Staff Picks

Jeanne:

Patagonia Nano Pullover

Synthetic, warm, lightweight and great for layering

 

The North Face East Village Parka

Down, lightweight, warm, great length

 

Patagonia Atom Bag

Easy and comfy to carry, holds a lot of goodies

 

Icebreaker Igloo zip jacket and Lily Pant

Soft wool, warm, great for travel, work or lounging

 

Merrell Encore Ice Slide

Easy on, great to wear for work

 

Smartwool Flecker sock

Not too thick, cute

 

Carolyn:

Neve sweaters

Fun, warm, great colors and great fit

 

Patagonia Down Sweater

Lightweight and super warm

 

The North Face Capello cord pant

Comfortable, keep their shape and they don’t shrink after washing

 

Ibex Tarrali long sleeve shirt

Soft wool and doesn’t itch!

 

Marc

Ibex Shak

Great year round, warm breathable, wear it as an everyday layering piece. High quality merino wool that doesn’t itch or pill up.

 

C4 10’6” paddle board

Very stable, great to play in the waves, good for short tours around inland lakes and the harbor

 

Werner Spanker

Stiff lightweight paddle that is great for touring, pops out of the water

 

Patagonia Board Short

No itchy mesh liner, good length, can wear them après beach, nice side stash pocket

 

Marmot Superhero

Best softshell jacket I’ve owned! Warm, breathable, and a good cut

 

Stormy Kromer Chopper mit

Nice and toasty for skiing or town

 

Swix LF7 wax

Fast in nearly all conditions, easy to scrape

 

Thule Atlantis Box

Perfect for skis and boards, easy to put on and take off. In the summer it’s great for camping or water gear.

 

George

Patagonia R3 Hi Loft Fleece

The heaviest fleece Patagonia makes. Super warm and fuzzy, pockets in all the right places. Great for layering as well

 

Venture Easky 13 Kayak

Stable and fast, plenty of storage and a comfy cockpit. Perfect boat to do it all in Northern Michigan.

 

Laird 12’1” Paddle Board

Awesome board for paddling the lakes. Perfect board for a bigger paddler, great speed and rock solid stability.

 

Black Diamond Spot Headlamp

Awesome for a late evening bike ride, snowshoeing, and even home repairs. Lightweight, nice size, great battery life.

 

Kaenon Rhino Sunglasses

Best lens out there with a sporty look. I totally forget that I have them on.

 

Chums Sunglass Retainers

An underrated accessory. You’ll never misplace your shades again

 

Leki Makala Trekking Poles

Great for a hike in the woods, better for snowshoeing. A must have for snowshoeing. Easy to adjust, lightweight, and simple.

 

Stohlquist Rocker PFD

By far the most comfortable pfd I have haver put on. Lots of easy to reach pockets and anchor points. I forget that I’m even wearing it.

 

Merrell Chameleon 3 GTX shoes

My favorite everyday shoe. Great support, Vibram sole. In the woods, at work, or around town they are perfect.

 

Patagonia Capiliene Boxers

The most comfortable thing on the planet. Hands down.

 

Will

Kaenon Arlo Sunglasses

Polarized, super-durable, best lens out there

 

Smith V90 Glasses

Perfect for bikes and Nordic skiing. Multiple lens choices, they don’t fog and are so light you forget about them.

 

Olukai Sandals

They don’t break down, not slippery when wet and they don’t smell  after a week

 

Suunto T3 Watch:

Awesome Heart Rate monitor. Easy to use, records weekly and monthly workouts, level of exertion, HR and calories burned. The strap is really comfortable and easy to wash.

 

Prana polo shirt and shorts:

Super light weight and comfortable, good in hot weather and Prana has a great fit.

 

Fischer Carbonlite Skate Skis

So light and fast it is scary! These skis will make you better.

 

Patagonia Fjord Shirt

Nice heavyweight flannel. It will be the most comfortable shirt you own.

 

Smartwool Socks

Any model will be awesome. From bike socks to ski socks, they all fit great, are dry, warm, and hold their shape.

 

Sorel Boots

The perfect winter boot. Warm, dry, and classic style.

 

Patagonia tops and bottoms (any weight)

Warm, dry, great cut, and will last forever