Author Lily Krass Ritter puts the new Mountain Hardwear Mythogen Gore-Tex Pro Kit to the test while chasing mid-March powder in Chamonix, France.
There are many ways to put outerwear to the test. Snowstorms, rainstorms, powdered sugar-covered pastry binges at L’Al’Pain in Argentiere, France. I’ve put Mountain Hardwear’s new Mythogen Gore-Tex Pro Kit through the ringer this year (especially the latter) and I’ve found it to be burly, comfy and good looking.
In March 2025, I got the chance to join the Mountain Hardwear crew in Chamonix, France, to put the new Mythogen Gore-Tex Pro Kit to the test alongside renowned ski mountaineer Vivian Bruchez as well as some of the Mountain Hardwear product designers who spearheaded the new line.
The wild and rugged environment of Chamonix, France, is the perfect ground for gear testing. The author puts the Mythogen Kit to the test on the infamous Aiguille du Midi catwalk.
I tested the Mythogen jacket and bibs during a three-week trip to Chamonix and BC to chase March powder, with a mix of fast, lift-accessed pow laps, long glaciated tours, some whiteout navigation and plenty of pastry sampling. If I had to choose just one kit to wear for all winter long, for both resort and backcountry skiing, I can confidently say, this would be it.
Before you even head into the elements, just picking up the new Mythogen kit is easy to see how easy it is to move in. The updated Gore-Tex Pro ePE shell has a much softer handfeel than the OG crunchy Gore-Tex Pro the industry is phasing out of. The new membranes are PFAS-free, removing the use of forever chemicals for to lessen the impact on the environment, as well as the wearer.
Both the jacket and bibs feature a slightly baggy fit, not quite Gen-Z-park-skier baggy, but oversized enough that I could easily fit plenty of extra midlayers and a set of puffy pants underneath. While I typically don’t prefer baggy fits, the smooth fabric and breathability had me changing my tune—especially since there’s a cinch strap at the waist to snug it up.
From sunny March powder to socked-in snowstorms, the Mythogen kit proved to be a strong choice for both touring days and gravity laps.
Yes, the Mythogen kit is soft, but it’s still plenty durable—I roughed it up a ton during the infamous Aiguille du Midi catwalk and subsequent skiing in the Mont Blanc Massif, with ice axes and glacier gear dangling off me like a Christmas tree. Boot crampons were no match for the reinforced cuffs on the bibs.
I skied through a couple surprise whiteout snowstorms last season, and the windproof and waterproof shell put up an impressive line of defense, beading rain and snow easily. The oversized hood slides up easily over a helmet and goggles, sealing out nasty weather no problem.
Oh, and the pockets. Don’t even get me started. Mountain Hardwear went all out with the pocket design for the Mythogen kit, sporting spacious vertical zippered chest pockets in the jacket that stash phones, radios, even a personal quiche, plus deep drop pockets down low thanks to the long hem line.
The bibs, which feature a high neckline—almost like a comfy tank top—boast maximum coverage and even more pockets. Coverage is solid enough that I spent quite a bit of time this season touring in the bibs with a wind layer underneath, even during heavy snowstorms in the Tetons and Alps. Double leg pockets (four total) easily store a transceiver, plus whatever else you want to keep close by.
Nothing beats mid-March powder in Chamonix, France. The comfy and burly Mythogen Kit proved to be the perfect single kit for a three-week trip.
Heading out on a multi-leg ski trip with almost every type of skiing under the sun, it’s hard to find a kit that will rule them all. In March, I counted my lucky stars and traveled straight from Chamonix into the Monashee Mountains of British Columbia for our annual cat ski trip with The Ski Journal team. The Mythogen kit was my only set of outerwear for almost three weeks away from home and it rose to the occasion and then some.
I’ve found cat skiing to be a great way to put outerwear to the test, since the temperature swings are unparalleled. Hopping between heated cat rides and cold, windy laps outside always puts whatever outerwear (and goggles) I’ve got on to the test. Sopping outerwear and foggy goggles are a major consideration, and cat rides at K3 are where I noticed the most just how breathable this kit is.
Learning from the best. Mountain Hardwear athlete and one of the world's best steep skiers, Vivian Bruchez, showed the crew around his backyard on the Mont Bland Massif.
Overall, I’d rate the comfort of this kit along the lines of wearing pajamas (aka top marks), and the weatherproofing is top notch. If you do a ton of ski touring and end up stashing the jacket in your pack quite a bit, that’s the only time it might start to feel a bit bulky. But I found the tradeoff to be worth it.
I look forward to getting out for some early season turns with this kit. Though I’ll need to clear some croissant crumbs out of the pockets first.
Tester Info:
Age: 30
Height: 5’8”
Pant Size: Small
Jacket Size: Small
The Mountain Hardwear Mythogen Gore-Tex Pro Kit is available in both men’s and women’s sizes. The jacket retails for $800 and the pants retail for $700.
The Mythogen Kit in its natural habitat. High in the Alps chasing soft snow in the Mont Blanc Massif.