Review of EMS New School Sync 3-in-1 Parka
By Matt Smith

Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) has a good thing going. They are a retail chain, that also manufactuers a few of it's own high quality products. In the past we have reviewed packs, tents, and sleeping bags, but never outerwear. In preparation for the upcoming winter, and debut of the New School jacket, we have tested a couple of snow sport specific parkas. One of them is the New School Sync Jacket.

The Sync system is basically the traditional layering approach where you have a shell, and various insulative pieces that can be layered under the shell for the various conditions you might encounter. The thing that sets the Sync 3-in-1 apart is the method of connection. There are no zip-ins. Each compatible layer has a series of loops through which a snap passes, locking it securely to the shell, but not so securely that the pieces can't move independently. This freedom made the somewhat bulky combination of the New School shell and the Thermore liner jacket move and feel much smaller.

The New School shell itself is clearly a statement. From the oversize cargo style pockets to the subtle, yet visible stripes are woven into the fabric, the shell has a killer look. I consistently got comments on how cool it was. The jacket is full-on technology compatible with mp3/cell pockets and headphone wire routing loops, goggle pocket and wipe, a more than functional powder skirt, and huge tabs on the hook and look closures so you can actually use them when wearing gloves. The New School Parka retails for about $150 alone online if you watch for sales.

The Thermore liner Jacket is functional by itself for most cool weather days when precipitation is light or non-existent. It keep you warm around base if you dump of the soaking wet shell. To put the breathability to test, I spent 4 hours in knee deep powder showshoeing with the complete New School system. I was sweating like a pig (on purpose). The liner passed most of the mostuire on through, with the aid of some deep pit zips. The Thermore dried quickly as soon as I took it out of the shell and let it get some fresh air.

EMS was also good enough to hook us up with the Divergence WindPro fleece liner, also part of the Sync 3-in-1 system. The Divergence was excellent on those cold windy days. I could start out fully protected. As the sun would come up and the temperatures would rise, I could strip off the shell, and the Divergence would still protect me from the wind. I spent an entire day at The Canyons resort in frigid 15 degree weather with only the divergence and the New School shell, and was plenty warm. The Divergence is also a great piece for spring and fall day trips when you aren't sure exactly what the weather is going to throw at you.

Summary: THe EMS New School Sync 3-in-1 system is great. There are enough options to outfit nearly anyone, without the corporate markup you find on some name brands. EMS has kept it real, providing excellent quality at a reasonable price. Plus it looks totally phat.

A special thanks to the folks at The Canyons Resort who set us up to test the EMS New School Parka on site. You can learn more about the The Canyons Resort, and our other industry partners on our Partners Page.

For more information contact:
Eastern Mountain Sports
www.ems.com
EMS Customer Service
1 Vose Farm Road
Peterborough, NH 03458
customerservice@ems.com
888-463-6367

Matt Smith is the canyoneering specialist at GearReview.com, and spends his winters making snow angels waiting for the snow to melt out of slot canyons, or insanely venturing into them in a thick wetsuit!