Mike Feng Testing out the Obermeyer Chandler Shell Jacket | Photo Joan Konetchy Mountain Weekly NewsThe Obermeyer Chandler Shell Jacket is a high quality shell made for the resort and lift-assisted side-country. It is a relaxed fit jacket with 10,000mm waterproofing and breathability made out of HydroBlock® Sport 100% Polyester Ottoman Weave and HydroBlock® Sport 100% Polyester Ripstop Weave.
It comes in 4 colors (Mars, Sandstone, Stellar, and Suit Up) that are bright enough for you to be easily noticeable among the crowds, but tame enough for you to not particularly stand out like a peacock. The Obermeyer Chandler Shell Jacket weighs 889g, nearly 2lbs, but it comes with a myriad of features useful for the resort.
Adjustable Hood
The hood has two adjustments in the front and one in the back to adjust the hood fit. The releases for the drawstrings are released by a button on each side, and one in the back. The hood, when fully zipped up, has some soft fabric located where the hood meets the mouth, keeping your face and nose comfortable.
The hood is a bit small, compatible with smaller ski-mountaineering or climbing helmets such as the Petzl Sirocco or Black Diamond Vapor, but a little small for the larger resort helmet such as the Smith Mission MIPS. The hood does fully zip with a larger helmet on, however you might not be able to turn your head.
Pockets
This Obermeyer Ski Jacket has 4 exterior pockets, one at the chest, two at the waist, and one on the left shoulder for a RFID ski pass, small wallet, or credit card and/or ID. The chest pocket on the left side is enormous, containing an inner pocket that snugly fits a standard iPhone 12 or wallet, separating it from the rest of the items that you put in the chest pocket. It also contains a drawstring with a clip for a piece of cloth that you can use to wipe your goggles or GoPro.
The chest pocket also has a small hole for wired headphones, additionally there’s a small piece of plastic on the inside of the jacket, about 2.5 inches above the hole to keep wired headphones in place. The two waist pockets that are not harness compatible nor are you able to access the pockets while wearing a backpack with a hip belt buckled in. The waist pockets are lined with a felt fabric, comfortable for your bare hands when hanging out after skiing. The left waist pocket also has a bottle opener on a flat, stretchable cord that is woven into the jacket, also great for tailgating after the resort. The bottle opener is also a useful place to clip your keys, a rockie talkie radio, or a garmin InReach.
For the interior, there is a large drop pocket on the right and a large zipper pocket on the left. This is one of the largest drop pockets I’ve ever encountered and it’s ideal for gloves, goggles, and ski climbing skins. I’m very impressed with the drop pocket, as most jackets don’t have one big enough for bulky skins. Large interior zipper pocket on the left side. This is as big as the exterior pocket. The interior pocket is larger than my hands (9” from thumb to pinky, fully spread out).
Additional Features
Some of the other additional features include a powder skit, pit zips, and adjustable, Velcro wrist cuffs. The powder skirt is not removable, but comes with 4 snap buttons and an elastic bottom to create a snug barrier; when not in use there are additional buttons to snap the powder skirt to the jacket. The pit zips are 15 inches and open downwards for ventilation; while they are easy to open, they may be a bit difficult to close with gloves on.
The adjustable wrist cuffs are made from Velcro, with the hook (rough side) on the adjustable part and the loop (soft side) is the static part. In other polyester jackets I’ve owned, the Velcro has caused damage to the sleeve where the Velcro hook touches. The cuff has an interesting stitching design that focuses the constriction of the cuff in one area.
Obermeyer Chandler Shell Jacket Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Relaxed fit with 10,000mm waterproofing
- Bright color options for easy visibility
- Multiple pockets, including bottle opener
Cons:
- Hood may be small for larger helmets
- Waist pockets not harness compatible
Overall Impression
The Chandler Shell Jacket by Obermeyer ($299.00) is an excellent jacket for the lift-powered days, with pockets big enough for the pocket pizza, wallet, phone, water, and anything else you need for a comfy day at the resort, while bringing extra features like a bottle opener for the end of the day apres and tailgating sessions. It’s comfortable and has enough room for you to put on as many layers as you need, and has the perfect balance of waterproofness and breathability for a dry, continental snowpack such as the Colorado Rockies.
Related Ski & Snowboard Jackets
