Orage: Ski and freeski clothing from Canada – new at SportFits

In the 1990s, skiing became more colourful, playful and free. Freeskiing was the new movement, and one of its centres was in Québec. Orage, a Montreal-based brand whose name means thunderstorm in French, was right in the middle of it. Orage still makes ski clothing that works in the backcountry while standing out from the crowd. The brand is now available at SportFits, with hardshells for ski touring, down and insulated jackets, ski trousers, fleeces and beanies for women and men.

The story begins in 1989. Evelyn Trempe studied at the Université du Québec and sewed a waterproof jacket and eye-catching ski trousers for her university ski team in her parents’ garage. A wonky table-tennis table served as a desk, while the basement became a warehouse. Together with Eric D'Anjou, she sold the first pieces from the boot of her car, travelling between the ski resorts of Bromont, Mont-Tremblant and Saint-Sauveur.

The timing could hardly have been better. Freeskiing emerged in the mid-1990s, and Orage grew with the new scene. Before long, the brand gave it a stage of its own: from 2002 to 2014, the scene met at the Orage Masters. Instead of a classic jury, the teams at this competition mainly judged each other, and style counted just as much as ability. Later, stars such as JP Auclair and Phil Casabon rode for the brand. Today, Canadian Alex Beaulieu-Marchand represents Orage. Like the brand itself, he comes from freestyle and now also spends time in the backcountry.

Orage is still based in Montreal, with Eric D'Anjou running the company. At the beginning of 2024, the brand opened its first dedicated shop in Europe, in Chamonix.

Orage’s most technical line is called MTN-X, which the brand describes as its premium line. At its heart are the Apex jackets and trousers, made from a three-layer stretch fabric with a Dermizax membrane. Orage states a 20,000 mm hydrostatic head and breathability of 20,000 g/m² in 24 hours. The first figure shows how much water pressure the fabric can withstand before water gets through; the second shows how much water vapour it releases per square metre per day. Both figures are at the higher end for ski clothing.

It also includes features that matter in the backcountry: fully taped seams, a helmet-compatible hood, ventilation zips and a snow skirt. Apex is available as a jacket, trousers and bib trousers, each for women and men. The women’s bib trousers have a dedicated pocket for an avalanche transceiver.

Under the shell, Orage relies on light insulation. The hooded Spine jacket is lined with Octa insulation, which keeps you warm while letting moisture escape. That suits the ascent, when you start to sweat. The Northwind is a hybrid jacket with BREATHR down which, according to Orage, not only keeps you warm but also releases excess heat.

Discover all Orage ski touring and freeski products ↗

For really cold days, there is the Nimbus down jacket and matching down trousers, both from the MTN-X line and both with an All Gender fit. They are filled with grey duck down with a fill power of 800 cuin. The higher this figure, the more warmth the down provides at the same weight. The shoulders use PrimaLoft synthetic insulation instead of down. The Pertex Quantum outer fabric is lightweight, and the jacket packs into a stuff sack. According to Orage, the fabric uses 100% recycled nylon (source: Orage).

If you mainly ski on piste, the Glades is the one to go for. The ski jacket is waterproof, has taped seams and is lined with synthetic Thermore insulation, thicker on the body than on the sleeves. That keeps you warm even on long chairlift rides on cold days. The matching trousers have ventilation zips on the legs and reinforcement on the lower legs. And for the commute or the evening after skiing, there is the hooded Polar down jacket.

Discover all Orage down jackets and trousers ↗

Orage is a good choice if you spend time away from the piste or want ski clothing with a distinctive look. The MTN-X line in particular is made for ski touring and deep snow, with specifications that can cope with wet snow and long ascents.

Orage is not cheap, though. If you only ski for a few days a year, you can find more affordable alternatives. And not every model is a hardshell: fleeces, hybrid jackets and the Nimbus down jacket keep you warm but will not withstand prolonged rain. It is worth checking the product specifications.

Orage recommends washing shell and down jackets regularly because sweat and dirt weaken the water-repellent finish. Wash them cold with mild powder detergent and no fabric softener, rinsing thoroughly, ideally twice. Then put the jacket in the tumble dryer for five to ten minutes at a low temperature to reactivate the water-repellent finish, before hanging it up. Do not iron or dry-clean it. If in doubt, follow the care label.