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What do Skiers want in a jacket?

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r.venna
Posts: 0 - Karma: 48
Hi all,

I'm part of a start-up company called Lukla that makes insulating liners for outerwear jackets. We've recently started the development of a jacket specifically for skiers! The only problem is finding out exactly what skiers like yourself like! If you have strong opinions, please feel free to share them or address some of the following questions below:

What is your favorite brand of jacket and why (i.e. durability, style, fit, warmth)?

What specific features do you look for in a jacket (i.e permanent hood, detachable hood, or no hood) and why?

What color schemes do you like?

Also, if you feel comfortable giving some basic demographic information such as age, sex, and level of skiing experience (beginner, moderate, advanced, pro) that would be great!

Thanks!

Rithvik
Dec 18 2014 3:42PM
46 6
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nateoost
Posts: 45 - Karma: 167
make the sizing on it long and not very wide
Dec 18 2014 5:14PM
12 1
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,682
I like to find my car keys, crumpled 20 dollar bills, and winning lotto tickets in my jacket.
Dec 18 2014 6:11PM
4 0
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Bergan
Posts: 195 - Karma: 600
Orage, Armada, Oakley

A little bit of a longer slimmer fit, clean colors, detachable hood or no hood (often have a hoody under the jacket so sometimes it's just annoying having the jacket's hood there. I prefer more of a mix between shell jacket and insulated.. so it's kind of thin and light, but warm enough for colder days.
Dec 18 2014 6:56PM
3 1
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suup
Posts: 1485 - Karma: 4,366
Removable sleeves
Dec 18 2014 9:00PM
6 0
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KimJong-Illest
Posts: 883 - Karma: 3,108
removable sleeves, really long, its hard to find jackets that seem long for us tall skiers.
Dec 18 2014 9:17PM
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YoungWookiee
Posts: 681 - Karma: 393
steeze below the knees with dem adjustable sleeves like the fool above me advised take into sense what we said and produce some prada that makes us wanna buy uh huh?
Dec 18 2014 9:49PM
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frickindarn
Posts: 2545 - Karma: 11,374
Simple colorways. I'm not a fan of those jackets that have 6 colors and unnecesary patterns.
Dec 18 2014 9:53PM
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zedd
Posts: 88 - Karma: 238
Tall, not too branded
Dec 18 2014 9:59PM
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Park.
Posts: 2480 - Karma: 4,582
very light insulation I have found is the key to a warm jacket that you can use all season. wide cuffs on hands to put gloves/mitts under, media pocket with zipper on the outside of the jacket so you don;t have to open up the jacket every time to change song/look at phone, detacheable hood is probably helpful to alot of people, earthy colors/ simple designs are what look more professional and clean as far as park skiers go ( big mountain skiers I wouldn't know). As said above, taller without the width because most of us are skinny white kids, drop tail ( look at Orage B-Dog jacket in the back) to give a better fit+ helps with snow going up the jacket, not too many pockets, but like 5 outer pockets would be nice without being overkill, powder skirt that works, fleece lined around head neck area, zipper has a cover flap, durable fabric (park skiers usually don't need to worry about jacket weight so make that shit tough)

well by now its just a wall of me rambling, but I think I made my point despite the lag of simple organization
Dec 18 2014 11:24PM
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haggis_hunter
Posts: 399 - Karma: 207
=N_H_O=make the sizing on it long and not very wide


wolfbackpackSimple colorways. I'm not a fan of those jackets that have 6 colors and unnecesary patterns.


This and that. Theres not many jackets out there that actually fit us really tall chaps. Most of the ones I have tried on dont feel long enough, and those that do are way to wide. The only jacket whos fit I have truly loved is the Arc'teryx Saber. Its about the only one designed for someone whos 6'4 and has long arms.

Also as the others have said simple colourways, plain bright colours are always best.
Dec 19 2014 4:23AM
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Etnbr
Posts: 182 - Karma: 537
A tall Saga jacket, with simple colorways. Thats it
Dec 19 2014 8:33AM
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bieberhole69.
Posts: 654 - Karma: 1,387
High quality. Durable. I also like having a kind of textured feel to the coat, kind of hard to describe
Dec 19 2014 1:36PM
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frickindarn
Posts: 2545 - Karma: 11,374
SOMEHOW FORGOT: arm zippers for breathability and a high waterproof rating.
Dec 19 2014 1:56PM
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DowseBigamy
Posts: 113 - Karma: 147
Define skiers.

Are you aiming this at the NS market, or is it for everyone? What NS wants isn't really what your 'average' skier wants.

From a marketing point of view, a mid length jacket, with removable/stowaway hood would be a good starting point. That way you keep everyone happy. Keep colours basic - people will more readily buy a jacket that they can wear on the high street as well as on the slopes. Black, grey and red jackets sell well - perhaps throw a bright colour in to liven up the range. For women, white, turquoise and purple seem to be fairly popular. Pattern everywhere doesn't sell well to the masses. It would be possible to make a jacket that was suitable for both men and women, but you'd need the fit to be right. Not too wide.

A jacket coming in mid market would be a good idea, being suitable for most abilities of skier. The higher end market is already dominated by the 'big brands', and it would be very hard to get a foothold. Use the best materials you can, without pushing the price too high. Durability is key - particularly around sleeve ends, elbows, and perhaps shoulders (thinking of people wearing packs). Basically anywhere that would see regular contact/abrasion. A snow skirt would be useful. Thumb loops in sleeves can be good, but can get torn easily.

Pockets - normal two, in the normal place, a lift pass pocket on either the sleeve or chest. A chest pocket could also be useful for other stuff. An internal pocket for phone/mp3 player, maybe another one for snacks or something. Lots of jackets have goggle pockets - but not sure how many people use them for that purpose.

I don't think I can think of anything else right now. Hope this might be useful!
Dec 19 2014 2:09PM
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DowseBigamy
Posts: 113 - Karma: 147
I forgot - decent waterproof rating - pit zips for ventilation. Jacket not too thick that it's unusable on warm days, but not so thin that you freeze on cold days.
Dec 19 2014 2:10PM
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steeze4days
Posts: 358 - Karma: 1,948
Durability

Warmth/waterproofing (varying on conditions)

Technicality (pockets for phone, keys money etc)

Design/Graphics

Length, i like my jackets fairly long and a little baggy not too much


PS, small features like loops by neck of jacket for headphone wires etc are awesome.

I like having specific pockets tailored to suit my stuff for example phone pocket, keys pocket (with padding because i don't feel like getting stabbed by my keys anytime soon.)

Good Luck!
Dec 19 2014 3:53PM
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[tk]
Posts: 3863 - Karma: 1,906
Magnets are awesome. Zippered front pockets with magnet flaps, magnet hood attachment so it stays down when you're riding switch.
Dec 19 2014 4:44PM
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bieberhole69.
Posts: 654 - Karma: 1,387
[tk]Magnets are awesome. Zippered front pockets with magnet flaps, magnet hood attachment so it stays down when you're riding switch.


yes
Dec 19 2014 4:45PM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,178
Wrist gaitors. Pocket with included strap for your ski pass.
Dec 19 2014 7:21PM
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Bagina
Posts: 849 - Karma: 2,888
[tk]Magnets are awesome. Zippered front pockets with magnet flaps, magnet hood attachment so it stays down when you're riding switch.


So Bloom basically.
Dec 19 2014 11:37PM
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[tk]
Posts: 3863 - Karma: 1,906
BaginaSo Bloom basically.


Yup. Old Bloom, old LDC
Dec 20 2014 6:06PM
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Caucasian_Asian
Posts: 2447 - Karma: 1,665
[tk]Magnets are awesome. Zippered front pockets with magnet flaps, magnet hood attachment so it stays down when you're riding switch.


Not if you plan on riding any serious BC terrain.

Magnets can interfere with beacons.
Dec 22 2014 9:17AM
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Freeskier_boi
Posts: 1135 - Karma: 3,099
a lot of pockets, insulated
Dec 22 2014 10:08AM
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Forest_
Posts: 184 - Karma: 104
Definitely a tall, but not wide fit. I also prefer it so be a thin jacket because I feel bulky jackets get in the way.
Dec 22 2014 10:27AM
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Chron_Rabbit
Posts: 988 - Karma: 1,564
put a camel back in a jacket. wearing a backpack sucks sometimes and going in to the lodge just to get water on deep days is a waste of time.
Dec 22 2014 12:10PM
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Whooooop
Posts: 114 - Karma: 18
r.vennaHi all


hi
Dec 23 2014 7:31AM
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Dobber
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 9,834
I have a Patagonia Powderbowl jacket. My friends talk shit because I don't have steeze but this jacket is perfect. Pit zips, mesh pockets inside, gore-tex, powder skirt, good isulation but not too much, detachable hood, and the zippers don't get caught. Better than a wet, frozen hoodie IMO.
Dec 24 2014 5:00PM
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