Next winter's gear: jackets and pantsThere's a whole load of new goods to keep warm and dry next winter, here's a snap shot
Analog
Another strong showing from the outerwear only brand this time around. Olympic halfpipe front-runner (at least until he crashed his quad bike in to a gate drunk, that is) Danny Davis has a signature range for this winter. Danny’s Sig Jacket features 10k/10k proofing in a canvas finish. Depending on which colourway you dare to pick, you will either get the outside or lining printed up with celebrated photographer Cole Barash’s pictures.
Arc’Teryx
The Sabre line is a new, wider cut Gore softshell range in some quite excitable colours. The high-tech clothiers haven’t quite brought themselves to put pop colours on the zips, but it could happen. As usual, there’s clever ideas in the seam cuts to allow leg flex without lots of darts and pleats. The Stingray jacket has had an overhaul with new materials and design. The all-new award winning Alpha SV glove is definitely interesting for its radial finger alignment – no bunching of fabric in the finger joints, you’ll be pleased to hear. In general Arc’Terycx isn’t looking too pricey after significant rises from other brands across the board, though the glove might make you blink at £200.
Bond
Hand-in-hand with weekend snowboards goes Bond outerwear. An environmentally aware line of softgoods with recycled elements in the whole range, using coconut of all things in the fabric. An award winner at the Slide tradeshow in the UK at the end of January.
Columbia
Big in the district of Columbia for 2011 is Omni Heat technology. It’s a three-part insulation system that they are rolling out across their entire range. Omni-Heat Thermal Insulation is a new 50% recycled insulation that promises the industry’s highest heat retention levels. The insulation is newly-developed too, and claims to be 20% lighter than rivals. Omni-Heat Thermal Reflective uses aluminium micro-dots in the lining to reflect heat back whilst letting moisture through. But most wacky of all is Omni-Heat Thermal Electric battery powered heating that is being employed in a range of boots.
Eider
Two lines sparked interest here – the Wide Angle freeride with patterns like herringbone and leather detailing – and the Indie Ride. The latter looks a bit military and has softer fabrics, retaining a semi street look. Eider are delivering some quite different ideas with these lines; they also have the top end Xenium mountaineering/alpine-style shells – we reckon the Power Pro jacket is the pick of this bunch with it’s ridiculously warm lining and very stretchy softshell outer.
Haglofs
My, this looks a lot brighter and more freeridey. As fans of the highly technical, durable Scandinavian brand, our reservations up to this point would have been around the tightish fits and tendency towards Ramblers Association colours. Haglofs haven’t thrown this away, but they have loosened up their key crossover snowsports pieces, added the odd cargo pocket, added in poppy zip colours and offered a choice of ripstop-type fabric and softer materials. The Couloir jacket and pant in a deep vivid blue was a stand out.
Mammut
The Swiss outdoor giant is doing some very interesting things with fabric; their £350 Chaltern jacket uses a technology which adjusts breathability depending on the heat inside the jacket. If you get all hot, the C-Change fabric can almost double its breathability. There’s also a huge two-way underarm zip to tweak venting and ceramic dots on high-wear areas like shoulders and hips.
Nikita
What’s that, Nikita are branching into hardgoods? Not quite. Iceland’s girl’s only outerwear brand have teamed up with K2 to produce a collaboration board, boot and bindings. Of course there’s a jacket and trouser to match.
Patagonia
Looking like increasingly good value as other clothing brands hike their prices, we singled out the midlayer and baselayer pieces as most interesting from the masters of credible eco-production. Their Capilene range, from £38, is re-cut and the latest generation of fibres are used to improve wicking – the range remains fully recyclable. The Nano puff ultra light ripstop midlayer is one of those supremely useful, very squishable items which should fit in most daypacks. The Regulator high-loft Polartec fleece is a fluffy, extremely warm top with stretch panels in the side.
Peak Performance
The past few seasons have seen Peak Performance really push the top-end, most technical parts of their output with the Black Light and Heli Pro ranges filling the super technical quota. Those ranges are still available but, more focus has been placed on the Essential Line for 2011. The whole range has been completely overhauled with new models, fits and material used throughout. Most of the range seems to use Derzimax which adds a nice feel and a bit of stretch to the technicalities, that we haven’t seen too much of for 2011.
Protest
Accessibility is where it’s at with Protest. That’s not to say they haven’t been putting a load of ideas into style and technical features, the guys Calow down jacket at £130 offers something for those freezing nights at a decent price. And for the ladies the Sturton also offers 10k/10k at £130. None of the girls range punches above 10k/10k but then again, none of it will do you for more than £140!
Rip Curl
Rip Curl have struck up another mixed range for 2011. On the one side they have their very much style influenced pro rider signature series – a good looking selection of threads to keep riders warm with a chick on each arm. On the other side of things they have refined the technical S-Bomb 2 jacket and pants set up. Incorporating their own hi tech fabrics that pitch in at a whopping 20/20 waterproofing and breathability. The concoction uses a four-way stitch giving it a certain amount more elasticity than previous Gore-tex collaborations.
They’re also tweaked the internal heating systems that they launched last season, now offering a battery that is half the size and four heat settings.
Skins
Performance underwear is hitting the consciousness of more people, but there’s still confusion about the purpose of compression garments. Aussie-based Skins are making big noises in lots of sports but snowsports is an area they’re increasingly focussing on. There’s a thermal range arriving in 3/4 length tights and a crew-neck top. We figure the recovery clothing aspect is most useful, simply because we always ache like hell after a big day and find it a bit hard to get up the next morning. Compression clothing feels weird and a bit cold when you put it on, but is remarkably effective. Let’s just say that those of us in our mid-30s and up are converts…
Thirtytwos
The main push appears to have been in Thirtytwos sophomore year in the world of outerwear. They now have two distinct ranges, the Exposure and Cascade representing the more in your face and tight pants, niche style respectively.
Westbeach
A return to more block prints and solid colours for the Canadian outerwear brand for 2011 with a hint of plaid in there. Teaming up with the Keep A Breast foundation, Westbeach have also launched a KAB collection that includes the I love boobies beanie and a jacket that has a lining littered with pictures of female mammaries. It’s all very tastefully done and 10% of the profits go to the Keep A Breast cancer charity.
Find your way through the splurge of next winter's gear:
Snowboard line for 2011 unveiled in Manchester – first previews at Slide in Manchester
What to expect next winter – kind of like an intro
What to expect next winter: trends – start the journey with a dip into reverse camber
What to expect next winter: trends – getting on an eco tip
What to expect next winter: Forum, Special Blend, Foursquare
What to expect next winter: Protect your noggin – a little expose on helmets
Next winter's gear: snowboards, boots and bindings
Next season's kit previewed: Goggles
Posted by Online Editor - Fri, 19/02/2010 - 5:42pm
There's a whole load of new goods to keep warm and dry next winter, here's a snap shot
Analog
Another strong showing from the outerwear only brand this time around. Olympic halfpipe front-runner (at least until he crashed his quad bike in to a gate drunk, that is) Danny Davis has a signature range for this winter. Danny’s Sig Jacket features 10k/10k proofing in a canvas finish. Depending on which colourway you dare to pick, you will either get the outside or lining printed up with celebrated photographer Cole Barash’s pictures.
Arc’Teryx
The Sabre line is a new, wider cut Gore softshell range in some quite excitable colours. The high-tech clothiers haven’t quite brought themselves to put pop colours on the zips, but it could happen. As usual, there’s clever ideas in the seam cuts to allow leg flex without lots of darts and pleats. The Stingray jacket has had an overhaul with new materials and design. The all-new award winning Alpha SV glove is definitely interesting for its radial finger alignment – no bunching of fabric in the finger joints, you’ll be pleased to hear. In general Arc’Terycx isn’t looking too pricey after significant rises from other brands across the board, though the glove might make you blink at £200.
Bond
Hand-in-hand with weekend snowboards goes Bond outerwear. An environmentally aware line of softgoods with recycled elements in the whole range, using coconut of all things in the fabric. An award winner at the Slide tradeshow in the UK at the end of January.
Columbia
Big in the district of Columbia for 2011 is Omni Heat technology. It’s a three-part insulation system that they are rolling out across their entire range. Omni-Heat Thermal Insulation is a new 50% recycled insulation that promises the industry’s highest heat retention levels. The insulation is newly-developed too, and claims to be 20% lighter than rivals. Omni-Heat Thermal Reflective uses aluminium micro-dots in the lining to reflect heat back whilst letting moisture through. But most wacky of all is Omni-Heat Thermal Electric battery powered heating that is being employed in a range of boots.
Eider
Two lines sparked interest here – the Wide Angle freeride with patterns like herringbone and leather detailing – and the Indie Ride. The latter looks a bit military and has softer fabrics, retaining a semi street look. Eider are delivering some quite different ideas with these lines; they also have the top end Xenium mountaineering/alpine-style shells – we reckon the Power Pro jacket is the pick of this bunch with it’s ridiculously warm lining and very stretchy softshell outer.
Haglofs
My, this looks a lot brighter and more freeridey. As fans of the highly technical, durable Scandinavian brand, our reservations up to this point would have been around the tightish fits and tendency towards Ramblers Association colours. Haglofs haven’t thrown this away, but they have loosened up their key crossover snowsports pieces, added the odd cargo pocket, added in poppy zip colours and offered a choice of ripstop-type fabric and softer materials. The Couloir jacket and pant in a deep vivid blue was a stand out.
Mammut
The Swiss outdoor giant is doing some very interesting things with fabric; their £350 Chaltern jacket uses a technology which adjusts breathability depending on the heat inside the jacket. If you get all hot, the C-Change fabric can almost double its breathability. There’s also a huge two-way underarm zip to tweak venting and ceramic dots on high-wear areas like shoulders and hips.
Nikita
What’s that, Nikita are branching into hardgoods? Not quite. Iceland’s girl’s only outerwear brand have teamed up with K2 to produce a collaboration board, boot and bindings. Of course there’s a jacket and trouser to match.
Patagonia
Looking like increasingly good value as other clothing brands hike their prices, we singled out the midlayer and baselayer pieces as most interesting from the masters of credible eco-production. Their Capilene range, from £38, is re-cut and the latest generation of fibres are used to improve wicking – the range remains fully recyclable. The Nano puff ultra light ripstop midlayer is one of those supremely useful, very squishable items which should fit in most daypacks. The Regulator high-loft Polartec fleece is a fluffy, extremely warm top with stretch panels in the side.
Peak Performance
The past few seasons have seen Peak Performance really push the top-end, most technical parts of their output with the Black Light and Heli Pro ranges filling the super technical quota. Those ranges are still available but, more focus has been placed on the Essential Line for 2011. The whole range has been completely overhauled with new models, fits and material used throughout. Most of the range seems to use Derzimax which adds a nice feel and a bit of stretch to the technicalities, that we haven’t seen too much of for 2011.
Protest
Accessibility is where it’s at with Protest. That’s not to say they haven’t been putting a load of ideas into style and technical features, the guys Calow down jacket at £130 offers something for those freezing nights at a decent price. And for the ladies the Sturton also offers 10k/10k at £130. None of the girls range punches above 10k/10k but then again, none of it will do you for more than £140!
Rip Curl
Rip Curl have struck up another mixed range for 2011. On the one side they have their very much style influenced pro rider signature series – a good looking selection of threads to keep riders warm with a chick on each arm. On the other side of things they have refined the technical S-Bomb 2 jacket and pants set up. Incorporating their own hi tech fabrics that pitch in at a whopping 20/20 waterproofing and breathability. The concoction uses a four-way stitch giving it a certain amount more elasticity than previous Gore-tex collaborations.
They’re also tweaked the internal heating systems that they launched last season, now offering a battery that is half the size and four heat settings.
Skins
Performance underwear is hitting the consciousness of more people, but there’s still confusion about the purpose of compression garments. Aussie-based Skins are making big noises in lots of sports but snowsports is an area they’re increasingly focussing on. There’s a thermal range arriving in 3/4 length tights and a crew-neck top. We figure the recovery clothing aspect is most useful, simply because we always ache like hell after a big day and find it a bit hard to get up the next morning. Compression clothing feels weird and a bit cold when you put it on, but is remarkably effective. Let’s just say that those of us in our mid-30s and up are converts…
Thirtytwos
The main push appears to have been in Thirtytwos sophomore year in the world of outerwear. They now have two distinct ranges, the Exposure and Cascade representing the more in your face and tight pants, niche style respectively.
Westbeach
A return to more block prints and solid colours for the Canadian outerwear brand for 2011 with a hint of plaid in there. Teaming up with the Keep A Breast foundation, Westbeach have also launched a KAB collection that includes the I love boobies beanie and a jacket that has a lining littered with pictures of female mammaries. It’s all very tastefully done and 10% of the profits go to the Keep A Breast cancer charity.
Find your way through the splurge of next winter's gear:
Snowboard line for 2011 unveiled in Manchester – first previews at Slide in Manchester
What to expect next winter – kind of like an intro
What to expect next winter: trends – start the journey with a dip into reverse camber
What to expect next winter: trends – getting on an eco tip
What to expect next winter: Forum, Special Blend, Foursquare
What to expect next winter: Protect your noggin – a little expose on helmets
Next winter's gear: snowboards, boots and bindings
Next season's kit previewed: Goggles