Norrona Quality and Good Looks!

By Merebea Danforth x4236 January 30, 2010

Norrona makes some of the highest quality gear and I love their bright colors and contrasting zippers. I think Norrona and Arc'teryx are some of the only companies still making ski pants with GoreTex, and I really wish more companies would do so. While the other brands' proprietary waterproof and breathable membranes seem to do the job when new, they just don't seem to have the durability of GoreTex season after season in my opinion. For those of us who get to ski over a hundred days a season, GoreTex is worth the money. With the GoreTex and solid Norrona construction, I'm confident these pants will last me three or more seasons.

On to fit. I debated a lot on the sizing. I'm 5'5", 130lbs. with a 29" waist about 39"-40" hips. Normally I wear medium jackets and pants in outdoor brands (such as Patagonia, Cloudveil, Marmot..) and occasionally I am a small. I went with the Small for the Narvik. The Small fits me, and I have room for my long underwear underneath. That said, I think I personally would have preferred Medium as I prefer a looser (though not baggy) cut. I would not call these pants tight on me, but they are just more fitted than I am used to. I consider myself to have somewhat of a ski butt and bigger thighs. Someone with my waist but slimmer legs and a small butt would probably find the small perfect.

In regards to the venting, the pants I bought have the vent on the outside top of the leg, and along the outside bottom. I will note that the internal gaiter goes up quite high. I have them in Caviar/Blue, and the bright zippers in the photo make it quite clear where the venting zippers are. I'll also say that the "powder skirt" is a bit odd. I imagine it works well when zipped to a Norrona ski jacket, but not so much on it's own. It's quite baggy and there is no drawcord. If there was a drawcord I think I would use it, especially on deeper days, but without a drawcord it's floppy and useless.

View Details: Norrøna Narvik Gore-Tex Performance Shell Pant - Women's

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