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I Tested the North Face Windwall Women’s Jacket on Kilimanjaro

By
Barbara Platts
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Photo by Crispin Jones on Unsplash

Whether you’re hiking high-altitude trails, exploring windy coastlines, or just commuting in brisk weather, a good fleece jacket is an outdoor essential. Most of us own one, but not all fleeces are created equal. Some excel in casual comfort, while others are built for serious protection against the elements.

When I was preparing for my Kilimanjaro trek earlier this month, I needed a women’s fleece jacket that would keep me warm during frigid summit conditions, yet breathable enough for long days on the trail. After testing multiple options, I chose The North Face WindWall Women’s Jacket, and it proved to be one of the most versatile layers in my pack.

TNF Windwall Jacket Performance on Kilimanjaro

From the humid rainforest at the base to the icy winds of the arctic zone, the WindWall fleece kept me comfortable in a wide range of conditions. The soft interior feels like a traditional North Face fleece, but the integrated WindWall® technology acts as a built-in windbreaker, blocking gusts without sacrificing breathability.

On summit day, when wind chills can cut through most layers, the WindWall kept me warm and protected. On warmer stretches of the trail, it regulated temperature well, breathing enough to prevent overheating while still blocking cold air. That balance made it just as useful as a midlayer under a shell in extreme weather as it was as a standalone jacket for casual wear in the rainforest.

Pros

  • Wind-resistant yet breathable: Rated at 14 CFM for wind permeability—enough to cut the chill without feeling clammy.

  • Versatile temperature control: Comfortable across varied climates and activity levels.

  • Layer-friendly fit: Not too bulky, works well under a shell or as a standalone.

  • Stylish simplicity: Flattering cut, six color options, and a timeless design.

  • Durable build: Mesh backer and fleece exterior hold up well for multi-day trips.

Cons

  • Collects debris: The fleece tends to attract dried leaves and small twigs—a minor annoyance if you’re in the backcountry without a lint roller.

Design & Features

  • Fit: Standard fit with adjustable hem cinch cord and two hand pockets.

  • Material: Fleece-backed WindWall® fabric for warmth with wind resistance.

  • Use Case: Ideal for hiking, travel, and everyday wear in cool, breezy conditions

  • Weight: Light enough to pack, substantial enough for summit day layering.

Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a women’s wind-resistant fleece that performs in both high-altitude expeditions and everyday life, the North Face WindWall Women’s Jacket delivers. It’s breathable, warm, stylish, and dependable—making it one of the most versatile pieces in my outdoor gear lineup.

La Sportiva Vertical K Review

By
Leah Fielding
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The Overview:
Running is currently deep in the throes of a minimalist movement; less materials and less heel seem to be it’s biggest focus when it comes to running shoes. As discussed in our Newton Trail Running Review the reason behind this mini revolution is to return current human running movements to it’s natural state, ie pushing off the ball/front of foot and a quicker cadence. La Sportiva is renowned as a mover and shaker in this coup d’etat and the Vertical K is no different. La Sportiva Vertical K, in fact, brings minimalism to trail running, which in the past has relied on burlier, see heavier, running sneakers, or even lightweight hiking shoes. Traction was the main focus back in those days. Vertical K’s combine minimalistic design with sticky traction, and still manage to keep the weight of the shoes at a whopping 6.9 oz.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Test
After lacing these up, and walking around, my first impression was that they didn’t feel like much, supportive, yes, but not much cushion.  But I guess that’s the idea: minimal. I was a little wary at first since that I have bad knees, and could just imagine the pounding they were about to take.

I took these on an uphill trail run up my favorite access road in Aspen, sunny Smuggler Mountain and then to the adjoining trails at the top of the mountain. The trails range from loose and dry to tacky with lots of roots. Throughout my run I noticed that these shoes were incredibly stable, the cloth wrap seemed to prevent any lace-slip and also provided a secure fit and enhanced support. Other features I noted were traction and weight. I had no trouble running over loose, sandy rocks or quickly changing my direction to avoid an oncoming hiker or dog. The lightness added to my level of endurance; I’d imagine it also helped keep knee pain at bay.

Note: When running with the Vertical K’s and all minimalist shoes, it’s important to focus on running on the front part of your foot, rather than heel first.  Your muscles need to be trained how to properly run. This is one slight disadvantage, because there is no zoning out while running. But your body will thank you.

Cons
The material on the ankle area came up a little too high and did chafe me a bit. I believe this could be easily remedied with orthotics or insteps. Plus, the actual style of the shoe isn’t incredibly eye appealing.

The Rating 
4.5 (out of 5)

Design: The science behind these shoes are incredible; their both lightweight, minimal and provide great traction. +1
Style: They are a little reminiscent of water shoes, which isn’t exactly a good look. -.35
Durability: The traction on the soles and toe protectors combined with the actual construction will ensure these shoes last a while. +1
Performance: You have your cake and eat it too: weight to traction ratio, plus support make these a game changer. +1
Comfort: Ankle area is a little too high, but that will be subjective from one foot to the next. -.15

Buy La Sportiva Vertical K.

Oakley Twenty six.2 sunglasses review

By
Leah Fielding
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The Overview:
As someone who’s days tend to jump from workout, to coffee shop, to dog walk, to skiing or biking, I like to have products that can address the randomness. Oakley’s Twenty six.2 sunglasses are just that. They look cool, yet have functional features like nose and ear grips that suit almost any outdoor activity.

 

 

 

 

 

The Test
I wore these sunnies on a fun, quick cross country loop called Bar M during a mountain bike trip to Moab, Utah. I really liked the coverage they provided around my eyes, especially in the peripheral areas. I felt very protected against the intense desert sun. The lenses are Polarized, a standard Oakley feature. They provide 100-percent UVA, UVB and UVC protection. I experience no squinting at all, and enjoyed a crisp, clear view and great depth of perception.
The frames are lightweight and comfortable, and do not slide even with a bike helmet on thanks to nose and ear grips. I  particuarly liked that the ear pieces are straight, instead of curved like most sunglasses are. It seemed to prevent any uncomfortable pressure points behind your ears. These sunnies also perform well in hot, desert conditions, I didn’t experience any fogging.
Rating
5 stars (out of 5)
Design: Particular attention to detail and style makes these sunglasses not only look great on almost anyone, but will be comfortable for all face and head shapes. +1
Style: Not too girlie, but trendy. Even the guys will be jealous with these 70s throwback frames. +1
Durability: Lenses and frames are impact-resistant. +1
Performance: Top-notch sun protection, and enhanced vision with Polarized lenses, plus no fogging in hot conditions.+1
Comfort:  Ear and nose grips ensure the frame sits comfortably and ear piece design prevents pressure build up behind ears. +1

Lilypond Bag Review

By
Leah Fielding
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The Overview:
The Lilypond Sundown Bag is the one-quiver duffel that we’ve all been dreaming about: different sized pockets, compactable design, adjustable shoulder straps for walking or a riding a bike, yoga mat straps, a special shoe/wet bathing suit compartment and enough room to be the perfect weekend bag. Not only do you feel smart and functional when toting this bag around, but you feel like the conscientious human being you aspire to be since all Lilypond bags are made with proprietary recycled PET (plastic) materials, they call CYCLEPOND.

The Test
It’s obvious that the Sundown Bag was designed for many uses based on it’s innumerable features. It can serve as everything from a diaper bag to carry on luggage, so I decided to put it’s functionality to the test. I loaded up the bag with sparkling water, a loaf of Udi’s bread, balsamic vinegar, crackers, a pound of cheese, four apples, a six pack of Aspen Brewing Co. beer, plastic utensils, a couple paper plates and a blanket. It was a sunny, warm Sunday in Aspen, so naturally I decided to picnic.

I found the bag to be quite ideal for picniking. It fit everything and then some, and the over-the-shoulder strap made it easy to carry to my chosen spot. Even better, I learned that the Sundown bag can handle some exposure to the elements—picnic elements at least. Although the balsamic vinegar leak wasn’t part of the planned test, it actually proved that the construction and materials can handle a leaky baby bottle or sports drink without any seepage, saving your carpet, car seat, or whatever happens to be under the bag in the event of an interior spill.

Cons
It was hard to find anything wrong with this bag. To be totally honest I first considered it’s size to be a tad excessive, but if we’re calling this a do-all bag, then the larger size—for weekend trips and as carry-on luggage—only adds to the long list of activities that the Sundown can handle.

Rating
5 stars (out of 5)

Design: The features—such as the yoga mat straps, sneaker compartment and shoulder strap—addresses a variety of female lifestyles. +1
Style: I particularly like the Dark Gray with bright coral zips, these colors are appealing to a variety of ages and walks of life. +1
Durability: The seam construction and post-consumer PET fabric proved that even the most sinister of liquids will not seep through. Plus the PET fabric has a somewhat abrasive quality to indicating it can take years of use. +1
Performance: The thoughtful design that was put into the Sundown makes this bag a top performer for active woman ranging from a multi-sport diva to a busy, outdoor-oriented mom. +1
Comfort: The shoulder straps have a well cushioned pad so you don’t have to endure any uncomfortable collar bone and strap contact. +1

Buy a bag like the Lilypond Sundown.

Outdoor Participation: The SheConomy

By
Leah Fielding
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The last two years have been great for the U.S. outdoor community. With outdoor participation on the rise, especially amongst female teenagers, and women comprising 45-percent of the outdoor community out of 141.1 million participants and women making 85-percent of the purchasing decisions it would appear that the ladies have finally broken through the glass ceiling of the traditionally male-dominated outdoor community.

Here are some particularly interesting stats about female outdoor participants:

  • 60-percent of women age 11-15 participate in outdoor activities.
  • 55-percent of women age 21-25 participate in outdoor activities.
  • Women spent $973 million in 2011/12.
  • $546 million of that was on apparel, as the top selling product for women.
  • Alpine ski equipment made up 71-percent of equipment purchases, snowboarding comprised 28-percent.
  • Sixty-one percent of female cross country skiers have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher.
  • Women’s AT/Randonee boots saw a 16% increase last season.
Here are some stats about all outdoor participants:
  • Over the past year kayaking has increased by 27-percent.
  • Over the past year bow hunting has increased by 18-percent.
  • Over the past year Freestyle skiing has increased by 18-percent.
  • Over the past year SUPing has increased by 18-percent.
  • Over the past year telemark skiing has increased by 15-percent.
  • 87-percent of hikers participate in more than one outdoor activity.
  • Nearly 52 million people run/jog/trail run.
  • Nearly 43 million people road bike/mountain bike/bmx.
So what does it mean for outdoor brands? Kudos to brands who have been making women-specific products. These brands saw the trend coming and stayed ahead of the curve. They probably hired influential women or at least listened to a core test group. Now, they’re well established and have a solid female consumer base. For brands who are just now getting the memo: get crackin’ on the women’s redesign before anyone notices. Just kidding. In many cases women simply aren’t their target market, and that’s fine. But these brands should  keep in mind they’re missing out on nearly half the market.

References: The Outdoor Foundation, SnowSports Industries of America.

Catching up with skiing’s superwoman, Michelle Parker

By
Leah Fielding
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After sitting through—and enjoying—a high profile tirade of powder shots, cliff drops and mind boggling tricks at last week’s snowsports film festival, The Meeting in Aspen, Colo., it was very clear who stole the show— at least in my book.  Michelle Parker’s performance in Matchstick Productions “Superhereos of  Stoke,” marked several things for women’s skiing. Not only did the 5’3″ ripper  have one of the best female segments to date, showing her prowess in both the park and atop classic AK lines, but she also proved to women that you can come back from long and complicated injuries, better and stronger than before.

Home Mountain: Squaw Valley, Calif.
Age: 25
Favorite moment filming “Superheroes of Stoke?” Learning from Eric Hjorleifson and James Heim.
Sponsors: Red Bull, Mountain Hardwear, Atomic, Smith, Squaw Valley, Kicker

What drew you to shift from racing to park to backcountry? It felt like a natural progression for me and has kept skiing so new and fresh every year. There are always going to be new mountains to explore and lines to be skied and places to adventure to. I’m sure my skiing will continue to shift every year and it’s exciting to me.

How are these styles of skiing alike or different? Racing gave me a great technical background and taught me how to ski. The park is super fun, but I can’t ski park all the time. I like skiing in the park when the snow isn’t great, but other than that the backcountry is where I want to be most of the time. Combining all of these elements of skiing together is ultimately where I would one day like to take my skiing so I would say that they complement each other nicely. They are all so different, but that’s part of the allure to me.

Superheroes of Stoke Trailer from MSP Films on Vimeo.

What was the hardest part about coming back to skiing after your knee injury? I knew that I would always come back to skiing. There was never a doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t do that. I guess the hardest part for me was gaining the mental confidence. My body was good to go, but I had to work on the mental aspect a bit for the first year. Now I feel completely confident mentally and physically.

How hard is it to take a park trick into the backcountry? It’s difficult for sure. The jumps in the backcountry are all different and variable. In the park they are much more predictable. Sometimes you build a jump in the backcountry and never get to hit it, or you hit it and it just doesn’t line up right. There is a lot more that goes into skiing in the backcountry than in the park.

Do you have a workout or nutrition regime, if so, what is it? I try to eat super healthy and stay as active as possible. Depending on where I am, I typically try to go for a run, bike, hike, yoga, or climb every day on top of doing some sort of circuit training. I’m a huge fan of juicing and smoothies. Health is everything…don’t take it for granted!

What do you say to women looking to diversify their skiing or riding and try something new? A great place to start out is taking an Avalanche course if you want to spend more time in the backcountry. Woodward is an amazing training ground if you want to take some tricks from the trampoline to skis. Always have fun!

To see Michelle in “Superheroes of Stoke” in your area, check out the the tour schedule.

Newton Running Shoes Review ~ Women’s Terra Momentus

By
Leah Fielding
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Women's Trail Running Shoe, Newton Running Terra Momentus

Who knew that trail running could feel like flying?

The Overview:
Newton Running has made a name for itself as the newest, coolest thing in running. Their running shoe designs are focused on recreating how we run. Rather, “re-doing,” if you will, how we run. It’s a throwback concept.

Without the interference of modern running sneakers, humans were naturally meant to run with our weight forward, propelling off the ball of the foot, rather than the heel, and with a lighter, quicker step. To address this natural motion, Newton Running shoes are designed with a minimal height difference between the toes and heel. Protective, responsive cushioning materials in the ball of the foot encourage lighter landing and a quicker cadence.

Newton Running Terra Momentus, Newton Running trail shoes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Test
When I first laced up the Terra Momentus, they felt quite different from a traditional running shoe. The toe area almost felt like it was above the heel, which I can now account to my familiarity with a highly cushioned heel.

I tested these sneaks out on Lost Man trail, a technical, loose, rocky eight mile loop on Independence Pass, just outside of my home base of Aspen, Colo. Although these shoes are extremely lightweight, they are extremely supportive in variable, uneven terrain. The non-stretch upper webbing and closed mesh and support frame prevented lateral ankle rolling. The high-traction rubber sole allowed me to grip and quickly navigate rocky sections, while the reinforced toe-cap stopped any noticeable stubbing. My favorite feature was the ultra responsive cushioning in the ball of the foot area made me feel like I was lightly bouncing step to step.

The experience was highly enjoyable, which is saying a lot for someone who isn’t quite sold on running. I felt as if I could keep running for much longer since I wasn’t experiencing any of my typical knee or hip pain.

Cons
Mud, snow, rain and river crossings are an inevitable aspect of trail running, and as far as I could tell these sneaks aren’t waterproof, or even water resistent.. This is an issue for someone who runs on trails, especially in high alpine areas where snow comes early and Spring is a particularly sloppy affair.

Rating
4.75

Design: Top points in this category. These shoes are made to enhance your body’s natural movement. +1
Style: Neon is here to stay whether you like it or not, and I like it! +1
Durability: Despite being featherlike, these shoes can take stubs and scuffs without any damage to the shoe or your foot. +1
Performance: This innovative design improves your running efficiency, thus you can run longer, but they won’t keep your feet dry in wet conditions. Points docked here. -.25
Comfort: Your body gets what it’s asking for with these shoes, what can be comfier than that? +1

Note: Some people may have a problem shelling out $150 for a pair of running shoes, but these are well worth it. In fact, I personally believe insurance companies should subsidize this product; it decreases running injuries, it increases performance and efficiency, plus, it makes running fun in a day and age when obesity is our largest national health concern.

Buy Newton Running Women’s Terra Momentus.

Ski Snowboard Workout: Get in Shred Shape!

By
Leah Fielding
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Are you shred-ready?

Ladies, I can’t stress the importance of being in good ski/snowboarding condition once the lifts start running. Because women have wider hips, smaller ACL’s, more flexibility and less muscular strength, we are eight times more likely to injure our knees than men. We can’t change the structure of our bodies, but we can improve our strength.

So, decrease your chances of having a season-ending injury with Denver-based online and in-home fitness trainer, Lee Cherry’s 3-Step Ski Snowboard Workout. Click the link below and stay tuned for Step 2!

Skier- Green

*Be sure to follow Lee’s daily schedule recommendations for the best results:

 

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