MEC Mercury Tights

Occasionally a purchase can bring about linger feelings of buyers remorse. Not for parting with your loot, but for the choice of garment you've just made.

The Mountain Equipment Co-op Mercury tights are a perfect example of this dilemma. Inexpensive, but the pros end there, and the check marks in the list of cons is lengthy.

First of all look up at the photo, see how the rise of the crotch extends to just below the nipples?. Inexcusable in 2011. Twenty years ago this may have been OK, but I can't stand an ill fitting pair of tights. The waist band should never have to be rolled over to make the fit adequate.

Secondly, after a few wears and washes, they are a saggy mess. The elasticity of the fabric is gone and they fit more like a size large than a medium.

They are fleece lined for cool weather endurance activities and have an abundance of reflective piping, but they probably won't experience fresh air again.

PRICE $49 CDN

Black Diamond Guide Gloves

I was looking for a durable and warm ski glove, and in my web search the Guide Glove kept popping up. Turns out this glove was available close to home so I have been putting them through some testing. Dexterity was high on the list too and these gloves have seams cut into the palms for greater fine motor abilities. The also have a long cuff covering the wrist, which is one place I really like to keep out of the snow.

The liners are a fluffy wool pile fabric with a Gore insert and removeable, and I've found the interior disapates the moisture really well. Few things more unpleasant than sticking your hands back into your gloves after lunch only to dicover a stinky, and soggy mess. After two straight full days on the hill recently, the finger and palm leather was salt stained, which means the interior was doing its job.

The gloves are rated to -28 C, and although I've only been to -22, my phlanges were still toasty.

Aside from the leather the remainder of the glove is a four way stretch nylon with great abrasion properties.

Thanks Santa I really love them.

PRICE $160 CDN