i need a nice coat for cross-country skiing this year. what are some nice ones?

Question

i have looked at ones from REI and Marmot, and they're good. but i really don't know the way to go. i don't really care price-wise, as long as it's worth what i'm paying.

Answer 1

REI is good and Marmot is excellent (all the REI stuff is subcontracted to manufacturers like Woolrich, Columbia, etc., so quality varies). Other brands with good designs and materials are Mountain Hardware and Helly Hansen. I own examples from all of them. I think if you chose any one of those brands you would be fine so it would really be up to which model you liked the fit and features of. For ski touring I prefer a light to medium weight half-zip pullover style (rather than front zip) made of windproof Polartec but some people prefer a full zip front. My favorite jackets at the moment are a Mountain Hardware WindlBloc with armpit zips for ventilation that I wear when it's really windy and cold, and, for more moderate conditions, a very simple design Black Diamond Polartec (that I picked up at TJ Maxx for less than $20!).

If you are thinking of buying a shell (instead of fleece), I think Marmot's designs are better. I used to work for a Marmot dealer and am familiar with their design principles -- one thing they do better than any other manufacturer is construct the arms of their jackets to really move well for active sports. You can check this out by trying on a Marmot jacket and another brand. Raise your arms above your head and then swing them like you would skiing -- you will notice that the Marmot jacket does not ride up at all and that the sleeves don't pull across the shoulders.

It's also up to your taste but I prefer to use a jacket without a hood for XC skiing -- it just seems to get in the way (and fill up with snow!)

Answer 2

REI is definitely the way to go. The bast material, the best EVERYTHING. It is worth your money, trust me.