Gear Review: Falling findings

Fall is the time to snuggle up with favorite sweaters, jackets, blankets, and more: Here’s a roundup of some fall findings.

1. Kühl Dani Sherpa Trench

I absolutely love this stylish and comfortably fitted trench coat, made of Italian faux leather microsuede bonded to an inner layer of cozy sherpa fleece. A blend of wool and spandex in the side body and underarms allows for unbulky warmth and freedom of movement. The removable hood makes it very versatile; I usually keep it attached for inevitably windy days, and it lies nice and flat when it’s not in use. Zippered side pockets keep hands warm during this shoulder season when I’m not at all ready to carry gloves. The outer shearling detail within the stitching completes the jacket with a mountainy, yet sophisticated detail. $349, Kühl.com.

2. Norrona Femund PureUll Long Sleeve and Leggings

Norrona’s Femund collection honors Norway’s Femund national park. Both the long-sleeve midlayer shirt and leggings, the latter of which they call “longs,” feature 100% merino wool. It holds in body heat and wicks away moisture for effective warmth and is naturally odor-resistant, which is always a plus. The way it’s constructed provides high durability, meaning it resists pilling, snagging, and other wear and tear. Made in Europe, the wool is internationally certified and provides a lightweight fabric with a longer back cut so it tucks nicely into pants and includes chafe-free seams. $129 each, Norrona.com.

3. Finisterre Women’s Mora Knit Sweater

Using wool from the only certified merino flock in the United Kingdom, Finisterre focuses on quality, sustainability, and traceability. This 100% merino wool sweater is the feminine version of the traditional fisherman knit, providing a relaxed, yet flattering, fit. Its subtle colored flecks from the textured yarn add interest to the rib sweater. Originally designed for fishermen in wet, windy weather, it contains nearly double the yarn of a plain knit sweater, making it warm, soft, and cozy in cold weather, yet still breathable. $165, Finisterre.com.

4. PAKA Women’s Hoodie

A nice dark purple, in this case called “fig,” has been popular lately, and this hoodie adds a rich jewel tone to my fall and winter wardrobe. All of PAKA’s sustainable and quality materials remain in this women’s hoodie, a redesigned, feminine cut of the popular unisex hoodie. This refresh delivers a more flattering look, with a slightly longer back that makes it perfect for leggings — a little, but not too much, bootie shows. Rib stitching on the sides promote freedom of movement, and, like all PAKA products, it’s breathable, soft, and regulates temperature with its sustainable alpaca fibers (65%). It provides warmth without being bulky, which is perfect for the transition from light summer clothing to necessarily warmer wear; with this, I hardly notice I’m wearing “fall” and “winter” clothing — yet it’s great for cool summer nights, and it has beloved thumbholes. Also available in grey and darker green, for $149, PakaApparel.com.

5. Therma-A-Rest Honcho Poncho

Call it overkill, but there have already been a few mornings where I wake up so cold that I wear my poncho over clothes to work in my north-facing home office. It effectively and quickly warms me up, so then I can set it aside for the next chilly day. It’s also obviously great to cozy up with around a campfire — it’s like wearing a lightweight, mini sleeping bag, which is just fun — it makes me feel like a kid again. The insulated poncho unzips into a blanket with water-resistant insulation. Its kangaroo pocket keeps hands warm outdoors, and it conveniently packs into its own storage pocket. $134.95, CascadeDesigns.com.

6. HeartWorks ‘Ebb and Flow’ Energy Embrace Blanket

First of all, HeartWorks is just a heartwarming and cool concept: it uses animal-created paintings, rather than human (or AI) artwork, for its products. Its proprietary HeartMath-integrated method promotes energy alignment with each animal so that the “painting” they generate (first with paint on paper) carries an intended frequency, such as grounding. I feel cozy in all kinds of blankets, but I really do feel calmer and more grounded when working on my laptop with this blanket over my legs. Some might call it the placebo effect or color therapy, with the blues, purples, and whites, but whatever it is, I love it. I also truly do feel Sofi’s playful and vibrant spirit — she’s the horse who hoofed the design. Plus, it’s lightweight and super-velvety soft. Comes in three sizes. $77-$157.25, depending on size and design.

7. Kuiu Brawley Canvas Jacket

My husband is highly attached to this water-resistant, work-grade jacket, and he’s pretty picky when it comes to clothing; it has to be light, soft, and easy to move in. He’s usually working outside or on bicycles or motorcycles in the garage, so this heavy-duty, four-way stretch canvas with a reinforced double panel overlay on the elbows is perfect for his, let’s say, non-carefulness when it comes to protecting his clothing. Eyelets under the arms help vent extra heat, which he also appreciates since he usually runs hot. Other features include a zippered chest pocket, open interior and hand pockets, adjustable snap cuffs, and snap packet front closure. While some work jackets look just okay when men wear them, I have to say, this looks excellent. Right now, it’s on sale for an excellent price, so consider early holiday shopping. $199 regularly, Kuiu.com.

8. BRANWYN Essential Compressive Leggings

BRANWYN’s compression leggings, which previously only came in a 28-inch inseam, are now available in a 25-inch inseam, along with new colors in sizes XS-XXL. The 76% blend of thermos-regulating merino wool offers both warmth and breathability, providing more merino wool than any other performance fabric. The 14% nylon and 10% elastane adds to the tight compression these leggings provide. I love the “stay golden” message — a nod to “The Outsiders” poignant “stay gold” message. It holds up wash after wash, but it also holds onto dog hair, and I found the high-waisted ribbing a bit uncomfortable around my belly and lower rib when sitting. $158, Branwyn.com.

9. Litheli U20 Handy+ 20V Cordless Leaf Blower

I’m not a fan of yardwork noise, but this 20-volt leaf blower is, relatively speaking, extremely quiet. Granted, its 85-mph speed is not the most powerful on the market, but for light to moderate home use, it’s great. Lightweight (4.4 pounds) and cordless, it’s incredibly easy to put together and use. My mom uses a much more powerful one to blow dog hair out of her car, and it’s quite overkill, so this one is perfect for that kind of application, as well as removing leaves from decks and driveways. Its max speed mode increases air flow for heavier-duty projects, as opposed to its high speed, and its FastCool fan prevents overheating. $109.99 (on sale currently for $59.99), Litheli.com.