Columbia Clothing Recommendations.

Not all Columbia clothing is created equal. The clothing mentioned below stands out as some of their best.

Columbia Clothing

I don't know about you, but I get tired of trying on clothes that are supposed to be size medium (sleeves, shoulders and neck fit great), but are cut so large through the torso that it makes me look like a flying squirrel.

While the one-size-fits-all cut may save camping gear manufacturers money... they fit terribly. Also, because of the extra fabric, the clothing not only looks unattractive it gets in the way. If that's been your situation too, have a look at one of the best pieces of hiking equipment Columbia has to offer...

Backcountry, a great store I highly recommend as you already know, has the Men's Columbia Clothing Ballistic Vest (there aren't any Women's Columbia vests that I can recommend wholeheartedly at this time). It addresses bulk with what they call their "authentic fit". If you're somebody that likes vests because they eliminate bulk and make it a little bit easier to move you'll probably want to take a look. The microfleece keeps you warm on cool days, and if it turns cold you can just zip it into a compatible Columbia shell with their Interchange zip system.

Pros: Hand pockets along with an additional chest pocket make it easier to find a place to carry your gear. Less bulk means more freedom of movement.

Cons: It doesn't stop the wind from blowing through it, but my guess is that most people looking at vests probably won't have much of an issue with that. By design vests are naturally cooler than jackets... it kind of goes with the territory. :-)

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Another piece of Columbia clothing definitely worthy of consideration is their Silver Ridge Convertible pants.

Columbia's Silver Ridge Convertible Pants (REI, one of the handful of other stores I also recommend, has them.) come with a total of 6 pockets, two in front, two in back and two additional cargo pockets on the sides.

I like pockets, the more storage the better. Even if you don't always have them packed full of gear, it's still nice to have the option to cram a few extra peanut butter and jelly sandwiches into them if need be. ;-)

The really cool thing about them though is that you can zip the legs off when you start to get warm. If it cools down a little in the evening or the mosquitoes come out, just zip the legs back on. The convertibles are also nice because you can save weight and bulk by leaving extra clothing you don't need at home.

Pros: This particular piece Columbia clothing saves weight and bulk. You can change from shorts to pants without having to hide behind a tree. Extra cargo pockets are very handy.

Cons: Uh, I actually had a hard time finding any believe it or not... although nylon can be a little swishy sounding though. ;-)

Besides this page on Columbia clothing you'll probably want to have a look at the Columbia Sportswear page for a couple of great jackets.