Flylow Albert Jacket and Chemical Pants Outerwear Review
Ski clothing is great because it’s both fun and functional. Here at Skiessentials, we view our outerwear as work wear because it has to stand up to the elements day in and day out. It also has to look good, since being on camera and being broadcast to a rather large audience does make appearances count. Flylow is a brand that captures both aspects of the outerwear spectrum, and I’ve been fortunate and happy to have worn the Flylow Albert jacket and Chemical pants for the past year. With appropriate warmth, flexibility, and clean looks, the Albert and Chemical combination has been awesome when it comes to both quality and performance. As has been the custom with our outerwear reviews, we like to focus on Fit, Features, and Fabrics with each item.
Fit:
I’m 6’2” and weigh about 225 pounds. I’m squarely in the Extra-Large category when it comes to outerwear, and the Albert jacket is no different. This coat fits me perfectly. The nice thing about it, and this kind of bleeds into fabrics, is that it’s insulated, so there’s no real need to layer underneath. This helps the fit because there’s no bulky mid-weights or insulated layers to deal with. The arms could be a bit longer, but no complaints overall. The Chemical pants in the XL are on the roomy side, and I like it that way. The knee areas are articulated so there’s plenty of mobility. I will say that they are on the short side in terms of the inseam—but that’s more of a stylistic choice. I’ve definitely tried on snugger XL pants in the ski world—these Chemical pants certainly have some extra room, especially if you are more voluminous in the thighs, seat, and waist.
Features:
We view these individual pieces as more resort-oriented than technical, but that shouldn’t stop you from using these as backcountry or exploration options, but we do find that the features lend more to resort and lift-serviced skiing primarily. The Albert jacket has two chest pockets, both of which are deep enough to hold a GoPro on an extendable stick (a must for our daily filming missions). We also get two normal hand pockets, mainly keeping this jacket out of the “harness” category where you’ll find more features that center around true mountaineering and backcountry skiing. In addition, we get a pass pocket on the sleeve, making it easy to keep track of your valuable ticket to the mountains. Inside, the coat features a removable powder skirt, a hidden pocket, and a mesh-like goggle pocket.
Again, these features of the coat resonate more with the lift-served crowd with small benefits for the more adventurous skier. While I’m not a hood guy, the hood is comfy, soft, and warm. My only knock here is on the quality of the Velcro at the cuff of the sleeve, as it’s not particularly strong, making you cinch it tighter than you may want to. As for the pants, the best part here are the normal pockets which are easy to open, close, and put stuff in. The right leg pocket has a phone sleeve that keeps it from bouncing around and adds another layer of protection from ice, condensation, and cold. We get two sides of vents for cross-ventilation. On the outside, the thigh vent is longer and opens fully to the inside. On the inner knee, there’s about a six-inch vent that allows for ultimate cooling. Since the pants aren’t insulated, it’s usually not a huge deal. Other than that, these pants are pretty basic. Normal features apply, with an elastic gaiter at the boot top.
Fabric:
The Albert jacket uses a stretchy two-layer shell format with 60-gram micro puff insulation. The outer layer is 8% spandex, so it allows for a softer feel and more comfortable movement. It’s not crunchy or crinkly—it feels and operates like a technical softshell with insulation, which I think is a fantastic combination. It’s interesting because that softness makes you think it’s not going to hold up to wetter conditions, but with a 20k/20k waterproof and breathable membrane, it fares quite well in rain, wet snow, and other non-frozen precipitation. The lining of the coat is 100% recycled polyester and still feels like a high-quality lining with good comfort and excellent warmth. Again, there’s no real need to layer up here—most cold days only require one long sleeve layer underneath to keep warm. Interestingly, while both top and bottom come in the same colorway of “Capers,” the coat and pant are slightly off from each other due to differences in the material. The Chemical pants, if we were to delineate slightly, are a bit more technical in nature than the coat. The pants are a three-layer shell style and do have that crunchy and crinkly sound to them, but the added Cordura of the knees and cuffs make it slightly quieter and softer feeling overall. They also add the appropriate durability to those oft-used areas. I’m a full year, about 100 days in, on these pants and the cuffs are still in fantastic shape. Normally I’m cutting right through the cuffs, but these are holding strong. Like the coat, the pants are using a 20k/20k waterproof breathable membrane, and similarly again, fares quite well in more moisture-laden weather. There’s no insulation here in the pants, and I’m okay with that as my legs run rather hot. While there are softer and more comfortable pants out there in the world, these are not remotely uncomfortable, just a bit more rigid and technical than some.
It’s been a great year on the Flylow gear. The Albert jacket is warm, comfortable, and soft. It allows me to wear very little underneath while still keeping the heat inside. The pants are roomy and comfy—exactly what I’m looking for in a set of ski pants. If you are looking for more technical and more mountaineering-oriented, you will likely want to look elsewhere, but for the value and quality, this setup works great for resort-oriented skiers with a strong sense of adventure and a keen eye for high-caliber products.
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