CLIMATIC JACKET
Teton Bros. creates each product (shell jacket: 3 model numbers) by pursuing functionality for activities such as ice climbing and alpine climbing based on the functionality of the TB JACKET, which is designed for backcountry use.
We received some impressions from a heavy Teton Bros. user who loves the TB JACKET and the alpine shell CLIMATIC JACKET for backcountry skiing.
Previously, I enjoyed backcountry skiing wearing Teton Bros.' flagship winter shell, the TB JACKET and TB PANT. It wasn't particularly inconvenient, but I tend to be on the slim side, so I ended up wearing the jacket one size smaller. This made it a little difficult to layer with certain layers. Also, when wearing the TB JACKET and TB PANT together, the bib area on the upper half of the pants would always end up being an overlayer, which was something I wanted to improve as I tend to sweat a lot.
A few seasons ago, I had the opportunity to try on both the TB JACKET and the CLIMATIC JACKET, both of which use Teton Bros.' proprietary waterproof and breathable material "Täsmä" as their new shell material. When I actually tried them on, I found that the slim fit of the CLIMATIC was just right for me. Although I was a die-hard fan of the TB JACKET, that season I decided to switch to the CLIMATIC JACKET and enjoy the snowy mountains.
Although the CLIMATIC JACKET is also made of "Täsmä" material, it uses 50 denier stretch nylon (the TB JACKET uses "50 denier x 2" high-strength nylon), which means it's noticeably lighter, more stretchy, and more breathable. Perhaps because of this, I was happy to discover that even when wearing it with the TB PANT, my body heat no longer builds up. Also, just because it's made of 50 denier stretch nylon doesn't mean it's less durable or strong than the TB JACKET, and it's reassuring that even a casual backcountry skier like me has been using it for several seasons and hasn't noticed any particular issues.
The ventilation is designed at the same angle as the TB JACKET, so even though it's a departure from the TB JACKET, the ventilation is completely user-friendly, and the inner mesh blanket feels the same.
The only thing that bothers me about using it is that there is no arm pocket for a lift pass. The chest pocket has a wide opening and is deep enough to be easily accessible even while wearing gloves, which is a major advantage in itself. However, I think storing small items like car keys increases the risk of losing them. The same can be said for the TB JACKET, which has a pocket on the upper arm for IC lift tickets, and I found it useful as a small item holder when I wasn't wearing a backpack, such as when skiing on the slopes.
The concept of this CLIMATIC JACKET is "an alpine jacket with all the unnecessary elements stripped away," so I respect the product concept, but if in the future a designer has an idea and decides that the small pocket on the upper arm is not "useless" for storing small items, I would love to see it realized somewhere.
Until that day comes, I plan to (as a sign of respect) put my ticket in a lift ticket holder with the Leo (lion) logo that I bought at Naeba Ski Resort when I was younger, wear it on my arm, and enjoy skiing down the slopes with the "double lion" design (lol).
