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.

The pants fit really well, more room than the previous design, but not so much that they feel flappy or catch on things during transitions. The vents are perfectly sized and positioned, and easy to use. The jacket worked beautifully as a lightweight wind layer on the way up and stayed cozy with a warmer layer underneath for the descent. The fit strikes the perfect balance: worn with just a base layer, it doesn’t feel enormous, but it’s roomy enough in the right places, especially around the armpits and shoulders, that when I added my puffy layer, the jacket still felt comfortable. The hood fit perfectly over my helmet, and the zippers were easy to operate with gloves on, which is always crucial when it’s blowing a gale and you don’t want to lose a glove.

I even had to wash the pants mid-shoot after we biked up a glen to reach a remote route. The muddy cycle back left me properly splashed. No worries for the pants, though. I followed the washing guide, used the recommended products, and they came out perfectly clean, fully waterproofed, and ready for another blizzard mission the next day.