Posting Guidelines

Posting guidelines and suggestions

As a user review Blog (as opposed to a commercial site), the posting guidelines are pretty broad.  As a guide, here are some issues to consider sharing as you write, not necessarily in this order:

Form - This refers to your overall impression of the piece, the construction and materials of the piece, certain features that you would like to point out, what you like and what you would suggest for improvement.

Fit - How does the piece fit?  Sleeve length?  Across shoulders and chest?  Inseam?  Etc.  To help readers contextualize your comments on fit, any information (that you feel comfortable sharing) you can give as a point of comparison would be helpful.  Like:  height, weight, clothing size you normally purchase, body measurements (like one would see on a fitting guide).

Function - This pertains to the activities you have used or plan to use the piece.  From everyday to the extreme, share how the piece has performed.  In rain, snow, sun, wind, on a mountain, in a box, with a fox, while eating green eggs and ham... sky's the limit.

Just share :)

Westcomb Chief Bibs (2010)

Details, details, details....

I'm not one to get too excited about pantaloons (aka pants): jeans, dress, khaki, snow, or otherwise.  But I must confess, I can't help but to be pretty impressed with Westcomb's hybrid softshell/hardshell Chief Bibs.    The design and construction of the versatile multi-snowsport pants reflect a sense of creative functionality with a "I wonder if anyone else has thought about that" sense about them.

FORM - first, regarding the construction details.  The Westcomb Chief Bibs use both hardshell and softshell fabrics, in strategic placement, providing the benefits of both types of technical fabrics.  About half of the construction is made with Polartec's Power Shield softshell fabric.  In particular the upper thigh, crotch, behind the calfs, and ankle areas.  The outside surface of the Power Shield has a soft-to-hand yet abrasion resistant face fabric that is stretchy, water resistant, and wind resistant.  (Note, this is not a membraned fabric so there is no claim to water or wind proofness).  The inside surface of the Power Shield is a low pile fleece...almost feels like flanel shirt material, but definitely Polartec's fleece.
The other half of the pants are made with an eVent waterproof and windproof membrane, hardshell fabric.  In particular the butt in back, and in front from the lower thigh extending to below the knee area.  This is an important detail because one aspect of waterproof membranes is that waterproofness is based on both volume AND pressure of water.  So the pressure of your butt sitting on a wet chair lift, or kneeling with your snowboard on a groomer waiting for your buddies to catch up can both compromise lesser "waterproof" fabrics.  Not so with eVent.  The result of a pair of pants that are waterproof critical areas, yet have a stretch comfort due to the Power Shield stretch fabric.  Finally, the pants have a high waist with a high back (for lumbar protection) made with the Power Shield fabric, but with a soft velour (really!) lining for comfort.
On to the details... starting at the top, the Chief bibs have removable, elastic stretch, suspenders with lightweight aluminum clips.  Along the waist there are 5 belt loops, which I've never used because of the suspenders.  There are 4 pockets with YKK watertight zippers.  The top two of the pockets are fleece lined hand pockets.  The other two are pockets are on the thighs, though I wouldn't consider these cargo pockets, as there are no pleats, and the pockets have a pretty low profile.  In other words, I can fit my wallet, or granola bar in them, but not a water bottle or apple.  On the outside of the the lower legs, from the knees down are YKK waterproof zippers.  On the inside of the lower pants, at the ankles, are Super Fabric patches to protect your ankles from sharp ski edges, and crampons.  A quick word about Super Fabric, to the touch, the synthetic fabric feels like a touch hide, like an armadillo, but I've read that is 20 times more puncture and abrasion resistant than leather.  I guess they tested the stuff at NASA for space missions... There are also internal nylon gaitors with a rubber lined, stretch elastic band to keep the powder from creeping as you hike through the snow.  Finally, at the very bottom, there is an elastic cord running through the lower hem line so you can draw in, and cinch down at the ankles once you in your boots and buckled in.  As I look really close, I also see a couple loops and do-higgy looking things that quite frankly, I have no idea what they do, but I'm sure they have a purpose that I'll have to ask the guys at Westcomb about.

FIT - As for fit, these are a pretty trim cut.  For reference, I am about 5'5", 145lbs, with a 29 inch waist and 29 inch inseam.  So I always wear a men's small, and pants are always long.  When I buy jeans, 29 x 29 or 30 x 30 (depending on style) from Express fit perfectly.  As for the Chief Bibs, they fit great around my waist, hips, and thighs.  The actual measured inseam of the Chief Bibs is between 31 and 32 inches.  That said if you're a trim 30 x 31 jeans wearer, you'll probably fit well in the men's small.  Sorry I can't speak to majority of the male population that wears M, L, and XL.

Also, as the pants are not really insulated, I find I have room layer up.  In particular, I usually wear Terramar undies, Burton Red d3o base layer impact shorts, then Westcomb Sphere midweight-stretch-fleece bottoms.  The fit is supportive...not really tight or snug, but not loose or baggy either.  Its a trim, comfortable fit, for which I'm sure the stretchy Polartec Power Shield makes a big difference.

FUNCTION - So, do they work?  I've worn these in mainly three distinct contexts.  Mostly boarding on the hills of the Midwest, in Michigan.  One multi-day trip out in Salt Lake City powder.  And walking my wife's dog.  First, the Midwest.  Here in MI, the snow is icy due to being partly man made, and partly due to the temperature fluctuations right around freezing.  This makes for wet, hard packed, snowy conditions.  Why even bother you folks from out West and Canada ask?  What other options do I have as it really is better than nothing.  Anyway, the eVent butt and knees have always kept me dry in critical areas, as expected, even in wet soupy weather.  And even the Power Shield areas did not wet through in the snowy, and sleet like conditions.  That was bonus, as Power Shield isn't technically waterproof, but they still performed well.
In Salt Lake, I was fortunate enough to get two out of three days on some powder.  Waterproofness wasn't an issue, but the windproofness, breathability, and ankle draw cords/gaiters did the trick as I never wetted out from the inside, never felt a mountain wind chill, and never had the Pow creep up my ankles as I hiked through flats due to poor navigational decisions made when tromping though the trees off the groomed runs.
Finally, as an example of high value, I also wore these regularly when I had to walk the dog in the long, snowy, West MI winters.  The great thing about the Chief Bibs is that I could slip these on over my jeans or khakis when taking the dog for a quick walk around the neighborhood.  Sure my jeans bunched up a little here or there, but in all, not really noticable as this was a fair trade off to be warm and dry.

MINOR ISSUE AND FINAL THOUGHTS - The only issue I have had is with one of the suspender clips.  Every-so-often, the clip will come undone causing for an uneven fit.  I don't notice when I'm actually riding, but when I'm standing in a lift line or something, I'll feel the pants riding high on one side.  Maybe its an adjustment thing that I haven't figured out yet, and it doen't happen enough to even consider it bothersome.  More so, its a very minor concern, among a whole lot of loving these pants.  As the Westcomb website suggests, I'm sure there are many other snow sports you could use these in, but as a middle aged boarder that was looking for a pant with some stretch, protection, and versatility, I couldn't be happier with these bibs.

(ps - I'll try to get some pictures up when I can)

Westcomb Recon Hoody Review (2010)

User review by Christopher Green

In November 2010, I purchased the 2010 Westcomb Recon Hoody in black. I live and play in Upstate New York and I am very pleased with my decision to purchase the Recon & highly recommend it to anyone who can afford greatness! I expect to take the Recon basically anywhere I go. I am into winter snowshoeing / peak bagging and downhill skiing. I purchased the Recon for those purposes and also to fill my need for an all-in-one winter jacket. I have worn the Recon everyday so far this winter and have been very satisfied with its production, performance and durability.

I am 5’ 10” tall and weigh about 170 pounds and went with a size large, which seems to fit well. I normally wear a men's size large in 99% of the shirts and jackets I purchase. The sleeves of the Recon Hoody fall to just a millimeter past my wrists, which I feel is perfect. The chest dimensions in the Recon are right-on from the dimensions listed on Westcomb's website. I don't feel any restriction or pulling in the chest or shoulders when worn with or without layers.

After weeks of everyday use, I wish the back of the jacket was cut a bit longer. I have noticed when I reach up above my head, or reach down below my feet (tying shoes etc.), the jacket rides up and becomes annoying. I normally have the waist cinch-cords cinched down a bit, but not too tight, to keep out unpleasant drafts of cold air. I think if the back portion of the jacket was cut a bit longer, there would not be an issue with the material rising up and exposing my back to the cold.

Due to the high loft of the PrimaLoft Sport fill, the lower portion of the sleeves feel a bit restrictive when wearing a 100 weight fleece or more. I have even noticed the restriction when wearing a normal button down collard shirt. This isn’t really a problem for me, but one may contemplate it when deciding on size.

In regards to temperature wise, I have used my Recon Hoody from below zero (counting windchill) to the mid thirties with great performance. Normally, for any activity above 20 degrees Fahrenheit, I find myself wearing just a T-shirt under my Recon. I have worn a fleece or another PrimaLoft sweater and discovered it to be way to warm with anything more than a thin, breathable base layer. For strong winds and painfully colder temperatures, I wear a light fleece or a thicker base layer, which seems to do the trick.

For the shell, the Schoeller Dynamic is very water tight. My only concern so far is due to the Schoeller material being so breathable, I am concerned about melting snow, from released body heat, seeping its way through and “wetting out” the soft shell fabric. I have used the Recon in countless snowfalls, and have not experienced this problem, but because it isn’t a hardshell, I worry it may. I have visited Schoeller’s website and did some homework on the production of the NanoSphere and Dynamic technologies and am satisfied with their attention to detail. Only time will tell how long the life span of the DWR really is.

Due to the breathability of the Recon, I have noticed that it is not windproof. When the wind is strong, I can faintly feel it penetrate the Schoeller material and even the PrimaLoft. I am able to counter this by easily layering my hardshell over the Recon, without suffering comfort. I guess a jacket is either breathable or windproof, not both! I’m wondering if taped seems would send this jacket above $500 and make it out of reach for most people, including myself. Having the security of fully taped seems would be outstanding, but probably at a huge price.

I am very pleased with the placement and ease of use of all the zippers and pockets on the Recon. It’s made with two Napoleon pockets (love them!) on the chest and two hand warming pockets below. All outside accessible pockets are lined with a soft fleece and the zipper cords reflect light in the dark. There is a large sized mesh pocket on the left inside of the jacket. It is quite spacious and easily fits a 20 ounce bottle with plenty of room to spare.

As like everything else, nothing is perfect (or maybe just not to me!) I have a few gripes with the Recon, but nothing that would make me want to part ways with it...ever! I was not afforded the opportunity to try the Recon on prior to purchasing because of the lack of retailers in my area who distribute Westcomb products.

Unlike the pictures of the Recon posted on Westcomb.com, the interior of the jacket is bright white, not black. I don't agree with the chosen "white" interior color for this jacket, In fact, I hate it. The white interior does not compliment the black Schoeller exterior. I can foresee this becoming an issue with extended use in the elements. When I received the Recon in the mail, I immediately called Westcomb and spoke to a representative about the white interior. I was told that the black, redrock and cinder colors all are constructed with a white interior, so it doesn’t matter which color option is chosen. One may say, “Well it’s only the interior color”, but when not wearing the hood, there is a noticeable amount of white material that does not flow with the Recon’s persona.

Another issue with the Recon is the hood. The hood fits very well without a helmet (haven't tested it with a helmet yet) and I have enjoyed using it with all the snow / subzero temperatures we've received in New York State so far this winter. My main complaint is - If I'm working up a sweat & do not need the hood, there is no way to "stow" the hood. When the hood is down, it collects snow / moisture until I am prepared to use it again, resulting in my head becoming wet with melted snow once the hood is replaced back on my head. As stated above, the hood is also lined with a white interior, in which I'm not a fan of. The hood is insulated with PrimaLoft, so it worries me every time the hood collects snow because I don't want the insulation to absorb moisture, even though PrimaLoft supposedly insulates when wet. Since the hood is made to be worn with or without a helmet, it is constructed with a three point adjustable technology. I have found that the three cinch-cords do their job well and make the hood form to my head when worn with out a helmet. I have also noticed, due to their size, it is sometimes difficult to adjust or release the cinch-cord buttons while wearing the jacket. In my opinion, the cord release buttons attached to the hood are not very mitt or glove friendly and on a few occasions, it has taken extra time (aggravating) to get the hood to fit properly.

Before purchasing the Recon, I contemplated a winter soft shell by Patagonia. Both pieces are insulated with PrimaLoft and have attached hoods. I decided on Westcomb for a few reasons. First, the construction. I liked the fact the the Recon is a Schoeller soft shell with the NanoSphere DWR. I was also looking for a stand alone insulator and was impressed with the amount of PrimaLoft Westcomb uses in the Recon’s construction. After contacting PrimaLoft via Facebook.com, I was advised the Recon was stuffed with 170 g of PrimaLoft Sport vice 100 g of PrimaLoft Eco used to insulate the Patagonia jacket. I also liked the fact that Westcomb products are still manufactured in Canada. The Patagonia piece, according to Patagonia, is made in China. I would like to ask Westcomb to list on their website the fill weights of their down and PrimaLoft insulating pieces for easier temperature ranges and ratings. Just because I decided on the Westcomb Recon, I am still a proponent of the Patagonia line and do not shoulder any biases because they do not manufacturer domestically.

I am no means an expert review writer or manufacturer of outdoor apparel. I searched the internet for months hoping to find any literature on the Recon Hoody with no positive results. I hope this answers some questions / concerns about this piece and will be happy to comment on the review once I have put the Recon through the process of outdoor activities. All in all, I am very pleased with my decision to purchase the Westcomb Recon Hoody and will not hesitate to trust Westcomb for my next gear purchase. The Recon is a very warm, durable and thoughtfully crafted piece of winter or alpine gear that can serve as a go to winter jacket or a watertight soft shell layering piece for athletes who’s safety depends on quality outdoor orientated clothing.

The Mirage. My first Westcomb piece

Westcomb piece (Year) - Men's Mirage (2007 or 2008 ...I think)

User Review by Paul Yu

Preface - I know this is not the most recent, newly redesigned 2010 Mirage, but I thought I would post a review to hit on some of the major points of the piece that I think are relevant to the Mirage in general.

Why I bought it - I have owned numerous "waterproof/breathable" jackets from TNF goretex to other well respected, less expensive, brands with either waterproof finishes or PU membranes. All of them kept me dry, kind of, until they either got clammy from the inside, or wetted-out from the outside. I came across Westcomb as a brand in 2008, was told of eVent as the answer to my plight, and started saving up my money to get my Mirage. It was worth the wait, and here's why:

Function - I bought the Mirage with three applications in mind (1) Snowboard (mostly in MI), (2) Landscaping, and (3) Look cool around town.

First, as a snowboarder in MI there are a few conditions that one must prepare for, wet sleet-like conditions up top, lots of short chairlift rides, and abrasive man made snow down below. Why the Mirage matters? As for the sleet, snow and occasional rain, the waterproof eVent sheds water like a beaver's hide. I have never had a drop of water come close to seeping through. Even when the DWR wore off, and the jacket wetted out, the eVent membrane held the water at bay. I have since reapplied the DWR, regularly maintain the DWR, and all is well and working as it should from the outside.

From the inside, this jacket really breaths. Its not Egyptian cotton, but in my opinion, has always felt better, and less clammy than my goretex shell. Here in MI, as a snowboarder I do a lot of jumping around, and skating on the flats, and while I used to overwhelm my other shells from the inside, I have yet to really feel any significant moisture build up. As a landscaper, I often work in the spring and summer laying sod, and digging ditches in rain (60 to 80 degrees F.) and have been impressed with the jacket's ability to breath. As evidence of the Mirage's breathability I have had to look no farther than the forearm stash pocket on my left sleeve. For this model year, the forearm sleeve has a see-through vinyl window so you could see a ski pass through it. The 'design flaw' (as reflected by someone at Westcomb and has now been changed in that the stash pocket is also eVent) is that the vinyl window is NOT breathable, so after a while, you'll see the perspiration build up as it breaths through the eVent sleeve, then condenses on the vinyl window. Also, the 2" by 3" spot on my forearm actually feels clammy. While some may see this as a design flaw, I kind of like it (and mention it here) as reminder that eVent works!

The shell fabric is a very abrasion resistant 560 NST (Nylon Standard) fabric on the arms, shoulders and hood for durability, and a lighter weight 460 NR (Nylon ripstop) fabric on the underarms and back. The durability has been tested by my falls on the slopes where I slide down the abrasive man made snow and ice. As I am a novice boarder, this abrasion test been through iterations too numerous to count, and have been conducted sliding down the hill on my back, my front, my side, and arms. As a landscaper, I have also hauled boulders, dug in sand, and moved dirt in this jacket, very rough condtions that simulate spring/fall back country activity. To this day, the fabric looks great. (Note: The new 2010 Mirage is made entirely with the 560 NST making the new Mirage a more burly incarnation. However, the design of the 2010 Cruiser has the mixed 560 NST/360 NR construction similar to my older Mirage).

Fit - I have a men's small and it fits great. (As context, I'm 5'5", 145 lbs, wear a 36/38 short jacket, and 30" waist/30" inseam pants. Also as a point of comparison, I wear a men's small from Express and Gap which fits me well.) My mirage has a trim, athletic cut across the waist, chest, and shoulders. For me, I have enough room to wear a base layer or light merino sweater or dress shirt, and a fleece midlayer (Westcomb's Nova Fleece) with just enough room to move very comfortably and freely. If I wear a thicker wool sweater, I tend not to wear the fleece midlayer as I think that tends to be on the tight side. However, if I'm wearing a thicker sweater to work or shopping, I find that that is more than enough to keep me warm as I knock around town. The arms are long, by design, to accomodate over the head reaching like in climbing and winter activities without the sleeves riding up. On me, with my arms resting down along my side, the sleeves are at mid palm, which I think is perfect. As for torso length, the jacket falls right at my hips. Since the jacket is a mountaineering cut (rather than a longer parka cut) I think that the jacket fits just right. The neck, when zipped all the way up, is a little on the tight side in that I can zip the jacket up all the way if I'm wearing a midlayer with a crew neck, but the neck feels constricting when I wear a thicker midlayer with a mock-turtle type neck. In general, I would guess that if you are between 5'4" and 5'7" with a trim build, the men's small would be a pretty good fit.

Finish - As for details, the jacket has two hand pockets (unlined), a small Napolean chest pocket, and a pocket on my sleeve. For some reason, my jacket model did not come with an internal media pocket for my iphone, but I believe the pocket is there in the 2010 jacket. I do have pit zips, which I rarely have to use due to eVent's breathability, but have been known to open them up in warm spring and fall conditions.

The Mirage also has a powder skirt. If I wear my boarding pants (not Westcomb) that have a lower waist, the powder skirt sits a little high, and can ride above the waist, leaving a slight gap. However, with my new Westcomb Chief bib pants, which has a higher waist, this power skirt works perfectly and the gap is a non-issue. The adjustable hood has great versatility as it can cinch down around my head with and without helmet, which makes for a good fit without restricting my side to side vision.

One thing I love most about my Mirage is that is a highly techical jacket with a stylish, around the town look. I wear this thing all the time... snowboarding, to school, out-and-about, to church, landscaping, etc... This jacket is so versitile that I can wear it in very cold, blustery Michigan winters with the right layering, but also landscape in it in a spring and even summer rain without feeling weighed down. While I would consider this a three season jacket, I do use it on occasion in the summer during a hard rain fall. The inner tricoat lining is smooth, and confortable on bare skin, but also allows for sweaters and knit type shirts to slide in and out without clinging to the sleeves.