Firstgear TPG Teton Jacket $469.95
When I threw on Firstgear's Teton jacket for a ride down to California a few months back I wasn't expecting frigid winter temps, but chilly is what I got-in spades. With snow in the passes and days of rain forecast for the coast, I was concerned I might have chosen inappropriate gear.
The short of it is, my 1000-mile trip ended happily, with the Teton pulling through like a champ. Seems Firstgear had substantially upgraded this jacket for 2010, throwing in top-shelf features like d3o shock absorbers in the shoulders and elbows, for less bulk-a plus when you're piling on big miles and practically living in your gear. The new armor is flexy, yet is supposed to absorb shocks better than the old stuff. I can't speak to its impact effectiveness, but it did feel comfortably unobtrusive throughout my ride.
The outer shell is primarily 600 denier nylon-not the stiff, tough-to-break-in ballistic stuff -hence my concern about lightweight protection. I needn't have worried, as the flexible material is reinforced with a Kevlar blend at crucial impact points on the shoulders and elbows, and packs a waterproof, windproof and breathable membrane. Sure enough, the endless rain on my trip was kept at bay, while my internal humidity was allowed to filter outside where it belonged.
I've been wearing the Teton for months, and am still discovering features I didn't know existed. For instance, the zip-in liner (which can be worn solo) has two chest vents that line up with the vents on the outer jacket-a pretty thoughtful detail. The liner added a layer of warmth, but in the dead of winter, I'd highly recommend a heated liner as well.
The Teton offers pockets galore-chest pockets, a phone pocket, key pocket, map pocket, side pockets-in the liner as well as the jacket. Exterior waterproof zippers are a nice touch, too, with the 2-way front closure covered by a storm flap and snaps. A security pocket inside the flap let me access valuables without having to unzip, while pull cords in the bottom sealed off the jacket hem from the wind.
Other thoughtful features abound: a D-ring below the chest pocket held my gloves when I had them off; a rain hood in the collar kept water off my neck; and carefully placed reflective panels let me breathe easier at night.
The Teton's fit is on the snug side (you can adjust it with waist and sleeve straps), and it's a little more than waist-length-not big and square-cut-so check the size chart before ordering. With a 2 year warranty and 2 year crash protection policy, you could even argue this garment qualifies as 'overengineered' , but for a long trip, that's OK by me. -AC