If you're in the market for high-quality, well-made gear, it's worth exploring TOBE products. TOBE Outerwear is a brand that began in 2001 by Tomas Berntsson, a winter-sport enthusiast who was fed up with the lack of durability in winter outerwear. He decided to create a solution to the problem and thus created the brand TOBE.
TOBE generally markets their high-end outerwear to the snowmobiling community, though their gear is versatile for various winter sports. The new 2.0 collection goal is simple: durability, functionality, and high-performance in the backcountry.
TOBE Macer Mono Suit Review
The TOBE Macer Mono Suit is a lightweight shell that’s made with 45K waterproof material called 2L Sympatex, which they claim is 100% water and windproof. With reinforced knees, shoulders, backside, ankles, plus a warranty for the lifetime of the product against manufacturer and material defects, what else could you ask for?
Fit and Features
The Macer is the first mono suit TOBE has offered with their new “athletic” (aka slim) fit, which is great for anyone who doesn’t have the belly shape of a balloon. The arm length is perfect. The sleeves easily fit over and cover your gloves up to the bottom of the palm. The snow gaiter at the wrist has a built-in thumb loop if you’re into those. There’s also a zipper to enlarge the neck if your gullet is built like a brick.
Pockets are plentiful on this suit. There are five pockets on the Macer suit: a medium-sized one on each thigh, two large ones on the chest, and a small one on the left sleeve. The chest pockets have pockets within the pockets-double pockets!
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Waterproofness and Durability
Even though the Sympatex material is lightweight and has 45,000 mm of waterproofing abilities it seems like it can take a beating.
Features I Like: The leg gaiters have the option to either grab the boot lace with a metal hook or you use the snap loop to make sure that sucker isn’t coming off all day.
Up until now I’ve mostly worn high-end 3L GORE-TEX outerwear, which is the good stuff, so I have high expectations. I can honestly say that the TOBE Macer Mono Suit is a quality piece of outerwear that I’m glad to own.
I Sprayed my TOBE Mono Suit with a Garden Hose
TOBE Iter V2 Jacket and Bib Pants
The Iter V2 Jacket is a 3-in-1 system, featuring a durable-feeling outer shell and a separate zip-in/zip-out liner that can be worn as an insulation layer with the shell or separately as a casual jacket. The shell is made of a mid-weight Cordura material that felt sturdy enough to knock down winds and withstand some abuse yet still highly flexible and not overly stiff. It’s coated with a waterproof membrane.
Venting options are plentiful, with two, 8-inch-long zippered vents near the arm pits and equal sized exhaust vents in the lower back. The stylish liner, when installed, adds 170gram Thinsulate insulation in the body and 140gram in the sleeves.
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The Iter V2 Bib Pants were clearly made with durability in mind. The sturdy Cordura exterior has overlays of Armortex Kevlar-reinforced material at the knees, inside calf and base for abrasion protection. Integrated knee pads are also included, as is a bit of extra padding in the seat. Sympatex waterproofing adds further protection from the elements.
TOBE Novo V4 One-Piece Suit
The oversized zippers provide easy access to multiple strategically placed pockets, allowing ample space for accessories. To illustrate, there are two pockets on each side at the pant level. Another thoughtful detail, often overlooked by other manufacturers, is the second zipper that enlarges the neck opening without unzipping the coat.
Another aspect that stands out: is the suspenders. They distinguish themselves with great comfort, excellent quality, and easy adjustment.
While it’s challenging to test the long-term durability of a set in less than a season, I did my best to put the Novo V4 to the test. It’s a success; it hasn’t faltered. The zippers still function as new, and there’s no sign of premature wear or tears. Note that this one-piece is non-insulated.
TOBE Vale Helmet and Aurora Goggles
Concerning the helmet, I tried the Vale model. The helmet’s construction is very good, and the fabric chosen for the interior is extremely comfortable. The Vale helmet was paired with the Aurora goggles, which have a quite unique look. The goggles are genuinely great. They provide a wide field of vision and are comfortable thanks to their all-around foam.
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TOBE Nimbus V2 Boots
Equipped with two Boa fasteners, the Nimbus V2 boots are very easy to put on and are particularly comfortable inside. I tested these shoes in various climates, and I never felt cold feet. If you want to order Nimbus V2 boots, pay attention to taking accurate measurements or, even better, visit your local Tobe retailer.
TOBE Fingo Jacket
The Fingo Jacket is not insulated, though it’s easy to fit four layers of clothing underneath. On colder days I am confident that the jacket would be able to fit more layers underneath. In the snowy mountains of the Sierra Nevadas the Fingo Jacket performed just as well as it did in the high desert. It kept me warm from the cold, dry from the snow and protected against the hellish winds.
Another small detail the designers added into the jacket is small laser-cut holes on the face packet - an extra element I didn’t realize I had been missing out on. There are four exterior pockets as well as a specific interior pocket designed for smartphones. It's generally not ideal to reach into the inside of the jacket to use a phone, but the clear pocket material allowed me to use my phone without taking it out. It was great because my phone never died from the cold and I could keep listening to music while skiing.
TOBE outerwear manufactures a material which is a combination of Cordura and SympaTex. Known as a durable fabric, Cordura is used for the shell of the jacket to protect against holes and abrasions but the material itself is not waterproof. SympaTex is used along with the Cordura to add 100% wind and waterproof resistance.
Even the zippers are a YKK Aquaguard water repellent type. Translation: Their material gives Gore-Tex a damn good run for its money.
The full cost for the Fingo Jacket rings in at $429.95 - a moderate price range for high-end outerwear. For someone in the market for a jacket that has the durability to last many winters, I couldn't recommend this jacket enough. The fit is sleek, the style is timeless and the versatility is unmatched.
TOBE Novus Mono Suit
We wanted to try and review a Youth Novus Mono Suit from TOBE this winter because my son hates being cold! My son likes to be warm, and he also needs to be dry! With a one-piece snow suit, there is no "jacket-pant gap" so snow stays outside where it belongs!
Cross country skiing is tricky in that you want a good range of motion, and you can't ski in something that's bulky. And when you're out on the trails (and again, it's -20C or colder,) you want a warm snowsuit for the kids. Kids don't move fast on the trails and they don't sweat.
He can fall down, play in the trees, shred powder, and go over jumps - without ever worrying about snow getting into unwanted places.
I can tell you though that IF you can afford it, this is one fantastic suit, and I have nothing bad to stay about the product. There's not one thing I would change. I could even get one for myself if I wanted because the company also makes Mono Suits for adults!
Breathable (check again. Durable (Check! This is the first snowsuit where I don't really worry if my son wants to descend an icy hiking trail on his bum.
- The Soft Fleece Liner - My son really doesn't need long underwear or mid-layers under this suit.
- The Hood!! - It's the best hood I've ever seen.
- Reinforced knees!
For sizing, I find the Novus Mono Suit fits true to age. My son is wearing the Size 128 (which is aimed at 8 year olds.) If you want the suit to fit for multiple winters, buy large.
TOBE Rex Mono Suit
We’re just going to begin by saying this is the toughest piece of outerwear we’ve ever worn. The Rex Mono Suit is the top-level and highest-priced mono suit Tobe Outerwear offers. It features a 3-layer shell construction with Sympatex nylon. On the knees, inner leg and cuff you get heavy-duty Armortex Kevlar--stuff that is not going to get ripped, cut or torn on running boards or sharp sticks.
The Rex is windproof and waterproof, and we can attest to both of those features. We wore the Rex on numerous outings, ranging from hellacious sub-zero blizzard conditions to warm sunny days. The Rex is non-insulated (thank goodness).
Pockets galore on this suit, which is great for riders who like to keep things like a spare set of thin gloves, a balaclava, GoPro, snack bar and a couple tools close at hand.
Tobe is on top of its game with the current catalog of winter gear.