Review: Obermeyer Highlands Shell Kit
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In A Nutshell
Obermeyer’s Highlands outerwear is a solid shell option to keep you warm and well-protected while lapping runs at your favorite mountain.
Specs
Obermeyer Highlands Shell Jacket
Size Tested: 2
Materials: HydroBlock® Elite 83% Nylon, 17% Elastane with Toray® Dermizax™ Plain Weave
Stated Waterproofing: 20,000 mm
Notable features: chest vents, removable powder skirt
Pockets: chest pocket, side hand pockets, pass pocket on sleeve, interior pocket
Obermeyer Highlands Shell Bibs
Size tested: 2
Materials: HydroBlock® Elite 83% Nylon, 17% Elastane with Toray® Dermizax™ Plain Weave
Stated Waterproofing: 20,000 mm
Notable features: drop seat with snaps, full zip legs
Pockets: thigh pockets, chest pocket
Intro
Last winter I spent a lot of time out in stormy conditions as the Wasatch was battered by snow. Never before have I skied such deep powder or spent so many days in near whiteout conditions. It was rad but it was also challenging. Staying warm on snowy days is no small feat and having reliable outerwear is a must. Utah’s historic 2022/2023 season really made me appreciate the importance of a good kit and I’ve been on the hunt for a new one for this season.
I grew up getting most of their ski gear as hand-me-downs from my brother. Obermeyer was never in his line-up and so I haven’t had a lot of exposure to the brand prior to this season. But I’m always on the hunt for a kit that keeps me warm and well-protected from the elements, is comfortable, and fits well, so I was psyched at the opportunity to try out the Highlands Shell jacket and pants this past month.
Fit
I am 5’4” and 110 lbs. I usually wear a size XS so I tried both the Highland jacket and pants in a size 2. (I recommend using their size chart to determine your size if you’re unsure of what to buy).
I found both the jacket and pants to be a little slim for me. I got the kit in my normal sizing for outerwear and found both the bibs and jacket to be tighter around my torso than my usual outerwear kits. Particularly on cold days, it was challenging to fit all my base layers underneath the kit without feeling like I was busting out of the bibs and the jacket so I would recommend sizing up if you like wearing a lot of layers under your kit.
Photo: Jack Stauss
The jacket has a shaped hem which is subtle but a nice touch for more of a female-specific fit. The removable powder skirt is a neat feature but I found the jacket to be tight enough as is that I didn’t really feel the need to cinch myself down anymore while wearing it. The sleeves were a good length and fit well over the cuffs of my mittens to keep in heat without
The bibs feature adjustable suspenders and an adjustable back slider and I enjoyed playing around with the fit to really tailor it to my size (though I still found myself wanting a slightly baggier fit in the middle). The cuffs of the bibs were a good size over my resort boots without being too baggy or catching on each other.
Pockets and Features
The pockets on this kit are useful without being overdone. There’s a designated sleeve pocket for your ski pass which can be zipped away and forgotten about for the day and adequate pockets in both the jacket and bibs for snacks, wallet, chapstick, and other small items you like to carry with you on a resort day. I found myself using the bib’s thigh pocket for my credit card and ID and sticking my phone in a side jacket pocket which worked well.
The bibs feature a zipper drop seat with a snap closure which is an AWESOME feature. I hate when I’m trying to take a quick pee break in between chair laps but have to take off all my upper body layers just to unzip my bibs. So the ability to pull down the bibs while leaving upper body layers on is huge and makes for efficient and easy pee breaks.
Both the bibs and the jacket have good venting options, making this kit great for days where you might start out cold but warm up as the sun hits the slope and temperatures rise. I mostly just used the jacket vents to regulate my temperature. They were easy to adjust in the lift line or at the top of a run and barely noticeable when the jacket was fully zipped and sealed tight, which I appreciate.
Performance
This kit did a good job of keeping me warm and well-protected from the elements while I ripped chair laps at Alta. The material cut the wind nicely and I never had to cinch it down more to address areas where wind was creeping into my sleeves or under my hem. It just did its job at its natural fit. The material is also decently waterproof. I’m not sure how it would hold up in a downpour, but it certainly kept me dry for a full day of skiing with no concerns. I like the combination of high bibs with a durable shell because there was no chance that air or snow was going to get into my layering system.
Photo: Jack Stauss
The tighter fit was a bit of a challenge for me. If I’m wearing shells that aren’t insulated, I like them to be a little baggier so I have plenty of room for base layers underneath. I found the Highland Shell kit (which is not insulated) to fit a little tighter than I would normally prefer and so I had to mix up my layering system underneath and opt for thinner layers to fit under the bibs and jacket. In the future, I’d probably size up the kit to address this, though I liked the length of the bibs and jacket in this size.
A major annoyance of the jacket for me was that mine had a really sticky zipper. It was fine to zip it up but every time I went to take off the jacket, it took me multiple tries (and sometimes outside help) to get the zipper down. It wasn’t an issue of the fabric catching in the zipper so much as the zipper just refusing to move. I’m hoping that with more time and more use it will maybe soften up but it was certainly an annoyance at the end of my ski days.
I think this kit is at its best for in-bounds skiing, although I am excited to test the bibs in the backcountry given their nice drop-seat feature. The jacket didn’t strike me as super packable so I don’t think it will be the best option for stuffing in a touring pack on ascents but would certainly be nice to have on colder days in the backcountry.
What would a perfect day in the Highland Shell Kit look like?
Obermeyer’s Highland Shell kit is a solid option for keeping you warm and dry while lapping runs at your favorite resort. With user-friendly pockets, good ventilation, and the ability to buffer against wind and moisture it works well as an all-day all-mountain outerwear option.
If you prefer a baggier fit for your outerwear or intend to pack a lot of layers underneath, consider sizing up as this was rather slim for me.
