First Look: Patagonia’s PowSlayer Kit

A special clarity arrives when the wind starts pushing you sideways, and the temperature drops just enough to make every zipper pull feel important. That’s where we get our first real sense of the new Patagonia PowSlayer ski kit, a redesigned jacket and pants system from Patagonia purpose built for skiers and riders who plan their days around weather windows, not lift schedules.

At its core, the PowSlayer is a non-insulated, no excuses kit constructed from 3-layer GORE-TEX Pro ePE with a recycled nylon face and a PFAS-free DWR finish. The fabric is touted as fully waterproof and windproof, highly breathable, and depending on the shell you’ve used in the past, noticeably lighter and quieter than older GORE-TEX Pro shells. It feels purpose-built for long approaches, sustained climbing, and the kind of variable mountain weather that punishes excess and rewards efficiency. And the jacket shouldn’t slow you down on transitions. Two large chest pockets swallow skins.  

Fit is often where technical ski kits can lose people, particularly if you’re a tall, slender skier like me who has spent years tugging sleeves down and cinching waist straps in vain. The PowSlayer jacket gets the proportions right. The torso length is long enough to keep me covered when reaching, poling, or side-hilling, and the sleeve cut/length is sufficient to prevent any creep-up when I’m layered and moving. It’s a regular fit, but a thoughtful one, with room to layer without feeling boxy or inflated. For reference, I am 6’5”, 185 lbs, and am comfortably wearing the size Men’s Large pants and jacket. Patagonia seems to have hit a sweet spot, at least for me, for fit on this new kit.

The pants are the bigger question mark for me. Bibs have become my default solution to prevent snow from creeping into my nether regions. The PowSlayer pants challenge that assumption. Despite being traditional pants, the PowSlayer pants sit securely at the waist, and a cleverly integrated velcro and elastic waist cinch system promises to layer cleanly, and should stay put through skinning, booting, and skiing, all without relying on suspenders to keep things civilized. (For reference, these elastic-velcro tabs are similar to those found on the Stormstride pant. If you prefer a belt to keep the waist secure, you’re in luck, as the waist has belt loops.) For those who prefer pants over bibs, or just want fewer straps in their lives, this is a welcome change over previous iterations of the PowSlayer kit. I am hopefully optimistic my penchant for bibs will be challenged by the well-thought-out design of the PowSlayer pants.

Functionally, the PowSlayer Jacket is restrained and well-executed. The helmet-compatible hood tracks naturally with head movement and seals down without cutting peripheral vision. Pit zips open wide and should actually move air on steep climbs. Pocket placement is clearly backcountry-driven: chest pockets accessible with a pack on, sized for skins, gloves, or food you’ll remember to eat too late. Watertight zippers, a low-profile powder skirt, and a built-in RECCO reflector round out the essentials without drifting into feature overload.

The PowSlayer Pants mirror that same discipline. Built with the same GORE-TEX Pro ePE fabric, they use 80-denier ripstop in high-wear areas, articulated knees for efficient movement, and long thigh vents to dump heat quickly during sustained climbs. Integrated gaiters seal out snow, scuff guards take the inevitable edge strikes, and the overall cut stays neutral and technical without being aggressive. For those, like me, who are finicky about their pant pockets, there are two zippered thigh-pockets each fitted with a slim internal elastic pocket for storing an avalanche transceiver.  

There is, however, one concerning side effect of a sweet new ski kit: it might make you look too good. Clean lines, sharp colors, and a tailored silhouette can make you momentarily self-conscious, like you might be mistaken for someone who skis faster, climbs stronger, or actually knows where they’re going. Fortunately, the PowSlayer’s quiet fabric relative to past Gore-Tex Pro iterations and low-key design fade into the background once you start moving.

After a first look, the takeaway is clear: The new Patagonia PowSlayer ski kit is a lightweight (not in a skimo kind of lightweight), durable hardshell system for skiers who value fit, movement, and weather protection over excess. It’s confident without being flashy, technical without being precious, and well-suited for long days, bad forecasts, and the kind of terrain where gear needs to disappear so you can focus on the line ahead. I will be putting the new kit through its paces all winter and will be back here with my final assessment at a later date. 

Technical Specs

The Patagonia PowSlayer ski kit, available in men’s (XS–XXL) and women’s (XS–XL) versions, is built from 3-layer GORE-TEX Pro ePE with recycled nylon and PFAS-free DWR for waterproof, windproof, breathable protection. The jacket features a helmet-compatible hood, pit zips, powder skirt, pockets, and RECCO reflector, while the pants have 80-denier ripstop, articulated knees, thigh vents, scuff guards, and gaiters, and an IFMGA spec stretchy beacon pocket inside the right thigh pocket. Offered in Black, Clement Blue, Cascade Green,  and Dried Vanilla, the kit combines technical performance with clean, versatile style.

Price

Jacket: $799

Pants: $649