The "Point Success" jacket, off of Eddie Bauer's new "First Ascent" line

Recently, the clothing brand Eddie Bauer has released its new line of jackets, designed to compete with the trend-setting company Northface. First Ascent, Bauer’s new line, features pants, accessories, and three different layers of jackets.  So how do they compare?

Overall, this product line is concentrated on providing everything needed to climb even the highest of mountains. In fact, this gear was recently used on an expedition to Everest’s peak. Of course, few of us will be climbing Everest anytime soon, but by mixing and matching different layers, the gear is well-suited to protect us from Ann Arbor’s brutal winters. In this way, it’s clear that Bauer is clearly attacking a niche in the clothing market that Northface has had on lock-down for a long time.

The three layers of “First Ascent’s” clothing consist of the outerlayer, baselayer, and insulation. The baselayer is similar to an Under Armour or spandex tight-fit shirt, whereas the outerlayer is a typical heavy, hooded winter jacket. However, I personally liked the insulation layer the best; it’s lightweight and fleecy, yet still very warm.

It’s a lot like the (in)famous “Northface jackets” that all of Ann Arbor’s “Northface girls” will be seen wearing this winter. Personally, I own one of these insulation jackets, and I’m pretty satisfied with it so far. For those of you looking for a nice jacket that’ll keep you warm on your way to the party, but is also light and sleek looking enough to keep on at the party, I recommend the Point Success First Ascent jacket. It’s everything you need in a jacket, and frankly, it’s not a douchey as a Northface.