Been looking at the Norrona Lofoten powershield pro alpha jacket for a while and the green was 45% off at bc.com a few weeks ago, so I took the plunge.
Cliff notes: it's a very breathable, insulated jacket with a durable, stretchy, windproof soft-shell face fabric in a non-euro fit (Norrona calls it "freeride" but I think that's stretch compared to newskool companies). I think it's a great jacket if you're into "active" insulation. I used it in pretty windy conditions, and it seemed to block the wind well. The face fabric is very durable so far -- I hit a dead tree masked by healthy branches hard enough that I thought I broke my arm; it left a nasty bruise but no tear in the jacket. I don't have a ton of experience with other active-insulated jackets like this, but it's seems to breath very well. It's not as warm as some other offerings but the breathability is awesome if you like active or breathable insulation. I think it's definitely worth a look if you're considering a breathable, insulated jacket for skiing (e.g., Arcteryx Proton AR, Patagonia Nano Air, etc).
Some fit/action shots:
For fit reference, I'm 5'11", 165# in the size L. The M fit okay, too, but was pretty tight in the chest/shoulders so I opted for the L. Anyway, I think it's worth a look, though like most high-end garments, not at the retail price.
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