Oakley Pro Series 2011/2012: Lava Jacket and Pant Review
Published on 11/27/2011
By Ted Bendixson
Oakley 2011/2012 Pro Series: Eero Ettala Jacket and Pants Combo
I've been spending the last month of shredding with the Oakley Eero Ettala jacket and pants combo, and let me just say this is as pimp as snowboarding outerwear gets. When you put on a jacket like this, you can't help but feel like the boss - no matter what your station in life. There is an element of simplicity and quality in this gear that very clearly states, "I am a baller, and I am really really good at this."
But it goes beyond mere fashion. I was surprised with how warm and comfortable the pants and jacket felt while riding. I tested them on a very snowy and windy day at Breckenridge. I added in a few extra clothing layers just to be safe, but by midday, I had to shed all of them. The jacket and pants were so warm that my usual layers were making me overheat - all of this on a snowy day.
Loaded with FEATURES
Both the jacket and pants are like a life-sized swiss army knife packed with hidden features you didn't know you needed. I'm a big fan of the shoulder strap (made from the same elastic material you find on Oakley goggles). It's attached to the inside of the jacket, and it's ideal for hiking the 
backcountry or the terrain park. When you're hiking, you generate a lot of heat, so it's nice to have the option to unzip the jacket and allow it to hang over your shoulders while you cool off. I had no idea I needed that...until now.
Other features include a music player / iPhone pocket lined with a microfiber goggle wipe material, a pass clip, colorful magnetic buttons, cargo sized pockets in the pants, spandex wrist gaiters, zip vents in both the pants and jacket, a powder skirt that attaches to your pants, and best of all, bottle openers on both the jacket and pants.
It's all about the little things. There's a nice side benefit to having the goggle wipe in the music player pocket. I rock a white iPod touch while I'm shredding, and I noticed that the inside of the pocket cleans my screen for me - so it's always fresh every time I change songs. On top of that, there's nothing more gangster than pulling a clean white iPod touch out of a pristine white jacket. Well... scratch that... a white iPhone would be more baller.
I keep discovering awesome little things about this gear! Just the other day, the jacket was hanging up in my closet (gotta keep it pristine for the ladies), and I noticed that there's a magnet in the hood. Why is this cool? Well, it keeps your hood poppin' fresh by attaching it to the back of your jacket when you don't have it around your head. Oakley doesn't tolerate a stray hood, and neither should you! This is the jacket that keeps on giving the gift of steeze. (What's next, self-aware goggles that promptly notify you when you've got a gaper gap? A perfect fit for Oakley by the way. I hope you're listening...)
The pants have this sort of bohemian-but-not-really-because-I-can-afford-to-snowboard style to them. They're very comfortable and loose, which definitely adds to the overall thug factor. I like the drawstring. It's a nice touch (especially when I keep forgetting to buy a belt). There are also two giant cargo sized pockets on both sides. They're big enough to carry your lunch if you need it, and they're out of the way so you'll never feel like your peanut butter sandwich is cramping your style.
Athletic Performance
While you're riding, the pants and jacket are a dream. They both have a loose yet athletic fit that keeps you comfortable while allowing you to perform your best. If you're like me, and you prefer one size bigger (strictly for the purpose of 'thugging out'), you'll still feel very free to move about. I was comfortably able to do all of my favorite tricks and then some. Actually, because I wanted to do the gear justice, I ended up putting a lot more style into my tricks.
There's something to be said when you're out riding park, and a pro skier tells you that you look awesome. Yes, that did happen on my first day riding with these. My friends were blown away too. One of them told me it's the best he's ever seen me look on a snowboard. I'll happily take that compliment.
And really, that's what this whole discussion comes down to. You want to look like a baller on the slopes. You want to carry yourself with a certain kind of swagger. Well let me tell you, the Oakley Eero Ettala jacket and pants combo is the best outerwear kit I've ever owned. It's like an Apple product. You start using it. You love the simplicity and quality, and then you discover all these features you can't believe you lived without for so many years.
I have nothing but good things to say about this combo. If you don't own it yet, you don't know what you are missing.
Earn Cash Back on Oakley's Eero Ettala Pro Series Outerwear
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