Based in the little mountain village of Åre, in northern Sweden, Peak Performance is a relatively young, boutique brand, created by a couple of skiers – one of them a world-class mogul skier with several World Cup wins to their name. This backstory definitely bleeds through into the look and design of the gear they produce, and as soon as I got hold of it, the Peak Performance Helium Utility Flo Jacket felt different to from more traditional outdoor brands. This is an observation, not a criticism, but sartorial style is definitely deemed more important on the slopes than it is in the woods and on high crags.
Skiers don’t like being cold any more than climbers do, though, so I’d say equal amounts of effort went into making this jacket look good and perform well. I’ve been testing a special edition of the jacket, which is made from leftover fabric. This – plus the fact that (a category this coat overlaps with) and après wear tend to be a bit bolder and louder than other outdoor apparel – means the colorways available are somewhat brighter than I’d usually go for.
Personally, I like to blend in with outdoor landscapes a little more than I’m able to in the two-tone red design I’ve been testing (smart as it is) but there is a black version available in the standard range, plus other less flamboyant colors. Regardless of colors, I have to say, this is a really great-looking jacket. But how does it perform compared to the and on the market? I’ve been trail- a.