Layering Perfection for Boulder Trail Runs: A Review of the Tracksmith Harbor Vest
Jason Nelson | May 2024
Tracksmith Harbor Vest
The Tracksmith Harbor Vest is the perfect layering piece for those early morning or evening runs when the temperature drops and you need an extra layer of warmth. In the foothills outside Boulder, Colorado, the mornings can be brisk even as the sun covers the Flatirons. Pulling on the Harbor Vest before heading out to tackle the trails, you instantly feel insulated yet unencumbered. This vest keeps your core toasty with PrimaLoft® Gold synthetic insulation, while still allowing excellent ventilation through a large back vent to prevent overheating.
As I make my way along the winding dirt paths, the light rain that’s moved in does little to chill me thanks to the water-repellent outer shell of the Harbor Vest that sheds moisture. I power up the gradual inclines, relishing how the quilted construction provides structured insulation right where I need it without restricting my mobility. The scoop armholes allow my arms to swing freely in stride, even with the vest layered over my long sleeve base layer.
Tracksmith Harbor Vest
Reaching the vista point at the top, I pause to take in the panoramic views of the iconic Flatiron rock formations. I slip my hands into the zip hand pockets, appreciating their ease of access. As I begin my descent, I find myself unzipping the vest, allowing that fantastic back ventilation to kick in and keep me cool. Even with the temperature fluctuations, I feel comfortable and unburdened throughout my run.
Back in town, I find use for the interior drop-in pockets of the Harbor Vest, perfect for stashing away my keys, cards, or Energy Chews for my next adventure in the foothills. Though insulated, the vest is surprisingly lightweight and unrestricted, moving fluidly with me through every stride.
Tracksmith Harbor Vest
With its warmth where you want it and venting where you need it, the Harbor Vest is ideal for staying comfortable through changing conditions on your run. It embodies Tracksmith’s runner-first design philosophy, providing lightweight insulation and weather protection without compromising on mobility or breathability. For those runners braving the elements in pursuit of miles on the trails, the Harbor Vest is an invaluable companion. When unpredictable mountain weather rolls in, you can trust this technical vest to keep you cozy yet unimpeded in your movements as you conquer the terrain.
When it comes to drinkware, the options are endless – but few stand out quite like the Canyon Coolers Artist Series. In a sea of bland solid colors and generic designs, these mugs and tumblers immediately catch your eye with their bold, eye-catching artwork from a curated selection of talented artists.
First up is Rod Cooley, a graphic designer specializing in bold organic illustrations heavily inspired by his love for the outdoors, traditional tattoos, overlanding, and Native American culture. Cooley’s pieces practically leap off the drinkware with their vibrant colors and intricate linework capturing an almost tattoo-like quality.
Then there’s Rachel Jung, hailing from the artistic paradise of Moab, Utah. Jung’s abstract designs offer a different aesthetic, flowing with colors and shapes that evoke the breathtaking scenery of the American Southwest. Her artwork is truly transportive.
The collection also features Flagstaff-based artist Ashley Matelski, who brings her keen eye to recreate the local mountainous Arizona landscape in a series of paintings. Matelski’s pieces capture the rugged beauty of the state in rich, detailed brushstrokes.
But this Artist Series isn’t just a pretty face. Thanks to double-walled vacuum insulation, these mugs and tumblers will keep your drinks piping hot or refreshingly cold for hours. The durable powder coating means the gorgeous 3D printed artwork won’t wear off anytime soon.
My only word of caution is that, to preserve that striking raised artwork, hand washing is recommended over the dishwasher. But that’s a small price to pay for drinkware that doubles as a portable art gallery.
Whether you want an eye-catching mug for your morning coffee or a beer tumbler that stands out at the campsite, the Canyon Coolers Artist Series is the way to go. It elevates drinkware from a humble beverage vessel to a stylish accessory you’ll be proud to show off.
When it comes to camping trips in the mountains, having a reliable and high-performance cooler is a must. The Engel 65 High Performance Hard Cooler is a game-changer, built to keep your food and beverages fresh and chilled for days on end. Recently, we put this cooler to the test during a weekend camping trip in the mountains, and it exceeded our expectations in every way.
Pre-Trip Preparation: The key to a successful camping trip is planning ahead, and the Engel 65 made this process a breeze. We prepped all our meals for the weekend, cutting up ingredients and storing them in stackable glass containers. The cooler’s spacious interior accommodated these containers with ease, along with ample room for sodas for the kids and a couple of six-packs of beer for the adults.
Ice Retention: One of the standout features of the Engel 65 is its unparalleled ice retention capabilities. With 2 inches of closed-cell foam insulation in the lid, sides, and bottom, this cooler kept our food and beverages chilled for the entire trip. Even after three nights of camping, the ice had barely melted, ensuring that our perishables remained fresh and our drinks stayed frosty.
Durability and Toughness: The Engel 65 is built to withstand the rigors of outdoor adventures. Its seamless, rotomolded polyethylene shell is virtually indestructible, and the all-silicone gaskets create a near-airtight seal, preventing warm air from seeping in. The reinforced non-skid lid provides excellent traction and stability, whether you’re standing or sitting on it.
Ease of Use: Despite its rugged construction, the Engel 65 is surprisingly user-friendly. The recessed marine-grade draw latches are adjustable and double as bottle openers, while the integrated full-length, self-stopping rear hinge ensures smooth lid operation. The recessed one-twist drain plug makes it easy to empty any excess water after your trip.
Bear Resistance: For those camping in bear country, the Engel 65 offers peace of mind with its IGBC-certified bear resistance. The dual padlock holes allow you to securely lock the cooler shut, keeping your food and drinks safe from curious wildlife.
Overall, the Engel 65 High Performance Hard Cooler is an exceptional choice for any camping or outdoor adventure. Its superior ice retention, durability, and user-friendly design make it a worthy investment for anyone who values fresh food and chilled beverages in the great outdoors.
WhistlePig & Solo Stove Limited Edition CampStock Wheat Whiskey
Attention Campers! This Stave-to-Stove Collaboration is a Summer Adventure Essential
SHOREHAM, VT and GRAPEVINE, TX (May 22, 2024) — Summer is short. Set aside your seltzer, light a smokeless fire and pour yourself s’more wheat whiskey. WhistlePig Whiskey, the leading independent craft whiskey, and Solo Stove, the home and outdoor lifestyle brand that pioneered innovative smokeless fire pits, invite you to gather ‘round the campfire with a crowd-pleasing summer whiskey in hand. From the sticks to the city, WhistlePig and Solo Stove’s limited edition Campfire Kits bring the campfire to you, complete with a nostalgic summer camp experience.
WhistlePig and Solo Stove’s new Limited Edition CampStock Wheat Whiskey is the first of its kind, offering an easy-drinking profile for warm weather adventures and long summer nights. A high wheat recipe, it’s crafted with Wheat Whiskey alongside WhistlePig’s grain-to-glass Rye. The final blend is finished in Solo Stove Toasted Barrels for a precise char and toast profile, before being bottled at 86 proof – the perfect strength for passing around a smokeless fire pit. The new CampStock Wheat Whiskey offers hues of the golden hour, with notes of citrus, freshly toasted bread crust and vanilla for a well-rounded finish.
“We’ve experimented with Wheat Whiskey as part of our FarmStock series and other limited editions,” says Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig Blender. “CampStock takes the soft and smooth wheat profile to a new level with 85% Wheat whiskey, and an innovative Solo Stove Bonfire toasted barrel finish. No cooperage had ever used a Solo Stove on their barrel toasting platform, but Independent Stave Company was up for it, and the result was incredible.”
After bottling the whiskey, WhistlePig broke down their barrels to create Solo Stove’s limited edition Whiskey Barrel Firewood, fueling smokeless campfires and good times across America. Limited Edition and custom WhistlePig branded Solo Stove Mesa XL tabletop stoves complete the full Camp WhistlePig experience. Marshmallows are strongly encouraged.
“At Solo Stove, we’re passionate about fostering connections and crafting memorable experiences that ignite around the fire,” shared Luana Bumachar, Chief Marketing Officer at Solo Stove. “This partnership embodies our commitment to bringing people together, infusing the embracing glow of a crackling fire with the bold taste of premium whiskey. It’s our invitation to spark conversations, share experiences, and forge enduring connections.”
Coinciding with the launch, Camp WhistlePig is in session at the WhistlePig Farm & Distillery throughout the month of June. Fans will have a chance to enroll by entering to win via a contest hosted by WhistlePig & Solo Stove from May 22nd through June 3rd on both partners’ social media channels. Off the grid and under the stars in Shoreham, Vermont, Camp promises to include the full stave-to-stove experience, Solo Stove cookouts, WhistlePig S’mores Maple Old Fashioneds and Summer Camp classics.
Following the launch of SummerStock Whiskey in 2023, CampStock gives fans another reason to sip WhistlePig Whiskey all year long. Starting May 22, a Limited Edition CampStock Whiskey, Solo Stove Mesa XL and Solo Stove Whiskey Barrel Firewood bundle will be available online at shop.whistlepigwhiskey.com for $199.99. Add two etched whiskey glasses and a flame whiskey ice mold to the bundle and you have one of the four limited edition CampStock bundles that will be available on solostove.com. The standalone CampStock Whiskey bottles will also be available online at shop.whistlepigwhiskey.com and across liquor stores nationwide on May 22 for $74.99.
To learn more about WhistlePig Whiskey and Solo Stove, visit whistlepigwhiskey.com and solostove.com, respectively. You can also check out WhistlePig Whiskey and Solo Stove on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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About WhistlePig Whiskey
Located off the grid on a 500-acre Vermont farm, WhistlePig Whiskey is crafted by a new generation of
Whiskey distillers and blenders driven to reinvent and unlock the potential of aged Whiskey. Through their rebellious pursuit of experimenting and pushing boundaries in the industry, WhistlePig has become the leading independent craft whiskey brand for Rye and experimental whiskeys. WhistlePig is committed to becoming the best whiskey on and for the planet, starting with its locally sourced ingredients and sustainable supply chain and distilling process. For more information, head to whistlepigwhiskey.com.
About Solo Brands, Inc.
Solo Brands, headquartered in Grapevine, TX, is a leading omnichannel lifestyle brand company. Leveraging e-commerce, strategic wholesale relationships and physical retail stores, Solo Brands offers innovative products to consumers through six lifestyle brands – Solo Stove and TerraFlame, known for firepits, stoves, and accessories; Chubbies, a premium casual apparel and activewear brand; ISLE, maker of inflatable and hard paddle boards and accessories; Oru Kayak, innovator of origami folding kayaks; and Icy Breeze, maker of portable air conditioning coolers.
