Hasta La Ideas

The first waterproof down jacket from the classic mountain wear brand

Powderhorn has been making premium outerwear for extreme adventurers since the 1960s in Jackson Hole. The tough, performance-focused brand consistently produces stylish and functional garb for the mountains, and their latest innovation, the Gunpowder jacket, is a great go-to in this winter’s down lineup.

The new jacket, along with the women’s version, the Powdersmoke, is filled with Toray Waterproof Quix® Down—a 750-fillpower feather insulation treated to repel water. Down jackets have traditionally run the risk of getting overly bulky when wet, but the Powderhorn’s Quix® promises to keep the wearer warm, while remaining light and unsaturated in the rain if the Toray Airtastic™ silky nylon shell lets water thru.

Beyond looking and feeling great in the various elements, the jacket is equipped with sophisticated features for the serious mountaineer. The pockets are lined in soft fleece, and one of the two interior pockets has a plush, built-in goggle rag. The jacket comes with effective underarm ventilation and a built-in snow skirt that can be snapped back into the jacket for storage when not in use.

The Gunpowder and Powdersmoke jackets can be purchased in the U.S. for $425 and $400 from Powderhorn’s online store. Otherwise, check the store locator to track one down a nearby stockist.