Mountain Hardwear聮s Descent DT Trifecta ($325; www.mountainhardwear.com) is really quite a nice piece. As you know, it聮s a three-in-one jacket, meaning it consists of a waterproof-breathable shell (using Mountain Hardware聮s proprietary Conduit material) and an insulated nylon-shelled lining that can be zipped out. You can wear both jacket and lining on cold days, or the jacket alone on warmer, wet days, or the lining alone. You also can zip several other Mountain Hardwear insulating pieces into the outer jacket.
Mountain Hardwear Descent DT Trifecta
Descent DT TrifectaSo it would work just fine. But there聮s no evidence that buying a 聯mated” outfit like the Descent offers any more warmth and performance than anything else. Myself, I prefer a stand-alone shell over a ski-bag full of clothing options, so I can really tailor what I聮m wearing to conditions. You could, for instance, purchase a Patagonia Jetstream Jacket ($199; www.patagonia.com), a waterproof-breathable piece that聮s designed for all sorts of uses, from skiing to hiking to around town. Then, wear whatever you want under it, such as a Mountain Hardwear Monkey Pro Pullover ($135), or a Marmot Women聮s Cima Sweater ($60; www.marmot.com), or a The North Face Redpoint Jacket ($149; www.thenorthface.com), which uses PrimaLoft insulation and is an extremely good layering piece for skiing.
But as I said, you won聮t go wrong with the Descent.
Get more advice from the Gear Guy as he picks this season聮s top gifts in You聮ll probably find a few things to put on your own wish list, too.