Logo
    Show
    Hide
    Login
    Close

    SITE LOGIN

    • Forgot your password?

    Register

    New Ski Touring Maps and Guides
    • REVIEWS
      • Ski Gear
        • Skis
        • Boots
        • Bindings
        • Climbing Skins
        • Poles
        • Snowboards
      • Clothing
        • Hard Shells
        • Soft Shells
        • Insulation
        • Mid Layers
        • Base Layers
        • Gloves
        • Socks
      • Accessories
        • Safety Gear
        • Goggles and Helmets
        • Ski Touring Packs
        • Ski Boxes and Bags
        • Sleeping Bags - 4 Season
        • Technology
        • Sunglasses
        • Insoles & Braces
        • Books
      • Off-Season Gear
        • Hiking
          • Rain Shells
          • Day Packs
          • Apparel
          • Footwear
          • Safety
        • Camping
          • Backpacks
          • Sleeping Bags
          • Sleeping Pads
          • Tents
          • Coolers / Cooking
          • Furniture / Storage
          • Lighting / Power
        • Biking
        • Paddling
        • Climbing
        • Mountaineering
        • Running
      • Lifestyle
      • Lodges and Accommodation
      • Nutrition
      • Manufacturers
      • Destinations
      • Training
      • Gear of the Year
      • Best New Summer Gear
        • Best New Summer Gear 2023
        • Best New Summer Gear 2022
        • Best New Summer Gear 2021
        • Best New Summer Gear 2020
      • Holiday Gift Guide
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2022
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2021
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2019
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2018
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2017
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2016
      • Pro Skier Interviews
    • FORUMS
    • STORE
      • Guides & Maps
      • Gear Deals
        • Alpine Touring Boots
        • Backcountry Skis
        • Alpine Touring Bindings
        • Backcountry Accessories
        • Off-Season Gear
        • Climbing Skins
    • ROUTES
    • LODGING
      • Coast Mountains
      • Interior Mountains
      • Rocky Mountains
    • VIDEOS
      • 2022/23 Gear Reviews
      • 2021/22 Gear Reviews
      • 2020/21 Gear Reviews
      • 2019/20 Gear Reviews
      • 2018/19 Gear Reviews
      • 2017/18 Gear Reviews
      • 2016/17 Gear Reviews
      • 2015/16 Gear Reviews
      • 2014/15 Gear Reviews
      • 2013/14 Gear Reviews
      • 2012/13 Gear Reviews
      • 2011/12 Gear Reviews
      • 2020 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2019 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2018 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2017 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2017 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2016 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2016 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2015 SIA Show
      • 2014 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2013 SIA Show
      • 2012 Outdoor Retailer
      • Tips and Tricks
      • Backcountry Skiing
    • SAFETY
      • Plan Ahead
      • Equipment
      • Resources
      • Avalanche Skills Training
      • Managing warmth & heat loss
    • ABOUT
      • Advertise
      • Glossary
      • Contact Us
    • REVIEWS
      • Ski Gear
      • Clothing
      • Accessories
      • Off-Season Gear
      • Lifestyle
      • Lodges and Accommodation
      • Nutrition
      • Manufacturers
      • Destinations
      • Training
      • Gear of the Year
      • Best New Summer Gear
      • Holiday Gift Guide
      • Pro Skier Interviews
    • FORUMS
    • STORE
      • Guides & Maps
      • Gear Deals
    • ROUTES
    • LODGING
      • Coast Mountains
      • Interior Mountains
      • Rocky Mountains
    • VIDEOS
      • 2022/23 Gear Reviews
      • 2021/22 Gear Reviews
      • 2020/21 Gear Reviews
      • 2019/20 Gear Reviews
      • 2018/19 Gear Reviews
      • 2017/18 Gear Reviews
      • 2016/17 Gear Reviews
      • 2015/16 Gear Reviews
      • 2014/15 Gear Reviews
      • 2013/14 Gear Reviews
      • 2012/13 Gear Reviews
      • 2011/12 Gear Reviews
      • 2020 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2019 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2018 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2017 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2017 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2016 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2016 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2015 SIA Show
      • 2014 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2013 SIA Show
      • 2012 Outdoor Retailer
      • Tips and Tricks
      • Backcountry Skiing
    • SAFETY
      • Plan Ahead
      • Equipment
      • Resources
      • Avalanche Skills Training
      • Managing warmth & heat loss
    • ABOUT
      • Advertise
      • Glossary
      • Contact Us

    HOTTEST REVIEWS


    RMU North Shore 114 Skis MADE Custom Apparel G3 R3 Recyclable Skis Garmin inReach Messenger Peak 104SC Skis Burton Hometown Hero Splitboard MEC Couloir Jacket/Pants

    VIDEOS YOU'LL LIKE


    Helly Hansen Lifa Infinity Dalbello Quantum Boots Line Vision 118 Skis The North Face Futurelight Black Crows Corvus Skis Plum OAZO Bindings Tecnica Zero G Tour Boots

    NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

    Unsubscribe
    Ortovox
    Zoleo
    • Home
    • »
    • First Ascent Neoteric Jacket

    First Ascent Neoteric Jacket

    First Ascent Neoteric JacketThe Neoteric Shell is First Ascent’s top of the line ski shell. Constructed with Polartec® NeoShell®, the jacket is designed for everything from lift-accessed powder to backcountry heli runs. In September 2013 the jacket won Outside Magazine’s coveted “Gear of the Year” award.

    The jacket is built around Polartec’s Neoshell membrane. NeoShell is a unique fabric that offers the stretch of a soft shell with the waterproof and breathable performance of a hardshell. Its unique construction allows moisture to easily escape, while remaining waterproof. This makes it ideal for highly aerobic activities such as mountaineering, ski mountaineering and backcountry skiing.

    The First Ascent shell utilizes a relaxed fit with a longer cut in the torso. The powder-skirt zips out and the jacket features two sets of pockets on the front, one pack friendly pair and a pair lower down that are more ergonomical to stuff your hands into when riding the lifts or walking to the corner store.

    First Ascent Neoteric Jacket

    Of note, the jacket is prominently branded with the Eddie Bauer logo on the left breast. The First Ascent logo is featured on the left arm, but is much less noticeable. This is a departure from the branding scheme Eddie Bauer/First Ascent has been using. Their products, such as the First Ascent Haines Ski Touring Pack have always had the First Ascent logo as the primary logo, with the Eddie Bauer logo present but less prominent.

    Clearly this has no bearing on performance, but for the image conscious skier it could be of some concern. It would be ignorant to think that many skiers are not image conscious, and while the Eddie Bauer brand certainly communicates quality and tradition, it does so in a tweed jackets and cashmere sweaters way, not a high-end technical outwear sense.

    Features:

    - Easy access bicep pocket.
    - Recco® Reflector.
    - Fully seam sealed.
    - Stormrepel® DWR finish.
    - Helmet-compatible hood.
    First Ascent Neoteric Jacket Review

    First Ascent Neoteric Jacket Review

    - Hidden hood adjustments, nice touch!
    First Ascent Neoteric Jacket Review

    - Two harness and pack compatible pockets up high with two hand warmer pockets down below.
    First Ascent Neoteric Jacket Review

    - Extended pit-zips.
    First Ascent Neoteric Jacket Review

    - Removable powder skirt for those who like them and also for those who don't.
    First Ascent Neoteric Jacket

    - Interior chest pocket with media port on the right side and an interior mesh goggle pocket with wipe on the left.
    First Ascent Neoteric Jacket ReviewFirst Ascent Neoteric Jacket

    Verdict:

    The Neoteric Shell is a great jacket. The Neoshell membrane is, as always, fantastic. A slight bit of stretch, a very comfortable, supple feel combined with outstanding waterproof-breathability make for a bomb-proof touring piece.

    The jacket really has only two drawbacks. First, for a dedicated ski-touring jacket, the fit of the jacket is excessively large. Not only does it hang too far below the waist, the extra fabric in the torso (presumably intended for additional layering) billows out. This fit would be ok for purely skiing in the resort, but when the jacket has to be squished down into as small a space as possible in your pack it makes it a bit tough to manage.

    Secondly, and also an issue of space and weight, is the heavy, high durometer face fabric the jacket uses. The heavy 80D face fabric (similar to the North Face Free-Thinker jacket we reviewed earlier in the year) is simply too much. While the extra strength and durability is nice (especially when skiing the trees), it is very unnecessary for a backcountry jacket. Its great for smashing through branches in the resort all day, but just too much in the backcountry.

    We were big fans of the dual pockets on the front, as the lower, non-pack friendly ones were great for keeping hands warm in the parking lot or when walking around town. The interior media-pocket functioned well, as did the zip out powder skirt.

    Overall, the Neoteric shell is a fantastic jacket with a few heavy design choices that make it less than ideal for backcountry skiing but thats probably the way First Ascent (or is that Eddie Bauer?) meant it to be.

    For other First Ascent reviews give a click on over here for a review of the First Ascent Seaba Heli Guide Jakcet , the First Ascent Frontpoint Jacket Review here , the First Ascent Hyalite Jacket review here  and the First Ascent High Season Wind Shell Jacket review here. And for her, the review of the First Ascent BC-200 Harshell Jacket is here and the First Ascent Downlight Hooded Jacket review is over here.

    First Ascent Neoteric Jacket Review

    SPECS:

    Price: $449
    Sizes: S-XXL
    Weight: Reg 1.6 lb
    Fabric: Polartec Neoshell 3-layer, 5 oz, 80D nylon

    PROS:

    The jacket’s colours are both fashionable and resistant to dirt and wear. Construction feels sturdy and secure. The two sets of front pockets are great, one pack-friendly pair and one more comfortable pair is a great addition. The only downside to this is that it does make the jacket heavier. The Neoshell fabric is much quieter and less crinkly then many Gore-tex jackets, and the slight bit of stretch is a great bonus. The removable powder skirt adds functionality for those who will not solely be wearing the jacket skiing.

    CONS:

    The longer and more relaxed fit not ideal for ski touring. It fits very large.
    The 80D fabric is unnecessarily heavy for ski touring in our opinion. The hood could be slightly more fitted and trim. The image conscious skiers may not like the prominence and primary branding from Eddie Bauer.

    Rating: 8/10

    Fit / Mobility                  1/2
    Packability                      1/2
    Waterproof / Breathable  2/2
    Features                          2/2
    Quality / Price                 2/2

    buy backcountry skiing gear

    This is only our opinion. Do you disagree? Did we miss something? Are we totally out to lunch? Join the discussion in the forums here, and let us know what you think. People like/dislike gear for different reasons so chime in and we'll get a well-rounded evaluation.

    Back to the rest of the reviews.


    We built this backcountry skiing community for you, the passionate skier, and hope you enjoy the hard work we put into all the reviews, routes, videos, and posts we create. It’s been free from day one but that doesn’t mean it’s not a valuable resource. If you enjoy this website and value the content we create for you, then please support Backcountry Skiing Canada by donating today or by clicking on those sponsor ads and 'Buy Now' links at the bottom of the reviews. Thank you!

    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2022-23 Backcountry Skiing Canada. All Rights Reserved.