OUTERWEAR

[C.Fuzzy]

Additionally, and the personal issue I have with snowboard brands, is even when they have really high end breathability and waterproof performance fabrics, they don't seem to generally match them with the construction improvements.

I've never had that issue, personally, with high end AK stuff, especially the AK457/AK Japan stuff..

I've also had super good luck with their lifetime warranty, had a like 5-6 year old AK Hover jacket blow out the zipper. No questions, no hassle got a brand new jacket...

Admittedly I've never bought AK gear. Not sure if AK is indicative of board brands on a whole though. Also, it's been a good long time since I've been buying a lot of outerwear too, so, if things be different these days I'm willing to accept that.

[eleveneightnate]

Admittedly I've never bought AK gear. Not sure if AK is indicative of board brands on a whole though. Also, it's been a good long time since I've been buying a lot of outerwear too, so, if things be different these days I'm willing to accept that.

There are really only 4-5 snowboard brands that make "high end" outerwear. The AK line, 686's GLCR line, L1's Theorum line, Volcom's Gore-Tex line, and maaaaaybe Dakine. Everyone else is either pricepoint stuff or just hit or miss from year to year (e.g. Airblaster's Beast line).

Either way, I've never had a problem with any of the brands mentioned and I'm pretty hard on my gear. After rethinking their cuts a couple years ago, AK fits the best hands down IMO. They pulled in the width a little while keeping the longer length, which is exactly what I want and is just as important to me as seam stitching specs or whatever.

[kimchi]

Kimchi is a wrecking ball of sorts, but we love him for it. I get a lot of days, and tend to keep outerwear I like until it really needs a refresh, but have never had a single failure I can think of. So, I have no need for “extra” durable top-tier construction stuff that cost twice as much.

Yep. I'm just a heavy footed, wrecking ball 200+ lb guy. I only get in 30 days in a good year, yet I'm lucky if I can get 3 seasons out of a pair of pants.

Either way, I've never had a problem with any of the brands mentioned and I'm pretty hard on my gear. After rethinking their cuts a couple years ago, AK fits the best hands down IMO. They pulled in the width a little while keeping the longer length, which is exactly what I want and is just as important to me as seam stitching specs or whatever.

That's cool, but not at all my lived experience. However hard you are on gear, I have a nigh magical ability to wreck shit.

Just with [ak]:

• 2009 Stagger pants - Blew out a seam on the hip after ~30 days, warranty.

• 2015 Stash pants - Blew out thigh inseam after ~50 days, warranty.

• 2016 Cyclic pant Had to send these back to Burton for a repair of a rip at the knee after ~15 days, and I probably need to send them in again because I just realized the boot gaiter is coming apart.

• 2018 Tech Gloves x 2: Two different separate pairs of gloves where the synthetic palms started cracking and peeling within 2 seasons of use. Still have these, could warranty them, been too lazy.

• 2018 [ak] Freebird Bibs - These are still usable, but seam tape started going to shit in multiple areas after ~50 days of use and got some significant abrasion wear in the seat. I was planning to warranty these, but been lazy and they were forced into service because...

• 2020 [ak] Freebird Bibs - Tore the goretex laminate at a seam after ~40 days. Also abrasion wear and rips in multiple spots. Bummed because I love the color of these pants, enough that I went out and bought them new old stock instead of getting 2021s on warranty from the 2018s. I am hoping Burton will attempt a repair when I sent them in, but I'm guessing they'll just send me a new set.

I did get 100+ days out of my 2016 Swash and 2012-ish Guide gloves with minimal issues but that's a low hit rate. And that's from cream of the crop snowboard outerwear-- my experience with mid-tier, aspiring high-end brands like Bonfire, Homeschool, and Holden is substantially worse. I might have better luck with 686 or Volcom, but the lack of lifetime warranty from those brands sketches me out enough that I haven't bothered.

So yea... in general I'll pay a few extra bucks for top build quality, peace of mind, and reputation for a no questions-asked warranty policy that I (knock on wood) haven't had to test yet. [ak] at least has a good warranty, but I can't trust that I'm not going to be missing key gears for weeks or months at a time.

I will grant you that [ak] pant fits are on point-- main reason I keep buying Freebirds despite repeatedly breaking them. I've tried on a bunch of other bibs, and [ak] fits me best by a fair margin (other than AK457, which as a different cut). The Arc'teryx pant and bib fit and aesthetic is especially ski team.

[eleveneightnate]

Kimchi is a wrecking ball of sorts, but we love him for it. I get a lot of days, and tend to keep outerwear I like until it really needs a refresh, but have never had a single failure I can think of. So, I have no need for “extra” durable top-tier construction stuff that cost twice as much.

Yep. I'm just a heavy footed, wrecking ball 200+ lb guy. I only get in 30 days in a good year, yet I'm lucky if I can get 3 seasons out of a pair of pants.

Either way, I've never had a problem with any of the brands mentioned and I'm pretty hard on my gear. After rethinking their cuts a couple years ago, AK fits the best hands down IMO. They pulled in the width a little while keeping the longer length, which is exactly what I want and is just as important to me as seam stitching specs or whatever.

That's cool, but not at all my lived experience. However hard you are on gear, I have a nigh magical ability to wreck shit.

Just with [ak]:

• 2009 Stagger pants - Blew out a seam on the hip after ~30 days, warranty.

• 2015 Stash pants - Blew out thigh inseam after ~50 days, warranty.

• 2016 Cyclic pant Had to send these back to Burton for a repair of a rip at the knee after ~15 days, and I probably need to send them in again because I just realized the boot gaiter is coming apart.

• 2018 Tech Gloves x 2: Two different separate pairs of gloves where the synthetic palms started cracking and peeling within 2 seasons of use. Still have these, could warranty them, been too lazy.

• 2018 [ak] Freebird Bibs - These are still usable, but seam tape started going to shit in multiple areas after ~50 days of use and got some significant abrasion wear in the seat. I was planning to warranty these, but been lazy and they were forced into service because...

• 2020 [ak] Freebird Bibs - Tore the goretex laminate at a seam after ~40 days. Also abrasion wear and rips in multiple spots. Bummed because I love the color of these pants, enough that I went out and bought them new old stock instead of getting 2021s on warranty from the 2018s. I am hoping Burton will attempt a repair when I sent them in, but I'm guessing they'll just send me a new set.

I did get 100+ days out of my 2016 Swash and 2012-ish Guide gloves with minimal issues but that's a low hit rate. And that's from cream of the crop snowboard outerwear-- my experience with mid-tier, aspiring high-end brands like Bonfire, Homeschool, and Holden is substantially worse. I might have better luck with 686 or Volcom, but the lack of lifetime warranty from those brands sketches me out enough that I haven't bothered.

So yea... in general I'll pay a few extra bucks for top build quality, peace of mind, and reputation for a no questions-asked warranty policy that I (knock on wood) haven't had to test yet. [ak] at least has a good warranty, but I can't trust that I'm not going to be missing key gears for weeks or months at a time.

I will grant you that [ak] pant fits are on point-- main reason I keep buying Freebirds despite repeatedly breaking them. I've tried on a bunch of other bibs, and [ak] fits me best by a fair margin (other than AK457, which as a different cut). The Arc'teryx pant and bib fit and aesthetic is especially ski team.

686 GLCR has a lifetime warranty. The stuff I have from that line, especially the Gore-tex pieces, have been real sturdy.

I get about 40-50 days a season in CO, so not a crazy amount but I do a lot of park (falling) and tree riding with the odd snowmobile and cat trips.

• 2016 686 Smarty Pants - still look new

• 2020 686 GLCR Dispatch Gore-tex bibs - still look new (love the reinforced knees)

• 2019 686 GLCR Thermagraph jacket - still looks new, although the zipper is a little difficult to get started lately

• 2019 686 GLCR GT jacket - looked new when I sold it last year

• 2019 ak Cyclic jacket - would look new if it weren't a color that shows dirt easy

• 2018 Volcom L jacket - slight abrasion from a tree branch but no holes and seams are good

[J0_Zehp]

Is anybody seen the Beyond Medals SB collection already?

[coleslawed]

I always find it hilarious how much ezloungin loves $800 shmedium ski dad jackets.

If snowboard companies had higher build quality and I didn't keep blowing out seams, I wouldn't bother. A former 32 and Burton outerwear designed prompted a great discussion in old EZL (RIP). Basically confirmed my suspicion that snowboard companies are... not necessarily fixated on the top performance and build quality. Honestly probably fine for the typical snowboard consumer, but I have an unusual ability to wreck shit.

I remember that thread, wish we still had it. Wonder if that guy’s around here still? He was dishing out some great info.

Anyway, I’ve never blown out an AK or higher end 686 jacket. I actually know a guy that rides for 686 and I get hand-me-downs sometimes. His stuff is still in good shape after a season of him throwing down in the backcountry, so I’m not sold that a bougie Arcteryx jacket that feels like a trash bag is necessarily better in real world use. I also size up so there’s minimal chance of creating enough tension on any given seam to blow it out short of tearing/snagging on something.

some of us don’t have the luxury of sizing up, we just have to hope that XXL will fit (it doesn’t always).

[eleveneightnate]

Norrona is doing literally NOTHING different than any other similarly priced stuff from any similar manufacturer. Same fabrics, same appurtenances (zippers, liners etc) same fucking factories. They don't add extra stitches or have some magic formula for "durability". Suggesting they do because of your supposed personal experience is the height of narcissistic lack of self awareness. "build quality" lol.

Whoa whoa careful buddy, you might anger the ski brand fashion gods of ezloungin.

[Spenser]

I have a suspicion someone familiar has returned to EL...

[kimchi]

I have a suspicion someone familiar has returned to EL...

Lol I was wondering if the well-deserved permaban carried over.

[benjinyc]

Not sure 3L pants are worth it - 3L jackets def, but pants/bibs doesn’t seem worth the trade off (breathability v durability). I feel like the venting/zips found in most pants is good enough

I scored some bomb proof Patagonia patroller uniform pants that are pretty indestructible.