Jackets & Shells for 2020-2021: Outdoor Retailer First Look

Here’s a look at some of the 2020-2021 jackets, parkas, and ski apparel we’re most excited to see at Outdoor Retailer Snow Show this month.

This week, GearJunkie editors will swarm the aisles of the Colorado Convention Center, scanning booth after booth of next season’s gear.

Everything from shoes and socks to skis, snowboards, boots, coolers, tech, nutrition, and more will be on display. And while much of it will take us by surprise, we caught a peek at some of the gear brands will showcase. We’ve broken our OR preview into categories, so be sure to check out our other articles — skis, boots, and bindings, and 2021 winter gear — we’re stoked to see.

Here, check out all the ski apparel — jackets, parkas, onesies, and more — that has us excited for the year to come.

Outdoor Retailer Winter 2020 Apparel

Amundsen Groomer Jacket

Water-resistant cotton comfort? That’s the claim from Amundsen with its Groomer puffy. It uses an organic cotton ripstop shell to house the jacket’s “ethically sourced” down.

Corduroy reinforcements on the shoulders add durability in high-wear areas, and separate pockets for hands, a ski pass, and goggles or electronics provide pow-day storage options. A DWR coating helps repel moisture from the breathable cotton outer. Look for it in fall 2020.

MSRP: $649

Helly Hansen Elevation Infinity Shell Jacket

Mirrored off of Helly Hansen’s best-selling freeride ski jacket silhouette, the Elevation Infinity sports the brand’s proprietary chemical-free waterproofing. A big play for the sustainability story, the Elevation Infinity boasts 20K/20K waterproof-breathable performance and uses 75% less water than the standard dying process.

This jacket also includes a built-in, removable balaclava and Aerogel Life Pocket to help keep electronic devices extra-warm.

MSRP: $750

Royal Robbins Switchform Waterproof Parka

An easier way to carry your jacket if you get too warm — that’s the design behind Royal Robbins’ Switchform Waterproof Parka. Flip the jacket into itself to reveal adjustable backpack straps and storage space enough for a water bottle, gloves, scarf, and more.

The brand advertises this piece as fully seam-taped as well as waterproof and windproof while still breathable. It also uses an eco-friendly DWR that prevents fluorocarbon dispersal and a non-silver odor control treatment that’s safer for beneficial bacteria. The Switchform hits the market in fall 2020.

MSRP: $225

Rab Khroma Kharve Jacket

Rab’s latest ski jacket, the Khroma Kharve ski jacket, offers GORE INFINIUM weather resistance. It also uses Stratus recycled insulation for cold powder ski descents and winter belay duty. And body-mapping helps regulate the insulation’s heat retention between the chest and arms.

MSRP: $325

Picture Demain Jacket

Picture impressed us last year with its Harvest jacket, a waterproof-breathable shell that incorporated the brand’s first bio-based membrane (made from castor seed oil). Now, the brand unveils the Demain Jacket, “the most sustainable and technical jacket brought to market,” according to Picture Organic Clothing.

Once again, we see bio-based membranes at work — this time in the form of Xpore, a polyester made from sugarcane waste. The three-layer shell boasts 25K/20K waterproof breathability, highly waterproof by industry apparel standards.

Best of all, it’s solvent- and PFC-free thanks to a mechanical stitching process. And it happens to be twice as light as competing laminates, Picture claims. The jacket is coming in fall 2020.

MSRP: $500

Fjällraven Vidda Pro Wool Padded Jacket

Fjällraven upgrades its tried-and-true trekking jacket with sustainable wool insulation. The Vidda Pro Wool Padded Jacket earns its warmth from Gotland Island sheep, which have waxy wool that’s typically unsuitable for next-to-skin garments. But the Swedish brand saw great potential for the wool as a fill material — now dubbed “recovered wool.”

686 Hydrastash Vest

A better way to hydrate on a pow day? 686 previously introduced skiers and snowboarders to its 24-ounce horizontal hydration bladder — called Hydrastash — as a handy accessory to its Reservoir jacket.

Now, the brand makes that same tech more versatile in the Hydrastash Vest. Wear it under any shell, or integrate it with the brand’s SMARTY 3-in-1 pants to create seamless hydration bibs.

MSRP: $95

Houdini Mono Air Houdi

Last year, Polartec launched Power Air, a soft synthetic fleece that reduced the amount of microplastic fibers released during wash cycles by up to five times.

Houdini, one of the first brands to use Power Air, this year introduces the Mono Air, a lighter-weight layer with the environmentally friendly fleece. What’s more, the Mono Air comprises 73% recycled fibers that can also be recycled again.

MSRP: $200

The North Face Summit L5 FUTURELIGHT Ventrix Jacket

The North Face begins to build out its next-generation FUTURELIGHT lineup by incorporating the “tunable,” three-layer membrane into its Summit L5 Ventrix jacket.

Dubbed a Jill- or Jack-of-all-trades weather-fighting midlayer, the Summit L5 FUTURELIGHT Ventrix Jacket has seam taping in critical areas to add moisture resistance only where it’s needed and allow air permeability for added comfort.

MSRP: $550

Obermeyer Women’s Katze Suit

Obermeyer and Schoeller team up to create the women’s Katze Suit, a softshell moisture-blocking ski onesie. Loaded with 550-fill down and a bunch of pockets, this piece aims for high warmth, utility, and, depending on your sense of style, fashion too.

GORE-TEX PRO Updates: Stretch, Breathability, Durability

For the first time in 7 years, GORE-TEX updates its high-performance, flagship line — PRO. For fall 2020, all brands that use PRO, including Arc’teryx, Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear, and more, will incorporate three new versions of the tech.

Each version will expand performance functionality in one of three areas: stretch, breathability, and durability.

Outdoor Research Archangel Jacket and Bibs

Speaking of GORE-TEX PRO, you’ll find it on Outdoor Research’s upcoming Archangel jacket and bibs. Leaning on PRO’s new technology, these garments boast 20% more stretch than previous PRO while maintaining waterproof properties.

The stretch panels add flexibility to upper back, lower hood, knees, and bib gusset. OR also adds GORE-TEX’s new breathability-focused membrane to add ventilation to the kit.

MSRP: $699 each for the jacket and bibs

Patagonia Stormstride Jacket

Built for ski touring, Patagonia’s Stormstride Kit combines features “for someone as fit as a trail runner, smart and efficient as an alpine climber, and as strong as a downhill skier,” according to Patagonia.

Fully waterproof, three-layer stretch fabric makes up the shell along with pockets placed for integration with an avi transceiver and a ski harness. Cuffs can also be opened for walking with boots or cinched down to accommodate crampons.

The result is a ski kit Patagonia calls the most focused backcountry touring kit the brand has ever made.

MSRP: $499

Reima: Kulkija, Reimatec Winter Jacket

Finnish brand Reima comes in hot this Outdoor Retailer, hitting the U.S. market with 75 years in the outdoor apparel game. Its first Best in Show nomination sees what Reima calls “the first recyclable kids’ winter jacket.”

Once it’s worn out from years of use, it can be fully recycled into raw material for new products. Plus, Reima uses a fluorocarbon-free, water- and dirt-repellent treatment. The jacket will be available in September 2020.

MSRP: $190

Reima: Heiberg, Coffee Fiber Down Jacket

Reima appears to make a big splash in the U.S. market with its second Best in Show contender, a down jacket that actually uses coffee grounds to enhance its insulating properties.

According to Reima, “particles of carbonized ground coffee are spun in the polyester to give the fibers rapid heat storage and anti-static properties — and a beautiful sheen.” As for the down, it meets the Responsible Down Standard certification. The Reima jacket will be available in September 2020.

MSRP: $135