I test a lot of outerwear, and especially shell jackets. And while most jackets are simply variations on a theme, Columbia’s to-be-released A-Basin Ripper is a premium and well-executed design at a price that won’t make your eyes water. The jacket is a part of Columbia’s re-launched Titanium line, which comes to market later this year.

I’ve worn this waterproof/breathable, backcountry-oriented model for about a month — skiing and hiking on a powder day at Crested Butte, getting blasted by 70mph wind at Arapahoe Basin, snowshoeing, fat biking, and even ice skating across a wind-scoured lake in Sweden — and I have been overwhelmingly pleased with the small details built into the to-be-released design.
The companion for the jacket is the Jump Off Pant ($250). These are solid and warrant their own review, coming soon.
