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Snow Angels & Ski Slopes

by Madison Younger

Temperatures dropped on Mountain Designs Adventure Ambassador Harrison Candlin and his partner Madison as the Canadian winter they were enjoying gave them a firsthand account of just how cold it can truly get. Read on for their review of our Mountain Designs Arctic and Snowfall insulated snow jackets to see how they performed in freezing conditions.

Keeping Warm In Canada

When you think of travelling to Canada in the winter, what is the first thing on your packing list? If you're anything like us, it would be a quality snow jacket. Something warm, waterproof and snow proof, with a hood, and of course it needed to be suitable for a range of conditions - from snowboarding on a bluebird day to wearing out in the streets of Banff in -17°C. Harrison and I spent a month in Canada and had the chance to test out the women's Snowfall and the men's Arctic insulated snow jackets and they were everything we needed.

The versatile Snowfall insulated jacket combines functional features purpose-made for the ski slopes, with a stylish urban design that looks good exploring the sights or back at the lodge.

Arctic & Snowfall Insulated Snow Jackets

Both snow jackets are stylish and practical. Most of the time we paired them with a base layer and mid layer and this was enough to keep us super toasty. The synthetic insulation is really effective for warmth, and the breathability meant that even when we were moving around a lot we didn't feel stuffy or overheated. While we didn't get a chance to hit the slopes while we were in Canada, these jackets would be perfect for a skiing or snowboarding trip, with heaps of purpose-made features to suit. There are plenty of pockets - including one on the wrist for a ski pass and an internal pouch for goggles - and both jacket hoods are compatible with helmets (the men's Arctic also has the option to remove it completely). The women's jacket has a faux fur hood trim that is detachable, allowing you to customise it for your own style and practicality. I found the faux fur great when it was snowing because it caught a lot of the snow and kept it from getting in your face, but I personally would remove it when using a helmet.

Both jackets feature (from left to right) ninja wrist cuffs, a detachable snow skirt, mobile device compatibility, and a ski pass wrist pocket.

My favourite memory wearing these jackets was on a frozen Lake Louise, standing around with a bunch of friends chatting and making snow angels, it was snowing and freezing-cold but we were cosy and able to enjoy our time without worrying about the cold at all. We would definitely recommend these jackets for your next winter snow adventure.