Team Geared Up

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND (Team Geared Up) - One thing that most people would probably agree on is that the word innovation and jacket rarely come up in the same sentence. Well in order to remove that stigma I’ve made a list of some of the latest jackets coming out. Some feature packed, others a little more standard, but every outdoor enthusiast can’t leave home without one. So lets whet those outer shell appetites shall we?

First we have the Merrell DIY Puffy Coat (above) which is a perfect example of the statement I made earlier. Inspired by hobos (I’m assuming) this jacket is a an empty shell which basically allows you to stuff the assorted pockets around the jacket with whatever insulating material you choose. Leaves, plastic bags, wool, newspaper, hamsters, whatever. This therefore makes it a jacket for all seasons, you leave it empty when its warmer out and stuff it when it starts to get nippy. Available this Fall for $99.

Winter is slowly approaching its end and its time to either dust off you out of seasons or start looking for a new light shell for the Spring/Summer. The 2008 Marmot Motion Jacket looks to be a nice viable option. It features “angel-wing movement” design which allows for unconstricted movement of the arms and is made of Banshee P-170 with Marmot Defender DWR coating which gives the Motion waterproofing without all the bulk. Plus it packs into its own pocket for easy storage. $65.

Nothing says innovation like having the word “Evolution” in your product name. The North Face Evolution Triclimate Jacket has the ability to be your jacket for near all year round weather protection, which I guess is where the evolution part comes in. It features a three-in-one component which can tackle pretty much anything you can throw at it, weather wise, short of a hardcore blizzard or something. Wuss. Jokes aside this is quite a complete jacket. Its waterproof, seam sealed, boasts a durable and breathable HyVent outer shell and a removable tri-climate fleece on the inside, a fully adjustable hood with single-hand cinch cords that store in collar; outer and inner chest pockets and hand pockets; adjustable Velcro cuffs with elastic; and a bound hem with a cinch cord. Plus a price that seems about right for what you’re getting, $178.95. Damn. I kinda want one now.

The Helly Hansen Odin collection, “a technically advanced apparel system designed to provide the absolute best weather protection, comfort and durability from base layers to outerwear for professional mountain guides, patrollers, climbers and expeditioners who spend months at a time in rugged back country conditions.” Well then. There you have it. The Odin series took three years to design and is coming out this summer. It’s an all season, triple layer made stretchy, breathable and water proof by Helly Tech XP nylon and has an adjustable hood and snow skirt.

Nothing says innovation like having X in yo…. ok I’ll stop. The Marmot Alpinist X Jacket is made for cold-weather backpacking, hiking and mountaineering. Weighing in at about only 1 pound it still offers extreme weather with Gore-Tex performance shell and Gale Force hood with EGR hood adjustment system. Taped seams and stitch-less design give it exceptional insulation. Price is a little steep at $450 but this is pro stuff here people!

The Loki Lodur Belay Jacket. How funky is that company name? I want the jacket just so I can say “yeah its a Loki Lodur Belay jacket” and have people look at me puzzled. OK back to business. This jacket has built in mittens and face protector! Why has no one thought of that before? This is clearly a jacket for people who spend large amounts of time outdoors in the winter and in the snow. Loki describes this jacket as “cloud-like comfort”, which I’m imagining is pretty nice. (Unless the mean it literally, then it would be moist all the time.) This may look thick and heavy but is actually pretty light but still gives you the durability and below freezing warmth that you would look for. The jacket is insulated with Primaloft, offering “the best warmth while wet ratio.” $249

The last is probably the one I’m most excited about. If you ever watched the Six Million Dollar man and ever wondered what kind of jacket he would use to go snowboarding this is probably it. The O’Neill NavJacket GPS-Equipped Jacket is the drunken love child of O’Neill and GPS company, MyGuide. Giving you all the warmth, protection and features of a snowboard jacket and the ability to have Big Brother know exactly where on the hill you are at any given time. Not recommended for the paranoid type. Due to hit the slopes a year from now, there are actually a bunch of neat ideas going into this. The NavJacket features an integrated LCD display on its sleeve, and audio instructions are delivered through your hood. If your method of transportation is on skis, you’ll really love this little number, which not only guides you through the backcountry, it’s tells you your current speed, up-to-date weather forecasts, and detailed information on your route, distance and time traveled. Using your mobile phone connected to the GPS unit, 3D views of the resorts as well as points of interest throughout the resort will also be available. An additional innovative feature of the NavJacket is a friend finder function, which will allow you to either track down friends, or choose to follow their path through the slopes. Now thats cool! I can’t count the amount of times where I got split up from my friends and call them and ask where they are and they say stuff like “ummm downhill? there are trees around me? not sure…” I can’t wait to see this actually come out. Maybe if we’re really really lucky TGU can get one to test! No details on price, but don’t expect it to be cheap.

-Alx-