![]() Since, Icebreaker has grown into a brand with a great range of Merino products for outdoor enthusiasts. Icebreaker introduced Merino clothing in 1994 when they discovered the advantages of Merino wool which among other things include great breathability, odor-resistance and comfort/softness. Clothing (base layers, underwear and socks).Shop Outdoor Research at Outdoor Research –> Their best products include the Helium rain jacket (included in our list of the Best Rain Jackets), Ferrosi softshell jacket (included in our selection of the Best Softshell Jackets), Crocodile gaiters (included in our list of the Best Gaiters) and Sombriolet hat (included in our selection of the Best Sun Hats). For bivy sacks and gaiters they use similar materials to those used in the rainwear. Outdoor Research also makes great pants, softshell jackets (they are the lightest on the market), bivy sacks and gaiters. However, Outdoor Research down jackets don’t come with hydrophobic down which is indeed a disadvantage. For synthetic insulated jackets Outdoor Research uses advanced Polartec Alpha or Primaloft insulation. However, Outdoor Research has also developed its own waterproof/breathable material (3-layer Ascent Shell) which is used for their top-tier products. Outdoor Research especially excels at rainwear as the products are not only lightweight but also provide great breathability and weather protection due to sophisticated materials from Gore-Tex and Pertex. Unlike Mountain Hardwear, Outdoor Research usually doesn’t develop and utilize its own materials but instead uses first-class materials from well-known manufacturers such as Polartec, Primaloft, Gore-Tex, Pertex etc. ![]() Outdoor Research makes top-notch clothing and bivy sacks. Clothing (insulation layers, shell layers, gloves and pants).Produces: Clothing, packs and shelters (bivy sacks) ![]() Outdoor Research Ferrosi Softshell Jacket Outdoor Research Shop Mountain Hardwear at Mountain Hardwear –> The best products from the brand include the Ghost Whisperer down jacket (included in our list of the Best Down Jackets), the Polartec Hi-Loft fleece jacket AKA Monkey Man (included in our selection of the Best Fleece Jackets, but also check out our first-hand review here), and the Stretch Ozonic rain jacket. Nevertheless, the outdoor brand does not shy away from occasionally including “third-party” fabrics like Polartec to make the best products possible. Mountain Hardwear rain clothing is made of the brand’s Dry.Q fabric which can easily compete with fabrics from more famous brands in the “waterproof” sector such as Gore-Tex and eVent. ![]() Both insulation materials have a superb warmth-to-weight ratio and retain good warmth even if they get exposed to moisture. Mountain Hardwear developed the Thermal.Q Elite and Q.Shield Down insulation materials which are used in insulated jackets and sleeping bags. Today, the outdoor brand utilizes advanced technologies to make lightweight but high performing products. Thus, the quality of outdoor products was rapidly decreasing and Mountain Hardwear came to the rescue. It was founded in 1993 by a small group of outdoor enthusiasts who noticed that big outdoor brands were increasingly focusing on casual apparel rather than apparel for tough conditions on the mountain trails. Mountain Hardwear produces top-notch clothing, sleeping bags and tents for hikers, backpackers and mountaineers.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |