The Flylow Higgins Jacket, one of the companies most consistent products year in, year out – is a skier’s dream. First, I’ll disclose the only con I’ve found with the jacket – the weight. For a tourer who goes deep in to the backcountry often and likes to count ounces, this might not be a good match, as the fabric is thick and the bells and whistles of the interior of the jacket may not be necessary for some. For anyone who wants a durable shell that’ll help you feel perfectly content with whatever crap mother nature throws at you – you will get along very well with this piece of gear. I bring it on all my tours – long and short – and the functionality of the jacket was obviously well thought out.
It’s not really a hardshell, but its also not really a true softshell – its a true hybrid. It’s got a moderate amount of stretch, but it also would take a bowie knife from John J Rambo to penetrate its fabric. There are also pit zips, a characteristic more common with a hardshell, and they are almost snag free and easy to open and close on the go. I’m 5’11 185 with a 36″ waist and the large was taylor made for my frame. It comes with all the standard features as well – water tight zippers, helmet compatible hood, numerous pockets, DWR finish (20k/20k), etc.
When you buy gear for skiing, there is always the inalienable truth that your gear has a fixed shelf life, meaning no matter how careful you are – it will eventually get destroyed (sooner rather than later). When you purchase a Flylow product, its a pact between you and longevity. I’ve gone through so many other companies who make a lot of promises and use hip, key words that lures the consumer in, only to utilize some liberal lifetime return policy for another fair weather, leap of faith purchase. Flylow gear seems to function on another level. I’m not a vain person, but I love the semi-neutral color schemes, the fit could not have been taylored by a personal butler any better and the functionality is everything I look for in an outdoor product. On top of all that, its a Colorado company with an incredible dedication to customer service unrivaled in the industry. I’m not sure what else can be said. If you want to commit to a long term relationship with your gear, rather than having to spend hundreds of dollars on a new shell every couple years – check out the Flylow line.