|
|
| Raven by Obermeyer |
| Author: [ smburt ] Michael Shannon Burt Contact Author: smburt | Mon Nov 29 19:19:02 EST 2010 |
|
The short answer is: Overall, the Obermeyer Raven is a very comfortable, cozy, and warm ski jacket. It provides great flexability, with an easy to use lining and ventilation system, excellent storage (pockets) in an easy to spot, (o.k. blinding) True Red choice. If the colour wasn’t attention grabbing enough, the reflective trim really helps while night or low light skiing. The Raven is also available in Dark Slate and Gold Rush, but read on for more details...
We received this jacket on a warm day in October, looked at it and said "it looks too warm". Turns out we were kinda right. This is a very warm jacket. Because of the late fall here in Calgary, there wasn’t much opportunity to wear it before the cold snap set in, but once it got cold, the jacket got a lot of use!
We tried it twice while cross country skiing. The first time in -25C weather and wind. With just one layer underneath, the Thinsulate insulation held up to the cold temperature and kept me comfortably warm. It was a treat not to have several layers on in the cold weather and to be able to maneuver my poles properly. This was aided by the both the stetch in the fabric as well as the tayloring, including articulated elbows that allowed for full motion. Even with the gusting wind chill, the outer Genesis shell fabric held up and provided protection. The external storm flaps, powder skirt, and fleece lining made this jacket extra cozy in the cold weather.
The second day skiing was in warmer weather. Yes, it was a balmy -16C when we set out. This was an up and down so we got to try some slooow down hill skiing with the jacket. Again, great blocking of the wind chill and the fleece in the collar made what little wind there was pleasant. With a single layer underneath, the Raven was more than adequate to provide warmth in the parking lot and stopping for lunch. While actually skiing, their CZV (Critical Zone Venting) did an excellent job in the milder conditions. In particular, the pit zips were easy to access and open. In other jackets, it’s been easier to get someone else to open the venting instead of trying to struggle with the zippers yourself. Not so here. The zipper pulls were easy to find and slid open smoothly even while wearing gloves. They still managed to look great wide open thanks to the interior mesh.
In general this jacket is a great looking jacket that spends all its time hiding great features in a good looking package. Even the RECCO system has been tastefully added and the logos look good on the slope, and possibly even under the snow. The jacket looks good on with or without the removable powder skirt. I left this one even though it wasn’t needed simply because the skirt snaps are well organized and the flaps aren’t in the way when not using. The only drawback with is the Lycra stretch panel was a little stiff and the fit was a little snug. This could work its way out over time.
A final word about the pockets. When next I am at a ski hill and see people with back packs on, I will have to go up to them and tell them to buy this jacket. There is a useful pocket for everything including a specific key holder, cell phone pocket and ski pass pocket. We loaded up our cash, wax, snacks, candies, Kleenex, keys and didn’t look bulked up. Everything was easy to get to when needed and easy to find. The design of the sleeves also helped. The sleeves were wide enough to easily get gloves on and off, but were sealed well so the hands and arms were kept warm and dry. The sleeve liners were more than enough on a mild day to manage keys and such without gloves. And if your gloveless hands got a little cold, the hand pockets are lined and more than enough for a quick warm up while waiting for friends in the lift line.
In summary, the Raven has everything you would expect from a technical jacket including sealed critical seams, waterproof zips, reflective trim and a removable hood. But the many extras and sleek design makes the Ravin a great choice for your technical ski jacket choice. For a cold weather single piece solution on the slopes or trail, the Raven is a serious contender.
Gord Parker
Calgary, Alberta
|
|
|
|
|
|
