outerwear Archives | Sports Unlimited Blog

Breaking Down the Best in Winter Vests

The temperature has finally begun to drop, as falls late arrival will undoubtedly be met with an early arriving winter. As we pack away the shorts, sandals, and memories of summer, there are a few things we can look forward to. Of course there’s the holidays, snow days, and the Christmas cookies. But breaking out the cold gear or shopping for some new winter wear is always a great time. Dust off the scarfs and boots and head to your local coffee shop for a seasonally theme beverage.

But as you dress for the winter months, you’ll want to be sure you are properly prepared. The vest has made a return to the fashion world, as more men and women are turning to this functionable attire. Keeping your core warm and your arms free has been vital to those on the move. But with so many clothing brands delivering a range of options, it may be difficult to differentiate between them. Outerwear manufactures Patagonia, Columbia, and The North Face are all well known for producing quality apparel that is designed to handle the elements. Deciding which one is right for you can be tough. To make this shopping experience more enjoyable, we’ve broken down each vest’s fit and construction to help you selected the ideal garment.

Columbia Lake 22 Down Vest

Like the other brands featured, Columbia Sportswear needs no introduction. Headquartered in the Pacific Northwest, the folks at Columbia know a thing or two about outerwear. Their latest feature, of the sleeveless variety, is the Lake 22 Down Vest. Insulated with a 650 fill power down, this vest will keep your body temperate comfortably regulated whether you are on the move or not. It’s polyester shell is water resistant and you can even pack this vest into one of its zippered hand pockets for easy storage and travel. Of the three vests featured, this has the most relaxed or loose fit. It is also slightly longer in length than the other two, which could allow for it to be tucked in if used as a layer in the cold climate.

The North Face Aconcagua Vest

It should be of no surprise that infamous outerwear manufacture The North Face would produce a versatile vest built for the elements. Constructed from a water repellent shell, with 550 filled goose down, and synthetic-insulated side and shoulder panels. This unique design prevents the chill from getting to your core and keeps that ever important body heat close by when out in cold. As you would expect from an environmental aware brand like The North Face, the jacket uses more than 50% recycled materials and the carries the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) by Control Union. The fit on this vest is slightly slimmer than the Columbia, and also shorter in length. Works great for everything from holiday shopping in the city to hiking in the back country.

Patagonia Nano Puff Vest

Windproof, water resistant, and extremely efficient is exactly how you would describe the Nano Puff vest from Patagonia. The 100% recycled polyester shell and lining comes with the durable water repellent (DWR) finish. Unlike The North Face and Columbia vests, the insulation is 100% synthetic, made from top of the line PrimaLoft Gold polyester. What this means from a consumer standpoint is that this vest will keep you remarkable warm, whether it’s wet or dry. For those that are really active or moving indoors and out, you may find synthetic insulation is too effect at retaining heat. If this is your primary use, a down vest could be a better option. The Nano Puff is also much thinner and more form fitting than the other vests, making it ideal to be used as an underneath layer if you are exposed to long periods of low temperatures. Complete with an adjustable drop-tail hem and an internal pocket that doubles as storage bag, this Patagonia vest is a perfect choice if you are looking to add some extra warmth to your wardrobe this winter.

written by Dylan Hamilton, Sports Unlimited

The Best Holiday Outerwear and Winter Jackets

Outfitting active individuals is part of who we are as a company and when the winter hits, what you’re wearing to keep you warm is crucial. We stock the best winter jackets and other outerwear because we know you need high quality materials and stylish designs. Nothing represents that as well as The North Face, Patagonia, Columbia, and many of the other brands that we carry.

This winter, stop by our Outerwear and Winter Jackets section to see the best deals, the best coats, winter hats, glove and snow pants.

End of Season Sale – Winter Edition

It has been cold, quite cold. And as you tire of polar vortexes or vortices or whatever horrifying scientific terms you discover, I want to assure you that winter *does not* last forever. So I am declaring the end of winter. Oh? Well, winter is not technically over, but I am over it. Be gone, I say!

And with the (fake) end of winter, we arrive at the Winter End of Season Sale. Hip, hip, brrr…ay!

Take advantage of some ridiculous deals on The North Face, Under Armour, Patagonia, Sleds, Bern, Oakley and more.

Click the big, beautiful graphic (courtesy of our web-genius, Doug) to land on our Sale!

Polar Vortex, Polar Shmortex

What’s New with Hoodies These Days?

Check out the latest performance and athlete-inspired hoodies from Nike, Under Armour, and Burton, to make your fall and winter more comfortable, and more active!

Not just for teenagers anymore, hooded sweatshirts (or hoodies, as anyone besides my Mom calls them), have quickly become an essential in just about everyone’s closet. The reason? They’re flat out comfortable! Made of cozy, warm, and soft cotton fleece, most people laze around in a hoody on chilly Sundays, grab one before they head out on a fall afternoon, keep one in the car or the office in case the temperature drops, or use them as a layer under a jacket when shoveling snow off the driveway. They’re as comfy as they are versatile…but at the same time, haven’t they become a little stagnant? In this new age of performance wear; moisture wicking shirts, waterproof/breathable shells, quick-drying fleece, electronically heated jackets, and alike…why are our hoodies still the same old, same old? If you read this blog often, you see where I’m going with this.

Womens Hoodies Now, thanks to the same companies (Nike and Under Armour, I’m looking at you) that updated our wardrobe with those high-performance shirts, jackets, socks, pants, and yes, even underwear, we at SU, have in stock, the latest in hoody technology! High-performance, moisture-wicking, weather-resistant, lightweight, athletically-inspired, and still super cozy women’s and mens hoodies are here, and let me tell you, they are some of the best hoodies I’ve ever worn!

Nike

KO Hoody / All Time Hoody

Available as pullover hoodies for men, girls, and boys, in a variety of colors and styles, the Nike KO Hoodie has been around for a few seasons, and was one of the first true “performance hoodies” on the market. The All Time Hoody and All Time Swoosh are similar performance hoodies for women, specifically designed with more feminine seams and styles.

Every Nike KO and All Time Hoody is made with their proprietary Therma-FIT microfiber fleece fabric, a combination of cotton and polyester that is lightweight, breathable, insulated, and wind-blocking, keeping you warm and protected from the elements, without weighing you down. The material is really comfortable and smooth to the touch, noticeably different than traditional, rougher and natural-feeling cotton fleece.

Other important features include:

Dri-FIT moisture wicking mesh-lined hood, perfect for regulating temperature when you get active
Flat-lock stitching that prevents chafing when moving
Athletic design and fit that is more tapered than generously cut, for a great and flattering look

Nike KO Hoodies go well with Nike KO Fleece Pants, available for girls and boys, and made of the same performance Therma-FIT and Dri-FIT materials.

Under Armour

Team Fleece Hoodies

A classically styled pullover hoodie, the popular Under Armour Team Fleece Hoodie may look basic, but like every piece of Under Armour ColdGear, its design is anything but! Made of proprietary 2-Layer ArmourFleece polyester material, these sweatshirts are made to seal in heat and seal out the elements, while breathing, wicking moisture, and leaving you feeling comfortable and cozy.

An inner layer of brushed, soft, and comfortable polyester fleece fabric feels great against the skin and pulls sweat off the body.
A smooth outer layer is quick-drying and water-resistant, for a unique feel, and incredible performance.

Perfect for running, practicing, or training in cold, light rain, or snow, these loosely fit, minimally styled pullover hoodies are as comfortable as your favorite traditional cotton sweatshirt, but do so much more. Available for adults and youth.

Charged Cotton Storm Hoody

The latest and greatest addition to the world of performance hoodies, and possibly one of the best hoodies I’ve ever worn, the Under Armour Charged Cotton Storm is the first high-performance cotton hoodie that also slices through water, rain, snow, sleet, and hail like a samurai sword!

Utilizing Under Armour’s now-famous Charged Cotton material, which dries faster and wicks more moisture than any other cotton fabric out there, the Storm hoody takes it one step further, adding a DWR (that’s Durable, Water-Repellent) finish, to keep moisture out of the fabric. That means you can throw this baby on in the rain, sleet, or snow, and jog to the gym, bike to the store, or just run to the car, and come out safe (and dry) on the other side. It also means you can get as active as you want on chilly or cold days, and this hoody will wick that sweat off you, and keep you warm and dry…all with the look, the touch, the feel of cotton.

Available as a pullover or zip up hoodie, in dozens of colors, with Under Armour Charged Cotton Storm Fleece Pants to match, these water-resistant hoodies will blow you away!

Burton

Bonded Fleece Hoodie

If you’re looking for a sick snowboarding or skater hoodie to keep you warm and dry on the mountain this year, the fine people over at Burton have something really special for you. The unique and best-selling Burton Bonded Hoodie is the perfect combination of rider-inspired comfort and performance, designed with a brushed and soft interior, and a harder “shell-like” smooth outer. Performance-ready, the DryRide Thermex fleece fabric is incredibly breathable, quick-drying, and warm, with a really cool feel. That means while the rest of your friends are trying to shred powder, freezing and soaked through in their old (and quite lame) cotton sweatshirts, you’ll be cutting them up in something way above their heads.

By Brandon Porter.Brandon is a product specialist at Sports Unlimited.

New Life Is Good Spring 2012 Apparel!

With all of this cold, grey winter weather, the warm greenery of spring may seem impossibly far off. But to the people at Life is good, the scents of backdoor barbeques and fresh cut grass, the sounds of softly strumming guitars, and the joys of pure relaxation are never out of reach. That’s why we figured there was no better time than now to unveil the brand new Life is good spring line at Sports Unlimited, and to reveal our sweet new life is good deal! Stock up on these new styles, and when you buy 2 life is good shirts, get the 3rd 50% off! Sweet deal right?

2012 Life is good Women’s Spring Line:

Celebrating the many moods of the season, the new life is good women’s apparel spring line delivers a range of new, cool colors and styles, offering something for everyone and every occasion. Check out a few of our new favorites:

Perfect for all of those outdoor concerts this spring, the soft, semi-fitted Tune In Heart Women’s Creamy Graphic T-Shirt will keep you comfortable and uniquely stylish while you rock out to the sweet tunes of the season!
For cool spring nights under the stars, nothing is more cozy than the life is good Women’s Softwash Zippity Full Zip Hoodie!
The life is good Heart Four Seasons T-Shirt rocks a vintage style with a high-quality, feminine shape for a look that is all your own!

2012 Life is good Men’s Spring Line:

The latest life is good men’s wear continues to honor all that is man! From fishing to camping, golfing to barbecuing, life is good men’s spring apparel details the best parts of being a guy this season!

When there’s nothing better than just getting away from it all, make sure you take along the Life is good Man Cave Men’s T-Shirt!
Long sleeved and perfect for cool, evening baseball games with friends at the park, or in the stands under the big lights at the stadium, the Life is good Game On Baseball shirt will keep you comfortable and cool while you soak in the game.
The life is good Grill Seeker men’s t-shirt is a perfect gift for the master chef of your backyard!

Life is good for the kids too! The life is good kids apparel spring line has the coolest school clothes and weekend tee’s to keep them stylish, with that unique flare. Plus, there is no higher quality brand than life is good, so you know these shirts will last through years of horsing around!

Known for their unimaginably comfortable shirts and sweatshirts, sporting the cool colors of the seasons and uniquely heartwarming graphics, life is good has built their success by embodying happiness. What started with a simple t-shirt and the undeniably lovable grin of their character “Jake,” has evolved into full lines of apparel and accessories that define the many things that make life good! But it’s what life is good does outside of the stores that makes them really unique, and what makes them a favorite here at SU. Constantly and consistently charitable, life is good is dedicated to improving the lives of children everywhere, and hosts countless festivals every year to raise money for causes that bring joy and education to kids around the globe. So when you rock life is good this spring, know that you’re also making life a little better for others!

Heated Jackets and More Hot New Gadgets for the Holidays

Do you want to give the gift that gets the most “Oh’s” and “Ah’s” this year? The gift that they’ll remember, and also turns the neighbors a slight shade of jealous green? Then I’ll pass along some advice my father gave me years ago; “Get me some new cool stuff for once!” Ah, dad was always so forthcoming with the nuggets of knowledge…

Seriously though, what’s cooler than the latest new technology and new gadgets?

How about something hot? No Paris, not like that. I mean, actually hot.

Something that combines the latest technologies and coolest gadgetry with warm toasty heat!

Well, if you read the title of this blog post, then you know we’ve already got you covered.

Heated jackets, heated vests, heated boots, and heated socks have come to Sports Unlimited, and they are literally the hot ticket items this holiday season (sorry for the bad pun, but I couldn’t help myself)! Designed with the most advanced microwire and space-age compound heating panels, all powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, these pieces of heated clothing and heated apparel warm you to the core this winter. With technologies originally developed for the U.S. military, companies like Ansai and Gerbings have recently lead the charge (sorry, the puns keep on coming!) of bringing electronically heated vests, jackets, and heated gloves to the masses, in fashionable, casual, and comfortable designs, colors, and style

Other companies, like Columbia and Wenger, have developed and perfected the electric heated boot, to keep your toes, feet, and ankles nice and toasty when you trek out into the chill this season! The Bugathermo and Boar heated boots are perfect for the adventurer, hiker, or snow-shoveler in your life.

And speaking of hot winter gadgets for the holidays, check out the latest in winter glove technology! Didn’t know there was winter glove technology? Well then, it’s time to meet the North Face Etip gloves! The coolest thing to happen to gloves since the mitten, the North Face Etip features innovative material on the fingers that actually let you use your touch screen Smart Phones, iPod, iPad, and other iParaphernalia right through the glove! No more sliding off your gloves to make a call, or trying to change the song with your cold nose. Now your hands can stay warm while you stay connected thanks to these and similar touch gloves.

Finally, for the guy or gal on the go in your life, we present the Nathan VITAband! Now, this isn’t a winter-specific gadget, and it won’t keep you warm in the winter, but we all know how much runners are obsessed with the latest and greatest athletic gadgets andgizmos, and this one is honestly way too cool not to tell you about here. Get this; the Nathan VITAband is the first ID bracelet that stores emergency contact information and a personal emergency profile, and also acts as a convenient contactless payment system for water, energy bars, and other goodies on the go! That means you just strap on the lightweight wrist band, and that’s all you need. No more running with a wallet in your pocket, or a couple dollars and your ID clipped into your sports bra. You link the debit chip in the band to a credit card, load your personal emergency medical info onto the service and you’re safe, secure, and protected whenever you head out for a long run. Trust me, this is going to be the “it” gift of the season, and will make a perfect stocking stuffer for active folks, so get in on it early and pick one up at Sports Unlimited.

Think Pink: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

TNF Breast Cancer Awareness Denali — The North Face Women's Breast Cancer Awareness Denali Fleece Jacket

Sports Unlimited has always been devoted to bringing you the highest quality, most advanced, stylish, and high-performing sporting goods and active wear on the market today. And as many of you know, we’ve also been passionate about improving the lives of those fighting cancer, by donating to Livestrong, giving to local charities, and helping friends and family out around the Philadelphia area (our home town). This October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Sports Unlimited is able to combine our two passions in our brand new “Think Pink” section, chock full of amazing outerwear and gear from brands like The North Face, Cutters, Reebok, and Oakley, touched with the classic pink ribbon and color that shows your support for breast cancer awareness. In fact, for every purchase you make from this section, these manufacturers donate a portion of the sale price to help spread the word, raise awareness, and fund research for breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cures.

If you’ve been watching the NFL recently (and we hope you have), you’ve seen almost every player sporting something pink on the gridiron. Whether it’s with a pair of Cutters Pink Breast Cancer Football Gloves or a Pink Breast Cancer Wrist Coach, these gargantuan warriors are showing their support for their friends, loved ones, and total strangers all over the world battling cancer every day. How about joining in their fight and taking your next snap with a new pair of pink football gloves or a pink chin strap? The only question is, are you tough enough to rock pink?

But Think Pink doesn’t just stop at the end zone. All month, across the country, the Susan G. Komen Foundation is holding Races for the Cure to raise money for breast cancer research. Find the Race for the Cure near you, sign up, and then check out our selection of Pink Ribbon water bottles, runner’s reflective vests, and socks, to stay comfortable and pink during the race!

However you support, however you participate, and however you spread the word, when you Think Pink this month, and throughout the year, you add your voice to the swell of love that helps people fight and drives others towards a cure. You become a spokesperson for loved ones, and a source of information for others. You become part of a community of women and men that grows by the day, and will see the end of breast cancer in our future.

Thanks for your continued support, and a happy fall to everyone!

Ski Gear and Snowboard Gear

Winterize thyself

Depending on where you live, you may have felt the effects of this year’s winter. Here in the Greater Philadelphia area…we have. But there’s no reason to have the winter blues. Instead, be a half-glass-full kind of person and embrace this winter gold. Go skiing or snowboarding. Try snowshoeing. Me, personally? I’m going skiing tomorrow at Jack Frost in Pennsylvania. It’s much more fun playing in the snow than it is sitting inside miserably.

So if you’re near the mountains and are planning a ski trip, make sure to get geared up, because there is nothing worse than being unprepared for the snow.

Ski and Snowboard gear can be confusing, but that’s why we’re here. That means layer up with thermals and baselayers, such as the popular Under Armour ColdGear Action Leggings. Wear a fleece jacket for warmth, such as The North Face El Cap Trek 1/4 Zip. Then top it off with a waterproof ski jacket.

Equipment wise, winter gloves are essential (See: Harry, Dumb and Dumber). And make sure to have waterproof gloves, because the only thing worse than being unprepared is cold, wet fingers while skiing or snowboarding. Gerbing’s Men’s S-2 Heated Gloves, (yes, heated gloves) are a gift to mankind, as they can heat up to 135 degrees Fahrenheit! A more economically wise choice would be the Gordini Men’s Gore-Tex Challenge XII Gloves which offer plenty of high quality Gore-Tex warmth and dry protection to fulfill your needs.

Neck warmers are a very underrated but important piece to the snow sport ensemble. They provide warmth at a critical area of the body, the neck and mouth.

Lastly, a ski helmet and ski goggles are imperative to anyone who thinks their brain is a somewhat important bodily organ. Back in the day, wearing a helmet while skiing or snowboarding might have been a big fashion no-no, but nowadays, its commonplace. The negative stigma of wearing a helmet is gone; people have finally wised up. Buying a helmet seems like a small price to pay to protect your BRAIN.

Ski goggles not only enhance your vision and protect your eyes from the wind, but they also look pretty sweet.

Take a look at the Oakley Splice Ski Goggles – Black Grey Shattered / Black Iridium, and just tell me those don’t look B.A.

So get out of the house, gear up, and embrace the winter wonderland that mother nature has offered us. And when you do go skiing or snowboarding, don’t try and act all macho by not getting the proper equipment to battle the elements. Prepare yourself and get all the necessary equipment.

Or, you could just wing it, and end up like this guy:

Fail.

Winter Sale – FINAL DAY!

Today is the Final Day of the mega-popular Winter Sale! Find major discounts on anything from Mens Outerwear, Womens Outerwear, to Winter Gear (including Ski Helmets and Ski Goggles)!

Make sure to check out the The North Face Mens Apex Bionic Jacket, this year’s most popular men’s jacket from The North Face, on sale in select sizes and styles.

Still not convinced? How’s an extra 5% off your order sound? That’s exactly what today’s email newsletter included! Don’t miss out on future deals by signing up for our email list at the bottom of our home page.