Photo Credit: Brett Faulknor

Trew Cosmic Jacket: $300

www.trewgear.com

The Good: Solid shell defends against wind and snow, helmet compatible hood, great venting, and pockets all over.

The Bad: Although touted as minimalist and fit, the fit is loose, even with some layers.  Good for snowboarding, but a bit too much fabric for skiing. May want to size down a bit to shed the bulk.

Hanging out on a frosted over mountain means having to defend against a variety of weather conditions, from wind-blown ridges to moisture-laden snow flurries; it’s all out there and bound to make you earn a good day on the slopes. Good gear defends against the weather without slowing you down, and great gear looks good doing it. Trew’s Cosmic Jacket is built to stand up against adverse conditions with a lightweight durable outer shell and adjustable helmet compatible hood to seal out the cold. Zippered dual chest and hip pockets make stashing gear a cinch, and a wrist pocket fits kleenex or a lift pass for fast access. Pit zippers ventilate well when it heats up, with large durable zippers that are easy to use with gloved hands. A decent powderskirt cinches the waist keep out wind and snow.

Photo Credit: Brett Faulknor

We took this jacket out for a few days of sun and storms at Squaw Valley and Northstar in Lake Tahoe and put it through a full range of weather conditions. The jacket wore well under a backpack, shed water and snow, and stayed warm when the wind picked up. We wore the shell layered over a Merino Wool shirt and light jacket with more than enough room to move.  The fit of the medium jacket was more bulky on our tester than comparable jackets, feeling a bit oversized. It may be necessary for skinny guys to size down a bit for a trim fit. The powder skirt did tend to ride up after trips up the lift chair, making for adjustments every few runs to keep the wind out; a bead of grippy rubber would be a good addition to the skirt to keep it in place.

Overall, the Trew Cosmic jacket performed well on the mountain, with nice design elements and features.   As a versatile shell for an avid snow junkie, this jacket feels good. The fit isn’t ideal for a skinny guy, and limited design choices make it a bit limited if you want to match the rest of your outfit (only available in emerald/gold, black, blue, or grey/black).

Photo Credit: Brett Faulknor