Best Winter Jackets For Outdoors Part 1
Best winter jackets for outdoor activities
1. Kjus
Kjus was founded by one of the most acclaimed Norwegian Alpine ski racer Lasse Kjus. His combined career totoal of 16 Olympic and World Championship medals ranks second all time. So the it's safe to assume that the man knew his trade and it's requirements pretty well. Be it the cold wind which tries to knock you out when skiing at 60 MPH or the heavy snow or the tree branches which's poking out on your way downhill or an unfortunate fall, Kjus jackets can take it all pretty decently. Just like almost all other European line of clothings and jackets, Kjus run bit small. So it's better to try them in person if possible to see the amount of movement involved, the location of the pockets and how accessable they are to decide on. The Dermizax material used is an ultra-thin nonporous membrane which is extremely water proof, wind proof, high moisture permeability with mininal condensation, durable water repellency and as an added plus point, this thing is soft, smooth and stretchable for which Kjus jackets are known. One can wear them in just about any ski condition and feel comfortable. With some other jacket, one may need to layer according to the weather and change when conditions changes. As for the warmth that they provide, Kjus are pretty light. The jackets stylish, relatively thin, and regulate temperature very well. for sure it's not as tough as and arcteryx, but it's more comfortable due to the stretchiness and more user friendly I'd say. Kjus is the pinnacle in todays ski jacket world.
Online shops
http://www.stbernardsports.com
Kjus Hawk jackets cost around Euro 1200, pricey but very stylish and sort of indestructible if taken care properly.
2. Vist
Vist is an Italian manufacturer of high end ski gear. Although they are priced quite upscale, it may be worth paying for their functionality, cut, and design if one is hunting for something in that line. As with with many other European makers, Vist jackets are very stylish with a racing fit and it's a good deal when combined with the technology they are offering. In terms of quality of materials, tensile strength and durability, weight ie. lightweight, ultra-high tech warmth-fabric and technology and of course, style but that last bit is quite subjective. The retail price for their jackets are higher than Bogner and other flashy apparel makers though.
Nettuno jacket is the premium item of all the stock. The coating is Dermizax MP with a rating of 20,000 mm H2O and up water proofness. It has got good breathability and the water repellency is excellent above 80 points even after a 100 wash cycle. And if pockets are your thing, this one has got plenty of them including 2 side pockets with water proff zippers. Nettuno jacket is sort of a designer item with good technical standards and will keep you warm even on sub-zero temperatures in the ice.
Nettuno will cost Euro 949 in most of the online stores
Can be purchased from
3. Spyder
Spyder jackets are probably one of the most familiar face in the ski scene. They are super warm as if you are wearing an Iron cladded suit. Zippers comes handy if it's not very cold outside as one doesn't want to get boiled up during high exertion. Spyder jackets are quite flashy for most people's blood. Nonetheless, they are top of the pyramid and the Pinncale line is an oddity spotting all the good aspects but with less pushy looks. They've got plenty of pockets to store whatever things one might consider as absolute necessity while skiing. Probably less of a gentleman's ski jacket but many people still love them. It may not be top notch technical, but has got one of the highest thread counts in the industry. They also are backed by a life time warrenty and will holds up to the weather even after long abusive use, which matters the most.
Pinnacle uses PrimaLoft as insulation which ensures warmth, water resistance, softness, compressibility and a breathability rating of 30,000.
Spyder products can be purchased from these online retailers among many others.
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com
4. Arc'Teryx
One of the most admired and known outdoor company for their quality control and construction. Arc'Teryx products are bit better cut in general and some times stylish looking. In terms of build quality, Arc'teryx is very well made but would feel totally different from the other contender for the top spot, Kjus due to the use of different fabrics. Classic colors and super quality construction in a minimalistic shell. Their products are covered with a life time warrenty if purchased from their shop and customer service are exceptionally satisfying too. Arc'Teryx will look great on people with an athletic physique. Arc'teryx Sidewinder AR is probably the most selling in their product line due to the workmanship and durability and it's totally bombproof for skiing, but might be too heavy for carrying on a backpacking trip. Also, I see more gapers in high-end Arcteryx and Kjus than I do Spyder. Arcteryx is a gaper's dream - expensive, flashy, and exclusive.
Arc'Teryx Verto jacket is their best offering. As with the conventional wisdom, Arc'Teryx sticks with Gore-Tex technology for water proofing but the breathability is moderate in excange for the supreme warmth it provides.
Verto will set you back by $999 from online stores
5. Descente
Other than Bogner and Killy, probably the only other foreign brand with long term USA success is Descente/DNA (Descente North America) is originally from Japan. Descente DNA is technically superior than many other brands mentioned here so far. The Heat Navi technology will increase the level of heat retention by 20% without adding bulk, or unneccessary weight. The defining characteristic of the proactive heat retention material Heat Navi is its ability to absorb without loss light from almost the entire spectrum of the sun's rays and turn them into heat. A special inorganic carbon material mixed into the cross section of a flat fibre with a large surface area effectively increases its absorption capability. The efficient conversion of light into heat produces warmth. The warmthness has also been improved by absorbing moisture from the body and converting it into heat. Sunlight reaches the earth's surface even when it is raining or cloudy. At these times, the amount of heat converted by Heat Navi is less than on a fine day, yet the wearer will feel warm and comfortable unless he or she is skiing at midnight hours. The insulation is supported by 3M's proprietary Thinsulate technology in which the fiber lining traps the air molecules and thus provides warmth. Air is a poor thermal conductor and the techonologically inclined ones might be pretty much aware of it already.
Descente Woodward jacket features 4 way stretch waterproof fabric, supersonic seam welding and integrated Heat Navi technology
Descente Stockholm insulated ski jacket is a mid-length jacket is insulated with HeatFlex 100 for additional warmth while on the slopes. HeatFlex is a great insulator that is lightweight, resilient, machine washable and quick drying. This insulated jacket has got a breathability rating of 20,000g.
Price are well north of $500
6. Phenix
Phenix is also a Japanese company by birth and their jackets are top notch in terms of quality for which the Japanese people are famous. They sells in the price range of mid/high end Spyders but many people involved in the outdoor activity scene considers them are alot better in terms of quality and are certainly a step up. May not be as "technical" as Arc'Teryx or Descente in a ski racing sense, since the Dermizax-EV fabric's breathability is not as good as the Gore-Tex material used by the former. But it's water proof, light weight and warm. The Digenite Thermo insulation contains Thunderon fiber for superior warmth and heat retention. Digenite Thermo insulation is a ceramic composite incorporation Copper Light (Sunlight and other Light) which Infrared Rays (Short and Long) which are invisible to the eye. By an exothermic heat generation from natural sunlight and body energies, generates heat and retains this heat,. Digenite Thermo material absorbs these electric waves to generate heat. Furthermore, this Thunderon Digenite Thermo has strong anti-microbial and static electricity minimizing properties.
Online stores
7. Helly Hansen
The jacket sleeves are nice and long and provide full coverage and could be useful for mountaineering kind of activities where the longer sleeves can become the life (well hands) saver. Plenty of pockets including a windowed ski pass pocket on the arm and reinforced shoulders and waist spots. Those are great features for someone who goes for longer periods in severe conditions with the elements of nature. Excellent gear - never get cold or wet and really hardy considering all the stress it's exposed to. The jackets are made out of in-house Helly Tech fabric which is super light, full stretch for range of movement and is very much breathable. Helly Hansen's top of the line Ask ski jacket features warm, luxurious cashmere for its cuffs and balaclava, PrimaLoft insulation; one of the highest performing insulation on the market for warmth, water resistance, softness and compressibility. It's an ultra-fine microfiber insulation that is as warm, soft and lightweight, and is warmer wet or dry than all other insulations. Helly Tech Professional fabric breathes well and would win hands down in the waterproof arena which uses the Helly Tech membrane instead of Gore-Tex.
Their designer looking super performing products can be purchansed from the below mentioned places.
http://www.hellyhansenonlineshop.co.uk/
8. Mountain Force
The ultra cool Swiss brand and the news is that the designers behind Mountain Force were previously involved with Kjus, arguably the best ski wear manufacturer, period. The FullFlex material is seriously stretchy, and an interesting combination of tech in a minimalistic look. Very impressive stealth gear stuff with amazing functionality. The whole thing would feel very light and gives complete freedom of movement and amazing wind and cold protection for something so light. You really dont feel like you are wrapped up in a heavy snow gear, sort of unnerving . Mountain Force is a brand worth a look if you want high design and function with an understated look and a logo that no one even notices. Hard to find and hardly anybody knows about it.
Online stockists
9. Bogner
Considered to be the Emperor of flashy looks at one time, but Bogner quality is top notch. The latest collection is more attractive with their classic colors and fitting unless one is looking for the race suit. Maybe the skiers who wear Bogner skiwear don't put tons of miles on them or perhaps they are disposed to buy new ones every year or they wear different outfits all the time. Whatever the case might be, there ain't that many store returns or defects reported about Bogner gear and have a very dedicated following. Wearing Bogner can get you noticed in many of the ski resorts. Not withstanding all the out loud call for attention in appearance, the jackets are amazingly comfortable in a variety of temperatures and Bogner never let you down. It is perfectly alright to go for a backcountry trip as well. Some people say Bogner is a a gaper wear brand, but it doesn't really matter if it can hold up the fortress in the snow and storm. The stuff is very well made, with top quality in everything, including pretty outlandish MSRP's. German Alpine team can be spotted in Bogner and the chances are high that they wear it for some good number of reasons. It's as nice and technical as it gets. And while the "style" that we see may normally be over the top, but that doesn't mean it's not beautifully made stuff. If you like the look, the quality is there, without question.
Online shops
http://www.stbernardsports.com
10. Cloudveil
Cloudveil make extremely well designed gear and it fits a clean on "normal" persons. The jackets are very much functional, comfortable, and versatile. One can go out and grab a beer and a burger in them off season without looking like an Alpinist. Schoeller Dynamic material used in Cloudveil is really breathable and the quality, materials & functionalities are very impressive for that price point. It layers well, breathes, and is waterproof. The best part is that these jackets are priced very reasonably, half to one third of what other high end brands are charging. Cons are that, if style is your thing, Cloudveil is pretty basic with very traditional colors and their supply chain management not one of the best in the industry. As a side information, Spyder acquired Cloudveil in 2008.
Many of the major online shops do stock Cloudveil products from time to time.
http://www.sierratradingpost.com
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