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K2 Snowboarding Perimeter Jacket

K2 Perimeter Jacket
Upside: Super-stylish, soft & simple
Downside: cold hands

Rating: ^^^^ (4 out of 5 peaks)

Ideal User: Urban wanna-be's, warm-weather riders.

It's hard to know how to feel about a jacket that's targeted as much at poseurs as participants. On the one hand many riders only want authentic equipment that can pass muster on the mountain. But there are plenty of those who want as much to look the part at Starbucks, and stay dry on their way back to the SUV.

And it is for both of these groups that K2 has rolled out a stylish new jacket, dubbed the Perimeter Softshell. In case you weren't aware, softshell is the "it" fabric this season, and every company is featuring something in these latest and greatest uber-fabrics. Problem is, these jackets can demand some serious cash for their over-engineered apres-snow charm.

Enter K2's Perimeter. At only $179 (as if that's pocket change), this flat black softshell jacket offers some of the cleanest lines we've seen from a very capable piece of outerwear. While the coat is aimed at the rider who, according to K2 "Likes the mountain vibe but mostly hangs in the valleys and plains," it still hangs in there on the chairlift. So long as the temperature doesn't drop too low.

The jacket, offered in one Ford-esque color (black) and in sizes from XS to XL, isn't exactly feature-laden yet provides your basic pit zips, chest pocket and comfy hood. There are elastic drawstrings at the waist and hood, and hook-and-loop adjustable cuffs. As a bonus, the right pocket features a key tether.

The jacket's only drawback are the "hand warmer" pockets, which are drafty at best and didn't keep out hands very warm. And, with no added insulation inside, it's up to you to provide the warmth layer, making this jacket best suited for above-freezing temps.

The beauty of this piece is in the fabric itself, which is impossibly soft and comfortable, yet tough and waterproof. According to K2, the jacket is comprised of "A weft stretch woven face laminated to a water- and snow-resistant, windproof highly breathable membrane. This is then laminated to a warp stretch brushed interior." Water beaded up and rolled right off the fabric, which has a nice wicking layer inside. The jacket fits well, and looks great both on and off the mountain.

The Perimeter is great for those who spend as much time thinking about the snow as falling into it, and will satisfy all but the most demanding riders. It may not be the most technical piece in your quiver of jackets, but we can promise it will at least be one of the most stylish.

Msrp: $179
www.k2snowboarding.com // 800-972-4038

Reviewed & Written by Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Gear Editor