Ortovox Men's Swisswool Verbier Jacket

Pros: 

Ortovox designed the Swisswool Verbier Jacket for sub-freezing freeriding. As such, it has a few features that are primed for skiing and snowboarding, like an adjustable storm hood, a ski pass pocket on the sleeve, and a backpack-friendly front pocket configuration. That said, this Ortovox jacket is tuned to the needs of winter campers, too. 

When winter camping, you want to stay both warm and dry, and the Verbier tackles both of those challenges with grace and style. The Pertex Quantum Pro external material is both water-resistant and exceptionally durable—we’ve put it through the wringer, and so far, there's not a thread out of place. Ortovox is mathematically precise with their Swisswool insulation—a natural material derived from black sheep in the Swiss Alps. The Verbier sports 200 g/m² Swisswool in the front, back, and outer sleeves, while high-heat zones (i.e., under the arms) use 150 g/m² Swisswool. 

Ortovox has the basics down pat, and the extra features are similarly well-executed. The multitude of pockets (two inner pockets, two front pockets, one ski pass pocket) are intelligently designed, a merino wool liner at the chin ensures constant comfort, and elastic cuffs combat all but the gustiest of blizzards. All things considered, Ortovox developed an ultra-warm jacket that defends against light precipitation, offers fantastic range of movement, and is a versatile piece that comes in handy across multiple winter activities, from everyday life to freeriding and winter camping.

Cons: 

The outer material can be overwhelmed by wet snow or heavy rain. Furthermore, while we’re fans of the natural wool insulation, it isn’t as compact as we’d like, and we’d likely opt for an 800-fill treated down jacket if we’re hiking long distances in wet weather.

Tester Comments: 

“Cozy, warm, and water-resistant, this puffy is the perfect companion in freezing conditions. The fact that it’s stylish is just a bonus.”

Best For: Enjoying winter without worrying about the weather.