Following in a tradition of only reviewing products I have owned and used, after more than a year of shredding in this shell I can confidently say the Peak Performance Softshell jacket is one of my favourite pieces of ski equipment. While the jacket’s style is heavy on the European/Functional side of things, the performance and comfort pays off because of it. After all, you can only ski in hoodies so long before you realize you’re wet, cold and 30 years old.
The highlight of this softshell is clearly the fit – never restrictive, the jacket sits well on the frame and doesn’t ride up or bunch up in any one area. Articulated sleeves might have something to do with it. So might the Scandinavian attention to detail Peak Performance puts into its products. Some of the details that make the difference are the adjustable wide sleeve cuffs, allowing for easy use with gloves, as well as the large hood which allows for a (small) helmet or comfortable headroom for a person with a massive dome (me).
This is one of Peak’s best selling pieces and comes in black, some sort of maroon and a blue that is a bit on the feminine and/or European side (see above). While the Swedish company has been guilty of some fashion crimes in the past (it is European), this garment manages to ride that delicate line between classic geek MEC-chic and a truly functional piece of ski gear. It has managed to stay in my gear lineup as a valuable layer for really cold days and for in-between the action.
Downsides? Well, of course. Everything has a downside. This jacket’s is its weight and bulk. It’s hard to fit this baby under my outer shell (an Orage jacket found here). I find the extra large hood that I love otherwise encumbers when it is placed inside the hood of another shell. That’s about it for the downside. Pretty good, eh? It’s a little expensive from what I remember (I got it for free) but I’ve abused it like a red-headed stepchild for about 16 months and the only wear-and-tear is a small unraveled stitch on the sleeve, which was easily mended. This piece comes highly recommended for those who appreciate function only slightly above fashion, and who are willing to pay a little extra for a piece that lasts a lot longer. – Mike Berard
