Gear Review: 2012 Homeschool Snowboarding Line Up 2.5L Shell Pant Review

Homeschool Snowboarding - check out these legs

First off, his is the same shell material as the With Teeth 2.5L shell jacket I reviewed a little while back, so I'm not going to repeat a bunch of that info here. Check out the first few paragraphs of that review for the goods on the fabric. Synopsis: Cocona Xcelerator technology for xtreme breathability and great water resistance in a supple fabric with a comfortable cut. No insulation, so be sure to layer up. Now, let's get to the pant specifics.

Mmm... kibbles

The first thing I noticed about these pants was that thing on the right leg. They call it the Homeschool accessory holster and you can be skeptical all you want. I was. "I'm never gonna use it and it's gonna snag a tree branch and turn my new pants into basketball-warmup-style tear-aways," I said to no one in particular. Never happened. Turns out I actually use the thing. Every time. My gloves go straight in there whenever I take them off. They're easier to get at there than in a pocket, but still secure enough that they won't fall into the urinal. 

What about the rest of the pockets? Homeschool went with one back pocket on this pant. In reality, 'zero' is the correct number. Maybe some fake pockets back there so it looks normal, but back pockets on snowboard pants are terrible. I never use them. Too much chairlift time (most shocking stat from Alpine Replay). While we're on negatives, the cargo pocket on the left leg is poorly placed. Whatever you put in it falls squarely on your knee. I never use it. Then again, I never need to. The two hip pockets are plenty.

A note on fit, the 'Homeschool Engineered Fit' is neither tight nor baggy. I clock in at a 33-inch waist and 32-inch inseam and went with the medium. It fits as advertised. The waist has an adjustable inner velcro belt to tighten things as needed. Want ball-flattering tightness or gun-smuggling sag? Size up or down, use the belt or a sewing machine. 

Other details include zippered ghetto slits with snap-adjustable boot gaiters, full seam taping, mesh-backed inseam vents and some subtle yet stylish logo hits including a lift ticket 'ring.' The jacket to pant 'interface' is of the 'loop and snap' variety, so they include extra loops below the belt loops for that. Like I said in the jacket review, good but not great.

These pants have given me zero problems this year, but at a retail price of $225, you might want assurance that they'll last a few years before you swipe that MasterCard. Unfortunately, that's something I can't give you. I've only ridden these pants about 15 days at this point. They still look like new. They still perform like new. Their longevity will play out over the coming years. For now, I can only give my recommendation. Give Homeschool a chance. Discover what real breathability feels like on a garment designed by Northwestern snowboarders.

Check back for long-term updates in the "My Gear This Year" series to see how these and other products hold up to Father Time.

Gear Review: 2012 Homeschool Snowboarding With Teeth 2.5L Shell Jacket Review

Portland, Oregon is home to a new outerwear company in Homeschool Snowboarding and they are out to refocus the game. Ultimate breathability folks, pay attention. You sweat, it condenses inside your gear, you get wet from the inside out. When it isn't even raining or snowing or maybe even wet outside at all. You're sweating, so you stay wet. Garbage bags are water-resistant, but we can do better. Enter Cocona xcelerator technology. Activated carbon from coconut fibers. You need to keep the kit in a locked briefcase. I don't understand it, they do. End of the day, hyper-breathable and  still water resistant. Now on to the real jacket.

The hood actually works OK over my XL dome-piece.

First off, the breathability listed at 30,000gm performs as advertised. I wouldn't advise playing a basketball game in Death Valley in it, but for snowboarding and related exercise (hiking to your favorite spot) it shines. On New Year's Day, I hiked out Mt. Baker's Shuksan Arm to Safety Ridge in conditions that would normally have me in just a base layer. The With Teeth jacket (vents fully open, of course) was up to the test more than my hungover head and gut were. The only thing I could compare it to is my Volcom Gore-Tex Soft Shell. It's close, but I give the edge to the Homeschool jacket. I might have to wear the Volcom again to compare. I haven't worn it all year.

Do me a favor, though, don't buy a jacket like this and wear cotton underneath. I know, not everyone has access to the full Cocona Continuum Trifecta (that's base, mid and shell layers). God knows, I wish I did. You're going to want to layer up, though. This is a shell, as in no insulation. Just be sure to get some wool or polypro. You can pick this stuff up second-hand at Goodwill or Army surplus joints anywhere. You sweat into cotton, it doesn't much matter what your shell is, you're going to be wearing your sweat far longer than is comfortable. Sorry for the rant, but cotton kills, remember?

The water resistance is rated at 10,000mm, not stratospheric by any stretch. The argument is that unless you're drinking from a fire hydrant, you don't need anything more. In fact, more would sacrifice breathability and we'd be back to that Hefty bag scenario. In my days with this jacket, I would agree. It's seen plenty of wet northwest conditions and I've never felt better. Now, water doesn't always bead right off. Sometimes it looks like it's seeping, but like I said, I've never gotten wet. This is a 2.5L jacket. Good enough for Mt. Hood this winter (more rain than snow) should be good enough for anywhere.

The company calls their fit the "Homeschool Engineered Fit." It's not tight or flattering, but it's not baggy either. Sorry ladies, no women's-specific cuts. I measure a 29 1/4" sleeve and a 38" chest and went with the large size. Partly because I like my jackets a little bigger and partly because this one doesn't have wrist gaiters and I have to run the cuff straps over the thumb to keep things dry. This takes some effective length from the sleeve.

I would still like a wrist gaiter on every jacket.

How about that hood so prominently displayed in the top picture? Homeschool calls it the Darth (wind) Hater. It's adjustable via three elastic tabs ( two side, one rear). The front zipper comes to your lower lip and the panels on the sides come to the bottom of your goggles. Ideally, all you have to worry about are your nose and lips. I rarely use hoods, but this is the best I've seen. A smear of your favorite weather proofing on nose and lip (I use Dermatone) and you're invisible to the elements.

Up until now I've been pretty positive, but it's not all powder days and sun rays in this jacket. The front zipper is a big and burly Riri Aquazip, that's great. Why then do you need an inside storm flap and a 3/4-length outside flap for it to get caught on (which it does every time)? I say get rid of the inner flap, which is usually the culprit, and keep the outer which gives you the option to throw the coat on with just a couple snaps and the central, magnetic closure.

I'd like a better powder skirt. Homeschool uses the snaps, which are good, but there must be a better fix. Just because I like my jacket a little bigger shouldn't mean my powder skirt works worse, which seems to be the case now. I hate the fact that the zippered skirt is patented, but if you put the loops for the snaps a little lower on the pant, that would be a good start.

That's it, kids. That's all for the negatives. Snaggy zipper, good-but-not-great pow skirt and no wrist gaiters. Can you live with that? Are you OK with no flashy color options? If so, you get a long list of benefits. Breathable, water resistant and still supple fabric. The best hood in the game. Well thought-out pockets including a chest media pocket, a clear pass pocket and magnetic closures on the waist pockets. A Recco reflector. Mesh-backed pit zips. Fully-taped seams and mesh lining. All with a clean cut and subtle styling. No neon outside, but the print inside shows some classy flair.

Durability is always a question in a quick review like this one. The With Teeth retails at $325. For that price, I want a jacket that will last a few years. Here it is mid-February on an off snow year. I've taken it through the trees a bit and taken some good spills in it and it hasn't shown any wear yet. Whether it holds up for years to come will be revealed in the years to come. For now I can only say that I recommend giving Homeschool Snowboarding and the With Teeth jacket a chance.

Check back later for long-range updates in the 'My Gear This Year' series as the years go by.

My Gear This Year 2012: Pants in Review

They keep your ass dry. Directly - you can sit down in snow and stay dry - and indirectly - they connect to your jacket in such a way as to keep snow out of that seam. They are pants. 'Pant suit' is a fun phrase to say, but I don't know what a pant suit is. Here is my stable of leg coverings for the year.

Homeschool, DC and Burton Ronin (L to R).

Far left is the 2012 Homeschool Snowboarding Line Up pant in Night (black). I got these at the beginning of the year in exchange for a review and haven't worn them on snow yet. They are 10,000mm water resistant and a booming 30,000gm breathable. Cocona fabric, ladies and gentlemen. My first impression is that the fabric feels supple, not cardboard stiff like some other highly waterproof gear. They have a reasonable four pockets and an accessory holster on the right leg. Basically it's a place to put your hat and/or gloves when you take them off, so you don't set them down and lose them. One possible negative is that they took the whole asymmetrical pockets thing a step too far as they have just one back pocket, one cargo pocket (and the holster) and one hip pocket zips on the side and the other on the top. I'm looking forward to seeing how the Homeschool kit performs, this stuff could really be the future. Keep an eye out for more reviews as I ride with these.

In the middle of the rack is the DC Baker pant. The bananas. They are last year's model (2011) and samples. They run 15k on both stats. (they call it Exotex, I don't know why) The fabric is flexible if a little thin. Given that, they feel a little drafty on snow. Also, semi-translucent and a light enough color that they were instantly and irrecoverably dirty. Six pockets is borderline too many. They have a nice bungee cord in the cargo pockets that you pull up to keep your cuffs from dragging as you walk. This is a nice feature because they are baggy. They are also the only pants I have that are Large instead of Medium. A good pant. The water resistance and breathability are both on-point. Cold on a windy day, though. 

The brown bibs on the end are Burton Ronins that I bought off one of those deal-a-day sites in spring 2008. I think that's when they stopped making the Ronin line. Anyway, 20k x 20k, but started to lose their resistance to the wetness last year. The spray-in Nikwax isn't reviving it either. I love me some bibs, though, and quality bibs are harder and harder to find. So good in pow. Maybe this is the year someone finally buys me a ninja suit for Christmas (merino wool, black, size medium, please). Anyway, this is the baggiest of the three. At medium it's almost as big as the DC large. The bibs, which are removable, keep it up. It's got six pockets and snap up cuffs. One cool feature is that it has venting on the inner and outer leg. All the other pants only have venting on the inner leg. All are mesh backed (none have insulation, either). The other bummer about these is that the right leg ripped when I tried to pull them out of a buckled binding. I had to Shoe Goo them back together. They were good while they lasted, but the writing's on the wall.

Pants, with the possible exception of gloves, are the outerwear piece that wears out fastest. Don't get caught with your pants down, always make sure you have a backup if you can. Nobody likes a soggy butt and your first defense against that uncomfortable ride home is some quality pow trousers.

Check the other "My Gear This Year 2012" gear review pages: Jackets and Boards.

My Gear This Year 2012: Jackets in Review

Part two in this year's look at my gear and its upkeep will focus on the stuff that keeps my torso warm and dry. I'm lucky enough to get some outerwear almost every year. Some because I'm good at trivia, some because I can convince people that my word can be construed as marketing, some through connections and some just because I pay hard dollars for it. One thing is for sure, now is the time to go through you jacket pockets. This year I found a goggle bag and a dollar. Thank Terje I didn't find anything rotten like I have in the Snowdays jackets (banana peel). Now on to my closet...

L to R: Homeschool, Holden, Columbia (w/ liner),
Volcom, Billabong, Neff

First up, the Homeschool Snowboarding With Teeth jacket in Ever (green). Well isn't that clevergreen. Homeschool sent me a kit to review for this winter, their first year with outerwear on the market. I haven't worn it riding yet, so I can't say much, but it is 10k waterproof and a whopping 30k breathable. It's comfortable. The fabric is nice and flexible right out of the wrapper. Enough pockets, not too many. Good pant to jacket connection. Some conspicuous omissions: wrist gaiters. The hood barely covers my XL helmet. I'm intrigued by the Cocona fabric technology. You'll hear more about this as the season plays out.

Next is the 2010 Holden Harvieux. It's a sample. 10k water and 5k breathe. Yeah, I get that inside-out sweat feel sometimes. Not a storm jacket, but my opening day jacket this year and my most stylish coat. To me this means I feel like I 'should' wear it around town, but I usually don't. I only wear the jackets in that picture around town when it's really pouring. Except the Neff. I save those jackets and their DWR for snowboarding. A regular hoodie will get you by in Portland. Especially when you're used to colder places. Anyway, the Holden jacket is nice in that it has wrist gaiters, as every jacket should, but surprisingly few do. It keeps me dry, but its pow skirt is worthless unless you have a zipper that fits (I don't). A good number of useful pockets and then one with a fake button top, but real side-zip entry. I thought it was a fake pocket for months. The hood actually fits comfortably over my King-dome helmet for those extra stormy days. The liner is Cocona and the rest of the coat is recycled poly. As Holden says, it's eco-friendlier, which is a plus in my book. I still wouldn't pay retail for it at $260. It needs to come through better than that for that price. Then again, I'm not into fashion.

That gray and green piece (and the darker layer to its right) is the 2011 Columbia Powder Bowl Parka. Columbia sent it to me because they identified me as a passionate blogger. And they wanted to crack into the snowboard scene. I said about all I have to say about this coat in this post. One thing a friend of mine brought to my attention is that this jacket might be good for hunters who sit in one spot for long hours. This means it might also be good for snow filmers. Just not people who are constantly riding. That said, I do keep the layer in my bag at all times.

What you see next is the Volcom Gennerman. Gore-Tex Soft Shell. Bought it in '08ish on one of those deal-a-day sites. Best jacket I've ever had. Amazing water and sweat resistance. Same goes for durability. Perfect number of pockets, that being four. That might have been a little before the era of wrist gaiters, so it has that excuse for not having them. The pit-zips don't have mesh backing, so if you ever have to open the vents you risk snow entering the 'no snow zone.' It has the standard Volcom Zip-Tech pow skirt, but also clips that work with belt loops for a more universal appeal. I wonder why more companies don't do that. Some jackets just work and this is one of them. I'd have no problem paying retail for this.

The black and green stripes? That's a little Billabong number. Mark Frank Montoya handed it to me when I correctly answered the question: Who did the music for Nicolas Müller's part in Saturation? This was at the Optimistic? (2007) premiere. Here's the thing, I had never seen Saturation. Still haven't. Justin Hostynek was up on the mic giving clues and and shutting people down. It was getting awkward for a second. Then he said something like, 'He might even be here tonight.' And that was the give away. Scott Sullivan. I try to wear this jacket when I'm riding with a big group. It's easy to pick out. Nothing special. Middle of the road stuff. Touchscreen compatible mobile device pocket. Good pow dress (the snaps). Starting to need the spray-on waterproofing (I use Nikwax TX Direct). I might have sold it if it didn't fit so well. Kinda ho-hum, but it has gotten me through a few years now.

Finally, you can guess by the print that the tech hoody on the far right is the Neff. That was a late-season sale purchase. For a road trip where I didn't have a rain jacket or a warm coat. Guess that means I bought it in '09. Saved my bacon in a Mississippi downpour. Pair up the animals type weather. Me out in my Neff checking out the swamps. Looking for gators. Saw none. She sees the spring slopes and city streets only. Breathes like a Hefty bag. The vents are always open. The pow skirt zips off when you don't need it and has those snap closures that can fasten around belt loops when you do. Thumb loops, too. Good piece. Knows its role. I just wish it was more breathable.

Having more than one jacket is key. You can switch things up and not wear the same jacket back to back, over and over. This increases the durability more than you can imagine. Now, I know not everyone is lucky enough to have six jackets, but when you see that I only paid for two of them, well maybe I've given you some ideas as to how to get cheap or free jackets for yourself. Of course, most involve luck. Some involve buying used, buying in the springtime or finding sample sales. Get some Gore-Tex Soft Shell if you can. That fabric is perfect. Keep an eye out for Homeschool Snowboarding, though. They could be a hometown sleeper.

Check out my other "My Gear This Year 2012" reviews: Boards and Pants. 

New Kid in Class: Homeschool Snowboarding

I know you. You need an excuse to party. How about this? Portland is home to a new outerwear label called Homeschool Snowboarding. Their product launches this season. What better way to celebrate than a launch party. What does that mean? Beer, music, product viewing, mingling with Portland heads.

Don't make this Saturday like last Saturday, when you ate ice cream, watched a couple TiVo-ed sitcoms, scratched yourself and went to bed early, worn out from the beating at the hands of the man for the previous five days. It doesn't have to be like that. Homeschool can help.