Columbia Turns to the Dark Side: ‘Vader Collection’ Marks Biggest Star Wars Drop Yet

Columbia’s annual Star Wars-themed gear drops have become an annual tradition. But despite being familiar, the outdoor brand still manages to one-up itself each year — and 2024 looks no different. Just in time for the holidays, Columbia unveils its biggest collab effort with the Star Wars universe yet — and it’s a doozie.

Launching today, the Vader Collection presents a 16-piece, head-to-toe (and beyond) product capsule that pays tribute to the iconic Sith Lord, who proves that sometimes, it’s good to be bad.

While Columbia’s previous Star Wars drops have focused on select apparel and accessory items that mimic the costumes worn throughout the Star Wars universe, The Vader Collection represents the most comprehensive take on the series’ most notorious character.

Here are the details on the Vader Collection, along with pricing and when to snag your favorite items.

Columbia ‘The Vader Collection’

The hero products for the Vader Collection are eye-catching riffs on Columbia’s flagship Omni-Heat Infinity insulating technology. While the shiny, heat-reflective dots have famously been gold (NASA actually used it on its Lunar Lander), the brand gave the Vader 3L Interchange Jacket, Parka, and Boots a special crimson-red coloring.

But that’s just the tip of the lightsaber. The extensive product lineup includes a convertible puffy jacket, two hoodies, three T-shirts, two long-sleeve crew shirts, a half-zip midlayer, two style socks, a bucket hat and a baseball cap, a crossbody sling, a water bottle, a puffy blanket — all with the Sith Lord’s haunting likeness.

The full collection goes live to the general public on Dec. 5 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific (that’s noon Eastern time). But for the diehards who never miss a drop and would wait in the Sarlacc Pit for first dibs on this gear, members of the Columbia Greater Rewards program will have a 30-minute advance window to buy items before the public launch (that’s 8:30 a.m. PST).

And that window could be the key to scoring one of the most coveted items of all …

Hayden Christensen Signed Jacket

Licensed gear that looks like it’s straight outta the Star Wars universe is good enough for most of us. But there are some fanatics — some whose fandom runs so deep that they need more. They need something touched by Anakin himself — or at least, the man who portrayed the elder Skywalker, Hayden Christensen.

For the marquee piece in the Vader Collection, Christensen autographed a limited number of Interchange Jackets. This full-length, three-layer, waterproof, insulated jacket with lightsaber zipper pulls comes in a special-edition, custom box — and all proceeds from the sale of this $2,000 collector’s item will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation (up to $50,000).

As always, Columbia notes that these limited drops sell out very quickly, so if anything catches your eye, set your chronometer and head over to the Columbia Star Wars launch page on Dec. 5. May the Force be with you.

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