Spyder Amp Review

The Amp is Spyder's low price-point model. For the price, it has many handy ski features incorporated in the insulated ski jacket.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

Insulated with Thinsulate, the Spyder Amp kept us relatively warm on the slopes. It is slightly warmer than the Obermeyer Josie and the Arc'teryx Meta - Women's. We did feel a draft through the front zipper when ripping the corduroy at high speeds, which made this jacket colder overall.

Water Resistance

The Amp uses Spyder's proprietary “Spylon” DWR (durable water resistant) coating to treat their jackets. We found this treatment added a decent amount of water resistance to the stretch polyester shell material, but with a thorough dousing the material eventually absorbed water. The Amp does not have watertight zippers or other advanced waterproofing technology, such as is found on the Arc'teryx Meta.

Ventilation

Unfortunately the Amp is the only jacket we tested that does not have pit-zips for extra ventilation.

Ski Features

Spyder's specialty is ski jackets, so the Amp comes loaded with them. We like the Amp's comfy wrist gaiters and powder skirt that keeps fluffy powder out of the waistband. It also has a pass pocket with a goggle chamois inside and a large mesh goggle pocket on the interiror. The hand-warmer pockets are completed with a soft micro-fleece lining.

Style

When wearing the hot-pink version of this jacket we felt like we were wearing our mom's ski jacket from the mid 1990's. We think that the cut is quite boxy and un-flattering. The asymmetrical placement of different colored material seems interesting in theory, but for some reason it seems to accentuate curves in a way that is not desirable. The plus side is that the Amp comes in a variety of colors, and any one is better than the pink.

Comfort and Fit

The Spyder Amp is relatively comfortable. Its material is stretchy and moves easily when we are skiing. Unfortunately, the jacket fits a bit small and the sleeves and hemline both feel short. Our medium sized tester, who is normally a size 8 or 10, found the size 10 jacket to be a bit snug, and it was hard to wear a layer underneath.

Best Applications

Spyder makes jackets for the ski resort and this is no exception. We would wear this jacket on the ski hill, but would not feel comfortable wearing it around town.

Value

Spyder jackets are generally a high-end product at high-end prices, so at $300 the Amp is a good deal for a jacket from this brand. However, the materials feel low quality and the jacket is not very flattering. We think that for around the same price the Flylow Jane and the Orage Loulou are both better looking and quality products for your money.

Conclusion