Trew Wander Review

January 25, 2017
Trew Wander
M_Wander_Jacket_Moss_Green_480-0.png
Trew Wander M_Wander_Jacket_Moss_Green_480-0.png
GEAR INSTITUTE RATINGS
90
Durability
6
Weatherproofness
9
Bells & Whistles
7
Function
10
Breathability
8

The Good

  • Lightweight
  • Stretchy
  • Big Pockets

The Bad

  • No powder skirt
  • Delicate zippers
THE VERDICT

The Trew Wander checks all the boxes for a ski shell—superlight for backcountry use, but right at home on the resort, too. It sacrifices a few bells and whistles, and a little durability, for weight savings.

FULL REVIEW

Durability
The Wander is cut from a stretchy, waterproof breathable Derzimax shell. It’s a very light denier—just 40—but concerns about the delicate nature of the fabric are mitigated by the considerable stretch. It bends but doesn’t break when faced with pointy objects. Trew has also used a more durable fabric on the shoulders and lower back—contact points for a pack, or for carrying skis on your shoulder or a board slung across the low back. I did have some concerns about how the very narrow gauge zippers (again for weight savings) will hold up over time.

Weatherproofness
It’s a ski shell that would work just as well as a summer raincoat. It’s got waterproof fabric, waterproof zippers, a long hem, long sleeves and a big collar. No problems here.

Bells and Whistles
To save weight, they skipped the powder skirt, but we like the twin drop pockets for carrying stuff, and the large, high chest pockets are better than lower hand pockets when carrying a pack. The Cohaesive cord locks are a nice touch. It’s equipped with RECCO to help locate the wearer if avalanched or caught out for a night in the backcountry. 

Function
It’s a nicely thought-out ski coat with all the features you’d want. It’s got a trimmer cut to save weight, but has long arms to ensure coverage for activities like bootpacking and skinning. Always nice to wear a lighter jacket.

Breathability
The Derzimax is on par with all the other waterproof-breathable fabrics. A side benefit of the thinner layup here is that it breathes a bit better than a coat with thicker fabrics. Big pit zips help to dump heat on the skin track.

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