Backcountry has been making their own gear for a few years now, but this year they really stepped up their game with an awesome lineup of products. We took them out for a spin at the resort and in the backcountry to put these products to the test and see how they hold up on two opposite sides of the skiing spectrum.
Backcountry Cottonwoods Gore-Tex Jacket - Men's
Backcountry Cottonwoods Gore-Tex Jacket - Men'sStarting at: $287.97
This jacket is burly. If you live for storm skiing you’ll be pleased to know that the Cottonwoods jacket will have you warm, dry, and comfortable so you can keep lapping all day long. Featuring all the bells and whistles you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more feature-rich jacket. We love the big roomy pockets for stashing all our essentials on the mountain. The jacket has a bit of a baggier fit leaving plenty of room for layers and keeping you mobile and keeping the snow out. We’ve tested this jacket both inbounds and in the backcountry. Although Backcountry states it was built for resort riding, if you are looking for a do it all jacket for a great price, this could be your answer. From the park to the backcountry you'll be in good hands with the Cottonwoods Jacket.
Backcountry Cottonwoods Gore-Tex Bib Pant - Men's
Backcountry Cottonwoods Gore-Tex Bib Pant - Men'sStarting at: $235.17
The matching bib pants to the Cottonwoods jacket are equally burly. Also similarly these bibs are packed with useful features. One of our favorite features is the removable bib so that you can convert these to normal pants for warmer Spring days, or when you just aren’t feeling the bib life. With pockets galore, you can stash all the essentials. Like the Cottonwoods jacket, the bibs can seamlessly transition from resort to backcountry with ease. We especially love the mesh utility pocket on the bibs which is a great place to stash your skins to keep them from freezing up between laps. Testers were grateful for the leg vent when a chilly dawn patrol went warm as the sun got higher in the sky. The loose fit gives you plenty of style at the resort and lends itself to plenty of mobility while skinning up in search of fresh snow.
Backcountry Wolverine Cirque Hooded Jacket - Men'sStarting at: $138.22
Our favorite mid-layers are insulating, breathable, and stretchy; the Wolverine Cirque jacket is all of these things. We love this piece for cold mornings touring, it has just enough insulation to keep you warm, but the smartly placed thinner areas keep the piece breathable and keeps you from overheating on the skin track. The stretchy material keeps mobility at an all time high so whether you are reaching for a grab in the park or reaching for your next hold on a spicy ridge scramble the Wolverine won’t be holding you back. Although the jacket can shed some light precipitation, the slim fit makes it perfect for fitting under your waterproof shell like the Cottonwoods jacket.
Backcountry Spruces Merino Baselayers
Backcountry Spruces Merino Baselayer Bottom - Men'sStarting at: $72.93Backcountry Spruces Merino Baselayer Crew - Men'sStarting at: $63.81
If you aren’t rocking a merino baselayer you are doing it wrong. The Spruces baselayers are 91% merino making it more durable than some of its 100% merino counterparts with the same next to skin comfort. We are huge fans of merino and it’s naturally odor-resistant fibers as well as the incredible temperature regulating properties. The Spruces Crew fits a little looser than some other baselayers you may be familiar with. We like the loose fit sometimes tight fitting layers can feel a bit constraining and can cause overheating. The slimmer fit on the Spruces bottoms fit nicely under your snow pants. The flatlock seams prevent chafing and increase comfort. This combo strikes the balance well and keeps you warm but the midweight insulation doesn’t cause overheating. If you are looking to upgrade your baselayer game we can’t recommend the Spruces enough.
Backcountry Double Ski & Snowboard Rolling Bag
Backcountry Double Ski & Snowboard Rolling BagStarting at: $153.57
Although we may not be traveling with our skis much this year, we’ve still found this travel bag useful. We took this bag out on a road trip in search of soft snow. We loved keeping all our gear in the bag to keep organized while shuffling bags around a pop up camper. We were easily able to fit one splitboard and one pair of skis along with helmets, skins, poles, boots and other accessories into the bag. With multiple pockets you can keep all those small items from getting lost in the void. The roller wheels and padded edge will keep your gear safe when it’s time to board a plan again. We can’t wait to put this bag to the test in its intended use case. Eyes on Japan anyone?
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