Pave the Way for comfort and style….

Danielle Denton

I wore my Pave the Way Jacket by Columbia almost every day this week. Being a woman I am always conscious of how my clothing fits and looks on my body. I was very enthused when I put it on and it fit like a glove. A lot of times with jackets I try on they either fit well in the shoulders and arms and not the bust and mid or the complete opposite. When I put on the Pave the Way Jacket the sleeves were the correct length so I was scared to zip it up. I was relieved to see how well it fit every area of my torso. It is a very flattering jacket and as I’m sure anyone can relate it’s so much easier to enjoy life when you feel good in your clothing. I am able to completely focus on the experience when my clothing meets my needs.

It is made with Omni-Technology that keeps you dry from the inside out. The first layer of defense is an Omni-Shield to protect even the inner layers of the jacket. Second is a microporous membrane that provides an extreme defense to prevent water from passing through. The layers provide many wicking properties that make the jacket waterproof and breathable. Another great feature is the stretchiness of the100% polyester Balata Stretch fabric to allow for comfort and flexibility. The hem and hand cuffs are adjustable for extra protection from wind and water. The jacket has reflective detailing to keep you safe at all hours. Something I absolutely love is the side pockets. They are lined with a soft fabric and since I always have cold hands it is great for me to have a warm pocket. In most water resistant jackets the pockets are worthless. I’m positively surprised every time I put my hands in the pockets. Those small features in my opinion make a large difference in my overall comfort and determine how much I wear certain clothing.

I plan on wearing this jacket on a lot of outings to test out how it holds up with extensive use. One last great feature is the back zip pocket. It is great for my running needs. It’s big enough to carry GU, extra food, money, IPOD, or anything I want to bring along. Since it’s on the low my back I think it will sit perfectly and not bother me with my stride. I put my hands in my side pockets a lot so it would be nice to have them empty and still be able to carry my extra items. One small thing I noticed is the stiffness of the zipper. Because of the water barrier it is hard to get up. However, this does not dampen my enthusiasm towards wearing it for all my needs. I can wear it in the outdoors for that practical use or just for a cute jacket to wear to school. I’m excited to have a jacket that is not only extremely comfortable, but looks great.

Check back in about a month to see how well this jacket can hold up against extensive use….

Check it out for yourself

Following up with the Pave the Way Jacket……

I have had my Pave the Way jacket for a little over a month and have worn it a ton. Ya know how you worry about having plenty of cute jackets, but usually there’s one front runner that you end up wearing 99.9% of the time? I pretty much always grab the Pave the Way because it fits great, is very cute, and meets all my needs because it is very functional. I have worn it in a rainstorm and it proved to be waterproof and kept me warm. It’s not too thick and works great as a wind breaker. I mentioned the lined side pockets before and they are still my favorite feature and are great to keep my hands nice and warm.
One thing I found didn’t work for me was running in the jacket. I felt like I was swimming inside it. It was raining one day and I decided to go for a nice 10 mile run so I put on a tank top under my Pave the Way and off I went. For the first couple miles I was fine, but then the jacket started bugging me a lot. It was sticking to my skin and I felt completely soaked inside. I thought maybe it was just the humidity from the rain so I tried running in it again with a t-shirt under it this time, but it was the same. That is my only complaint and even that won’t stop me from wearing it all the time. It is my favorite jacket I own at the moment and I thoroughly enjoy having it on. I feel very comfortable and most importantly, warm.

Check back for updates in about another month and see how it holds up………

Check it out for yourself

A Final Look at the Pave the Way Jacket…..

My Pave the Way Jacket from Columbia has proved to be one of my all time favorite jackets and it has been so much fun to have. I wear it all the time now that it’s getting nice and cold and rainy. It always keeps me dry and warm and able to enjoy my day. It still fits just right and the fleece lined pockets provided for great relief to my cold hands. I recently went on a trip down to St. George and was able to do some great Conyoneering and Rock Climbing. My jacket was perfect for deep down in the slot canyon where it gets very cold. It kept me at just the right temperature to have a fun time.

On our last day we were climbing at Prophesy and it started to rain. I was protected in my jacket from the rain and was able to climb up and clean the routes without being uncomfortable. It was great in both of those activities and I hope to take it on my cross country ski outings in the upcoming winter. I would most definitely recommend this jacket to anyone that is looking for a light yet protective jacket that will keep you warm while doing light activity. When it gets a little colder its perfect for layering either with a sweater underneath or a heavier jacket over the top to keep you at the perfect temperature. It has held up to a lot of use and I hope it will continue to do so for a long time to come.