Gear Review: Mountain Hardwear ChillWave Parka {Video}

{Also known as that time I was completely unprepared and just decided to start talking to a camera}

{Truth}

So, remember how I went winter camping last weekend with Sierra Trading Post? Those guys love their videos so we came up with a plan: they gave me some gear to use and abuse and in return, I’d give it an honest review. The cool thing with reviewing products for STP is that there really is no downside to giving something a bad review if you strongly dislike it. I mean, it’s not like STP makes the products themselves, you know?

However, that wasn’t the case with the Mountain Hardwear ChillWave. I had requested a legit, beast-mode, full-on puffy down jacket that would keep me warm while winter camping, hanging out in Yellowstone in the dead of winter, and any other absolutely-freaking-freezing activity I could think of. Fortunately, the ChillWave has come through and become my bomber parka for frigid wintertime activities. Don’t believe me? Then check out my video review below.

{As a sidenote, please be warned that I didn’t really read the directions very well and didn’t know I’d be doing a video review while we were camping. Once I realized this, I tried to kinda prep myself with a self-made script or something…but then I remembered that isn’t my style! So, the STP crew just turned the camera on and let me start talking…}

Can’t see the video? Click here to check it out.

So yes, I love this jacket! Like I said above, it’s kinda puffy and sometimes makes me feel like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man….but I’m not really bothered by that. This sucker is warm! A few weeks ago, we had a cold snap where the mountains were sitting on zero degree temps, but the snow was great. We wanted to ski, regardless of the cold weather, so I wore the ChillWave. Would y’all believe that I actually got hot?!

Having fun because I’m not cold

If you’re in the market for a new jacket, I also made another video on how to choose a jacket. Remember, if you click on this link, you’ll get 30% of snowshoes, snowshoe poles, avalanche safety gear, men and women’s snowsport clothing and snowsport gloves. That takes the price of the ChillWave down to $183 when it’s usually $262! Did I mention that I’m using my own discount code to buy some avalanche safety gear?!

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Spill: if you could only pick ONE piece of gear to have with you on a desert island, what would it be?