Snowboard Reviews, Articles, News & More
Outerwear
08-09 686 Ard Topsail Insulated Vest Review
0I am a vest girl. Always have been and always will be. I have confidence that I know a good vest when I see one, and this is definitely a good vest.
Not only is the Ard Topsail a total eye-catcher, there are also many small features that make it an absolutely gorgeous, functional piece. It is incredibly comfortable with a full satin lining inside that is visible in the arm-holes and hood and, in my opinion, tips it toward the scales of being more attractive and less the chunky, generic vest look. The exterior is a shiny diamond-patterned nylon with rectangular panels stitched in, and really cute front pockets that close with little Velcro tabs. The vest has two zippers in the back that, when unzipped, make it become larger or smaller. If you want to wear it all snuggly and more fitted (try going out on the town with jeans on) you can keep them zipped; while if you want to layer it up and have it drape over your snowpants, you can unzip. The polyfill insulation is warm but not excessively thick, think mid-weight. And there is always the faux-fur hood liner that can make it look more wintery or snaps out when you are in a spring-like mood. The vest is appropriate for several on and off the hill apparel choices and it one of the items that caught my eye the quickest out of this year’s outerwear line.
08-09 Nobis Madison Review
0Generally the hat seems simple at first, but the buttons combined with the crochet patterns makes for a really gorgeous piece of work.
My favorite feature on the Madison, besides its chunky, crocheted weave pattern, is the row of buttons that goes up the side. The nickle-sized buttons make it stand out and give it a very refined look. It is made out of a thicker, coarser (but not uncomfortable) yarn that does not get as stringy with wear- it maintains its shape and looks as new as the first time it was worn after many weeks.
08-09 Nobis Honey Review
0The honey sure comes by its name honestly!
This should be the hat of the year for both comfort and style. It is a thick chunky yarn weave with rectangles of different colors woven in, a really cute brim and a faux-fur type pom pom. It fits a wide range of heads and face-shapes really well and, though I prefer it on girls, can totally be rocked by the dudes as well. It also fits a range of ocassions, working well for going out at night or for being on the hill. Its only down side is that, like all other soft yarn hats, it gradually shows wear. Not enough, however, to make it any less attractive.
08-09 The North Face Vicious Jacket Review
0Sooooo cute and colorful (and not so vicious), it certainly gets noticed on the hill.
You can’t go wrong wearing green and pink stripes – after all, Waldo has been doing the horizontal stripes thing for years. If green and pink is not your scene then check out the other 2 colorways.
The jacket is warmer than it looks. I wore it with a long sleeve base layer and a hooded fleece on a cold snowy day and I was toasty. The one thing I would suggest to online purchasers is that they consider ordering up a size – if you wear a Burton medium women’s jacket then get this beauty in a large.
The consumer group I may not recommend this jacket for is our friends in the north west – with a lot of seams I wonder how it would hold up on one of those lovely sleety days…personally, I think this jacket is worth moving for – pack up your bags, head to Colorado for the season and buy the North Face Vicious along the way.
08-09 The North Face Shugga Suit Review
0I love the Shugga Suit! It's high on my list of outerwear this year.
When I first saw the North Face one-piece in the spring of '08, I was blown away. Love at first sight. Though North Face isn't a traditionally accepted a snowboard brand, this onezie took the technicality that North Face has to offer, combined it with insanely good style, and now rocks my world. It has a "tough" look to it with a more "chick you don't mess with" type presentation- more military style/ cut/ appearance, instead of floppy body suit. Its cut and lines and the thickness/ stiffness/ durability of the material shout independence and integrity.
I adore riding in it. It is nicely lined (really cute inside material to give it that softer more girly touch), and it has great pockets. For all the thought that has gone into this suit, the one thing I find very odd is that the gators don't snap or have any way to attach to my boots. The elastic is stretched and there is no way to tighten that gator or hook it to a boot so it doesn't ride up. That is the only thing I can say that is dissatisfactory about this outerwear. Everything else I can only gush about and note that I am extremely impressed with the North Face product I have seen this year and want to see more!
The price is steep, but if you are looking to invest in something that you will wear multiple years and be satisfied with, I would go for it.
07-08 686 Smarty Original Cargo Review
04 years ago
by User Review
in Snowpants
686 did it again with this years Smarty Original Cargo pant. This year's pant is a little beefed up from last year, and should last the average rider a few seasons before showing wear.
I had a pair of the Smarty OG Cargos last year, and the held up great, so when I was in the market for a new pair this year, I chose them again. The material they're made from this year is way thicker and stronger feeling, and after numerous days riding through trees, they show almost no wear.
The pants have a great fit, they're a little tall, so as long as you like them baggy you're all set. Great value on these snowpants because they come with a super comfy liner. I rarely use it when riding, but it's a great lounge around the house layer.
The one thing I do have to dock is the glove strap on the side of the right side of the pants. Nice idea, but I lost a pair of gloves this season when the strap came undone.
07-08 Burton Approach Undermitt Review
04 years ago
by User Review
in Gloves & Mittens
These Burton Approach under mitts are like an oven for your hands and what makes them even better…? Its like two for the price of one!
I have yet to find a pair of mitts that top the Burton Approach Under Mitt. I'm a mitten addict, there is just something about my fingers being warm, cozy all snuggled together and the fact that I just look so darn cute in them! The under mitt is designed to slip under your sleeves not over like most. I got these mitts at the start of the 2008 season and have wore them riding ever since. My fingers never get cold! I love that when my fingers have to venture out, once they are slid back in the under mitt they instantly warm up. This mitt offers a removable fleece lined glove that attaches by Velcro (no more losing the liner glove) to the top of the mitt. If my hands get to warm I just slip out the gloves (tuck them away in my pocket) and wear the shell. I own them in the ever so cool gray plaid! Wish I had ordered two pair!
One not so great feature is the Neoprene Stretch Zones covering the palm and thumb area. This material has suffered some damage and is pretty tore up from holding my board and throwing grabs. Once Burton puts some tougher material there these mitts will be magnificent!
06-07 Burton Combo Mitt Review
05 years ago
by Maggie
in Gloves & Mittens
The Combo Mitt is the new standard in mitten style and warmth.
I have been on a search for three years to replace the Smartwool mittens I had that never let my hands get cold. Shredded into pieces, the Smartwool gloves ran out of life so I decided to try the Combo Mitt. My fingers are always freezing and finding these has made life a lot more comfortable again. They are the perfect substitution and a way better product in terms of looks.
They are some of the most beautiful gloves I have ever seen; their appearance is what fist drew me to them. The cuff can be long and folded down, as in the picture. But it also folds up for a bit of flair- without sacrificing any warmth. Fringing the cuff and inside the mitten is a soft wooly material that I have never seen used as a liner before. The colors these come in are really new and different. It makes these gloves seem not like an afterthought to your outfit, but the main attraction.