I love soft things. If I had to create a shortlist of life’s greatest gifts, soft things, as an all-inclusive category, would near the top of that list. Said category includes puppies, down pillows, and cashmere. Those are soft things. Also among the elite category of life’s greatest pleasures is, unequivocally, the outdoors. I suppose it’s all in good measure, as nature can be a harsh teacher, but our love for being outside is what (ironically) brings everyone to this digital wonderland every day. As such, we’ve got to hand it to the folks at lululemon, who twisted two of the greatest things in the world (softness + outdoors) into one delicious fruit-roll up with their new technical men’s outerwear line. We were able to give this gear a solid testing, and the notes below bubbled to the surface. Have a peep.
The Einn Shell.
Einn Shell
The first thing I noticed when I put this on is that it’s light and has very few seams. It’s actually very close to being seamless. And I felt like I looked cool. Which was a solid bonus. The Einn Shell includes lululemon’s Waterproof Glyde fabric, which is engineered with three layers designed to keep you dry. Because we’re based in Los Angeles, I didn’t have an amazing opportunity to endure a torrential rainfall, so instead I poured a bucket of water on my shoulder in front of a friend. He laughed at me. But I stayed dry. That’s a big check. Another thing I noticed is that the pockets are intentionally high on the garment. According to Design Director Josh Hiney, that was intentional. “We’ve positioned the hand pocket in a higher location so that it acts as a core vent,” says Hiney. “This allows for air to come in when you’re moving, and exit through the cape vent in the back.” As a technical feature, it’s impressive that the garment feels exceptionally breathable and completely waterproof. And, it’s got a cool salmon-ish colored liner. Business on the outside. Party inside. I like that.
Einn shell in action.
Check out more info on the Einn Shell here.
Surge Thermo Vest.
Surge Thermo Vest
Now, I’m not typically a vest guy. I find it to be a relatively awkward layer in an ensemble, but for a crisp, late Fall or early Spring hike, this might be the perfect antidote. The vest integrates lululemon’s PrimaLoft technology that is designed to provide warmth without weight, even when wet, and through a concept called zoned warmth, the vest succeeds in that regard. It’s got reflectors built in, which is great for urban runners, so it works on its own or as a solid component of a layering system, which, in freezing weather (not in Los Angeles) might come in handy.
Zoned Warmth in the Surge Thermo Vest.
Check out more info on the Surge Thermo Vest here.
Stay Puff Parka.
Stay Puff Parka
Remember when we mentioned softness as one of life’s great pleasures? Holy snap, that’s this parka. I slipped my arms in the sleeves and they immediately felt like they were being massaged by silk clouds. That’s before I even knew the name of the jacket: Stay Puff. Yes, you feel like a marshmallow, and you might hug more people while wearing this. More people might hug you. So if you’re not into hugs, this might present a challenge. As it turns out, this is a function of the fact that the jacket is made from 700-fill power goose down. Now, I quickly realized that is nicer than my bedding. I would rather sleep in this jacket than lay on my bed, so technical features aside – yes, it’s water repellent with its Stretch Glyde – wearing this jacket feels better than laying in bed. That certainly comes at a cost, as the jacket retails at $498, but if you’ve got money to spend and you need a jacket that feels like a giant hug from a puppy, today’s your lucky day.
The Stay Puff Parka is deceptively light.
Check out more information on the Stay Puff Parka.
Editor’s Note: The following feature was made possible by our friends at lululemon.