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Latest Gear: New Norrona Lofoten Jacket and Pants

A few tweaks for the 2014/15 season for this popular outerwear

featured in News & reviews Author Andy Malton, Latest Gear Reviewer Updated

Anyone who has spent time skiing in the popular freeride resorts of the Alps will be familiar with the Norrona Lofoten collection. Stand in the lift line on a powder day in Chamonix, Engelberg or St Anton and there’s bound to be a Lofoten Jacket lurking close by. The strong colours and contrast zips of the Lofoten Jacket and Pants are instantly recognisable and have been super influential in defining the modern freeride look.

The Lofoten Jacket has been tweaked for winter 2014/2015 and retains its legendary status as an iconic standard bearer among big mountain shells. It’s made using Gore-Tex Pro fabric – the highest performing fabric that Gore produce. Pro is even more breathable and durable than previous Gore-Tex fabrics and is the perfect fabric to use on a Jacket like the Lofoten. It means the jacket is tough enough to withstand the day in day out abuse that adventurous skiing subjects a shell to. It’s also extremely weatherproof so will handle mountain storms with ease yet remains light and breathable enough to be used for ski touring and splitboarding.

The hood is large enough to fit over a ski helmet and can be easily adjusted at the rear using just one hand. Two large chest pockets are easy to access even when wearing a pack and the left bicep pocket fits a radio or lift pass. The huge underarm pit zips provide plenty of ventilation for warmer days or during periods of intense activity and the big cuffs are designed to easily fit over ski gloves. Inside the cuffs are elastic wrist gaiters that keep snow from entering and getting into the sleeve of the jacket.

The Lofoten Pants are designed to complement the Jacket and provide the perfect leg wear for big mountain skiing and snowboarding. Made from the same lightweight and breathable yet highly weatherproof Gore-Tex Pro fabric, the Lofoten Pants are built to last multiple seasons of hardcore use.

The top bib is made from a breathable soft shell fabric and can be zipped off when not needed whilst the adjustable suspenders are also removable. There is an external belt for easy waist adjustment and a secure fit.

For winter 2014/2015 Norrona have improved the pocket configuration on the Lofoten Pants to make accessing stored items easier – two large bellows thigh pockets swallow larger items and three other small zipped pockets provide easy access to smaller essentials. The Aramid ankle patches are super tough and won’t shred when they come into contact with sharp ski edges or snowboard high backs.

The Norrona Lofoten Jacket and Pants are the ideal shell garments for serious skiers and snowboarders. They are available in a multitude of different colours and should see many seasons of time spent on piste and in the backcountry.

Find out more on their website (link top right), twitter or facebook.

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