Hot Deal
With top-shelf synthetic insulation (PrimaLoft Eco), a tough, waterproof outer fabric, and all the creature comforts you could want (including nine pockets, pit zips, a powder skirt, and a goggle chamois), the 4 Pines has all the ingredients of a high-performance, full-featured resort parka. Normally, all this adds up—both to a bulky jacket and a high price. But the 4 Pines is neither overbuilt nor overpriced. Testers especially liked the beefy, big-toothed zippers and the extra-long tail for keeping your butt warm on cold chairlift seats. The hood, however, drew mixed reviews. We liked that you can zip it off and leave it at home on mild days. But when you keep it on, it has a tendency to pop free of its collar and flap around annoyingly.
VERSATILITY: 4
VALUE: 4
PERFORMANCE: 3