Most gear reviews happen on a damp forest walk. This one involved rappelling down three waterfalls, skydiving from 13,000 feet, paragliding off a mountain, and a three-hour via ferrata — all around Golden, British Columbia, in autumn. The kit under scrutiny: three pieces from the explore x Northern Sun collaboration, launched to mark Explore Magazine's 45th anniversary.
First up, the Chinook Shell rain jacket. The writer wore it over a wetsuit and helmet during a canyoning tour, and the details matter for anyone shopping for a waterproof layer: the hood fit over a climbing helmet and stayed put, water beaded and rolled off the fabric, and after three full waterfall descents the layer underneath — even a ponytail tucked into the collar — stayed dry. Later, on a tandem paragliding flight launched from 1,800 metres on Mount 7 with Altitude Adventures, the shell blocked wind without causing overheating, helped by underarm vents.
The Chinook Sherpa fleece earned its spot during a chilly fall-morning skydive with Skydive Yeti. Worn over a merino base layer, it was soft, breathable and non-bulky, with a stand-up collar that kept the neck warm during the plane ride, freefall and descent. By the end of the week it had become the writer's default mid-layer.
The Packable Down Jacket proved its worth during a full day at Golden Skybridge — axe throwing, rock climbing, a mountain coaster, suspension bridges, ziplining and the Giant Canyon Swing. With autumn clouds rolling in and out, it was a constant add-a-layer, shed-a-layer routine, and the down jacket's lightness and ability to roll up small into a backpack made that easy. On the via ferrata at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, at 2,290 metres, all three pieces layered together comfortably even in size small, without feeling restrictive.
Why should a traveller care? Golden is exactly the kind of destination where this kit earns its keep — a hub for canyoning, skydiving, paragliding and via ferrata where autumn temperatures swing wildly in a single day. If you're planning shoulder-season adventures in the Rockies, the takeaway is a simple, flexible three-layer system: a breathable fleece over a base layer, a packable down jacket for cold snaps, and a waterproof shell with helmet-compatible hood and vents on top. The writer's verdict after a week of abuse: all three pieces earned a permanent place in the adventure wardrobe. For anyone else, it's a useful checklist of what to look for in a layering kit before a mountain trip — regardless of brand.
