Home / Outdoors / Jackets

Columbia’s Affordable, Heritage-Inspired Special Release Beautifully Blends Military Vibes and Urban Utility

The iconic American outerwear brand flips the script on the traditional 3-in-1 jacket with surprising results.

Close-up of a black jacket with a camouflage inner lining and visible zippers.Columbia
Add Gear Patrol as a Preferred Source on Google

By Steve Mazzucchi

Published

·

Updated

If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

Playing word association with “Columbia” may conjure memories of a surprisingly durable Bugaboo jacket, or perhaps the brand’s cheeky long-running ad campaign with the founder’s daughter and company chairwoman, Gert Boyle. 

What you might not know is that the Portland, Oregon-based company has produced a staggeringly wide range of outerwear products — including hunting apparel — for nearly nine decades. 

Two people wearing black Columbia utility vests over puffer jackets, one in black and the other in camouflage, standing against a vine-covered stone wall.
The CSC1938 Dually Mountain Outerchange comes with a black vest and either a black or “British Tan Duck Camo” jacket. One is just a bit more striking than the other.
Columbia

Its latest limited-edition capsule draws on some of that heritage while introducing modern features and edgy style perfect for city streets.

These qualities are no more apparent than with the winter-ready headliner, an overachieving 3-in-1 jacket/vest combo dubbed the CSC1938 Dually Mountain Outerchange.

Gorpcore FTW

This piece is essentially the headliner of a collection that additionally honors the Columbia Sportswear Company’s 88 years of history (hence CSC1938) with shirts, hats and a hoodie. 

I’m stunning myself by spotlighting this item, as I stand with my former colleague Tanner Bowden in the belief that 3-in-1 jackets tend to do at least two things rather badly.

Left: Camouflage-patterned puffer jacket with hood and front zipper worn by a person. Right: Black multi-pocket utility vest worn over a white t-shirt by a person.
The jacket and vest can be worn together or as two individual pieces — each with their own military flair.
Columbia

However, this one takes a unique approach: rather than consisting of the traditional waterproof shell and insulated liner, its components are a black or camo-patterned down puffer and a black, tactically styled utility vest. 

The latter piece draws major inspiration from the Henry’s Fork Vest, a hunting-focused garment that emerged from Gert’s own sewing machine in the 1960s.

Two people wearing black utility vests over camouflage puffer jackets, one standing outdoors under a bridge and the other in profile against greenery.
This unisex item is available in six sizes — XS through XXL — meaning just about anyone can rock it.
Columbia

Laid on top of the puffer, it essentially augments that comfy piece with a ton of handy cargo pockets, while also creating an avant-garde aesthetic that’s oddly perfect for urban settings.

That intent is clearly reflected in the unisex product’s lifestyle imagery, which includes a hip female model pairing the combo jacket with a long black dress she’s probably not planning to go hiking in. 

Outdoor ready

While this two-piece set is clearly tapping into two potent trends — gorpcore and military-inspired — that’s not to say it lacks performance bona fides. 

On the contrary, the jacket in particular is loaded with them.

CSC1938 Dually Mountain Outerchange vest removal gif
The vest magically comes off with a shake of the arms. Just kidding, you have to do remove it yourself.
Columbia

The 100% nylon shell boasts the brand’s Omni-Shield, which repels moisture and resists stains, keeping you dry and clean.

The 100% polyester lining, meanwhile, features Omni-Heat Infinity, which employs a thermal-reflective pattern to help you retain body heat without adding weight.

Close-up of a jacket interior with a gold honeycomb-patterned lining and a black label reading "The Dually Mountain Outerchange Jacket CSC 1938 Volume 1.0.
If Omni-Heat infinity is good enough for a lunar lander, I suppose it’s good enough for us.
Columbia

The insulation itself is equally potent: RD-certified 700-fill goose down, a rare quality for a jacket that costs just over $400 and throws in a vest for good measure.

Two other notable features involve zippers. The main one is a two-way dealie, a godsend for dumping heat while riding a bike or wearing a pack with a sternum strap.

Close-up of hands zipping a black vest over a camouflage-patterned jacket.
Two innovative zipper systems help max out the functionality of the vest and jacket.
Columbia

The other two uniquely enable the vest to zip into place, rather than simply resting on your shoulders.

Rounding out the features are a drawcord adjustable hood and zippered hand pockets accessible through open welts of the vest. 

Just a bit more cleverness that I’m sure would make Gert — who left us in 2019 at the ripe old age of 95 — quite proud.

Availability and pricing

The Columbia CSC1938 Dually Mountain Printed Outerchange will be available beginning January 16 for $425.

The rest of the CSC1938 Collection, including four shirts, two hats and a hoodie, drops that day as well, with prices starting at $40.

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

Read More

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.

add as a preferred source on google