Hardshell

I have used the Haglöfs Vassi Combo on about twenty ski tours so far. I wear a size L at 185 cm and 85 kg. The suit fits perfectly, not too loose, but not too tight either. I find both the jacket and trousers very light compared to my old suit, which is why I was rather sceptical about their durability for treeruns or other tougher uses. But so far I have no complaints!

Like its predecessors, the latest version of the Penguin hardshell jacket scores points with its simple, functional design. The Dermizax membrane keeps the jacket waterproof even in adverse conditions and it has everything else you could wish for in a powder jacket. Recommendation!

The Aenergy Air HS Hooded Jacket Women hardshell jacket from Mammut promises very high breathability thanks to its optimised membrane technology and is characterised by its light weight and high durability. A faithful companion both on often sweaty ascents and adrenaline-fuelled descents.

Mammut advertises the new Taiss HS Hooded as a "feather-light all-rounder" that can be used "all year round in the Alps". We get to the bottom of this description in the test and also explored other possible uses!

Since it was founded almost 15 years ago, the Picture brand, which goes by the full name of Picture Organic Clothing, has stood for sustainable winter sports clothing. On the one hand, sustainable, often bio-based materials are used wherever possible and harmful substances are avoided. On the other hand, Picture also uses innovative approaches such as a lifetime guarantee on the typical "wear parts" of clothing such as zips, buttons and seams.

With the Line Chaser combo, Scott is launching a minimalist ski touring outfit onto the market. One special feature is the three-layer DRYOspun fabric, which combines low weight with high functionality. On the other hand, Scott is also focussing on sustainability with this outfit by using recycled and renewable materials. I was able to test whether the advertised properties actually apply in outdoor use.

According to the manufacturer, the Haldigrat HS Hooded Jacket is designed for ski touring and freeriding. This slightly tailored hardshell jacket is not only attractive, but also offers optimum weather protection thanks to the 3-layer Mammut DRYtechnology™ Pro material. Wind, rain or wet snowfall are definitely no match for this garment.

Three-layer jackets and trousers are now a dime a dozen and pretty much every manufacturer has at least one model in their range. With the 3L Deep Shell combination, Ortovox has another freeride and touring combination on offer. I was able to test how this combination performs in practice this winter.

When I unpacked the suit, it was already crackling. Not just inside me with anticipation, but even more so the material of the combo. The sound reminded me of craft paper from the past and spinnaker cloth from sailing.

The Air HS jacket from Mammut's Aenergy series is designed as a ski touring jacket. The material should be windproof, waterproof and hard-wearing on one hand, but light and breathable on the other.

The first contact was already very pleasant, the fit was perfect for me. I am 1.86, 83 kg and the size M fits me perfectly.

Freeskiing is still a comparatively young sport. A well-known figure in this sport is certainly the now 50-year-old Chris Davenport.