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Gear reviews | Bergans Storen Jacket and Pants

Lightweight hardshell outfit for use on ski tours

by Christian Skala • 02/20/2017
With the Storen series, Bergans is launching ski touring and mountain sports products on the market that are characterized by low weight and high functionality thanks to 3-layer, particularly thin Dermizax®NX. The aim is to focus on the essentials. I was able to test whether the advertised properties actually apply in outdoor use.

First impression

Both the jacket and trousers are made from particularly thin and lightweight 3-layer Dermizax®NX with 2-way stretch, which combines the best weather protection with outstanding breathability and extremely high freedom of movement.

The Storen 3-layer hardshell jacket has an alpine cut: the jacket is cut slightly longer at the back and extends just over the buttocks so that a climbing harness, for example, can be easily put on. The hood is large enough to be pulled over a ski helmet. The cut is also slightly wider at the elbows to create more freedom of movement. As a result, the jacket never constricted me or restricted my freedom of movement on any of my outings. A drawstring is incorporated into the hood and the lower waistband of the jacket, which is easy to use and allows for precise adjustment, so I was always able to quickly adapt the jacket to my needs.

The Storen jacket has two outer breast pockets, two outer front pockets and an inner pocket. Unfortunately, there is no pocket on the sleeve for a ski map, so I use the breast pockets for this. Otherwise, the two front pockets are enough for me, but they are occasionally located under the hip belt when wearing the backpack (contrary to the manufacturer's instructions) and therefore cannot be opened completely. I usually have to open the hip belt of the backpack to access the pockets. However, this may also be due to the type of backpack and my individual size.

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Testers and test conditions

I have been testing the Storen Jacket and Storen Pants from the Bergans Slingsby series since the end of November. My data: I am 1.75 meters tall and weigh 69 kg. I chose the jacket and pants in size M. A size S would also have been possible, but I wanted to make sure that I had enough freedom of movement for ski tours and mountain activities and also wanted to keep the option of wearing additional clothing underneath. I've been able to test the outfit on around 30 days of skiing so far, mainly touring and on a few days in the ski resort. The outfit has been exposed to a wide variety of weather and snow conditions: from double-digit sub-zero temperatures and storms to inversion weather conditions with plus temperatures, from deep powder to spring conditions. This has already given me a pretty comprehensive picture of the Storen Outfit.

Test report

In practical use, I was able to experience the benefits of the material for myself. The combination is absolutely windproof and waterproof. Especially when ski touring in snowfall, it was always pleasantly warm under the hardshell jacket without me having to sweat. Overall, the material is robust for its light weight, with only very slight initial signs of wear recently appearing in the areas subject to particular wear and tear (backpack straps, backpack hip belt buckle) - the color became slightly lighter. However, I also wear the backpack relatively close to my body and usually carry a lot of weight (camera equipment), so these areas really do get a lot of wear and tear. The zippers and seams still work without any problems and are still waterproof.

I find the fleece material on the collar, which is attached to the end of the zipper, very comfortable. The cuffs can be narrowed with a Velcro fastener so that the jacket can be adjusted to fit any gloves (regardless of whether you wear the gloves over or under the sleeves).
I particularly like the two large ventilation zippers on the sides. These extend from the armpit to the waist. This ensures a pleasant body temperature, especially when touring with the hardshell jacket. In addition, the jacket can be folded up very small and therefore has a very comfortable pack size.

The Storen trousers only have one large outer thigh pocket, in which I can easily stow my avalanche transceiver without it restricting my freedom of movement. I would find a small additional front pocket for my keys or beep backup, for example, quite practical. The side ventilation zippers can be opened completely and are therefore very comfortable for maintaining an optimum body temperature, especially when touring. The knees are pre-shaped for better freedom of movement and the trouser legs are reinforced at the bottom. I can easily adjust the gaiters to the respective ski boot using the Velcro fastener and press studs. The waistband is individually adjustable with a Velcro fastener and, in combination with the thin suspenders, a belt is not necessary, even though there are loops for this. The trousers are cut quite wide at the seat, so that they wrinkle a little here.

Conclusion

The material of the blind combination has so far lived up to its promise: it is characterized by high functionality with low weight and relatively high durability in all weather conditions. The slight signs of wear are limited and are absolutely acceptable for the number of days of use. I found the well thought-out cut to be very comfortable, as it did not restrict freedom of movement during any activity. The combination of details is limited to the bare essentials. One or two additional pockets would be very practical, e.g. for a lift ticket or keys on the trousers. Overall, I was completely convinced by the combination, especially for ski touring, and I can recommend it with a clear conscience.

Advantages & disadvantages

+ Breathability
+ Good workmanship
+ Lightweight
+ Helmet-compatible hood
+ Ventilation slits on jacket and trousers
- One or two additional pockets wouldn't be amiss
- Trousers have a slightly strange cut on the back

Details

RRP:
Storen Jacket €500
Storen Pants €400.-
Available sizes: Men's S-XXL
Weight: 475 g (pants in size L) and 625 g (jacket in size L).

Click here to visit the Bergans website for more information on the jacket and pants. Here you can jacket and pants at our partner store Bergzeit.de.

These products were provided to PowderGuide free of charge by the manufacturer. You can find out how we test them in our test statement.

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This article has been automatically translated by DeepL with subsequent editing. If you notice any spelling or grammatical errors or if the translation has lost its meaning, please write an e-mail to the editors.

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