Michael Cranmer our resident skier, reviews the Salomon Icestar 3L Ski Jacket.
Using the same exacting testing and the latest technical developments that characterise all their products, Salomon has produced the 2020 Icestar 3L Jacket, which comes in a range of three colours: Night Sky, Green Gables (What!), and Citronelle. So blue, green, or yellow to the less imaginative amongst you.
I chose the nifty Night Sky (darkish blue to the less colour-savvy) and it felt like a second skin from the first try-on. Salomon calls it MotionFit™360° patterning. Now, I set great store by style (even though some say I may be lacking it) and wearing the Icestar made me feel as though I had some. With a lightweight puffer and the usual layers underneath I was never cold even when the wind, channelled by the high the gullies of the Dolomites, my testing ground, did its best to re-enact the legend of the Brass Monkeys.
The label told me it features AdvancedSkin Dry fabric premium 20k/20K with 20,000 mm waterproofness (is there such a word?) and breathability of 20,000 g/m²/24h. Whatever. I do know I was toasty, dry, and felt cool (aesthetically) following a rigorous few days in all weathers.
It also came with more fixtures and fittings than a Masterchef, The Professionals, kitchen: hood with 3D adjustment, helmet-compatible hood, goggle wipe, harness and backpack compatible, powder skirt, soft chin guard, air vent system, bottom hem fastening, dropped back hem, water repellent zipper, 2 hand-zipped pockets, 2 zipped chest pockets, goggle mesh pocket, inner media pocket, articulated sleeves, cuff adjustment, left arm lift pass pocket, and Lycra® cuffs with thumb loop. You get the picture.
The bottom line is, the Salomon Icestar 3L ski jacket looks good, feels good, and performs in all weathers. You can’t ask for more than that.
Salomon Icestar 3L jacket £252
Best value, considering top shelf design, performance. Got the Night Sky top/bottom 1/22/21. $423 with tax. It was essential to try this on, but now that you know the thighs are tight… I am 6′, 185# and went with Medium jacket/Large pant for my muscular thighs and sturdy build (used to bench 270#, and then raced bicycles for 10 years and got the legs thickened up). My chest is about 41″, arms are normal, maybe 33″ sleeve. The Medium jacket could have 3% longer sleeves but is ok if layer high dollar thin base layers and not overly bulky stuff, large was ok but would feel a bit oversized/swimming, but still ok functionally and good up to maybe 6’2″tops?? , …I went with large pants as the mediums were almost snug on my thighs (just standing there) (turns out they are 24″).