Mountain Hardwear Tuf Gene Coat:  by Jodi Balazs

Mountain Hardwear’s Tuf Gene coat completely changed my life.   Ever since I started wearing it, I had to change my name, go into hiding and join the witness protection program.  Everyone from friends to people I don’t even know are trying to steal my coat.  I even have to hide it from my own daughter.  When I wear it, I’m always on the alert to someone hiding behind the next corner, ready to jump me and take it.  This coat looks so good on and is so practical that everyone wants it.

The Tuf Gene coat by Mountain Hardwear has all the features that women are attracted to.  It’s rugged, stylish, warm and we’re proud to been seen in public with it.  Now if we could find all those qualities in a man so easily.  I love that I can be warm outside in Colorado winter weather and look good without the bulk.  The coat is reminisce of the old style bomber jackets, but satisfies the demands of tough winter weather with its soft shell outer fabric and poly filled inner lining.

 

While this coat brings me loads of compliments, I love that it meets all the demands of my active mountain lifestyle.  I took my stepdaughter downhill skiing over the holidays and wore my Tuf Gene coat with Mountain Hardwear’s Freeride snowpants.  Let me remind you that I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s where we skied in blue jeans and down coats.  In one picture of me where I bit it in a bunch of powder, I look like the Pillsbury doughboy with all the snow stuck to my jeans and wearing that down coat, which made me look like a small planet.  So, you can appreciate how good I felt to be stylin’ on the slopes.  I felt like I was one of those people that get to go back to their rented condos after the lifts close.  And not only was I stylin’, I was warm!!!!

The Tufstretch fabric, which is very similar to a soft shell fabric, repels rain and wind.  Though it’s not 100% waterproof, it’s very water resistant.  You can wear it outside while it’s snowing and not worry about your coat getting soaked.  I put the sleeve under the sink faucet and it repelled all the water right off, leaving little beads in its wake.  It was a windy day when we went skiing but I never once felt the wind go through me.  I wore a mid weight zip neck base layer with a thick fleece pullover underneath and I never got cold.  On the inside of the collar, sleeve and hem is a fleece so soft and silky that it should be illegal.  My kids can’t stop feeling it and every once in a while, I catch myself rubbing my cheek against it.  Not only does the fleece add to the style of the coat, it helps keep those areas warm where cold likes to seep in.  The nice thing about this is that it isn’t just a soft shell coat.  It is insulated with ThermicMicro isulation and keeps you super warm.  

In conclusion, I wear this coat everywhere.  It can go straight from the ski slopes to shopping in Vail.  If you haven’t been complimented lately and are in need of a little pick-me-up, wear Mountain Hardwear’s Tuf Gene coat.  It’s beautiful, practical and warm.  Just don’t blame me if you have to seek out protection from the F.B.I.

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