Flylow Knight Jacket

Flylow’s Knight Jacket is not your average shell so we couldn’t test it in average conditions. In order to be sure the three-layer fabric really provides outstanding protection against wind, rain, and cold, we went to the legendary north island of Japan, Hokkaido. The jacket is built to look good and has solid maneuverability with a softer fabric than most hard-shells. When paired with the Men’s Flylow IQ pants in green, it provides a uniform look, making you sure to get noticed wherever you go. But it doesn’t just look good.  

As Flylow notes, this jacket is built for people who “ski hard and put their equipment to work” and I couldn’t agree more. Japan can be known for some tight tree skiing and the fabric was held strong while slashing through trees. The jacket comes with four pockets - two hand pockets, an outside and inside chest pocket on the left side. While Flylow touts their specific media pocket (inside chest) keeps the cold out and your devices working as they should, I didn’t notice any added functionality. But, I did appreciate that the phone wasn’t swimming in an oversized pocket. The two hand pockets are large and were more than big enough to fit my pair of Hestras which was key.  

I wore this jacket for a week, swimming in Japanese powder, and it kept the snow out and warmth in. Not to mention, the pocket and vent design meant I was never fidgeting with straps.  When combined with the fabric durability, I’d be happy to take this thing out with just a base-layer for a day tour. In wintry Japan, however, I went with a base-layer, mid-layer puffy and this jacket, which translated to the most comfortable day on the mountain I’ve had in a while. But I do have to mention one aspect Flylow could improve upon. A tighter neck area and softer fabric at the top of the main zipper, around your mouth, would be a huge value add. There were a couple of brutal periods where the helmet-compatible hood was up, artic wind howling, leaving me wanting just a touch more warmth to aid my balaclava in protecting my face. 

Overall, my verdict on the Flylow Knight Jacket is it’s an impressive shell that offers more protection than most shells on the market today. Its layering and breathing capabilities make it an ideal mid-winter resort shell that can also stand up in the backcountry. Then, factor in the style points, and this jacket is hard to beat. But all that usually comes at a price, right? Yes, for quality gear, you do have to shell out more, but at this price point, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more quality constructed piece – the value is hard to beat. If you’ve been looking for a multi-purpose shell that’ll withstand whatever you throw at it, the Flylow Knight Jacket is what you’ve been looking for. Look good, feel good, ski good!