This is a jacket designed to keep you protected in almost any conditions out on the mountain and as such is bursting with high quality features.
Material is a 2-layer 100% recycled polyester Gore-Tex with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish. Snow, sleet, rain? No problem. We took it out in some pretty wet conditions and have absolutely no hesitation in recommending the Powder Bowl for the foulest of weather. Of course, the jacket is also windproof and breathable with a mesh lining that helps wick away moisture and also adds a touch of comfort and warmth where other shells can be clammy and cold.
The highly functional fixed hood has a laminated visor and tall collar for maximum protection and a 2-way adjuster for synching tight. We found it to be a little on the large side, but that's to be expected if you try and wear a helmet compatible hood over just a beanie.
Inside you'll find a snow skirt which works well and has an extra popper on each side allowing you to attach it to the inside of the jacket so it doesn't flap about when not in use. There's also a mesh dump pocket and one zipped pocket which is fairly small, but can comfortably accommodate an iPhone 7 plus. On the outside the Powder Bowl has two zipped hand warmer pockets on the front with drawcord hem adjusters, a zipped lift pass pocket and a zipped chest pocket. The chest pocket is media friendly with an internal phone pouch and slit for threading headphones through. All the outside zips apart from the pit zips are watertight, coated YKK slim zips to reduce bulk and keep the elements at bay. They certainly look very slick and run as smooth as butter.
We usually find the cut in Patagonia ski gear to be on the large side and the Powder Bowl is no exception. In our standard size the sleeves are a little longer than they need to be, but the cuffs can easily be tightened with a Velcro adjuster. Fit is boxy and spacious leaving plenty of room for layering but if you like a trim cut look elsewhere.
The women's colours are all quite toned down and muted, which gives the Powder Bowl a classic look, men's options are a bit more exciting with a 'fire red' and 'peppergrass green' helping you stand out on the slopes. The Powder Bowl offers an elegant look, added to by the refined silhouette. Some might call this jacket boring, but we think you can't beat a classic.
Overall the Powder Bowl is an understated, no nonsense jacket, perfect for those who's priorities lie in performance rather than looking flashy at après.
