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July, 2025

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Best + Most Durable Jacket/Pant Shells

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Trabek
Posts: 230 - Karma: 368
Alright, didn't see anything to answer my question so I'll ask. What do you guys recommend for jacket and pant shells? I had a Volcom guide jacket for 5 years or so and loved it until I managed to blow out the sleeve on a branch. I went and got some Helly Hansen shit (and I mean shit) and both the jacket and pants ripped in the first week of riding. Small slice on the pocket of the pants and 2 pretty big holes in the jacket from a day of tree skiing. I had the Alpha shell jacket and Ridge shell pants. Don't waste your money on Helly. But anyways, what do yall recommend for some sweet, durable gear with good customer service?
7 years ago
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patagonialuke
Posts: 1627 - Karma: 8,689
TrabekAlright, didn't see anything to answer my question so I'll ask. What do you guys recommend for jacket and pant shells? I had a Volcom guide jacket for 5 years or so and loved it until I managed to blow out the sleeve on a branch. I went and got some Helly Hansen shit (and I mean shit) and both the jacket and pants ripped in the first week of riding. Small slice on the pocket of the pants and 2 pretty big holes in the jacket from a day of tree skiing. I had the Alpha shell jacket and Ridge shell pants. Don't waste your money on Helly. But anyways, what do yall recommend for some sweet, durable gear with good customer service?


Flylow, Strafe, Patagonia, Arc'teryx, Norrona, and Open Wear would be my top recommendations. Look for high denier fabrics. 40-denier is pretty light, and 80+ denier is pretty burly.
7 years ago
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Trabek
Posts: 230 - Karma: 368
patagonialukeFlylow, Strafe, Patagonia, Arc'teryx, Norrona, and Open Wear would be my top recommendations. Look for high denier fabrics. 40-denier is pretty light, and 80+ denier is pretty burly.


Much appreciated. I'm a snowmaker at Breck and got HH just because of how inexpensive it was for me. I regret my decision completely and just applied for the Patagonia pro-deal account so we shall see in a few weeks. I'll go apply to the others as well, thanks for the info.
7 years ago
1 0
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patagonialuke
Posts: 1627 - Karma: 8,689
No prob. For bottoms, I'd check out the Patagonia Mountain Utility Pants and Flylow Baker Bibs or Chemical Pants. All are very burly.

Jackets are tougher. Flylow Knight or Higgins 2.1 would be decent options, or Patagonia Powder Bowl or Snowshot. Arc'teryx Sabre or Sidewinder are great, but they're expensive. Same goes for Strafe Nomad and Norrona Lofoten Gore-Tex Pro, Roldal Gore-Tex, and Tamok Gore-Tex jackets,
7 years ago
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