AKOVA
Men's Legacy Hardshell Jacket
Experience the ultimate in ruggedness, capability, and stretch with the cutting-edge Legacy Hardshell. Created in collaboration with Olympic Champion David Wise and built with TorainĀ® technology from Toray International Inc. This innovative shell is designed to excel in every condition worldwide. Tested rigorously by our team and David Wise himself. It's built to David's exacting specifications, and refined to perfection with proven durability. The result? Longer-lasting, higher-performing waterproof & breathable gear. Comfort in all conditions, precisely placed features, and seasons of lasting performance.
LIFETIME WARRANTY
We stand behind our product quality and warranty the craftsmanship of all of our products for the lifetime of the product within your family.Ā
HASSLE-FREE RETURNS / EXCHANGES
We want you to be 100% satisfied with your purchase. If you are not completely satisfied when you receive our products, you can exchange or return them to us at our cost.Ā
BETTER GEAR. BETTER VALUE
We have over 20 years of experience designing and manufacturing award-winning, expedition-grade outdoor gear and we started AKOVA to make higher performance gear that is comfortable on the mountain, all day long, no matter the weather. By selling directly to our customers and eliminating the middleman retail markup, we are able to use higher performance materials, include more technical features usually only found on top line gear, innovate with groundbreaking technology and materials, and deliver products at a lower price.
Product Video with David Wise
Men's Legacy Hardshell
Our Promise to you
100% comfort guarAnteeā¢
Use your gear with the confidence of our 100% Comfort Guaranteeā¢. If our products don't keep you comfortable then we failed our mission and we will make it right.
If you are not completely satisfied with the waterproofness, breathability, or overall performance, depending on the issue, we will repair, replace, or simply take back the gear and issue a refund*.Ā All craftsmanship and any manufacturing defects are of course covered by our Lifetime Limited Warranty.
Our journey began with a singular mission:
craft the ultimate winter gear
We set out to harness the finest fabrics and manufacturing facilities to create the pinnacle of winter sports gear without being constrained by price points set by retailers. Every design decision was solely made around "we only want the best." We were able to create this jacket at a reasonable cost to you by eliminating retailers and retail markups, passing those savings on to you. This is why you can only buy directly from us on our website and our products are not available at any 3rd party retailers or stores.
selecting the right partner
TORAY INTERNATIONAL INC.
Based out of Japan, Toray International Inc. has a vertically integrated structure that gives them a unique ability to design and produce custom textiles that solve specific real world issues. TorainĀ® is a garment concept that brings together a unique combination of fabrics, membrane, seam tape, and sewing technology for elite performance in a wide range of conditions and exertion levels paired with unmatched durability and longevity. This technology enables us to craft waterproof, windproof, and breathable products with long-lasting superior performance.
gear that moves with you
Stretch, Finally!!!
Waterproof, breathable, durable, and with STRETCH: these four attributes rarely coexist in premium outerwear. Our Legacy gear is able to adjust to your movements, not the other way around. We used an innovative fabric and technology combination from Toray International Inc. that is able to achieve all four of these qualities in a 3 layer construction. In the world of skiing and riding, movement and flexibility are essential yet, without stretch, many other brands have to resort to boxy, bulky designs, forcing you to adjust to the gear instead of it adapting to you. Limited space inside restricts your movements or sizing up creates unwanted bulk. We challenge you to do your research and compare our products to others on the market. There are only a few other premium brands that incorporate some form and various performance levels of stretch fabrics from Toray International Inc. and many of their products are exorbitantly priced (some as high as $1,500) due to middleman retail markups and premium brand up-charges. AKOVA is different. We offer you full range of motion without the hefty price tags.
STRETCH, DURABILITY, LIGHTWEIGHT
3 LAYER BULLETPROOF CONSTRUCTION
Three meticulously crafted layers work together to provide unwavering waterproofing, windproofing, breathability, durability, and stretch for enduring performance. The outer fabric, both tough and lightweight, defends against tears and punctures, striking a balance between robustness and comfort. The groundbreaking 80x70 Denier Stretch Nylon 66 Primeflex by Toray International Inc. establishes a new industry standard, offering remarkable durability, stretch, and comfort. Beyond fabric, our proprietary sewing technology, specialized seam tapes, and custom backing material fortify construction, ensuring peak waterproofness and breathability, even in harsh conditions.
SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH DURABILITY - KEEP YOUR GEAR OUT OF THE LANDFILL
engineered to last longer
With TorainĀ® our products are meticulously crafted to defy hydrolysis and last longer than conventional outdoor gear.Ā Hydrolysis is the chemical breakdown that happens when water, whether from sweat, rain, or atmospheric moisture, interacts with a compound. Unlike traditional waterproof gear that employs resin materials vulnerable to hydrolysis, our designs ensure lasting durability. When hydrolysis takes hold the surface of the membrane either peels off or becomes sticky. At this point the waterproofness and breathability are compromised. Our hydrolysis-resistant solutions keep your gear intact and on the mountain longer.
Gear that endures, like our Legacy collection, is a sustainable choice by eliminating the need for frequent replacements due to compromised waterproofing, breathability, or overall product durability.Ā Constantly producing more products with short life spans creates excess waste. Anything that can be recycled from non-durable products does still have an environmental effect to make it usable again. Anything that cannot be recycled ends up in a land fill. Creating rugged, high performance, long lasting products is an eco-conscious approach, aligning with our commitment to environmental responsibility.
We envision a circular commerce system that eliminates waste and pollution, giving used clothing a second life.Ā Enter AKOVA RENEWEDā¢ļø, our gear renewal program. It empowers customers to trade in their used gear, receive a 30% discount off their next purchase, and shop for quality used apparel.
beyond the lab - understanding waterproof & breathability ratings
TESTED IN THE REAL WORLD
We traveled the world with TorainĀ® prototypes, subjecting them to all conditions imaginable, including David's rigorous training and competitions. We pushed the limits, testing the durability and the membrane. TorainĀ® consistently delivered outstanding performance. Surprisingly, many fabrics we have tested with high lab ratings fell short in real mountain conditions. Lab tests aren't the whole story, and we've learned there's more to waterproof & breathable performance than ratings created in a sterile, controlled lab.
BECAUSE HEAT RISES
EXHAUST VENTS
Whether it is a big climb or a warm spring day, our innovative 3-way venting system is designed for rapid heat dissipation. While many high-end winter jackets offer underarm vents, ours introduces a groundbreaking exhaust vent and a 2-way center front chest zipper as well. Inspired by David Wise's pursuit of halfpipe excellence, we questioned the convention: why only vents on the underside of the arms? David's theory, after spring training in Saas Fee and ample halfpipe hiking, led to a new approach. In the next prototype, we incorporated vents on the backside of the arms up to the shoulder, allowing rising heat to escape. If you are hiking or skinning, you can have all 3 ventilation points open and keep your jacket on, effectively dumping all the body heat you are creating and not building up sweat inside your layers. When it's time to descend, it's just three quick zips to seal everything up and point it downhill.
Helmet Compatible & fully adjustable
snap down hood
Our hood is meticulously crafted for helmet compatibility, fully adjustable and the best of both worlds with an innovative snap-down feature ensuring you maintain a full field of view at all times and mobility. This design guarantees versatility, whether you're wearing a helmet or not. If your jacket is zipped up all the way you don't need the hood snap. But when your jacket is partially unzipped and the hood would normally be flopping around, you can snap it down eliminating the hassle of a hood obstructing your vision while upside down during an air or acting like a parachute at high speeds. A well-designed hood is vital in severe weather conditions, preventing snow and water from going down the back of the neck into the jacket and providing wind protection for your head, face, and neck.
PERFORMANCE WHEN YOU NEED it, DISAPPEARS WHEN YOU DON'T
HIDE AWAY powder skirt
We obsessively focused on crafting the ultimate powder skirt, one that excels at keeping snow out on those deep days, enhances airflow, and effortlessly vanishes when not in use. Epic powder days require a fully functional powder skirt to prevent snow from infiltrating the bottom of your jacket. However, we understand that when it's not in use, traditional powder skirts can be cumbersome and floppy. That's why we've reimagined our powder skirt using ultralight, stretchy, and durable Stunner Stretch fabric. We've added a stretch micro-mesh panel at the top to promote improved airflow, and incorporated sleek hideaway buttons that seamlessly tuck it away when you don't need it.
Exterior Pockets - More than meets the eye
Quick access
Our chest pockets are thoughtfully designed to be both spacious and positioned higher, making them perfect for quick access while wearing a backpack. They're generously sized to accommodate items like a phone, radio, or beacon, with a convenient tether point in the left-side pocket for secure attachment.
As for the hand pockets, they're not only deep but also lined with soft material for added comfort. The right-side hand pocket even features an internal stretch mesh media pocket, ideal for safely stowing your phone, keys, or other small essentials.
BUILD YOUR CUSTOM SYSTEM
WINTER LAYERING
We wanted a layering system that was simple, specifically designed for high output winter sports, and versatile for a wide temperature range.
- Baselayer - Graphene LS: Thermoregulating next-to-skin comfort, effectively moves moisture away from the skin keeping you dry and comfortable
- Midlayer - Legacy Insulator: Warm but extremely breathable synthetic body mapped insulation
- Outerwear - Legacy Hardshell: Rugged and durable protection from wind and rain
David has put this three-piece setup to the test in sub-zero training and competition conditions, with demanding intervals followed by extended waits. These layers excel by efficiently wicking moisture away from your body and out of the system while preserving the ideal amount of warmth.