First Impressions

The Cloudveil Koven Plus is part of the (well not sure where they’re based now) outdoor apparel company’s alpine line. Some of the descriptions I’ve seen online bill the jacket as “ideal for skiers, snowboarders, and backcountry campers “ and “thanks to the stretch skirt, pit zips, and helmet-friendly hood, the jacket is well equipped for alpine use.”

Out of the box, the Cloudveil Koven Plus definitely is a class act. High quality construction, lots of cool features, stretch panels and a stylish look. I buy that it’s great for alpine use and backcountry camping – the jacket reminds me a bunch of the Marmot Oracle – but its so lightweight that it makes me question its real suitability for hardcore skiing and snowboarding.

Features

The Cloudveil Koven Plus is packed with features and nice design touches. Like the Marmot Oracle, the fabric is primarily a lightweight breathable membrane. To amp the warmth in key areas Cloudveil laminated fleece panels in the back of the jacket, and mesh inserts in the shoulders. Nice touches, and not quite as crazy as the fur used similarly in Mountain Hardware’s MZC.

Outside, the Koven Plus has a napoleon pocket on the chest, one on the sleeve and two handwarmers. Inside, there is an MP3 player pocket on the upper chest and two large mesh pockets (for goggles, gloves and other items) lower down. No integrated snow skirt, so bi-directional pit zips and a removable hood round out the package.

Fit

The Cloudveil Koven Plus is trim fitting unit similar to the Marmot Genesis, but not as snug as that jacket. The jacket has a little give to it and there are integrated stretch panels in areas where a little more flex is needed. I wear a size 40 men’s jacket and the medium fit perfectly. One note, the sonic welded seams pucker in places. Don’t know if this is just a cosmetic issue or if longer term these will cause problems.

Final Verdict

I like it, just not for the slopes (unless it’s a pretty warm day of spring skiing), and I’m taking my rating down a notch simply because I don’t believe the product matches the description. However, for backpacking, hiking and the like, the Cloudveil Koven Plus could be perfect. The fabric seems slightly heavier weight, more rugged and durable than the Oracle’s. The number, size and construction of the pockets is great. And it’s definitely a looker, so if you don’t already have a lightweight shell in your arsenal, the Cloudveil Koven Plus is definitely worth considering.

First Impressions:
[Rating:3.5/5] Features:
[Rating:3/5] Fit:
[Rating:4/5] Final Verdict:
[Rating:3.5/5]

Thanks for reading another outdoor gear review from GearGuide.