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Well this looks, well, amazing!

Nothing here

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One of the joys of the outdoors is getting to see the night sky far away from the city lights. What a wonderful feeling to lie on your back and lose yourself in the Milky Way. It always takes me away on an interstellar journey, reminding me in the end of how small we really are.

I’m far from being the only one who likes looking at the stars. Stargazing has been one of humans’ favourite activities since the beginning of time. The following image proves this well.

Can you make out this language?

Read more Seeing Stars

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I thought you might like this. The Season looks at five lives in outdoor sports. Rock Climbing, Mountain Biking, Snowboarding and Kayaking. Check it out.

The Season Trailer from Fitz Cahall and Bryan Smith on Vimeo.

Read more about The Season

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Ahhh, winter. Season of breathless beauty. Season of heavenly outdoor activities. Season of hellish weather.

That hellish weather sure takes a toll on your footwear. Especially if you're inclined to wear running shoes or sneakers. Boots simply aren't made for everyone. I for one prefer shoes simply because my bike is my main mode of transportation and you pedal better with sneakers than with boots. Not to mention that once you are inside, shoes are much more comfortable. We all have our reasons and whatever those are, we want something for the winter.

Here's why I like my Snow Sneakers:

Read more about the Snow Sneaker by The North Face

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Wondering what to do this weekend? Check this video out.

Read more about the video

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If you're like me, you find mountains amazingly inspiring. Inspiring to do what? That I do not know exactly. I guess just inspired to breathe in the majesty of life. Wow, that was pretty cheesy, but hey, that's what mountains do to me. And I've always said (since, like, now) that life is like bread, it's better with cheese.

Anyways, check out Environmental Grafitti for some sweet mountain pics. The theme is the interaction between mountains and clouds.

Image by ziza

Read more about Mountains and Clouds

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Even small things make a big difference. And I’m a big guy, so I’m preaching against myself! Kidding aside, if you want to be having the time of your life outside in the winter, you’ve got to be well prepared and by that I mean well dressed. And by well dressed, I mean you don’t notice what you’re wearing. 'Cause when it’s -15C and the wind is howling, if something is out of place you’ll know right away and you’ll suffer the entire time. I'm not a fan of needless suffering.

Arc'teryx Rho LTW Neck Gaitor - Raisin

Which is why I really like the Arc’teryx Rho LTW Neck Gaitor. I’ve always found a good neck gaitor to be an essential part of my winter arsenal and I really find the outdoor industry does not give it enough importance. Read more about the Arc'teryx Rho LTW Neck Gaitor

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Wondering about which to get between The North Face Arctic Parka, the Mountain Hardwear Downtown, and Canada Goose Kensington, The North Face Metropolis? It's a tough choice. Well look no further has we’ll explain the differences here. But first, let’s check out the similarities.

The North Face Arctic Parka

Mountain Hardwear Downtown

Canada Goose Kensington Parka

The North Face Metropolis

Read more about the Battle of the Women's Winter Jackets

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Greetings!

This week I decided to treat myself and talk to you about two of our favourite jackets here at Altitude Sports. All the employees have at least one or the other, if not both. I have both. Made for men and women, these two coats are lightweight, synthetically insulated, and great for fall, spring or even winter if you’re often moving from inside to outside during the day.

The Women's North Face Redpoint Optimus Jacket

The North Face Men's Redpoint Optimus Jacket

Arc'teryx Women's Atom LT Hoody

Arc'teryx Men's Atom LT Hoody

Synthetic Insulation

The North Face Redpoint Optimus Jacket became an employee favourite a couple years ago, when we first discovered Primaloft, the best synthetic insulation on the market and the closest imitation of down available. Click here for more information on the company, which also makes insulation for your home! Well-loved because it is very breathable, very light, dries quickly, and efficiently stores your body’s generated heat, this insulation regulates body temperature during drastic temperature changes, such as going from inside to outside. What’s more, a thinner layer of Primaloft is required to obtain the same warmth as down and it keeps you warmer even when wet or damp.

Read more about The North Face Redpoint Optimus vs. Arc’teryx Atom LT Hoody

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Check out this beautiful video. Composed of an amalgamation of pictures taken from the same spot, over a year, condensed into 40 seconds.

One year in 40 seconds from Eirik Solheim on Vimeo.

Read more about the One Year in 40 Seconds video

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I’m a lucky man. You see, I’ve got a new favourite shirt. The Icebreaker Men’s Bodyfit 260 Slalom Zip to be precise.

I wear every chance I get, which is often.

It is simply amazing for when you want to spend significant amounts of time outside when it’s cold. No silly, it’s not waterproof nor windproof and actually isn’t all that warm. But that doesn’t detract it from being an awesome baselayer. Quite the opposite in fact.

This man is looking good and feeling GREAT

Read more about Icebreaker's Slalom Zip

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The North Face Gotham Femme

The North Face Gotham Homme

Canada Goose Chilliwack Femme

Canada Goose Chilliwack Homme

With winter coming, everyone is starting to shop around for a warm winter coat. But the big question is: which one will keep you the warmest without making you look like an abominable snowman? Today’s article highlights for you two coats that meet these important criteria: the Gotham Jacket by The North Face and the Chilliwack Parka by Canada Goose.

Last winter I answered a lot of questions from many clients on Altitude-sports.com, who wanted to know the differences between these two very similar models, their style and their characteristics. With an urban look, these hip-length jackets are insulated with down and made for men and women. They have plenty of pockets, fur around the hood, and rib-knit cuffs that keep out the wind. One last point before we get into the heart of the matter: down is a very effective insulator, and even though there are other synthetic options such as, Primaloft and fleece, it is still the best for those who don’t stand up very well to the cold.

Read the rest of the Gotham - Chilliwack comparison

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The arrival of the beautiful season that is Fall also brings temperatures, that for many, are harder to manage. Carefully choosing your clothes to avoid suffering through the winter becomes a veritable science. Advice is wide-ranging and depends on many factors. Even if many of us have developed an outdoorsy side, reality is often much simpler and more dramatic.

We spend most of our time inside: metro, bus, car, work, school, cafés, restaurants, home, but once we step outside, it’s hell frozen over, just like the post-apocalyptic road from “The Road” leading to Vostok.

Montréal in the winter

Obviously, even if I’ve also suspected that the best set-up is to wear merino underwear and a down insulated Himalayan one-piece, it’s important to take a look at a plethora of other possibilities. Here’s one of them that I’ve choosen to wear for a typical Fall day. My friends, here’s where I reveal myself to you by sharing the secret of my set-up for the day. Check out my underwear...or read more about my sartorial technical style

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The Arc’teryx Sidewinder SV takes on The North Face Free Thinker II in a battle of the snowsport hardshells.

The North Face Free Thinker II

Arc'teryx Sidewinder SV

Both these jackets are fully equipped to deal with whatever Mother Nature throws at you so you can be one with her. I’ve decided to compare them by going feature by feature. Let’s start with the top.

Hoods

They both have excellent hoods: adjustable and helmet compatible. So the essential stuff is well taken care of. The Free Thinker’s is three-way adjustable, whereas the Sidewinder’s is four-way adjustable and with that a better fit. However, the pull straps for the frontal adjustment are easier to use on the Free Thinker while the Sidewinder’s are hidden thus reducing flappage…hard to tell who wins on the front pulls. Read more about Arc'teryx Sidewinder SV vs. The North Face Free Thinker II

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Last week, we saw Kilian start his attempt to break the Lake Tahoe Rim Trail record. Part II came out today!

Read more about Kilian's quest

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This week I decided to proceed with a review of four classic down jackets for men. Even though each one of these models was made for braving extreme cold, their urban look makes them excellent city coats. Anybody who has waited at the bus stop for twenty minutes in Québec’s bone-chilling winter winds will understand the advantages of a good coat. The four models under review are: The North Face McMurdo Parka, The North Face Ice Jacket, the Canada Goose Expedition Parka and the Canada Goose Ontario Parka.

Canada Goose Expedition Parka

Canada Goose Ontario Parka

The North Face Ice Jacket

The North Face McMurdo Parka

Where They’re Made

Many people are initially surprised by the difference in price between these two brands. I don’t really like to repeat or quote myself, but for the benefit of the cause here is an explanation from my previous article: Canada Goose is made in Canada, whereas The North Face (in the case of the McMurdo Parka and the Ice Jacket) are made in China.

Click here for more information in my most recent article: The North Face Gotham vs. the Canada Goose Chilliwack (in French).

The Down

After trying them last winter, I have to say they’re all very warm: the kind of jacket good for walking around outside in, but that needs to be taken off on the bus or in the metro. The differences between each one are small in detail. For example, the Expedition has more down than the Ontario. The North Face Ice Jacket and the McMurdo Parka have the same amount of insulation. The down used in both the Canada Goose jackets is white duck down with a fill power of 625, while the two North Face Jackets are filled with goose down with a fill power of 550. In my opinion, the difference between the two types of duvet is too small to cause any hesitation. Read more about these Canada Goose and The North Face jackets and parkas

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For this first article, dear reader, I want to tell you that, I, Cindy, yes me here, am not adept at any extreme sport. I’ve never gone camping, I ride a bike once every five years, I don’t go to the gym because the idea of being a lady hamster on her wheel mortifies me, and I’ve never backpacked around the world either, BUT!!!!

I’m a super yoga pro at Ardha Chandrasana!!

Alright, I admit it, I’m not as gracious as the photo when I do it, but I can at least flatter myself by saying I can balance on one leg without falling….or almost! ;-) Read more about Cindy's ideal yoga clothes

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Planters after work

Most tree planters are very unconcerned with their appearance. People go days without showering. Brushing hair is a hysterical waste of time. Wearing the same clothes is a practical delight. They wear odd compilations of chewed, borrowed clothes and rare new articles replacing last year's long dead and weather ravaged ones. Finding styles that accentuate their hips and bust, or that slim out their legs, or that are the right colours, is NOT a priority. Clothes should serve their primordial purpose, which is to protect you. Because if everything else is soaking wet or moldy with sweat, and all you have is an over-sized purple and blue dress shirt that makes you look like an inflated rubber ball, you may as well wear it with pride; any other way and your entire chest will be blistering with sunburn. It’s function over form out there folks. And remember: it’s not what you’re wearing, it’s how you wear it.

Read more about Tree-planting and preparing for the unknown Part 2 : What to wear

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Judy planting a tree

I recently spoke to a friend who just returned from a season of tree-planting in Beautiful British Columbia. She reminded me that the ultimate gear test is tree-planting: if your clothes and boots can tough through a whole season without turning to rags and flapping shreds of leather, you have found the ultimate product of durability. Outdoor enthusiasts are always looking for the “right” piece of equipment to complement their needs, especially those who live, work or spend extended periods of time in the bush. As a former planter, I remember vividly this unavoidable seasonal dilemma: will my boots make it through one more season? Will my tent fly rip this year or the next?

Read more about Tree-planting and Preparing for the Unknown

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Rich in pockets

My dream is to one day own a convertible. But that ain’t happening any time soon. In the mean time, I’ve decided to try out The North Face’s Paramount Convertible Pant.  I like my pants like I want my cars, both offering great freedom. The vehicle offers a sense of infinite space by leaving nothing but sky over your head; the pants deliver freedom by being super practical. Pardon the linguistic liberties, but I say practical-ness is next to godliness. Read more about The North Face Paramount Convertible Pant

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