Spyder's $3,000 ski jacket with iPod controls

For three large you could probably fashion a coat entirely out of iPod shuffles, but Spyder is selling a new $3,000 ski jacket with integrated iPod controls on the sleeve (they do throw in an iPod photo). The jacket, which makes Burton's iPod jacket seem cheap, uses Eleksen's smart fabric technology (they also make fabric keyboards for smartphones and PDAs) and will be available in limited numbers this September.

[Alex @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

Knowing this site, a post with a picture of Paris Hilton wearing one of these is to be expected in the next few days :) Seriously, this is for the ultra rich. Last thing I want to do when I'm skiing is mess with iPod controls, on-jacket or not. Just set it to shuffle and play if you really can't be away from music for a few hours.

[SpYder @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

Excellent! It's about time Spyder entered the iPod jacket market. $3G is a bit up there though, but it seems they pile in the extras... even a custom hanger and garment bag!

[Matthew Cooke @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

Ya, a custom hanger and garmet bag make this a real deal! Give it a break. That ipod control might cost $50 at most.
I am using a pair of bluetooth headphones with my PPC, which would render this jacket completely useless. Stupid ipod people!

[Wise man @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

Oh great just what skiing needs....another distracted snowboarder. It's illegal to drive a car with headphones on in most states....for a good reason. What makes snowboarding any safer when this thing is used on the slopes?

[B @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

What makes snowboarding safer is most snowboarders don't weigh 3000 lbs.

[Phil @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

it's a status symbol for the ultra-rich, that's all. you'll see them all over vail, beaver creek, and tahoe just so that people can advertise how much freaking money they have. it's disgusting.

of course, i am just bitter because my board is two years old, my riding wardrobe is SO last year, and i'm driving a '91 VW golf (trying not to get run down by an abundant population of nincompoop navigator owners). life in the vail valley resort-land is hard sometimes.

anyway, the snow out here is great for spring skiing--nice fresh powder on tuesday. i'll keep an eye out for these stylish duds.

but seriously, people will buy this. i see these types every day. they want the best, and half the time they want it to be MORE expensive.

[Joe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

Terrif - plucking down $3k because I can't be arsed to spend two precious seconds of my life reaching into my coat pocket to hit the "forward" button on my MP3 player. Seems perfectly reasonable!

[semi @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

no click wheel? awwwwwwwwwwww.....

[crsh @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

great, just in time for the end of the skiing season (ok, southern hemisphere not widthstanding..)

[OddManOut @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

$3K ? Jeez, how many entire ski weekends could a person finace for 3 large ? Shoot, you could probably afford at least 3, even if you bought/broke a NEW iPod each time (as a bonus the HD would probably get bigger with each progressive purchase).

If being rich makes you do things this illogical...then maybe being poor isn't so bad...

To each their own though. I can't precisely criticize those wealthier than me just 'cuz they happen to be wealthier and have a different taste/opinion than me. It probably seems pretty silly and illogical to people in africa who can barely get clean water and keep their thatched roof in tact that I spend time sitting in front of a plastic box watching reality TV when I could be out excercising my health, freedom, and realative safety engaging in ACTUAL reality...


(NOTE: I don't actually watch reality TV aside from COPS, I just used it as an example)

[LiquidBlues @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

I have the Burton one. It's great most of the time but the controls freeze up on snowy days.

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

Hahaha! Now you can be completely oblivious to the people behind you yelling "avalanche!"

[sunz @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

#12 funny thought .. haha

[ES @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

I agree with 13.. 12 good stuff

[CL @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

For $3000, I will go to the ski resort, hire a guy to hold onto an ipod hooked to speakers and have him ski right next to me all day. :p

[powstash @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

The jacket actually retails for $2200, not that it makes it any easier to open up your wallet.

I've never been one to play tunes while I ski. Actually, until June I've never owned an MP3 player (I found an iPod while hiking at Alta and it still worked!). $99 shuffle with an $250 shell seems like a worthy investment. Leaves you with $1650 for the trip to Euro.