Patagonia Powslayer: Tested and reviewed by Lesley McKenna

Lesley McKenna puts the Patagonia Powslayer Snowboard Jacket and Pants to the test.

Words: Lesley McKenna
Photos: Liz Seabrook

The Scottish Highlands are the perfect testing ground for gear designed to keep you dry while performing at the highest level during extended adventures with variable alpine conditions.

“This backcountry freeride-specific kit got thoroughly tested over the past season while I was leading splitboard groups in the Scottish backcountry with Wandering Workshops and filming with a visiting Warren Miller production crew.”

One minute it’s sunny, the next you’re in a blizzard, and there’s always the chance snow turns to rain and back again just to keep you on your toes. Many top-class gear combos have failed in Scottish Highland mountain conditions, so I was excited to give the brand-new, fully redesigned Patagonia Powslayer jacket and pants a proper test in good old gnarly Scottish conditions.

This backcountry freeride-specific kit got thoroughly tested over the past season while I was leading splitboard groups in the Scottish backcountry with Wandering Workshops and filming with a visiting Warren Miller production crew.

The best time to test pocket systems is on a film shoot, when you need to carry radios, extra batteries, lenses, sunglasses, hand warmers, snacks, your phone, and all the various straps and skin bags that come with splitboarding territory. The new Powslayer kit has incredible pockets, a really thoughtful design with loads of options, and plenty of room. For me, this is a huge plus.

I wore the gear in literally every type of weather, from warm, windy days where we had to hike for an hour carrying all our kit up to the snow line (it was so high up the mountain due to warm temps) before we could even clip into our splitboards for the rest of the tour. Breathability was tested to the max. The wind that felt warm at the bottom turned freezing at the top, and lesser gear would have left me feeling chilly and damp for the rest of the day. The Powslayer combo worked brilliantly.

This backcountry freeride-specific kit got thoroughly tested over the past season while I was leading splitboard groups in the Scottish backcountry with Wandering Workshops and filming with a visiting Warren Miller production crew.

The best time to test pocket systems is on a film shoot, when you need to carry radios, extra batteries, lenses, sunglasses, hand warmers, snacks, your phone, and all the various straps and skin bags that come with splitboarding territory. The new Powslayer kit has incredible pockets, a really thoughtful design with loads of options, and plenty of room. For me, this is a huge plus.

I wore the gear in literally every type of weather, from warm, windy days where we had to hike for an hour carrying all our kit up to the snow line (it was so high up the mountain due to warm temps) before we could even clip into our splitboards for the rest of the tour. Breathability was tested to the max. The wind that felt warm at the bottom turned freezing at the top, and lesser gear would have left me feeling chilly and damp for the rest of the day. The Powslayer combo worked brilliantly.