Powderhorn Gunpowder Jacket Review

The 2012 Gunpowder jacket from Powderhorn is a technical down shell designed for winter pursuits like skiing and snowboarding. Ultra-soft and warm the Gunpowder is one of the most comfortable insulated jackets to-date. Outfitted with a removable helmet-compatible hood the jacket is suited for use both on and off-slope.

Its styling is pleasingly simple with discrete zippered ventilation, but its boxy fit may not suit all body types. Despite also falling short of other down products in durability (snags easily on sharp objects) the jacket more than compensates with a laundry list of features. An elastic powder skirt keeps unwanted snow at bay, under-the-cuff hand gaiters prevent penetrating drafts, and a large internal pocket with goggle wipe suffices during hikes and in variable conditions.

Not to be forgotten, the most talked about feature of the Gunpowder jacket is its Toray Airtastic shell with QUIX Down insulation.  Touted as one of the first waterproof products on the market the 90%Goose/10%feather combination doesn’t disappoint in light snow or moisture.  It won’t stand up to a downpour or in wet powder dumps, but for all other conditions it shows promise in its versatility. The Gunpowder jacket provides a glimpse into the future of down products and positions itself at the top of the class. Even if there is a similar jacket on the market it’s likely it won’t offer as much as Powderhorn’s 2012 Gunpowder jacket.