Stellar Equipment Pro Shell Jacket and Pants

Other apparel that I’ve reviewed from Stellar Equipment are the Ultralight Down Hood 2.0, which is a lightweight down jacket, the Guide Aerogel Hybrid Hood 2.0 midlayer and the hiking-focused Softshell Pants 2.0. These items are all part of the Stellar System, a modular, layer-based system that cleanly connects pieces and ensures that ventilation is intuitive, allowing each layer to perform as one. Be sure to read our previous reviews before this review to get a better idea of the breadth and quality of Stellar Equipment’s product line.

Stellar Equipment is a Swedish brand founded in 2015 with a mission to create premium, sustainable technical outerwear. By selling directly to consumers, they cut out retail intermediaries and keep prices competitive while maintaining exceptional build quality. They also avoid the industry’s “fast fashion” approach, instead developing timeless, durable, high-performance apparel that only gets updated when genuinely required due to innovations. There is no seasonal release of new products each year since Stellar Equipment apparel is made to last.

The Pro Shell is Stellar Equipment’s most advanced 3-layer waterproof/breathable freeride Jacket and Pants. They’re made from a Japanese-manufactured, three-layer, 100% recycled nylon fabric featuring a Dermizax™ NX membrane. With 20,000 mm waterproofing and 25,000 g/m²/24h breathability, performance is on par with Gore-Tex, but in a quieter, more supple fabric. A PFAS-free DWR coating prevents wet-out and adds durability without sacrificing sustainability.

Articulated patterning and a roomy freeride fit ensure unrestricted movement and optimal protection.

An adjustable hem on the pants’ waist and the jacket’s cuffs ensures a customizable fit.

A built in Powder Skirt protects snow migrating under the jacket on big powder days.

Large pit zips and leg vents allow you to regulate heat efficiently. The leg vents can be snapped together so that snow does not get inside.

The helmet-compatible hood has three adjustment points for a custom fit when the weather turns.

There is a fleece lined/perforated chin guard for comfort and maximum protection from the elements.

There are so many pockets on the Pro Shell Jacket and Pants. A few come with a built-in clip, which provides several alternative ways to carry your transceiver.

A ski pass pocket can be found on the lower left arm.

The upper pockets on the jacket are placed to ensure that they work with a pack, but there are also lower hand warm pockets for added storage.

The soft-shell bib top provides added protection and storage options.

Adjustable reinforced cuffs provide durability against ski edges and rocks.

Both the jacket and pants use stitched waterproof zippers on all openings to ensure warmth stays in and water stays out.

Stellar Equipment Pro Shell Jacket
Main fabric: 3-layer 100% pre-consumer recycled Nylon with Dermizax membrane. 154g/m2. 
Main fabric denier: 70 D x 140 D (Woven fabric in which the warp and the weft have different deniers)

Stellar Equipment Pro Shell Pants
Main fabric: 3-layer 100% pre-consumer recycled Nylon with Dermizax™ NX membrane. 154g/m2. 
Main fabric denier: 70 D x 140 D (Woven fabric in which the warp and the weft have different deniers)

• 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.

• 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.

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.