Dare2B Valiant Jacket Review
When you first slip on the Dare2B Valiant Jacket it becomes obvious this is a well made (and toasty warm) jacket. Although the jacket feels a bit heavy when you first pick it up, the breathability and warmth are a good trade-off. This jacket also struck me as the proverbial “Swiss Army of jackets” with all the features, conveniences, and ample storage.
Dare2B Valiant Jacket- Performance
I immediately liked the “inner” sleeves, complete with those handy thumb slots, that keep everything in place. I always appreciate when a company makes the sleeves slippery which makes layering, as well as wearing and removal, a breeze. The hood and powder skirt are removable. This makes the jacket a little lighter and increases the airflow in the case of elevated heart rate and/or warmer temperatures.
Skiing and riding this winter with temps ranging from the single digits to mid-thirties did not seem to affect the performance of this jacket at all. Zooming down runs at top speeds were no match for the layering of this jacket. I wore a simple mid-weight base layer during all days of testing and never felt too warm or cold on the slopes.
High winds and a mixture of snow and rain were the conditions for my initial testing and overall this jacket performed admirably. The hood, with built-in adjusting chord, kept the wind and cold off (even with my hat removed) and did a good job of keeping the rain and snow off my face. The hood zips on/off in the back and has buttons that attach at the top of the zipper. Getting this connected amidst wind and rain was a bit cumbersome, but once attached it sealed up nicely and was worth the extra effort. Dare2B thought this out and the end result is a tighter fitting (and cleaner looking) hood.
I also really liked the “height” of the collar. This made morning runs warm enough without having to break out a balaclava. The inside layers are soft enough to not scratch your face and the zipper “guard” keeps the zipper off your skin as well. Just some great design features here that you don’t find in all jackets.
Dare2B Valiant Jacket (showing hood’s tight fit) *Photo not taken during the rain storm!
When it comes to storage, the Dare2B Valiant Jacket shines. I counted 10 locations for storage including a zippered sleeve pocket, pouches on the inner jacket and a zippered (and magnet-closed) pocket on the front chest. One of the inside pockets features a clear plastic front allowing you to see your smartphone. Although a small detail, I loved how the clear pocket’s front “screen” allowed me to control my phone through the plastic. An excellent feature. I use a Samsung S5 and it fits inside this pocket perfectly and allowed me to play music, etc. without removing the phone.
Fantastic pocket allows phone control through the plastic
The overall performance of the jacket was great. The pit zips were surprisingly effective (especially when I forgot to “zip” them up before a morning run!) I tend to utilize layering systems when hiking and this jacket would typically be far too warm for this. When used skiing or during other outdoor activities where the user is not elevating their heart rate and sweating for long periods of time, this is perfect. Clearly this was designed as a ski jacket and for that purpose, it did very well. Those cold lift rides are a thing of the past.
Dare2B Valiant Jacket – Details:
- Waterproof and breathable
- Durable water repellent finish
- Taped seams
- Underarm ventilation zips work remarkably well
- Detachable hood is so much more convenient than “fixed” hoods
- Adjustable cuffs are great for layering mittens over the top
- Multiple internal pockets suitable for just about everything!
Fabric Information
- 63% Polyester
- 30% Viscose/rayon
- 7% Elasten
Final Thoughts
Overall the Dare2B Valiant Jacket is a safe bet for anyone looking for a new ski/board jacket this season. It is toasty warm, I love the color, the stylings and the storage locations alone could keep you entertained for the whole chairlift ride. Shredding a ski trail or even playing in the back-country woods would be perfect for this. I’m looking forward to continued snowy and cold weather to keep putting this through its paces.
You can get more information and purchase this jacket for yourself at the Dare2b website. Available in Fairway Green or Smokey Grey Marl in sizes XS-XXXL. MSRP $325.
