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Along with the Northern Lights or powder exploding like freshly opened bubbly, softshell materials can be savored as one of nature’s true miracles. 

Softshells use sophisticated stretch woven fabrics with tight layered weaves and durable water repellent treatments to guard against wind, rain, and snow in all but the most severe weather conditions. 

In other words, a Softshell keeps weather out like a Hard Shell, but breathes like fleece allowing you to regulate your temperature much more effectively and remain comfortable during rigorous activity. 

Yet when searching for one of these jackets, it can seem as though finding the quality, durability and flexibility you want at an affordable price can also be one of nature’s other true miracles.

The two zippered hand warmer pockets are not only soft, but designed to heat frosted hands in the harsh cold.  With Cadillac-esque roominess the pockets provided plenty of room for stashing virtually all of the treasures you would need for a day out and about on the trail. 

While testing in the field our gumption crew took the jacket to an exposed ridgeline at 10,000 ft.  With gusts of wind strong enough to test the will of an eagle, our Roaring River jacket kept us warm, comfortable and well protected from mother nature’s more aggressive side.  One tug on the single-hand drawcord adjustable hem created a secure barrier between the bottom of the jacket and the elements.

Overall our testers gave high marks to the fit, finish and design of this jacket but there were a few tweaks they suggested.  While the nonbulky design allows for comfortable layering, we would like to see a more athletic fit in the midsection and our hope is that Hi-Tec introduces a series of “Tall” sized fits as well.  On the “large” sized test jacket the sleeves provided plenty of length for both our 6′ and 6’4″ testers, but fell a little short on the waist.  Finally, the addition of Velcro adjustable cuffs would be an ideal inclusion for future iterations.

Whether scrambling up the side of a waterfall or traversing an exposed ridgeline Hi-Tec’s Roaring River soft shell jacket moves with you serving well as a stand-alone jacket or a layer.  The Roaring River is a stellar addition to Hi-Tec’s line up of apparel offering an affordable and adventure ready jacket that refuses to skimp on details.

For 40 years The North Face has been designing an extensive line of performance apparel, equipment, and footwear. They have consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation so that their fellow outdoor enthusiasts can push the boundaries of exploration.

Part of North Face’s lightest luggage collection to-date, the Wayfinder 25 rolling duffel bag seemed an ideal choice for the long journey rockin’ the following dimensions:

  Across the bottom – 24.5 in.
Across the middle – 24.5 in.
Across the top – 24.5 in.
Depth – 12 in.
Height – 6.5 in.
Strap – 11 in.
Handle – extended – 17.5 in.
Volume – 3785 in³ (62 Liters).

Constructed with durable, abrasion-resistant nylon ripstop fabric the bag was bullet proof and provided optimal resilience througout the European adventure.  The ripstop fabric also proved for easy maintenance which always ensured our crew member had one sharp lookin’ bag no matter how bad that Euro Taxi trunk may have been.

The beauty of this rolled duffel is in it’s simplicity.  The The Wayfinder bag is light, extremely durable and doesn’t waste excess space on a plethora of hidden compartments and zippered sections you’ll never utilize.

The exterior end compression strap is made with a side-release buckle that improves access to the main compartment.  And speaking of that main zip compartment, like a hungry hippo it was big enough to swallow up all of our crew members items.  In case you’re wondering that meant 7 pairs of pants, 12 shirts, underclothes for 12 days, 1 pair of sandals, 1 pair of athletic shoes, toiletries, and a lightweight jacket!! 
On this particular journey our team member partnered the goodness of the Wayfinder with Pack-It Folders from Eagle Creek and swore that the bag resembled more of a magicians bottomless hat than a traditional rolled duffel.

The telescoping ambidextrous handle allowed for pulling the duffel with ease and control.  Smooth inline wheels ensured the bag rolled over cobblestones, up steps and through terminals with ease and grace.  The  reinforced corners also provided an extra durability factor which was appreciated when sprinting through the maze of foreign airport terminals.  The Wayfinder also proved that it wasn’t prone to tipping and tilting despite the tall and lightweight frame of the bag. 

As we continue to revel in the goodness of summer, so too does our review series “In Search of the Perfect Summer Sandals.” The good people at SOLE were kind enough to send over some of their casual flip flops for testing as we continue to seek the perfect sandal for all your summer adventures.

No two feet are alike.  While those five words are a simple truth, not all footwear companies seem to pay it equal attention.  SOLE not only recognizes that fact, but has designed their entire lineup of footwear based upon this little tidbit of reality. 

As such SOLE Footbeds and Sandals have been created so they mold to fit your unique foot perfectly.  This is a stark contrast to most flips which take the “one size fits all approach” resulting in flat footbeds offering little support or cushioning.  This forces the wearer to scrunch their toes as they walk which, in turn, puts stress on the body from the feet, through the legs and up to the lower back.   That’s not good news for your feet, not good news for your back.  

Out of the box these SOLE flips are not only beautiful in terms of aesthetic design, but from the first wear it’s easy to tell they are equally as stellar in terms of design fit.  Over time SOLE notes that the arch height adjusts to your required level, but does not flatten out. The forefoot takes the shape of the balls of your feet and toes, and the aligning heel cup supports your unique heel shape. This creates a continuous contact point across the soles of your feet, leaving no area unsupported.  While it’s still too early for these flips to have fully molded to our feet, these flips already feel more supportive than a typical flip-flop.

The SOLE Casual Flips include the following features:

-Gender-specific strap made of 50% hemp and 50% recycled polyester;
-Double-stitched construction;
-Wear moldable footbed;
-Metatarsal support pad;Anatomically shaped midsole and footbed contains 35% cork by volume;

-Adjustable arch support;
-Deep – but not too narrow heel cup;
-Hidden toe ridge.
-Midsole support structure.
-Grippy rubber blend outsole

Over the next several weeks we’ll be fully vetting the SOLE casual flips and will then post a full review detailing the Gumption Crew’s thoughts on long term comfort, durability, support and more!

Long known for their durable and innovative footwear, Hi-Tec is now bringing their passion for creating quality products to the world of outdoor apparel. So when the good people at Hi-Tec gave us the opportunity to review their Men’s Salt Creek Long Sleeve Shirt, we were more than happy to oblige.  The only outstanding question was… where to test?

On Performance Factor…
Robert Stevenson once said, “I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.”    

From the outset it was obvious that this shirt was born for the ‘great affair’.  The  new Hi-Tec apparel utilizes the same attention to detail, technology, performance and high quality materials for which their footwear is world renown.  Crafted from featherweight nylon weighing in at about 4.3 oz the Salt Creek is breathable, quick-drying and exceeded our expectations on moisture-management.

While our heart rate was maxing out on the trail, the lightweight nylon wicked away perspiration while the Tri-flow venting system helped keep us nice and cool by increasing air circulation across the back.  When the heat kicked up,  we simply rolled up our sleeves which were secured with button loops on each upper arm.  Here, our testers greatly perfered Hi-Tec’s use of the button loops rather than the traditional button tab because on the trail, simplicity means functionality.

A backpack-friendly shoulder design eliminated seams gouging into our tester’s shoulder blades via shoulder strap pressure on longer excursions.  Finally, as outdoor enthusiasts know, when you spend a lot of time outdoors, limiting sun exposure is important, especially at higher altitudes.  Towards those ends the Salt Creek is powerfully sun-protective boasting 30 UPF defense against harmful UV rays.

On Style Factor…
With the Salt Creek, Hi-Tec’s designers have artfully crafted a rugged yet refined look making this superbly wearable button-up the ideal accompaniment to any adventure whether trekking alpine terrain or journeyng across downtown heading out for a bite to eat.  It was also designed with plenty of “wearing ease” ensuring that the shirt fits great solo or with a layer underneath.

When testing this shirt at higher elevations we were initially concerned that one of the shirt’s great strengths – the stellar ability to keep us cool – might also serve as its greatest weakness by allowing too much body heat to escape.  But as the first gust of wind picked up along the ridgeline, that same lightweight nylon did a remarkable job of blocking the wind helping us maintain a nice consistent core temperature while always remaining comfortable.