At least we have shopping to save us from spring.

Just got the heads up from Oregon ski-heads, TREW Gear. They’ve got a new spring inventory in stock with limited quantities available. Limited quantities = no one else has it… maybe.

Act fast if you want some sleek looking hoodies and t-shirts. (And please don’t wear yours on the same day I wear mine. Thanks.)

See all of TREW Gear’s clothing & outerwear at: www.trewgear.com

Fit: 7 out of 10
Style: 8 out of 10
Durability: 8/9 out of 10
Comfort: 9
Overall Experience: 8

Would you recommend them to a friend? Yes.

We tested the TREW Gear Eagle Pant in Black and the Bellows Jacket in Remix. They proved to be stylish, durable and comfortable with a few minor setbacks.

Fit.
If you like to wear your gear baggy, loose and comfortable, then these will suit you just fine. A happy medium leaving you happily baggy.

Waterproof.
The gear is extremely waterproof with fully taped seams. You won’t get wet in these regardless of the conditions – powder, hard pack, and slush. Doesn’t matter. You’re covered. We tested these on a rainy (but super fun) day and the drive home was comfortable and dry.

Windproof.
They’ll keep you warm on windy days. The jacket is a shell, so it’s not going to provide intense insulation, but it’ll block the wind. The pants have a fleece lined butt area. The cold lift ride just got a little cozier.

Customize ‘em.
Very customizable with sizing in the waist. There’s a ton of Velcro on the inside of the pants – no predetermined waist sizes. Feel free to super size your meal, because they’ll keep fitting.

Pockets.
There are a lot of them, and they’re deep so you’ll fit all your snowboarding crap without a problem. The top two hand pockets were the Achilles heel of the gear – the waterproof zippers are recessed in the pants hand pockets making it very hard to open and close with a glove on. Plus, snow tended to get trapped there and once it started melting (because on the east coast, our snow tends to do that), it left a nasty puddle. No bueno.

Boot gaiters.
They’re not customizable, so if you have a thin boot… they’ll be floating around on you. Meatier boots, better gaiter performance.

The rubber on the bottom of the pants is pretty sick. Resort parking lots suck – they’re muddy, rocky, pot hole-y… etc. The bottom of your pants wont get chewed up by angry parking lots.

Fly zippers.
There are two zipper handles, so you can open your fly the standard downward zip motion, or be daring and zip upward. Not sure why this is a feature.

Overall, we liked TREW Gear. Very well made with excellent tech ratings and a few features you never realized you needed… until now.

Get them for yourself at: www.trewgear.com

Just so you know, sizing runs BIG. I always go with a medium. I got 2 out of the 3 in medium and they were huge – exchanged them for a small.

***Warning: Corny photos ahead.***

Burton Player Hooded Full-Zip
“Curacao”

LOVE this hoodie. The color is beautiful! There’s some embroidery on the back, but nothing crazy. It has awesome thumb-holes (aka: thumb-ies!!). The sleeves are a great length – I hate when sleeves ride up or don’t sit around your wrist/hand area. The torso’s length is super long, too. Burton says it’s so the shirt doesn’t un-tuck when you’re strapping in. Whatever the reason, I love it. It looks good with just about everything. Super versatile. It is thin… definitely not your typical hoodie thickness, but that’s good for layering. Oh, and it’s stretchy, too.

Burton Player Flannel
“Liftline Lolita Player Plaid”

This shirt is ADORABLE. It’s so weird! You’d never know it was made with DRYRIDE fabric – it feels just like your typical flannel shirt. The torso isn’t very fitted – it’s feminine, but not super tight like a typical button down blouse would be. The sleeves are an average length, torso is long. (Cute with a pair of skinny jeans and dare I say… Uggs?) NO give in the fabric. This is where this layer differs from the other two. It’s only downside are the cuffs… WAY too tight. I’ll keep mine unbuttoned as streetwear, buttoned when layering. The color is gorgeous, too.

Burton Lightweight Crew
“A Work Of Art Print.”

This is the one I originally got in a small. It fits tight like under armour with a little less stretch. The length in the sleeves and torso is good. I really like this layer in particular because of the neckline. In my opinion, the print is the best of the 3 offered.

BONUS non-layering hoodie: Boundary in Curacao.

This hoodie is long and luscious. Colors are awesome, too. Done.

Get some layers at: www.burton.com

All the women’s pants look sweet, but I’m a sucker for hemp material making Holden’s Arcadia Cargo Pant my favorite out of the group. The pants are available in a few colors – brick, blueish silver or dark gray (not actual color names).

My jacket of choice is the Claire Down. No bells, whistles or nonsense – typical Holden. Get one in your favorite primary color… or black.

Check out the rest of Holden’s 2010 clothing at: www.holdenouterwear.com

Weight, flex, and price are things to consider… but if the binding isn’t comfortable, you’re eff’d. I like the new Park-Specific ASYM Superstrap. The shape’s been changed and the padding looks plush. It’s also customizable – choose between power or mobility. And whoa. This binding’s got wings, literally. But it looks like I’ll have to snag an EST board to use these puppies.

Another binding I really like is the Escapade. (Big surprise.) This beast is available with or without the EST mounting system.

I remember this binding being super light and comfy. The straps were very padded and the frame was flexible, but responsive. Burton rates it a 6. (10 being most responsive) The mesh hi-back is sweet, too.

More bindings at: www.burton.com

TREW Gear is based out of Hood River, Oregon. If you’re familiar with the area, you’ve probably enjoyed a powder facial and a beverage at the Hood River Pub. I spoke with Tripp, co-founder of TREW Gear to pick his brain about the company, the outerwear and everything in between.

How did it all begin?

Tripp: John, Chris, and I have been friends for nearly our entire lives. For many years, the only time we saw each other was on the mountain – that’s when we were the happiest. Those short periods where the three of us could slide around on snow were such positive times (hence the thumbs up logo) and the realization that being on the mountain with your friends is so fulfilling ultimately led us to start TREW.

Tell me about the marriage between tech & fashion at TREW.

T: We thought the options for garments that are technically advanced yet fashion forward were limited.  Why should you have one jacket/pant for the park and another for the backcountry? That’s silly. We’ve tried to incorporate a look and fit that most modern riders demand with the technology that mountaineers desire when they are bagging peaks and putting on crampons. It’s the best of both worlds – ideal for any serious skier or snowboarder.

Were you dissatisfied with the current outerwear on the market?

T: Yes, to some extent we were dissatisfied with our options. We appreciated the technology in traditional mountaineering shells from companies like Arteryx, Rab, and Mountain Hardwear, but wanted a different style — both look and fit. We believe many of the garments on the market lack durability, especially those that have some “style.”

We utilized some very interesting technology to enhance our durability like SuperFabric on the pant cuffs, a thick nylon face fabric on our primary fabric, and rugged YKK Aquaguard zippers to keep the elements out.

What made you pick the name TREW?

T: The name TREW came from a combination of my first name, Tripp, and John and Chris’ last name, Pew. That’s cool and all, but more importantly it reflects our attitude towards our company and life — be true to yourself and follow your true passions. Plus, it’s catchy and can be used in lots of fun sayings!

What was it like starting an outerwear company in an already saturated market?

T: There is certainly a lot of competition in this industry and we realize that. We do believe, however, we have a pretty unique product and a new “philosophy” that bridges the gap between skiing and snowboarding. If you are out there having fun, that’s all that matters.  Our thumbs up logo represents that attitude.

I love the logo! How’d that come about?

T: The logo idea surfaced in the very early stages of TREW. Once we had the idea it took a while for it to develop into its current form, but the concept and meaning behind the logo fit perfectly with our attitudes and TREW’s mission from the very beginning. It’s best described by this.

TREW supports independent retailers & local businesses. *High five*
How does that impact the company?

T: The local brick and mortar stores are the epicenters of information and general stoke for riders across the globe. Our reception with these retailers has been extremely positive and we expect good things to continue in the future.

And what’s this Shopatron thing? Kiiiinda sounds like a robot.

T: It’s not a robot, haha. It is in fact a major component of our efforts to support the local stores. Basically, Shopatron connects us with retailers around the country and allows them to make sales on product sold on our website.

So, for example, if someone in Asheville, NC bought a product from our website, a notification would be sent to retailers around the country notifying them of the sale and giving them the opportunity (with those stores closer to Asheville getting priority) to send the product to the person who bought from our website. If no stores have the particular product in stock, we will fulfill the order and send to the customer.

It’s simple and extremely effective. Most retailers are thrilled to find out manufacturers utilize Shopatron.

I’m still kind of disappointed it’s not a robot, but it does sound pretty awesome.

So… about “Stinky.” Does he know you’re calling him that?

T: Yep, he knows. It’s his college nickname. And he doesn’t smell that bad, for the record.

Powder, park, backcountry… what’s your pleasure?

T: I love it all, but nothing beats a pow day, either in-bounds or in the backcountry!

What TREW Gear do you rock on the regs?

T: My casual every day piece is our softshell. Soooo comfy, keeps you dry from wind, snow and rain. On the mountain, I tend to rock the Bibs and Bellows or Pow Funk. I love the storage in the Bellows— the front pockets can carry my skins, multiple sandwiches, my hat and gloves when hiking, or basically whatever else I have on me.

Haha, multiple sandwiches. I like your style.
So… can I look forward to a women’s line in the near future?

T: For the 2010/2011 line we will be adding an XS size so that more women can fit into our gear. Our hope is to have a women’s specific line the following year.

Learn the TREWth at: www.trewgear.com

Feelgood V-Rocker

It’s got a soft flex pattern, increased pop in the tail and a resilient nose – seems like a decent choice for an all-mountain deck. And if you’ve ever looked at your board and thought, “Hm. The base’s graphics just aren’t bright enough. Gah!”

Burton actually created a Sintered base to give you Picassos what you want – poppy, attention-grabbing graphics.

Lip-Stick

This board looks wicked fun. Love the V-Rocker, soft flex, sintered base (Sorry art buffs. Standard-Def base graphics only), twin shape, and reduced swing weight thanks to the Pro-Tip technology. The graphics are pretty sweet, too.

Oh, and check this — Burton overbuilds their boards to “maximize pop & strength.” Then, they break it in for us using this impressive, slightly scaring looking machine. They call it Infinite Ride. I call it Board Yoga.

Check out Burton’s 2010 gear at: www.burton.com and stay tuned for the next haul featuring Big B’s bindings.

What brought you to Nomis full-time?

JV: I was living in So Cal when a friend gave me a call at random to tell me Nomis was looking for a women’s designer to freelance–he hooked me up, and I jumped on it (thanks Marc)! I hate to put it this way, but the opportunity kinda fell in my lap. After designing Spring 2010, they took the plunge and offered me a full-time job! I wanted to be closer to the mountains, and even though I didn’t know anyone here–it felt right. So alas, here I am in Colorado!

Who/what influences your style?

JV: Most of the time, it’s by instinct and the girls that walk past me day-to-day. Tokyo is the most inspiring place for me because the fashion scene there is unreal.

A lot of the time when I’m drawing, I put a lot of my own personal style into it, but also keep in mind what girls that skate, ride and surf want. I like to mix cute with functional when possible and add tiny unexpected details, and oh, did I mention my obsession with good quality fabrics?

When I am developing graphics, I’m influenced by what my friends and I call “art brain,” haha. When I take time for myself and ride my bike, walk in the park, day trip in the mountains, go to the beach or travel–that’s when I get a great deal of my ideas. I always carry a notebook to jot them down if I can’t sketch them easily.

Give us the rundown on your day-to-day at Nomis.

JV: Oh dear, shall I pretend it’s glamorous or just tell it like it is?

Let’s pretend it’s glamorous—every day I drive my super fancy car (Subaru station wagon) to work from my luxury (old) Denver apartment. Flash my key-card in front of the ridiculously high-tech security system and then make my way up to my phenomenal glamorous desk, where I spend the breadth of my day being fanned by snowboarders in American Apparel Briefs.

Ok, enough of the fantasy–I’m sure I had you all fooled.

It’s pretty normal. Some days I draw, some days I do graphics/art, I answer emails, the usual. I get the opportunity to travel all over the world, go trend shopping, meet tons of awesome people at trade shows and work with a truly amazing & fun group of people here at Nomis.

What’s your favorite part of designing the women’s collection?

JV: In the 6 years that I’ve been working my ass off in this industry, it’s the first time that I get to do my own thing to an extent. The team at Nomis has entrusted the image and vision of Nomis Women’s to me for the most part, sink or swim. I get so excited (and still a little nervous) when I show the line each season to the team, but so far they have been so stoked on the direction, and are genuinely proud of what we are building here– it feels amazing.

Give me a hint. What’s coming up for 2010-2011?

JV: Oh La La, wouldn’t you like to know!

Jusssst kidding, lately I’ve been kinda into weird art, so I believe you will see a bit of that, but also a lot of really bright pop colors used in some pretty sweet cut & sew pieces. I’ve been trying to incorporate at least a few pieces into the line that are a bit more tricked out than the average women’s clothing, so I hope everyone notices and buys a ton! I’m trying to keep the line lighthearted, and interesting—a lot of us are living in a very difficult time with the state of the economy, so I want the Nomis line to stand out bright & powerful with a little tongue & cheek to make everyone smile.  Also, I have a secret obsession with windbreakers…

If you could travel anywhere for free, where would you go?

JV: I’m going to give you my top 3:

1. Japan
2. Iceland
3. Anywhere Tropical

I know you are disappointed that I didn’t mention any mountains, but I have them here! But, I’m still a newbie and there’s a ton of the Rockies I have not yet explored.

Your favorite grub?

JV: I started being a vegetarian when I was 15, did the vegan thing for a while, but now I have surrendered my love for sushi, so I guess you’d call me a pesce-tarian. Within my top million favorite foods, I’d have to say a good Udon Noodle Bowl with tons of fresh veggies.

Riding apparel. What’s your poison?

JV: Hmm, on a warm spring day–or most days at Big Bear, I’m all about just wearing snowboard pants, a v-neck tee shirt and a bandanna.

On a cold day, I wear way too many layers–I go all out, tank top, tee, thermal, hoody and jacket–and last but not least I always rock Eesa long underwear and socks!

I must say, I’m a snob. There’s nothing I hate more than bad mountain style–I love to watch the skittle kids in the park. Their boldness makes me proud in some strange way…

Got any good tattoo stories?

JV: I attempted to hide the huge piece I have on my right arm from my dad in the humid heat of summer in North Carolina by wearing a sweater. I lasted about 30 minutes. I hid behind the refrigerator door just wearing a dress and hiding my arm, and I said, “Hey umm, daddddy…I have to tel–show you something, and you have to promise not to get mad.” Keep in mind, I’m 26 and this was my 15th tattoo.

One thing you couldn’t live without?

JV: Micron Pens and nice paper.

Be on the lookout for Jessie’s Spring 2010 line at: www.nomisdesign.com.

CAPP3L’s gear looks sick. I really like the different cuts, pocket placement, fabric textures and tech ratings. Take a gander at these two jackets. With a straight face, tell me you don’t love these jackets. I bet you can’t.

The Edenberry and Canterbury jackets come with 15,000mm waterproofing, fully-sealed seams and 60g Thinsulate Insulation with Foil Print Faux Fur Lining. The other colorways available are also wicked nice. (The Canterbury’s White Smoke/Purple Velvet/Gray Denim is my fave.)

Oh, and try saying the names out loud with a British accent. It’s fun.

Moving on, Ride’s outerwear is significantly brighter than CAPP3L’s with good tech ratings and average cuts. Basically, the down puffy actually looks a puffy.

And if you want to be seen from space in that down puffy, I suggest you check out the Ravenna Down Jacket in Lime. (I recommend wearing polarized sunglasses before viewing. J/K… bright gear rules.)

That’s not all, kids. Nau donates at least 2% of the purchase price to pre-selected charities through their “Partner for Change” program and will also grant $10,000 to a selfless do-gooder through its first annual “Grant for Change” program. Hugs all around.

Nau’s gear has a similar vibe to Holden – earth tones, slim cuts, street-wear inspired. I dig it. Their Fall ‘09 lineup drops mid-August, but there’s still plenty of ‘08 steeze leftover and it’s on-sale. My favorite from ‘08 collection is the Urbane Jacket. Bargain hunters, rejoice. Expect to see Nau’s 2010 technical/winter gear launch mid-September.

Grab some gear, look fresh and donate to a charity at: www.Nau.com.