COLD WEATHER GEAR: COLUMBIA OMNI-HEAT POWDER BOWL PARKA - 12.04.2010

We are pretty selective about gear reviews at WKS and turn down a lot of requests, because most gear on the market is complete crap! We were pretty excited when Columbia sent us one of their Omni-Heat powder bowl parka's. Upon box opening, the jacket is very well made and super heavy. The Omni-Heat layer is removable, which is good because this jacket is unbelievably warm. I couldn't even have it on during the drive up to the trailhead with the windows open. We rode on a complete graybird snowy day, around 25 degrees F and I was very warm. Shedding layers.. The quality of the jacket is top notch and I am stoked on the zipper construction. Every jacket I've had the zippers break usually in the first 2 days. Why build a $400 hundred dollar jacket with trashy components? Not here...Great product and good style, this is the ultimate jacket for the super cold days, and the outer layer works great for all around conditions. We mentioned before in the short gear review, this is a must have for the arsenal.