2nd Look: Lethal Descent 3L Eagle Jacket

Materials

When I first received the Eagle, I noticed a few details immediately. First was the contrast between the Eagle’s 3LDry fabric and Gore-Tex fabrics I’ve encountered, in a few different aspects.

While my last jacket, the Patagonia PowSlayer, is composed of Gore-Tex Pro Shell and has a thin, papery feel to it, the Eagle is thicker and seemingly burlier. The Eagle’s outer layer is also softer to the touch, with a velvety feel unlike that of any other jacket I’ve ever worn, a nice design element that looks and feels smooth.

But while the Eagle may be a slightly heavier than its competitors (Lethal Descent doesn’t have a listed weight for the Eagle, but it did feel slightly heavier than the PowSlayer, which Patagonia lists at 552g / 19.5 oz., albeit without specifying which size), but it is still a lightweight jacket and didn’t bother me at all.

Waterproofing / Breathability / Ventilation

I tested the Eagle alongside my Patagonia PowSlayer, alternating days and getting a good idea as to how each jacket performs in various conditions. The slightly thicker fabric of the Eagle outperformed the PowSlayer in windproofing—not surprising given the thicker fabric. Strong, icy winds that I could feel through the PowSlayer were not as noticeable in the Eagle, and as the testing period went on, I found myself reaching for the Eagle on windy days.

Also, despite the “soft-touch” fabric of the Eagle, the DWR has maintained its integrity through wet conditions and 20-plus days of use. Water still beads up and rolls off.

The waterproofing of the Eagle is on par with the PowSlayer, too, in my experience. Granted, I haven’t spent time in a northwest rainstorm, but the Eagle has stayed dry through some soggy, socked-in days at Snowbird, as well as some rainy afternoons off-hill, and hasn’t wetted out yet. The zippers have also remained waterproof, and the glossy laminate hasn’t shown much sign of wear up to this point.

The Eagle is a very breathable jacket, too. In fact, the only time I had to use the pit zips (standard mesh-less with waterproof zippers that run smoothly), regardless of temperature, was during hikes. But if I had to choose an area in which it could improve, breathability would be it.

The Powslayer seemed less stuffy in general, and in my experience breathed slightly better than the Eagle during hikes. During a typical hike to Juarez at Taos, for example, I’d be perfectly comfortable in either jacket at lower temperatures, even when really exerting myself. But when things warmed up (30–50 degrees F / -1–10 degrees C), I was slightly less comfortable in the Eagle.

So take your pick: go with the thinner fabric, wider, cut, less wind-resistant, slightly more breathable Pow Slayer, or the thicker fabric, slimmer cut, more wind-resistant, slightly less breathable Eagle. The differences are subtle. (The price, not so much.)

Durability

The Eagle has held up remarkably well to constant abuse. I figured that the soft-touch fabric would abrade around the cuffs and neck, but the only spot that has noticeable wear is the right side zip pocket, which takes constant scraping from my edges while walking around with a board.

The zippers are still running well, the waterproof zipper coatings are maintaining their integrity, and the pockets and elastic haven’t lost any functionality. I have no reason to anticipate that the Eagle is going to fall apart anytime soon—no seams have come apart, and the seam taping is as good as new.

Bottom Line

The Lethal Descent Eagle jacket has the potential to shake up the outerwear market by proving a few things:

First, technical, high-performance outerwear doesn’t have to have an athletic fit that doesn’t cater to freestyle-oriented skiers and riders.

Second (and more importantly), you don’t have to pay $500-600 for a high-end jacket.

In my opinion, the slimmer cut adds some off-hill functionality and style, and is especially nice if, like me, you usually size up for added length but don’t need the extra bulk. Larger riders might find the cut a little restrictive while riding, especially if you like to layer underneath, but except for the collar and the cuff, I didn’t find this to be a problem.

Those who are looking for a stylish side to technical outerwear at an unusually low price should definitely take a close look at the Lethal Descent 3L Eagle jacket.