Mountain guide and photographer Stefan Neuhauser tests the top freeride jacket from the current Bergans collection for PowderGuide. Stephan has been freeriding with the Isogaisa jacket and Stranda pants from Bergans in the Allgäu and Southern French Alps since mid-December 2011 and tested the jacket extensively.
Both the jacket, made from 3-layer New Generation Dermizax™ NX, and the Stranda pants, made from 2-layer Dermizax™ Stretch, withstood the heavy snowfall and recurring rain in December very well.
The new Dermizax™ membrane is waterproof and windproof with twice the moisture transport. I fabric is super soft and thin, which has advantages and disadvantages: It doesn't keep you as warm, so lower temperatures, you have to adjust your lower layers. At minus 10 degrees or colder, I put on a Primaloft jacket underneath, otherwise a fleece. However, the jacket is extremely light and I think it can also be used in summer for mountaineering or for cool descents by bike.
Alpine use
I was also able to rely on this combination in high alpine areas: When abseiling, no zippers or bells and whistles under the hip belt get in the way. The two large side pockets on both the jacket and the trousers are positioned so that they can be optimally opened despite wearing a hip belt or backpack. The side pockets of the jacket are complemented by a breast pocket with an integrated glasses cleaning cloth, which I have used time and again. Inside the jacket there is also a pocket for storing glasses and a small zippered pocket with an "audio output" for an MP3 player. All pockets are made of mesh for optimum ventilation. Speaking of ventilation: the jacket has ventilation zippers under the arms.
A removable snow skirt with anti-slip rubber prevents snow from penetrating the jacket from below. If you remove the snow skirt, the jacket can be combined with the Sirdal II and Sirdal Insulated pants to form a one-piece suit. Unfortunately, this is not possible with the Stranda that I tested, but it is not necessary due to the good snow guard and the high-cut waistband, as these prevented snow from penetrating.
The trousers have a long zipper that can be opened in both directions over the entire length of the leg so that fresh air can be drawn in exactly where you are too warm. The trousers are also lined with a Fieldsensor™, which is super comfortable as it wicks away moisture perfectly. I have removed the adjustable, detachable suspenders as the waistband of the trousers can be adjusted perfectly to the waist size with a non-intrusive Velcro fastener.
Gaiters are attached to the lower leg end and can be closed with a Velcro fastener. Thanks to an elastic band, the gaiters adhere so well to the ski boot that it is sufficient to attach them above the buckles. There is a removable insulating pad at knee height, which warms the knees and protects them in the event of falls or collisions. These bothered me the first time I wore them, but since they have taken on the shape of the knees, I appreciate them.
Outer material and style
The thin, comfortable, soft and light surface material caused me some concern at first. I suspected that it might not be stable enough, especially in the forest or when in contact with rocks, but this has not been confirmed so far. What's more, the material hardly offers any contact surface, and there are still no signs of wear on the typical friction points of the backpack and hip belt. Even on the trouser legs, due to the robust fabric on the inside, no cuts from ski edges are visible, which for me is already a sign of quality.
I think the combo is stylish and perfectly color-coordinated. It's super comfortable because the fabric somehow seems to follow your every move and the cut is very well done. The back sections of the trousers and jacket are longer. The asymmetric zipper on the jacket doesn't end at the chin, but at the side, which also gives the style a final little boost.
Conclusion
The super-light, beautiful and breathable combination gave me pleasure in every situation on the mountain.
