Thread: Jacket showdopwn Trew Cosmic vs. Flylow Quantum insight?

Looking for any insight on these two shells. Migrating from the heavier insulated jacket to go for a lighter shell w/ layering. These two companies seem to produce some of the burlier stuff (have owned, pow funk, and lab coat respectively) - but have since moved on. Ready to get back after one of them this season though.

Curious to know what folks know of:
weight
durability e.g. burliness
packability
Pow skirt vs. hook into pants feature
additional emotional outbursts.

Any insight greatly appreciated, getting set for a solid season!
Cheers

I have owned both. However, I've only skied in the Quantum as the Cosmic is new to me this year.

The Quantum has both the powder skirt and the snaps. Both are great and I used both features all the time. It is a great feature that I wish all jackets had, pow skirts or not.

The Cosmic has a powder skirt for the first time this year.

Regarding weight and durability, I can't comment on them side by side, so grain of salt and all that ... I'd say the Quantum probably lighter and packs down smaller. Durability is probably the same for both as they both employ some pretty burly fabrics. I can tell you that I managed to endo into a skree pile up on Lone Peak last year. I went down jacket-first and nary a tear, rip, knick or cut on my FlyLow. It looked like nothing happened. I was exceptionally impressed. Same went with errant tree branches, ski edges and dead hooker disposal. From what I've read, the TREW is comparable. Check Blister Gear Review for a recent piece on the TREW durability and ski edges. There's a specific piece for the Cosmic, but it is for last year's Cosmis. I believe the fabric is the same.

Much beyond that, it comes down to fit and style. They are both progressive, but not skittle scenster steeze. Side-by-side, the Cosmic is more of a performance freeride fit where the Cosmic was straight freeride. Translation; the FlyLow fit a bit bigger. Based on my preferences, I like the Cosmic fit better.

The breathability and waterproofness of the Quantum was excellent. I put it through some torrential PNWet downpours and some sideways blizzard type weather. It didn't waver. Their Intuitive fabric is the business and the Quantum is a hard shell in every sense of the word. It was excellent.

I can also tell you that the fellas at FlyLow have some of the best customer service I've ever experienced. Absolutely unreal. I haven't yet dealt with TREW, but I hear it's similar. In either case, you are going to get great support.

Both are excellent choices for jackets.

I did a review of this years Cosmic yesterday.
I've never tried the Quantum... it looks like it is really really similar to the Cosmic.
I had a Lab in 2010, and the Cosmic is way better in every way, but it looks like Flylow has stepped it up since then.
Looks like the Quantum packs a bit smaller, Cosmic is a bit warmer, and other than that choose what color you like most.

can't say i've tried either but i've exclusively heard great things about trew and very little positive about flylow just in general, and i work for a large retailer of both. i know i'd be going for trew with no second thoughts.

I have nothing but good things to say about flylow. Using their gear for about 4 seasons now and all positive.

1) Fit is good: Freeride but not to steezy, cut is square-ish.
2) Waterproofing is waterproof.
3) Breathability is breathable, rarely sweat in it, and you can dump heat fast with hudge vents.
4) Durability is awesome.
5) Pockets are good, as many as you would need and well designed both inside and outside the jacket.
6) Hood is a good size for helmets and adjusts to move with you so you don't even notice it. And also adjust well for when you don't have your helmet on. Eg skinning, around town, etc...
7) Zippers are quality.
8) Peeps at the company are cool, and I hear they have a great warranty program, although I own about 8 flylow peices, I've never had to warranty anything.
9) Less expensive than some of the other high end gear with no noticeable difference in performance, and flylow has better durability than a lot of others.

Flylow definitely works for me...particularly when you buy in June and get 50% to 70% off retail (flylow generally has a seasonal clearance through their own website and through Backcountry.com. I have bought Flylow at both full retail and discounted).

Other brands I've tried that flylow has out performed (in no particular order):
Burton ak
Patagonia
Armada
Helly Hansen
North Face
Sierra Designs
Loki
Siver
Volcom

Brands that I'd like to try but haven't yet:
Westcomb
Trew

i can only offer a quick few notes on the quantum vs lab from flylow:

1. quantum is lighter overall
2. quantum is more packable
3. quantum is slightly more breathable
4. quantum is cut slightly less boxy in the waist that lab. still free ride cut tho.
5. qunatum and lab are equivalent durability IMO. both bomber.

hope that helps.

Originally Posted by iscariot

Fit is good: Freeride but not to steezy, cut is square-ish.
Waterproofing is waterproof.

Zippers are quality.

Peeps at the company are cool, and I hear they have a great warranty program...

I'll second everything listed, particularly the comment about fit. The Quantum is definitely boxy. The Cosmic less so.

I made the same decision as you a few weeks ago and I ended up getting a Trew Bellows since I couldn't find the Cosmic I wanted.

But after trying on both the Cosmic and Quantum before making my final purchase I can second every single thing people have said so far. Both are bomber as hell and have their small pros and cons but really aren't significantly different in anything but style.

I´ve worn a Trew Bellows jacket for nearly a year, close to every day, for pretty much anything. It is without a doubt the best made jacket I´ve ever owned, and when it some day dies, I will get another one.

For stuff probably the same as with the Cosmic:

-Packability: Not awesome, pretty stiff fabric.
-Waterproof: Yes.
-Breathability: Yes. On both these counts, feels like at least at the level of Gore Pro Shell.
-Durability: Fuck yes. Drunken extravaganca, tree skiing, boot packing with skis on shoulder, tripod carrying, heavy DSLR carrying on shoulder, everything. Not a single mark on the jacket. It really is awesome. Also, I can carry my M9 with lens in the chest pocket, a dismantled 20D with kit lens in the other.

In my mind, the Bellows is the Legend Pro of jackets, only better. Can´t see why the Cosmic should be any worse (except for the pockets). Probably a more sensible fit, too. Might be easier to pack due to less huge pockets

Originally Posted by arild

In my mind, the Bellows is the Legend Pro of jackets, only better. Can´t see why the Cosmic should be any worse (except for the pockets). Probably a more sensible fit, too. Might be easier to pack due to less huge pockets

Yah, the Cosmic doesn't fit as big as the Bellows. Still a freeride fit, but the Bellows is just cut bigger.

I haven't worn both, just the quantum. I put over 100 days in it this last season, no worse for the wear. I've washed it a few times with nikwax and it performs great. People have listed great attributes that I agree with, plus this year the second zipper on the front would be a nice addition, especially if doing stuff with a harness.

My two negatives:
-semi boxy cut, I'm a pretty tall lanky dude, currently 6'1 175ish maybe 39-40 chest, so a size large is great on length but is a little wide. But with the hem cinched and a pack on I got no complaints
-velcro on the wrist: mine fuzzed out and failed terribly by mid winter. I emailed flylow and they said they would replace the velcro no problem and even offered to give me a loaner jacket in the meantime. It was dumping too much snow to be without a shell so I sewed on some new velcro and haven't had problems since.

heres my review from last year http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...Quantum-Jacket