Brent Hillier
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Arc'Teryx Beta AR Gore-tex Pants

8/1/2014

1 Comment

 
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I got a pair of the Arc'Teryx Beta AR Gore-tex Pants this fall and was very excited to put them to the test. Ski pants have always been a struggle for me to find. When it comes to Gore-tex pants each person has to decide on which factors are important to them; fashion or function. In the past, function has always won out. I usually tour in my soft-shell pants and only break out the gore-tex for the descents; the only exception are for the wettest or coldest of days. Having the ability to but my shell pants on over my boots means that a full leg zip is a must. Often this has limited me in my selection of pants. Arc'Teryx has really found a balance with the Beta AR pants, they feature a full zip but have a cut that can be stylish on the entire mountain, even inbounds. The cuffs are just wide enough to fit over ski boots without flaring out or being baggy.

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One of the best features of these pants would have to be the right-hand side pocket. It's the perfect size for an iPhone (no coincidence I'm sure). As an Avalanche Instructor my phone is a crucial tool, whether it's for checking the Whister lift status, reviewing CAC Avalanche bulletins with students or just taking photos for the website; having easy access to my phone is clutch. Not only is the pocket placed in a great spot but it's also internal; so if you're the type of person who ditches the beacon harness and prefers the pocket method then you'll love this feature as well.

The built-in gaiters work with ski boots beautifully but fall short when it comes to hiking boots. That doesn't come as much of a surprise, I usually don't go for pants with a built in gaitor because they don't work. I do appreciate them well wearing my ski boots. My one real negative is that these pants don't come in any colours. I love everything about them, I just wished they popped a little bit more!

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These pants retail for $450 CAD and can be purchased online or in store at the new Arc'Teryx Brand Store on West 4th Ave in Vancouver. A huge thanks to Laura from Arc'Teryx for hooking me up with these pants. I couldn't have chose a better pair myself, they fit perfectly!
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IceBreaker Quantum Plus Long Sleeve Hoodie

1/18/2014

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IceBreaker's Quantum Plus Long Sleeve Hoodie is one of their most popular items. Rejean at the Kitsilano TouchLab, convinced me it was a must have in my athletic wardrobe.

When I'm out ski touring I'm a huge fan of wearing a lot of small, thin layers. I generally run pretty hot and the ability to fine tune my layers, depending on temperature and my output is crucial. This hoodie is a perfect third or fourth layer for me in the winter.

Where I was unconvinced, was how well this piece would work in my mountain bike clothing system. I started wearing the hoodie back in October, if you've spent a lot of time in the Coast Mountains since then, you'll know we've had a huge variety of weather. In fact, that might be an understatement.

The fall is normally my favourite time to ride, and for me it provides some much needed time off. This particular fall saw the usual wet weather as well as a cold snap that put my new layer through it's paces.

I generally wear a very thin soft shell as my mid-layer while biking. I swaped it out for the Quantum Hoodie and took to the bike trails. The first ride was in the rain, relentless Vancouver rain. While riding down or teaching it was the perfect combination of warmth and breathability. Whenever the rain would let up I found myself ditching the shell jacket and just wearing the hoodie. I was given  the sales pitch about how this years hoodie featured the new water repellency coating. Knowing that even Gore-Tex has a breaking point, I didn't put much faith in it. As I started to trust the garment more and more, it became my outer layer during those coastal pitter-patter wet days. After thirty washes it still beads water.
The big test for my Quantum Hoodie was a very cold All-Mountain ride on Sumas in the Fraser Valley. It was bommie and the trails had a fresh coat of the white stuff. At this point I expected nothing less then perfection from my hoodie and it preformed beautifully.

So the function is there and in my opinion the fashion is stellar. The look and the fit are amazing, this hoodie is a knock out of the park and I highly recommend it. I can't wait to see  what else IceBreaker has to offer.
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Coming Soon

12/9/2013

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I'm just working on the first of many gear reviews that will be featured on this page. Stay tuned for a full breakdown of the IceBreaker Quantum Plus Long Sleeve Hoodie.
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  • Home
  • About
  • Media
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Reference
    • Bike >
      • Mount Fromme
      • Mount Seymour
      • Cypress Mountain
      • Terrace, BC
      • Squamish, BC
      • Squamish
    • Ski >
      • Trip Planner >
        • Huts & Shelters >
          • Keith's Hut
          • Elfin Lakes
          • Red Heathers
        • Day Trips
      • Snowpack
      • Avalanche Videos
      • Avalanche Deaths
    • Hike
    • Weather >
      • North Shore
      • Whistler/Blackcomb
      • Squamish
      • Duffy Lakes
      • Manning Park
      • Mount Baker
      • Coquihalla Summit
      • Kitimat / Terrace
      • Web Cams
    • Gear >
      • Reviews
      • Ski Touring Gear List
      • Supporters
  • Podcast