I’ve worn a lot of different ski jackets over the years—waterproof, breathable shells from the biggest names in outdoor technical apparel—Patagonia, Arc’teryx, Outdoor Research, Norrøna, Dynafit, Black Diamond, Helly Hansen, Stio, etc.
For the most part, they’ve all done a great job keeping me dry and protected in stormy weather, but very few have fit the way I wanted them to. Some are long in the arms. Others are tight in the shoulders or too roomy in the torso. It’s a familiar story: one brand’s large is another brand’s medium, and some brands are known for trim cuts while others for roomy cuts. Finding the right fit in a ski jacket takes trying on various models from different brands. Until now, that is. MADE is bringing custom-fit technical ski jackets (and pants) to the masses.
MADE Apparel
MADE Custom Technical Apparel launched on Indiegogo in March of 2021, and now they’re live, offering made-to-measure ski jackets and ski pants.
The big picture vision is that you can choose material and design features from a curated list of options and have a jacket or pants sewn to order that meets your measurements. You run through the design options on the MADE website, submit your measurements via their AI measurement software, and your new gear ships in a few weeks.
Material Options
The first step in designing your new MADE outerwear is choosing one of two material options—the bomber waterproof, breathable construction of Sympatex or the lightweight waterproof, breathable build of Polartec Neoshell (pants are only available with Sympatex). Both materials feature proven waterproof, breathable membranes akin to GORE-TEX. Sympatex is on the heavier, more durable side with a higher waterproof rating, while Neoshell is on the lighter, more packable side with a higher breathability rating.
Once you pick the fabric, you choose from a small selection of colors, multiple pocket placements and feature options like hood design, pit zips, cuff type, etc. You can spec the jacket (or pants) to meet your feature preferences.
Custom Fit is the Clincher
The material and design choices are a great perk of buying a MADE ski shell or pants. But it’s the custom fit that sets MADE apart from the mostly-alike world of quality outerwear. When you know the materials, design and craftsmanship are all similar, proper fit keeps you using a jacket season after season.
How Does MADE Work?
The design and fit process are pretty simple. Once you design your jacket or pants on the MADE website, your measurements are taken with an AI-based phone app.
There’s no need to pull out the measuring tape and wonder if you’re measuring correctly. The app takes your measurements based on a front and side photo taken with your phone. It even directs the distance and angle of the camera. The process requires stripping down to baselayers or underwear to get accurate measurements. The whole ordering process takes about 10-15 minutes from start to finish.
How Does the Jacket Fit?
Of course, the first thing I did upon receiving my MADE jacket was try it on. And I must say, it fits great. It’s not too tight or too loose. From the arm length to the waist and the overall cut, it truly fits like it was made to measure. Its trim while still having room to layer, and the arm length—the typical fit issue on jackets for me—is spot on. The AI process nailed it.
How’s the Jacket’s Finish?
I’m a light-is-right guy, and the target use for my MADE jacket is ski touring. So, I went with the Polartec NeoShell® material option. NeoShell is the lighter of the two choices, and according to Polartec, NeoShell is the most breathable waterproof membrane fabric on the market.
Without getting into the tech, NeoShell is definitely on the higher end of the breathability scale. As far as being lightweight, NeoShell is lighter than a traditional GORE-TEX 3-layer but not quite as light as, say, Paclite or similar 2.5-layer membrane fabrics. But it’s also more durable than a 2.5-layer fabric.
If you’re looking for ski pants or a jacket for resort wear, go with MADE’s Sympatex fabric option. If you need a ski jacket for touring or hiking, go with the NeoShell (pants are only available with Sympatex).
The NeoShell has a small amount of stretch to it. It’s also less crinkly than some ski shells I’ve worn but does not have what I would call a softshell feel.
I went with a pretty stripped-down model, but not the most basic. It includes velcro cuffs, pit zips, a bicep pocket, large hand pockets and a small inside chest pocket. All zippers are water-resistant YKKs and have a nice tactile rubber pull tab. The overall finish and seam taping are excellent and on par with any of the top-tier brands.
Bottom Line – It’s a Quality Jacket
MADE offers no-compromise outerwear using respected materials with excellent design and finish work and the ability to specify your desired features. But what sets MADE apart from other leading outerwear brands is the made-to-measure fit. So, on top of getting a well-made shell with proven materials, you get an unmatched fit experience.
How does the cost of a MADE ski jacket compare to the big brands? It’s comparable, if not a little bit more expensive, depending on what materials the comparison jacket features. You can expect to pay $600+ for a jacket and $500+ for pants, depending on your chosen features. You can find a less expensive ski shell or pants, but you’re unlikely to find outerwear that will fit better.
Learn more about MADE Outerwear
Read about some of our favorite ski jackets, or get techy with our GORE-TEX Guide.
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