Snowboarding is a vast landscape and it seems that brands are entering the sphere every single day. With brand saturation and a quick moving world, it can be a troubling task to weed out the good from the bad. Luckily, brick and mortar stores such as ourselves are here to make the task exponentially easier. As your local shop, it is our job to present brands and products that we truly believe in and align with. One such brand is 686. And approaching their 33rd year as an independent brand, the fire is burning brighter than ever.
686 continues to set themselves apart with constant innovation and a deep thought process that goes into every stitch and every pocket of their products. They move with intention and it is felt every time you put on a piece of 686 outerwear. As winter draws near and the weather begins to shift, albeit a painfully slow shift, we wanted to highlight some of our favorites from 686.
A brand that is known for pushing the envelope of technical outerwear development, 686 introduces a new iteration of a fan favorite, Thermagraph. Thermagraph Warm is a strategically placed, body mapped insulation that lives within the Womens Hydra Jacket. Using an 85% recycled Infiloft insulation, these jackets keep your vital areas warm while keeping moisture out. Perfect for long days at the resort in any condition. NEW for this winter is a take on thermagraph that is designed with movement in mind; Thermagraph Active. Rather than an Infiloft insulation, Thermagraph Active is going to provide warmth and breathability through strategically placed Graphene Thermal Fleece panels. This very soft microfleece is designed to keep warmth in all while being breathable in changing conditions. Featured in the GT Jacket that pairs with PFAs free Gore-Tex to provide the utmost warmth and dryness.
Since the early days, 686 has been known for Smarty, a 3-in-1 system that provides warmth and a technical appeal all while remaining true to the brand ethos and style. This year, Smarty gets a few updates. One of our early season favorites is the Rodeo 3L Jacket. Featuring large pockets, large vents, and new in the Smarty lineup, a removeable vest. Not only does the Rodeo Jacket give you multiple options of how to wear, but it is also just a straight up good looking piece of outerwear. Weather-proofed zippers and a Black Fracture print give the Rodeo a clean yet technical look while Smarty keeps you comfortable for long days no matter where you're at.
686 was born in the city and raised in the mountains. Taking the spirit of LA's skateboarding scene to the hills was where Mike West first fell in love with snowboarding and snowboardings culture. Throughout the years, 686 has paid homage to these roots by coming together with likeminded brands and offering collections of collaborated products that speak to wide range of audiences. This year is no different. One such collaboration for this winter is with the one and only HUF, a brand born from the mind of skateboardings late, great Keith Hufnagel. Taking hints from Hufs past, the collaborative Double H Jacket provides a few hidden "plantlife" features such as an internal print. Additionally it has 5 external pockets, one of the arm for, well, extra-curricular activities. You'll know it when you see it. Pair that up with a matching pant and you've got yourself a collaborative kit that will make people stop you in the lift line.
Another collaboration for this winter feels just at home at the resort as it does at the race track. 686 paired up with Anti Social Social Club to provide an F1 inspired kit that has already been moving in the store. Featuring an Anorak that is co-branded and provides just the right amount of "if ya know, ya know". Paired with a pant that is every bit as tantalizing and co-branded, you'll be ready to burn rubber.
If you've gotten this far into this blog post, now could be a good time to re-visit 686's snowboarding film from a few seasons ago, Atlas, and get STOKED for what they have coming down the pipeline this winter. Maybe they've got a new video? Maybe there are limited collections dropping later in the season? Time will tell. Until then, browse the collection of amazing 686 outerwear and technical apparel that is housed in our four walls and get yourself that jacket that you've been putting off. We'll be thinking cold thoughts. See you out there.
-Milo.