I am already a fan of Columbia Sportwear’s products, especially the long sleeve and short-sleeve Titan Ultra tops. The fabric is superb. It is light, silky against the skin and very breathable and wicking.
So, it was a no-brainer to agree to test more of this brand’s kit. I have been wearing:
- Columbia Women’s Titan Ultra Skort (£55 down to £27.50, although only L and XL left in stock)
- Columbia Women’s short-sleeved short Titan Ultra II shirt (£45, currently £22.50)
- Columbia Women’s Trinity Trail™ Tank (£30 to £18)
Other items in the collection:
- Women’s Titan Ultra™ II Shorts, £45
- Women’s F.K.T. Wind Jacket, £70 (Note: Not UTMB compatible)
Men’s kit:
- Men’s Titan Ultra™ Short Sleeve Shirt, £45
- Men’s Titan Ultra™ II Shorts, £45
- Unisex Montrail™ Race Day Cap, £22
- Men’s F.K.T.™ Wind Jacket, £70 (Note: Not UTMB compatible)
Note: There are plenty of discounts on the Columbia Sportswear site just now.
On test: Columbia Montrail products
The fabrics are lovely. They are light and easy to wear. The t-shirt and tank top feel great against the skin and they very quick drying, even on a hot and sweaty day.
Columbia clothing is a first choice for me when I reach into my kit drawers.
The new Montrail Ultra shirt was strangely large on me. I have always worn size small for a nice neat fit and while the trail tank is a great fit the Ultra Shirt is a very loose fit. I really need to go down a size.
The ultra shirt is great for long-lasting wear without being too whiffy, even under the armpits. It has nice vented sections under the arms and at the back too, which are both good details.
The fabric in the tank must be a little different, it feels a bit heavier, and sadly that does end up with a bit of a BO smell after just one wear.
I have been using Nikwax Basewash to eliminate the odour of sweat and that works a treat. The Basewash is a deodorising cleaner and conditioner for synthetic technical underwear and wicking clothing worn next to the skin.
I really like the fit and shape of the Trinity Trail™ Tank.
The Columbia Women’s Titan Ultra Skort is comfortable and easy to wear. The Lycra shorts leg length is great. If the legs of Lycra shorts and skorts are too short they simply ride up uncomfortably.
I think that perhaps the skirt is a bit long, however. Or maybe it’s the shape of the skirt that I am not so keen on. I prefer a shape that is a little more A-line. This is just a personal thing.
Although I do not overly crazy about the look of this skort (as much as other skorts I own), it is still a great product and does a very good job of being light and easy to wear while also offering a flattering look.
The waist band is soft and comfortable and there is a small zipped pocket at the rear for keys and money, although it is not large enough for a phone.
Columbia Sportwear have great fabrics and good attention to detail.
Review: Columbia Trans Alps F.K.T II UTMB shoe
Another new product is the Columbia Trans Alps F.K.T II UTMB shoe. There is a male and female version.
Features include:
- Seamless upper construction with ripstop reinforcement over open mesh for protection and breathability
- Abrasion and water resistant forefoot shield
- New extra light F.K.T. tongue
- Reinforced toe cap and heel for rocky, mountainous terrain
- FluidFoam midsole for cushioning, flexibility and support
- Full-length rubber outsole with TrailShield technology for protection with reduced weight and stiffness for a more natural transition
- 18mm heel / 10mm forefoot
- 6mm outsole lug height
- Limited edition colour.
- Weight: 265g
- Price: £120 (currently £72)
- See Columbiasportswear.co.uk.
The Columbia Trans Alps F.K.T II UTMB shoe is surprisingly comfortable. I say, “surprisingly”, because I thought the shoes looked flat and clunky. They are not. They fit nicely and the cushioning is great.
There shape is great for the average foot and the toe-to-heel drop will suit you if you like an 8mm drop. It’s a personal thing. I found the drop was absolutely fine for trail running.
The abrasion forefoot shield is a clever idea and has worked well on rocky terrain so far. The reinforced toecap and heel is also welcomed.
However, the idea that there is a forefoot shield for waterproofing seems a bit odd to me. The wet and bog in Scotland usually penetrates more of the shoe and not just the forefoot.
Therefore, the shoe is good for places where runners encounter only shallow puddles but, in the UK, if you want waterproofing, you need a Gore-Tex liner or to wear boots! Remember that running through wet grass also causes the wet to penetrate the whole shoe.
Top tip: It could be a good idea to combine this shoe with a waterproof running gaiter if you want to stop water penetration.
The shoes feel fairly lightweight and the laces stayed tied.
The traction is reasonably good, too. They work well on dry and dusty trails and they are good on dry rocks although not brilliant on wet rocks. The UTMB route, as far as I know, is mostly dry and rocky trails so that is what the soles have been made for. Sadly, we have more wet and mud than in the Alps! It’s worth thinking about where you will wear the shoes.
I have tested shoes with better traction and shoes with worse traction, so I would call these middle-of-the-road.
Overall, this is a nice shoe and one to consider if you are keen to try a new brand. I have seen more people wearing Columbia Trans Alps F.K.T II UTMB shoe so it must be good!
By the way, FKT stands for Fastest Known Time. It’s applied to people who run a route that is not a race route, or standard, and therefore it is not always known if someone else has done a faster time. Generally FKT is a record time.