Pertex fabrics, “super-DWR,” and featherweight construction: Eddie Bauer’s First Ascent climbing releases for spring 2019 clearly show the brand wants to compete with the best of the best.
“Should baselayers have thumb loops? Should gloves have clips so you don’t lose them? Should gloves have tight cuffs or gauntlets?” IFMGA-certified guide Kent McBride puzzles these questions regularly. McBride and the rest of Eddie Bauer’s professional guide team debate these topics for hours — and it shows.
On an exclusive trip to the Tetons last fall, Eddie Bauer showed GearJunkie its spring 2019 line. The two main releases for the season were climbing shells. Between the BC Uplift and the BC Sandstone Stretch, Eddie Bauer is clearly marketing for a high-end athlete user group and outdoor-professional clientele.
We tested the Sandstone and Uplift for an abbreviated 3 days, but the Tetons gave us plenty of testing weather. And the shells proved dialed pieces for climbers: minimal, lightweight, and well-built.
But beyond the testing, we got an inside look at how Eddie Bauer views gear and how it produces such high-quality pieces for a low price point.
Eddie Bauer 2019: Sandstone & Uplift Shells
Instead of releasing new items for spring 2019, Eddie Bauer updates two existing First Ascent pieces. The Sandstone is a windproof climbing shell with stretchy, durable fabric. And the Uplift is a 20K/20K waterproof-breathable alpine climbing shell.
Over the past few years, Eddie Bauer has steadily released products under the First Ascent umbrella that impress us time and again. The two shell updates add to Eddie Bauer’s impressive mountain-sports line.
At 6.3 ounces, the BC Uplift is Eddie Bauer’s lightest waterproof shell intended for moving fast and light. It uses a 2.5-layer Pertex Shield shell with Eddie Bauer’s “super-DWR” treatment. This means the DWR will last after numerous at-home launderings and water will still bead off, according to the brand.
The Uplift packs into its own pocket, so you can throw it into a pack without feeling extra weight and pull it out when a surprise storm rolls through.
Meanwhile, the Sandstone Stretch is a burlier, breathable, three-layer waterproof/windproof shell for alpine environs. It’s soft to the touch, quiet, and lets you grab holds without any restriction.
Recipe for Success: ‘Guide Built’ Eddie Bauer Gear
The North Face sends athletes to Antarctica to put up first ascents. Patagonia’s ambassadors win 100-mile races and espouse their environmental views. But Eddie Bauer isn’t necessarily known for its athletes. Instead, the brand prides itself on being a “guide built” brand.
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Teton Test: First Ascent Uplift & Sandstone Jackets
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Eddie Bauer First Ascent Innovates in 2019
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