And Flylow is all over it.
It’s hard not to ogle new gear in glossy magazines, right? When the Outside Winter Buyer’s Guide comes out, we like to curl away in a corner and flip through the pages like a kid looking through a toy catalog. This year, we’re honored, as always, to have Outside’s trusted testers and reviewers feature gear from Flylow. Here’s a roundup of what they liked best.
Maine Line Glove
Maine Line Glove
If you can’t quite decide between a glove or a mitten, the Maine Line Glove—a lobster claw-inspired combo—is for you. Outside likes this mitt as a winter cycling glove, but it’s built for the ski hill, too. “On days when our testers didn’t need to slip into their monster handlebar mitts—generally anything between 20 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit—the Maine Line was the go-to glove,” writes Stephanie Pearson, Outside’s cycling gear test manager. “A DWR treatment on the outer leather shed snow and deflected wind, while its 220 grams of insulation on the back (100 grams on the palm) kept blood flowing. The three-finger lobster design added dexterity for braking while still providing warming dead space.”
Mighty Unicorn Mitt
Need a holiday present for your kid? Or your friends’ kid? We have you covered. Outside named the Mighty Unicorn Mitt among the best winter kids’ gear of 2022. “These waterproof leather mitts make toddlers look like patrollers,” writes reviewer and dad Joe Jackson. “They’re more than just cute, though. They’re completely waterproof and have 220-gram insulation on the back. We tested them on one little moppet who was significantly more interested in eating snow than skiing. Even after three hours with her paws in the banks, she returned to the car with dry, toasty hands.”
Kimberly Bib
Kimberly Bib
At Flylow, we’re kind of known for our bibs. We have so many of them now, we even put together a bib finder to help you narrow down the right pair for you. New for this year is our women’s Kimberly Bib, which Outside has named one of the best bibs of the year. “The Kimberly is cut to hug the waist while leaving ample room lower down for curves,” writes Melissa McGibbon. “The smooth two-way right-side zipper is operable with one hand for slick temperature regulation, and the stretchy hard-shell material is lightweight with seamless cuff reinforcements. A backside zip permits quick use of the facilities.”
Pierogi Hoody
I mean, what other companies name their midlayers after a boiled European dumpling? We love our dumplings over here...Hmmm. But back to business! We also love really good, dependable midlayers. And the new-for-this-year men’s Pierogi Hoody is just that. Outside calls it one of the best men’s midlayers for this year. “The Pierogi marries stretchy, fleecy comfort with technical mountain performance,” writes Will Taylor. “The polyester fleece face kept out breezes, while the hood’s laminated brim protected against sun and snow. Tough taffeta elbow patches ward off abuse.”
Patrol Jacket
We made the new men’s Patrol Jacket for those who want the durability and dependability of a two-layer hardshell, but don’t need any extra fuss. The jacket earned runner-up status among the best jackets of the year. “Extended testing confirmed that this built-tough, waterproof hard shell delivers on the promise of affordable workwear,” writes Frederick Reimers, men’s jacket tester. “Its rugged 250 denier polyester dobby fabric (it has small raised bumps, like canvas) emerged abrasion-free after a season of wearing avy packs and skiing the trees. But the two-layer construction, which uses a hanging mesh liner instead of spendier fabric backers, lowers costs. Neither ultralight or ultra-breathable (pit zips help), it’s perfect for ski bums who ride lifts daily.”
