Outdoor Research, Seattle, Washington. (September 23, 2013) — In the just-released “2013 Gear of the Year” issue from Outside magazine, Outdoor Research’s Halogen Hoody jacket was awarded “2013 Winter Jacket Gear of the Year” for its outstanding functionality, marking the brand’s second win in the past year and a half.
The winning Halogen jacket combines PrimaLoft insulation with stretch-wicking Schoeller fabric in key areas. Over the past two years, Outdoor Research’s technical apparel has now earned the Outdoor magazine gear award twice. In spring 2012, OR’s AXIOM hardshell jacket, built with GORE-TEX Active Shell, also took home the honor.
“The Halogen doesn’t do everything, but it’s arguably the most versatile winter jacket we tested,” said the magazine’s editors in awarding the Halogen Hoody their annual nod in the 2013/2014 Winter Buyer’s Guide. A combination of athletic cut and comfort delivers exceptional wearability, while a creative hybrid construction helped this piece stand out in the magazine’s test of the season’s best new winter jackets.
“It’s a very smart blend of functional fabrics and insulating layers, with a well-thought-out layered construction that compresses extremely well, making it a great midlayer for backcountry use and an excellent choice for winter sports,” said Sam Moulton, Outside’s executive editor for seasonal buying guides.
Outside’s editors specifically noted the jacket’s performance-balanced mix: 60-gram PrimaLoft insulation on the front, back, and upper arms, paired with stretchy, breathable Schoeller softshell on the sides.
“As an everyday winter carry piece, it’s light enough to stuff in your pocket—but also works great for winter bike commuting,” wrote the magazine’s editors. “Testers loved the helmet-compatible hood—with a comfortable softshell brim up front to shield your forehead, and an insulated hood body that still keeps you warm.”
Thanks to years of ongoing private reinvestment, Outdoor Research has refined its technical apparel and activewear lines over the past several testing seasons, focusing on developing top-tier products using the best available technologies. The Halogen and Axiom are products of that reinvestment.
“Our design team put a lot of thought into how to best combine fabric technologies in a hybrid construction to deliver maximum performance. For the Halogen Hoody, the perfect balance of breathability, weather resistance, lightweight feel, packability, and clean design—those are the features that really excited users and helped this jacket rise to the top,” said Dan Nordstrom, CEO of Outdoor Research. “We’re thrilled to see the effort we put into a product like the Halogen recognized by Outside magazine, especially considering the wide range of top products each winter test team receives from various manufacturers. We’re truly honored.”
About Outdoor Research
Outdoor Research designs for adventure. Founded in Seattle in 1981 with the launch of our first product—the X-Gaiter insulated gaiter—Outdoor Research has been committed to designing better outdoor clothing, gloves, hats, and a host of other outdoor essentials. We provide innovation and inspiration to driven adventurers by creating products that are innovative, functional, reliable, simple, and efficient. We invite all who share our passion for the outdoors to join our community. We welcome our customers, athlete ambassadors, and international guiding federation partners to be part of our expedition team, where we listen to each other, respect one another, and encourage growth. We are independently minded, prioritizing customer needs over shareholder demands, and constantly striving to improve in order to deliver the best solutions for our customers. We support respected nonprofit outdoor organizations dedicated to environmental stewardship and education. Our core focus is on climbing, rock and alpine climbing, hiking, backpacking, boating, trail running, and backcountry and sidecountry skiing. We continue to grow, learn, and evolve—and we love every minute of it.
News source: http://new.pitchengine.com/pitches/e713a067-8a5a-4fc7-8b73-fd98848c1d62