Gear Reviews & News
Winter 2010
Gear.com
Core Concepts Whiskey River Hybrid
"...I saw this little beauty… the new Whiskey River Hybrid shirt. It’s a long-sleeve casual shirt with a little extra sauce. That extra sauce is in the innovative construction.
The outer is a soft nylon face with a DWR treatment and is backed by soft and lightweight jersey knit polyester. It’s versatile enough to wear as an outer layer in a jiffy yet comfortable enough for an impromptu high adventure with Mary Poppins (when you have kids, you’ll know). This long-sleeve is available in four colors and will hit the stores this Fall with a $90 pricetag..."
Link to Full Review
GearJunkie.com
Core Concepts Switchback Series
"Let’s face it, the reality of utilizing layering is only effective if you have somewhere to stash the layers as you peel them off. Personally, I am not a big fan of the classic tie-around-the-waist method, and often I will suffer through an activity leaving an extra layer on. Now, thanks to the “Zip, Flip and Stash” system pioneered by Core Concepts, it is possible to shed layers and tuck them away in a zippered compartment in the back of the shirt..."
Link to Full Review
FeedTheHabit.com
Core Concepts Uncle Ben Bibs Gear Review
"The Uncle Ben Bibs were my pants of choice for an uber-cold day at Solitude Resort... and despite the single-digit temps, I was warm and cozy all morning. The Schoeller bib material is soft and comfy despite being form-fitting. Core Concepts did a great job selecting this fabric as it remains one of the premiere “softshell” fabrics on the market..."
Link to Full Review
ActiveGearReview.com
Core Concepts Sprint Zip Neck Gear Review
"The Core Concepts Sprint Zip Neck has added a new twist to your traditional running top. The Sprint Zip Neck has the “Zip Flip & Stash” system; at the lower back there is a wide zipper storage area which turns inside out to store the entire top inside and has a small buckle system to wear the flipped out top around your waist. We loved this concept because many times you overdress on a run and get overheated; tying your top around your waist is cumbersome and it always slips around on your hips. This does not happen with the “Zip Flip & Stash” system..."
Link to Full Review
Winter 2009
USA Today
Holiday Gift Guide
Double Shot Softshell: "The great feature about it -- it's long if you want to stay warm around your hips, but for going out to the bars after skiing, you can unzip the bottom and you've got a really stylish jacket."
Link to Full Video Clip
Gear.com
Core Concepts Uncle Ben Bibs
Initial Thoughts: "I’ve had these for a few weeks and have finally been able to take them out into the Winter weather. My initial take is they feel very high-quality and have some great features..."
Link to Full Review
Fall 2009
The Idaho Statesman
Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts for $100 or less for the outdoor lover
Cadence Hoodie: "This women's base layer looks so good that it doesn't have to be hidden under layers. It's a piece of performance clothing that is warm, breathable and moisture-wicking..."
Link to Full Article
SKI Magazine
Rad Plaid
"The Old Faithful Zip Neck from Core Concepts has just about everything you want in a base layer: function, comfort and style..."
Link to Full Review
SKI Magazine
Real Slope Style
"Lots of companies claim their base layers are stylish enough to wear on or off the slopes, but this time it’s actually true. The Cadence Hoodie from Core Concepts is warm..."
Link to Full Review
Outside Magazine - Winter 2010 Buyer's Guide
Backcountry Base Layers
"Brrr Dude Zip Neck -- The waffle-grid backing inside this stretchy fleece zip-t dramatically boosts surface area, speeding sweat evaporation. The smooth exteriror lets it slip easily into midlayer sleeves..."
Complete Winter Buyer's Guide online in mid-November
July 2009
The Boise Weekly
Outdoor Clothing Companies Go Green
"Consumers are looking for environmentally friendly options," said Noah Bryan, president of Boise-based Core Concepts. "It has a lot to do with where people's awareness is now..."
Link to Full Article
April 2009
The Seattle Times
"Our female testers found the Carve Full Zip from Boise-based Core Concepts to be one of their all-time favorite spring jackets. The Carve utilizes a hard-faced Polartec Wind Pro fabric for weather protection and warmth. The Wind Pro blocks four times more wind than standard polar fleece while still being extremely breathable. The hardface on the Wind Pro sheds rain and snow better than most fabrics that aren't completely waterproof. That's enough reason to love the Carve, but Core didn't stop with providing performance..."
Link to Full Review
February 2009
Backpacker Magazine
GEAR: Adventure Travel
Core Concepts Monsoon to Market Jacket:
"If James Bond girls carried a purse, it would be this one. Under clear skies, it's a snazzy-looking 5x7-inch satchel with a zippered storage pocket, button-flap closure, and adjustable shoulder strap. When the rain rolls in, though, it transforms into a 2.5-layer waterproof/breathable jacket that kept us dry during day-long deluges..."
Link to Full Review
January 2009
Outside Magazine blog
"...Core Concepts has combined a pea coat and a soft shell to create an urban version of the weather-ready cover-up. Made from windproof Schoeller WB-400 fabric (used in ski-, snowboard-, and other techinical-outerwear), the Spellbound has you covered in the windiest of Boston corridors (think negative-temperature windchill). Fleece lining in the cuffs hugs your wrists so brisk gusts won't make their way up your sleeve. While the high-collar doesn't only pop for fashion purposes--it has a magentic closure that keeps the chill out..."
Link to Full Review
November 2008
GearGals.net
"New in the lineup this year is the Core Concepts Cadence Hoodie, which leaped its way into my heart with cute styling, flattering fit, and superwarm performance."
Link to Full Review
First Tracks!! Online
"Ever since reviewing the Cowboy Pow mid-layer from Core Concepts last year we've been impressed by the quality and creativity exhibited by this Boise start-up's apparel line. We're no less impressed by this year's products from Core Concepts that we tested (Approach Alpine Pant)... Our female tester was equally pleased with the company's Carve Full Zip ($170), winner of a 2008 Polartec APEX award for excellence in design..."
Link to Full Review
October 2008
GetOutdoors.com
"If you buy a Cowboy Pow, it's your fall/spring hiking/running jacket or your winter mid-layer under a hard shell. In a nutshell, it's what fleece always wanted to be when it grew up..."
Link to Full Review
GoSonja.com Blog
"If you are looking for a dual purpose, well fitting, stylish coat that has a great mix of fashion coupled with functionality, make your way over to the Core Concepts online store, and order yourself the Midtown Jacket..."
Link to Full Review
September 2008
Idaho Business Review
"As a small company, we wanted to focus on local work,” said Noah Bryan, president of the outdoor apparel company Core Concepts. “It tied in naturally with our values. It was just kind of a natural fit. The structure of 1% has a clear message to consumer: this is a value we hold..."
Link to Full Story
Boise Weekly
"Core Concepts is preparing to launch its first line of women's apparel next month and went back to basics to create a line as useful as it is attractive..."
Link to Full Story
August 2008
NationalOutdoors.net -- Top 10 List for the Summer 2008 Outdoor Retailer Show
"Core Concepts -- Monsoon to Market
The Core Concepts brand fuses technical materials with everyday functions. The Monsoon to Market Jacket is a fully-taped, waterproof, breathable, ultra-lightweight, hooded shell that converts into a casual sling-style purse with a button-down front flap..."
Link to Full Story
July 2008
Core Concepts Launches Convertible Apparel Line for Spring 2009
"BOISE, Idaho – Outdoor apparel company Core Concepts launches a new line of men’s and women’s convertible clothing for outdoor enthusiasts looking for lightweight “Zip Flip & Stash” apparel. Core Concepts will exhibit at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Salt Lake City, Utah, August 8-11 in Booth 41167.
The convertible features have been incorporated into two categories - base layers and rainwear – featuring technical tops that easily convert into compact, lightweight packs with our “Zip Flip & Stash” system."
Link to Full Story
GoSonja.com Blog
"I just checked out the 2008 Men’s line of Core Concepts Clothing. I am totally in love with the men's shirts...Speaking of testing, I have been wearing my Cadence Hoodie nonstop when the temperature gets below 70 degrees. I am lovin’ it..."
Link to Blog
June 2008
The Idaho Statesman
"Like many outdoor folks, Noah wanted more from his outdoor clothes, and he thought he could make a better product. He worked with clothing designers and manufacturers and looked for ways to make something better, or different than what's already on the market. They're constantly testing and refining their designs, adding touches the everyday wearer will find useful, like a ponytail hole in the back of their women's hoodie..."
Link to Full Article
Team Shasta/Core Concepts to Tackle Primal Quest 2008
"Outdoor apparel company Core Concepts announces its sponsorship of 2008 Primal Quest Team Shasta/Core Concepts. The 5th Edition of Primal Quest Expedition Race will take place June 21-July 2, 2008 in Big Sky, Montana.
Primal Quest is a 10-day, non-stop adventure race in which endurance athletes compete in teams of four and travel more than 500 miles through a series of checkpoints alternating between mountain biking, trail running/trekking, orienteering, paddling, riverboarding, negotiating fixed-ropes, and free climbing. Primal Quest is known as ‘The World’s Most Challenging Human Endurance Competition’."
Link to Full Story
May 2008
Core Concepts Carve Full Zip -- 2008 APEX Award Winner!
"The Polartec APEX Awards are presented to designers and companies that make the most outstanding Polartec based products. Garments and accessories are judged on innovation, design, style, workmanship, fit and functionality."
Link to Full Story
Link to Polartec Apex Award Page
GoSonja.com Blog
"The fit of the three items is totally adorable. The fabric is soft, just like we ladies like it."
Link to Full Blog
April 2008
Backcountry.com: The Goat
"I have to be honest, I'm sitting on the couch after a blurry night at the bar and can hardly string a sentence together, but it's probably the nicest shirt I own."
Link to Full Blog
GoSonja.com Blog
"Ladies and Gentleman, I would like to introduce you to an AWESOME new company... Core Concepts Clothing."
Link to Full Blog
The Seattle Times
"We found a couple that seem to rise above the rest in this class. First up comes from a new company based in Boise, Core Concepts. Their Cowboy Pow Full-Zip..."
Link to Full Review
The Gear Junkie
"...I ran and hiked outdoors in a top called the Have Some from Core Concepts (www.corelayers.com)..."
Link to the Article
March 2008
The Idaho Statesman
"Core Concepts clothing features 'top notch performance layers that combine the highest quality branded technical fabrics with unique design elements and custom print accents' for outdoor folks who want to go from the slopes and trails to the coffee shops..."
Link to the Article
February 2008
Core Concepts gear tester and extreme skier Mike Leake stomps a big flip at the US Freeskiing Series event in Crested Butte, Colorado. Check out the Powder Magazine link for the photo.
Link to the Picture
November 2007
MountainZone.com
"The Cowboy jacket uses Polartec® WindPro® as an insulating layer, and Polartec® Hardface® as the outer layer. This makes for a formidable combination of fabrics. First impressions were good, leaving us marveling at its light weight, and cool styling, and well thought out fabric choices..."
Link To Full Review
First Tracks Online
"If you’re looking for a high-tech mid layer for lift-served that doubles as an outer layer for skinning or other aerobic activities, look no further than the Cowboy Pow Full Zip from Core Concepts..."
Link To Full Review
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