[Review] The Xplore Suit by Picture Clothing

We’ve all been there before. It’s a blue bird day with 10” of fresh from the night before and you are having the most epic run of your life. Until you launch a cliff which ends in a digger filling the back of your pants and jacket with all that fresh snow. Now everything is wet and you’re cold. 

Insert Picture Clothing and they have you covered (literally) with their Xplore Suit. It is absolutely divine and I would compare it to the enjoyment level of taming a wild unicorn and galloping over rainbows. If you have never worn a one piece then hold on for the ride. There are numerous features that I love about the Xplore suit that make it one of my top go to gear choices for every powder day. 

If you’re not familiar with Picture, their philosophy is worth mentioning. They have a 100% committed responsibility to sustainability-driven eco-design. All of their products are made from 100% recycled, organic, or responsibly sourced materials. The garments that have a water repellent treatment are PFC free. If you care about the environment it only makes sense to back a company that has the same values and beliefs. 

With it’s 20k waterproofing and 15k breathability the Xplore Suit is sure to keep you protected no matter what adventure you’re embarking on. For those of you in the PNW that receive heavier wet snow the fully taped seams will keep you dry well past the last chair. It does have a small amount of insulation throughout, which helps on those extremely cold Polar Vortex kind of days. Not too much insulation though, that would lead to profuse sweating when it’s 30 degrees outside. With vents in both the pits and inner thighs you’re sure to find some breathing room if the temps do rise. 

Most recently, I wore the Xplore suit on a day in the backcountry to see how well it does skinning up the mountain. I have a great layering system for high aerobic activity and I know exactly what I need to be wearing depending on the conditions. This layering system does not include a one piece suit so I figured I was in for a surprise. To my surprise, the Xplore Suit actually did really well in 25 degree temps with the wind blowing while working hard on the way up. By opening up all the vents and unzipping the front of the suit, I found I stayed pretty cool. My back still got hot but that’s expected wearing a backpack traveling uphill. Where the Explore suit really shines is in the descent. Zip her up and let ‘er buck! This is my favorite part, letting gravity do the work.

The Xplore Suit will be my first choice in outer layers for the resort because I know I will stay dry and there won’t be any snow finding its way onto any bare skin. I don’t need to worry about tightening up my belt or hiking my pants up when I get off the lift. This is protection at it’s finest. The only thing to worry about is getting back to the chair before everyone else steals your line.

I was surprised by how large the suit fit. I usually wear a size large in my outer layers but I’ve found that European sizing can be off and fit a tad tighter. So I ordered an XL with this in mind. I’m 6′ and 200 lbs and the XL gives me plenty of room to layer underneath as well as no issues of restricted movement. I would like to try a large just to see how it compares as I sometimes feel as though the XL is almost too big (the large very well could’ve been too tight however I never was able to try it on).

I’ve been impressed with the Xplore Suit and it now hangs at the front of my closet ready to snatch with a moments notice. It packs in a lot of great features that are sure to impress even the most unimpressionable. So if you think you can handle what this suit is ready to dish out then find your closest retailer and try one out for yourself.