Men’s Ski Jacket - FR 900 Beige

I first visited Decathlon in Chamonix, France in August 2022. I was very impressed with the store and the quality of the items. Over the last year I did some research and found this Wedze jacket in the green (and blue). Unfortunately, Decathlon does not have a big presence her

e in the U.S. so I used my next trip to London in April 2023 to visit another Decathlon store and check out this jacket. I was immediately impressed and put it on the "to buy" list. Both the blue and green went on sale here in the U.S. and I bought both. They are exactly what I use and like. I've seen some comments here and one of the themes is that folks are disappointed that it is not insulated. Personally, I still prefer layering with the outer shell being a "hard shell", like this one, on stormy days. This is NOT insulated as it is a true skiing hard shell for you to layer underneath for the appropriate conditions. This allows it to be versatile. It is lightweight. The cut is generous. It is a typical three layer hard shell with a durable face fabric, waterproof/breathable membrane layer, and an inner liner fabric that is adhered to the membrane. The hand liners are a nice touch as is the powder skirt. The color options (I have the green and the blue/red) are awesome. The branding is subtle. There are many pockets and where I want them. The main zipper is easy to open and close and I prefer belay zippers (as this one has). The venting zip, on the chest, is a nice feature that works. The pit zips make this perfect for climbing to get to a choice ski line or for warmer temperatures. The most important feature for a technical ski hard shell is the collar and hood. So often brands will skimp on the hood in one way or another. One needs a hood that is large enough to go over a ski helmet, adjust easily, does not restrict vision, and work well with the collar to protect one's face from the elements. The hood/collar system is perfect. For once I have a collar that fits and protects my face without being too restrictive or tight. The hood is generous and fits over a helmet while not restricting visibility or movement. Very well done. I have used both now on about five days of skiing in the Wasatch Mountains. They breath well and keep moisture out. I would change the two hip pockets--they are at an odd angle and my phone easily pops out when I unzip one of these pockets (not a great feature when riding the chairlift). They are an odd shape. I also find that when I bend over the items within them can poke me in an uncomfortable way. That said, there are plenty of other pockets to use. I tend to use my hip pockets for my wallet and phone. All of these features and truly well-thought design at this price is amazing. We need more Wedze, Simond, and Decathlon in the U.S.!