ABOVE: The Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Jacket and Bib by Mountain Hardwear in the wild. Photo: Cole Barash
Minimalist design is all the rage these days. But in certain circumstances, less isn’t more. Sometimes, more is more. That’s what comes to mind when I’m wearing the Mountain Hardwear Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Jacket and Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Bib. This outerwear was clearly created by shredders who know the best designs are in the details. With their pinnacle kit, the Mythogen, Mountain Hardwear didn’t hold back attention from even the smallest specifics.
The first thing that really stood out to me about the Mountain Hardwear Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Jacket was what I found in its chest pocket. More specifically, inside the chest pocket there are smaller pockets for internal organization, including an insulated pocket that’s perfectly sized for a smartphone.
Details, details, details. Mountain Hardwear's outerwear is chock-full of 'em. Here's a better look at the insulated pocket found within the chest pocket of the Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Jacket. Photo: Ben Shanks Kindlon
The Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Jacket is built to withstand backcountry expeditions. The shell is made of a 3-layer GORE-TEX PRO ePE shell fabric that is extremely efficient regarding waterproofing and breathability. Although built with durability in mind, it doesn’t prioritize warmth, as with most backcountry-focused pieces which allow for layering to regulate temperature. But as experienced riders and skiers themselves, the folks who created this jacket know firsthand that our phones die quicker in the cold. So, to see a pocket built specifically to hold a phone and preserve its battery life was my first indication that the Mythogen Gore-Tex Pro Jacket is chock-full of meaningful details that are all too often overlooked in snowboarding outerwear.
When I first put on the Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Jacket, it somehow simultaneously delivered feelings of freshness and familiarity. I had the buzz that comes with wearing a crisp, cool new jacket coupled with a sense that I already knew this article of outerwear well. Juxtaposed by the new Gore-Tex crinkling until it really was broken in after a few days of riding, the jacket’s comfortable fit and ergonomically placed pockets fueled the feeling that this piece of outerwear was already a staple in my closet.
A head-to-ankle view of Mountain Hardwear's Mythogen Gore-Tex Pro Jacket in Desert Yellow, Olive Gold and Black coupled with the Mythogen Gore-Tex Pro Bib in Black. Photo: Cole Barash / Mountain Hardwear
I’m 5’10” and weigh roughly 165lbs. For the Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Jacket I went with my usual size, medium, and feel that it fits true to it. On Mountain Hardwear’s website, the Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Jacket is described as having a “Relaxed Fit: A roomier and more progressive fit.” Now, if you’re from the Marc Frank Montoya era, you might not see it quite the same way. But as far as highly technical Gore-Tex outerwear goes, I can attest that the Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Jacket certainly qualifies as a relatively “Relaxed Fit.” It serves up a very solid balance between being form-fitting and receiving the practical benefits that come with that, while still allowing for just enough bagginess that it looks more badass than granola. It’s a jacket that can serve the most function-focused among us on the skin track, or in stormy, whiteout conditions. But it can also look at home on someone who’s barreling into a backcountry kicker, or even just lapping their local resort and terrain park.
The Mountain Hardwear Mythogren GORE-TEX PRO Jacket features 3-layer GORE-TEX PRO ePE shell fabric, which is highly waterproof and wind resistant, yet breathable. The ePE (expanded polyethylene) membrane is lighter and thinner than older GORE-TEX shell fabric and, quite notably, is PFAS-free. A bonus for your skin and the world around us.
The jacket features a "respirator collar" with perforations for when you're huffing and puffing your way uphill. The added breathability is especially important for when you’re traveling uphill, for obvious reasons. Under the arms are easily reachable zip vents, and the inside of the coat features two internal drop pockets that are large enough to hold skins. The hood is helmet compatible, and there’s a cinch on the back to adjust the hood to a tighter fit for when you’re not wearing a helmet. If the hood isn’t in use at all, it’s designed to snap back and fold in on itself to keep a low profile. This detail came in handy when I was getting reacquainted with the steel on opening day at my local ski area. Because another thing I can attest to is that having a hood flapping in your face when you’re trying to slide or spin off metal off is less than ideal.
Again, it’s the attention to details and how they will benefit the wearer on the mountain that get me stoked on the Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Bib. Oversized zippers that are easy to grab when you’ve got gloves or mitts on. Two chest pockets with internal organization. Two hand pockets with gear loops and internal organization. Two thigh pockets with internal organization.
The Men's Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Bib in Olive Gold. The bib is also available in Black. Photo: Cole Barash / Mountain Hardwear
For those of us who like to have their phone in their pants pocket instead of in their chest pocket, or for days when you’re riding without the jacket, having all these options is awesome. In the past I’ve had pants that only had deep hand pockets with no internal organization, which sometimes led to the phone ending up in positions that were less than favorable when I was riding. If I’m being picky (which, today I am), my only suggestion to Mountain Hardwear would be to include insulated phone pockets in the Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Bib hand pockets as well.
Like the jacket, the Mythogen Gore-Tex Pro Bib is made with 3-layer GORE-TEX PRO ePE shell fabric. The GORE-TEX PRO It has the bells and whistles you’d expect from any high end snowpants or bibs, like a cinch to go around your boot. But one feature that I’d never had on any other snowpants or bibs until this pair is the full rear rainbow zipper configuration. Yup, these pants unzip from the back. Now, imagine you’re snow camping, and your outhouse is an igloo, and your toilet is made of snow. You’d really hate to have to drop your pants all the way to your ankles before squatting down. The full rear rainbow zipper configuration on the Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Bib allows for easy access to those sorts of backside drop-ins.
A look at the backside of the Mountain Hardwear Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Bib and its full rear rainbow zipper. Photo: Cole Barash / Mountain Hardwear
On top of all the fun and fancy specs, the Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Bib is comfy and flexible where it counts. Like its suspenders made with stretch woven fabric. Or the pockets which sit high on the chest, and the upper panels being slightly softer than the rest of the bib. allowing for that much more freedom of movement than if the same material went all the way up your chest. And on the flipside, the bibs are rigid and durable where it counts, too. Like in the reinforced kick patches that extend around the bottom hem to keep the material from ripping bottom-up.
IN CONCLUSION
The Mountain Hardwear Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Jacket and Bib are on the higher end of the market, but you get what you pay for with these pieces of outerwear. If you’re a serious backcountry expeditionist, or even someone who just spends a lot of time sitting on wet chairlifts in sideways-falling-snow conditions (looking at you, PNW), the Mountain Hardwear Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Jacket and Bib are certainly worth the investment.
The Mountain Hardwear Men’s Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Jacket retails for $800.
The Mountain Hardwear Men’s Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Bib retails for $700.
Use Mountain Hardwear’s Store Locator to find a retailer in your area or order directly from Mountain Hardwear’s website.
Posing with my dog, Tindy, after a day of sliding steel at Mt. Snow, VT. The breathability of the Mountain Hardwear Mythogen GORE-TEX PRO Jacket and Bib make the kit a great choice for skin tracks and hiking terrain parks alike. Photo: Sophie Bille
ABOUT THE TESTER
Age: 33
Height: 5’10
Weight: 165
Jacket size: Medium
Bib size: Medium
Years riding: 25
Home mountain: Mt. Snow, VT / Mt. Baker, WA
Riding style: Freestyle-focused, all-terrain animal