Sweet Protection Ski Outerwear Gear Review

Norwegian brand Sweet Protection’s origin story begins well before their launch in 2000. Founder and designer Ståle Møller started clandestinely crafting skateboards by hand in the 80s as Norway, if you can believe it, banned skateboarding until 1989. 

What started as a counter culture flowed into the mainstream as Møller perfected his designs. Avid adventurers, Ståle and his compatriots spent their days kayaking and skating, biking and skiing. A dearth of quality gear lead to more and more prototypes and tinkering; prototypes and tinkering lead to the eventual formation of Sweet Protection. 

Image by Drew Zieff

After Sweet Protection was official, Ståle & Co. didn’t hesitate to hit up one of the world’s most respected outdoor athletes: Norway’s most mythological snowboarder, the legendary Terje Håkonsen. With Terje’s input, the company’s products became better and more refined, and, subsequently, outdoor athletes began to regard Sweet Protection as the real deal. 

Though still relatively new in the U.S., this brand is here to stay. Active Junky tested Sweet Protection’s Monkeywrench Jacket and the Supernaut R Pant in Chile this summer and Colorado this winter, and we were beyond impressed by the strength, weight and warmth of these versatile pieces. 

Monkeywrench Jacket

Image by Drew Zieff

Sweet Protection Monkeywrench Jacket A burly, trustworthy freeride companion. Ski edges failed to distress shoulders when sending bootpacks, while the Gore-Text fabric shielded gear testers on rickety chairlifts in swirling storms. In the backcountry, the Monkeywrench performs well. It’s not the lightest weight shell in the Sweet Protection line, but it’s light enough to stash in your pack on sweaty skins and heavy enough to provide ample protection when you transition to the downhill. While the fabric itself is breathable, testers relied on the pit zips when postholing through waist deep snow. As for features, Sweet Protection has stocked this beast with the works: a helmet-compatible, adjustable hood; a powder skirt and a bomber AquaGuard zipper.  Sweet Protection didn’t skimp on pockets, either, supplying the Monkeywrench with a chest pocket, internal audio pocket, two cavernous front cargo pockets and a handy pocket on the shoulder perfect for a scannable season pass.

Tester Quote: “The shell was actually really warm for how light it was. I can wear this anywhere—with the right layering, at least. Hiking, skinning, skiing, sending cliffs. It was all fair game in this sweet, Sweet Protection.”

Bottom Line: If you rely on a combination of a puffy and a shell both at the resort and in the backcountry, the waterproof and windproof Monkeywrench is a solid, versatile choice.

Best For: Alternating between resort and backcountry skiing

Sweet Protection Supernaut R Pant

Image by Lio DelPiccolo

Sweet Protection Supernaut R Pant A lightweight, big mountain/freeride bib that can handle a bit of billy goating on alpine ascents. The Supernaut R is light—only 1 lb 9.9 oz. – as it’s crafted from ultra-light, waterproof Gore-Tex Pro. Testers noted that the fit flared out from the articulated knees to a slightly wider ankle than expected, but the Cordura reinforced inner hems were able to deal with a stray crampon strike without ripping. While the fabric is unbeatable (Gore-Tex Pro is top-of-the-line when it comes to being both breathable and waterproof), the design is what makes this piece such a backcountry assassin. A transceiver pocket on the chest, large thigh pockets and detachable suspenders all come in handy. Testers loved the full front zip and the easy-to-engage side zips when powering up sidecountry bootpacks in the Rocky Mountains. A stretchy lumbar panel meant a more responsive and less irritating fit, which was appreciated by in-bounds skiers as much as backcountry bound testers.  

Tester Quote: “These were so light, I didn’t think I’d be warm enough. But even with a single pair of long john’s underneath, the Gore-Tex Pro kept me warm when it was 12 degrees out. Scrambling above cliffs, climbing couloirs with crampons, skiing waist deep pow—these pants are primed for all of my favorite action in the mountains.”

Bottom Line: Once you try this bib, you won’t be going back to your old ski pants. Ultra light, strong and waterproof, this smart design is perfect for those who love the uphill as much as the downhill.

Best For: Backcountry skiing, ski mountaineering, deep powder days at the resort.