Material test

Ortovox is launching a new touring collection on the market with the 3L Ravine Shell Combi. As tastes are known to differ, it is difficult to assess the style of the combination, but if you have liked Ortovox so far, you should also like this combination, because Ortovox remains true to its style. But what makes a good jacket apart from the style? The material, the arrangement and size of the pockets, ventilation slits and the cut of the garment are important criteria for me and are easy to compare with other models.

FIRST IMPRESSION

As soon as you unpack it, you notice that this is a high-quality 3-layer combination. However, the membrane is not made from GoreTex, but from DERMIZAX NX from Toray and is therefore PFC-free. Ortovox switched to this membrane a few years ago and many manufacturers have since followed suit. As you would expect from Ortovox, the bold, bright colors immediately catch the eye. This time the jacket has no snow skirt and no side pockets, but two sufficiently large breast pockets. The trousers come without a bib, have two large leg pockets and a reinforced area on the legs that serves as protection from the ski edge.

TESTER & TEST CONDITIONS

I am 179 cm tall and weigh around 72 kg. I tested the outfit in size M. The jacket and trousers are cut slightly wider, as is usually the case with ski touring clothing. This allows perfect freedom of movement. I still had plenty of room to move in both the jacket and the trousers, and a size S would probably still have fitted me. I was able to test the combination on several days, whether on the piste, freeriding, ski touring or other alpine activities.

gear reviews

presented by

Ortovox 3L Ravine Shell combo — Isabelle König

Allgäu

Johannes Wolf

To judge whether an outfit is "good", several requirements are important to me. The arrangement of the pockets is ideal for a ski touring jacket. Compared to side pockets, the hip belt doesn't get in the way when ski touring, for example, and you can always reach the pocket without any problems. As a result, the jacket was also taken along on some winter alpine activities or ice climbing. Another very practical feature is the merino wool pocket sewn into the chest pocket, which can be used to store a cell phone, for example. This allows you to find it quickly in an emergency and also protects it from the cold (note: do not carry your cell phone too close to the avalanche transceiver!) Larger items, such as a map, also fit easily into the pocket. However, I missed the classic ski pass pocket on the sleeve for everyday freeride skiing.

The hood still fits well over the helmet, but I found the angle of movement somewhat restricted, as with most jackets. A soft merino insert is sewn into the chin. This means that the jacket fits comfortably on the chin, even when it is fully zipped up.

Adequate underarm ventilation is also provided. Good ventilation is crucial for me, especially when touring. Thanks to the large ventilation slits, you can also go on tours with a hard shell jacket. I found this very practical, especially when it was quite stormy or snowing. The jacket therefore also proved its worth on days with very adverse weather conditions.

As the trousers come without a bib, they are the ideal companion on a ski tour. Personally, the bib always bothered me on ski tours, as you sweat a lot here. With their three large pockets in the leg area, the trousers offer plenty of space. As with the jacket, the sewn-in inner pocket is a very practical feature. Personally, I usually carry the avalanche transceiver in a zippered pocket instead of in the carrying strap. The avalanche transceiver fits perfectly in this sewn-in pocket. It also has a carabiner to which the avalanche transceiver can be attached. This feature is therefore one of my highlights, as it sets the pants apart from many models from other manufacturers. The ventilation on the legs is also generously dimensioned. To ensure that the trousers fit over any ski boot, they are cut wide enough at the legs and have a flexible elastic band.

FINAL

The 3L Ravine Shell combo from Ortovox is stylish and meets all the criteria of a good jacket and pants combo. The sewn-in pockets and the sewn-in merino material in particularly cold-sensitive areas are just as impressive as the membrane, which kept me dry even in wind, rain and snow. Another plus point is that the suit is PFC-free and climate-neutral in terms of sustainability. The only thing I personally missed was a detachable bib, which I would find practical for deep freeride days in the ski resort. So far there have been no major signs of wear, only a little material has rubbed off on the inside of the sleeve edge. However, this is probably due to ice climbing, as I got my sleeve caught on the ice a few times.

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

+ robust 3-layer jacket & pants
+ large ventilation openings
+ large chest pockets
+ avalanche transceiver pocket with safety carabiner
- no removable bib
- high price

INFORMATION

Jacket:

RRP: €600.00
Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
Adjustable storm hood
100 % merino insert in the chin area
2-way frontZipper
2 large front pockets
1 integrated Merino mesh phone pocket
Long underarm ventilation
Adjustable cuffs
Adjustable hem

Pants:

RRP: 500,00€
Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
Width-adjustable waistband with optimized Velcro
2 thigh pockets with extended opening, right with additional mesh pocket and lightweight carabiner for avalanche transceiver
Side ventilation zips
Merino inserts in cold-sensitive areas
Pre-shaped knee area
Integrated gaiters
Edge protection with Dyneema Cordura
Fit: Loose fit

Here is the website of Ortovox. There you will find more information about the jacket and pants.

The combination is also available as a women's model, but with a slightly different cut and different colors. You can buy the combo here at Sport Conrad.

This product was provided to PowderGuide by the manufacturer free of charge for testing. You can find out how we test it in our test statement.