Not everybody wants an ultralight, ultra-high-performance ski jacket. Generally, all you want is a well-fitting, succesful, and sturdy jacket that may stand as much as quite a lot of snowboarding.
I slipped my arms by means of the smooth, recycled lining of the Black Crows Ferus Mechanical Jacket and smiled. The wrist cuffs have been sketched with slope strains from La Vallée Blanche within the Alps. Sadly, I wouldn’t be snowboarding off-piste in France (this time). However I may embrace what Black Crows calls “a powerful contact of favor” with this homage-to-Chamonix gear.
After 9 years of constructing skis, in 2015, Black Crows began making ski attire. And in a comparatively brief time, the standard of its technical attire has solely gone up.
I obtained my fingers on one of many first samples of the brand new Ferus Mechanical 2L jacket ($540) forward of the 2023 season. I examined the Ferus on three completely different ski journeys throughout the American southwest.
In brief: This technical however approachable-in-price girls’s jacket gives an incredible match with a sturdy shell for a variety of circumstances. It has mild lining and insulation, and is laden with pockets (and different options). Its buttery clean exterior is as trendy as it’s protecting. The insulation was additionally stellar, from gentle circumstances to gusty, overcast days. It saved me heat after which some.
Lastly, the double chest pockets, the pops of shade and sample on the wrist gaiters and hood, the longer reduce anorak design — Black Crows is mixing its efficiency supplies with plain fashion.
Black Crows Ferus Mechanical 2L Jacket Evaluate
Black Crows Ferus Jacket Specs
- Supplies: 56% recycled polyamide and 44% polyamide shell, 100% recycled polyester lining
- Insulation: 40g PrimaLoft Black Eco (80% recycled polyester, 20% polyester)
- Waterproofing: 20K/15K waterproof breathable ranking
- Pockets: 7
- Weight: 1,033 g/36.4 ounces
- Value: $540
Match and Design
Designed for “comfy all-terrain snowboarding,” this ski jacket brings the standard of Black Crows to a broader market of skiers. It’s not all about high-performance attire anymore. The Black Crows Ferus jacket is a mix of a contemporary anorak and conventional full-zip fashion.
I love the marginally tailor-made match on the waist, the hidden zippered kangaroo-style pocket, and the location of the double chest pockets.
By way of the match, this jacket is exclusive given the cinched fashion on the waist, the anorak pocket, in addition to elastic behind the waist to regulate match. Extra typical with different ski jackets, there’s additionally an elastic adjustment level behind the helmet-compatible hood. And it has a zippered move pocket for resort snowboarding.
On high of the design, there’s a whole lot of what I might categorize as extra premium options on this jacket — assume stretchy Lycra sleeves with thumbholes on the wrists, a detachable snow skirt, RECCO reflector, and YKK water-repellent zips on all of the pockets (the principle zip is totally waterproof).
Lastly, we will’t discuss concerning the design of this jacket with out speaking concerning the inside lining’s print. The smooth pale blue, white, and hallmark Black Crows pink colours accent a topographical map of the mountains, peaks, and glaciers outdoors Chamonix, France.
The Ferus jacket wins some bonus fashion factors right here.
Conclusion
After testing, it looks like Black Crows considered all the things with this jacket. A minimum of, for somebody who enjoys all kinds of all-mountain snowboarding, it’s obtained a whole lot of what you’ll want.
But in addition, it’s obtained a very smooth and comfy inside, and a singular fashion. The jacket’s insulation (what Black Crows markets as “mild however efficient”) saved me a lot insulated on a cloudy, windy ~20-degree day. Nevertheless it labored for a number of bluebird days, too.
However in fact, its wonderful match and really feel, the shell and insulation high quality, and all of the little touches are mirrored on this jacket’s worth.
General, Black Crows nailed the design with this jacket (and the ladies’s match was spot on, too — our 5’8″ feminine tester wore a measurement M). The Ferus Mechanical is each comfy and sturdy after weeks of repeated, all-day use throughout resorts within the West.
