A recent New York Times article claimed “Skiing has appropriated everything from snowboarding’s swagger to its trendy clothing to technology like fat skis. Simply put, it’s cool to be on two planks again.” Well, hey, NYT, we never thought skiing wasn’t cool. And we think the blending of gear and styles from both genres and multiple continents yielded some killer new jackets this year. Here are three:
Dakine Zone Jacket – Bring on baggy style and Euro-centric slabs of color. Dakine provides the Zone Jacket as a leading indicator that this mostly snowboard-oriented brand is getting even more serious about the ski business. See review.
Obermeyer Ketchikan Jacket – Obermeyer remains a class act in the ski business and is grooving on the technical approach. The new Ketchikan Jacket kicks it into high gear with Cocona fabrics and insulation, along with a range of technical features that can handle the extremes. See review.
Salomon Shadow II 3L Gore Pro Jacket Review – Crazy asymmetrical pockets and high-end Gore-Tex fabric make this shell a Euro-styled winner. This bad boy retails for, well, a lot. But for that coin, you get top-quality construction and exceptional good looks. See review.
All three of these jackets deliver excellent waterproof performance and breathability. If you need more insulation, the Obermeyer Ketchikan is the best choice, followed by the Dakine Zone and the Salomon Shadow II. Once you make your choice, leave us a comment and let us know what you think.
Thanks for reading another outdoor gear review from GearGuide. And thanks to Dakine, Obermeyer and Salomon, along with Catherine Donovan Public Relations, Outside Media and Turner PR for providing product for this review.
