The Norrona Lofoten Pro may be the last snowboard jacket and pants you will ever buy. Take them skiing, splitboarding, logging and working on your car. These are the burliest pieces of outerwear I have ever had the pleasure of shredding the backcountry in. If you aren’t counting grams but durability and days on snow, these are the ultimate freeride outerwear. What is a Lofoten? … Continue reading The Norrona Lofoten Gore-Tex Pro Review
Patagonia may be the most famous outdoor fleece provider, so when they say they have a new model you know the team at BlackSheep is interested. The R1 Ultralight is part of Patagonia’s Free Wall kit, a collection of gear meant to meet the demands of changing weather on the mountain. The Patagonia R1 Ultralight was my go to Fleece for summer 2026 and I … Continue reading The Patagonia R1 Ultralight Review
The original Arcteryx Cormac Hoody was a hard-wearing, UPF-rated sun hoody with the understated design Arcteryx is known for. It’s been a while since the brand released a sun hoody with a rated UPF, and we’re still going to have to wait, as the Cormac no longer comes with a UPF rating. Never one to shy from a challenge, I tested it as exactly that: … Continue reading The Arcteryx Cormac Hoody Review
Julbo continues to build on their fantastic collection of mountain glasses. This time around they have brought on Ultra Athlete Kilian Jornet to take the helm with the Faster L Kilian Jornet collab. Read on to find out if they made me faster, made me think I was faster, or just avoid burning my cornea at 4,000m above sea level. Julbo Faster L Kilian Jornet … Continue reading The Julbo Faster L Kilian Jornet Review
With the Capilene Cool Sun Hoody, Patagonia makes its long-awaited return to the sun hoody game. Made from 100% recycled polyester jersey and featuring a 40+ UPF rating, it easily handled intense sun exposure, back-to-back trail days, and hot European heatwaves all while keeping me cool and comfortable. Capilene Cool Sun Hoody Specs Material: 3.5-oz 100% recycled polyester jersey Sun Protection: 40+ UPF Country of … Continue reading The Patagonia Capilene Cool Sun Hoody Review
Simplification is the way forward, and to do that, I need a hat I can put on and leave on all day long, even under a helmet on both the ascent and descent. Enter Passage Hat Co.: technical hats designed specifically for the skin track, sewn in Vancouver, and built to be worn on the skintrack or under a helmet on the descent, on the … Continue reading The Passage Hat Company Review
opefullyThe Durston Kakwa 40, unassuming at first glance, is a premium pack made with ultralight materials that offers surprising comfort and the functionality of packs that are much more expensive. I’ve taken mine from Canada, to the Alps and then to Hokkaido and cannot imagine there is a better pack at this weight and price point. The Durston Kakwa 40 Review Sizes Available: 40 and … Continue reading The Durston Kakwa 40 review
Keep cool and venture into the outdoors. The Rux Soft Cooler and Cooler Cube seamlessly expand the RUX system into the wild, providing both insulation and protective padding for essential gear, whether that is a four-pack of IPA or your DJI drone. The Rux Cooler Bag and Cube Review Sizes: 25L Soft Cooler and 5L for Cube Weight Cooler: 1160 grams Weight Cube: 340 grams … Continue reading The RUX Soft Cooler and Cooler Cube review
I put a pair of Ortovox 150 Cool Merino shirts through their paces, from international travel, long days on the trail and in the gym. Aside from a little sunfade, they prove that the combo of merino and tencel is a hard wearing odor defying winner. Ortovox 150 Cool Merino Shirt Material: 44% Merino, 43% Tencel, 13% Polyamide Weight: 160 grams for XL Origin: Vietnam … Continue reading The Ortovox 150 Cool Merino Review
Despite its legendary status I’d always avoided the Bushido due to its lower volume of padding. I moved from hiking boots to trail runners for the padding and a stack height of 19mm in the heel. I was wrong. These are fantastic trail shoes. Great grip, stability when the going gets rugged and just the right amount of protection make this a contender for my … Continue reading The La Sportiva Bushido 3 Review
