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Stellar Equipment Pro Shell Jacket Review
The Stellar Equipment Pro Shell Jacket and Pants offer top-tier freeride storm protection using a rugged, 100% recycled nylon shell paired with a Dermizax™ NX membrane. Designed for maximum durability and harsh alpine conditions, this feature-loaded combo delivers outstanding weatherproofing without sacrificing technical functionality.
“The Scandinavian mountains teach you to think long-term. We design for years, not seasons. The Pro Shell is meant to stay in service for years to come — repairable, timeless in cut and colour, and fully compatible with our existing midlayers, insulation, and bibs, both technically and visually.”
John Crawford-Currie, Founder of Stellar Equipment
Main fabric denier: 70 D x 140 D (Woven fabric in which the warp and the weft have different deniers)
Main fabric denier: 70 D x 140 D (Woven fabric in which the warp and the weft have different deniers)
Pro Shell Jacket
- Nylon/Dermizax fabric is incredibly waterproof and durable.
- Every feature you need is in this jacket.
- Design and attention to detail is first rate.
- Recycled fabrics and PFAS-free DWR.
- Powder skirt is not removable
- Dual internal stuff pockets would be more useful than a single zippered pocket
Pro Shell Pants
- Incredibly waterproof and durable nylon/Dermizax fabric.
- Fully featured with everything you could want.
- Design and details are top notch.
- Several pocket options for your transceiver.
- Recycled fabrics and PFAS-free DWR.
- Softshell bib is not removable.
- Kick patches on legs are not that tough.
- Fairly baggy fit.
Unlike lighter, touring-focused offerings, the Pro Shell Jacket and Pants are designed specifically as a freeride-oriented, bombproof outerwear system. Built to take on heavy coastal storms, harsh alpine winds, and rough backcountry terrain, this combination delivers heavy-duty weather protection along with a thoughtful feature set for riders demanding maximum durability.
Pro Shell Jacket
Pro Shell Pants
Features
Pro Shell Jacket
- Waterproofness: + 20 000mm. PFAS-free DWR-treated shell fabric.
- Breathability: +20 000 g/m2/24h.
- Helmet compatible hood with 2-way adjustability with elastic cord and cord locks.
- High collar with laser cut ventilation and snap button at fleece lined chin guard.
- Pockets: 2 zipped chest pockets, 2 zipped hand pockets. Skipass pocket on the lower left sleeve. One inner zipped chest pocket.
- Ykk Aquaguard™ technology is used on all exposed zippers.
- Two-way zipper at centre front.
- Ventilation:
- Zipped ventilation under arms.
- Pre-bent sleeve articulation.
- Velcro adjustable sleeve cuffs for enhanced protection.
- Cord adjustable hem with internal elastic drawstring and cord locks at sides.
- Internal snow-gaiter with Stellar Closure System that connects to all Stellar shell pants
- Jacket equipped with RECCO reflector at back of hood.
Pro Shell Pants
- Waterproofness: + 20 000mm. PFAS-free DWR-treated shell fabric.
- Breathability: +20 000 g/m2/24h.
- Stretchy bib with adjustable suspenders and a zipped pocket with an internal transceiver loop.
- Velcro adjustable waist for a perfect fit.
- Two roomy, zipped thigh pockets.
- Internal mesh pocket with internal transceiver loop, in the right side pocket.
- Zippers: YKK zippers. Ykk Aquaguard™ technology is used on all exposed zippers.
- Two-way zipper at centre front (MEN only)
- Long zipped ventilation along the outside of the legs.
- Pre-bent knee articulation.
- Reinforced bottom legs.
- Zippered gusset allows for extra space around boots.
- Internal snow gaiter in lightweight stretch fabric at leg opening.
- Equipped with a RECCO reflector at lower right leg.
Final Field Verdict
Stellar Equipment has created a very burly waterproof, and windproof freeride jacket and pant combo that will take on anything you can throw at it. Its thick fabric feels like a suit of armour and makes you feel somewhat invincible riding the resort. This weight and thickness make the fabric incredibly durable, and it will not show much wear and tear from scuffing trees or daily abuse. However, it also makes the jacket a little more difficult to pack efficiently in your bag if you are using it for ski touring. The one area where the fabric feels a little more susceptible to cuts and scuffs is on the kick patches at the bottom of each leg—which is exactly where you want more protection, not less.
The nylon fabric used in both the jacket and pants is 100% recycled and made from pre-consumer scraps, which eliminates waste from the production cycle but does not address post-consumer waste. Either way, it is a win for the environment. There is also a PFAS-free DWR (now the industry standard) to ensure waterproofness and prevent the nylon face fabric from wetting out, allowing the Dermizax membrane to do its job of keeping you dry.
On the feature side of things, both the jacket and pants have a long list of details that make them easy to wear and efficient to ski or ride in. Pockets abound, the zippers are waterproof throughout, and there is plenty of adjustability at the cuffs, hem, and waist to ensure a good overall fit. The jacket felt spot on for a 170 lb, 6 ft frame, but the pants were a little looser than preferred, which is a nod to their freeride design.
It would be nice to see some options incorporated to make the jacket and pants more versatile. Namely, the ability to remove the powder skirt from the jacket so that it could be a little more packable for backcountry ski days. The same goes for the pants: for those who are not fans of high-cut bibs, it would be great to have the option to remove the softshell bib. After testing the pants, there is definitely some conversion for resort riding, but they still feel like too much for backcountry adventures.
The Stellar Equipment Pro Shell Jacket and Pants are a dedicated resort freeride duo, given their cut, features, and fabric weight. If you are looking to do a quick sidecountry lap out of bounds, then you will be fine, but for longer all-day ski tours, you may find that this Pro Shell combo is a bit of overkill,l and you might want to check out Stellar Equipment’s Hybrid Jacket and Pants.
https://www.backcountryskiingcanada.com/Stellar
Overall, Stellar Equipment has created a thing of beauty with the new Pro Shell Jacket and Pants. Wearing them makes you feel almost invincible, and everything you could want has been incorporated into this kit—and more. The few minor gripes are just that, and this is otherwise a bomber combo if you are looking for a high-performing, beautifully made resort jacket and pants.
