Over the last few years, it has been impossible to overlook the crowd that can always be found gawking over the beautiful bikes at the Renovo tent.  Dodging up to the booth is harder than moving up through the peloton on the bell lap as everybody is fixated on the beautiful Renovo machines.  Renovo Hardwood Bicycles has managed to create a marvel somewhere between art and engineering in the manufacturing of their gorgeous wooden bike frames, and they have clearly gained the crowd’s approval.

While nobody could deny how impressive the Renovos looked on the stands, the brand maintains that wood was primarily chosen for its smooth ride quality, impact resistance, and stiffness.  They have compensated for wood’s innate plasticity by increasing tube diameter wall thickness, and they claim that their R4 road bike is as stiff, or stiffer, than the Cervelo S2 Soloist depending on the wood that is chosen by the purchaser.  Very impressive.

At the factory in Portland

The company is based out of Portland, Oregon (figures) and while I was living there this winter, I contacted them to request a factory tour.  They very graciously invited me to their factory, or should I call it a workshop, which was located in an unmarked building in the industrial sector of downtown Portland.  As soon as the door opens, you are met by the wonderful smell of freshly cut hardwood.  A modest collection of Renovo bicycles in the entry demonstrate the progression from their first wood/carbon composite  frame which looks fairly crude when compared to the precise curves of today’s Renovo R4 road bike.

It was obvious from the minute I started talking to Nick from Renovo that they were passionate about making top quality bicycles.  As much as I wanted to talk about how cool the bikes looked, Nick was equally excited to talk about their performance claiming that they really competed with the best bikes in the industry.  They were manufactured to be workhorses rather than trophies.  The more I listened, the more wood made sense as a frame material.

We walked through the workshop and watched as a handful of employees lovingly epoxied the lamina of different types of wood together in order to make a frame’s front triangle half ‘blank’ which would then be machine lathed to create the hollow center cutout.  After this, the two frame halves would be adhered together and the seat stays were glued in.  Finally after the bike was completely laid up, each one is finished and polished by hand while employees paid attention to every detail to bring out the natural colors and textures of the wood being used.

Performance testing

When the process is finished the product is absolutely breathtaking, but how do they actually ride?  Given that all bikes are made to order, I was out of luck in Oregon, but Nick put me in touch with the founder of the company Ken who ran a small showroom in Sausalito, CA where I could test ride one of the final products.  As these bikes are not sold in any bike shops, I just had to make the trip to ride a Renovo.

A few weeks later I was down standing on the showroom floor talking to Ken, which was an experience in itself.  I have never talked to anybody who believed so strongly in their product.  Ken explained how he had come from designing boats where he had first started to appreciate the properties of wood.  It was not long before we were poring over stress analysis graphs in some text book that I have to admit were completely above my level of understanding.

Basically what I learned was that Ken had done his homework before embarking on his wooden bicycle mission.  I could tell that Ken would be more than happy to talk bike design mechanics for hours, but he was equally eager to have me get out and try one of his bikes.  I jumped on an R4, gave Ken a wave and was off to enjoy cycling through one of the most scenic places on earth, the Mount Tamalpias watershed.

I was not sure quite what to expect.  The bike was made of wood for crying out loud, and I was coming from a high modulus carbon fiber Specialized Tarmac SL4 S-Works which in my opinion is the best race bike ever made.  I have ridden a lot of road bikes in my day anywhere from aluminum track bikes to composite road bikes to carbon fiber time trial rigs.  As I rolled out of the showroom, my initial impression was very good; the only problem was that I couldn’t keep from looking down at the beautiful frame.   I can’t believe I am actually riding this bike!  Maybe I am a bit of a bike geek, but I was completely star-struck.

It was kind of like driving your dad’s Super Seven Roadster (hint hint, Dad); you are wondering why anybody would let a college kid like me even touch such a beautiful machine.  It definitely turned a lot of heads riding through the plethora of Saturday cyclists in Sausalito.  I think I got at least two enthusiastic ‘Nice Bike!’ comments within the first five miles.  I could get used to this.

As I pedaled through the city and onto the bike path that meanders up to the base of Mt Tam, I was very pleased with the ride quality.  The wooden construction, as one might imagine, was smooth over bumps, dampening vibration and kept you feeling fresh.  This would no doubt be a great advantage over the course of a long ride. Anybody around me could clearly tell that I was having the time of my life, and really that is what riding is all about.  Wind rushing through my helmet, sun out, cruising at a good clip I couldn’t keep the smile off my face; Renovo seemed like they had completely nailed it.

Then the bike racer in me started to wonder ‘I wonder how a wooden frame will handle under a full throttle sprint,’ I chose an arbitrary point ahead and got out of the saddle and hammered, tossing the bike from left to right trying to eek out every last watt from any muscle in my body that was willing to cooperate.  OK, so this is not the stiffest bike on the planet and I don’t think Mark Cavendish is going to trade in his Pinarello for one of these, but it can definitely hang for a shop ride sprint, plus you get the bragging rights that you can outsprint your friends while riding an art project.

Out riding in Marin County

As soon as the road turned upwards, you do start to notice the weight.  There is nothing a dorky road cyclist likes to do more than complain about weight, and the Renovo frames weigh in at around 4-5 pounds, which is roughly double a new carbon fiber race bike. (Hey, its made of wood with thicker tubes not ultralight carbon fiber, what do you expect?)  Even though the bike does not catapult you up the climb, it ascends with a smooth, quiet grace that is uniquely pleasant.  As I reached the top of the climb, I was pleased; pleased enjoying the beautiful Marin County landscape, pleased to be out on a gorgeous day in a bike friendly community, and pleased to be riding a bike that represents everything wonderful about the bicycle industry.

Verdict

Renovo is an exceptional company.  That is obvious from the moment you type ‘Renovo’ into your Google browser.  They are the epitome of dedication and hard work, and have turned a brilliant idea into a product that is not only an eye catching work of art, but an extraordinarily functional machine.  Will the bicycle industry ever move towards wooden bike manufacturing? In a word, no.  But then again, that is part of what makes Renovo unique and special.  They truly imbibe the attitude that anything is possible, and I firmly believe that their thousands of hours of hard work have made the cycling world a better place.

To learn more about how to purchase or test ride a Renovo, go to RenovoBikes.com or visit their showroom in Sausalito, California.  Prices depend on components used in the build, but are mostly between 3000-5000 USD.  Some used and demo bikes are also available on their website.

The Prodigy is designed with the rocker feature at both the tip and the tail of the ski, helping the ski to keep afloat when riding in deep powder as well as allowing the rider to make quick turns with greater ease when navigating through dense forests. The central part of the ski consists of a traditional camber. This, along with a relatively small average sidecut radius of just under 19 meters, makes this a very usable ski on-piste and even in moguls.

I found The Prodigy incredibly fun to use. Despite being marginally heavier than The Agent 100, as well as being fitted with heavier demo-bindings, the skis were ridiculously responsive and took all drops and bumps beneath the snow with remarkable ease.

Testing the Faction Prodigy in Verbier

The unique, bright graphics of the skis look great and are another testament to Faction’s ongoing commitment to enhance the overall experience of skiing, not just the technology of the ski itself.

These skis would be a welcome addition to my ski locker for those powder days we all crave for. At only 98mm underfoot, they may not be the fattest powder skis on the market, or indeed out of all of the skis that Faction sell, but they will certainly do the job with style. Especially if you are after a pair of fun skis that will take you comfortably over a variety of snow terrain and conditions, The Prodigy will not only help you enjoy your skiing even more, but will enable you to push your skiing limits further than ever before.

Useful Information

• UK RRP €549 | US MSRP $560
• Available lengths: 168cm, 174cm, 178cm, 184cm
• Find Faction on Facebook.

The Saucony website claims that the ProGrid Kinvara 2 are designed to give you precisely what you need in shoe; something which is evident when you first pick them up weighing in at only 218g (size 9).

As for the construction of the shoe, the upper part of the shoe is made from a mono-filament mesh which, although appearing very flimsy, remained undamaged when put through the test on numerous muddy runs on the moors of Scotland and on the tarmac of London. Despite first impressions, the material is relentless enough to prevent stray stones, pebbles and mud from getting into the shoe. The sole is made from an ultra-light durable foam and its shape creates a lower heel to toe ratio which sways toward the barefoot genre of running.

One of the beautiful considerations with this shoe is that they take virtually no ‘running in’ time and were comfortable as soon as I put them on. A major contributor to this instant comfort is the foam heel collar which creates a snug fit around the foot. When running, the lightweight feel of the shoe is immediately noticeable but comfort is never compromised by this. Having put the shoe through long, hilly, off-road runs as well as short tarmac sprints I never lost that initial comfort. However, if you are used to a higher heel to toe ratio it may take a small amount of time for your muscles to adjust to this different angle. To put them to the extreme comfort test I ran without socks in wet and muddy conditions and after 6 miles was only aware of a very minor rubbing sensation on the ankles; something easily eliminated with the use of socks. Also, expecting there to be a stench after running in these specific conditions, the shoes remained odourless.

Style is of course always an important factor. The mesh upper layer of the shoe provides a very chic look and with a number of different colour schemes, you’re bound to find something that suits you. Having run over 200 miles in my pair I’m certain of their durability and shall look forward to seeing how they whether in my second season during this Olympic year.

Useful information

• UK RRP £90-£95 (Men’s and Women’s)   | US MSRP (Men’s and Women’s)
• Saucony Dealer Locator
• Available in a variety of colours
• Saucony Event Calendar

After some online research, I went for the Salomon SPK Pros, a pair of boots that are marketed towards freestyle bandits. As a freestyle boot, the SPK Pro is loaded with cushioning and a good amount of flex in the tongue, features that anyone who is weak of shin will appreciate. There are extra (removable) impact pads below the heel and toe so any big airs will feel buttery soft on landing.

As a balance to these features, note that the SPKs are not so loose that they limit enjoyment out of the park. I predominantly ski groomers and powder runs and only really notice any signs of looseness in the SPK on steep moguls. While a stiffer boot can increase the response of the shell and sole, softness allows for an enjoyable ride whatever the terrain.

The one advantage I concede to snowboarders is the comfort of their boots – the SPKs have gone someway to bridge the gap; you’ll find two oversized buckles on the outside and a lacing system that you just have to pull and lock down (similar to snowboarding style) which means you can have your boots on in no time out of the canteen or off the gondola.

Going further, Salomon haven’t held back on enhancing the aesthetics of this signature boot. A leather covering adds a touch of class to the boot and though I’ve heard that this cover can scuff and delaminate easily, with well over a month of ski days using the boots, mine are in tip-top condition.

Combine performance and aesthetics in a matte black finish and you’ve got the above, ideal for park shots and profile pictures across the board. For added playfulness and versatility in over varied terrain, the SPK Pro is worth looking at.

Useful Information

• UK RRP £300 | US RRP $625
• Flex index: 110
• Available to the size of UK 2.5/US 10.
• Dealer Locator
• Salomon and the environment

Navigation

The trail, which stretches just over 37km, is a four/five day hiking route consisting of five hiking camps where one can rest after each day. Each of these camps are fitted with more than enough facilities to keep the ‘not-so-adventurous’ happy, but they still make you feel as if you have properly escaped into the African wilderness.

The Five Assegais Country Estate is where the owners have create the exciting Num-Num Trail, and it is where a friend and I found ourselves exploring a part of South Africa that hasn’t received the credit it deserves.

South Africa is famous for numerous multiple day hiking routes, such as the Otter-trail alongside the east coast, and the Boland Hiking route. These trails are world renowned, and therefore it was quite an achievement for the Num-Num trail to be named the top trail of South Africa in 2011, outplaying all of the legendary others. We were surely in for a treat.

God's Window Hiking Camp

What truly sets this multi-day hike apart from the others is the very convenient accommodation one gets after a tough day of hiking. The God’s Window Hiking Camp and the Candlewood Camp were to be our homes over the duration of our stay. There are also three other camps, one being an antique train called the Pongola Express that transports you back to the days when this part of land was still a mining town. These hiking camps are brilliantly equipped with more than enough kitchen accessories, showers, fireplaces and even comfortable beds. Some of them have electricity, some don’t. Either way, these places will blow your mind.

Day 1

We were only spending three days on the Five Assegais Country Estate, and therefore decided to do more than one route per day. After spending an evening in the God’s Window Hiking Camp and experiencing the legendary ‘Loo with a view’, we were off on the Bladdernut Track. We started at the top of the escarpment line (which divides the ‘Highveld’ and the ‘Lowveld’), and stayed high, enjoying the very exciting sandstone mazes that forced us to employ guesswork a number of times.

Lost in the maze

Finding our exit, we were relieved to experience the beautiful views from the top of Howard Falls. From here we were soon whipping down the escarpment into the luscious Amazon-like forest next to the Bankspruit River. This densely grown part of the trail, known as the Milkplum Path, is where one should take some time and enjoy the surroundings while the trees are keeping the scorching sun out. The many spiders and other venomous creatures in the woods may scare you off, but taking a swim in one of the pools underneath the many waterfalls is sure worth it.

Crossing rivers over the multiple bridges in this jungle, we were soon treated to the highlight of the day. Just before reaching the Candlewood Camp, we found the Waterfall (yes, another one), right beneath the camp we would be spending the night. Being the second highest waterfall in the Mpumalanga province, this was certainly the most beautiful one I have seen. Having experienced it from close-by, it was time to enjoy it from the patio of the Candlewood Camp. A beer came with this treat. I thought the day couldn’t get any better after seeing that water drop down so ferociously. How wrong I was.

Day 2

What makes the Num-Num trail so user-friendly, is the fact that some of the trails run relatively close to each other on some parts of the route. This characteristic allowed us to follow the Pom Pon Way-trail for about 5km, making a stop at the very impressive Pongola Express Hiking Camp, and then returning to the God’s Window Camp via the Bergbas Route. This had us leaving a part of the Num Num-trail out (I want to be leaving a part of the route for you too).

That Waterfall

Both the Bergbas Route and the Pom Pon Way had us clenching our fists at nature, as we were hurtling up and down valleys as if never ending. Another day filled with majestic views and (more) waterfalls, but the highlight of the day was surely the wild zebras and wildebeest we encountered on top of “Die Vlakte”, surrounding us on all four sides. Making our escape, the God’s Window Camp was a welcoming sight. Exhausted. Another beer did the trick.

You would never have guessed that two days full of adventure could fit into one farm estate. The Num-Num trail sure had a lot to offer for us on our short stay, and I would highly recommend leaving the commercial side of South Africa to do the rest of your exploring on the Highveld.

Being safe and responsible

• This part of South Africa is known for venomous snakes and spiders. Anti-venom should be considered.
• Flashfloods in low-lying rivers is a common occurrence, and one should always be cautious, especially during the summer months (December-February).
• Never take chances against the African wildlife; they also need food to survive. You may be dinner to them.

Useful information

• Five Assegais country estate: +27 728899284.
• For bookings: info@fiveassegais.co.za.

The first thing to ruin my day on the mountain will always be a cold pair of hands and with particularly bad circulation to my extremities, I am ever the more sensitive when it come to mitts.

After my testings over a week in Montana I found the Eco-Mitt to be a handy product in the cold, North American winter. The pair kept my hands toasty in sub-zero Farenheit over the week, keeping my complaints confined to the UK-US Celsius-Farenheit debate. As for moisture levels, and therefore thermal regulation, the inner of the Swany mittens were very breathable and, once taken off at the end of day, they dried overnight in the cabin without the help of a radiator. Also, with a soft interior and one that retains heat well, it is not completely unbearable to take your hands out to take a few snaps on a cold day.

After bagging three weeks of hard skiing in the Rockies and Tahoe wearing the Eco-Mitt, I’ve become assured of the gloves quality, and especially of its durability. My pair of mitts still appear to be straight out the packaging and have coped well with the freshly sharpened edges of my skis and any drips of coffee or bits of lasagne that found their freedom.

Improvements

A few features, or lack there of, came to my attention during testing. Firstly, the shell around the thumb area is particularly coarse and become noticeably more so when wiping my face after a lengthy powder session or when the a howling wind required the occasional snot sweep. Also, after a nearly dropping the pair on multiple occasion from the lift whilst clumsily answering my phone, it is clear to me that I prefer a pair of gloves that have wrist straps to avoid any slightly embarrassing and tiresome moments collecting a lost item in full spectator view.

Verdict

One more advantage with Swany’s relatively new closed-loop recycling system for polyester products is that you can tear up the mountains, safe in the knowledge that your warm hands aren’t costing the environment an arm and a leg. With meritable performance credentials, the Eco-Mitt certainly elevates the position of Swany in the highly competitive glove and mitt market

Useful information

• RRP $60 
• Swany dealer locator
• Sizing Chart
• More about Swany

Arc’teryx employees have been volunteering to produce capes for homeless citizens of the city. Referred to as the ‘Birds Nest Project’, Arc’teryx have converted their commitment to performance outwear with a grassroots initiative to protect homeless people from bitter winter weather.

The project has been running for three years at the Burnaby factory where Arc’teryx employees donate their time to sew the capes. A team of over 60 volunteers gathered on three Sundays to produce the Gore-Tex capes this year. Each of the 700 Birds Nest made this year were windproof and wateproof, mirroring the high performance credentials of Arc’teryx’s for-sale creations.

Similar to tent-manufacturer Vango’s involvement in ShelterBox, this interaction by Arc’teryx instructs a direct link between a performance product and socio-environmental problem. Arc’teryx hopes that other local businesses can develop their own projects to help limit the problem of homelessness in Vancouver.

More information

• Arc’teryx Environment Statement

The old and the new: Riding above Steamboat Springs

Though many of the world’s best ski resorts have been able to enhance their alpine experiences by developing mountainside facilities, infrastructures and mobile technologies such as apps and webcams, very few can compare their foundations to those laid in Steamboat Springs over 100 years ago when ranchers established a permanent community in the upper valley of the Yampa River in Routt County, Colorado. It was this ranching community that formed the basis of an economy which today sustains over 12,000 permanent residents in the hidden reaches of Colorado’s Northern frontier.

In the early twentieth century Steamboat first adopted skiing as a sport, following the arrival of the legendary Norwegian Karl Hovelsen in 1913. The Norwegian settled in the town and erected a pair of ski jumps on what is now know as Howelsen Hill. Since then skiing has evolved from being merely a method of transport to one of Steamboat’s main focuses – a progression which has nurtured the growth and successes of 79 winter Olympians.

Compelled by this statistic and Steamboat’s well-known ‘Champagne Powder’ reputation, I routed from a snowless California to the heart of the Rockies in early January. Here are some initial guidelines for skiers and boarders to help you navigate the mountain from Day 1. In a separate blog I’ll be outlining the activities in the town and its off-mountain vicinity but for the moment we’re going to keep things strictly on the slopes.

Before we get going, open up the Steamboat Trail Map in a separate tab.

Sun rising over Morningside

Navigating the mountain

Steamboat’s ski area mostly faces west and is accessed from a single base area beside the main hub of the resort, Gondola Square. Two chairs take you part of way up the mountain over the beginner slopes while the Gondola whips the majority of skiers up to Thunderhead Peak, the central point of the resort. From the top of Thunderhead you can go one of three ways: Take a right and you head to the sunny, south-facing side of the mountain, linked by Elkhead chair back to Thunderhead; Veer left at that top of the Gondola and you wind down into Burgess Creek and a number of lifts that take you to the steeper side of the mountain; Route back behind the top station of the Gondola and down the mountain and you’ll return back to Gondola Square.

Thunderhead Peak marks a split between gentler slopes and the more challenging features the mountain; To the right, the more southerly side of the mountain is serviced by a number of blue runs and single black diamonds whereas to the left and up towards Storm Peak there are some harder double black diamonds and some wilder pistes. Though Steamboat’s 3000-acre terrain is significantly smaller than other popular destinations, the resort prides itself on having a 100% skiable terrain, meaning that all off-piste is fair game with a helmet and reasonable ability.

Finding the runs

Beneath Sunshine Peak on the gentler slopes of the mountain you have a number of worthwhile off-piste routes to check out. Once you’ve taken the right at Thunderhead and slipped down the mountain, keep left and catch a lift up Priest Creek or Sundown Express, the two chairs that reach up to Sunshine Peak. At the top of Priest Creek or Sundown Express take a right and head down either One O’Clock, Two O’Clock or Three O’Clock and scope out the trees between (generally referred to as One Thirty and Two Thirty according to their time of the peak ski-ability). Aspen trees and traditional alpine firs occupy the wooded sections of the ski area to different densities that are maintained during the off-season.

Going further to the right off the top of Priest Creek and Sundown Express will take you down some gentler blue runs. If you feel that you have skied out the O’Clocks and the neighbouring Rolex and West Side runs then look to upload on Elkhead to take you back to Thunderhead where you can grab snacks and/or lunch before heading to the northerly facing slopes. You can expect to spend at least a good morning uploading on Priest Creek and Sundown Express, or the rest of your first day if you were on the chair after 1030hrs.

Aspens and Firs on Three O'Clock

Your best bet once you head over to Burgess Creek is to take the Storm Peak Express, a wonderful lift that has nearly the greatest vertical rise of 658m of all the lifts in the resort, second only to the multi-station Gondola. From Storm Peak you can either head right to the runs which lie skiers left of Storm Peak Express, or else head over to Morningside which is on the eastern side of the mountain, also reachable from Sunshine Peak. From the top of Storm Peak, whip down Frying Pan and drift to the Morningside Lift which grants access to a number of delectable double black runs, the three Chutes.

To access the Chutes, take a right off the top of the Morningside lift and prepare to walk for ten minutes to get you above the double-black haven on this side of the mountain. Be aware though that unlike the O’Clocks on the southern side of the mountain, the Chutes do leave you with a significant amount of slow, flatter work to do before the next lift up. To make the most of your time at the top of Steamboat, try to hike over to the woods below Mt. Werner where the trees are perfectly spaced for shredding. Christmas Tree Bowl, No Names, North St. Pats and East Face are all the runs to aim for.

Once you’re below Mt. Werner there are a number of single diamond blacks that route around and beneath the Pony Express. If you get over to this part of the mountain early in the day, there will be no lines, plenty of virgin powder and groomed pistes to devour before the rest of the resort emerges from 1000hrs.

Looking South-West, 100m from Thunderhead Peak

Worth grabbing

Steamboat have a marvellous grooming map which they publish each morning, telling you exactly which runs were groomed the night before. Grab hold of one of these for an indication of where to ski and information on what runs may have been altered since the day before. They are available at Lift Passes and various Steamboat-owned stores and kiosks.

Accommodation

I stayed at the Steamboat Grand which is 100m from Gondola Square. The hotel have a complimentary ski and boot storage area even nearer the slopes so you don’t need to drag your gear back to the hotel at the end of the day – just ideal.

Useful information

• Details on getting to Steamboat
• Ski Rental Shop right on the slopes
• Snow Forecast Steamboat

Mossop Rubens in Sherpas Cinema's All.I.Can

If you’re one of those video addicts who spends hours wandering through YouTube and Vimeo looking for adventure films and momentous soundtracks to kick-start your day, head down to the 2012 Sheffield Adventure Film Festival for your ultimate fix.

Over the weekend of 9-11 March, ShAFF shall be showing 75 of the year’s best adventure, travel and extreme sports films in Sheffield’s art deco Showroom Cinema. In its last six years in operation, the Festival has become one of the internationally recognised adventure film events and has this year received recognition from Californian-based Patagonia who are Presenting Sponsors at this year’s event.

In keeping with current trends in adventure film, the 2012 programme has added an award for the ‘Best Viral’ film based on the popularity of shorts streamed through YouTube and Vimeo. In addition, an ‘Adventure Bites Loop’ of the best shorts has been created and three feature length films including All.I.Can and Art of Flight shall also be part of the weekend’s events.

Blue Obsession Photo taken by Alan Gordon

Complimenting the fountain of adventure films shall be talks and lectures by world-class adventurers as well as an exhibition of stills.

Useful information

• Venue address: 15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield, S1 3BX
• For tickets, telephone 0114 275 7727 or book online at Showroom Workstation.
• Sheffield Rail Station is just 200m from the venue.

Polarmax’s ‘warmest’ offerings come in a variety of cuts and fabrics suited to winter pursuits. On my quest to find something badass, I settled for the PMX Hoodie, a top that goes beyond the expectations of your typical baselayer.

Beyond fulfilling the aesthetic requirements of garment worthy to be sported in Whistler, B.C., the main requirement of the PMX was that it kept me warm, whatever the weather. At first I feared that the medium thickness of four-way power stretch fabric and brush fleece would prevent moisture flow from skin to surface and so mess up my core temperature between demanding terrain and the lift back up the hill.

During my testings over two weeks in Whistler, Polarmax’s Acclimate Dry polyester and spandex did well to manage moisture transportation, even on days when a thinner baselayer ought to have been selected (we had rain on the lower slopes on one day). The overall shape of the garment is maintained by thumb holes in the extended cuffs which, when used, help lengthen the garment and ensure that air can circulate continuously within the arm cavity. The hood and high neckline also serve to keep the neck and head warm; the hood is thin enough that it can fit beneath a helmet, so stretching the neck fabric over and around the headpiece.

If you’re buying online be aware that you want to go for a normal/loose fit. On first putting on the PMX Hoodie I was surprised by the extra-high neckline when normally a medium in any top usually fits me fine. Though I got used to the tight neckline, appreciating at least its effective seal and wind buffer, I would certainly go one size up to give a little extra length and width, especially in the reduced back panel.

Though this isn’t strictly a unisex product, smalls/mediums would suit a female frame depending on the desired fit. Check out the video below for more on Polarmax’s manufacturing principles from their HQ in North Carolina.

Useful information

• US MSRP $70 (available direct from polarmax.com)
• Polarmax Dealer Locator
• Polarmax and environmental responsibility
• 100% Made in USA.

Introduction to Polarmax