The Khroma Converge Kit is packed with pockets, ideal for stashing snacks, goggles and even skins.
As skiers, we need our outerwear to do a lot of heavy lifting. It’s got to keep us dry, keep us warm, carry tools and snacks, be functional and fit well. And after all that—if we’re lucky—it will actually make us look and feel good too. Rab’s Khroma Converge GORE-TEX Ski Jacket and Pants hit all the marks, a rock solid inbounds and backcountry kit. I put the Khroma Converge jacket and pants to the test in New England, skiing through the full gamut of weather, both at my home resort, Berkshire East, MA, and in the backcountry.
The Rab Khroma Converge kit features a burly three-layer construction, built with an updated PFAS-free Gore-Tex membrane that's eliminated the use of forever chemicals. It’s easy to move in, and works wonders in the wet and cold. While riding lifts on one particularly damp Massachusetts day, I looked down to see that my gloves were absorbing the rain, while the water beaded and ran right off my jacket and pants—it felt like I was wearing a force field against the damp cold, and I stayed dry and warm. The Converge kit also held up well during a chilly powder day when freezing fog rolled in. A layer of ice caked our kits and goggles while we rode the lift, but even though I was covered in ice from head to toe, the Khroma kept the chill out.
A New England ice storm was no match for the Khroma Converge Kit.
While touring, the kit is a bit burlier than a lightweight uphill kit, and the jacket took up a little more space in my pack. However, given the ample pockets and performance against the cold, the tradeoff felt worth it. Both the jacket and pants have large vents for regulating temperature, and I found the pant vents, which unzip from the upper hip to the knee, to be very effective. There’s also a dedicated pocket with a transceiver loop in the sewn-in thigh pockets.
I know some skiers in New England prefer insulated shells for inbounds skiing, but I run too hot to commit to permanent insulation. I prefer flexibility, adding layers when needed, and the roomy fit of the Khroma jacket accommodated a puffy and midlayer no problem. I felt bundled and cozy without looking like the Michelin Man. The loose fit is nice and relaxed, but it doesn’t feel like you're swimming in extra material.
The Khroma Converge Gore-Tex Jacket and Pants proved to be a solid companion for ice storms, rain and everything in between.
One of my favorite features of the jacket is the pockets. Two large vertical pockets on the front are deep and feel akin to a Mary Poppins bag—in other words, endlessly spacious. You can fit nearly anything in there! I even stashed my goggles in one of the chest pockets to keep them from coating with ice on that aforementioned day of freezing fog. The pants also have a variety of pockets, my favorite being the two thigh pockets, which are bellowed, and allow for ample storage without sacrificing any range of motion.
What makes this kit feel so luxurious is the attention Rab paid to all the little details. There are internal soft-seal wrist cuffs for keeping the cold out, as well as exterior hook and loop straps for cinching the cuff down onto your gloves. These little details made a big difference on the days with -10 degree Fahrenheit wind chill. Similarly, the pants have ankle zippers and an internal gaiter to accommodate any boot size. Rounding things out is a heavy-duty kick patch to protect your pants from your ski edges.
Ankle zippers and burly kick patches round out the bombproof design of the Rab Khroma Converge Kit.
Overall, this kit proved to handle whatever I threw its way. For anyone looking to invest in one high-quality kit that works for both inbounds and in the backcountry, the Rab Khroma Converge Gore-Tex Kit is a worthy option. Its versatility, thoughtful design, and ability to keep the elements have certainly won me over.
Tester Info:
Age: 31
Height: 5’6”
Pant Size: XL
Jacket Size: Large
The Rab Khroma Converge Kit is available in both men’s and women’s sizes. The jacket retails for $575, and the pants retail for $550.