shell

What’s not to love about the Arc’teryx Beta FL jacket? It’s the perfect super-lightweight, high-performance, packable (it stuffs into a little sack for traveling) and breathable waterproof shell for running in the rain, mountain biking, climbing or as a spring shell for skiing or snowboarding. You can literally use this thing all the time and I’ve found that it always performs.

It’s very hard to ski or snowboard these days and not use DAKINE products. When it comes to the accessory market, DAKINE is the clear king and for good reason, they make some of the best products available. Brand new for the 12/13 season, DAKINE is taking a huge step towards taking over your entire ski/snowboard gear bag by releasing a full line of technical outerwear.

Having a rain jacket in Colorado where I live is not essential, but when visiting NYC, Seattle or Anchorage, having the right rain jacket is a necessity. I place rain jackets into two key categories. The first category is the lightweight-tech category for sports activities and the second category is the stylish, ultra-waterproof city category. The Burton 2.5L Bowen Jacket not only fits into the latter category, but does so with flare and functionality.

Tried and Trew in the Pacific North-wet, the Cosmic is functional, fly, and feather-light. Weighing in at 23-ounces and sporting 20,000-mm waterproofing, this hard shell spits in the face of oncoming storms. It's tough enough to survive brushes with branches and being dragged along rocks. It is unusually warm for a hard shell, yet breathes exceptionally as body temperatures rise. It is one of the more technical and backcountry-friendly hard shells out there. And it's pretty freaking stylish.

Chamonix ski guide Asmus Norreslet says the Verglas 3L jacket from Helly Hansen is "a perfect workhorse for us guides." It only weighs 610 grams, and will survive 25,000 millimeters of water pressure before leaking.

For me I like pants with cargo pockets over the thigh. Armada has placed the pockets mid-thigh below the leg loop of the harness. Constructed of heavy DryRex 3L and inner leg venting options, the pants function well for guides.

A ski jacket doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, it should be the simplest thing. All a ski jacket needs to do is keep you warm and dry and fit well. While the Arc’teryx Sidewinder SV Jacket is not insulated, it will keep you warm by keeping you dry and protected from the wind. It also fits well and has a hood suitable for a Jedi Knight, which, you know, will fit around your helmet nicely. If you’re shopping for a coat that will let you be comfortable while being active in the mountains, this waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX® jacket is one worth taking a closer look at.

"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” — If Muhammed Ali were to trade in his gloves in for the newest top of the line ski jacket, he would definitely rock the Spyder Eiger. The Eiger is a versatile, techy, hard shell that, when layered appropriately, is warm enough for the coldest days Jackson Hole can produce. Yet, it is breathable and light enough for any mid-March day on the beach at A-Basin.

I’ve never owned an Oakley jacket before, maybe because of the price tag or style. But this shell definitely won me over with its features despite the Simon Dumont blocked dual color steeze.

In my recent search for a new ski jacket I came across the Spyder Power Jacket, fully equipped with insulation, breathability and waterproofing. Naturally, I went with black on black to compliment the other half of my ninja get-up. You might not guess from the minimalist design but the Power jacket it packing some serious functionality.