CHROME VANYA KNICKERS REVIEW

I've had the chance to wear and ride in a pair of Chrome women's knickers. I've never bought or used any of Chrome's bags/apparel/accessories, so I was a little excited to try a pair out. I've heard of Chrome and their good reputation for strong products that can take a beating and...are made in the USA!

The Vanya is a tough performance riding knicker which is mimicked from the men's classic shins. They are fit for women that work from bike to bar.

These knickers are made with Everest 4 way stretch fabric. I found the fabric to be very soft and comfortable. Thinner than soft shell fabric, but same feel. The knickers feel very durable and well made. I've worn them in both the wind and rain, and I can say after wearing them in a bad windy rain storm, they are very much wind and rain resistant. There is a nice stretch to them and because of the stretch I went down a full size for a perfect fit. I ended up with a medium in charcoal.

I really liked the style of the pants. I'm a fan of the double button at top, and the wider belt loops. It gives it a feminine look, but nothing that girly. I also have always thought 2 buttons fit me better (might just be in my head). The front 2 pockets are loose for extra comfort when riding so they don't dig into your thighs. The pockets are lined with a red mesh. 

There are two pockets on the back, and 1 side zip pocket on the left side. The side zip pocket is nice to put small things you don't want to lose. It's small, and when you actually use it while riding, it feels weird and uncomfortable. Still nice to have.

The bottom hem of the knickers have another cute feminine touch from the men's. The hem goes up into a "V". I think this looks stylish and helps you get away with wearing them all day at work (which I do).

There was one thing that bothered me. The back of the knickers didn't ride up high enough on my back side to go for a ride without being a distraction (if you know what I mean). I solved that by wearing a belt, but it would be really nice to not have to worry about something like that.

I really enjoy these knickers and for me they are the perfect knicker to ride my bike to work, work all day, and then run errands on the way home. The last thing I want is to look like I'm wearing "biking shorts" at work. Yes they are a little more money then other bike knickers, but I think they are worth it, and you get what you pay for! I'm going to go buy myself another pair!

ARC'TERYX ALPHA SL JACKET REVIEW

This is by far my favorite jacket I have ever owned! That's a pretty big statement if you know how many jackets I have owned. I've always been a big fan of Arcteryx outerwear.
Short introduction to Arcteryx. Arcteryx is a Canadian company. All their design is done in house in North Vancouver B.C. Many other brands have taken their designs and production overseas, but Arcteryx while having product assembled in eight other countries including USA and Canada still does all of their product design, R&D, and production development right in B.C. Arcteryx is very high quality durable clothing that is made with the best material around. Just pick up a piece of their clothing and you can tell right away the difference in quality. You definitely pay a premium, but you do get what you pay for, which includes a lifetime warranty.
Alright enough with that. The Alpha SL gets straight to the point, it's a minimalist jacket so there is nothing there that you don't need.


Hood: The hood has lots of room, and lots of adjustment. When buying a jacket I plan on using it while doing many things, and most of those things involve a helmet. A helmet compatible hood is a must for me. There is so much adjustment in this hood I can go from fitting a helmet to fitting snuggly on my head while I dig in the garden.

Pockets: All the zippers on this jacket are water tight. There are 2 chest pockets that open up to easily store more than you think. No inside pocket, no hand pockets. Chest pockets are used so you can still get into your pockets while wearing a harness. While most people are familiar to the traditional hand pockets, you should take note this jacket does not have those. Pit zips are there with two way zippers, they are big, so you can cool off fast.

Material: Gore-Tex Paclite. Anything Gore-Tex is guaranteed to be waterproof. There are many knock off waterproof fabrics, but Gore-Tex is still the best! For me, I never know when I will be stuck out in pouring rain. This happens more than often, and having a jacket that will keep me dry is worth the Gore-Tex name. The Paclite material is thin and can pack down into a small ball. This is great for keeping in your backpack for that day the weatherman was wrong. It weighs 10.8oz which means you probably won't even be able to tell it is there. Other rain jackets that are meant to pack down feel papery to me, and almost translucent in color. Paclite feels tough and durable, and it is! There is no insulation it's a thin shell with the inside lining a black nylon. 

Fitting: I'm female 5'8 and the medium seems to be a perfect fit for me. I normally wear medium in most other brands. The sleeves are a bit longer and cover the tops of my hands even when I'm stretched out on my bike. This is a big plus for me. The length is also hits about top of thigh. To me this is a perfect length. Jackets tend to run more hip length on me. Having that few extra inches I think makes it have a more flattering fit. You can also bend over with out having the jacket slide up your back. You can cinch the hem so it hugs your body more, and keeps that breeze out. It's easy and fast. I can fit my Patagonia Down Sweater under the jacket with out it being too tight, which makes for a perfect layering system for any weather.

I love this jacket and have used it for doing just about everything for the past year. It truly is my go to jacket. More people have commented on this jacket than any other. The best thing for me is the fit. It's just a good fit. What more could you want? This can easily be a do everything jacket. It's held up really well. It's lasted through rain and snow while I was happy and dry inside.