January 3rd, 2010 by JT

Outerwear choices are plenty for most people, but for us bigger guys, it can be rather hard to find a jacket that fits properly in all areas.   This year I decided to check out what 686 was offering.  686 has a reputation for having a bigger fit with their outerwear, and of course a great reputation for design and quality.   I picked up the 686 Smarty Command Jacket in Cyan in size XXL, as it’s one of only a few jacket designs available in XXL from 686 this year.

Smarty Command XXL

Honestly I wasn’t sure how popular this color-way would be with the striped design, but come to find out, I’m ending up seeing myself all over the mountain just about everywhere I go.  This weekend at Winter Park, I ran into three others wearing the same jacket, and at Keystone previously there were about eight or nine people riding the same jacket.

686 Smarty Command Jacket -Cyan

First things first, 686 has put some thought into the jacket, as there are numerous pockets through-out the jacket, all easily accessible even when riding.   The left sleeve includes a season pass holder hidden on the cuff, easily accessed via a velcro latch.

Nifty Season Pass Holder Hidden in the Sleeve

Fit can be tricky for bigger guys, especially in outerwear.  I found the Command jacket fit really well in all areas, chest width, shoulder width, and overall length of the jacket.  It’s not overly baggy, but gives us bigger guys enough room to move around in.   To give some general information.  I generally wear an XXL shirt, and in some cases a 3XL shirt, and this jacket fit my chest without being tight in the shoulders or underarm area.

The shell of the jacket itself is pretty thin, and you may find that on cold days you want ensure you use the zip-in liner, or a base layer for added warmth.  When the zip-in liner is used, the jacket kept me pretty warm on some cold days, and wind wasn’t an issue. My only complaint would be the fleece liner itself.  If you’re really active and sweating, the fleece can hold some of that moisture in the fabric making it cold during lift rides.  Just something to keep in mind when using the zip-in liner, and of course your experience may differ.

Smarty Fleece Zip in Liner

The durability of the fabric and build quality of the jacket seems to be in line with 686 standards.  The stitching is done properly, and all seams are fully taped.   The only issue I noticed was self-induced by the way I carry my board when hiking, or walking.  I tend to carry my board against my jacket, with the edges touching the jacket.  I didn’t realize this until recently, and it can result in discoloration of fabric, and/or seam stitching becoming undone.   Again, this wasn’t a 686 build quality issue, but rather, a user issue, with letting the edge of my board rub against the jacket itself.

To sum it up currently,  if you’re looking for a good jacket that fits us larger guys, and don’t mind the price point ~$289 or so, the 686 Smarty Command is a solid piece.  Available in multiple color-ways, including the Cyan-Stripe, and Black-Strip as well as solid colors,  the jacket is definitely a great piece.  Sizes available in L, XL, and XXL.

**Disclaimer: I purchased this Jacket with my own funds **