Sarah Uhl
(This post sponsored by our publishing partner Cripple Creek Backcountry, they’re having a BIG SALE starting Friday going over weekend, online and in-person. See other Wildsnow coverage of North Face gear.)
Snow salutation in my North Face Summit Proprius kit.
I started the season in style this year with WildSnow clothing review kit from The North Face. Just what I needed for hitting the slopes as much as possible, uphilling and downhilling to prepare for a British Columbia hut trip.
My mid-December hut trip to Valhalla Mountain Touring, would involve long self guided days touring in the Selkirk Mountains, so lightweight and comfortable gear was a priority.
Oh Canada, how lovely thou art.
The Summit L4 Proprius Softshell Pants are my favorite part of the ensemble. These are the lightest ski touring pants I’ve ever used, both in fabric thickness and mass.
Handy beacon clip in the thigh pocket of the Proprius softshell pants.
Pants fit over boots easily with the ample 8″ zippered opening.
The stretch material makes me feel at home. With their slim fit and flattering cut I find myself keeping them on for hours after skiing, not rushing to switch to something more comfortable (or cute) after a long ski day.
Despite the slim cut, I’m comfortable touring in these pants with or without long underwear which makes them more versatile than I expected they would be. (Note, as with many brand’s slimmer pants, these are not going to fit everyone, always plan a try-on.)
Summit L4 Proprius Softshell pant specs:
10 inch zippered side-vents.
The Summit L3 Proprius Down Hoodie is incredibly warm and comfortable. I appreciate the length and the slender fit. I used the jacket skiing in-bound quite a bit before leaving Colorado to head north. Most days I felt warm enough to ski with a shell. It packs up quite small so I liked having such a warm layer in my touring pack while we were in BC, even if I didn’t end up needing it. I would recommend getting a tiny stuff sack to help pack it up small enough in a tight pack.
I like the high neck.
My only complaint with this jacket is its lack of pockets. Having only one chest pocket became a noticeable deficiency after more use. Perhaps part of this is habitual but I would argue there are quite a few utilitarian purposes to having pockets around the hips and I consistently missed having them.
Summit L3 Proprius Down Hoodie specs:
The Summit L5 Proprius Gore-tex Active Shell Jacket also only has one chest pocket and I felt the same way about it. The combination of two chest pockets just ended up being more awkward than streamlined. On days when I wore both the shell and puffy, and used both chest pockets, I tended to feel top heavy and slightly uncomfortable.
The shell.
The Summit L5 Proprius Gore-tex Active Shell was remarkably lightweight and durable. I typically avoid shells because of how bulky the material is but this one is enjoyably soft, flexible, and just as warm as any other shell I’ve ever used. It also packs up tiny, which is helpful when touring with multiple layers. My only complaint about the shell was that the minimalist zipper was not the easiest to use and the lack of pockets was noticeable as I mentioned above.
Summit L5 Proprius Gore-tex Active Shell specs:
If you prefer Primaloft rather than down, North Face provides with the Summit L3 Proprius Primaloft Hoody. Cut with for an athletic fit, it’s another piece that’s an impressively good insulator considering it’s lack of heft. I especially liked the tapered arms and the thumbhold wrists. The pretty aqua hue is a winner too.
Summit L3 Proprius Primaloft Hoody specs:
High neck, check pocket, and hood — the L3 Proprius Primaloft Hoodie.
Nifty thumb holds keeps sleeves down when you’re adding layers.
All in all, I enjoyed the gear and love how lightweight and comfortable everything is: a unique combo that upgrades my quiver!
(Sarah Uhl is an artist and adventurer based out of Carbondale, Colorado. Sarah often paints from mountaintops and utilizes backcountry skiing to access the natural world she highlights through her work. You can learn more about Sarah or follow along with her adventures here: @sarahvirginiauhl or sarahuhl.com. The North Face provided gear for this review, on long term loan.)
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