La Sportiva Zeal Jacket, Phase Down Jacket and Axiom Pants

La Sportiva has taken their responsibility for both social and environmental issues very seriously for the past 80 years and always strived to use low environmental impact technologies and production methods. In January 2012, La Sportiva officially became a Bluesign member which stipulates that their textile supply chain complies with the internationally recognized environmental and social criteria set out by Bluesign. In addition to this La Sportiva has introduced a new 100% Recycled Polyester fabric and insulation system called RePET. This means that their recycled labelled products such as the Zeal and Phase Down Jacket us Polyester materials made from recycled, post-consumer PET bottles which contribute to a reduction of environmental impact and the protection of natural resources. It also means that there is a reduced CO2 emission while performance, durability and quality do not diminish.

For their down apparel, La Sportiva uses European Goose Down which follows the strict Traceability Standards to ensure that it’s ethical and sustainable. This down is guaranteed to have a 95% feather composition which provides a soft feel with a higher loft, and warmer performance. Where down is not used, La Sportiva chose to use Primaloft Silver Active ECO. This synthetic insulation uses post-consumer recycled content to create a high performing yet eco-friendly insulation which is soft, breathable and lightweight.

Price: $149CAN and US
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Colours: Kiwi/Steel, Opal, Black
Weight: 215g / 7.5oz
Fit: Regular

Over your base layer a good wind breaking layer is a must for those windy ridges and summits and the La Sportiva Zeal Jacket is one of the best we’ve reviewed. It not only packs down smaller than most traditional soft shell jackets but also has a light layer of insulation exactly where you want it and also where you don’t. Primaloft Silver Active ECO is found on the front of the jacket and around the shoulders keeping the back free of additional fabric and insulation. This is an ideal body map solution as your back is always too warm given that it’s in contact with a backpack most of the time. The lightweight Nylon/Polyester fabric blend is so sheer that you can see right through it and dissipates heat remarkably well while at the same time cutting the wind’s bite. This breathable VapoVent construction is unique to La Sportiva and highly adept for ski touring. The fact that the Zeal uses a PFC-Free DWR coating, recycled insulation and is Bluesign Approved just make a good thing even better.

Main Front: 88% Nylon, 12% Polyester 
Main Back: 100% Nylon
Lining: 100% Polyester 
Fill: Primaloft Silver Active ECO (40gr)

• Lightweight, wind resistant insulated jacket with full zip
• Fitted hood
• 2 zippered hand pockets
• Reflective details
• Flatlock seam technology and elastic edge binding
• Breathable VapoVent™ construction
• PFC-Free DWR coating
• Recycled Insulation
• Bluesign Approved

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Price: $239CAN / US
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Colours: Kiwi/Citrus, Poppy, Opal
Weight: 395g / 13.9oz
Fit: Regular

Not only is La Sportiva’s Phase Down Jacket Bluesign Approved but it also uses recycled fabrics, a PFC-Free DWR coating and strict Traceability Standards for the European goose which is also ethical and sustainable. Environmental accolades aside, the Phase Down Jacket is super warm thanks to its 700 fill power European Goose Down and Primaloft Silver Active ECO insulation. Given how warm this jacket is, it’s amazing how small it packs down. Features such as the gaiter on the sleeve cuffs and an articulated hood with neoprene visor further help to keep the warmth in and the weather out. Although my pre-production version of the Phase didn’t have the external or internal chest pockets the stow pockets found on the interior of the jacket were invaluable for storing items such as climbing skins.

Main: 100% Nylon • Insert: 100% Recycled Polyester • Lining: 94% Recycled Polyester, 6% Polyester
Fill: Body - 90/10 European Goose Down (700-fillpower-EU standard), 80gr, Insert - Primaloft Silver Active ECO, 60gr

• Lightweight Insulation with full zip
• Articulated hood w/ regulation and neoprene visor
• Sleeve cuff gaiters
• 2 zippered hand pockets & 1 chest pocket
• 1 zippered internal chest pocket
• 2 internal stow pockets
• Seamless insulated chamber construction
• Breathable VapoVent™ construction on side inserts
• Edge binding construction on all edges
• Recycled Fabrics
• PFC-Free DWR coating
• Bluesign® Approved

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Price: $179CAN / US 
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Colours: Black, Carbon/Kiwi, Opal/Neptune
Weight: 619g / 21.8oz
Fit: Regular

Softshell pants are ideally suited for backcountry skiing given their innate ability to vent excess heat and the La Sportiva Axiom Pants do just that and more. The 93% Nylon/7% Spandex blended material wicks away moisture and naturally breaths, the side ventilation zippers and two side mesh storage pockets further help dump heat when it inevitably builds up on the skin track. The 4-way stretch material provides great freedom of movement for aerobic activities such as ski touring or mountaineering and the built-in gaiters ensure that snow doesn’t infiltrate your boots.

Main: 93% Nylon, 7% Spandex
Lower Leg/Knee: 84% Nylon, 16% Spandex
Gaitor: 85% Nylon, 15% Spandex
Hem Reinforcement: 100% Nylon

• Soft-shell ski-touring/alpine pant
• 4-way stretch material
• Soft and adjustable waist construction
• Removable Sweat guard on back waistband
• 2 front zip pockets & 1 back zip pocket
• Side ventilation zipper
• 2 side mesh storage pockets
• Bottom hem zipper opening

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While I’ve always been a fan of La Sportiva’s AT boots such as the Spectre 2.0 and Synchro I’ve found that their clothing in the past was a little too Euro style for me. Our past review of the Roy and Prospector Soft-shell Pants and Adjuster Jacket was conservative in colour but a little tighter fitting than I would have liked. With La Sportiva’s new 2019 line of apparel, they now offer options in a fresh colour palette which is still conservative enough for the North American market. The three La Sportiva pieces reviewed here all compliment one another in colour and work well as a top to bottom system. While the Axiom Pants came up short without a transceiver pocket or built-in belt/suspenders, both the Zeal and Phase Down Jacket hit it out of the park.

The La Sportiva Zeal Jacket was by far my favourite piece out of the three I reviewed since it was far lighter and compact than traditional soft-shell jackets. The fabric was so sheer that it easily dissipated excess heat and yet still provided shelter from the wind. The environmentally conscious insulation was ideally located only on the front of the jacket and around the shoulders so that my back could breath more effectively given that it was always too warm due to wearing a backpack. The Zeal fabric not only outperformed on the skin track but was unique and appealing in appearance.

Not to be outdone the La Sportiva Phase Down Jacket provided a high level of warmth in a very thin and packable layer. I use this jacket exclusively for ski touring given how warm it is and how small it packs down—two very important features of an insulation layer. I also wear it around town in winter since it also looks good. Aside from the Napoleon pocket which is missing, everything else on the Phase is spot on, from the sleeve cuff gaiters all the way up to the hood’s neoprene visor.

I applaud La Sportiva’s continued innovations in recycled and environmentally conscious fabrics and feel that this is the path that every brand needs to be following. I am also a fan of their simplified design approach which is less Euro looking than in the past. Being able to mix and match layering systems and being confident that they’ll work well together and still look good is also a big plus.