One of the most popular mens ski jackets to come out of the O'Neill stable in recent years has been the Society Jacket. This stylish addition from the Escape series has proved to be popular with skiiers and snowboarders alike thanks to a winning mixture of function, performance and style. Here I will add my experience of the jacket and give you a review so you can see what all the fuss is about.
What is it?
The O'Neill Escape Society is a mens ski / snowboard jacket that boasts 8k/8k waterproofing and breathability. It is available in several colour combinations and has been updated yearly by O'Neill to respond to trends on the slopes and shifts in style from the catwalk. As part of the Escape series this jacket sits more at the functional end of the spectrum as opposed to a performance item, but there is enough here to satisfy all but the most demanding of rider. And also keeps you warm and dry when walking the dog, for what its worth.
How does it look?
The Escape Society maintains a consistent design throughout the colour spread - this consists of block colour solid sleeves with horizontal stripes and hoops arcross the chest. There is a large breast pocket and two further hand pockets to the front. Each colourway has a slight variation of the this theme, with the Powder White and Black AOP versions offering the most trendy look. The other colourways stick to a more similar theme, with larger gaps between the hoops. The one to look out for is the Enamel Blue colourway which features a cool contrasting yellow breast pocket, to really stand out. The branding is subtle and the fixed hood takes the block colour of the sleeves to complete the look.
How does it perform?
As previously said, this mens ski jacket sits at the functional end of the scale but is still loaded with techinical features that are common on jackets twice the price. For starters, there is O'Neill's Firewall Insulation lining which has specific body mapped layers to retain the most body heat. This is really noticeable on the slopes and whilst most O'Neill jackets now feature this lining in one form or another, I would certainly recommend it when looking for a new jacket. There is also plenty of room for movement, with nice touches like armpit ventilation and all manner of wrist, bottom and cuff adjustment to get a good, snug fit before heading out.
What else should I know?
There are plenty of places to store stuff with the Society jacket. A lift pass pocket on the left sleeve is easily accessible and has a neat velcro closure over the top to keep things secure. Inside there is another velcro-closed pocket, ideal for your ipod or phone as well as a suitably practical goggle pocket for when you've finished your ride. None of these elements make the Society jacket too intrusive and should be on your checklist of things to look for when choosing a new jacket. The front pocket also features a key hook with toggle adjustment.
Overall?
The O'Neill Escape Society Jacket is a great ski or snow jacket to have in your snow wardrobe, thanks to a winning combination of versatility and style.
If you want to sample the O'Neill Escape Society Jacket for yourself, then simply make your way over to twobarefeet.co.uk where you'll find a massive choice of O'Neill snow jackets
to suit all riders. With fast worldwide shipping available you'll be
able to rock this winter collection from O'Neill everywhere from the Alps to Aspen and pretty much anywhere else in
between.
With the early ski season fast approaching, you may be looking at getting your hands (and the rest of your upper body of course) into a snug, shiny, new ski jacket. But if you're new to this game the amount of technology and terminology presented with a jacket can be quite daunting. So let me guide you through some of the essentials to help you decide the type and source of snowboarding jacket you might need. Don't worry, these rules apply whether you're a skiier or a snowboarder, the only difference is going to be which jacket best suits your style.
For our first installment of Ski Jacket Terminology 101, I'm going to delve into the depths of waterproofing. As a piece of performance outerwear, how this performs in the situation is paramount to the quality and how much it's going to cover your back. Nearly all ski jackets are described with a waterproof rating, usually in the form of thousands of mm, to give you, the wearer, and indication of the materials and fabrics used for the jacket and therefore how resiliant the jacket is going to be against the wetter elements.
How the water resiliance is displayed refers to water column pressure. Over to the ever-useful wikipedia for a little science lesson and insight into what this means. If this was a late-nineties L'Oreal advert I'd be asking you to pay attention right now, as here comes the science bit:
The units are by convention and due to the historical measurement of certain pressure differentials. It is defined as the pressure exerted by a column of water of 1 inch in height at defined conditions.
Right, that's the science bit over.You will see these these ratings displayed usually in the format of 10K mm/10K grs or sometimes in full, such as 10,000 mm waterproof rating.
So if your jacket has a 10K mm waterproof rating, this means the fabric
can resist the pressure of a 10,000mm water column before it leaks. There are a variety of different ratings ranging from 5K, 8K, 10K, 12K and 15K and on some jackets you would see 20K and higher. These higher rated jackets are very performance orientated and sit atop the peak of products to give the best resistance.
Keep in mind that water-repellent doesn't mean waterproof. They are two
different things and what this means is that the ability for water to
immerse into the material’s surface is reduced, but once it does soak
through, you won't be dry for very long.
Well I hope that clears up the first element of Ski Jacket terminology. I will be blogging more about other more common terms very shortly, so make sure you subscribe and stay posted so that your jacket hunting journey can remain trouble and stress free!
It's that time of year when summer memories fade and autumn arrives, giving our minds a swing of thoughts from catching waves and laid back beaches to slaying pillow lines and powder reports. So to heighten that winter stoke, the guys over at Two Bare Feet (http://www.twobarefeet.co.uk) are giving you early birds a head start this season with great savings on snowboard and ski gear.
Most of the offerings come from the world famous O'Neill stable, with a ton of Mens Ski Jackets, Womens Ski Jackets, Boys Ski Jackets and Girls Ski Jackets available for purchase. In fact, at last count there were over 120 different snowboard jackets available to browse through varying from mountaineering performance jackets to functional trend jackets that show off your style on the slopes.
This clearance sale means almost every snow jacket sold on the website is reduced and there are big discounts promoted, with at least half price savings and some items even up to 66% off the original rrp. That's a big saving for winter gear, and makes this the perfect opportunity to get set for the new season. There is a word of advice for these sale items and that is simply “Be Quick”. Already the big brands are running
out of key lines, meaning once they’re gone from the online store, they’re
sold and they won't be back! So if you've seen a jacket that takes your fancy, don't risk missing it.
It doesn't matter where in the world you are based, and even less important where you are heading for your next ride. You can order from anywhere in the world through the new twobarefeet.co.uk website and international shipping is fast and secure. With such choice on offer there is also the opportunity to create the ideal mountain look, as there are a whole host of salopettes and snow pants also available to mix up your look. If you're a street inspired freestyle spirit, there is equally as much choice as if you are after a more traditional classic look. Baggy pants are a staple of snowboarding and there is plenty of variation here, all served up in a cornucopia of colour with more subtle tones neatly sitting alongside.
Some of our favourite jackets in the clearance sale include the ever popular O'Neill District jacket - this functional performance jacket is the definition of no nonsense, thanks to block colouring, masses of waterproofing and a chunk of stash pockets for everything from goggles to Mp3 players. But if you fancy something a bit more unique, have a look at the O'Neill Alfa Bravo jacket. This all over print patterned jacket takes the material and techincal execution to a whole new level, and gives a really unique style for the slopes and beyond. Both of these ski jackets have been heavily discounted so are sure to be popular choices with bargain hunters and fashionistas alike.
If you want to sample this collection for yourself, then simply make your way over to twobarefeet.co.uk where you'll find a massive choice of O'Neill snow jackets
to suit all riders. With fast worldwide shipping available you'll be
able to rock this winter collection from O'Neill everywhere from the Alps to Aspen and pretty much anywhere else in
between.
This season O'Neill continue to serve the inspiration behind the Fall & Winter collection by simplyfing the collection into three distinct themes.
The lifestyle, performance and adventure silos help mould and shape the products to provide a better collection than ever before and more focused lines, so whether you are after an O'Neill Snow Jacket, O'Neill Salopettes, or something more laid back and casual, there is an element of design and style suitable for your look. At twobarefeet.co.uk, we showcase all these trends and give you a preview of the collection from mens to womens and boys and girls.
There are three key themes, 60 Years of Shaping, Mid Century Americana and Eclectic Diversity. Starting from the top, the 60 years Shaping is influeced directly from O’Neill history in shaping the classic design of the wetsuit, as well as incorporating ergonomic lines. This inspiration is all about producing the perfect form and can be seen in many of the O'Riginals line of products.
The Mid Century Americana design influence harps back to the time of the inception of O’Neill back in 1952. Expect plenty of classic looks but translated into a modern on-trend style using the likes of classic materials including wool, boucle and tweed but with that up to date twist.
Eclectic Diversity theme brings a modern fresh and vibrant feel – whilst playing with the established roots of O’Neill. The idea is that through innovation and original
thinking – anything is possible. The look and feel incorporates colour blocking and a mix of different styles and plays on the diversity theme strongly, such is the world in which we share the planet with today.
You can see different elements of these trends in Mens Snow Jackets, Womens Snow Jackets, Boys Snow Jackets and Girls Snow Jackets all available now at twobarefeet.co.uk
Within the O'Neill Winter Jackets collection, there are several different types of fit which differ from previous seasons, all designed to offer greater comfort and on-trend style. Longer fit jackets explicity are on trend and as such there is an increase in Ski Jackets which fit this description. Within this relaxed fit and slim fit also combine to give cleaner lines and form, a trend which is carried over into the snow pants as well. Add to this a more muted, sober colour paletter which represents Mid Century America and you're beginning to piece together a classic inspired look that gives great feel and style.
If you want to sample this collection for yourself, then simply make your way over to twobarefeet.co.uk where you'll find a massive choice of O'Neill snow jackets
to suit all riders. With fast worldwide shipping available you'll be
able to rock this winter collection from O'Neill everywhere from the Alps to Aspen and pretty much anywhere else in
between.
