Best known for its stable of award-winning skis, Black Crows is also developing high-quality products in the softgoods sector. I first got my hands on the new Corpus 3L jacket and pant back in February, allowing me to test its capabilities in a wide range of skiing activities both in- and out-of-bounds.
I sported it during bluebird days at Winter Park Resort at the height of a high pressure system in mid-February. The supreme breathability that the three-layer Gore-Tex jacket and bibs provided was welcomed. With temperatures hovering in the low 40-degree range, I wore the kit over a base-layer top and bottom and was never cold, but also never too warm. Underarm and inner-thigh vents also aided in the latter.
I was also able to use the jacket and pant combination during a powder cycle in Snowbird, Utah for our annual Ski Test. The first day consisted of storm-skiing, where we endured heavy snowfall and roaring wind gusts. While the Gore-Tex shell is highly breathable, it’s also water- and windproof, which kept me warm and dry when layered on top of a Merino wool base-layer and thin, synthetic-insulated mid-layer. The hood was also deep enough to cover my head and face without restricting movement. On day two, the sun came out, but we were still trenching through deep snow, and again, the Corpus kit kept moisture out especially after connecting the powder skirt for a “snow-tight” seal.
In addition to in-bounds testing, I also took the Corpus kit on a tour through Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. The conditions were stormy and deep and, as previously stated, the Corpus stood up to moisture and wind like a champion. The biggest benefits were the supple (read: flexible) nylon fabric construction that never inhibited my movement while touring and the “fishtail” on the butt of the jacket, which can be un-buttoned to provide more range-of-motion in the hip and posterior region.
The fish-tail also brings me to my final thoughts on the kit: It is so damn stylish. Black Crows sought to “strengthen the ties between urban and mountain communities, bringing them closer together than ever before,” with the details of the kit. Some of my favorite stylistic hints come in the form of four front-facing jacket pockets with gleaming, Black Crows embroidered buttons and corresponding dual thigh pockets with the same treatment; the fishtail design in the back of the jacket for added flair; the mid-length, tailored parka cut; the dual pockets on the upper bibs (one small, one large); the subtle color pallets used for both the jacket and pants; and the Black Crows logo-printed taping on the insides. All of these thoughtful ingredients yield a kit that’s at home on the runway or in the lift line.
