Gearing up for the season: 686

Usually I know exactly what outerwear I want the second I see it at the SIA Tradeshow but 686 was hard to choose from this year. They really do a good job of making designs for every style of rider. But there were so many options to consider: going bright, going snaggletooth or just going back to the basics with technical features.  In the end, I went with my two favorite colors: blue and black to round out my 686 outerwear for this season. This season I’ll get to rock this kit with a few others coming down out of the woodwork.

686 Plexus Hydra Jacket

Fully taped seams. 20,000mm/15,000gm. That’s what I like to hear when it comes to a snowboard jacket. This year I went with the 686 Plexus Hydra jacket after loving last year’s Plexus Sonar softshell jacket. I wanted something that was lighter, less bulky than last years and still in my always favorite blue color. There are also a good amount of pockets in this jacket, something I craved more from last year’s jacket.

686 Smarty Original Cargo Pant

My go-to pant is the original cargo pant from 686. It works, it’s comfortable, it fits and I love me some cargo pockets so I can carry my camera easily on the mountain. This year I opted for the basic black design to compliment the blue jacket.  It’s also 15,000mm/10,000gm for waterproofing and breathability. My favorite feature is the non-intentional pajama pants (the fleece inside liner are perfect for mtn trips when you forgot pj’s).

What outerwear are you rocking this season? How do you select what gear you want?