The Mission Pro is Black Diamond's top-of-the-range shell and it's easy to see why - made from rugged Gore-tex Pro fabric it has the durability to handle all manner of harsh treatment, yet it's neither particularly bulky nor heavy (780g), making it ideal for hard riding.
From the top you get a large helmet-compatible hood (a little too large for us to be honest; peripheral vision isn't the best) with Black Diamond's
integrated 'Cohaesive' cord-management system to provide equalized, three-way adjustment with a single pull, and the collar sits good and high offering snug lower face protection through two inner brushed microsuede patches.
There's a large selection of well-thought-out pockets - three decent-sized zipped chest pockets, one with media port, two zipped hand pockets, a zipped lift pass pocket on the left arm and two capacious mesh stash pockets on the inside which are big enough to take skins, so you can carry plenty of gear even if you're not wearing a pack.
In warmer conditions you're sorted thanks to large pit zips, and naturally on a freeride specific jacket you get a powder skirt, Velcro adjustable cuffs and adjustable hem.
The overall fit is quite loose so you can easily layer up without any feeling of restriction, and all-in-all we reckon that other than our minor concern about the hood Black Diamond's Mission Pro Shell is a perfect jacket for hard riding skiers and boarders who are not restricted by budget.
