Over the years, I’ve found a few brands that produce products that can stand the test of time, and I was thinking about this the other day as I tromped through the snow to town and realizing that my Outdoor Research women’s snow pants and jacket have been my go-to winter gear for the last seven years. I remember when I first got them: my initial excitement at finally having a pair of snow pants that looked snowboarder chic (where were these when I was 15 and trying SO hard to look cool?) and the plain black jacket (insert prayer hands emoji), one of the first all-black jackets I’d seen made for women. Both fit perfectly, but they were basic black and nothing super exciting.
AND YET. I can’t actually point to any other gear that I’ve had for over 7 years, and I definitely don’t have any gear that’s 7 years old that still looks almost new. So may reviews — including most of the ones that I do — are looking at gear that’s almost brand new, just worn a couple of times. But what about the gear that’s been serving us for so much longer?
So I wanted to give this gear some props: I often talk about what I’ve been trying out lately, what I’m loving right now. But I think it’s just as important—if not more so—to talk about the gear that’s lasted a long time, that’s still going strong and showing no signs of wear.
When I first got the pants and jacket from Outdoor Research, I had no idea I’d be living in Ontario, dealing with sub-zero temps on the regular. Now, I’m putting on the Outdoor Research Women’s Offchute Pants and Floodlight Jacket almost every day, just to walk to the grocery store or the gym. I sit in bars rocking a cute sweater and my snowpants, I’ve adapted a snowboarder style in the winter despite not being on a board in over a decade.
No, there’s nothing earth-shattering about them, or about the plain black Floodlight Jacket: but their neutral no-nonsense style and longevity (every zipper is still working!) is way more important to note.
If you’re looking for really good, simple, neutral (though they do have a lot of fun colors if you’re into that!) gear that is pretty freaking reasonably priced compared to some other winter brands, I have to give a nod to Outdoor Research. If you haven’t checked out their stuff, do it now — and consider it as a Christmas gift to yourself!
Outdoor Research Women’s Offchute Pants
- $170
- Get it here
Outdoor Research Floodlight Jacket
- $300
- Get it here
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