www.obermeyer.com
With age comes wisdom. Just look at the Kenai shell, which seems to benefit from every brain cell of knowledge that Klaus Obermeyer has learned in his 60-plus years of making cold-weather clothes. The jacket’s poly exterior is laminated with Cocona—activated carbon derived from coconut shells—that delivers some of the most breathable/waterproof fabric on the market, and lends the fabric sly vertical striations that are refreshingly different from most jackets you see at the resort. The all-natural treatment also increases the overall durability, and boasts both UV protection and odor resistance. In short, this jacket can take anything from a deep-freeze blizzard to soupy spring slush. A mixture of nylon and spandex compliments the durable outer layer by provided the perfect measure waterproof stretch, which allows the jacket to fit snugly and flex when conditions demand. Waterproof pit zips offer quick-access temp adjustment, Velcro cuffs let you dial in the fit, and you get a bevy of pockets: hand, sternum, and the arm on the outside; a zipper pocket and a stretch-mesh pocket tailored for your goggles on the inside. The jacket even comes with an attached lens wipe. Overkill? Perhaps…until you need it. Features that speak to a life beyond the slopes (like a zip-off powder skirt and reflective trim) hint at the Kenai’s four-season versatility (and makes the price more approachable). Just a head’s up: for those with longer arms and torsos (like one lanky tester), the fit can prove a bit tricky. The large was too big, while the medium fit everywhere, save the arms; extending the arms pulled up the sleeves, but gauntlet-style gloves kept things covered.