2009 Patagonia Primo Pants

About the Patagonia Primo Jacket and Pants

The Primo jacket and pants are the premier shell from Patagonia. That distinction does, however, come at a price. The jacket rings in at $450 and the pants are a slightly less expensive $350. But, should you decide to put up $800 for the pair you likely won’t be disappointed. Both jacket and pants are

Park City Powder Fall

constructed of stretch-woven nylon with Patagonia’s proprietary 3-layer H2No waterproof/breathable barrier. The 3-layer barrier provides the utmost in durability and the most waterproof, windproof barrier that Patagonia offers. The Primo jacket also features removable hood and powder skirt, which is appreciated on a fair weather outing. A brushed tricot lining around the neck keeps the jacket from chafing. The high neck keeps the wind and precipitation off your back even when you don’t have the hood up or even attached. The chest pocket hides a padded electronics pocket that also provides holes for your headphone cables. The jacket also provides three hooks that attach to any Patagonia shell pants to keep you protected in every condition. The pants are constructed of the same material and feature a gusseted crotch and articulated knees provide a full of range of motion.The high cut back ensures you stay dry and the hook and loop side, size adjustments make achieving the perfect fit a cinch. All external zippers on both the jacket (main zipper, chest pocket, shoulder pocket, pit zips) and pants (crotch zipper, hand warmers, cargo pocket, and thigh ventilation) are waterproof. Check out our first impression of the Patagonia Primo jacket and pants.

Performance of the Patagonia Primo jacket and pants

The Primo system proved to work as designed. From frigid days on the slopes in Park City, UT to rainy days in Seattle the Primo kept the wind, rain, and snow off me while breathing enough to keep me dry inside. I wore the Primo jacket over my Patagonia R2 jacket and the pants over my Smartwool tights, and the combination provided more than acceptable insulation. The full-length gaiters kept the snow out of my boots for several days of skiing, even in deep powder and including more than a few falls. The jacket weighs in at 21.75 oz. and the pants come it at 16.75 oz., about average for these type durable shells. The padded inner pocket on the chest kept my iPhone safe, and although I didn’t use the routing holes for headphones, the feature is appreciated. My one complaint: although the Primo jacket does have a built in lift ticket holder, it’s really nothing more than a plastic hoop you attach your zip-tie to. First off, the holder sits too high forcing you to dig for your lift ticket when you need it. Second I would like to see a buckle attached to a small, thin piece of webbing that will simply go through the hole in the lift ticket. Picky, I know, but when I spend $450 on a jacket, I guess I feel like I should be allowed to be picky.

Final Conclusions

The Primo jacket and pants are for serious people doing serious outdoor adventures but if you are looking for a shell that will protect you for years to come, you could do worse than the Patagonia Primo jacket and pants.

Why It’s Hot:

• Bombproof
• Durability
• Pants size adjustment

Why It’s Not:

• Lift ticket holder

2009 Patagonia R2 Jacket

About the Patagonia R2 Jacket

The Patagonia R2 is part of the line of regulator line of fleece jackets offered by Patagonia that provide varying levels of insulation and protection from the elements. The R2 is the ultra-compressible high-loft option designed to be worn under a shell. The R2 surprised me with a weight of just 13.625 oz (medium) and the ability to compress down to the size of a large grapefruit. The R2, however, is not your entry level fleece. At $175 the R2 can be a little pricey for someone looking for a fleece to just kick around town in. You can see our first impressions of the Patagonia R2 Jacket here.

Design and Construction of the R2

The R2 is designed for those of us that actually intend to use it outdoors instead of a lot of the ‘outdoor’ clothing that is more for people who want to be fashionable for the après ski. Fortunately, however, this fleece could appeal to both crowds as it’s both functional and fashionable.

I did find the jacket to be a little tight in the shoulders, so you would be well advised to try this jacket on before buying it. The raglan sleeves and lie flat seams minimize chaffing when wearing a backpack, and the R2 stretchability makes it great for high-motion activities like skiing. The incredibly soft feel is nice against the skin and the R1 cuffs and neck lining add durability to those oft-abused places. The one thing I did find to be a little annoying with the jacket is the placement of the napoleon pocket. While I do generally like napoleon pockets, the zipper on the R2 is placed too close to the main zipper and often times I found myself unzipping the pocket when I wanted to unzip the jacket. I would like the see the pocket zipper be moved further away from the main zipper. In short, though, the construction of the R2 is what we’ve come to expect from Patagonia; perfect stitches and not a blemish to be found.

Patagonia R2 Jacket Performance

I tested the Patagonia R2 jacket on ski trips in Utah and on  the streets of New York City. The jacket was extremely easy to pack — it takes up almost no room in your bag. One thing I noticed (during a warm mid-winter stroll) is that this jacket provides almost no protection from the wind. Given the extremely lightweight construction of the R2, I guess this should not have come as a surprise, but it is worth noting. Under a shell the R2 performed great as a lightweight layer when the temperatures weren’t plummeting or during periods of high exertion. Despite strenuous adventures in the R2 I could not get the jacket wet with sweat and when it did get wet from the elements I found that it dries very quickly.

Conclusions on the Patagonia R2 Jacket

The Patagonia R2 jacket is great highly-compressible fleece that provides a superior amount of insulation for the weight. At $175 there may be better options out there for the price, but if the R2 fulfills a specific set of requirements for you then you won’t be disappointed.

Why it’s hot:

• Light-weight
• Highly compressible
• Soft against skin
• Comfort (raglan sleeves & lie flat seams)

Why it’s not:

• Price
• Napoleon pocket zipper placement

Merrell Chameleon3 Stretch

About the Chameleon3 Stretch

The Chameleon3 Stretch shoes are lightweight mesh and nubuck leather, providing superior ventilation. The Vibram sole provides exceptional grip.

First impressions of the Merrell Chameleon3 Stretch

My love affair with the Merrell Chameleon Stretch began when I found a pair on sale at Nordstrom’s Rack during a forced (read: girlfriend-motivated) shopping trip a couple of years ago. I haven’t hiked or backpacked in another shoe since. At the end of last season I was strongly encouraged (again, read: girlfriend-motivated) to throw away my old pair. It was hard, as those shoes and I have seen numerous countries on several continents, a handful of national parks and countless miles, but admittedly, it was time. I just received my new Merrell Chameleon3 Stretch shoes and they are much as I remember them.  The fact that they are wearable right out of the box with no break-in required makes the Chameleon3 Stretch a blessing.  They fit snugly and the elastic tensioners eliminate the need for laces. Keep in mind the Merrell Chameleon3 Stretch shoes are not designed for backpacking with heavy loads over rough terrain. They are basically a scrambling shoe that can be used for backpacking only if you keep your pack weight down. A Gore-Tex version is made by Merrell, however they seemed to be out of stock everywhere I look when I was ready to order, so I settled for the non-Gore-Tex version and waterproofed them myself with Nikwax Nubuck and Suede Waterproofer.

Testing the Merrell Chameleon3 Stretch

We recently returned from Costa Rica where the Merrell Chameleon3 Stretch was put to the test as my shoe of choice (when I wasn’t in flip-flops, of course). It endured zip-lining, hiking, canyoneering, and girlfriend-motivated (sensing a trend?) souvenir shopping.  It is also on my feet on my way to Colorado where it will serve as my approach shoe for two weeks of climbing in and around Colorado and Utah.

About the DeLorme PN-40 GPS

The PN-40 is DeLorme’s premier GPS offering topographical mapping, street auto-routing, and tons of downloadable maps and imagery to get you the information you need. In addition to the world base map, DeLorme ships all GPS units with three discs that contain 1:100k hybrid road/topographical maps, making them the only company to ship maps of this detail with each unit. In addition to the topographical maps included, DeLorme offers aerial imagery, NOAA nautical charts, satellite imagery, and the super detailed 1:24k, 7.5 minute USGS quads all via the included Topo USA. The PN-40 is ‘ruggedized’ and certified to to withstand quite a beating. The PN-40 is certified to the IEC IPX7 standard for waterproofing and is sealed to protect the unit in high humidity and extreme cold environments. The PN-40 also sports an barometric altimeter and 3-axis compass eliminating the need to hold to the PN-40 flat to take compass readings. While neither of these items are absolute necessities, they do come in handy. (Lower model GPS units that don’t include these features need to be moving in order to determine direction as they are based on position not orientation). The on-board compass eliminates the motion requirement and allows you to determine which way to face before you move — it also allows you to shoot bearings for triangulation. It’s important to note the DeLorme PN-40 and PN-30 are identical with the exception of the fact the PN-30 does not have the altimeter or the compass. The PN-40 has 500MB of internal storage (7.5GB on the SE model) but an SD card slot allows expansion up to 32GB which should be plenty of room for maps, imagery, tracks, and waypoints.

First Impressions of the DeLorme PN-40 GPS

We were a bit disappointed that there was no Topo USA for Mac, only PC. Although transferring of maps is possible, it’s not as straightforward as just having a Mac version available. We’ll discuss the detailed method of transferring maps to your PN-40 using a Mac in the full review, but for now just know that it is possible. We’ve also found a way to add custom tracks to this GPS using your Mac (PC users will still use Topo USA). We’ll have those details as well in the full review.

Out of the box, the PN-40 looks like a standard handheld GPS. Navigation of the device is done using the arrow and function buttons beneath the screen, and all the functions are pretty straightforward. The first time you start the device, it will take a few minutes to get a fix. This can be sped up by using the Menu->Set Current Location function. We were able to get a good initial fix in about 3 minutes on average. Once you have the initial fix, starting up the GPS ‘warm’ gets your location in usually 20 seconds or less.

To get the PN-40 fired up, the batteries are installed by removing the cover, which is screwed on with two small D-rings. If you want to use the SD card, you’ll need to remove the batteries to get to it. We’d prefer a micro-sd card slot that’s accessible on the side (like some Garmin units), but it’s not a big deal since you won’t need to access the SD card very often.

Once your maps are all installed (we loaded the Colorado maps to the SD card directly), you’ll be ready to go. The maps include topo information, roads, and points of interest (POIs).While the PN-40 supports turn by turn navigation, it’s not as robust as what you’ll get from a dedicated in-car nav device, or even some other handheld devices.

We really expect the strengths of the PN-40 to shine in the outdoors. This unit isn’t really meant for road use (although it appears to work for that as well). The topo maps, the ability to load tracks (and convert them to routes), and the availability of additional map data means that this unit should be well suited for any adventure.

What We’re Looking for in the DeLorme PN-40 GPS

We will be testing the PN-40 in many different situations including rock climbing, hiking, off-roading, and around the park. We’ll be looking at quite a few things as we test the PN-40, from battery life and screen readability to GPS satellite sensitivity in cloud cover and resistance to the elements.

Make sure you subscribe to our RSS Feed so you don’t miss the final review.

Big Agnes Stagecoach Duffel

About the Big Agnes Stagecoach Duffel

The Stagecoach is a waterproof, wheeled duffel for those needing to carry a good deal of gear.  The Stagecoach comes in three sizes, small (54 liters), medium (85 liters), and large (150 liters) ensuring there is a size for every need.  The features from the Big Agnes website are below:

• Durable, waterproof nylon with welded seams
• Heavy duty plastic, tractor-style wheels on medium and large sizes. Polyurethane inline skate wheels on small size
• Improved flip top lid opens fully
• Light gray interior so you can see your stuff
• Durable aluminum frame with extending lockable handle
• Two large interior zippered pockets
• Independent backpack strap system and external compression straps
• Water resistant, molded plastic zipper and soft rubber grab handles
• Size small meets most airline carry-on size regulations

First Impressions of the Big Agnes Stagecoach Duffel

When the Big Agnes Stagecoach duffel I ordered arrived the other day I thought for a few moment maybe it was too big.  With the ability to hold 150 liters the large duffel can swallow enough gear for even the most ambitious expeditions.  It’s going to be a challenge to fill.  I am a big fan of the backpack straps that are on the Stagecoach although I won’t be trying the shoulder it fully loaded.  The quality seems to be top notch and don’t anticipate any problems with the construction or materials.  I would have liked to see either a waterproof zipper or a flap to cover the zipper (or both) for the days where your Stagecoach sits in the elements for hours.  The one other feature I would have liked is an internal frame to give more shape to the duffel similar to that of the North Face Rolling Thunder.

Up Next for the Big Agnes Stagecoach Duffel

The Stagecoach is currently being packed for a trip to Costa Rica in a couple weeks.  A few days after my return from Costa Rica I’ll be off to Peru.  In each case we’ll be abusing the Stagecoach to see how it holds up and meets our needs.  We will of course keep you informed.

Make sure you subscribe to out RSS Feed so you don’t miss the final review.

My fitness activities range from light days at the gym to hard core circuit courses. I usually prefer to get my cardio workouts on the trails in and around Colorado Springs, usually with a few pounds of gear strapped to my back. Unfortunately I don’t always have time to get out for cardio, so I have to rely on what the local fitness center has to offer. While stair climbers, elliptical machines, and stationary bikes all work fine for cardio, I know that the best workout in a short time is running. The problem is, I REALLY don’t like running.

I’ve had to run for time pretty regularly since I joined Civil Air Patrol over 20 years ago, and I’ve never liked it. When I first joined the Air Force, my run times were average at best, I’ve never been a fast runner. As I’ve aged, I’ve developed minor knee irritations that have required a brace on occasion, which has definitely slowed my run times. While I still meet the standards for the AF, I’ve really felt that I’ve been held back a little.

Last year a friend of mine posted on Facebook about a not-so-new running ‘shoe’ called the Vibram Five Fingers. The premise of the Five Fingers is to mimic running barefoot, since barefoot running is much more efficient and safe than even the best running shoe. The philosophy is that humans have been running for thousands of years, yet running shoes have only been around for a few decades. The Five Fingers is basically a glove for your foot; each toe has its own pocket to go in. This logic made a lot of sense to me, so I decided to try a pair out.

I called around to all the stores in Colorado Springs and only found one that sells the Five Fingers, our trusty locally owned Mountain Chalet. When I went down to try on a pair of Five Fingers, I was lucky enough to be helped by a salesperson that’s been a fan of them for years. She gave me a quick run down of the options and I decided that the KSO would be the best fit for me.

When I first pulled the size 41 KSO Five Fingers out and tried to put them on, I immediately realized there was a learning curve here. I’m not kidding when I say it took a good 10 minutes to get that first shoe on. Even though the Five Fingers uses a more precise sizing scheme, everyone’s foot is a little different. In fact, I’ve been told that some people may not be able to find a size that fits them well. The key to learning how to wear these shoes is figuring out how to ‘work’ your toes into the pockets. The second shoe only took 5 minutes, and now I can don the Five Fingers nearly as quickly as any other shoe.

Let’s talk about results. While I can’t guarantee that everyone will respond well to the Five Fingers, if my results are typical, most people will see fairly immediate benefits. There is, however, a re-training period of a couple of weeks to get used to running more efficiently. While the specifics are beyond the scope of this article (see below for some great resources), suffice it to say that when you learn to run without slamming your heel into the ground, you’re going to be much more efficient.

My run times (for the 1.5 mile fitness test that I’m required to take) have dropped by an average of 30 seconds over the last few months. Beyond that, while I’m still not a HUGE fan of running (you won’t see me in any marathons), with the Five Fingers I almost look forward to it. What’s more, I’ve not had to wear a knee brace at all since I’ve been using these shoes. Since running is more efficient and less jarring, the impact is less intense and my knees are very thankful for that. In fact, there have been times that my knees have hurt (from wearing dress shoes at work) when I began running, but stop hurting after running for a few minutes in the Five Fingers. I’m not sure if this is typical, but it sure has me sold! I’m considering buying a set of KSO Treks for light hiking this summer. I’ll let you know how that works out.

When it comes to indoor training for any type of adventure, good cardio is a must. I’ve become a huge fan of the Vibram Five Fingers and the barefoot running philosophy in general, it really makes sense. If you’re looking to increase your running efficiency and decrease the impact, head down to your local outfitter and try on a set of Five Fingers.

RESOURCES
Vibram Five Fingers KSO – Mens  (Buy)
A great resource for barefoot running.
A Harvard study on barefoot running
Great video showing the benefits of barefoot running.
A Barefoot running blog

Jetboil Flash

About the Jetboil Flash

The Jetboil Flash in the latest innovation from Jetboil. Like the Jetboil Personal Cooking System (PCS), the Flash is an integrated cup, stove, and heat exchanger. The integration of all the components make the Jetboil systems extremely efficient. According to Jetboil the Flash will boil two cups of water in an amazingly fast two minutes. The features and specs from the Jetboil website:

• 1.0 Liter FluxRing® cooking cup with insulating cozy, featuring Flash color-change heat indicator
• Adjustable stainless steel burner with push-button “through-cup” igniter
• Drink-through lid and insulating bottom cover/measuring cup
• Tripod base for added stability
• Available in Gold, Violet, Sapphire and Carbon
• Weight: 14 oz (397 g)
• Volume: 32 oz (1 Liter)
• Boil Time: 16 oz (1/2 Liter) = 2 minutes
• Water Boiled: 12 Liters per 100g Jetpower canister
• Dimensions: 4.1” x 7.1” (104 mm x 180 mm)

Differences Between Jetboil PCS and Jetboil Flash

On initial inspection, the differences between the Jetboil PCS and the Flash seemed fairly cosmetic to me so I inquired further. Ric Pratte from Jetboil’s PR firm gave me some more in-depth information on the updates.

The technical difference between PCS and Flash is in the burner. [The] Flash burner control is a wire “bale”, which is easier to access and operate than [the] knob on the PCS. The Flash igniter is low profile and comes up through the burner head, which means its less likely to be damaged than the PCS igniter. The burner head is solid stainless steel, as compared to the mesh head on the PCS, which is subject to shrinking over time and then falling out. Also, the Flash comes with a tripod stabilizer, which is a $10 retail value.

First Impressions of the Jetboil Flash

The Jetboil Flash is a pretty impressive piece of equipment. Stowed, all components fit within the Flash’s 32oz. cup for easy transport. The Flash is a bit heavier than the homemade alcohol stove I currently use for warm weather pursuits but the Flash’s simplicity and quick boils will no doubt be key during the colder months. In the couple boils I did to test the Flash did indeed get water to a boil very quickly, and the heat indicator on the side is a nice (though not altogether necessary) touch — it turns orange when the water reaches 140°F. I look forward to giving the Jetboil Flash a good workout in the coming months.

What We’re Looking for in the Jetboil Flash

With the Jetboil already being used by many of the top mountaineers on some of the highest peaks in the world (see Peter Whittaker mention the Jetboil as a mountaineering game changer) we anticipate that the Jetboil Flash will be an asset on our backcountry endeavors in slightly less demanding conditions.

This lightweight wool next to skin base layer should be an essential for anyone doing cold weather activities. This Athletically fitted crew neck shirt has long sleeves and offers thumb holes to keep it getting bunched up under other layers. Even giving your hand a little extra heat inside gloves. All of Stoic shirts are somewhat stylish and would look just fine spending time at the bar after making your final tracks of the day. Although I would probably wear another shirt or a vest over it to keep from being “That Guy.” But at least it won’t smell bad when you offer to buy the cute ski bunny a beverage.

Design: Ultra-fine Merino Wool base layer
Retail: $59 (Buy)
Why it’s hot:

• Athletic Cut
• Thumb Holes
• Better Looking Than Plain Base Layers

Why it’s not:

• Thumb Holes Could Be a Tad Bigger
• Lighter colored fabrics are a little see though

http://stoicgear.com

2009 Patagonia R2 Jacket

About the Patagonia R2 Jacket

Along with my Patagonia Primo Jacket and Pants I received an R2 jacket to serve as my insulation layer.  Like I said in that article I have gotten a late start in testing my new ski gear but I plan on giving it a run for it’s money in the coming months.  Before we get too involved let’s take a look at the R2 jacket features from the Patagonia website:

• Highly technical R2 fabric is light, stretchy and compressible, with great breathability
• Insulating long fibers alternate with dense, supportive short fibers to optimize insulation and reduce bulk
• Directional knit wicks moisture and speeds dry time
• Inner collar lined with R1® fabric (made with recycled polyester) for next-to-skin comfort; collar and protective chin flap lined with R1 fabric (made with recycled polyester) for next-to-skin comfort
• Low-bulk R1 fabric cuffs
• Pockets: one chest and zippered handwarmers; zippers all welded and reinforced with Supplex® for snag-free operation
• Shoulder seams set forward for pack-wearing comfort
• R2® shell: 7.4-oz Polartec® Thermal Pro® 100% polyester (40% recycled) fleece. R1® panels: 6.5-oz Polartec Power Dry® 93% polyester (60% recycled)/7% spandex. Recyclable through the Common Threads Recycling Program
• 419 g (14.8 oz)
• Made in Colombia.

First Impressions of the Patagonia R2 Jacket

The first thing I noticed when I pulled the R2 jacket out of the box was how light it was, even for a fleece.  The high loft of the soft polyester fleece seems ideal for great compressibility while providing great insulation qualities.  It’s quite soft too!  It is a shame that Patagonia hasn’t been able to get a lightweight fleece such as the R2 with wind resistant properties like the R4 but I suppose that’s the trade-off.  That said, the R2 jacket seems to be constructed to the high standards that is common of Patagonia.  I did have a few issues when I wore the jacket around the neighborhood for the first time.  The fit seems to be a little weird with a tight fit in the shoulders and arms.  Perhaps I was wearing a bulky sweater, but it still struck me as odd.  The second problem I have is similar to the many jackets sporting a napoleon pocket: when reaching to unzip the jacket I tend to grab the pocket zipper instead.  It’s really a love hate relationship with napoleon pockets in general.  Otherwise there seems to be no problem with materials, design, or construction.

What We’re Looking for in the Patagonia R2 Jacket

In the next few months we will be testing the Patagonia R2 jacket under hard shells while skiing both downhill and AT, on it’s own while climbing in the Gunks, and of course we will be wearing it around town after a day of hiking.  We expect the R2 jacket to perform as advertised with it’s light weight, compressible, insulation goodness.

Make sure you subscribe to out RSS Feed so you don’t miss the final review.

2009 Patagonia Primo Jacket

About the Patagonia Primo Jacket and Primo Pants

I received my Patagonia Primo Jacket and pants the other day and although I am getting a late start with my ski gear, I plan to give the Primos a run for their money in the coming weeks.  With trips planned to Vermont, Utah, and Colorado I’ll be sure to test to the Primo Jacket in some challenging situations.  The Primo jacket also comes in a down insulated version (not reviewed here as I am not a big fan or insulation and shells combined).  Let’s have a quick look at some of the features of the Primo Jacket from the Patagonia website:

• Lightweight, yet durable 3-layer 4.2-oz stretch-woven nylon with H2No® waterproof breathable barrier and Deluge DWR finish
• Fixed helmet-compatible hood with single-hand drawcord pull
• Drop collar with high neck to provide protection from winds and snow
• Coated, water-repellent zippers for center front, hand pockets, and pit zips
• Pockets: left chest with electronic pocket inside, two handwarmer, two interior drop in
• Pit zips
• Fully featured, zip-off, stretch powder skirt with webbing loops to attach to pants, and pass window
• Shell: 4.2-oz 50-denier 100% stretch-woven nylon with a waterproof/breathable H2No® barrier and Deluge® DWR (durable water repellent) finish. Powder skirt: 2.3-oz 100% all-recycled polyester plain weave
• 652 g (23 oz)
• Made in Vietnam.

2009 Patagonia Primo Pants

And the features for the Primo pants from the Patagonia website:

• Lightweight, yet durable 3-layer 4.2-oz stretch-woven nylon with H2No® waterproof/breathable barrier and Deluge® DWR (durable water repellent) finish
• Snap-closure waistband
• Interior waistband and adjustments lined with soft, brushed tricot
• Pockets: two handwarmer, one right thigh with coated water resistant zippers
• Scuff guards to protect pant cuffs
• Fully-featured gaiters with gripper elastic, adjustable cam buckles and integrated drawcord
• 3-layer, 4.2-oz 50-denier 100% stretch-woven nylon with a Deluge® DWR (durable water repellent) finish
• 485 g (17.1 oz)
• Made in Vietnam.

First Impressions of the Primo Jacket and Primo Pants

The quality of the Primos are nothing less than what we have come to expect out of Patagonia.  All seams are perfectly taped, the stitching is top notch, the zippers work perfectly, in fact there doesn’t seem to be a single blemish on the jacket or pants.  The Primos are certainly on par with the best ski/snowboard clothing currently on the market.  As a plus, when we put the Primo jacket (small) on the scales it came in at just 21 3/4oz and the Primo pants (medium) came in at 16 3/4oz. both on par with advertised weights.

What We’re Looking for from the Patagonia Primo Jacket and Primo Pants

For the premium that is charged for the Primo jacket and Primo pants we expect them to perform superbly in very tough conditions. We’ll be on the slopes in Vermont and Utah, late season AT skiing in Colorado, climbing in New Mexico, and torturing ourselves with downpours in between. We’re expecting the Primo to keep us protected from the elements as well as allowing water vapor from our sweat to escape so as to not create a sauna inside the shell. All of this is expected of the Primo in widely varying conditions.  It’s a tall order, yes, but that is the reason the Primos were designed.

Make sure you subscribe to out RSS Feed so you don’t miss the final review.