Like we talked about a couple weeks ago, it’s a big part of my job to help my readers find the highest performing, best value gear out there. I take no money from brands; I work for you. I want to get that out of the way up front, because this newsletter is going to be all about one brand: Beyond Clothing.
Over the last couple of years, Beyond has evolved into quite possibly my favorite clothing brand, outside of Sitka (which is getting better and better at enabling me to wear it outside of hunting), and Filson. It’s no accident that Beyond and Sitka stuff feels very similar, Rick Elder, who runs Beyond, used to work with Sitka’s John Barklow back when the two of them were reinventing how special operations forces soldiers dressed in the mountains.
The innovation both Beyond and Sitka have brought to consumers are clothing systems that employ the latest technologies to help manage how moisture moves within your layers. When you’re doing gnarly stuff in awful weather, it’s often impossible, or impractical to stay dry, so focussing instead on moving moisture away from your body as efficiently as possible actually keeps you much drier, and much more comfortable.
And, those latest technologies like Polartec Alpha and Primaloft Gold are genuinely worth getting excited about. Alpha is, by quite a remarkable margin, the most versatile mid-layer I’ve ever worn. It’s both more breathable, and considerably warmer than any other fleece-like material ever made. Primaloft Gold is simply the warmest lofted insulation material I've found. It’s doubly good because it’s not just warm-when-wet, but for the first time, warm-when-compressed, too.
Over Sitka, Beyond produces stuff that can be worn in a broader range of circumstances, from day hikes, to city breaks, to air travel, to mountaineering. The brand employs strong colors (although I hate its light green), athletic fits, and very high quality construction. It has two ranges: Axios is Berry-compliant, intended for Government agency purchase, and is subsequently quite expensive. Kyros is made in Asia, targeted at normal consumers, is equally well made, and actually able to take advantage of more technologies than are possible onshore.
I'm telling you all this because Beyond is having a sale right now that's seeing some of this stuff marked down 75 percent. It's all good, but let me point out some of my favorites.
(As a strong caveat, Beyond’s stuff is mostly targeted at men. Other than the Ventum soft shell, their limited range of women’s clothes is hideous.)
Cetra Durable K7 Jacket
Marked down from $250 to $125, this thing is one of the warmest jackets I own. Which is crazy, because its insulation is not all that thick. Thank the Primaloft Gold. It’s cut boxy and has some awkward features like hand cuffs that come up to your knuckles. Those actually do work to help keep your hands warm inside gloves, but make layering inside a little awkward. A great jacket for times when you just want to put on something and stay warm, no matter what.
Testa Softshell Pant
$68 instead of $135. This laminated fleece soft shell is my favorite winter pant of all time. Wears like a set of pajamas, but is very warm, and highly weather resistant. Add a set of base layers, and you’ll be good in pretty much any temperature. They’re not so heavy that you can't wear them inside though. I wear these all day, every day, from December to March.
Guide Glove
$88 instead of $135. Absolutely the warmest glove I’ve ever worn, while retaining very good dexterity. Kinda looks like a Hestra Fall Line, but much warmer. Also impressively well made. I don't bother with anything else in temps below 20. Buy some of their bee’s wax to waterproof them.
Guide Lite Glove
Almost as dextrous as the Hestra Ergo Grip Active, in a much burlier, slightly warmer package. Double layer leather over the finger tips makes these not quite as good for shooting as the Hestra’s, but they’re better in every other way. Also weather proof with that Beyond bee’s wax.
A3 Alpha Sweater
If you don’t already own an Alpha mid-layer, buy this before they sell out. With 80 grams of the stuff, it’ll be as warm as an ultralight down jacket, but more breathable than something like a Patagonia R1. Normally $210, currently $85. Couldn’t encourage you to buy this more strongly.
A5 Stretch Alpha Jacket
I just got the Kyros version of this, the Aptus, and couldn’t be more impressed. This thing's the same, just made in America and currently cheaper, at $158 (instead of $400!). It layers Alpha between a stretch woven, DWR-treated soft shell, and a grid fleece inner, to create one very warm, very breathable, incredibly versatile do-it-all jacket. You’ll never want to take it off.
That’s the stuff I know through experience you’ll find unprecedentedly high performing. But I’ve been so impressed with these items I can’t imagine you’ll be disappointed by any of the rest of the range, either. Unless you’re a woman, in which case you'll sadly be forced to look elsewhere.
This was a great recommendation and it was my introduction to Beyond Clothing!
I have skied 5 days with my Guide gloves and could not be happier. Excellent quality and dexterity, and hands down the warmest gloves I've tried. My fingers run cold so I usually break out the mittens in temps below 30, but the Guide gloves just held up for me on consecutive days in the mid teens. My Black Diamond Mercury Mittens are still slightly warmer, but come at high cost of being a mitten (and must be taken off in order to do anything practical...).
Consider me a convert.
Hoping to refresh this for the coming cold weather months. Would you recommend a good rain pant. I'm in the Northeast, light trekking, around town looks - but dry. These drenching rains (thanks climate change) have me questioning some manufacturer's waterproof claims. Male, 6'4 250lbs. Love the Beyond recs (testa, guide gloves) thanks to you - and I've read the Sitka reviews, but, as a non-hunter, I would look silly LARPing as one.