Outdoor Retailer and Snow Show, the biggest outdoor and snowsports event of the year, is happening now at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado. We’ve got a team on the ground, there to bring you news about the most exciting new product releases. Follow our coverage here, and also be sure to check us out on Instagram. We’ll be posting exclusive images and interviews to our feed throughout the week.
Key Specs:
Brand: Marmot
Model: West Rib Parka
Price: $600
Availability: August 2019
Unique Features: Interior baffles, 800-fill power goose down, 40 grams of sheeted synthetic insulation on the face
Upshot: We typically measure the warmth in jackets based on the baffles shown, whether that’s in down or synthetic jackets. Marmot’s West Rib parka does just the opposite thanks to WarmCube construction. The 3D technology creates baffles of varying sizes along the chest and back of the jacket, but only inside the zipper. Pair the cubes with a synthetic sheet that’ll hold up through a variety of intense weather conditions and you have a flexible fire alongside your core.
Who It’s For: The West Rib Parka was designed for adventurers who like to go high alpine belaying. It will also help you survive a polar vortex.
Insight: The WarmCube construction is what sets this Marmot jacket apart from the dozens of other jackets our team saw at the show. Between each cube, there’s a channel that flexes and molds to your body — and that also holds hot air. Slide this on over however many layers you’re already wearing, and enjoy the comfort of a plush puffy. All around the core and from your shoulders down to your waistline, you’ll find cubes reminiscent of the Michelin man, but not in the arms or at the bottom third of the jacket. If you’re belaying someone, you’re not moving much, so you need some way to trap all that heat and keep out the cold. You should reach for something like this. It weighs 2.5 pounds, so it’s not something you’ll want to carry with you to break a speed record, but for heavy duty alpine adventures, this is the jacket that should have a permanent spot in your belay kit. It won a Gold ISPO Award in Munich and already garnered a lot of attention at the Outdoor Retailer Snow Show this year.
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