When you're at the top of your game, you need a jacket that's at the top of its game too. Our good friends at Mammut made exactly that as part of their Eiger Extreme line—the Men's Nordwand Pro LE Jacket. Mammut used two different thicknesses of Gore-Tex Pro 3-layer material for the outer: a 150D for the higher wear areas, such as where your pack straps rub, and a slightly more breathable 70D for the main body of the jacket. To facilitate mixed alpine and ice climbing, the design-wizards at Mammut added front-reach sleeves, which are ergonomically tailored to work with long climbing movements. A detachable powder skirt helps to keep the snow out on days when you're feeling like a powder-hound and stays behind when you don't need it, and the extra-wide cuffs slip over all glove profiles. When things heat up a bit, use the front-access underarm zips to get some air moving through the jacket and forestall excessive sweating. Harness- and pack-friendly pockets can be eASIly accessed without removing either harness or pack, and the hood easily fits around your helmeted head or bare head with just two adjustments. A REInforced hood shield stands up against strong mountain winds.
