[Review] The Rambler Jacket by Orage

By far the most backcountry-oriented jacket I own is now the Rambler by Orage. It’s more than perfect for skinning up and pairs extremely well with the Rambler Pant. It’s easy to tell that the Rambler set-up was made by skiers for skiers. Every detail is well-thought out and while it houses common jacket features, it also has some added features that make it stand out in my opinion.

First of all, the pit zips are by far my favorite feature of the Rambler. They aren’t really pit zips at all, as they zip from the armpit all the way down to the bottom hem of the jacket. This allows for maximum ventilation if you’re on a long, warm tour, and is great for keeping your body from overheating. The zippers are extremely easy to zip up and down (I occasionally get my baggy flannel caught in the zipper but that’s my fault for not wearing form fitting under-layers) and are very accessible while you’re skinning so you won’t hold the group back.

The untraditional powder skirt seems to work well, although I wear my Rambler Jacket with Orage’s Rambler pant, which is more of a bib so I’m not concerned with getting snow down my pants. Basically the back half of the jacket cinches down and the silicone stripping keeps the hem from moving up your back.

The Rambler is a shell made with Orage’s Prime 30 fabric, which is both waterproof and breathable, and also 4-way stretch with all seams sealed. It’s no longer necessary to wear what feels like a cardboard jacket in order to get ultimate waterproofing capabilities. The Prime 30 fabric moves so well with my body, whether I’m on my way up or down.

While I can’t access my pockets with my ABS pack on, I still love them. The hand pockets are gusseted so no matter what you stuff in them, they won’t push against your torso but the gussets will allow for expansion out. The chest pocket is just amazing. It comes with all the bells and whistles (literally there is a safety whistle in it). Complete with organization pockets on the inner, there is also a leash for my phone. Not only does it have all of these things, you can open it up super far so you can actually see what’s going on inside the pocket. On the inside of the jacket you are covered with a smaller media pocket and a larger mesh pocket for goggles or mittens.

I saved my favorite feature for last and that is the design of the front screen door venting. When you unzip your main zip (and have the screen door zipped up) you basically have a one-inch wide strip that continues down the front of the jacket. It’s a perfect “screen door” for skinning up and is just one more way in which Orage was thinking about backcountry users when developing this jacket.

Overall, if you’re looking for a backcountry/touring-specific jacket, look no further than the Ramber Jacket. Paired perfectly with the Rambler pant, you will be comfortable on your way up and on the way down. With optimal ventilation opportunities, you will be able to concisely regulate your temperature throughout the day. If you only resort ski but happen to do so in warmer climates, the Rambler would help to keep you cool on those warmer days. Be sure to check out the Rambler Jacket’s partner: the Rambler Pant. They go together like PB&J.