10 hardshell jackets and pants for winter powder riding

During the dead of winter, mountains can be subject to severe weather and extreme cold, including blizzards and strong winds, and sometimes snow falls continuously without stopping. While the prospect of powder snow is exciting, protecting yourself from wind, snow, and low temperatures, and being able to ski, climb, and move around safely in harsh conditions, are crucial issues directly linked to safety. First of all, layering is essential. Here, we'll introduce some hard shells that will allow you to move freely even in the cold, stay dry even when exposed to snow, and keep your body warm, allowing you to enjoy powder riding in comfort

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ARC'TERX Men's Rush Jacket

Lightweight, protective and durable

This extremely lightweight model offers protection and durability for comfortable wear in bad weather. It uses the new GORE-TEX Pro with Most Rugged technology, providing excellent waterproofing, windproofing, and breathability

The helmet-compatible StormHood™ is, as its name suggests, a hood that's especially effective in blizzards, providing ample coverage while minimizing impact on visibility. Its three-dimensional cut maximizes freedom of movement, and if the temperature inside the garment rises during hard activities, the WaterTight™ pit zips under the armpits allow for quick ventilation. Of course, it also comes with a powder skirt

◆Official website: https://arcteryx.jp/

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ARMADA｜ Grands 3L Jacket & Emmons 3L Bib

It can handle everything from severe winter blizzards to heavy spring rains!

The Grands 3L Jacket is made with ARMADA's unique three-layer fabric, consisting of 89% recycled nylon and 11% polyester, for tough durability. This fabric is a proprietary weave of various weights and types of fibers, and is laminated to the outer fabric with a membrane that is highly breathable and waterproof (at least 10K/10K). It is also treated with DWR (durable water repellent) to remove snow and water from the surface of the fabric. It can withstand everything from backcountry blizzards in temperatures as low as -20°C to heavy rains in the spring

GORE-TEX Pro Most Rugged reinforcement in high-wear areas improves durability, and 100% seam-sealed stitching seals all seams to prevent water seepage and maintain a good environment inside the garment

The pants are reinforced in many places, including the hem and below the knees, to withstand impacts from tree branches, lifts, ski edges, and other elements. The large pockets offer excellent storage capacity. Stylish yet functional, they provide solid support for skiing in any weather conditions or situation

◆Official website: https://armadaskis.jp/

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finetrack | EVERBREATH® SNOW LINE MEN'S JACKET + UNISEX BIBS

◆Official website: https://www.finetrack.com/

This jacket features the unique waterproof and breathable material Everbreath® and is designed for ease of use while skiing

Finetrack is a traditional Japanese brand known for its unique material development. This SNOW LINE MEN'S jacket is one they're proud of. It boasts the water resistance (20,000mm) required for mountaineering, as well as the highest levels of durable water repellency and breathability. The fabric is treated with a powerful water-repellent coating on both the front and back, with the lining being particularly water-repellent, a feature unique to finetrack

The membrane itself has excellent stretchability, giving it a supple feel and a comfortable fit. The highly breathable waterproof and breathable EverBreath® material reduces stuffiness while you're active, and the LinkVent® ventilation function instantly releases moisture from inside the garment

Of course, it comes with a powder skirt, a hood that is compatible with large helmets, a breath ventilator that makes breathing easy, and specifications that make each part easy to operate even with gloves on, all of which are designed for ease of use while skiing.It also has a large gusseted pocket, an arm pocket for small items, and hand pockets, so it has excellent storage capacity and is functional for backcountry use

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FW ｜ MANIFEST 3L JKT -WPS & PANTS-WPS

Lightweight and functional for everything from powder snow to backcountry skiing

This wildly popular FW collection boasts a unique, slightly loose silhouette with a street-inspired feel, creating a stylish and cool look. Born in the natural surroundings of Lake Annecy, France, it boasts high performance and incorporates the essence of the new school. The MANIFEST 3L set is its signature model. This three-layer jacket, made with DARMIZAX, boasts high waterproofness and breathability, with a water pressure resistance of 20,000mm. Lightweight and easy to move in, it's perfect for a variety of situations, from powder riding on the slopes to backcountry adventures

◆Official website: https://jp.fwapparel.com/

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HOUDINI | ROLLER COASTER JKT＆PANT

The fully waterproof shell provides exceptional comfort and freedom of movement

The ROLLERCOASTER series has undergone a complete redesign for the 2022-2023 season. Its exceptionally soft fabric and unparalleled 3D cutting make it comfortable and easy to move in. This is thanks to Houdini's unique "Made to Move" 3D cutting, which directly connects a single piece of fabric to the moving body. The lightweight, durable, and breathable Loop Hardshell™ is a waterproof, windproof, yet stretchy 3-layer fabric, providing a supple and soft feel

Of course, it comes with a snow skirt to prevent snow from getting in, all seams are protected with seam tape, and all zippers on the openings are water-resistant. With complete waterproof functionality, you can ride freely in blizzards and deep powder without worry, from freeriding in pursuit of powder to backcountry tours

◆Official website: https://www.full-marks.com/houdini

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klattermusen ｜Brage 2.0 Jacket & Salopette

The main fabric is a fully waterproof 3-layer cottan for a tough look

The Brage 2.0 is designed for the harsh conditions of backcountry ski touring. Its excellent stretchability supports active performance. It's a backcountry shell with a roomier fit that's more focused on skiing than other models

The fabric has been updated for the 2022-23 season, making it even tougher. The main fabric is a fully waterproof Coutan 3-layer. This has a waterproof membrane that is resistant to a water pressure of 20,000mm, is made from 100% recycled materials, and is treated with a 100% fluorine-free water-repellent finish. Wearing this jacket indirectly helps protect the environment

◆Official website/ https://sputnikshop.jp/collections/klattermusen

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STRAFE｜NOMAD JKT & NOMAD BIB PANT

Extremely lightweight, moisture-resistant and stretchy

STRAFE's top model, the NOMAD JKT & BIB, is made with eVent DVflex™, which offers excellent waterproofing and water pressure resistance while also being breathable, breathable, and flexible. eVent is a membrane that is like a breathable fabric, preventing stuffiness inside the garment no matter how much you sweat. The company says that they differentiate themselves from other snowwear by deliberately not using Gore-Tex

This jacket won the US ski magazine "Freeskier Editor's Choice" award, making it a world-renowned masterpiece. Its outstanding features include its incredibly light weight, excellent moisture resistance, and stretchability

◆Official website: https://item.rakuten.co.jp/bdonlinestore/c/0000001252/

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THE NORTH FACE｜Powder Guide Light Jacket＆Bib

As the name "Powder Guide" suggests, this is high-spec wear for powder snow

Made with 40-denier GOER-TEX Apex Light fabric, this lightweight, stretchy garment offers exceptional mobility. Its high-spec performance combines waterproof, breathable, durable, and stretchy properties. The two-tone design adds a unique touch, and the colors available include wasabi and other unique and fun colors

The three-dimensional pattern allows for unrestricted movement, and the jacket features double slider ventilation on both sides. The inside of the jacket is equipped with a powder skirt and a mesh pocket convenient for temporarily storing goggles. The left sleeve cuff is equipped with a small pocket for storing a lift ticket. This versatile jacket is designed for versatile use on the slopes and as entry equipment for backcountry skiing

The bottoms are snow bib pants made with 40-denier GOER-TEX Apex Light, which is lightweight, easy to move in, and has just the right amount of stretch. This versatile model features bibs that keep snow out. It's functional and easy to use on the slopes and even when entering the backcountry. The bibs, which feature excellent stretch, are made of softshell material and are removable, so they can be worn into the warmer spring months

◆Official website／ https://www.goldwin.co.jp/tnf/

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MILLET | Typhon Warm Steep Jacket & Pants

A garment created with meticulous attention to detail and comfort

Millet's proprietary DryEdge Tyffon fabric boasts a high breathability of 50,000mm (50,000g/m²/24h). The Tyffon Warm Steep Jacket and Pants, developed for skiing and snowboarding, take advantage of this waterproof and breathable material, allowing 50L of moisture to pass through 1m² of fabric in 24 hours, nearly twice as much as standard rainwear. DryEdge Tyffon keeps you comfortable even during intense activity

The lining is made of brushed tricot material, enhancing durability and heat retention. The three-dimensional cut allows the pattern to follow your movements, and the moderate stretch ensures a comfortable fit even during active movements. In addition to the excellent material performance even in tough environments, the jacket is also packed with various convenient features such as an adjustable hood, ventilation, and clever pockets

◆Official website: https://www.millet.jp/

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NORRØNA｜LOFOTEN GORE TEX Pro Jacket & Pants

NORRONA's flagship detail functions are also perfect

The LOFOTEN GORE-TEX Pro Jacket & Pants are undisputed No. 1 in both popularity and functionality. The material is an evolved version of GORE-TEX® Pro, incorporating Most Breathable Technology for superior breathability. The outer fabric is made of 100% recycled nylon and has been upgraded to 70 denier. The neck seam tape has also been widened for improved durability. Offering high wind resistance, waterproof, breathable, and water-repellent properties, the jacket's tough construction, soft fabric, and patterning allow for easy movement, allowing you to ride freely and with confidence in any natural condition

The high-performance details are just as impressive as the excellent materials. The storm hood is helmet-compatible and can be adjusted with one hand, and the underarm ventilation is diagonally designed for easy opening. The unique mesh chest ventilation with a waterproof zipper that opens along the front zipper is a great way to instantly ventilate even while wearing a backpack. The powder skirt is a detachable zipper style that can be connected to the pants for added convenience

The goggle sweeper hidden in the left chest pocket is also very useful when riding in bad weather. This kind of gimmick is also a testament to the brand's top-of-the-line model

Although the fabric is tough, the pattern follows your movements, making it feel light and not restricting leg movement. The waist can be adjusted with Velcro, and the hem, which has built-in snow gaiters, is reinforced with strong edge guards. The bib (sold separately) can be attached and detached with a zipper

◆Official website: https://www.full-marks.com/norrona/

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PEAKPERFORMANCE | Alpine Jacket & Alpine Pants

Stretch fabric on the back for improved mobility

The Alpine Jacket and Pants have been a staple since their debut in 2009, and remain Perkperformance's best-selling model to this day. They boast a high level of product perfection, recognition, and reliability. The 2022-2023 season sees the release of a "Pale" version featuring different zipper colors within the basic, solid color design. This eye-catching model has become a hot topic among fans. The

jacket features Gore-tex C-Knit for a supple, comfortable fit, and the 2022-2023 model has been further refined, with a stretch back for even greater freedom of movement.

◆Official website: https://peakperformanceonline.jp/

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Patagonia｜M's Powder Town Jacket & Bibs

Enjoy powder snow with PFC-free clothing!

Sustainable weather protection with a low environmental impact. After years of testing and refinement, Patagonia has eliminated 100% of PFCs (perfluorocarbons) from its all-mountain line for the 2022 season. The new 2022-23 Powder Town Jacket & Bibs features a fluorocarbon-free DWR (durable water repellent) finish for a lower environmental impact. Riding in powder in PFC-free clothing is sure to feel better than ever

Also, from the 2022-2023 season, Powder Town Bibs will be available. They are waterproof and windproof, making layering easy

◆Official website: https://www.patagonia.jp/

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PERMANENT UNION｜KOVAL JACKET & BIB PANTS

3-layer blouson jacket with non-porous breathable waterproof membrane

Taking into consideration the Japanese climate and the actual environment in which players will be playing, a non-porous membrane has been deliberately adopted. Because there are no holes like with porous membranes, you can stay warm and comfortable even on Mount Asahidake (Hokkaido) in the harsh winter. It also has plenty of pockets, making it extremely user-friendly. The high-quality material and high functionality make this model a favorite among mountain guides and top athletes

◆Official website: https://www.full-marks.com/permanentunion/