Muscles Not Motors Gear Review – February 2010
By
Ryan James Leclerc
Posted January 26th, 2010
Whether you’re a snowboarder or snowshoer, mountain hiker or mountain biker, Nordic skier or Nordic walker, you need gear. Each month, I review, right here, three items that I personally feel are especially cool. Here are my picks for this month.
PRINCETON TEC REMIX HEADLAMP
You may already own a headlamp, but if you’re like me, you probably have absolutely no idea where it is. This could be a good thing, because most likely that headlamp of yours, wherever it is, is heavy, clunky, and dim. After you’ve thoroughly searched through all your gear bags, scoured the floor of your car, and for good measure, even checked under the sofa cushions, all to no avail, consider treating yourself to a new headlamp, such as the Princeton Tec Remix. Water resistant, highly durable, and lightweight, the Remix is the culmination of years of refinements to earlier predecessors. The hybrid design easily switches from three LEDs to one Maxbright Rebel LED and within each mode has a bright and a less bright setting so you can get just the right amount of light needed while maximizing precious battery life. The functional and efficient Remix can blast up to 45 lumens with a burn time of up to 200 hours. I promise you won’t miss your old headlamp, but if it does ever show up, you’ll have a back up, albeit a heavy, clunky, dim one. $44.99. www.princetontec.com.
WOOLRICH WOMEN’S CASSVILLE JACKET
Since 1830, Woolrich, the oldest clothing company in the world, has been making high-quality, functional, and affordable clothing, but unlike 1830, you don’t need to be a lumberjack or a sawmill worker to wear it. These days, Woolrich still has styles for lumberjacks and sawmill workers, but also for everyone else. The women’s Cassville jacket is a durable, stylish, and extremely wearable jacket made of TechnoWool TMXB fabric that is 99-percent windblocking and features a comfort collar and cuffs and a fleece-lined hood for maximum coziness. Although it is designed to be a lifestyle piece, its durability and warmth would most certainly be appreciated by any lumberjack or sawmill worker from 1830. $200. www.woolrich.com.
STOIC BOMBSHELL INSULATED JACKET
The Stoic Bombshell Insulated Jacket is a fresh piece of premium technical outerwear from a fresh brand. Lightweight and bomber, waterproof, breathable, and slightly stretchy, the Bombshell features fully welded seams, thumb-holed wrist gaiters, a removable powder skirt, and a fully adjustable hood. One hundred grams of synthetic Cirrus microfiber insulation keeps you warm while mesh-backed underarm zips help to regulate your body temperature so you don’t get too warm. Designed to fit close to the body for uninhibited mobility with minimal excess fabric, you may want to size up if you like a roomier fit. The Bombshell also features a chest pocket with a headphone port, which makes cruising to the beat of your favorite tunes easier than ever. $329. www.stoicgear.com.
