Specs: I tested the Women's Frosty Forest in medium in the Tidewater/Bolt color combo. I used it at Northstar on a 22 degree & cloudy day, a 24 degree and snowing day, and a 27 degree and bluebird day. I also used it at Boreal at night when it was windy and about 30 degrees. Asides from boarding I wore this jacket while lounging around in my apartment.
What I loved: I couldn't believe how warm this jacket kept me. The first day I put it on I had a few layers underneath it. Within a few minutes I realized I didn't need to wear the load of clothing I normally pack on for snowboarding. Turns out I only need a tank top when I wear Omni-Heat. Every time I wore this jacket I had nothing but a tank top on underneath it. I had the warmth of multiple layers, without the bulk. That's really what amazed me about this jacket. I never once felt cold in it. Another aspect that I liked about this jacket was that it was very breathable. While I stayed warm I didn't get sweaty. It also stayed really dry. I had a few falls that left me covered in snow but a few minutes later I'd be perfectly dry again.
Improvements: The only things that didn't thrill me about this jacket were a few elements of it's construction. Like every good jacket, the Frosty Forest has pockets inside. The problem I found though was that the jacket is made of two layers that can be separated or connected (good!) but the pockets were on the inside of the outer layer so when my layers were connected I couldn't get to those pockets. I also had some issues with the jacket bunching up in my armpits and I found myself having to pull it down many times throughout the day. It felt a little stiff but I think that it will soften up over time. I struggled to get the sleeves over my gloves. After a few days of wearing the jacket I got the hang of tucking my gloves underneath the sleeves but it still wasn't as easy as it could have been. The cut of the jacket was a little tight for me but that's just a personal thing. I like more boyish cuts and looser fits but at 5'3" and 115lbs, the medium felt a bit snug for my preferences.
Overall: While some things about the cut bothered me, the technology involved in the jacket makes the pros outweigh the cons. I can deal with having to pull the jacket out of my armpits every once in a while in exchange for being able to wear just a tank top under the jacket while I ride. I would recommend this jacket to other snowboarders and people who spend time in cold weather because it's an awesome way to stay warm and not have to spend time or money dealing with other layers. I never had a cold moment in the Frosty Forest jacket and will now depend on it for those days when I don't know what to expect of the weather because I know I'm always a comfortable temperature in it.
Check out the jacket here.
-Big thank you to Columbia for the jacket and the opportunity to test out their Omni-Heat technology.-
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