The PowSlayer Kit: 3 Months In

Read the PowSlayer first look. Japan in January. It seemed like everyone from both hemispheres had the same idea this year. A lean snow year across much of the Western U.S. and Europe had me browsing flights to Japan by mid-December, and luckily, prices were still fairly reasonable. I tossed my 118-underfoot Moment Bibby Tours mounted with Shifts into my ski bag, along with Zero G Tour Pros and my dark green Patagonia PowSlayer ski costume. Maximizing versatility while minimizing baggage fees, I also packed a pair of puffy knickers for the lift-access laps I had planned in Hokkaido, where the forecast looked downright frigid. The dark green Patagonia kit had already served me well through Central Oregon’s stormy start to the season, keeping me dry during mixed-precipitation days in late December. I had high hopes for its performance in colder, deeper environments.  Now, six weeks into a stint at a backcountry lodge in Canada, touring daily, wrestling luggage in and out of helicopters, pumping water from a frozen lake, and participating in the unending Sisyphean task of shoveling snow off decks and walkways, I can’t find much fault with the PowSlayer kit. Maybe the most notable thing is how little I’ve thought about it. There’s something to be said for outerwear that disappears into the background. I’ve had complete confidence in the setup, needing only to dial the right layers underneath for the day’s objectives. Kitted up and trying to slay on a low-pow day. Notes from 3 Months of Use Deep, pleated chest pockets A standout feature. They easily swallow my skins, even for the 190cm x 118mm powder skis that kept me afloat in Japan. I usually unzip the main zip stuff skins inside my jacket, which works fine, but having waterproof, zipper-secured pockets is better. My base layers stay drier, my skins stay warmer, and I never worry about dropping them out of the bottom of my jacket if my pack’s waist belt loosens or my jacket rides up. Two very ample chest pockets can entomb big-wide skins. Elasticized beacon pockets in both hip pockets I appreciate having the option to carry my beacon on either side of my body, especially when accounting for the standardized 20 cm of separation from other electronics when transmitting. For resort days, the pockets also keep my phone and radio secure without them sloshing around in the otherwise generous pant storage. The pants vs. bibs conundrum Although the pants haven’t fallen down, they tend to settle lower on my waist than I’d prefer, despite significantly tightening the waist adjusters. I appreciate the cooler feel of a lower cut Gore-Tex pant, but for me, bibs are still preferable. Relying on a tight waistband to keep pants up isn’t as comfortable, and my pack’s waist strap sits right at the same level as the top of the pants, slowly pushing them downward while skinning. Bibs would allow more breathing room through the midsection and reduce bulk at the waist. A guide in […]