February | 2011 | Hear Me Roar...

This last weekend was probably the coldest and wettest in some time. I’m no outdoorsman, but I am enamored with gear to defy the elements. Being my father’s son, I have a ton of gear for the impending apocalyptic weather conditions that will never come. But if they do I’ll be ready…

Top to bottom let’s take a look at how I’ve been keeping it warm and dry.

Huf Mixed Yarn Beanie

This was actually on my christmas list last year. A cool little hat, just covers my ears and allows my head to breathe. Not at all itchy, I got the red one holding me down come a cold day. I’ll admit R\red beanies are part of the stock street wear come skater look, but it really provides a hint of color since so much outdoor gear is drab.

Oakley Frogskin- Koston Edition

Yes I’m that guy who wears sunglasses even on dreary days. I mean I have light eyes and they’re more sensitive. Plus why stop looking good just because the weather sucks?

John boy, in all his over the top gifting glory laced me with these for christmas.

Eric Koston, skateboard legend, Hapa brother, and notorious Laker Fan collaborated with Oakley on these wood themed plastic frames. After Jerm gave me the shwoods, seems like my brothers think I’m in need of that good wood.

Frogskins are a really dope frame because they are shaped in the traditional wayfarer shape, but are super light and balanced on your face compared to their Ray Bay brethren. On cold days you slide em in the soft case and throw em in your pocket, they’re light and durable and you hardly feel em there.

A lighter tint makes a grey day a little brighter.

Arcteryx Theta SL Hardshell

I’d owned a North Face goretex jacket for 3 or 4 years. I’ve always hated it because in the SF weather it’s too heavy, too hot, and doesn’t breathe very well. A colleague walked by with what looked like a pretty spiffy jacket, and I asked him who made it. Arcteryx, a company who specializes in ice climbing he replied. His Jacket, the Alpha SV was about $600. To me that’d be killing an ant with a sledgehammer given my use in the Bay. Then again Im not surprised by his choice in coats because this is the guy who went to Germany to pick up his custom Audi himself. But ya, outta my price range.

This jacket is made out of GoreTex Paclite. It is the thinnest and lightest GoreTex available. Weighing in at about 12 ounces, it feels like a windbreaker but protects you from the wind and rain. It also has waterproof zippers on the front and for the pockets and for the pit zips.

I also like it because the hood stows away so I don’t have to the hood nagging me and getting in my way. These go nicely with the Frogskins and the murdered out all black kicks I’ll mention later.

Patagonia Down Sweater

In April of last year I had scooped the patagonia nano puff from Zappos, which I first read about on Gizmodo. I was a fan because it was super light and folded into it’s napoleon pocket. I didn’t like it because it was only half zip and had no hand warmer pockets (and synthetic primaloft fill). I had been eyeing the Patagonia down sweater for a few months, but when Gizmodo had a dope feature on down feathers it pretty much pushed me over the top. Pops really got a kick out of the article and he wanted a piece of the action so for Christmas Carrie and I got him this:

And I ended up picking up this:

Now when pops and I hug it’s a loud scratchy nylonny affair.

Warm, light, cool colors (the yellow sorta gives it that Livestrong look) and it folds into it’s own interior pocket:

This baby’s definitely going to help me battle the elements in DC.

Nike Pro Combat Hyperwarm Compression Pants

Girls and their leggings. Seriously, black leggings with boots are the new ‘It’ look. I call them Minnie Mouse legs since they’re all black.

I feel like for the longest time guys had no real viable solution for keeping their legs warm. Well my legs are always hot so I never really paid attention to them. The prospect of cold camping however changed all of that.

Made with a fleecy hyperwarm liner, these are really comfortable to wear, though they look like normal compression pants that footballers wear in the cold games. They do make a big difference when the mercury drops. I like walking around in these because it makes me feel like a jacked running back or track star. Even Vernon got a pair (we both had em on this weekend.) I swear this is exactly how my legs look in em, the the bulge in the front is a lil bigger. Just sayin…

J Crew Camp Socks

Birdie picked these up for Christmas for me and I have to admit I only bought them to wear with my Bean boots (see below) because of how good they look in shorts. Yes Shorts, the anti winter look. Mikej would call you hot cold guy if you’re rocking a jacket AND shorts.

I haven’t rocked em yet, but they’ll be put to good use when John and I are falling our asses down the mountains of Heavenly this weekend.

Nike SB Gore Tex Dunks

These puppies meet at the intersection of “I don’t look like winter gear” and “total protection from the elements.”

Zoom air? GoreTex membrane guaranteed to keep my feet dry? It’s a lil odd not to completely baby some SBs when you’re wearing em, but these are FACKIN TUFF!

All black everything? Birdie got me covered.

LL Bean Signature Maine Hunting Shoe

With cold camping on deck I thought “hrm, I need me some camp side kick-arounds.” I originally picked up the Air Vail from Cole Haan, but I was a bit dissuaded when a good buddy of mine told me they were for “P####Y Ass N####as.” Obviously I am no P.A.N. so I had to return them:

If you know me, you know who this shrewd fashion advice giver is.

So I kept looking. God was he right, these boots KILL the Vails.

I mean look how good these look. Yellow chain tread on the sole is so tough. Camp socks and the boots. Jesus.

BUILT TOUGH!!!

I’ve been wearing these things even on non-rainy days. These look that good. I picked these up in November, and I swear after that duck boots were blowing up the spot EVERYWHERE! Nike got a version. Bape got a version.

After the converse boot fail, these are my splash in the mud and rain and throw whatever at them shoes. When you’re a shoe head, you completely change the way you walk, the paths you take- you’re always hyper-aware of the people and situations around you all in the name of keeping the kicks scuff free.

When Carrie and i went to dinner for Valentine’s day, I seriously went out of my way to step in the biggest puddles and walk in the storm drain.

Anyway, this is the gear that’s been keeping me warm, dry, and dare I say a tad bit fly this winter season. Now if I can just convince the Bird to come cold camping…

While many of the shoes have made my list because of fond memories associated with the shoe, we’re crossing over to the threshold where the shoes themselves are starting to take center stage. Nostalgia, for the next few at least, will be trumped by design, status, and the shoes’ place in the history of the shoe game.

I had a rich childhood, lots of fond memories, lots of good times. Not a lot of cool shoes though, and definitely no Jordans. Mervyns was my parents idea of a good time.

All that changed in 1997 when my very first pair of Jordans came into my possession: Enter Air Jordan XII. While the Taxi version were a lot more hot, I’d have to settle for the Black/Red playoff XIIs. The most famous Jordan moment in these shoes had to be the game where Mike dropped 38 on the Jazz despite having the flu. Pip famously carried Jordan off. Others wore the Jordan XII that year, even Barkley if I call correctly.

Only felt sick when the ball wasn't in his hand

After I scraped my jaw off the floor from that game, I picked these up:

The shoe also makes the list because it has a special place in my heart, namely its upper was modeled after Japan’s Rising Sun motif (like the one that graces my shoulder) which was called out in the all white version: