The Alpinist Spirit: Dependability & Damn Good Looking!

Marmot Highlander Down Hoody

Devan Dowd

 

As an arctic vortex has been hitting us here in Colorado, there truly has been no better time to put my winter gear to the test! Especially the newest addition to my winter coat collection. If you’re looking for a hooded down puffer that will keep you warm and toasty on the slopes, in the backcountry, or just running from coffee shop to coffee shop, you’ll have to check out the Marmot Women’s Highlander Down Hoody!

The Marmot Highlander Down Hoody has 700-fill-power down specially treated with Down Defender for soft lofty warmth and lightweight compatibility. Not to mention it is extra water-resistant and made with quick-drying protection that stays drier 10x longer than untreated down. So what does this mean? The Highlander jacket can be your go-to for winter endeavors that can be rocked solo on frigid days or can fit under a shell when the snow starts coming down.

 

As a 5’3”, 138lb female, I am wearing a women’s small, in the Arctic Navy. The Highlander Down Hoody comes in four colors, so you can go with the traditional darker winter colors like Black or Navy, or add a pop of color with the Grapefruit/Vetiver or Paisley Purple/Black models.

 

Some other design callout favorites – the Women’s Highlander Down Hoody sports a full-coverage hood with elastic binding to keep your head, face and neck protected from windy, wet and cold conditions. Additionally, adjustable drawcord hem exits around the pockets provide low profile, easy-adjusting comfort and versatility that keeps the cold out and warmth in! 

 

Personally, I’ve loved the versatility of this jacket as it has provided consistent and reliable warmth whether worn solo running around Denver to coach, hike, grocery shop or walk. And thanks to its ultra lightweight compatibility, I finally found the perfect underlayer to my GORE-TEX Shell while hitting the slopes on the snowboard. 

The only call-out to mention is that the Highlander Down Hoody stops right around waistline length, so if you prefer jackets to cover your bum to provide a bit of extra warmth while running errands, you may just need to pair the Highlander Down Hoody with warmer pants.

 

Finally, Marmot not only is on a life-mission to deliver the best gear to support outdoor adventurers around the world, but also is driven by the passion for sustainability driven by the threefold philosophy: People/Product/Planet™. From advocating for humane working conditions to exploring new ways of reducing our carbon footprint and increasing conservation, Marmot uses innovation to minimize their impact on the environment and promote the well-being of our employees. Not to mention this Highlander Down Hoody is made from at least 75% recycled materials! So if you are someone who believes what they wear is an extension of their own personal values & mission, you can feel good that the Marmot logo supports that mission.

So, if temperatures are plummeting in your area but you don’t want the cold to keep you from enjoying the outdoors, make sure to check out the Marmot Women’s Highlander Down Hoody. Stay warm this winter season and #getupandgo chase your AOTDs!

 

Devan Dowd

Growing up in Massachusetts, Devan has been an athlete all her life. Starting at the age of 4 as a competitive gymnast, she learned quickly the joy that comes from hard work, determination, and a jammed packed schedule. Eventually, gymnastics led to competitive lacrosse, which resulted in her growing some wings and heading to the PNW to pursue a DI College Lacrosse opportunity at the University of Oregon.

 

On the single off-day each week, she quickly learned to see Mother Earth as her playground and wanted to use every second of free time to find chase AOTDs (Adventures of the Days). These AOTDs were the inspiration for her blog Dabbling in Traveling & youtube channel. 

 

From waterfalls, to snow covered mountains, to sand dune hikes – one thing was certain, something always went awry on these AOTDs. But hey, memories were always made! Not only was UO an incredible college experience, Oregon sparked her love for the outdoors & traveling across the country for games helped introduce her to Colorado in 2014. Staring up at the Flatirons on CU Boulder’s campus, she knew one day she would call Colorado home! 

 

After returning to the east coast upon graduation, Devan’s heart never stopped longing to live in Colorado one day. But luckily the pandemic brought a newfound acceptance for remote work and in Nov. 2021 her dream came true!

 

By day, Devan is a Product Manager at Capital One. By afternoon, she is a personal trainer, coaching group Crossfit classes at Axistence Athletics (the best Adventure gym you will ever find!). By evening, she pours her heart into nonprofit work, specifically focused on driving sustainable change in Haiti through the Brace for Impact 46 organization (Fun fact – she has been traveling to Haiti since 2015, accumulating 7 trips and 7 months of living down there!). 

 

Brace for Impact works in Northern Haiti to provide sustainable, multifaceted approaches to support child development, education, medical care, job development, and implementation of clean water & sanitation across the community, which touches 40,000 people each day! (Want to learn more? Check out their website www.braceforimpact46.com )

 

As her friends would tell you (despite trying), Devan does not slow down and is always trying to fit AOTDs into each open moment. Whether it be hiking, paddleboarding, road-biking, running, Crossfitting, weight-lifting, snowboarding or simply exploring different parts of CO with her favorite furry friend Bailey & her husband Jeremy, it’s safe to say Devan has found her “Home” here in Colorado!

 

Fun fact – Devan had reconstructive hip surgery in 2016 (actually called a Periacetabular Osteotomy… but that’s a tongue twister). After a 22 month recovery period, she proved doctors wrong, returned to play her senior of lacrosse continues to use this experience as motivation to encourage everyone she interacts with to truly treat movement as a gift and to never take it for granted. With that being said, to keep her body active, she needs to make sure her gear can support her so she can remain #PAOStrong!

 

Devan is excited to join the Engearment team!