40 OUTSIDE MAGAZINE
Dispatches Ski Jackets
11.19
ABCDEB. Helly Hansen Odin Mountain
Hybrid $300
BEST FOR: Comfort.
If you hate loud, plasticky outerwear, consider
this soft shell your new favorite jacket. Its four-
way-stretch fabric feels like broken-in denim
and stays blessedly silent when you move.
And it adapts to sun and storms with a zoned
design: the waterproof membrane in the hood
and upper arms sheds snow, but everything
else is porous for maximum breathability.C. Norrøna Lofoten Gore-Tex Insulated $499
BEST FOR: Arctic conditions.
Norway’s notoriously cold and wet weather
inspired the Lofoten. Norrøna wrapped
recycled synthetic insulation in a Gore-Tex
shell, then fortified it with waterproof zippers,
a long hem, and a sturdy hood. To cut down
on weight, the company skipped insulation
in the hood and below the powder skirt, but
didn’t bypass niceties like wrist gaiters and
pockets. One of them holds a goggle wipe,
helpful during a dismally rainy test in Norway’s
Jotunheimen National Park.Shelter from
the Storm
BECAUSE YOU DON’T WANT
TO BE HUDDLED IN THE LODGE
WHILE FRESH SNOW IS FALLING
BY KELLY BASTONE
AND FREDERICK REIMERS
A. The North Face Brigandine $749
BEST FOR: Freeriders with deep pockets.
Developed for the North Face’s Pro freeride
squad, the Brigandine is built to withstand
hundreds of days of hard skiing. It features the
company’s new super-breathable Future light
waterproof membrane, which is set inside
rugged 75-denier fabric, and it’s fortified with
abrasion-resistant zones to fend off abuse. We
appreciated details like the eight pockets to
stash tools and the finely articulated fit that
accommodates a low riding stance.
D. Burton Gore-Tex Kaylo $250
BEST FOR: Protection on a budget.
Burton cut costs on the Kaylo by using
two-layer Gore-Tex rather than a lighter (but
pricier) three-layer setup. The Kaylo kept us
plenty dry and cozy during Jackson Hole’s
record-breaking February snow cycle, and it
costs a third of the top-shelf Brigandine. It
comes with a tall wind-blocking collar, a big
hood, and a long (too long for a few testers)
hem to seal out swirling snow. Another thing
we liked: plenty of pockets, including an insu-
lated one to preserve your phone’s battery life.E. Mountain Hardwear High Exposure
Gore-Tex C-Knit Anorak $500
BEST FOR: Exceptional breathability.
During ski tours in Colorado and Wyoming, we
slipped into the High Exposure in the morning
and left it on all day, its supple and breathable
Gore-Tex C-Knit fabric kept us from feeling
clammy on the steepest skin tracks. A shorter
front zip means you can’t open it all the way,
but there are two huge chest pockets for orga-
nizing gloves, skins, and a phone. The powder
skirt seals the hem in waist-deep powder.