LOCALadk Magazine

Winter 2015 LOCALadk Magazine 53 LOCALadk Leki is a company dedicated to quality. With a passion for the outdoors and highly-qualified em- ployees with many years of experience they have a goal of producing the best possible products. They combine safety and comfort to create an appealing and functional product that allows you confidence to depend on it so you can focus on the real adventure. Leki was nice enough to supply us with a pair of backcountry adjustable poles. We tested the Haute Route Lite. This particular pole is made of lightweight tempered Aluminum alloy and is narrow in profile, 16mm upper and 14mm lower. The soft grip includes a longer extension that allows for quick hand position change when needed. The basket is large and provides for a lot of flotation and most importantly resists pole-holing. It can adjust from 38-58 inches and weighs 532 grams. Adjustment of the speedlock fastening mechanism is quick and easy and could be done while wearing a mitt or glove. Regarding the speedlock, "I've never had a Leki pole collapse or pull apart when I am out tooling around, and I'm not gentle with my gear" Bob M. These poles can be used in a variety of winter activities; great for snowshoeing, xc skiing, and espe- cially back country skiing. They help improve your power and endurance and can save your knees while giving you a little extra power. Several local outdoor stores carry Leki products; EMS, The Mountaineer, High Peaks Cyclery, and Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company just to name a few. Black Diamond is also a brand to check out if you like to do comparisons. www.leki.com www.blackdiamondequipment.com Staying warm this winter just got a little easier and a lot less itchy. LO- CALadk gear geeks recently got the chance to test out several different pieces by WoolX. The WoolX Company from Endicott, New York offers a variety of, tagless, guaranteed no itch, 100% Merino wool layer choices for any Adirondack adventure The first garment was the men's X-Large Outback T-Shirt, 160g/sq meter, 100% merino wool. This weight is the lightest that WoolX offers. The fit was true to size and really looks great. The Outback t-shirt has become one of my favorite shirts. I "tested" it on a cold day working around the house, trail running Cascade Lake, and as a base layer on an Adirondack kayak adventure. The performance of the WoolX breathes and wicks bet- ter in my opinion than the synthetic base layers I have been using forever Next base layer was the men's X-Large Glacier LS, long sleeve- crew neck, 400g/ sq meter, 100% merino wool. I really wish I had owned this shirt when I was a whitewater raft guide for layering under a dry suit. The Glacier is a heavy weight piece you'll be glad to be using when the tem- perature drops and you simply must stay warm. I wore this coupled with a lightweight jacket during a long hike in a downpour on day just above freezing. The jacket did not live up to its waterproof billing but this shirt was incredible. I stayed very comfortable during the hike and was warm when we stopped even if a little wet from the rain. I am looking forward to wearing the Glacier LS as my "go to" base layer on backcountry skiing trips this winter. The last piece we tested was the women's Brooke ¼ zip, this piece is a midweight must have. Perfect for all season activities when you need warmth but not the bulk. I tested this piece as my base layer while pad- dling on a cold fall day, kept me warm without feeling bulky under my life jacket. The back of the garment is slightly longer which allows you to make sure your back is covered during active adventures. To sum this piece up I would say, soft, warm, easy to wash and most important, ver- satile. All WoolX products are 100% Merino Wool, guaranteed no itch, tagless and machine wash and dry. WoolX states that it is safe to machine dry the product but suggests simply turning it inside out. Check out the web- site at www.WoolX.com. I have already picked out the Explore ¼ zip and the Grizzly hooded sweatshirt for my Christmas list for this year, socks too! www.woolx.com Leki Backcountry Poles WoolX: Merino Wool

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