It was a type of sleeper pow days that nobody noticed coming. My husband and I deliberate to ski at Aspen Highlands since they reported probably the most snow, however the car parking zone was full. As an alternative, we dejectedly headed to Snowmass, the one Aspen ski hill not reporting any wintry climate.
However seems, the app acquired it flawed — it nuked all day. As soon as we acquired above treeline within the ski terrain off Huge Burn, the fats flakes had been coming at us sideways. Blowing wind froze the snow to my goggles, and my wispy hairs morphed into jagged icicles. It was the sort of climate that’s solely enjoyable if you happen to’re sporting the right gear — and I used to be stoked to be sporting the Norrøna Ladies’s Tamok ski jacket.
Throughout our 3-hour storm ski, I slashed by thigh-deep powder and endured iced-over goggles. However by no means as soon as did I query whether or not Mom Nature was going to interrupt by the impenetrable fortress created by my Tamok jacket. It stored me heat, dry, secure, and geared up with every little thing I wanted to really get pleasure from a frigid morning snowboarding from chairlifts.
Briefly: The Norrøna Ladies’s Tamok GORE-TEX Efficiency Shell Jacket ($699) is a burly freeride ski piece that holds as much as the worst of winter climate. It’s extremely featured, so that you’ll need for nothing, and it’s even constructed with the brand new ePE membrane to assist take away poisonous chemical compounds from our world. Whereas it’s a bit heavier than I’d desire whereas touring, the Tamok turned my go-to ski jacket this season whereas carving turns at Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort.
Learn the entire Greatest Ladies’s Ski Jackets purchaser’s information.
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Match
Relaxed -
Insulation
None -
Shell
3-layer PFC-free ePE GORE-TEX -
Waterproof score (mm)
28K -
Weight
666 g
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Longer size provides tons of protection on powder days -
Tons of zippered pockets to stash snacks and hand heaters -
Asymmetrical cuffs and wrist gaiters pair properly with numerous sorts of ski gloves -
Rugged development and design
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Very costly -
Longer size could not fit your fashion desire
Norrøna Tamok GORE-TEX Efficiency Shell Jacket Evaluation
My household lives in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley, so now we have ski passes at Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort. As soon as the chairlifts begin turning, we spend as a lot time as we are able to exploring the 4 ski hills on planks. I acquired the Norrøna Tamok jacket close to the top of the season however nonetheless managed to log greater than 10 days of snowboarding whereas sporting it.
That’s as a result of it’s straightforward to like with its smooth design and considerate options. Its sturdy development made it a no brainer on nasty climate days after I knew I wanted full protection and safety from the wildest of winter. We even noticed a late-season blizzard that rolled in on Easter weekend when our pal group had an on-snow egg hunt deliberate for our kiddos. I barely observed the chilly temperatures and sideways snow whereas barehanding plastic eggs.
However I suppose that’s no shock contemplating Norrøna’s Norwegian heritage. With its location within the north and its deep roots in Nordic aesthetics, I discovered the Tamok to be the proper mirror of the model itself: aesthetically pleasing and completely bombproof.
Bulletproof and Eco-Pleasant Supplies
Norrøna doesn’t skimp on supplies, and that’s instantly clear with the Tamok. The jacket launched through the 2023-24 ski season utilizing GORE-TEX’s comparatively new expanded polyethylene (ePE) membrane. In contrast to earlier GORE-TEX iterations, that is the primary one which doesn’t use any PFAS.
Also called “ceaselessly chemical compounds,” per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a gaggle of long-lasting chemical compounds that had been as soon as ceaselessly utilized in quite a lot of merchandise (like waterproof-breathable membranes) to withstand oil, grease, and water. However their persistence additionally means they’re displaying up all over the place — even in our blood — and a few varieties have been deemed a carcinogen by the Worldwide Company for Analysis on Most cancers.
However the eco-friendly ePE materials isn’t simply safer for everybody — it performs nicely, too. It has a smaller carbon footprint and weighs lower than earlier iterations of GORE-TEX, making it really feel much less cumbersome whereas sporting it. Bonus: It’s additionally quieter, forsaking that annoying crinkle sound you’d hear whereas strolling round in your ski package.
The Tamok is a 3-layer development with a recycled nylon face material and a burly 200-denier GORE-TEX reinforcing on the shoulders and elbows the place you want it. I skied with a backpack for 4-5 of my testing days, and there isn’t any seen pilling or scratches on it. Norrøna additionally makes use of a GORE-TEX C-Knit backer which makes the Tamok delightfully mushy on the within — and so extremely straightforward to drag over baselayers.
Unbeatable Waterproofing
Within the ski business, a waterproofing score of 10K or above is taken into account acceptable or customary. You’ll typically see many premium and high-quality ski kits with scores round 20K, which suggests they’ll simply shed the heavy snow and moist moisture present in locations just like the Pacific Northwest.
However the Tamok exceeds these scores with a water-resistant rating of 28K — the best score in ski attire. Colorado doesn’t obtain the moist snow present in Oregon or Washington, however I spent many days in blizzarding climate and by no means as soon as did the Tamok moist out and even come shut.
Tamok Options for Days
Not solely did Norrøna construct this jacket with premium supplies, however they added each characteristic a skier may need. My favourite was the asymmetrical cuffs mixed with the stretchy wrist gaiters. Each are an honest size, so the thumb holes on the gaiters are literally helpful even in case you have longer arms. And, they simply slide beneath ski gloves, no matter whether or not you employ under-the-cuff or gauntlet.
4 zippered pockets on the entrance of the jacket — two on the chest and two large cargo pockets on the decrease half — make it tremendous straightforward to stash snacks, automobile keys, or hand heaters. Throughout one household ski day, I crammed a complete bundle of gummy bears in a cargo pocket and nonetheless had room for extra treats. A fifth zippered pocket on the higher left arm is nice positioning for a ski move, particularly if you happen to ski at a resort with RFID scanners.
Each arms boast large pit zips that reach midway down the jacket. Not solely do these zippers dump warmth in a rush, however the tabs are a lot simpler to seize since they’re so beneficiant in measurement. I typically discover myself fumbling to seek out the underarm zipper in different ski coats, however I by no means had these points with the Tamok.
Whereas many ski jackets have helmet-compatible hoods, I’d argue the Tamok’s hood is definitely suitable and doesn’t flip the complete scenario into an motionless neck brace. Not solely may I pull it over my helmet, however I simply zipped the jacket and nonetheless had room to maneuver my head and look across the periphery.
Distinctive Aesthetic
There isn’t any different option to say it: the Tamok is slick. The longer hemline could be very distinct in look and completely different from most different ski jackets. I’m 5’5”, and the asymmetrical longer again hem reaches about midway down my thighs.
Whereas snowboarding, this added size offered bombproof protection, and I by no means wanted to fret about blowing snow up my bottom (even when snowboarding in snowpants reasonably than bibs). And it’s positively a dialog starter, as I had fairly a couple of of us in carry traces ask me “how I favored that size.”
However, it does include a caveat. Ladies with wider hips may have to contemplate their sizing. I waffle between a small and medium ski jacket, typically choosing a medium so I can cram extra layers beneath. I even have large hips that grew even wider after childbirth. In a medium, I didn’t have any points with match, however a measurement small would’ve felt a bit cosy across the hip area.
Room for Enchancment
Norrøna makes no secret of it: its gear is pricey. At $699 for simply the jacket, the Tamok is not any exception.
However, I believe the Tamok falls underneath a “purchase as soon as, cry as soon as” mentality. It’s fairly costly for a ski jacket, however I additionally consider it’s arguably one of the sturdy and weatherproof gadgets in my gear closet. And, it doesn’t have an particularly stylish shade or fashion, so I do know I can put on it for a few years to come back.
Moreover, merchandise utilizing GORE-TEX ePE are inclined to have the next value level than people who don’t (particularly as manufacturers begin dumping PFAS-laden attire in preparation for the 2025 PFAS textile ban in California). Whereas I don’t assume skiers ought to run out and purchase PFAS-free tools simply to stop utilizing the unhealthy stuff (that creates extra waste points), I do assume paying additional for the textiles of the longer term is a worthy value of admission for a more healthy planet.
Norrøna Tamok GORE-TEX Efficiency Shell Jacket: Conclusion
When you’re a skier who hits the hill a couple of times per season or throughout your annual, week-long spring break journey, the expense of the Tamok jacket might not be price it for you. Whereas others price much more, it hangs among the many highest-priced girls’s ski jackets in our gear closet.
However if you happen to’re a lady who snags your season ski move as quickly because it goes on sale or logs double-digit ski days (or needs to), the Norrøna Ladies’s Tamok GORE-TEX Efficiency Shell Jacket is hard to beat. I beloved the articulated sleeves and hem, softer and quieter hand really feel, and number of pockets. The spacious but malleable hood was an enormous spotlight, which I may put on whereas carving downhill throughout squalls. Not all jackets have these detailed options.
With a smooth design, burly supplies, tons of options, and an eco-friendly development, there’s so much to love — and the sturdiness will preserve you cheerful for years to come back.