La Sportiva, previously known for their footwear and more recently for a ski line, is entering the clothing fray. This stuff might be super nice. Or, it might be Euro cut “sausage skin” that only the skinniest of the skinny can fit. We shall see. Below is the press release, condensed.
La Sportiva North America, makers of the world’s finest mountain products, announces today that it will debut a full line of technical ski mountaineering apparel at the 2012 OR Winter Market, SIA Snowshow, and ISPO Munich tradeshows.
Backcountry skiing clothing by La Sportiva.
“The culture of ski mountaineering is thriving in Europe and shows signs of significant growth in North America,” states Jonathan Lantz, president of La Sportiva North America. “Our team of designers in the Dolomites used feedback from some of the world’s best ski mountaineers to design apparel that is fast, light and highly efficient. For randonee racing, backcountry touring, and alpine climbing, the La Sportiva apparel line sets a new bar for performance and innovation.”
La Sportiva will distribute its apparel line in specialty outdoor retail stores where the brand’s recognition is strong. The line includes hard shells, soft shells, insulating mid layers, and performance base layers.
In the new apparel line, La Sportiva continues its long-running partnership with W.L. Gore and Associates to utilize the highest performing fabrics available. The Men’s Storm Fighter jacket and pants feature GORE-TEX® Active Shell. Weighing in at 11.14 ounces for the jacket and 18.13 ounces for the pants, the combination is one of the lightest, fully waterproof breathable jacket and pants combinations on the market. In addition, the Resolute jacket and pants use GORE-TEX® Pro Shell and the Adjuster jacket utilizes GORE-TEX® Windstopper for versatile all-mountain use.
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http://www.outsideonline.com/blog/la-sportiva-introduces-backcountry-ski-clothing-without-the-euro-fit.html
At 6′ 150 with no sense of decency, I don’t mind Euro fit. But, that link says corn-fed ‘Mericans should be able to fit.
Pretty detailed review for something that’s not even being retailed till next fall… we’ll test, then yield the beta…
C’mon Lou, you think that piece has an element of fluff? Don’t you know newer=better?
busted
“This stuff might be super nice. Or, it might be Euro cut “sausage skin” that only the skinniest of the skinny can fit.”
— Lou, looks like you have a typo there: just substitute in “And” for “Or” then you’ll be all set.
Also, based on the Outside fluff piece, I’ll take it that a minority of pieces will still appeal to me:
“But the large majority of the pieces in the new collection are geared towards more, ah, sane backcountry skiers, who […] prefer not to look like a deranged super hero.”
BTW, has anyone notice the intriguing Dynafit Breath[e] jacket with rando race suit large pockets in front for skins is available on the U.S. only in the color white option? Given that climbing skins are going to be constantly stuffed and unstuffed in the front of the jacket, seems like that’s going to get really gross-looking really soon. (Granted my old cream-colored Marmot ATV schoeller dryskin pants are permanently stained everywhere, but still, those are at least pants, not a jacket…)
I have a white Dynafit piece. It’s fun, but man, get manked out really fast!
Thanks for the edit, I’ll fix (grin). After all, those of us with the string bean visage should stand up and be proud of our hard won nullity.
Indeed, why not look like a deranged super hero? After all, it’s okay to look like Gumby (true, dat!), and a deranged super hero can pound Gumby’s rear into the ground any day of the week (grin)!
not interested if it is not in neoshell 🙂
Neoshell is great material. I have a RAB NEO Strectch jacket. Unfortunately nobody makes a medium tall pant out of Neoshell, so I have the Mountain Hardwear DryQ Elite pant.
Some makers are not using waterproof zippers on their Neoshell product.
I have been using the Gore active while skinning at night and it works great, no moisture build upand it is super light weight.
Jonathan – after seeing that Casco eye shield picture of you last year a manked up white dynafit jacket will be the least of your fashion concerns. Just kidding. Your reviews are some of my favorites. Just wanted to chime in with an observation or two about the Breath(e) jacket
1.) I was bracing myself for the dreaded Euro tight fit and was (oddly) a bit disappointed when Dynafit North America automatically sized up my men’s medium order to a euro size large. I am now fully within the north American baggy clothes fashion norm. The disappointment is that I hoped to use the jacket as a crossover for skate skiing and I don’t need the parachute effect on my burning lungs. 2). Could somebody with influence (Lou) please convince dynafit to bring in a wider variety of colors? I am quietly lusting after Dynafit’s momentum pants but I just can’t bring myself to the all white snow leopard superhero look. I want white manaslus and black pants; not the other way around
I always strive for that deranged super hero look — perhaps that picture last year at the changing station was Diaper [Changing] Man? (I’m envious of that CAMP guy in the video I referenced in my recent crampon comment, although in my Picassa album also referenced there I included the link to a ski resort conditions video in which I make a brief surprise cameo in full regalia.)
So your men’s Medium got translated into a Euro Large? Care to share your sizing dimensions? I’m thinking probably men’s Small / Euro Medium for me (should they ever come in a color scheme that won’t instantly get as dirty — or diDOO, diDOO as a certain little gal is fond of saying — as my old yet beloved Marmot ATV pants).
BTW, I think you mean Movement pants, right, not Momentum?
I am slightly over 5’8 and weigh 168-170. Typically men’s medium fits me well. And yes, the tag sewn to the jacket said “large” but either dynafit NA or backcountry.com added a paper tag listing it as medium. And yes #2, I did mean the movement pants. Those things look great! As a side note, I contacted backcountry.com and silver/white is the only Breath(e) color coming in this year. Aside from the mank factor, I did like having the white color on one of our rare PNW sunny days. It seemed to keep the overheating on the skin track effect at bay which is a good omen for spring.
I continue to be impressed with Gore’s Active Shell for high output sports, Interesting thing about both Neoshell and AS is how well they breath. They don’t really seem to insulate, but offer superior wind and water resistance. AS is super light weight making it a great choice for vertical sports.
I have been using the Arcteryx Beta FL for Ice climbing and rando practice at night, and Gore Bike Wear’s AS jacket for cold weather cycling without having to open a zipper, even as the day warms up, which is a first for performance clothing.
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