BLACK CROWS FREEBIRD XPORE PANT & JACKET KIT REVIEW
While hardgoods like skis and boots generally get top-billing around here as far as content is concerned, we’ve certainly taken a pretty big step forward in the softgoods realm this year, and I’m pretty stoked to cover the Black Crows Freebird XPore Jacket and Pants kit.
While Black Crows may be better known for their creative approach to ski building and performance, they’re actually killing it in the clothing department. Since they’re an Alp-based company, they certainly see their fair share of inclement weather, cold snaps, and deep days. Outerwear becomes a lot more important in places like Chamonix and other well-known zones since mountaineering and ski touring is immensely popular. The Freebird XPore kit certainly falls on the more technical side of the softgoods spectrum, and that emphasis is certainly highlighted in the fit, features, and fabric of this suit.
I was expecting a more European fit with the XPore, with slimmer legs and a tighter top, but this jacket and pants feel very close and true to size. I’m 6’2” and 225 pounds, so I’m normally an XL in most everything. I can fit into Large jackets, shirts, and other tops, but on the bottoms, I’m fairly locked in the XL size. If anything, I’d say the jacket fits on the roomy side with plenty of opportunity for layering. Since it’s not insulated (more on that later), that makes it very easy to stack on the mid layers to achieve your desired temperature. I don’t think I’d go to a Large in this coat, unless I was really looking for a slimmer fit. For a lot of skiers/shoppers looking for more of a mountaineering coat and fit, though, I could see this being something to consider. Less bagginess in the backcountry is likely a good thing. I usually struggle a bit more in the fit of the pants because I have pretty big legs. I’ve definitely tried on some XL pants and have failed to get them all the way up. These fit very true to a normal XL, and I was grateful for that. One of my pet peeves is when the pant cuffs ride up and over the boot buckles, but the inseam is plenty on these to keep them low and stylish. The waist is a bit roomy, but I just use a belt and it’s fine. The material is on the slippery side, though, so it does require some fiddling from time to time, but I wouldn’t sacrifice the leg length and width for anything. Overall, I’d say the XL sizing for me is just about perfect in both the top and the bottom.
As more of a technical piece, we expect, and see, more features that are need-based rather than an excess of convenience. It’s hard not to overlook the fact that this is a kit that is designed to be more minimalistic and performance-oriented rather than one of creature comforts. The first thing I noticed about the jacket was the lack of standard pockets in lieu of 2 large closed chest pockets. On top of the right breast pocket, there’s a security pocket under the flap, and conveniently located in the other, there’s a tethered glass/goggle wipe, which I thought was pretty cool. The GoPro we use for filming fits great in the chest pocket, and it’s very easy to access. We get ventilation in the underarms, but these zippers open fully, with no mesh or other material there, so it’s a clean opening. This is one of the areas in which the mountaineering character comes through, as for more resort applications, it’s nice to have at least some material there for a buffer. The hood works great, fits over a ski helmet, and has a single-point adjustment in the back. I’m not a big hood guy, but it’s nice to know it’s there, and in the few times I’ve used it, it does not impede on visibility, nor is it uncomfortable. There’s a pass pocket in the left wrist area, and then on the inside of the coat, there’s two large storage mesh pockets. Again, these are all very minimalistic in nature, with the obvious effort of saving weight. These mesh pockets are quite thin, albeit large, so anything you put in there is subject to the immediate environment. If I were to put my phone in my coat, it’d go in the security pocket, but it does bounce due to the thinness and light weight of the material. I end up using the pants pocket for the phone, and that works great.
Like we see in the jacket, the pants also do not have standard pockets, rather they opt for two thigh pockets in the front. The right pocket has a little phone sleeve that keeps it secure and dry, so I find it best to put it there, and for all the times I’ve skied in the rain with these pants, my phone has remained bone dry. I put folded paper towels in the other thigh pocket as I like to use these to wipe my goggles (and my kids). Like the coat, the ventilation zones on the side open wide, with no buffer material. While I see and understand the point from a mountaineering perspective, I’m not a huge fan of this style for what I do. One of the highlights of the XPore pants is the yellow stretch snow gaiters with the elastic silicone support band. This material is off-the-charts nice and gives the pants a very high-end feel when you’re wrapping the gaiter around your boot top. All in all, the features of this kit have to be viewed through a backcountry, touring, and mountaineering lens rather than a resort-oriented one, and that’s okay. I’d say my biggest issue with the coat is that they use elastic cuffs that I can’t get over my mittens. You kind of need a gauntlet-style mitt to take advantage of the cuffs. The technical acumen of the suit is top of the line, and they do a great job of fitting the necessary features into the kit without making it heavy or too cushy.
Keeping that technical lens in mind, the fabric of the kit is also of the highest order. Both jacket and pants use the same 3L XPore mechanical stretch material. This 3-layer fabric is made from 58% recycled polyester with a 25K/16K waterproof/breathable makeup. In the lining, the Lycra is 80% polyamide and 20% elastane, so we’re getting a bit stretchier and more comfortable on the inside. With a product weight of 640 grams, this coat is feather-light and built for adventure. The pants are only slightly lighter at 620 grams, but that’s still pretty darn light. Most of the weight of the pants seems to come in the lower-leg cuff reinforcements, which I think is worth the grams. While this fabric is worth its weight in gold when it comes to rain, wet snow, and warmer precipitation, it does leave something to be desired in the insulation department. This is on purpose, as Black Crows is putting emphasis on efficiency, technical prowess, and protection from the elements. Here in Vermont, we’ve been subject to some pretty rough weather to start our ski season, including about 5 straight days of rain to open up the new year. I was more than happy to wear the Freebird XPore kit on all of these days. The water and the snow just bead right off like it wasn’t even there. It’s amazing how weather-proof this kit is, you just have to make sure that you have the proper layering in order to take full advantage of those less-than-ideal ski days. It is on the loud and crinkly side of the spectrum—there's not much of a soft-feel to this kit other than the gaiters and the phone pocket. While the waterproofing aspect of the kit is off the chart, it does require mid-layers and an insulation mindset on the colder days.
There seems to be a big need for a kit like this, especially for skiers who find themselves out there in the elements most of the time. It certainly falls on the technical side of the spectrum, with the pricing to match. This is probably the most expensive stuff I’ve ever worn, but when you see the actual performance in adverse conditions, combined with the light weight and minimalistic nature, it all makes sense. This is some high-quality clothing here, built for the most rugged mountains and adventures on the planet.
