gear reviews

Gear Review | Stranda Insulated Hybrid Jacket & 2L Pants

The sustainably produced ski/freeride combo in a practical test

by Lukas Zögernitz • 01/02/2020

Stranda Hybrid Jacket — Stranda hybrid jacket

Bergans

Founded in 1908, the traditional Norwegian company Bergans offers a sustainable ski collection with its Stranda products. We have combined the insulated Stranda Hybrid jacket with the two-layer Stranda trousers. In our test report, you can find out whether the combination is not only sustainable but also practical on the piste, off-piste skiing and touring.

The Stranda collection is sustainable because it uses recycled materials and a resource-saving dyeing technique. The fabric is made from 100% recycled polyester from Re: Down waste. According to Bergans, the SpinDye® dyeing technique uses 75% less water, 90% fewer chemicals and less energy during production, and therefore also has a comparatively low CO2 footprint. At the same time, the process is said to make the material more resistant to wear, washing and UV radiation.

First impression and features

The trousers and jacket make a good first impression. The jacket looks fluffy thanks to the bluesign® certified Primaloft lining, but is neither heavy (measured, size L: 910 g) nor too bulky for a lined jacket. The outer material is pleasant to the touch and is more reminiscent of a woven fabric than a technical material with a 10,000 mm water column. The zips are equipped with straps so that they are easy to grip even when wearing gloves. In addition to two pockets on the side, there is a chest pocket on the outside, a small pocket on the inside of the chest and a pocket for a ski pass on the arm.

The helmet-compatible hood with a high collar and integrated Recco chip can be adjusted using two elasticated straps and is also lined. The snow skirt is detachable and has elasticated panels to prevent it from riding up. Unfortunately, it cannot be attached to the trousers. The lining has been omitted in the upper back area and a mesh insert has been used instead for more ventilation. The cut with pre-shaped elbow section and extended back section appealed to me when I first tried it on. The test model of the jacket was provided to me in the colour Seaweed / Khaki Green. The green colour is slightly lighter than it appears in the manufacturer's photos. The colour may be reminiscent of hunting or military outfits, but it is very pretty and is currently on trend. Perhaps the choice of colour will even score a few sympathy points the next time you're discussing off-piste trips with a huntsman. The Insulated Hybrid Jacket is also available in 4 other colours (2x blue, red, black - see photo gallery), whereby I personally find the two blue versions very appealing.

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The Stranda combo for freeriding

Sebastian Stemmer

Kühtai

The trousers have a good, loose (baggy) cut and offer sufficient freedom of movement without appearing oversized. The 2-layer material (water column: min. 10,000 mm) with 4-way stretch further supports freedom of movement. There are two elasticated straps with Velcro fasteners to adjust the waist size. The ventilation zips, which I find important for touring, are located on the sides of the thighs. As in the jacket, a Recco chip is also built into the trousers. The leg cuffs are reinforced on the inside to provide resistance against sharp edges and crampons. The trousers are completed with gaiters with an adhesive rubber edge. In addition to the test trousers in black, a red version is also available.

Test report

I tested the jacket on the piste, on variants and on tours. I was a little sceptical at first, as I haven't worn a lined jacket on the mountain for a long time. I usually rely on the onion principle and always wear a pure hard shell as a jacket. But I was pleasantly surprised on the first few descents. I was pleasantly warm in the jacket and, as I had feared beforehand, I didn't overheat. If you adapt your layering concept a little (I usually only wear a GoDry layer and protector under the jacket), you quickly get used to the lined jacket. The jacket and trousers have proved to be practical and have proven themselves in various situations. Both don't have any fancy and fancy-sounding features, but are reduced to the essentials and I like that.

In terms of wearing comfort, the first impression was confirmed in the test. The jacket fits me (182 cm tall and 83 kg) well with and without the protector. Adjusting the waist size of the trousers using the Velcro fasteners works well, even if the waist seems quite generous for a size L (I sometimes wear XL trousers). That's why I used a belt when touring (without protector). The gaiters are rather tight and getting them over the ski boot sometimes takes a bit of effort, especially when the buckles are open when touring;

I find the small chest pocket on the outside very practical, as I like to store my mobile phone in it so that I have it to hand even when the jacket is closed. Unfortunately, the pockets on the sides of the jacket are covered when using a backpack with a waist belt and are not too big (see photo below). I like to simply stow my skins in the jacket pockets (e.g. on short intermediate descents), which was unfortunately not possible with this jacket.

Even though the lined jacket has proven its worth on piste days and variants, I was still very sceptical when it came to touring. But here, too, I found the Stranda Hybrid jacket to be a favourite for a specific purpose. On stormy days, the jacket is not suitable for touring, as it would offer weather protection on the ascent, but then I would overheat far too quickly. I still rely on a classic hardshell. However, I liked using the Stranda jacket on tours where I could only climb in a base/mid-layer in good weather and then put the jacket on for the summit snack and descent. When you slip into the jacket after the ascent, you are immediately warm. And as an extra bonus, there's also the lined hood. The Stranda 2L trousers have also proved their worth on all tours and have become my "one pair of trousers for everything".

The Stranda combo in action

Sebastian Stemmer

Kühtai

Conclusion + advantages & disadvantages

The Stranda combo has proven itself particularly well for freeriding in off-piste and on-piste terrain. Good quality and functionality go hand in hand with sustainable production. The lined jacket regulates the temperature well and is only not universally applicable when touring. The Stranda 2L trousers are high-quality, timeless and universally applicable freeride and touring trousers with all the necessary features but without a lot of frills.

Advantages:
+ Sustainable production from recycled material
+ Good cut and quality
+ Wide range of applications

Drawbacks:
- Jacket too warm on many tours due to the lining
- Pockets sometimes difficult to access with a backpack

Details

Jacket:

Material: 2-layer Bergans Element Active®: 100 % recycled polyester
Insulation: PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation Active+: 100 % polyester (55 % recycled)
Filling weight: 60 g/m²
Sizes: S-XXL
Weight: 930 g (sizes L, measured 910 g)
RP: € 400

Pants:

Material: 2-layer Bergans Element Active®: 100% polyester (recycled)
Sizes: S-XXL
Weight: 520 g (sizes L)
RP: €260

Click here to go to the Bergans website for more information on the jacket and thetrousers.

The products were provided to PowderGuide free of charge by the manufacturer for testing. You can find out how we test them in our test statement.

The backpack's chest strap makes the pockets difficult to access

Sebastian Stemmer

Photo gallery

This article has been automatically translated by DeepL with subsequent editing. If you notice any spelling or grammatical errors or if the translation has lost its meaning, please write an e-mail to the editors.

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