Reviews by User: runnergirl (25)

My husband and I each bought a pair of these pants for a winter backpacking trip to Europe. We loved the heavy fabric, which helped keep us warm despite the temperatures (below freezing!) as we walked the streets of Prague and Vienna. I really like the cut, and found it quite flattering; the black made the pants look nice enough that I didn't feel out of place touring the cathedrals and castles. If you are tall, these pants will probably be too short; I'm a petite 5'3", and they're perfect.

The search for the perfect down vest has become my own personal Holy Grail Quest. This vest was the latest in a long line of vests that I have tried. This vest is very soft and what I found to be the perfect amount of puff. The fabric had a very nice hand-feel, was thick enough to be durable, and seemed like it would wear well. It packs down into a compact ball (and comes with its own stuff-sack). I loved the length of the vest--it is a little longer than most I've tried on. The cut is a little too generous in the shoulders for me(I do have very narrow shoulders), making the vest gape (even though the armholes are lined with elastic--which is another classic example of the attention to detail that makes Marmot such a great company). I also found that the vest seemed a touch large. Even the small was too big. Overall a great vest, but probably not the best choice for petite frames.

I bought this vest after reading a review in a running magazine which stated, "This is the vest that kept me comfortable while running a marathon in the rain." The vest is a good mix of warmth and lightweight element protection. The fabric breathes and wicks very well. I like the cut, and fit; hits at high hip. Bottom line: Buy this vest is you need something for a mid-layer warmth, or outer-layer for high output activities.

This fleece top is awesome! The fabric is really thick, with a fuzzy inner-face that feels so good against skin. As a girl who's easily chilled, I was stunned to find that in this fleece I actually almost get too warm (I consider this an excellent problem to have). The lines are ultra-flattering-- typical Arc'teryx styling. The only reason I docked one star is because I found the length to be on the short side. It hits really high on the hip.

Super cozy. I bought this for a backcountry touring trip, and now I can't take it off. The fit is very slim and flattering, so if you plan on wearing bulky layers underneath, size up. I prefer to wear it with only a very light layer underneath, and have found it to be excellent, warm, and very cozy.

I bought this pack to wear during my long training runs, and was overall very happy with it. I did end up wishing I had bought the smaller Access pack (which does not have a storage pouch) as I rarely carried more with me than water, keys, and a gel or two. In order to make the pack feel "balanced" I had to twist the pack and wear the water bottle directly over the lumbar spine, and the pouch over a hip. The water bottle was tricky, and took some figuring out, but I ended up really liking it once I had gotten the hang of it. The pack has worn extremely well (I've had it over a year now, and used it while training for multiple events). The pack has minimal jiggle when running, the straps are comfortable and easily adjustable, and the water bottle rides very securely. I'm dropping one star because the bottle does leak sometimes.

The North Face makes such a nice microfleece! The fit is trim, but not tight. I found the sleeve-length to be perfect, and I really liked the contrasting textured fabric around the hood and zipper. Low profile enough to layer. It was a little heavier than I prefer to run in, but great as a casual/layering piece.

Super cozy, my favorite lounging around the house piece. I did dock a star because the plush and fuzzy fleece is forever rubbing off and my seatbelt, the couch, etc, leaving little puffs of blue all over the house.

This vest is so flattering! The lines are pretty, and the shape works really well on my curvy figure. It's also quite low profile, so works really well as a base layer. If you are having a hard time finding a down vest with a snug fit, this is the one. The princess seams hug your curves, and and puffy down is SO warm! Love it!

I'm always looking for a pair of pants that transitions well between performance situations, and not looking geeky in town. This pant is it! The picture doesn't do these pants justice. I bought the black, which look awesome; the drape is really flattering, and they dress up easily. I'll use these when traveling and backpacking Europe; I love the black for Europe because you feel dressy enough to visit the cathedrals. BUY THESE PANTS!

An update of Mountain Hardwear's classic Butter Hoody, but the silly seam around the neck has been eliminated, and replaced with a flattering v-neck. I was worried that the V would be a little deep, but it hits right below the hollow of the throat; PERFECT. I LOVE the fabric. This may be the best light-weight hoody EVER. It's that simple.

I compared this with the Ghost Anorak by Mountain Hardwear, and this is the one I kept. I preferred the fit (slim, and long--it covers my bum), and the fabric. Perfect to block wind, light rain, or just the misting almost-drizzle that happened constantly while I toured Central America.

I love this bra because not only is it so comfortable, it's also so cute. The straps never chafe or rub, and the fabric wicks extremely well. I wear this bra for all of my marathons; however, I am an A-cup, and I suspect it would not have enough support during high-impact activities for anyone over a B-cup.

I use this for EVERYTHING. It is wonderfully versatile. The fit is perfect (just a touch snug), and the sleeve-length just right. Wicks well, looks good, keeps me warm when I need to be warm, and cools when I need to be cool. It doesn't get any better.

Super soft, smooth and light fabric wicks sweat extremely well. I wear this shirt for long runs and to the gym. The fit is very snug, which makes it ideal to use as a base layer. If you prefer a loose-fit, SIZE UP! I wear a small in most brands, and in order to achieve a loose fit, I would have to buy a large. This shirt is meant to fit very snugly.

After trying on about every down vest at Backcountry.com, this is the vest I decided on because: I liked the fit, the price, and (bonus) it is machine-washable. The fit is quite snug, which is what I was looking for: I wanted to avoid that burly look down can give you. (If you have a curvy figure, check out Patagonia's Down Vest-- it actually fits my petite, curvy frame alot better, but I couldn't justify the price tag). The fabric has a nice hand (not as soft as The North Face, though), and has worn very well. I've had my vest over a year now, and have ran it through the washing machine multiple times now. The first time I was REALLY nervous, but the tag SAID it was machine washable, so, okay. It did take a really long time to dry (could be the humid climate I live in), and I did have to separate some down clumps by hand, but it worked perfectly. Love this vest. One con: the arm holes are a touch on the snug side. If you have bigger arms, this will likely be a problem for you.

I race often, and was getting tired of the little pin holes in my expensive running gear (I live in a WINDY climate, so am often wearing a wind vest or shirt-- pins are wicked on this type of fabric). This has solved the problem. I admit that I bought it mostly to avoid using pins, and rarely use the gel holder. Light, comfortable, nice place to stash a key or ID, but don't plan on putting much in there. Very comfortable. I'm happy.

I was a little suprised about the almost-mesh fabric. It wasn't quite what I was expecting, but I've ended up really liking it. The fit is ultra-flattering, and the fabric is just the right thickness for cooler days. Perfect as a warm-up/cool-down piece for yoga classes or running, and breathable enough that I can keep it on for the duration of my runs. Very cool shirt. Similar to the Sugoi Fast Hoodie, but more substantial. I like this one better.

Liked this so much I bought 2 more. I am a size 6, and even though both sizes 4 and 6 are considered a small, I took the advice of a Patagonia rep and sized up to the medium. I'm very glad I did, as it is the perfect amount of compression for me.

I love the lines of this vest; they are very flattering. The starred detailing around the zipper, hidden inner pockets, and a great hand-feel all add to the quality of this vest. However, the fit is really, really big and bulky. I ordered the smallest size, and it's still much too large (I typically wear a size 4/6). If you plan to wear this vest as an outer layer, the bulkiness won't be a big deal. However, if you're looking for something that fits a little more snug, either order WAY down in size, or find another vest. I was sad to return this one, as I loved everything else about it. Almost perfect.

I like the fabric weight of this tank. It's light enough to wick in hot endeavors, but substantial enough that I don't feel naked. The lines are flattering, and the seams smooth against the skin. I also like that the band of fabric across the tops of the shoulders is broad enough to offer sun protection.

I really like this hoody. The fabric is a good weight (similar to a T-shirt weight), and incredibly soft and supple; it's well-named. When I first got the hoody, I wore it several days in a row, it felt so good. The only thing I don't like is the cut of the fabric around the throat. I think it looks a little wierd, and the seam where the hood attaches to the body is a little itchy. But overall, a really good hoody. Almost perfect.

I've had this hoody for almost a year now, and I'm amazed at how well it's held up, especially considering how much I've used it. The fabric is a really soft weave with some stretch. It always feels great against my skin, especially after spending a day in the water. I took this with me when I packed Central America, and the reversible feature was great; when one side looked dirty, I just reversed it and kept wearing it. The kangaroo pocket is zippered, which is nice; you can wear the zipper on the inside, and have a hidden secure pocket. This was GREAT for carrying my passport. One note; I've tried wearing this hoody running, and think the fabric is too heavy to wear for more than about 3 miles or so because it doesn't wick as well as performance running hoodys.

I love this tank! The fabric is a little heavier than most other wicking tanks I've tried, which is great for really high output endeavors because it keeps me modest even when soaking wet. The fabric dries quickly, and I love the cut of the higher neckline. One downside: the shelf bra needs a little work. For anyone larger than an A-cup, it won't be enough support.

I really like the functions/features of this watch. The split timers, chronograph, and alarm functions are all just what I wanted. I docked a star because the material the band is made of seems to be not so great. The band has significantly discolored after only a few weeks of use (I do wear it all the time). In addition, where the two colors of plastic comes together, the band is starting to split. I'm sad because I like the watch so well.