I've been accused of being extremely particular, wildly OCD, and annoyingly, relentlessly opinionated. This probably goes a long way to explaining why I am unmarried, but it also offers up a unique use for the blog:

Gear reviews!

So I've decided to add a new feature to the blog. Tech Tuesdays. Technically, it won't have to be Tuesdays. Nor will it always be tech, but I appreciate alliteration so that's what I'm calling it.

Since we are well into my favorite time of year, climbing season, and my second favorite time of year is fast approaching with the coming mountain snow, let's talk about insulation! Let's talk about warmth! Let's talk mid-layers.

I've got a closet full of midlayers. Cotton sweaters from Banana Republic, Icebreaker wool pullovers, zip top Polartech and generic, brand X, polyester fleece. But nothing works as well as this .

I first discovered the Polartech Powerstretch before my Kili trip in 2000. At the time, $75 for a sweater seemed an outrageous sum unless a whole herd of alpacas was being slaughtered for my own warmth and comfort. But I figured at nearly 20K feet, I wouldn't be as worried about the $75 as I would be about, oh, hypothermia. So I picked one up, and I'm SO glad I did.

Over the years, I've had three or four of these from various brands. Generally speaking, I still think the REI house brand offers the most bang for the buck. The Powerstretch material has without any doubt, the best balance of weight, comfort, insulation, mobility, durability, and, uniquely, wind resistance than any other midlayer I have tried.

Most fleece tops, including even the best Icebreaker wool tops, insulate as well as a fishnet stocking as soon as the wind starts to blow. They all almost certainly require some kind of top layer as a shell. The Powerstretch, on the other hand, with it's smooth finish, seems to offer at least a reasonable level of comfort when the fall Santa Ana winds threaten to take you right off the top pitch of Figures on a Landscape in Joshua Tree. They weigh next to nothing, and although they won't pack as tight as basic Polartech, they make up for it in added comfort, durability, and mobility.

They are not as versatile as a softshell - if you are really in adverse/diverse conditions and are looking to shave layers for one, single solution, the softshell is still your best bet. Climbing Black Velvet Canyon in winter? Bring the softshell.

Personally, however, I like to layer. I wear/pack more clothing, but I can more accurately regulate my temperature and comfort based on my activity level and the conditions. Hiking? Pack the layers and move with a base layer T-shirt. Climbing in the shade? Ditch put on the Powerstretch. Belay? Add a shell and stay toasty at the base of the climb, tossing out words of encouragement while you sip coffee from your insulated hydration pack.

There are downsides to the Powerstretch. They won't stay stink free like wool, nor are they ecologically harvested from the hides of free range polyester sheep. And they are probably almost as flammable as an aerosol can of hair spray. Get a little too close to the wood burning stove apres ski, and it will probably keep you really, REALLY warm - at least until the fire brigade arrives. They can't be had for $15 on sale at Old Navy. It doesn't do any one thing the best. But it does do pretty much everything. And for a midlayer, that's OK with me.