Black Diamond Mercury Mitts
- Pros: Incredibly soft interior; Durable leather palm/finger tips; Very warm
- Cons: Cuff cinch cord hard to use; Bulk limits dexterity; Shell not waterproof
- Bottom Line: Though not inexpensive by any means, the Black Diamond Mercury Mitts are worth the price if you need to keep your digits warm in nearly any condition.
- MSRP: $86
When Black Diamond created its Mercury Mitt, it must have had two things in mind: durability and warmth.
In my roughly three months using Mercury Mitts, touted as one of the company’s warmest mitts, my hands were always comfy and toasty.
The super soft fleece-like interior was one-of-a-kind and my hands were instantly happy once inside.
Black Diamond incorporated its “trigger finger” into the mitt liner so your index finger is separated from the rest of your digits in an effort to make the mitts more dexterous. But I found that it was less-than-helpful.
Black Diamond Mercury Mitt
Having my index finger separated didn’t add much dexterity, as the mitts are pretty bulky, and it made my pointer colder than the rest of my fingers.
However, the mitts have enough room in the main compartment that I could easily slide my index finger from being separated to cozying up with the rest.
The mitts are rated from -20° to 10° Fahrenheit.
While, admittedly, I didn’t have them in temperatures this low, I did have them in temperatures around 10 degrees. Each time my hands and fingers were incredibly warm.
Whether snowboarding, snowshoeing, or simply walking around outside, the mitts, with a waterproof liner, wrist strap and cuff cinch cord, kept out the cold and wind.
But the cuff’s cinch cord was the worst part about the entire mitten.
Located on the outside of the mitten (it’s located on the left side of the left mitt and the right side of the right mitt), it is incredibly hard to both pull and release with one hand and pretty difficult with two hands.
But for an $86 pair of mittens, which is on par with other well-made mittens and gloves, the Mercury Mitts are some of the warmest I’ve tested in that price range.
Klymit Double Diamond
- Pros: Adjustable insulation level; Breathable; Hypoallergenic
- Cons: Deflates quickly; Requires gas cartridge and pump; Very stiff when full
- Bottom Line: Though the Klymit insulation idea is innovative, great in certain situations and will turn heads, the company’s vest is not worth the hefty price.
- MSRP: $225
Using a method of insulation common among divers wearing wetsuits, Klymit’s new line of vests use Argon gas to keep you warm.
Though it has its downfalls, the innovative insulation works well.
During the last two months, the Klymit Double Diamond vest has been my go-to insulator whether I’m going to work, walking the dog, snowshoeing or skiing.
And it’s done its job.
Klymit Double Diamond
Using an Argon gas cartridge, much like the CO2 cartridges some bikers use to inflate tires, along with the company’s Klymitizer pump, it’s easy to inflate the vest. It has a cord with a pressure release valve hidden in the left pocket to connect the pump.
Inflated, the vertical baffles puff out and stiffen while still breathing. After skiing on a warm day with a base layer under it and an outer shell over it, sweat buildup was minimal inside the vest.
Because Argon molecules are larger than air, the vest lets air pass through the fabric while containing the insulator.
Though an annoyance because it requires the pump, it’s nice to be able to adjust the amount of insulation you need as conditions or activity level changes.
It’s also a viable option for people who are allergic to down.
However, I found that it leaked over time.
In a matter of two weeks, the vest went from fully inflated to nearly empty despite the gas-release valves being closed.
According to Klymit, one gas cartridge will fill a medium-size vest eight times from empty to full.
That means, if the vest looses its loft twice per month, one cartridge will last you the winter. The vest comes with three cartridges, so you should be set for a year depending on how much you manually inflate and deflate the vest.
The Double Diamond, designed for winter sports, is made from a stretchy nylon, and I found it to move well with my body.
But, when inflated, it feels like I’m wearing a life jacket – only slightly less stiff.
When I sit, the vest rides up (about three inches). When I run, the vest rides up.
Despite fitting right sans gas, the entire Double Diamond, I felt, was too short when fully inflated. I suspect it’s because as the gas-filled baffles puff out, the body gets shorter, and because of that, wind got under it when skiing.
It does have a hem cinch cord, but I found that it made the “riding up” factor worse because then it pulled up my shirt or base layer.
Despite having too many cons to make it worth the hefty price, Klymit’s Double Diamond, and its other similar vests, is an innovative idea, and I give the company props for trying.
Osprey Raptor 18
- Pros: Expands outward away from back; LidLock attaches helmet to pack; Stretchy front “shove-it” pocket very versatile
- Cons: Hip belt pockets don’t zip closed; Included Nalgene bladder unimpressive; Small/medium or medium/large sizes may not fit everyone
- Bottom Line: The Osprey Raptor 18 is an incredibly versatile bike-specific pack that’s well worth the money.
- MSRP: $119
Designed specifically for mountain bikers and adventure racers, Osprey’s new Raptor 18 backpack is an 18-liter (1,100-cubic-inch) mule.
The pack, which was first available last month, fits enough clean clothes and tools for an all-day ride. And it has ample room for clothes, shoes and a lunch if you want to use it as your daily commuter pack.
Perhaps the best thing about the pack is that, unlike many others, it expands outward away from your back instead of across it.
Not only does that keep your load centered, it allows you to see behind you when you’re looking for fellow riders or cars.
Osprey Raptor 18
I rode with the pack for hundreds of miles last fall and took it snowshoeing a couple times this winter. Each time, I was impressed.
The compression straps held my gear in place and there were the right amount of compartments and pockets to keep gear organized.
With the hip belt strapped and the shoulder straps tightened, it still moves with your body and even stretches when you breathe – an area where many other packs fail.
When riding, dangling straps can be annoying and get in the way. But with the Raptor, the loose ends are kept at bay via small plastic C-shaped clips.
And when at your final destination, instead of carrying your helmet or trying to lock it to your bike, the Raptor has a LidLock. The LidLock uses a plastic piece attached to the end of a bungee cord that threads through a helmet vent to hold your lid tightly to the pack.
Another feature that Osprey’s touting, which I found pretty lackluster, is its Nalgene hydration bladder. The bladder has a rigid back so it doesn’t bunch at the bottom as it empties and is easier to load and fill.
Though it did what it was designed to do, I found it to be no better than any other hydration bladder I’ve used.
The one feature that sets it apart, though, is a small magnet near the bite valve that attaches to another magnet on the sternum strap. It prevents the hose from dangling and keeps the bite valve closer to your mouth.
Besides the bladder, Osprey missed the mark on its hip belt pockets. The pre-production model I tested had zippered pockets on each side of the belt. The zips are missing on the production pack.
I’m not sure the logic behind that, but the zippered pockets were great for securing your keys, mp3 player, camera, ChapStick or other small items. Now the pockets are just open.
Those are small complaints, though, for an overall great pack.
First Ascent Frontpoint jacket
- Pros: High collar; Very wind resistant; Pockets accessible while wearing pack
- Cons: No powder skirt; Hood too large when not wearing helmet; Minimal colors for men and women
- Bottom Line: Though a little pricey for a basic shell, the Frontpoint jacket is great for nearly every mountainous condition you can throw at it.
- MSRP: $250
For a new brand that came out of Eddie Bauer, First Ascent did its homework.
The mountaineering-oriented gear was developed by mountain guides for everyone who enjoys getting outside. The Frontpoint jacket is no exception.
The outer shell has a softshell chest and back but hardshell fabric throughout the rest of the jacket. The stretchy softshell helps it breath while the hardshell gives more durability and increased water resistance.
First Ascent men's Frontpoint jacket
In my tests, over the course of a few months, the jacket performed well in all conditions.
I used it skiing and snowboarding, hiking, to and from work, and nearly everywhere else I went.
Water didn’t penetrate the fabric in a heavy sleet and snow beaded up on the shoulders and hood.
And despite a lack of pit zips, the jacket seemed to breath while still blocking wind.
Compared to other shells I’ve worn, the Frontpoint jacket felt considerably lighter with much thinner fabric. The entire shell weighs just more than a pound.
I thought the lightweight material may translate into a less durable shell, but I haven’t found that to be true. While I haven’t tried to intentionally push its durability limits, I haven’t been careful with it either.
With an overly large helmet-compatible hood, strategically positioned pockets that are accessible even when wearing a backpack with hip belt, and enough cinch cords throughout to keep out nearly any element, the jacket is clearly designed by mountaineers. But it’s just as suitable as a go everywhere, do everything winter shell.
Ruff Wear K-9 Overcoat
- Pros: Soft, fleece interior; Reflective piping on exterior; Elastic straps
- Cons: Ice builds up under chest fabric; Coat seems short on back; Limited colors
- Bottom Line: Despite the price, the K-9 Overcoat is a great option for keeping your dog warm and dry.
- MSRP: $60
For a shorthaired dog, winter can be brutal.
But with the Ruff Wear K-9 Overcoat, your dog’ll be happy, which means you can stay out longer too.
The dog jacket has a fleece interior and a durable polyester exterior, made from recycled material, which feels similar to Cordura.
And while dogs can’t tell us exactly how they feel, the Overcoat seemed to do its job.
It was most noticeable on a friend’s labradoodle, Macy, that had been recently shaved at the groomer.
Macy wearing the K-9 Overcoat
On a snowshoe trip with temps in the high 20s, Macy was shivering from the cold and the snow was icing on what was left of her fur.
Once we put the coat on her, she stopped shaking and survived the rest of the trek. The coat also prevented more snow from attaching to her fur.
The elastic straps let you easily tighten the coat around your dog’s body while still allowing it to move with the dog. And, once the straps are set to the right length, they easily clip in place next time.
While the body of the coat is adjustable, to my surprise the head hole isn’t. But the size of the hole wasn’t an issue as it did have a small elastic piece that allowed it to slightly stretch and still hug the dog’s neck.
The water-resistant Overcoat also has reflective piping on the sides and chest as well as a light loop on the back for added visibility at night.
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What do you think? Would you spend $60 on a dog jacket? Leave a comment.
