Reviews by User: Ondurass (backcountry vermont) (7)

I'm writing this for my wife because she is way too type A to sit down to do it. The Downtown jacket is now her favorite piece of winter clothing. The first time she wore it was walking our Husky at 6am, temp 7 degrees F. She got back wondering how she went this long without a down jacket. Works as well for hikes and going out at night. From my perspective, it is a sexy lookin' down jacket, nice cut. She likes how it's tapered in the waist but not too high on the hips to make it drafty like the Marmot she tried on. Compared to my Cloudveil Down Patrol, the material on the Mountain Hardwear feels more durable, and it feels like it's packed with more down. Sweet jacket, MHW quality, function and fashion. Women already in shape only look better in this coat IMO.

The good: Awesome pole, locking mechanism is the best. Grip is comfortable when cold. Straps are supple. The adjustable range smokes B.D. The bad: There was a little slop between the two shafts. The poles are pretty looking when new but that finish gets trashed in no time, mostly due to the sandpaper material that they put on the shaft for grip, when the poles are stored in my ski box or dangling from lift they looked like someone took sandpaper to them. I wrapped that area in friction tape, problem solved Overall: The best pole I've used compared to BD and Leki. Finish and paint is poor quality.

Perfect jacket for what it's intended for, Skiing,riding, walking around in the winter but not anything more extreme than that IMO. The look and fit is the best and it has all the features one would want. There are lots of jackets that might have a removable hood, pit zips or a powder skirt but only the Down Patrol has them all!! Only issue I have is with the collar when the hood is down/off. There is no way to cinch it tighter so it's very drafty,your neck is totally exposed if your not wearing a collared shirt.

This was the best fitting helmet for me in the stores but it has not been quite as good as anticipated on the slopes... Pros: Lightweight, adjustable..fits like my MTB helmet, well vented, audex compatible, great for warmer weather Cons: easily banged up, oakley goggle straps made for a helmet gouge up the foam where strap and helmet meet, chin guard on strap is sewn off center. difficult to get the ear flaps to stay tight against my ears without over tightening the chin strap...cold w/out head liner. adjuster on back holds head tight to cranium but loosens with maximum flexion/extension. Overall not bad, just seems a little fragile and cold but it is made by Burton so maybe it was designed for chillin' around the pipe and not for the harcore telemarker charging style.

Perfect jacket for what it's intended for, Skiing,riding, walking around in the winter but not anything more extreme than that IMO. The look and fit is the best and it has all the features one would want. There are lots of jackets that might have a removable hood, pit zips or a powder skirt but only the Down Patrol has them all!! Only issue I have is with the collar when the hood is down/off. There is no way to cinch it tighter so it's very drafty,your neck is totally exposed if your not wearing a collared shirt.

I find this glove to be pretty warm down to the mid teens. It has excellent dexterity, leather is high quality,looks sharp,nice long gauntlet to keep snow out,easy on'off. The issues that I have with this type of glove is that although they are warm the breathability is compromised by the leather. After a full day skiing`the gloves are very damp on the inside, not as bad as my marmot patrol gloves but pretty close. If I did not have a boot/glove drier to use each night than I would not be able to wear these gloves for multiple days without some way to rapidly dry them. So overall nice day b.c/resort glove. Would buy again but wouldn't use on overnights without having two pairs of gloves.

Works just as described. I bought these to use as a driving glove and to control my ipod in my car until things warm up in the morning. Grip on the steering wheel is great,fit is excellent and they work flawlessly on my ipod. They are also pretty warm. I haven't used them inside another glove since I don't tele with my ipod (need to hear those knuckledraggers behing me, :) but I imagine they would make any glove much warmer.

I own about 12 peices of IBEX clothing and have about 12 or more of Patagonia and other misc. synthetic shirts and bottoms sitting in a drawer. Wool is simply the best material - warm when wet, better thermo regulation, and it does not hold odor. The Ibex shak is great - I have 2,one from 2006 and one from 2005. The quality and thickness of the wool seems better on the 2005 but overall it's a great shirt. It's a little itchy compared to the zip T's but overall, it's great. I can wear it out to a bar or to the summit of Mt. Washington.