2006 Gear Review – Taking Off With Summer Sportswear
Royal Robbins For Women
Cool Max Shirts
Jetsetters Magazine reviewed a few sports apparel items last year from Royal Robbins and we were so impressed with the workmanship, fabrics, durability, and designs that we have to plug them again this year. Click photos for more details and ordering.
More and more women are adventuring into the outdoors and RR (Royal Robbins) has created a top-of-the-line sports fashion series for women, such as:
Field Guide Vestsi
Cool Mesh Weave Skirts — These pleasant shirts are often called a leno weave and they are perfect for hot or humid climates, with natural ventilation that is wrinkle free for travel. Throw away that travel iron; 100% cotton and each skirt only weighs a measly 5.5 ounces; with Chloe Print panels at the front and back with side zip closure; 25 inch length from high hip; pre-washed. RR also produces a Cool Mesh Capri along the same lines as the skirt, with tonal contrast stitch detail, zip secure back pocket, with a RR label at back hip; about a 22 inch inseam (size 8); pre-washed. The low rise Capri also has a cell phone pocket so you can’t get too lost in the outdoors.
Slub Canvas Jackets
The women’s Cool Mesh Wrap Top is also of Cool Mesh Weave — so soft it feels like silk — with a front wrap at the waist and inside button; Strider embroidery at hip; pre-washed in various colors; comes in sizes small to XL.
Remember those old Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan movies with the women on safari wearing an expedition skirt? RR has a great Zip ‘n’ Travel Skirt and Expedition Skirts made from 3-ply laundered Supplex, weighing only 4.4 ounces. The 100% Supplex is a brand of nylon that is a smart fabric (wrinkle free) that snaps back into shape and with a soft cotton feel. Laundering enhances the feel without compromising the stretching qualities. Because the fabric is lightweight, quick drying, wrinkle resistant, and doesn’t retain odor, it is perfect for multi seasonal, rugged outdoor and travel adventures. The skirts have hidden zip secure pockets, back hidden zip closures, zippered side vents with a RR label at the back hip. The skirts come in Jet Black, Khaki, or Sand, so you can blend into the elephant grass while glassing big game.
Backcountry shorts
It’s summer so lets talk about the beach, but only after you have booked your discount hotel room at www.beachbooker.com
One of the coolest lines in the RR fashion house is the Radeau Shorts, made for men and women, but with more women turning to surfing let’s get the women on board — a Longboard!
Nox Denim Skirts
The Radeau Peach Polyester Color Block Shorts are only 3.7 ounces dry, and not much heavier when wet. The trouble with cotton shorts is that when they get wet they get heavy. Radeau Peach Polyester fabric showcases microfiber yarns with soft peached surface, and it is wrinkle free and water repellent with an UPF of 40+.
\Shea Fleece Skirts
The block shorts are 100% polyester, with a front drawstring closure, hook and loop secure pockets so you can surf with the car keys, and with a Striker label on the hem. The Solara Print Shorts are made of the same fabric and features, but with contrasting side and back yoke panels, with a more tropical design look. The Solara Print Swim Shorts have a full elastic waistband instead of a drawstring. The Radeau Board Shorts have front pockets with drain holes and with a hook and loop secure key pocket. For beach-only wear your best bet is probably the Cool Mesh Short a low rise tonal contrast stitch detail short, with Zip secure back pockets, a RR label at the back hip, in various colors and pre-washed.
Sydney Capri Pants
Ready for clam digging season?
You will be the most fashionable clam digger on the strand with RR’s line of Radeau Clam Digger Pants and Solara Print Clam Digger Pants. The Solaras are more tropical in design, with the pants made with solid colors. It seems that all the Radeau line is made of Peached Polyester — isn’t science great! — and the pants only weight 3.7 ounces with a UPF 40+, with contrast inside waistband and topstitch detail and a hook and loop secure back pocket with drain holes. I guess you could even carry the clams in these pants. The pants have a 19 inch seam in the size 8 size model, so you can wade in the surf without getting the pants wet! The Solaras are of similar qualities but have a drawstring at the side hem. You’ll look great sitting on the beach waiting for the next grunion run.
Megan Bonded Jacket
For the women sailors in the crowd, the Upton Stretch Knit line from RR is an Elastrell-p CoolMax polyester with special ingredients that deliver outstanding performance for the go anywhere adventurer.
You end up with relaxed stretch apparel for improved fit and ease of movement and easy care with low shrinkage and they are wrinkle resistance when hoisting the sails. The high comfort factor and the fabric’s ability to keep its great look make the Upton Jacket, the Upton Skort (not a misspelling), and the Upton Capri must haves in any woman’s adventure closet.
Priji Cardigan
The jacket only weights 5 ounces — how do they do this? — and it is made of 65% polyester and 35% T-400 Elastrelle-p with a UPF of 30+. No need for greasy suntan lotions. There are on-seam pockets, full zip front, and a RR tab at the side. The Skorts are of the same percentages of fiber and UPF but with a hidden key, credit card pocket. Note, that RR also makes an Undershort single jersey with 92% nylon and 8% Spandex with a 3 inch inseam, too. The Upton Capri has a contemporary rise, with a waistband drawstring, on seam front pockets, with rotated side seams with vents at the hem. The Capris have a 24 inch inseam in the medium sizes.
Many of the apparel items discussed are so new that they are not in stores yet, but we know you will love them as much as our Jetsetting female commercial pilot friend, Marisa, does.
Royal Robbins For Men
Classic Billy Goat Short
Cross Dyed Cool Mesh Shirts are a trademarked RR apparel line, with an open mesh that is great for ventilation. In Vegas you need lots of ventilation in the summer unless you are in AC-ed casinos. The fabric has a great color effect because two colors pf yarn are weaved in opposite directions. The 4.4 ounce shirt is 100% cotton with coconut buttons and tonal Strider embroidery at the back neck with a Strider label at the hem. I really like the side vents. I am sure to wear this pre-washed shirt on any jungle or desert adventures.
Base Camp Pants
I really dig the RR Bula
line of shorts and pants for men, made from something called Bula Stretch Ripstop, a soft and durable performing blend of nylon and Elastene. In the Fiji Islands Bula is a sign of welcome, and I certainly welcomed these fine fitting pants. The nylon gives Bula a cottony soft finish that is lightweight and quick drying. Great for rafting or kayaking.
The Elastene allows for great stretch and maneuverability, like a second skin that wicks well and features a whopping UPF 40+ — no sunburns wearing these duds. The Dri-X-Treme wicking finish on the Bula Overboard Shortsalso has a web belt with quick release buckle. The pockets are along the seam, and there is a hook and loop secure bellowed mesh cargo pocket on the thigh. The Bula Shorts and Bula Pants have the same features but with drainage holes in the pockets.
Zeal Optics were developed for women by women. They are one of the finest high performance sports and sun protection optics around, with great clarity – need the RX option? they got it.
Zeal also slaps on a lifetime warranty on all their products and a crash replacement deal. Zeal Optics has a passion for innovation in eyewear so that you never have to leave your comfort zone. Check out their new ZB-13, a signature technical lens coming in vibrant colors.
So what separates Zeal from the pack — simple — polycarbonate and polarization built-in with new lens treatments that elevates the line to the apex of sports optics. Take for example the ZB13 PPX Photo Polar, the world’s first multi layer lens in a glare cutting polarized filter and photo chromatic layering that allow the lens to actually change from dark to light depending on the changing light conditions. You get two separate lenses in one lens.
There is also the ZB13 Special BlendBut what I really liked was the ZP13 SilkFlash which features the innovative SilkFlash mirror treatment. Mirror treatments are especially beneficial for use on non-polarized lenses as they do not have a filter to cut out the glare.
SilkFash, a trademark of Zeal Optics, offers easy cleaning properties, optical clarity, and they are scratch resistance, making them suitable for speed sports where polarized lenses are usually not recommended. SilkFlash is created with the most advanced technology in thin film coatings to provide a mirror treatment that is highly scratch resistant, smudge free, and with great durability. — The red mesas and canyons around Moab, where Zeal Optics headquarters are located, were the inspiration of this blended sepia lens. The optimum blend of contrast, clarity, and light transmission is the result.
Zeal has been at the forefront of interchangeable RX lenses and has been embraced by worldwide sports fanatics. Many major magazines, including Outside and Dirt Rag, have chosen the RX Zeal as the best on the market.
Yes, Zeal also makes a great line of goggles with the same great lens capabilities and RX factors. Visit their website. at www.zealoptics.com and the hit the trail or ski slopes.
Be sure to register your glasses upon purchase for special crash replacement and lifetime warranties.
ves playing Frisbee.
The disc is full of fiber optic technology and it actually shines in the dark, floats, and is water resistant, with a cool twist switch. Leo was so thrilled to run after a glow-in-the-dark disk that he never wanted to give up the chase. Get the discs for your fido in red, green, or blue. Check NiteIze at www.niteize.com
tomized their field gear dowd Jacket has all the durability of a great safari jacket but has a contemporary look and comfortable feel, coming with so many pockets you don’t need a pack, in many instances.
Does it ever have the pockets: cell phone pocket, PDA pocket, MP3 pocket, headphone pocket, passport pouch, digital camera pocket, and even a magazine pocket — for National Geo publications of course! Plus it has a detachable key fob and hidden ID badge clip and tab.
PRIMUS
Remember the Primus Optimus stoves, which were the lightest and most reliable for cooking at high altitudes. The Optimus could never be improved upon, right? Quess again.
Primus has done it again with their lanterns. One of the lightest and most compact lanterns is the EasyLight, with a patented Primus burner with almost soundless operation, pizo ignite and adjustable light output control up to 80 Watts, the design makes the lantern efficient on fuel. It is made of aluminum and stainless steel with brass threads; transport box and hanging device is included. The soot free operation and maintenance free materials make this a must for your pack; because of the variable light output one fill up of fuel lasts about 24 hours.
The cool Primus Gravity Stove burns white gas, regular gasoline, petrol, kerosene, or LP gas cartridges – a true alternative fuel stove and the world’s first multi fuel stove that is lightweight with fast preheating, which you need at high altitudes, The stove works in extreme conditions and in all temperatures. The flip over system keeps the stove clean and dry after each use. We can all appreciate the simmer capacity and superior stability, the aluminum ergo pump, and the wind screen slash heat reflector; comes with a stuff bag and multi tool . Watch the instructional DVD that is included.
No more bulky camp dishes. Because Primus has designed the coffee and tea kettle and frying pans out of hard anodized aluminum, which is harder than stainless steel and five times harder than traditional aluminum, so there are fewer scratches and fewer dents. The light and durable kettle is called the Primus Litech and it will outlast me. The bend firmness is 14 times higher than regular aluminum that creates a smooth surface, and when it pours it has 1/5 the depth of ordinary aluminum so that there is less space for dirt and bacteria and less chance of getting sick. The Litech has thinner walls making it is lighter and the non stick coating makes for easy clean up. Non slip surface beneath the pot makes it safer and steadier when cooking on your Primus stove. The foldable handles make for snag free packing.
Bivouac in style and get off the ground with the unusual Hennessy Hammock. For many years the Canadian company has been garnishing awards for their hand crafted expedition hammock. They keep improving on the hammock. Use it for camping, hiking, sailing, and kayaking. Tie it between the masts of your schooner. These hammocks provide more room for the shoulders and legs because of the diagonal shape. Pure comfort for anyone up to 250 pounds. The light weight hammock can be set up in about three minutes. The hammock supports your back like a mattress. The hammock comes with support ropes, bug screen, and detachable rain fly. Plus there is free shipping in the USA and Canada. For around $120 you get the comfort of home in the wilds.
Hennessy Hammock
www.hennessyhammock.com
(888) 539-2930 US / Canada
(250) 539-5390
Fax 539-5390
Galiano Island, BC , Canada
Bite Footwear has no women’s line of shoes, yet. For years the Virbram lug boot was the standard for hikers and trekkers, but the keyword here was “lug”. Often times the boots were heavy and the traction soles picked up mud on the trail that made each step a “lug”. Not any more.
Bite Footwear, a leader in comfortable performance shoes and sandals, has teamed up with Vibram, the world’s top outsole producer and innovator, to create a line of men’s hybrid shoes aptly named the “Golf & Travel” series.
When I received a couple of pair of these boots, I didn’t even have to break them in they fit so well. Bite Footwear was born to meet the trend of traveling light but in comfort
The Golf & Travel Series features distinct styles to fit any and all outdoor lifestyles and travel plans, without sacrificing comfort.
The Golf & Travel series is a hybrid collection of footwear combining the #1 golf shoe in terms of comfort and innovation, with the #1 traction outsole company in the world. This partnership has created a a completely new footwear category.
Bite’s Golf & Travel hybrid series offers optimal traction and durability for walking on a variety of surfaces, including: turf, mud, hard-pan, and asphalt. Bite’s proprietary outsole is made of a Vibram Trek rubber compound, which is the same material used on the world’s finest mountaineering boots. The Golf & Travel shoes transition easily among outdoor vacation activities — hiking, camping, golfing, and fishing — without the extra hassle or weight of additional footwear.
The exclusive Vibram outsole features lugs that are strategically designed for stability, prevention of grass build-up, and solid support through the golf swing. The visionary hybrid design is manifest in the new Golf Trekker and Golf Voyager styles.
Golf Trekker was designed with the active traveler in mind, and the Golf Trekker goes anywhere you do. Pack light and travel comfortably without compromising your itinerary! Wear Trekker on hikes, the golf course, and everywhere in between. Available in leather/suede in an Aztec or wheat or black color combination, with a one-year waterproof guarantee. The retail price is about $89.00.
Golf Voyager is the perfect style for all vacation activities, an urban styled lightweight shoe that supports and stabilizes your foot through a wide range of motion. Sporty and stylish, Voyager makes it easy to have fun all day in just one shoe. I even wore them to a fashionable restaurant with no skewed looks from the other patrons. Available in Durahide/mesh in a light grey/charcoal/black color combination. The retail price is about $81.00.
About Bite Footwear
Founded in 1996, Bite Footwear is located in Redmond, WA and is devoted to providing the best solutions for your feet. Bite’s differentiation comes from the ability to design comfortable, versatile shoe and sandal styles for sport and casual wear, complete with the Orthosport line which features removable foot beds and custom orthotic accommodation.
— By Kriss Hammond, Editor, Jetsetters Magazine.
