Gear Guide: Our Top Picks For The Shoulder Season

David Webb

April 13, 2017

Spring is here! And for Canadians coast-to-coast, that means weather ranging from snowstorms to beach days. Here are our top picks for tackling spring, no matter where you live:

For Rain Storms:

Burton Gore-Tex 2L Day-Light Jacket (Women’s)

($300; burton.com)

There is a lot to love about this new women’s shell from Burton. Two-layer Gore-Tex Paclite offers the guaranteed waterproofing we expected—with taped seams—but it surprised with its light weight (350 grams) and minimal pack volume. And the internal texture of this hard-shell is one of the smoothest and softest we’ve tested. (Bonus: the Gore in this garment is Bluesign certified for high-level eco-friendliness.) On the trail, our tester put it best: “I liked how it was form-fitting and stylish, yet also allowed for unencumbered movement during active pursuits.”

For Spring Camping:

MSR Pocket Rocket 2

($50; msrgear.com)

If MSR makes the next Pocket Rocket any smaller we won’t be able to find it in our pack. This current model—version two—is 20 per cent smaller than the much-loved original Pocket Rocket, now weighing only 73 grams and folding small enough to easily fit inside a coffee mug (or its included case). The pot supports are redesigned to hold a wider variety of sizes; and using an MSR IsoPro canister it boils a litre of water in less than four minutes.

For Warmer Weather:

KEEN UNEEK O2

($120; keenfootwear.com)
The lightweight, breezy O2 is our favourite model in the UNEEK lineup. It has a similar two-cord design as the original model, which creates a snug and comfy fit, as well as the same anatomically designed footbed—but the O2 differs with its sneaker-style heel-back. This adds much-needed support and protection, which served us well on the portages during a canoe trip through Quetico Provincial Park last summer.

…And For Folks in the North:

Vasque Lost 40

($210; vasque.com)

Often, boots with features such as seven-millimetre felted wool liners, 200 grams of Thinsulate and Vibram IceTrek soles are also bulky and cumbersome. Not the Vasque Lost 40. Like a modern mukluk, these boots lace snugly from toes to top, ideal for high-energy snowshoeing and cold-weather hiking. And at only 1,400 grams for the pair, they’re as light as some trail boots but will keep tootsies toasty deep into sub-zero temperatures. 

Vasque Lost 40

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