When Big Bear Mountain Resorts (BBMR) was looking to unify Snow Summit and Bear Mountain’s uniform program last winter, they looked no further than their own Southern California backyard and 686 Technical Apparel. Now for the 2016/17 winter season, 686 and BBMR are introducing Ski Patrol Uniforms to compliment a program that already included outerwear for hosts, ski and snowboard instructors and executives. The unique designs embody the youthful and progressive approach to skiing and snowboarding of the Southern California mountain scene.
“Nearly 25 years ago, I started 686 while working at Bear Mountain during the days of the Outlaw Park,” explained 686 founder and CEO Michael Akira West. “When Dave (Likins) approached us about a year and a half ago to be the official uniform for Bear and Summit, I couldn’t have been more excited. This project continues to bring the last 25 years full circle and I couldn’t be more excited to be involved in the design and production of the 686xBBMR products.”
The new 686xBBMR Ski Patrol uniforms are designed to accommodate everyday patrol and the unique Southern California winter climate. Engineered with a mobile articulated fit, the 2-layer shell jackets and pants boast a 20K waterproof/breathability rating and a moisture wicking lightweight mesh lining to help regulate body temperature in the warmer Southern California sun.
Manufactured from 686’s new Duracore™ thread, the jackets and pants posses some of the highest tensile strength available to prevent rips and tears. Heavy duy anti-abrasion Cordura® fabric panels along the side of the jackets and the pant hem and inner lower leg add extra durability as well. Every fabric color is specially formulated for BBMR using industrial grade dyes that won’t fade over time, which is important since these uniforms see 100+ days of low latitude sun each season in Big Bear, Ca.
686 made sure to include a bevy of pockets on both the jackets and the pants for extra storage. All zippered pockets and vents use waterproof YKK Aquagaurd® zippers with reflective micro zipper pullers. Individual specialty pockets include chest stash pockets designed specifically to house radios perfectly, 686’s own Innie/Outtie™ access phone pocket that allows mobile phones to be accessed without undoing the main center zipper, a “game” stash pocket on the jacket back and hidden double cargo pockets on the pants and an upper arm stash pocket. Every jacket utilizes angular mesh vents on the chest that provide more active cooling when moving forward or standing still than traditional pit vents and all pants have full zip inner leg vents.
Each jacket also showcases custom embroideries and a reflective industrial screen print for identification purposes as well as a custom “Born In Big Bear” inner zipper print to celebrate the true heritage of both BBMR and 686.
“Working with our mountain partners who collectively spend 1,000’s of days on the hill allows us gain real feedback about durability, integration and use of our technical apparel in the snow,” says West. “We are excited to start showcasing some of the materials, fabrication and features we developed with BBMR in our Winter 17/18 collection.”
