Trew Gear Cosmic Primo Review

The Cosmic Primo's 20k waterproof and 20k breathability ratings indicate that it has waterproofing that can withstand more water pressure than most insulated ski jackets. At the same time, the breathability rating means it can let more water vapor escape through the fabric than most insulated options.

Warmth

The Trew Gear Cosmic Primo is not a warm ski jacket. In fact, it has no built-in insulation. Think of it more like a thick rain jacket than a coat. Not surprisingly, it ranked low for inherent warmth.

To boost its ability to help keep chills away, the large collar provides extra coverage for your face and chin. It's so tall that it blocks wind and we could often duck our noses under it to protect our faces from chilly chair lift rides. The sleeves also seal drafts nicely, and a cord at the hem can be tightened to reduce drafts as well. Of course, the shell design gives you ample room to wear thick or thin base layers and choose midlayers that match your expected weather conditions. With smart layering choices, shells are more versatile than insulated jackets, letting you choose the amount of warmth you need depending on the temps.

Weather Resistance

The Cosmic Primo offers outstanding water resistance. The seamless hood is plenty large to fully cover helmets, and the seamless design lets water flow right off. Trew uses waterproof zippers on the front — and even includes waterproof zippers for the pit zips.

During our early season test days, this jacket fended off icy slow, sleet, and light rain. When the windchill factor dipped close to zero, the windproof shell meant we didn't even flinch. It also passed our shower test easily. Our rub test, which is designed to reduce the effectiveness of a jacket's Durable Water Repellant (DWR) coating, had no visible effect. While this shell would not be our first choice for serious mountaineering, it's very good, and we would trust it to keep us dry on most any gnarly day that a resort remains open.

Comfort and Fit

The Trew Cosmic Primo is very comfortable, due in a large part to its oversized fit. However, the elbows are cut and sewn to allow easy bending. The fabric is a bit stiff compared to thinner exterior shells on many insulated jackets, though it's about what we expect from rugged 3-layer shells. The stiffness is not a performance issue while skiing. It can show itself when you sit down or ride the chairlift, and the torso material puffs out. The stiffer waterproof zipper contributes to this effect, too. If you don't like occasionally feeling a goofy chest or belly, the fabric will slim down if you adjust it when you sit.

Trew says the Cosmic Primo has a “modern freeride fit,” which is relaxed. Trew also notes that the 25/26 Primo runs large, so if you're in between sizes, definitely size down. For reference, an XL fit our 6'3, 220-pound tester well, providing enough room for a thick midlayer. The collar also fits large, rising higher than many other ski jacket collars. It has a fleece liner so it feels good on a bare face, and it was high enough that our testers occasionally skipped wearing a gaiter because the collar provided plenty of wind protection.

Breathability

Compared to insulated jackets, the breathability of the Cosmic Primo is excellent, and it ranks highly among other quality shell jackets. “I stacked half a dozen hard runs together with very short lift lines, and even when I started to heat up, at no point did I ever feel clammy in this jacket,” said lead tester Chris Maxcer.

The breathability of the fabric is bolstered by long, gaping underarm vents. With 16-inch, two-way zippers, we could fine-tune the openings. Fully unzipped, though — wow, cross-breezes galore!

Style

We must admit, when we first saw the oversized product photos of the Trew Gear Cosmic Primo, we weren't particularly inspired. However, once we donned the jacket and hit the slopes, the silhouette and sweet zippered lines won us over. This is definitely a shell that looks best in person, outside, where it belongs.

The stitching pattern and zippers really come together with a balanced, interesting look that doesn't try to draw too much attention. It looks cool, fresh and ready to run… but it's hard to pin down why. Where other shells err toward fewer pockets and a cleaner, more seamless feel, Trew just doesn't seem to care. Pockets are for people who do things, so the Cosmic Primo has pockets. The Primo aura is that it feels designed for versatile doers.

Features

In addition to waterproofing, the Cosmic Primo includes important ski-ready features like a helmet-compatible hood and a grippy, removable powder skirt. It also includes a RECCO reflector, which can be used by rescuers to help find avalanche victims.

One feature we particularly appreciate is the large and handy pockets. You get two waterproof zippered chest pockets, two tall, gusseted hand pockets that are big enough to hold large water bottles, a pass pocket, and three interior stash pockets.

We appreciate ski jackets that have two front chest pockets for the extra versatility they provide.   Credit: Chris Maxcer

Uninsulated interiors, of course, but the exterior pockets are all large and roomy.   Credit: Chris Maxcer

Pass pockets in the sleeve are particularly handy for RFID chair lift passes.   Credit: Chris Maxcer

The inside left chest has a small zippered pocket and a mesh stash pocket.   Credit: Chris Maxcer

Previous Next

Should You Buy the Trew Gear Cosmic Primo?

The Trew Gear Cosmic Primo is a great shell for hard-charging resort skiers who are willing to layer up or down to find the right amount of insulation they need. The waterproofness, breathability, and ventilation can deliver all-day comfort, and the pockets can hold extra gear and snacks. It's a bit too heavy and thick to excel during frequent backcountry use.

What Other Ski Jackets Should You Consider?

The Arc'teryx Sabre Jacket is our top pick resort shell. It offers top-of-the-line weather resistance trusted by outdoor enthusiasts who ski more runs in a single season than many skiers get in a decade. The biggest drawback is its premium price point. For a much more affordable uninsulated option, the REI Co-op First Chair GTX uses trusted Gore-Tex for waterproofing. It lacks style, but the functionality is competitive, particularly at its entry-level price point. When it comes to mobility for skiers who explore every inch of every resort, the insulated Obermeyer Raze impressed us with its comfortable fit and just-right warmth.