Salomon Shadow II 3L Gore Pro Jacket Review
First Impressions
Ski and boot giant Salomon started doing the winter soft goods thing a few years ago. And this year, the company kicked it into a higher gear. The company’s complete line of baselayers, mids, pants and jackets deliver dynamite combinations of function and style. One of the top-of-the-line jackets is the Salomon Shadow II 3L Gore Pro Jacket. The name is definitely a mouthful and the product itself shouted serious technical capability upon its arrival at GearGuide.
Features
The Salomon Shadow II 3L Gore Pro Jacket showed up in royal blue with white, very sharp looking. The three-layer Gore-Tex fabric is rated at a stunning 28,000mm. For the uninitiated, that means the product is rainproof and waterproof under very high pressure, able to stand up to heavy, wet snow and other extreme conditions.
Other serious features included numerous pockets and add-ons. These had some serious thinking behind them. From the tethered goggle wipe to the additional glove clips, all were nice additions. The placement and size was a touch quirky thanks to the asymmetrical layout on the exterior. On the right torso, Salomon placed a large zippered pocket about double the size of a standard handwarmer. On the left, a standard-sized handwarmer and napoleon sit ready to swallow more gear.
By far the most innovative item has to be the lycra cuffs with the thumb loop. This innovation works in conjunction with the removable powderskirt to keep out snow on those nasty wipe outs and pow days. Both were very nice features.
Specs
Fabric: Gore-Tex Pro Shell 3L
Weight: 1 lb 8 oz
Inside, Salomon put a mesh goggle pocket and a removable powder skirt. Also rounding out the jacket was the helmet-compatible hood with a nice sturdy brim.
Fit
Initially, I thought the jacket was a little on the snug side but that was due to the powderskirt. Once I was zipped in, the jacket was quite comfortable. There was ample room in the underarms – which has always been an area where I will get pinched.
Final Verdict
The Salomon Shadow II delivered rugged stitching and construction at every level. The royal blue color was a sure eye catcher. Overall, very impressive product!
