Cold Tested: FXR Tactic Air Jacket And Mission Pant

fxr Jacket
The FXR Mission Lite pant’s instep and hem are reinforced to prevent wear caused by rubbing against a snowmobile chassis. Click to enlarge.

Thanks to the pre-curved sleeves and stretchy cuffs, the jacket’s fit is extremely comfortable – even when worn over a TekVest and under a backpack. It allowed me to move freely when I jumped from one side of a sled to the other or ducked under an onslaught of tree branches.

And if you’re looking for warmth and protection from the harsh winter elements, don’t let the “uninsulated” description mislead you – this stuff is warm. From a minus 18 degrees F day aboard a snowbike, which offers nothing to protect its rider from the elements, to a balmy ride in late April when temperatures exceeded 40 degrees, this FXR gear kept me comfortable with appropriate layers underneath.

I stayed dry inside the HydrX Pro moisture shield during every ride because it was breathable and vents on the chest and biceps helped let out heat and steam. The main zipper, pockets and vents have full plackets for durable construction. There is an external chest pocket on each side of the sternum and two side pockets at the waist of the coat, and they are lined with fleece.

Moving below the waist, the Mission Lite Pant is a convertible style with an ingenious attachment method to zip off in the rear and disconnect the straps from the front. Along the waistband are two vertical flaps/straps with hook-and-loop mates. These flaps are fed through a plastic D-ring to fasten the suspender to the front of the pant, so when unfastened, the plastic clip remains on the suspender. Depending on personal preference, this makes it easy to swap from bibs to pants – I wore them as bibs. I appreciated the cinch belt with adjustable hook-and-loop side straps so I could tighten the waistband for a good fit.

Lightly insulated, the Mission Lite pant kept my legs warm and dry by combining a nylon shell with moisture shield and sealed seams. The inner thigh vents are convenient for people who tend to get warm. Storm cuffs at the bottom of the pre-curved pant legs and the bootlace retention system work to keep snow from entering a boot.

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