Black Diamond

Recon Stretch Ski Shell - Men's

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review Initial testing of the BD Recon Stretch Jacket gets me excited to use it for the resort and backcountry this season. It feels quite a bit more durable than many of the jackets I’ve skied with in the past, and while a bit heavier, I think it will hold up to getting scuffed by trees when the skiing gets tight (something that has ended previous jackets). While I haven’t had the chance to test it on snow, I wore it during a wind storm in temps around the mid 40s and it did an excellent job of blocking wind and retaining warmth. The adjustable hood and attachment at the neck meant I could block out almost all of the wind. I think this will definitely prove beneficial on some of those high wind days in the backcountry. The fit is a good blend of space for layers, but not being so boxy that it is uncomfortable, and the snow skirt stays out of the way but still creates a tight seal. The additional stretch means I have a high level of mobility and never feel as if I am straining the jacket. The placement of the pockets is perfect for what I need and having a sleeve pass holder is a perfect perk for skiing the resort. The two internal pockets were able to fit my skins (172cm skis) without feeling insecure or pulling too hard on the material. Overall I’m excited to test this jacket out and put it through some harsh environments over the next 7 months.

Functional and Durable

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Initially out of the box this shell has a great modern ski fit (a little baggier) and I was most thrilled to find the arms to be more than long enough with high quality Velcro at the ends. I immediately packed the shell into its hood and was very surprised by how small it packs for a fully featured more durable shell. Quality wise the shell feels super durable with nice zippers and an awesome hood to pull over the helmet on stormy days. While it's not quite ski season yet here in Montana I got out in the mountains a couple times in the past week where a couple feet of snow have fallen and managed to find myself a classic two hour bushwhack up to a peak in hyalite. Looking it over I don't see any damage or scratching to the outside of the shell and when I got up higher in the wind it performed phenomenally. I did some belly sliding down snow (and rocks) on the deproach and didn't manage to get wet. Only a few things could really make this shell better for what it's meant for. The hood cinch feature is a single pull for both front closure and head size, while pretty rad in theory I would love to have the functionality of choosing which dimension I want to change. An extra chest pocket would be really nice, especially as a lefty that loves to store my phone in those pockets, but that's very minor. Also this years shell features the pass/arm pocket a little lower sort of on the forearm, previous generations had the pocket higher up near the shoulder that I really loved. and a final minor critique on design would be that the hood doesn't directly connect to the front of the jacket where it ends creating a strange collar situation that looks a little weird and I could see holding a lot of snow and funneling wind into your face. Possible improvement aside I'm really stoked to be wearing this shell for the season! It will be accompanying me on many long days on the skin track and some deep resort days where it's clearly meant to be. But also the durability and functionality will with a decently small packing size will make it a huge asset on some big mountaineering objectives and a lot of ice climbing. Aside from functionality the yellow color is pretty rad and the shell looks great. I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review.

Men’s recon stretch ski shell

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Just received my Recon Stretch Shell a few days ago. For reference, I am 6’3” and weigh around 215. The fit is great. It has plenty of room to layer but doesn’t feel baggy. The sleeves stay down over my wrists even at full arm extension, which is something I really appreciate. I walked my dog in an absolute downpour and stayed completely dry. The shell material is soft and quiet, but still tough enough to handle tree branches and being shoved in and out of a pack. The material is also a little thicker, making it warmer than other shells I’ve used. The hood clearly works best with a helmet, but it still functions well if you really cinch it down. The pocket layout makes sense, although I am not sure if they are large enough to hold a set of skins. Overall, it feels like a solid, well-built jacket that I can rely on through winter. I am looking forward to putting it through its paces in the backcountry and the resort. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a weatherproof and versatile shell. Black Diamond sent me this free product for free in exchange for my honest review.

A Solid and Versatile Jacket with nice Features

The BD Recon Stretch Ski Shell is a great all-around jacket with a robust build quality and thoughtful features that add to its versatility. The jacket is heavier than some others, but that adds to its durability and gives me confidence that it's built to last. The boxier fit allows for a generous amount of layering. Feature-wise, I love the seam-sealed pit zips, the ski pass pocket on the forearm, and the two big drop pockets on the inside. My favorite feature is definitely the removable powder skirt, which is a big part of what makes this jacket so versatile. It zips on at the bottom and stays fairly secure in use. My only real gripe about the jacket is the main pockets. They sit lower than I’d prefer (I like higher pockets to rest my arms more comfortably), and the design opts for storm flaps instead of seam-sealed zippers, which I would prefer to have in order to keep my phone and wallet dry. All together, the Recon Stretch Ski Shell is a feature-rich jacket with far more upside than downside, and given its build quality, thoughtful design, and versatility, it punches well above its weight—especially at a price point that undercuts many comparable options on the market. I’m excited to get out on the slopes this winter and put it through its paces. I did receive this product for free in exchange for my honest review.

Men's Recon Stretch Shell

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Full disclosure: I received this jacket for free in exchange for an honest review, but I actually bought the same model four years ago on my own and have absolutely put it through the wringer. It’s been my primary resort shell with over 100 days on it across 9 states and 2 provinces. I’ve worn it in everything from thigh-deep blower pow in the Wasatch to classic rainy days in Alaska. The only time moisture really penetrated it was after being out in the rain for a while in Alaska and Whistler. Functionally, it checks all the boxes: * RECCO-equipped * Two internal stash pockets (perfect for gloves) * Removable powder skirt that actually works * Left sleeve resort pass pocket * Bilateral pit zips * Chest zip pocket * Stays dry in wet conditions Honestly, there aren’t any major downsides I’ve found, and I can’t think of anything significant I’d change. The photo shown is the older colorway, but the updated version is a lighter forest green. I’ve heard is from ski partners saying the darker tone can make it tough to spot me from afar on storm days. It's not the lightest jacket, but it has a softshell feel with a hardshell function. The stretchiness of the material really adds to the comfort of the jacket. One thing I noticed is that when I forget to close my pit zips and hand pockets on powder days, my jacket ends up filling up with snow. I end up pulling out pockets full of snow and having to empty the snow skirt from the inside. Maybe there's a way to extend the fabric over the entrance of the pockets to help reduce unwanted snow. Overall, it’s been bombproof for me and continues to be the jacket I reach for when conditions are unpredictable.