Mammut Alyeska Jacket Review

by Jesse

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Mammut continues to impress with its top of the line backcountry ski shell, the Alyeska Jacket. This is a jacket made to make you feel secure in the most extreme conditions and it does just as well at the resort. Gore-Tex 3-layer Softshell fabric provides a very versatile jacket that can handle whatever you throw at it. The Mammut Alyeska jacket is definitely capable of being your full time ski or snowboard shell and with the right layering will make it through most any weather condition.

Mammut chose to utilize GoreTex’s Soft-Shell 3-Layer fabric for the Alyeska and while it is a good choice, I can’t say I understand the naming and it might throw some people off. If you are expecting a typical softshell fabric that is stretchy, soft feeling, and not at all crinkly, you will be surprised and disappointed by GoreTex’s interpretation of softshell. To be honest, I couldn’t tell the difference between this fabric and GoreTex Pro shell, which is their high end hard-shell fabric. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, since GoreTex Pro shell is a phenomenal fabric, but I was expecting something different. The Alyeska has a strong 20,000 mm waterproof rating and appears to be very durable, like all Mammut shells. The GoreTex does allow the jacket to remain fairly lightweight while still packing in good features and usability. The fabric has a small amount of stretch to it for enhanced comfort and fit. Per usual with Mammut products, I found the fit and usability to be excellent and it is always apparent that they build their products around real people and not just mannequins The hem (torso length) of the Alyeska is perfect for resort and side/back-country skiing and helps keep the snow out. There is plenty of room in the shoulders and arms and the arms are articulated for ease of movement.

The high collar is great for cold and windy days.

The Mammut Alyeska jacket has a great feature set for the resort and back country skier/rider. The standout feature/design element is something that I wish all companies implemented. The front zipper is curved so that it comes up on the side of your face and not directly in the middle of your chin where most do. This is a godsend when you are used to zippers chafing your chin all day. The other key component to this is a collar that was designed to be fully zipped up and is the perfect height. Many collars stop just under my neck and essentially choke me when in use. Not only is the Alyeska’s collar the right height, it also solves the tight collar problem by including an extra zipper that generously expands the collar for when you have multiple layers on. A removable powder skirt that zips into the Alyeska Pants creates a guaranteed seal when used on big snow days. There are the perfect amount of pockets for a do-everything jacket with 2 chest pockets, 2 waist pockets, an interior pocket (with an included goggle wipe), and a small wrist pocket. Large underarm pit zips are included to cool you down quick when you heat up on a ski tour or after a challenging run. Finally, stretch wrist gaiters are included to help keep snow out.

This truly is one of my favorite jackets and it has entered my small stable of daily drivers. I strongly suggest checking it out for your ski/ride shell needs. From the fit to the well-rounded feature set, the Mammut Alyeska jacket is a top notch performer. The suggested retail price is $699 and the jacket comes in black and orange color options. For more info on the Alyeska and other Mammut products, visit www.backcountry.com/mammut or www.amazon.com/mammut.