Can only the well established big guns produce high quality functional ski wear? That is the presumption the team at Saami are determined to dispell. They set themselves an awesome challenge.. to produce a product that can not only beat the big guns on price but also stick it to them when it comes to functionality, durability and performance.
I received my Saami Kemi jacket at the beginning of last season. The goal being to test it out in a multitude of conditions and report back what I found. Why pick me? Well..over the years I have amassed quite a collection of jackets..they are my guilty pleasure. My parents house still has a large cupboard at the top of the stairs jammed full of them. Every time I visit I get the “if you don’t take them away we will throw them in the river” speech. I am thankful that, to date, no jackets have been harmed or mysteriously vanished. Due to my jacket addiction and the fact I do a heck of a lot of skiing in sometimes far from optimal conditions I reckon I was just the man to put it through its paces.
I was slightly suspicious by how light the package was when it was delivered “erm..have they forgotten to put the jacket in this?”. I tore it open and was very happy with what I saw.
The jacket is constructed in 3 layers:
1 – Outer Shell – a sturdy barrier for the ultimate protection from wind, rain and snow. It is also clever enough to let the moisture created by your body during strenous activity escape.
2 – A layer of thinsulate insulation. Light and ultra warm to keep you toastie when the temperature plummets and the wind starts howling.
3 – A soft smooth and comfortable inner lining.
The Kemi has a removable hood (I always leave attached and question the wisdom of those who detach and leave at home when heading out to the mountains), three large outer pockets, two mesh inner storage areas (perfect for spare goggles/gloves/hats etc) and a cleverly designed inner zip pocket that can be accessed without opening the jacket and exposing yourself to the elements. There are large under arm vents that can be opened to let in some fresh air during those warm sunny spring skiing days at the end of the season.
During last season I tested it in some pretty horrendous conditions in the Scottish mountains. For those of you not familiar with the Scottish winter climate let me fill you in. Our mountains are very exposed, there are few trees and by virtue of our northern maritime climate we can be witness to extremely varied and changeable weather. Once you are up there you have very little shelter from the elements. You need to have total faith in the clothing you wear and the equipment you carry. The jacket kept me safe, warm and dry. It withstood 80mph winds, driving rain, heavy snow, exceptionally low temperatures and also managed to keep me cool when needed during the exertion of touring.
I love my Saami jacket. It’s rugged, rough, smart, professional and functional. It keeps me comfortably warm and dry in whatever conditions mother nature throws my way. Not many clothing items can cover all bases like the Saami Kemi. A job well done Saami. Looking forward to seeing you develop more products in the coming years.
skischooltv.com 