill them out. It's a great length, and doesn't ride up when I stretch up. The Patagonia fabric is great for hot, sweatty yoga. I'm 5'4" 135 lbs. (lots of my weight in my legs) with about a 35" chest, and I have the medium which is perfect. I do find that some sports bras poke out just a little bit above the V neck, but very little shows and I think it still looks fine. I highly recommend this top, and would even wear it as normal wear on hot summer days.

I bought this top primarily for Bikram (hot) yoga and so far I like it. I like tank tops that offer a bit more coverage for bending over moves. I tend to not fill the shelf bras out too much, so I need tops that come up a bit higher. I really like prAna's designs and fabrics, and the Kari suits my uses. The gathering is a little funny looking, I think, but it might look better on someone else. The top is a nice length, providing good coverage when reaching up, and the straps are comfy and stay in place. I'm 5'4" 135 lbs. with big shoulders and a lot of my weight in my legs, and I wear a medium. I think the shelf bra on the small might be a better fit, but I like that the medium is form fitting without being skin tight. If you like prAna tops, I highly recommend the Tizi.

I have the Better Bottle in the 1L and .75L sizes and I love them. I'm a bit of a klutz, so I really like having the CamelBak bite valves so I don't spill on my computer or important papers. The 1L size is great for hot yoga, and with the bite valve I'm better about taking sips of water instead of guzzling it down and ending up with a stomach full of water. The .75L will fit in larger cup holders (1L is big) and if not the .5L might suit your cup holder just right. Now they're BPA free, so no excuse to not save plastic and money and bring your own water bottle!

This little kit has first aid essentials in a nice, compact size. I like the Adventure Medical case and nifty waterproof case inside (which is basically a heavy duty zip lock bag) and there is a bit of space for your own first aid additions to the Ultralight .5. I throw this first aid kit in my pack when mountain biking and going on day hikes and love the small size. I generally bring a supplemental first aid kit when I go on longer backpacking trips.

I take a bottle of Hammer Nutrition HEED (High Energy Electrolyte Drink) with me on longer mountain bike rides, and I love it. It tastes a little bit on the chalky side, but I kind of like it. It's not too sweet and overpowering in flavor like lots of other options out there, and is very drinkable. It seems to do the trick for staying hydrated and energized, and people who know more behind the science of the ingredients have recommended it, as do I!

I got these shorts for Bikram (hot) yoga, and I love them. The material has a bit of a shiny sheen to them, which you can't quite see in the picture, but they look very nice on. I like longer shorts, and these provide nice coverage for your thighs. (My guess is the inseam is around 5" or 6".) I'm 5'4" 135 lbs. with a lot of weight in my legs. I got a size medium and was pleasantly surprised by how they looked on my bigger thighs. They are tight in the hips and butt, which works well for yoga. They didn't stretch out when they got sweaty, and stayed up just fine. I would definitely recommend these to someone looking for a yoga/fitted fitness short with a longer inseam.

I just bought a second Patagonia Active Mesh Bra as it's just about perfect for all of my sporting activities. My chest diameter is on the larger size of a 34A (wear bras on the loosest hook until they're stretched out) and I have these in medium. They are perfect for mountain biking, skiing, yoga, and I think I'd even be happy running in them. The straps are comfortable, and aren't too close to your neck like some sports bras so you don't see them at the neck opening of your shirt. They designs are really fun and the bra is a perfect combination of support and comfort.

I just got this top primarily for Bikram (very hot) yoga. I'm a big fan of prAna's tops for yoga, and the the Tizi is my new favorite. It is the perfect length, providing good coverage when stretching upwards (no tummy exposure) and good coverage up top for those bending over moves. I'm 5'4" and about 135lbs. and have this top in a medium. I tend not to fill out the internal shelf bras too well, so I appreciate the higher cut on the Tizi. This top is form fitting, but not skin tight, which is perfect. The straps are cute, and the only drawback is the extra horizontal strap can make the top slightly confusing to put on, but once you figure it out it adds a fun detail.

I use my Pataonia Endurance Pack mainly for mountain biking. I think it is just the right size, and my favorite feature are the side pockets on the hip strap which keep things like my compact bike tool easily accessible. I can't say how nice it is not to have to take it off or ask a friend to grab things. I keep my little med kit, spare tubes, pump and a jacket if I need it in the main compartment, and energy bars easily accessible in the outer pocket. I really like the size compared to some of the options from CamelBak, and I just like the overall compact design and looks better. My only complaint is that there are a few long straps that hang off of the hip strap, but I think I may trim them off, and then I'll be happy as.

I'm a fan of these shorts. I like the longer length, and the chamois does the job. They are a nice, basic design, and the adjustable velcro tabs at the top dial in the fit and keep you from exposing your butt crack. I dig 'em.

These shoes are fantastic. I have a somewhat funny foot, relatively narrow and very low volume. I tried on just about every women's mountain bike shoe out there, certainly all of the major brands, and these were the only ones that fit. They were about twice as much as I wanted to spend, but so many shoes I tried on just wouldn't get tight enough. On many, I would ratchet the top strap all the way in, and I could still stick a finger underneath it. One of the many beauties of the Sidi Dominator 5 Women's MTB shoe is that the ratchet is extremely adjustable. You can change the position of the ratchet buckle strap, so it will accommodate a big array of foot types. My boyfriend has a pair of Sidis, and he has pretty much the exact opposite foot type, and his fit great too. These are really well made, and maintain an excellent fit with the little teeth inside the velcro straps, and everything on them is replaceable. I'll think they'll last a long time, and should be worth the high price. They also felt great right out of the box. My third time wearing them I used them for a 100 mile road ride for a charity event and didn't get any blister or irritation whatsoever! (I'm mainly a mountain biker but have borrowed a road bike and just use these shoes, which work great.) As you can see, I can't rave enough.