Moment Bantam Jacket and Pants
Size: Large
Color: Red
Jacket features:
- 20k/15k waterproof/breathable
- 100% distressed and waxed polyester fabric
- Fully taped seams
- YKK zippers -Jacket-to-pant interface
- 18” underarm vents
- Fleece-lined zippered front pockets
- Phone/Music pocket with cord routing guide
- Internal goggle pocket
- Tall collar with rib knit trim
- 3-piece helmet-compatible hood
Measured zipper-length: 31”
MSRP: $299
Pant features:
- 20k/15k waterproof/breathable
- 100% distressed and waxed polyester fabric
- Fully taped seams
- YKK zippers
- Zip fleece-lined front pockets
- Dual zip rear pockets
- Articulated knees
- Anti-drag cuff tabs
- Built-in adjustable belt
- Microfleece seat and fly
- 11” inner thigh zippers
- Leather cuff trim for fray protection
- Jacket-to-pant interface
MSRP: $220
Reviewer: 6’2”, 160 lbs.
Test Locations: Taos Ski Valley, Alta Ski Area, Summit County, Colorado
Days Skied: 25+
The 12/13 season is Moment’s third year with an outerwear line, and I think they’ve arrived.
Their first year’s line didn’t do a whole lot for me. The muted, pastel colors and some busy lines reminded me of early Saga-wear or Airblaster—it just didn’t look all that unique, and I had heard that durability was questionable.
Last season was a quick, noticeable improvement. Moment’s line really started to look legit thanks to a more honed, unique style, 3L materials, and 20k waterproof ratings.
But this season, I think they found their stride.
I’ve worn the Bantam jacket and pants over the first half of this season. Along with the rest of Moment’s 12/13 line, the Bantam outerwear kit has a distinctive and stand-out style to it. For what it’s worth, I’ve had a number of people comment on how comfortable the pants look or ask who makes the jacket, but most importantly I’ve been surprised by just how well this stuff performs.
Fit
I’ll start with a quick rundown of the fit and sizing of the Bantam jacket. I tested a size Large, which is usually where I start for sizing outerwear, and I think the jacket fits me well. I don’t think you’ll need to size up or down from your typical size to get a correct fit with the Bantam. It has a standard, fairly roomy fit (definitely looser than a super technical alpinist shell) that let me layer a Patagonia down sweater underneath on super cold days, or a hoodie when things were in the 20–32-degree F range.
With a front zipper length of 31”, the Bantam doesn’t have a particularly long or baggy park-style fit, either. Moment’s Classic jacket has a slightly longer, baggier look to it in general.
As for the pants (also size Large), they also have a loose and comfortable fit that doesn’t restrict movement at all, but again isn’t especially baggy. The pants have a slightly fitted look that narrows just a little through the knee (if you’re more a fan of the straight-leg cut, then, again, the Classic pant might be worth a look). My everyday jeans are a 32” waist, and with a little help from the pant’s “built-in belt” and adjustable cinch tabs, they stay up just fine without a belt.
The Look
As far as I can tell, the “distressed” and “waxed” part of the jacket and pants’ fabric has to do with the look and feel of the material alone (not its performance, as I explain below). The texture of the fabric has a pretty rough, thick, and durable feel to it. The material is nice and flexible like a soft shell, and it develops a bit of a lighter washed/distressed look to it in certain areas with a little wear (general rubbing and scuffing on the waxed material), almost like a pair of jeans. On the whole, this gives the fabric a cool and different look to it.
I have been a little bummed, however, to notice that in certain areas, like the jacket’s hem (along the storm flap) and around the wrist cuffs, it lets the material get dirty pretty quickly. I haven’t washed the jacket yet, but I’ll need to sooner than later. Hopefully a wash will get rid of some of the initial wax treatment so it doesn’t get to looking so grimy so fast (dirt and grime does, however, seem to clean off fairly easily as is). I haven’t noticed this nearly as much with the Bantam pants, likely because they’re black instead of the lighter red color of the jacket.
(The Classic jacket and pants don’t have the waxed fabric, and Jonathan Ellsworth, who will be reviewing the Classic kit soon, hasn’t found the material on those to wear in the same way.)
Wind-, Water-, Weatherproofing
Both the Bantam jacket and pants are non-insulated, have fully taped seams, and are rated at a respectable 20k for waterproofing. (For a detailed explanation of waterproof ratings, see BLISTER’s Outerwear 101.)
So far, after skiing in a number of heavy storms and some bone chilling bluebird days, I’m inclined to trust that 20k rating. I’ve never been wet due to moisture or cold due to wind in the Bantam pants or jacket. The jacket performed just as well during inbounds storm-riding conditions as my Trew Cosmic (which is also rated at 20k, but is nearly $200 more retail).