Columbia Sportswear Winter 2012

I am so not a fan of cold weather, but Columbia Sportswear has made my past two winters more bearable with my Snowfall Thermo boots. This winter season I'm excited about complimenting my footwear with the Powerfly Down Jacket ($220), Extreme Fleece Long Sleeve 1/2 Zip ($80) and Mountain Monster Gloves ($150), all made with Omni-Heat® Thermal Reflective technology.

The Omni-Heat® Thermal Reflective silver dot lining keeps you 20% warmer by reflecting back the heat your body generates, while regulating body temperature by allowing excess heat and moisture to escape. The Powerfly Down Jacket is keeps me super warm with the combination of Omni-Heat® Thermal Reflective lining and 800 fill power goose down insulation. The jacket is also made with Omni-Shield® advanced repellancy, designed to resist light rain and stains.

It's been tough finding a down jacket that fits me, but this one in XS fits just right, especially the sleeve length, additional fitted feature at the cuff and and inside adjustable drawcord at the hem for a better fit. The jacket is also lightweight and compresses into a packable pouch. It's great for travel or for running around the city.

The Extreme Fleece is also made with Omni-Wick® advanced evaporation, keeps you dry and comfortable by dispersing sweat away from the body for quick evaporation. It is perfect to wear for jogging in cold weather, keeping you warm and dry at the same time. It can also be worn as a layering piece, underneath the Powerfly 

 Down Jacket for extra warmth.

The Mountain Monster Gloves will come in handy when a snowstorm comes along. I'll definitely be wearing them the next time I have to shovel my car out. They are ultra-breathable and durable, made with OutDry® waterproof technology. These are the ultimate snow gloves featuring knuckle expansion pleats, soft leather palm and a precision fit.

You can check these items out at columbia.com.

Columbia Sportswear Powerfly Jacket in Light Grape and Extreme Fleece Long Sleeve 1/2 Zip in Blue Vapor

 - Kim Weling

Columbia Sportswear Drainmaker

Columbia Sportswear Drainmaker™ shoes have been my alternative to wearing long rain boots in the summer and into the fall season. The functional, fashionable and comfortable Drainmaker has allowed me to battle through thunderstorms and large puddles in NYC. My Drainmaker shoes in Wind/Fuschia/Rose look great with leggings or jeans, but can also be worn with a dress or skirt, to and from the office.

The Drainmaker™ is a hybrid shoe that combines the lightweight comfort of a running shoe with the quick-dry capabilities of a water shoe. I was looking for a shoe I can easily change out of and into a pair of 4" heels for those daytime previews or after-work events, without worrying about carrying bulky rain shoes or getting drenched in flip flops or flats.

Features include breathable open cell mesh and durable TPU toe cap, a Techlite™ midsole with built-in drainage ports in the heel and forefoot to allow water to instantly escape, fully drainable footbed and a siped, lugged outsole for extra traction made with Omni-Grip® Wet Grip rubber.

For those weekend trips away from the city, the Bug Shield Sporty 1/2 Zip in Wind matches perfectly with the Drainmaker. It features built-in Insect Blocker technology® and Omni-Shade UPF 50 sun protection.

- Kim Weling

Columbia Sportswear's Women's Snowfall™ Thermo™ Boot - Must-Have Item for the Season!

Women's Snowfall™ Thermo™, $325

If you find yourself trudging through snow, ice and slush this winter, especially in 20 degree temperatures, you are going to want to pick up a pair of Columbia Sportswear's Women's Snowfall™ Thermo™ boot.

An electric heating system is integrated into the design of the boot! All you have to do is charge up the removable battery on each boot. With just a press of the button , you'll immediately feel your feet warm up. There are three temperature settings - High (Red), Medium (Amber) and Low (Green).

The Snowfall™ Thermo™ incorporates Omni-Heat® breakthrough thermal technology that helps maintain warmth and prevent heat loss, keeping you comfortable in cold weather. Omni-Heat® ensures you stay warm and comfortable in the most extreme cold conditions. The thermo reflective lining actually provides 20% more warmth by reflecting heat back off of the reflective surface and off the space in between, allowing moisture to be wicked away and evaporate.

Here are some of the features:

• Rich embossed full-grain leather and suede upper with faux fur cuff
• Removable, anatomically contoured EVA footbed with anti-odor treatment
• Techlite® injection molded material for lightweight cushioning and support
• Non-marking Omni-Grip® rubber compound outsole for optimal traction

I found the boot to be stiff at first, similar to a ski boot feel. I easily adapted to wearing them though, especially in the snow. I feel like I can walk around the city all day and night in the Snowfall™ Thermo™ boots! Wearing them made it very easy to clean the snow off of my car without my feet getting cold and they also have a great grip when walking on ice.

You definitely should wear a thick sock, and one that isn't going to slide off your foot as you walk. If you don't wear a thick sock you run the risk of your ankle rubbing against the boot, which may hurt or feel uncomfortable. I also tried wearing the boot over leg warmers and that kept me comfortable and warm.

I absolutely recommend these boots, and plan on wearing them throughout winter. Even if there's not really snow on the ground I prefer to wear them to keep my feet warm in frigid weather. I have received some great comments on them already. Some people have approached me on the street and in stores about the buttons on the boots lighting up. They are really amazed when I tell them they are heated boots! You can get the Snowfall™ Thermo™ at columbia.com.

- Kim Weling

Columbia Sportswear Tunics for Fall

It's definitely getting chilly outside and when that happens I'm ready for layers, scarves and fall boots. What I love about tunics is that I can wear them as dresses when the weather is warm, or pair them with leggings and boots once it gets colder.

When I went to Columbia Sportswear's Fall 2010 preview, I was really surprised to see these comfortable, wearable tunics - I couldn't wait to try them out! It's nice to have a few casual tunics in my wardrobe. The chambray Towering Tour™ Tunic is just long enough for me to wear as a dress without being too short, but now that it's a little colder I plan on wearing them with black leggings and maybe a long, chunky sweater. It's super cute and has convertible sleeves, which I love!

I thought the Explore Your Soul™ Tunic was going to be too long on me, but it is actually a great length, still falling above the knee. This is great to wear for hiking, running errands or walking around the city. It's really lightweight, has advanced evaporation technology and 4-way comfort stretch to keep you cool. This tunic also has Omni-Shade® UPF 50 sun protection and Omni-Shield® advanced repellency.

Their XS fits me well, with a really slim fit. Columbia Sportswear is definitely on my shopping list for comfortable, sporty pieces.

- Kim Weling


Left: Towering Tour™ Tunic
Right: Explore Your Soul™ Tunic

Summer Travel Essentials

I didn't get in as much writing as I would have liked in June, but for good reason - I took time off for a much needed vacation to the Amangiri Resort & Spa in Utah, also hitting Las Vegas and The Grand Canyon along the way.

I just wanted to share some of my favorite travel essentials that I was sure to pack:

Dermalogica UltraCalming™ Treatment Kit - I don't usually have sensitive skin, but I found my skin getting irritated by the change in weather and dry environment I found myself in. This travel-size kit helped combat any redness and irritations on my face. The kit includes the UltraCalming™ Cleanser, UltraCalming™ Mist, UltraCalming™ Serum Concentrate, UltraCalming™ Barrier Repair and UltraCalming™ Relief Masque. Retail: $40.

Dermalogica Daylight Daily Defense Kit has everything I need for sun protection. The kit includes:

Solar Defense Booster SPF 30 - can be mixed with your moisturizer or foundation or worn alone.

Multivitamin BodyBlock SPF 20, a body moisturizing sunscreen that protects from damaging UVA and UVB rays.

Solar Shield SPF 15 - Very water resistant (up to 80 minutes) and in the form of a stick, acts as a sunscreen and moisture shield for the lips, ears and nose.

After Sun Repair - a treatment balm that helps repair recent UV damage while instantly soothing overexposed skin. A blend of homeopathic herbs reduces irritations, redness and painful sunburn. I'm thinking I should keep this refrigerated when possible, for a more cooling effect. Retail price for the kit is $35.

Origins Modern Friction™ - this is a great exfoliator to use 2-3 times a week, leaving skin polished, smooth and luminous. I also love the aromas of Bergamot and Peppermint. Retail: $37.50.

Borghese Tinted Lip Plumper in Flamingo Gold - I always carry this lip plumper with me. It's non-sticky, has a refreshing tingling sensation and keeps my lips hydrated, smooth and full. It's the everyday lip plumper and gloss! Retail: $31.50.

Topricin Foot Therapy Cream - For the most part I was either wearing hiking sneakers or flip flops during my trip, but I did bring a pair of heels with me to wear to dinner or a night out in Vegas. I was told it is a good idea to apply the foot cream before and after putting on my heels and it worked its magic! I noticed I didn't get any foot cramps when I applied the cream. One night I forgot to apply it beforehand, and after I got foot cramps it immediately went away once I applied it. I was so glad I brought some travel size samples with me! Retail: $19.99.

WooLoot Wave Sport Watch - I highly recommend this watch for outdoor activities and sports. The soft feel natural rubber watch has an LCD screen and is water resistant 3 atm and ultralight at 10g. It comes in multiple colors (I have a green one) in various sizes (I have an XS, which is suitable for teens and petite women) and stretches to go over the hand. It was perfect to wear while hiking! Retail: $19.99.

Youth Tagori™ in Grill/Chili color - I had to buy a pair of hiking shoes, and it wasn't easy for shopping for a size 5. I was at Sports Authority and decided to go with a children's shoe size 3 (which is equivalent to a women's size 5). I absolutely loved the Columbia Sportswear pair I found. I like the lace-and-lock system for a secure fit and the nonmarking Omni-Grip® outsoles deliver a solid foundation for the foot. I love the design as well as the trail-specific tread. It was so easy to hike and hold my balance with these shoes on - the grip is amazing! Retail: $40.

- Kim Weling

Columbia Sportswear Introduces Omni-Heat® for Fall 2010

I recently attended the Columbia Sportswear’s Fall 2010 preview, focusing on the launch of Omni-Heat®, a family of technology solutions designed to keep outdoor consumers warm. The Omni-Heat® suite delivers warmth and superior regulation of body temperature without added bulk using a combination of the following innovations:

• Omni-Heat® Thermal Reflective regulates body temperature using a patent pending dot-matrix application of reflective material on a moisture-wicking, air permeable base layer, working together to reflect and retain body warmth while dissipating moisture heat.
• Omni-Heat® Thermal Insulation achieves the industry’s highest heat retention per gram using a new proprietary insulation that employs 50% recycled materials.
• Omni-Heat® Thermal Electric allows consumer to keep their feet warm at the push of a button by activating a patent-pending, battery-powered array of heating elements located strategically throughout the footbed in select Columbia winter boot styles.

This winter I’m really looking forward to trying out a pair of Omni-Heat® Thermal Electric boots. I don’t snowboard or ski, but I may have more motivation to try with the right products to keep me warm. The gloves or boots would even be great for staying warm while cleaning snow off of my car in the winter. The Omni-Heat® line will range from $90 to $200 at Columbia Sportswear stores and at columbia.com coming this fall. Learn more about Omni-Heat® here.

Along with the new Omni-Heat® product lineup, I got a sneak peek at some other fall pieces. I was really impressed with how lightweight the down jackets are, and I hear they are incredibly warm. They would be easy to pack without being bulky. I definitely want the long zip-up tunic, to pair with leggings. I was really pleased to hear that Columbia Sportswear has XS sizing!

During the preview I received the Columbia Titanium Mobex Sprint Backpack, Majik Wands® Gloves and Peruvian Hat – can’t wait to try these out!

- Kim Weling