ProView – Bergans of Norway Myrkdalen Jacket & Hafslo Pants

Recently I had the opportunity to go to Alaska and ski Alyeska for a few days, and then fulfill a dream many years in the making and take a helicopter to seek out some untouched powder. I was so excited to see the mountains I had only seen in pictures and videos. The steeps! The spines! The bountiful snow! I didn’t want anything to get in the way of enjoying this amazing opportunity, so I knew my gear had to be top-notch. Luckily I got my hands on the Bergans of Norway Women’s Myrkdalen Jacket & Hafslo Pants. (Men’s  jacket & pants also available).

Material

The material on both, a 3-layer breathable hardshell, was truly one of the best-performing I’ve ever worn skiing. In the past I’ve worn ‘waterproof/ breathable’ pieces that have been great in many situations, but have really only held up half the promise when push comes to shove. For instance, they’ll breathe beautifully while hiking or on warm spring days, and will hold up okay in a light storm, but when a serious, wet storm rolls in, it’s game over.

The  Myrkdalen Jacket & Hafslo Pants  are different. The material is waterproof, windproof, and breathable 3-layer Dermizax® fabric, and is one of  the most technical pieces of outerwear I’ve ever laid hands on. Even though it’s completely waterproof, it’s stretchy and soft. The shell is not too thick, but not too thin, and blocks the wind really well, which was great during storms and on the exposed glaciers heli-skiing.

A couple of days before we flew, we were skiing at Alyeska and were hit by long, wet storm that poured snow on us for hours. I was dubious as water drips started to collect on my legs while sitting on the soaking chairlift, but amazingly, my inner layers stayed bone dry throughout the day (partially because the pieces were breathing as I moved). The rest of my crew has to break for a bit to dry out, but I got to continue lapping the fresh snow all afternoon. After about 10 minutes of being inside at the end of the day, the pieces were barely even damp – amazing! The Myrkdalen Jacket & Hafslo Pants also stood the test hiking. The pieces are breathable, stretchy, and have well-placed pit and thigh zips.

Features & Design

Zippers:  I loved that both the pit and thigh zips are relatively short, because they were quick and easy to zip and unzip and didn’t get in the way when open. These zips on the jacket are placed diagonally, right where the airflow is needed, maximizing their utility. I was also pleased that they didn’t have a mesh lining, avoiding the potential to snag the zipper. The zippers on the jacket & pants are completely storm-sealed as well.

Collar and Hood: The jacket has a long, roomy collar that I appreciated when the heli was blowing snow everywhere and during windy storms. The hood is helmet compatible, but isn’t so big that I had to fuss with the adjustments a lot to get it to stay up when I needed it to.

Pockets: I appreciated the well-placed pockets on the pants, including two roomy cargo pockets on the thighs (one zippered for security, one Velcro for easy access) and two small zippered hip pockets on each side. The jacket has two roomy lower front pockets, and an inner mesh pocket in the jacket that’s meant for storing goggles. There is also a small, well-integrated zippered chest pocket, and a zippered pass pocket on the arm. This set was designed especially for Alpine and Telemark skiing, so there is not a pocket for skins.  

Durability: So far I have had zero issues with the durability of these pieces, and the quality of the design and materials is clear. I also loved the reinforced pant-cuffs made to withstand abuse from ski edges.

Special Features: The jacket has a removable powder skirt, as well as the ability to easily zip the jacket and pants together. I enjoyed wearing the set as a suit and loved how much protection it gave me  when I took a digger or had to kneel in the snow waiting for the helicopter.

Style: The color and styling of these pieces were the icing on the cake, and I received a ton of complements. I love long cut of the jacket for the extra protection and modern look. I also liked the mix of the bright orange, burnt orange, dark green (pants) and burgundy (zippers). Definitely a statement-making choice that looks great in photos, something our awesome guide from Chugach Powder Guides pointed out. My friends said the color was good for finding me on the mountain, potentially very useful when traveling in the backcountry or during storms.

Sizing: I found the pieces fit true to size, but I was happy that the pants had a roomier fit (great for hiking) and plenty of adjustability.

Conclusion

There is very little, if anything, to complain about when it comes to this pair. They exceeded my expectations in performance, style and quality. This shell set was basically a dream come true for the variable spring skiing conditions in Alaska, and I know it will be amazing year-round. I highly recommend picking up a set, you won’t be sorry.

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Outdoor Prolink Marketing Manager Mallory is a Colorado native who loves skiing, trail running, backpacking, backcountry coffee and sleeping under the stars.