Coldsmoke is a vendor of stylish, extreme weather gear, travel packs and travel gadgets. We purchased the men’s Tavani Colorblock Jacket last year and put it through it’s paces (there’s a women’s version, too).
Here’s the jacket in its bag
Overall the jacket is a delight to use. It’s extremely lightweight, folds up into a very small zippered pouch (that comes with it) and has clearly paid attention to every detail. It comes in a few color variations.
Every zipper has a waterproof seal, inside and out. And they work! I’ve worn this in a torrential downpour for two hours and stayed dry. There are velcro tighteners at the cuffs, as well, so you can prevent rain from leaking down your wrists.
There are an adequate number of pockets but not too many. This is a very different approach to the other highly technical jackets out there (such as Scottevest). Coldsmoke take a decidedly minimalist approach, which really pays off. The more you use their products, the more you come to appreciate all the mindfulness that has gone into them.
Their products are pricey but at the premium end, clearly aiming for the urban jetsetter more than the mountaineer. I can attest, though, that their extreme weather gear does work well in the snow and they have made some apparel to attract snowboarders.
If you do want to ski with this jacket, you can. The hood is big enough to go over a helmet. It’s large and roomy, but there are various ties and pulls, so you can shrink it down to fit you better if you’re not wearing a helmet. There’s also a nice duck-bill lip on the front of the hood, so the rain doesn’t run off the top and into your face.
Coldsmoke is a pretty small operation. I tried to stop by their office in Venica, CA, but found nobody home (it was in a small apartment complex). Even if this is a one-person operation (I have no idea), they do an outstanding job. Their bijou size does mean that they frequently go out of stock. Their website let me order something which it turned out they didn’t have! Still, they were very responsive and no harm was done.
Some of their products do show up occasionally with other online retailers, including Amazon, so it’s worth doing a google search, once you know what you’re looking for. You’re probably better off ordering straight from Coldsmoke. We’re including a few Amazon links down below, if that’s your thing.
The DSPTCH store in San Francisco stocks a good selection of their stuff. In fact, the two retailers have collaborated on some capsule wardrobe stuff in the past. Check out the DSPTCH online store for information on their Coldsmoke collaborations.
Once you get past the sticker shock, you’ll be a delighted customer. No, we were not paid to write this article. We’re just fans, is all.
[…] on from our review of the Coldsmoke Tavani Colorblock Jacket, we're now going to take a look at the Coldsmoke Unnuk Tech Zip-up Hoodie which we purchased […]