Hiking boots are meant to provide support, grip, and protection. They should provide comfort for extended walks over rough terrain. Some boots go the extra mile by having a fun, eye-catching design. And these are the ones we really fall in love with. Stylish hiking boots might seem like an oxymoron (jumbo shrimp, anyone?). However, […]
What Does Moisture Wicking Mean?
If you’ve ever gone hiking in a cotton tee (or worse… jeans), you may remember that you felt hot and sticky while you were walking, then cold and clammy when you finally came to rest. That’s because cotton does a very poor job of wicking moisture. Moisture wicking clothing transports sweat away from your skin […]
How do Moisture Wicking Fabrics Work?
What is moisture wicking? The short answer is that moisture wicking moves moisture away from the skin. This means that moisture wicking fabrics play a crucial role in your layering system. In order to understand how moisture wicking works, we first need to discuss a few properties that the individual fibers can have. These fiber […]
What the Heck is Traceable Down?
A good number of outdoor brands care an awful lot about the environment. After all, if you want people to go outdoors, you should want to take care of the outdoors, too. I was having a discussion with a customer in our Evanston, IL store one day when I mentioned the term “traceable down” while […]
How to Wash Down Jackets (and more!)
Whether you’re exploring the backcountry or a more urban setting, your down jacket is one of your most trusted pieces of gear. Most people who visit our Chicago stores either have a down jacket or are looking for a new one. We’ve jotted down some of the most commonly asked questions about how to wash […]
Down Feathers as Insulation
Down feathers are the most effective and durable natural fiber used as insulation in clothing and sleeping bags. It’s exceedingly lightweight and compressible. Therefore, down is a magnificent insulator for use during backpacking, mountaineering, and arctic exploration. It’s also a real lifesaver for kickin’ it in Chicago in, say, January. Here, we will explore two […]