The Slalom is Dare 2b's mid-range insulated ski jacket that's designed to appeal for both the slopes and the street.
Made with a supple, non-plasticy feeling polyester Oxford fabric, the first impressions of the Slalom are of a cosy, quilted jacket with slightly retro looks that belie its impressive performance claims of 20,000mm waterproofing and not-too-shabby 10,000 mvp breathability ratings - thanks to a DWR finish.
In use, the jacket is certainly warm, with 250g of high-loft polyester insulation, though we would have dearly liked to see some zipped vents in key areas such as the armpits for quick heat release when needed. The only real nod to ventilation is a gauze pillar panel up the centre of the back lining to help wick some sweat away from this key area.
In fact, all round features are a little light on the Slalom, and you can clearly see where the £100 price difference between this and Dare 2b's top range jacket has been saved.
Despite these savings, you still get adjustable cuffs, a zipped forearm ski pass pocket, an adjustable shock cord hem with the adjusters hidden inside the fleece-lined hand pockets, a detachable snow skirt with gel gripper, and two internal pockets - one with a lens wiper cloth. More money has been saved with only the most critical seams taped against water ingress.
The wire peaked, adjustable hood can be cinched to a snug fit with decent visibility but we found it too short in the back - especially over a helmet, and too low on the chin, where a bit of micro-fleece would have been a welcome addition to the zip housing. In general, we also found the fit a bit restrictive and bulky, with the sleeves riding up on arm extension
A reasonable value ski jacket with decent DWR performance and commendable three-year warrantee, slightly let down by its lack of refinement in fit, feel and features.
