My lips have been trembling for months now trying to keep in my dirty secret. No, not that Lance Armstrong was actually a half man-half goat cyborg who needed EPO so as not to overheat in the mountain stages- everyone knows that. I've got the mouth itchies because an outdoor brand is going to be releasing products long awaited by die hard fans (*ahem* not the movie series) next Fall.
If you know high fashion then you know Moncler. A company rich in history, Moncler was started 60 years ago near the ski slopes of Grenoble in France, but more specifically Monestier-de-Clermont, where they get their name. Now based out of Milan, Moncler has one thing in mind when designing and that is fashion.
In a few (incredibly painful) hours we will be off to the Outdoor Retail Show in Salt Lake City. If you are unfamiliar with OR, all you need to know is that it is the gear and apparel Mecca for retailers such as Altitude-sports.com. It is three days of walking endless alleys and corridors in a HUGE building filled with the best (and some not so 'best') outdoor brands around. Needless to say I am a kid in a candy store. You can taste new energy bars made out of recycled car batteries, try on t-shirts made out of moss found from the North Pole, and even have a chalk bag with your mom's face on it made in front of you- it also has cool things...
Why this should be exciting for you is that we can share some of the new products slated for next fall/winter from your favorite brands. Gear freaks like us think of OR as a second Christmas. Technology is not stagnant in the outdoor industry with changes occurring every season; OR is where we get to see what is coming, and proceed to get you excited for the following season(s).
So what's coming out, I hear you asking impatiently?
Canada Goose has been making extremely warm down jackets for years. Everyone knows about the Expedition Parka, the Resolute Parka, and the Snow Mantra Parka, as models that mean business when winter strikes. Serious jackets for serious climates. And climates are the exact reason they produced (and still do) models such as these; they were selling a lot of product to people in the North who work(ed) in frigid conditions. I don't mean cold, I mean cold.
However, Canada Goose realized most of us do not live or work in the Arctic Circle so they have been graciously bringing out new models for less extreme conditions. The Burnett jacket and Lodge hoody are two such models, that may in fact be much more practical for the likes of you and me.
Read more about the Burnett and Lodge hoody here
Meaning 'Arcitc Circle' in Finnish, Napapijri is a clothing and accessory company whose roots stem from Aosta, Italy. Its heritage is technical backpacks, an area the company had a strong background in, but their line-up soon broadened to include clothing. They most definitely have a unique style, often centering around the Norwegian flag. The European styling of Napapijri's products is a wonderful breath of fresh air.
The movie Top Gun did two things in my opinion: proved to us Kelly McGillis was not just a pretty face, and brought the bomber style jacket back. Although Kelly seems to have disappeared, the bomber jacket has never left the scene. Proof of this can be seen even in the outdoor industry where the bomber is not only in evidence, but an increasingly popular model. This article will look at three of the bomber jacket we carry to help you with this winter's important choice (are you Maverick or Iceman?) The Canada Goose Chilliwack is certainly a popular model, but why? Nobis recently came out with the Cartel- is it a worthy adversary? Finally, new to us this season, Napapijri does the Addy. Can it hold its own in a dogfight? Let's find out.
Peak Performance, new to us this year, has been around for years making high quality ski apparel. The Supreme Perform Jacket is the culmination of years of expertise and hard work. A 4-way stretch Gore-Tex shell covers the removable down jacket. Two incredibly useful (and some would say beautiful) pieces to be worn on or off the slopes of your choice.
Here is an article from last year that really helped people make that important decision concerning a winter parka. When you demand high quality and refinement this can often be a difficult choice.
Both the Nobis and Canada Goose deliver on these fronts. However, you might be left wondering which one of these winter jackets to get. To help with that decision, we've written this article for you.
Size & Fit"Which size should I get for my Canada Goose parka?" We often get asked what size Canada Goose is the right one. It's a great question and it depends on a few factors. Beyond your personal preference, there's your body size. We have made a sizing chart for your here. Those indicate measurements for your body. They don't take into account fit. Speaking of which, Canada Goose makes its jackets with three fit types: Slim, Regular and Relaxed. Below, you'll find a description of each style and a chart with the jackets organized by fit.
Canada Goose sizing: help choosing the proper jacket for you
Rebecca Black struggles to choose where to sit in a car on Friday, and honestly I feel her pain. Some decisions are never easy to make. It’s the middle of winter and you’ve been pushing back exercise since last fall because it is too cold. Survivor is about to start and you just ran out of salsa- what to do? Solution: run to town to get some more (for us in the country the local food mart is never ‘next door’). I could take my car, but between you and me both front doors no longer open and it is kind of embarrassing to be seen getting out the back in public (true story).
But here is my problem (besides the car door situation), what the heck do I wear to run in when it is -25 outside? My winter down jacket is made to keep me smoking warm at a standstill so jogging in it is out of the question. I have numerous base and mid layers but I would have to wear at least 5 layers to keep me warm enough. That would definitely irritate my delicate flower-like composure.
Royal trumpet sounds
Enter The North Face Crimptastic Jacket! A rare breed indeed.
The North Face Crimptastic: Read the rest of Mark's review
Les hommes qui portent les parkas d'hiver Canada Goose Banff et The North Face Vostok en parlent avec une petite lueur particulière dans leurs yeux. Savez-vous pourquoi? Et bien vous pouvez être sûr qu'ils ont conquis la saison hivernale comme si elle avait été une belle blonde tchèque. Voulez-vous profiter de la vie comme ils le font? Bien sûr, vous le faisiez déjà mais il vous manquait un petit quelque chose! Pour y remédier, la meilleure façon est de trouver la parka qui vous convient le mieux. Comparons deux fabuleux modèles pour se faire une idée du plus adapté à vos besoins.
Canada Goose VS The North Face: Critique et comparaison du Banff et du Vostok
You've been waiting to get your Canada Goose jacket since August but it seems to be taking its sweet time getting into stores? You know exactly what model, what size and which colour you want? Are you tired of making 10 calls, visiting 4 stores and 6 websites a day, asking "Have you received the Canada Goose Trillium Parka in Black, Medium, yet?"
We have good news for you then: Altitude-sports.com thought of you by setting up a pre-order service! Its simple, we've decided to free up, in advance, a limited quantity of coats that we've ordered directly from Canada Goose. By ordering a model identified as a pre-order right away, you automatically reserve your jacket. We'll ship it to you as soon as we receive it at our warehouse. Not only will you get your coveted down-jacket, but you'll also receive a super practical Black Diamond Ion headlamp to thank you for your patience.
Check out our Ladies' Canada Goose jackets section as well as the Men's Canada Goose jackets to see the available pre-order models. Hurry; quantities are limited and this offer won't last long!
*Please note that we can only ship Canada Goose products to Canada and the United States.
Canada Goose: Extra details about the pre-sale
The Canada Goose Constable and Nobis Cindy are sure to keep you warm and trendy this winter. In fact, you may be tempted to get both. If that is not possible or reasonable, you'll have to choose wisely. That's why I've prepared a comparison where we review both of them for you
Canada Goose VS Nobis: We review the Constable and the Cindy
The North Face Nordend Bomber and Patagonia Fitz Roy Down Hoody: two sweet winter jackets. Which one to get? We help you decide between these similar yet surprisingly different coats.
Ho Ho Ho! ‘Tis the season to get GIFTS! But as part of the unspoken convention, we have to give some to get some. Fair enough, let me help you with that.
This winter I decided to put together a list of some of the most useful gear I have, and package it as a suggested gift guide. Here you’ll find a number of items that surprisingly many people still don’t own. The gifts I suggest are all things that I didn’t appreciate before I got one, but that have since become a permanent resident of my backpack or car trunk. I also limited the list to only items that are fun to receive. You won’t find spare batteries, camp suds, or water repellent spray in this list, only cool toys.
Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear, MSR and more: Jolly christmas gift ideas
Men who wear the Canada Goose Banff and The North Face Vostok parkas talk about winter with a special gleam in their eyes. You can tell they've conquered the season as if it were fine Czech blond. Would you like to enjoy life like they do? Of course you do. Head over this way to find out which one suits you best.
Canada Goose VS The North Face: We review the Banff and the Vostok
The Canada Goose Chilliwack is a tried and true classic bomber while The North Face Yellowband is a newcomer on the block. Stuffed with down, these jackets crave the winter. Which one should you get? To answer that question, we prepared a review for you.
Canada Goose vs The North Face: Review of the Yellowband and Chilliwack here
Both the Nobis She-Ra and Canada Goose Mystique take their names from superheroines and deservedly so since you’ll be feeling super in them. However, you’ll need superpowers to choose between the two. Superpowers or this article that we crafted for you. Your choice.
Nobis vs Canada Goose: We compare the She-Ra to the Mystique
