Flylow Gear is a Colorado-based brand that’s dedicated to the backcountry. But does it stand up to the rigours of runs from Japan to the Kootenays? Editor-in-chief Mitchell Scott airs his thoughts in this review.

One of our long-time advertisers at the magazine is a very cool brand based out of Colorado. We are sure you’ve seen Flylow gear out in the wilds, perhaps you even own a piece yourself. So, not surprisingly, as we do here at Mountain Culture Group, we wanted to give their wares a good solid go.

Flylow is the classic ski bum brand that’s slowly and strategically worked its way into the upper echelons of mountain apparel. Founded by passionate backcountry skiers Greg Steen and Dan Abrams, Flylow is dedicated to creating a great place to work for its employees and a sustainability ethic resulting in gear that stands up to the rigours of getting after it. Finding that balance of function and durability, while at the same time staying light and comfortable, isn’t easy. And let’s face it, it needs to be stylish too. When we don our on-hill attire, we want to look good.

Dan Abrams likes his time in the Kootenays, and visits every year, often on a hut trip. I had the opportunity to take him deep into some of my favourite stashes in Whitewater Resort’s backcountry last year, and because I’m not particularly shy when it comes to asking for samples to test (local stashes don’t come cheap), I was quick to ask if myself and my business partner, Pete Moynes might be able to test Flylow’s latest gear.

Of course, Dan didn’t have much choice in the matter (the snow was particularly good that day), and just in time for the 2023 season, Pete and I had some beauty Flylow pieces to test. Yes, the job does come with perks.

 

I chose Flylow’s Kane Jacket and Magnum Pant. My first real foray wearing the gear was on a backcountry trip to Hokkaido, Japan this past January and I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed. The jacket uses Flylow’s customized Perm fabric, which is made by Intuitive and offers a really nice hand (as in, it just feels really nice, like, so-soft-you-can’t-stop-touching-it nice) and is incredibly breathable. So much so, I found myself touring in the jacket on colder, windier days. It’s stretchy, has pockets in all the right places when you’re wearing a pack, and compresses into virtually nothing.

I’m now halfway through the season and the pants are preforming great. I sled tour a bunch, which is hard on gear (especially when you are a mediocre sledder), and the pants are holding up well past my expectations. Easy flowing zippers on the side and inner thigh vents, a nice beacon pocket on the upper thigh, beefed-up material on the cuffs and knees, and lots of mobility for both deep sled tracks and tight, switch-backing skin tracks. And yeah, both of us are getting comments on the looks, which for older dudes, is always nice to hear.

Stay tuned for a more fulsome review later this season, but if you haven’t already, treat yourself to some amazing gear from this can-do, innovative, and independently owned company.

For more info, visit flylowgear.com.