Category Archives: Gear

Snoozies For Newsies

Leave a comment

Damn! Where are my Snoozies?? The temps went from 70 yesterday to 50 today. My toes are cold. Snoozies are like fleece socks with the tops lopped off and they are oh so cozy. They’re perfect for long flights, traveling and lounging. In fact, I’ve been known to hop in my car with them on after I slip out of ski boots. So long as you don’t plan to puddle jump or slush through snow you’re all good. No biggie if they get dirty because they’re machine washable and won’t shrink. Like any fleece product it eventually mats down but they still stay soft.


The bottoms have a little non-slip/grippy writing (that say Snoozies) so when I jump up to answer the door or the phone, I don’t wipe out on my office flooring.

I can wear them year-round (I work at home so the boss doesn’t care) and they’re lightweight enough for warmer days. Snoozies come in all sorts of designs and colors so you can display your unique personality with your feet. I picked the ‘stars and moons’ style. $12. Sizes S (5-6), M (7-8), L (9-10), XL (11-12).

No Purses Here

Leave a comment

I finally gave up on my Osprey Messenger Bag. I loved that thing. I even carried it around after a mouse chewed through the side mesh pocket. It held everything but, as others teased, it wasn’t very womanly.

I don’t do purses and I’m not sorry. My car is my purse and my shoulder bag is like the wallet in my purse. I’m a function over fashion girl. It became apparent, however, that I had outgrown my Flap Jack Courier.

Yes, my friends, it wasn’t big enough! I found myself often carrying TWO bags whenever I left the house. Granted, even in winter I have two bags- one for boots and the other for my laptop, money, magazines, mail, etc. But this coming winter I was facing THREE bags now if I didn’t do something quick. Enter the Ashley Tote from High Sierra. It holds my laptop in a padded sleeve, all of my paper junk and a set of gym clothes to boot.

The main compartment zips closed and there’s a little removable zippered pouch inside that I still haven’t used- too organized for me. Same goes for the zippered front utility pocket because there are four corner pockets that slide from top to bottom for things like my phone, pens, lip gloss, or water bottle. It has shoulder straps rather than a messenger chest strap but I rarely wore my Osprey that way so it’s not a huge deal. The handles are long enough that if I wanted to drape them over my head and across my chest I could. The bottom and back panel are also padded for extra protection. I would have liked the straps to be a little wider and thicker for those days when I’m really packing but otherwise I’ve found my match.

Not to mention, the pretty pattern addresses the femininity issue and now I’m back to two bags for the winter. Whew.

The Ashley comes in a variety of patterns for an economical $40. 1-800-323-9590

Mountain Bling Continues

2 comments

By Jill Adler

Just because I live and play in the outdoors doesn’t mean I like to bare all. Granted, I’m not the best at accessorizing but when I find something cool, that works with my ‘style’, I’m all over decorating my neck and limbs.

I got my first Expression Ring at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The owner/designer was in a corner of one of the gifting suites at The Sky Lodge; surrounded by power waters, and Burt’s Bee’s products. I was attracted to the luring sparkle at the CW3PR RE:treat.

Cancer was the inspiration for these stretchy, shiny, fun rings. On February 4th, 2010, Mike Kacynski was diagnosed with Stage 4 Renal Cell Carcinoma that had metastasized throughout his spine and other bones. His battle inspired his wife’s best friend Holly Freese to start Expression Rings of Hope. The rings are made with Swarovski crystals and Miyuki Delica seed beads. They retail for $45 but there are always one or two on her website for $25. A portion of the proceeds of each ring go to the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research in Mike Kacynski’s name.


Parts Is Parts Unless It’s Velo Bling

Leave a comment

Ok, I must be a total girl because one of the coolest things I saw at the 2012 Summer OR Show was an assortment of jewelry made from bike parts! The Velo Bling booth was tucked inside the “New Pavilion”. Not exactly the optimal location but somehow this bounty of repurposing grabbed my attention.


It took me a few seconds to realize that the earrings and necklaces I was eyeing were made of new and recycled bicycle parts. The designer, Ed Dunne, is a huge bike enthusiast in Lakewood, Colo., and the items are not only cool but affordable; something you don’t always find in the ‘original’ art world.


Dunne and crew gather every recycled part from local bike shops. They polish them up with environmentally friendly degreasers and cleaners and put them together in all sorts of fun, funky ways. The jewelry, clocks, art, accessories, and novelty items would make the most awesome gift for any rider. I don’t think the pieces have found a home yet in Utah so you’ll have to find them in shops in Colorado or online.

Ba-Bye Winter Boots

Leave a comment


My poor winter boots. They barely saw the light of day let alone a snowy day this year. I wanted to strut them out on a regular basis but they sat woefully in my closet for most of this skinny season. Now it’s time to stash them away in the attic and cross my fingers that we’ll have more time together next season. Call me the Imelda Marcos of winter boots. They are all my faves. Warm, fuzzies, mostly pull on because after a long day in ski boots you want something less constraining.

Good-Bye Emus


Oh so stylish ankle boot with water-resistant Australian sheepskin and high-loft shearling on the inside. When you’re in a hurry to get to the hill and you don’t mind looking like you have slippers on your feet, grab these. They’re super hard to keep clear of water spots but the comfort makes up for the slacker look. The hardwearing EMUsole and double stitched seams make this boot one you can wear for many seasons. http://www.emuaustralia.com

Good-Bye Timberlands


Like cowboy riding boots, my Timberlands hold their shape and look great no matter what muck you walk in. The leather’s waterproof and lightly insulated. The upper cuff has a layer of shearling. This model has been discontinued but I was able to get my hands on a pair. I’ll withhold them from the attic this summer for those cold morning horseback rides.

Unfortunately, the Timberland Crystal Mountain Lace-Ups will go up.


The Crystal Mtns are made of recycled materials in the linings and outsoles and a dash of fleece all the way to the knees. The full-grain leather and nylon outers are waterproof making thw whole boot incredibly warm. In fact, my legs have never been so warm in the winter. A Smartwool fabric footbed wicks and warms my toes. They’re ideal for deep snow outings and stylish nights where you want to wear skirts or straightleg jeans. However, the lacing does require some effort so I didn’t wear them out as much as I’d like. www.timberland.com

Good-Bye Chacos


The Belyn Baa was Chaco’s first try at a winter boot. The only problem is they forgot to make it waterproof which kind of defeats the purpose. The leather uppers and shearling lining make this snowboard-steezish boot way cool and warm except you’d only want to then wear them in the snow. It’s any kind of deep or you’re trudging around Tahoe’s 20 percent you’ll have a puddle under your sock in no time. You’ll be most happy with these boots when the streets are icy but not snowy. The Vibram outsole has tons of grip.

Good-Bye Rubber Ducks


I never felt like running in my Sporty Snowjoggers but they had the perfect blend of qualities for a snowboot. Slip-on, waterresistent (but they’ve been waterproof for me so far), warm but not so warm you couldn’t wear them in a wet spring or fall, plus they have this hip, retro vinyl shine. I had no problems wearing them on the town either shopping or dining. www.rubberduck.com

Good-bye Kamiks


The Centrigrades never saw the light of day this year. The most bomber boot in my collection is used primarily for snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and outdoor winter concerts. Needless to say, this wasn’t the season for a -40 degree boot with waterproof nylon uppers, thick Zylex liner, rubber outer shell and IceCLAW rubber outsole.

Good-Bye Tevas


At first I didn’t want the Vero Boot. I saw the laces and shook my head. But the hidden side zip had me at Hello. The low volume Thinsulate keep the boots from feeling clunky. In fact, these are the most lightweight in my collection. They’re sleek enough to wear with my knit dress or plaid wool skirt. But they also pair well with jeans. There’s not a lot of support from the footbed but that didn’t seem to affect my dogs when I wore them all day on the SIA show floor in Denver this January.

Good-Bye Sorels


The latest addition to my (boot) family is also the most versatile. I scored the Tofino CVS Boots
at the Vevo Powerstation Sorel Lounge during the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Form, meet function! The olive color, waterproof shell, quilted upper, Sherpa pile lining, and molded rubber outsole do the job outdoors on the trail but will get you all sorts of coos in the club as well. These boots answer the call for style while still making for the ideal every day winter shoe.

Good-Bye Hi-Tecs

The Snowflakes have been with me the longest. More shoe than slipper, they are made of waterproof suede and Thinsulate insulation. The sole is sturdy and the lugs capable of gripping on slick sidewalks. http://www.hi-tec.com/uk/snow-boots.html  

Good-Bye Acorns?

Ok, I’ll admit that these wool slip-ons avoid banishment to the attic. More slipper than shoe, I wear these with jeans, shorts, skirts, but I hardly ever wear them at home. They’re too warm. The recycled rubber outsole has tons of grip so these make a durable slipper you can take car camping. This is my shoe of choice for my drive back from Little Cottonwood Canyon. www.acorn.com.

1 … 12 13 14 15 16 17