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Outerwear

686 Gore-Tex Willow Jacket and Gore-Tex Utopia Pant 2021-2022 Women’s Snowboard Outerwear Review

Tested and selected for our top 100 snowboard products of the year: the 686 Gore-Tex Willow Jacket and Gore-Tex Utopia Pant

  • Price Jacket: £280 / €320 / $320
  • Price Pants: £280 / €300 / $300
  • Waterproof / Breathability: Gore-Tex
  • Category: Backcountry
  • Sizes: XS, S, M, L

Why we chose the 686 Gore-Tex Willow Jacket and Gore-Tex Utopia Pant Snowboard Outerwear: Designed to live up to the standards of Hana Beaman, this Gore-Tex outfit serves you well in whatever terrain you choose to ride.

686 has never overlooked their women’s collection. Now, just one year shy of their 30th birthday, the brand has an impressive women’s line that covers everything from outerwear to socks. For winter 21/22 they’re expanding their female line by introducing a new jacket to their Performance Fit line that’s been developed together with world-class shredder Hana Beaman: the Gore-Tex Willow Jacket.

Known for filming in the steep and deep, Hana Beaman has been part of progressing female snowboarding to new heights, acting as an inspiration to many. With her can-do attitude, and ability to take on any kind of terrain, it’s a no-brainer that the Willow jacket lives up to the same standards. Pair it up with the upgraded Gore-Tex Utopia Pant and you’re good to go.

“686 has never overlooked their women’s collection”

MORE INFO:
686.COM

Who Are The 686 Gore-Tex Willow Jacket and Gore-Tex Utopia Pant For?

Gore-Tex is the crème-de-la-crème of outerwear fabrics: durable, waterproof and windproof. Ladies who are serious about tackling unpredictable climates and gnarly terrain will find that the Willow Jacket and Utopia Pants are going to serve them well, both within and far beyond the resort boundaries. With added insulation in both the jacket and the pants, there’s no need to worry about getting cold either – something you may appreciate when hiking beyond the beaten path without knowing when you’ll come across shelter next.

Materials and Construction

Guaranteed to keep you dry, the Gore-Tex membrane is created from a series of pores, of which each one is 20,000 times smaller than a water drop. These prevent water from getting in, yet allow vapour to pass through. This means that both the inside and the outside of the garment will stay dry, preventing the face fabric from ‘wetting out’, or trapping in sweat that can rapidly end up leaving you with a chill.

For both the jacket and the pants, 686 has used a bluesign Approved 2L Gore-Tex face fabric to achieve maximum mobility. Bluesign Approved products are created in ways that aren’t harmful to the environment, workers, and customers, making it both an ethical and sustainable choice.

70% of the insulation on the products have been made from recycled plastic bottles, resulting in saved energy and water usage when compared to virgin fibre production, thus adding to the outfit’s sustainability points.

“Gore-Tex is the crème-de-la-crème of outerwear fabrics: durable, waterproof and windproof”

Fit and Features

The Willow Jacket is designed with a looser Performance Fit, providing the option to layer up or rock the baggier look in springtime conditions. The Utopia pants come with a slightly slimmer, articulated fit. We wouldn’t call them snug, but sit somewhere in the middle of the scale.

New for this year, the pants have been designed with a mid-rise waist for added comfort and protection from snow. The waist is measured at 24cm (9.5”) from where the legs end to the top of the pants. To make the fit even more customised, the internal waist adjustment gives you the opportunity to adjust how tight the pants sit on your hips.

When in need of an extra breeze, the armpit vents on the jacket will come in handy, as well as the inner leg vents on the pants.

On top of that, both the pants and jacket come with plenty of pockets to store your valuables in and, if you really want to keep the elements out, you can go ahead and connect the two together with the jacket-to-pant connection system.

“New for this year, the pants have been designed with a mid-rise waist for added comfort and protection from snow”

Roundup

With Hana Beaman’s seal of approval, the Women’s Gore-Tex Willow Jacket is one of the most exciting new things to enter the snowboard outerwear market this year. Paired up with the Gore-Tex Utopia Pant you’ve got yourself a durable outfit that works well in all conditions, but is truly brought to its full potential when hiking in the steep and deep.

Trade Secrets

Pacôme Allouis – Brand Manager Europe, 686

“They’re both LIFETIME WARRANTY = > 686 GLCR Collection outerwear jackets and pants are covered under our Lifetime Warranty. We guarantee all construction and materials will be free from manufacturer’s defects for the lifetime of the product while in possession of the original owner.

The Insulation is also Recycled: From Plastic Bottles to Warmth. Insulation made from real plastic bottles: Uses 70% less energy and 90% less water than classic virgin fiber production.”

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