As cases nationwide continue to increase, what are you thinking if you aren’t wearing a mask for outdoor activities? Showers Pass Ion-Defense Face Mask is probably the most high-tech and most comfortable face mask I’ve worn.
The mask utilizes ion-emitting nano-particles that neutralize viruses and bacteria within minutes of contact. The fabric is also treated for water resistance, not just on the outside but the inside of the mouth, so that if I sneeze or cough, it protects others around me.
This technology is fantastic because regular face coverings tend to collect and host bacteria and viruses between washes. With this mask self-sterilizing, I have managed only to wash it after heavy activity. Even though I’m not cleaning it as regularly, I want to stress that this mask is machine-washable up to 30 times before it loses these germ-killing nanoparticles.
As for the fit, it’s pretty darn comfortable. The material is soft and not abrasive, easily forming around my nose and chin without being too constrictive. Additionally, the gear loops are easy to adjust based on the size of your head and are comfortable for extended periods of time. When I’m cycling with this mask on, it is still very comfortable even with sunglasses piled on top of my ears.
Check out the Showers Pass Ion-Defense Face Mask if you’re still looking for the perfect facemask for outdoor activities.
There was a moment a few weekends ago when I was hiking in Boulder Canyon with my Earth Runners Adventure Sandals when my brain experienced a glitch in the matrix. I’m not sure what set it off, but there was something so primitive in that moment of being out in the woods, on a dirt and rocky trail, with these huarache-style sandals that made me feel at one with everything around me.
When I sat with that feeling and began to process it, what I felt was this sense of connection with the dust and rocks underneath my feet. It wasn’t an unusual feeling. If you’ve noticed any trend in the types of shoes I cover for reviews, they are all minimalist. And I’ve had minimal sandals before. But these sandals by Earth Runners were so rugged and earthy and made in a more primitive style that things just clicked—or glitched—and it felt great.
It makes sense that I experienced what I experienced. A part of Earth Runners mission is to help people connect with their primal side. They are a minimalist sandal company that offer customizable sandal options for every foot and every activity.
Since getting a pair of their Circadian Adventure Sandals it’s been an interesting journey to get where I’m at with them. I chose a model that had a thicker and—at least out-of-the-box—less flexible lace.
I’m so used to getting a pair of shoes, putting them on, and getting after life. But with these, they needed time, and love, and attention.
Earth Runners Adventure Sandals
It took me a while to get it. I adjusted the tightness of the laces. I pivoted the anchor lace that went between my first two toes. Part of the issue I was experiencing was that the lace was putting pressure on my second metatarsal which I had fractured 9 years ago.
With continued use, the laces loosened to a point where these sandals have become my go-to. As long as the weather isn’t too cold you’ll find me in them—on the trail, at the office, at home.
They’re amazing. The only thing I’d caution against is jumping in too fast and falling out of love with them. Go in knowing that it’s going to take some time.
A year ago I thought I had discovered the be-all end-all of cycling jackets: their Hi-Vis Torch Jacket. And until this moment, it had been my go-to commuter jacket. Showers Pass has exceeded my expectations with the release of the Elements Jacket.
What sets the Elements Jacket apart from the Hi-Vis Torch or other Showers Pass jackets is it’s design and functionality. Since receiving their product to test, I’ve had the opportunity to wear it on my bike commutes to work, but also on the trail rides. However, since temperatures have been gradually getting colder, I’ve found myself grabbing it even when I wasn’t cycling. It has become a go-to wardrobe element for walks in the cool mornings or playtime at the park at dusk.
The Elements Jacket is lightweight and extremely packable. There’s been many commutes where it has warmed up considerably by the time that I have to bike home and it easily stashes in my Backpack Pannier.
Showers Pass Elements Jacket
Like all Showers Pass products, the Elements Jacket was made for wet conditions with a fully seam-taped, waterproof-breathable performance fabric. The interior is made with a carbon-print lining that provides natural odor-resistance. With these fabrics the jacket is still flexible allowing for free movement. I never felt like the jacket was sticking or pulling on my skin, but I also never felt like I was constrained in my movements.
If you’ve followed our blogs, you know by now that I like to highlight products that have a sustainable or eco-friendly feature. The Elements Jacket does this by using eco-friendly dyes in it’s manufacturing process.
The jacket comes loaded with features: a removable hood, front pockets, reinforced shoulders, and ventilation around the midsection. While it doesn’t have all of the same reflectivity features as the Hi-Vis Torch Jacket, while the days are longer this hasn’t been an issue during my commutes.
Showers Pass Elements Jacket
The Elements Jacket comes in both Mens and Womens sizes. I’m 5’11” and 180 lbs and I wear a Medium.
When I got my first commuter bike six years ago, I also bought a small seat bag to store tools, an extra tube, air cartridges, etc. But it was only big enough for those things. One of the more annoying aspects of my rides was that I’d also have things stashed in my pockets that couldn’t fit into that small bag: phone, wallet, keys.
Along with the Irving Backpack Pannier, Po Campo also sent me the Kinga Handlebar Bag 2. Once I got it installed on the front of my bike, it was easy to say goodbye to my seat bag. All the tools that I had fit easily in the Kinga Handlebar Bag, plus I had plenty of room to stash more, including my iphone, wallet, and keys.
Inside the bag, there is a large compartment for miscellaneous things, but there are also three smaller pockets to keep things organized.
On the front of the bag there’s an additional pocket that’s perfect to stash my iPhone.
Po Campo Kinga Handlebar Bag 2
The bag is waterproof with water-protected zippers. It is easy to attach/detach with velcro straps. The structure of the strap will also allow them to attach to any handlebars. My bike has drop bars and I was able to attach the straps to either side of my bell and light.
For times I’m commuting to downtown Boulder it has shoulder straps that stash away in a hidden compartment that I can pull out and use to carry the bag with me.
If you’re looking for a stylish addition to your bike, the Kinga Handlebar Bag is the way to go.
I live close enough to my office, that bike commuting has become more of a have to instead of continuous mental debate of “Should I?” I have comfortable enough commuting backpacks, but in the heat of summer there were days where I’d show up to work and my back would be a hot sticky mess.
Avoiding a good back sweat is only one reason to buy a pannier. There’s also the convenience of not having that extra weight on your back. Even though my commute to work is around 15 minutes, the route I take back home takes me 25, but given all the trails around me, it also provides the option of going for a longer ride. And lets be honest, if you’re commuting more than 15 minutes, having the weight of a computer, lunch, clothes, etc is not the best way to start your day.
Po Campo popped up on my radar mostly because of their mission. Besides creating some really awesomely designed bags, they partner with World Bike Relief and for every 50 bags sold, they fund a bike to mobilize students, healthcare workers, and entrepreneurs in parts of the world where distance is a barrier.
They recently sent me the Irving Backpack Pannier 2 to test. This is the first pannier I’ve owned. It was easy to transition my work things from a larger backpack into the smaller, compact Irving Backpack Pannier.
On my work commutes, I can easily carry my 13-inch Macbook Pro, a change of clothes for a lunch run, food, and toss my protein shake shaker in a side pocket.
Po Campo Irving Backpack Pannier 2
It functions as a backpack, as well. To attach it to my rack, I flip the backpack straps to the front, clip the sternum strap so they stay in place, and use their patented Fidlock® magnetic clips to attach it to the rack. The straps, once reversed, are a bright reflective green that really stands out in the wee hours of the morning before the sun has fully come up over the horizon.
My ride to and from work is a bit bumpy on gravel trails, so I also utilize their hook at the bottom of the bag to connect to the bottom of the rack.
Po Campo Irving Backpack Pannier 2
The bag itself is waterproof with water-protected zippers. Hidden away in the bottom of the bag is a built-in raincover. It’s made from a bright green, waterproof vegan fabric. I had the ability to utilize this a couple weeks ago when Colorado got their earliest snowfall in decades. When I got to work the raincover was splattered, but it was easy enough to wipe away the mud before stashing it back away in it’s hidden pocket.
If your bike has a rack that can equip a pannier, I highly suggest the Irving Backpack Pannier 2. Since using it for the first time, I haven’t gone back to my standard backpack. It is a great companion for my work commute and I’m looking forward to finding the right opportunity to take it on longer and larger adventures.
Po Campo started based on need: the founder, Maria Boustead, had a bike and needed a bag. Now their product line has expanded based on need to face masks.
Their face masks are made from recycled fabric with a breathable microfilter between two antibacterial layers.
I’ve been using this mask very consistently on bike rides and I love it. It is very comfortable and easy to pull up and down as I’m passing others on the trail. With the Cameron Peak fire pushing smoke into the area I live and commute, the filter does a great job of making me feel like I’m not breathing smoke. All that being said, the mask isn’t intended to be a replacement for N95 or surgical masks.
One of the things I love about this brand is their mission. They are always giving back. With these masks, a portion of sales is donated to Biking Public Project to equip NYC working cyclists with medical-grade face masks.
You can purchase these face masks at pocampo.com. Their website has a size chart to determine what size fits your face best. My face is in-between a Medium and a Large. On longer rides I’ve tended to stick with the Large for a slightly looser fit, while on my shorter commutes to work I’ve stuck with something more snug.
The mask is made from a UPF 50+ sun protective, chemical-free cooling fabric. It has a contoured shape and soft mesh liner and straps to make sure the mask fits securely and comfortably over the nose and mouth. The fabric is also moisture-wicking and breathable.
This last point is probably the most important. As COVID-19 picked up speed in 2020, it became more and more important to have a mask with you at all times. With other masks when I hiked, biked, or ran it was noticable how hard it was to breath when the mask was up. With Sunday Afternoons UVShield Cool Face Mask, I can easily breath when having the mask up. And with their elastic ear loops, I can easily keep the mask connected while being active, pulling the mask up or down, depending on if people were near.
Now that I have a gravel bike, Showers Pass has become a staple of my daily commute. Gloves, jacket, hat—always. But now that it’s summer, their new Gravel 10” Shorts that Showers Pass sent to test, have replaced them.
Showers Pass Gravel Shorts
What I love most about them is that I can wear them comfortably all day. My commute is short, so it’s great to wear a pair of cycling shorts that I can keep on.
One thing I do want to call out, though, is that I found their sizing inconsistent. Across every brand I wear, I’m a 32-inch waist. Always. I also ride in the Showers Pass Cross Country Shorts and I’m a 32-inch in those as well. Even though the Gravel Shorts have an internal micro-adjustable waist cinch, I couldn’t loosen the 32-inch enough to fit my dad bod into them. I had to go up to a 34-inch, but once I did, there was no looking back.
The fit is pretty snug, but with the multi-directional stretch of the fabric, I found them extremely comfy on and off the bike.
Showers Pass Gravel Shorts
Unlike the Cross Country Shorts, the pockets shifted to the outside of the leg. I would put the occasional wallet or phone in those pockets, but I discovered just how versatile the angled zippers were when I was putting in and taking out headphones. They can also serve as vents as well on hot days or long rides.
Gear Review: Showers Pass Crosspoint Beanie and Gloves
Jason Nelson | April 2020
Yesterday was a great day for some product testing. It was cold, wet, and I was going a little stir crazy with the state-wide stay-at-home order due to the Coronavirus.
For the last month I’ve been testing two new products from Showers Pass: their Crosspoint Waterproof Beanie and Crosspoint Wind Glove TS. The way temperatures have fluctuated this Spring in Colorado, I’ve been wearing both on my morning bike commutes to the office and just the gloves for mid-day runs or bike rides back home.
Crosspoint Waterproof Beanie
Crosspoint Waterproof Beanie
The Crosspoint Waterproof Beanie uses a three-layer construction that places a seamless waterproof, breathable membrane between two knit layers. It feels like your standard beanie until you take it out in the elements and realize that your head is dry and warm instead of wet and cold.
Because of the waterproof membrane, it doesn’t have the standard beanie stretch, but that doesn’t bother me. The way it sits on my noggin is pretty darn comfortable. There’s no squeeze, but I’m also not worried about it falling off. When it’s underneath my helmet, it feels really comfortable.
With it’s breathable material it is pretty comfortable on longer rides when I’ve worked up a decent flop sweat.
Crosspoint Wind Glove TS
Crosspoint Wind Glove TS
The Crosspoint Wind Glove TS (the TS stands for Touch Screen), is made with three bonded layers: the exterior is a wear resistant knit, a waterproof-breathable membrane, and a moisture-wicking antibacterial knit lining. It’s a combination that’s perfect for cycling during most of the year.
The glove itself is comfortable and allows you to move your fingers easily. I could easily pick up items, zip up my backpack and Hi-Vis Torch Jacket, and turn on my bike lights. They’re not bulky, so being able to fish out my house keys from my pants pocket is easy with the gloves on.
On colder rides, one of my key tests for gloves is nose wiping ability. Can I wipe my nose easily and is the fabric soft enough to not scratch? With the Crosspoint Wind Gloves it depends on which section of the glove you’re wiping with. It’s soft enough to use when desperate, but don’t wipe too intensely.
The Touch Screen technology works, as well. I don’t have to pull the gloves off during a snowstorm to message family or change music.
Very quickly, the Bison Ultralight became my go-to jacket in the winter. It was perfect for my commute to work in sub-freezing temperatures, hikes, or going sledding with the kiddos. Even though it’s touted as an ultralight jacket, as light as it is (only 15.8 oz.), it performed well in all temperature conditions.
The interior is 50% BisonShield and 50% wool insulation.
BisonShield is made from Bison down and recycled polyester. Bison down usually will end up in landfills as a bi-product of the ranching industry. United By Blue, true to their sustainability mission, acquires the material before it gets to the landfill, combs and cleans it before blending it.
United By Blue’s Men’s Bison Ultralight
The other cool thing about the Bison Ultralight is that it has a large interior pocket that you can use to pack the jacket into for easy travel. I took this jacket on a work trip and it was great. Because it was warmer in Denver than my destination I was able to compactly store it in my carry-on and easily pull it on when I arrived at my destination.
I am 5’11” and the jacket I am wearing is a Large. On their site, United By Blue notes that the jacket runs a half size small, so please consider sizing up for an optimal fit.
Please note that United By Blue is an affiliate to Huck Adventures, and at no additional cost to you, Huck earns a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the links above.
