This year I had the opportunity of testing the latest high-performance shell from the [ak] line, the Burton [ak] GORE-TEX 3L Hover Jacket.
GORE‑TEX 3L
![Burton [ak] GORE-TEX® 3L Hover Snowboard Jacket Review](https://mtnweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Burton-AK-Hover-Jacket-4-e1644174982222.jpg)
Burton and W.L. Gore & Associates looked to the surf industry for inspiration on how to keep water out of this jacket. One of the best features of the AK Hover Jacket is the use of taped seams, which in the surf world are used from keeping cold water out of your wetsuit. This design stops water from being able to penetrate between any exposed stitching. Making the Men’s Burton [ak] GORE‑TEX 3L Hover Jacket a truly waterproof piece of outerwear.
The only downside that comes from wearing such waterproof material, is the sound you make while walking in this jacket. It’s a little bit crinkly due to the use of the GORE-TEX Pro membrane. That being said, would you rather make a little a bit of noise while staying dry, or do you prefer being wet and cold while sneaking around quietly? The choice is a no-brainer.
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Amazon US$729.95ViewAmazon.com Price: $729.95 (as of 09/26/2023 22:08 MDT) Details
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Burton AK 3L Hover Fit
This shell is designed to be used with layers and offers plenty of room to do so. Burton’s [ak] Hover 3L Jacket comes in a regular fit. To be honest I felt it was a little on the tall/long side, which I personally like in a snowboard jacket. At 5’11 155lb I had plenty of room in a size Medium.
I really dig the 2 deep chest front pockets, especially for splitboarding. You can easily put a compass and phone in one pocket and an avalanche notebook in the other. Being able to have these crucial pieces of your kit easily accessible, is one of the reasons I pick this particular jacket to use day in day out for touring and working in the backcountry.
The Hover Jacket also comes with a removable powder skirt, however not sure why you would ever want to take this off a snowboard jacket that was designed and built for playing in deep snow.
Overall Impression
With a lifetime warranty, it’s will be hard to find another jacket that will outlast the [ak] line from Burton. If you are serious about spending time in the snow and want a piece of outwear you can trust and rely on, the Burton [ak] GORE-TEX 3L Hover Jacket ($629.95) is the best jacket money can buy, especially if you enjoy supporting snowboard brands.
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