Bergans Of Norway Reviews

The Bergans of Norway is made of a flexible, three-layer waterproof breathable fabric from Derzimax, and it has an excellent weight-to-durability ratio. The fabric is less crinkly than many other waterproof breathables on the market.

Benefits of Bergans Of Norway

• Soft, stretchy fabric
• Very well fitted
• Large pit zips
• The Recco system

Negatives of Bergans Of Norway

• There are no inside drop pockets.

COMPLETE REVIEW 

Weatherproofness of Bergans Of Norway

The Norefjell raincoat is as watertight as any other raincoat on the market. It has long hems, a large hood, and waterproof zippers. If you fall, the powder skirt will keep your body dry.

Whistles and bells

The Norefjell includes RECCO reflectors, which may help with avalanche rescue and finding the user in the forests if they become trapped out of limits overnight. The powder skirt could be zipped off to reduce weight, which was appreciated by testers.

Function of Bergans Of Norway

The Norefjell is no exception to Bergans’ reputation for fine tailoring. It seemed to suit all of our testers nicely, particularly the taller ones. The drop hood is a lovely addition, and the fabric is soft enough to be worn as an everyday coat.

Breathability of Bergans Of Norway

For a waterproof shell, the Derzimax fabric is surprisingly breathable. The foot-long pit zips were a hit with us.

I was not meant to go to this year’s Bergans Freeride Experience at first (BFE). I had gone there in 2017 to shoot a documentary about the event and had a fantastic experience, but it did not fit into my schedule this year. However, in the weeks leading up to the 2019 event, an incredible quantity of snow had already fallen in the Austrian Alps. Up to two occasions, the hamlet of Baad in Kleinwalsertal has been snowed in from the outside world.

The snow layer in the mountains, both on and off-piste, was ideal. Top-notch freeriding conditions were assured. Powder fever took hold of me, and I fought only to surrender to the beautiful quiet siren call of white gold. And I got the Slingsby 3 layer jacket and pants from Bergans in Norway. Bergans also has the Stranda ski/snowboard collection, but the Slingsby brand worked nicely in this instance.

During the event, I put the Slingsby set through its paces. Bergans of Norway calls the Slingsby 3 layer shell “the most advanced shell jacket we have ever made!” The collection’s goal is to provide mountaineering clothing that provide a lot of comfort and flexibility of mobility, in addition to being water and windproof and extremely breathable. The Dermizax®NX fabric is intended to offer all of the above. In addition to having a water-tightness of 20,000 water columns, it is somewhat flexible in two directions, which should allow for more mobility.

The Evaluation

Freedom of mobility and comfort

The first thing you notice is that you do not feel the kit at all. It is extremely light and soft. This is the lightest and most supple 3-layer hardshell outfit I have ever worn. It provides a great deal of mobility just like Black Diamond First Light Hoody. Hiking through snow that varied in depth at every step, splitboarding up a steep slope, with tough “spitzekehren” moments; my flexibility and the stretch of my clothes were really tested. Absolutely amazing. An intriguing benefit of the extremely light fabric is that if you do not wear the jacket because it is too hot, for example, it takes up considerably less room in your bag than a standard 3-layer shell.

Breathability

It was very chilly on the opening day of the BFE. I wore a merino baselayer, a light fleece, and the Slingsby Light Down jacket underneath the jacket and trousers (that jacket will separately). I mention these layers because the shell’s permeability is not a stand-alone feature. If you want to experience what the jacket accomplishes, the other layers must also breathe properly. (For further information, see the Arty of Layering.) Now, down is not the most breathable material, but even with plenty of steep descents and trea-runs, as well as trekking over rugged terrain, I did not get too hot on that first day. At the end of the day, I saw that my base layer was wet from perspiration, and I realised that I should have removed the down jacket sooner.

The next days, I did not wear down, the temperatures rose, and I remained dry all day. Day three brought splitboarding on a south slope in even warmer temps. I wore the jacket on the way up, and towards the finish, I was sweating profusely. There is always a limit to how far your clothes can assist you.

Durability

Finally, I evaluated the fabric’s durability/strength. Because it is so light, it seems to be very vulnerable. Now, as previously said, I have fallen a lot, although in soft snow, and I have also had several scrapes with tree branches. For the time being, the jacket has stayed intact, but three days of riding is much too short to draw any firm conclusions. The outside fabric has a ripstop pattern, although it seems a little flimsier than tougher shell jackets. I should also note that splitboarding did not cause any harm to the pant legs’ undersides (which are reinforced of course).

Versatility

Last but not least, at GearLimits, we are increasingly interested in the combination of sustainability and flexibility, since versatility is also a kind of sustainability. You do not need to purchase another jacket for a different activity if you have a jacket that is extremely flexible. The Slingsby jacket and pants are also very adaptable. You may use it for off-piste skiing, touring, hitting the slopes, and other mountain activities, as demonstrated. You name it: climbing, hiking, winterhikes, you name it. Even in daily situations, this jacket will look great.

Sustainability

Although Bergans of Norway values sustainability and, for example, uses water-saving die methods and recyclable materials in the Stranda line, I could not discover any information on how sustainable manufacturing or materials usage was in the Slingsby other than that the DWR-coating is PFOA free.

FINAL RESULTS

The Bergans of Norway Norefjell ski parka is a strong all-around ski parka that is suitable for both on-resort and backcountry skiing. The fabric has a wonderful soft hand feel to it, and it is stretchy enough that you will not mind wearing it about town after the lifts have stopped spinning.