686 MENS OUTERWEAR F/W 2025/26 PREVIEW

Retail Buyers Guide: Mens Outerwear F/W 2025/26 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: 686
Interviewee: Brent Sandor, Marketing

How was the men’s snow outerwear market in 2023/24
Overall we are seeing a tough market in Europe due to multiple factors. Globally, 686 is having a very strong season for Men’s product, with the momentum from ATLAS continuing to push the brand off shelf for retailers. 686 consistently is seeing one of the strongest sell th

What is the overall theme behind your 2025/26 outerwear range? From which big trends do you take your inspiration?
New Horizons – Our uniting goal is self-expression and the creation of art as we paint upon the snowy canvas beneath our feet. Our trophies are the friendships we build and the memories we bank. We delve into the uncharted and we craft the unprecedented. Our spots shape our outfits, and in turn, our attire becomes an extension of the art we live. Each stitch a word, each color a feeling together weaving the story of our days. We are taking inspiration from our team and current trends of thrifting and pairing extremely technical bottoms with some less technical but more expressive tops. We want the wearer to be able to feel good and stylish in their gear, and also be warm and dry.

What new fits / silhouettes are coming out in 2025/26? What pant and jacket styles are most important in your range?
We are seeing strong sell through in our Loose Fit pants – Dojo (available in both GORE-TEX and 20K), Ghost and the new Tommy Gesme signature Essox Pant, which is our widest fit. We pay high attention to tailoring in these pants as our pro team wants them loose, but not completely over exaggerated.

What new colour’s / prints are you introducing?
We continue with a neutral palette with pop colors for alpine and backcountry riding. Our riders like to pair lots of kits together depending on the spot or trick, so we want our entire line to work well together.

Any *NEW* technical stories with regards to fabrics and materials?
We have introduced our evolved Thermagraph® body-mapped lining system into the womens collection. Thermagraph® Active, with Graphene body-mapped panels can be found in the GORE-TEX Skyline Jacket, while Thermagraph® Warm with 85% Recycled Polyfill body-mapped panels can now be found in our Hydra Jacket. We are introducing a new Sorona 3L Fabrics that are 43% bio-based and have a 50% reduced carbon footprint compared to similar poly or nylon fabrics. All GORE-TEX and GLCR 20K fabrics have been updated to 100% recycled fabrics to positively impact our carbon footprint.

Any trends that your brand is moving away from?
N/A

Key Products:

GORE-TEX Dojo Pant ( Sage ):
Loose fit, but not overly baggy compared to some competitor brands. Belted elastic waist and cuffs. Heavy duty nylon construction. The most-worn baggy pant on the planet. This no-frills design by Forest Bailey focuses on fit and feel first. The waist fits according to your normal size while the legs are designed to be nearly a full grade bigger – providing a relaxed look and fit with plenty of room for mobility. The GORE-TEX Dojo Pant, with its upgraded waterproofing, elastic waist and integrated belt, is a team favorite in the backcountry and the park.

GRY_MENS GORETEX DOJO PANT

SMARTY 3-in-1 Rodeo 3L Jacket ( Limestone ):
3L Sorona® Bio-Based Shell – 43% bio-based and have a 50% reduced carbon footprint compared to similar poly or nylon fabrics. Integrated removable SMARTY Rodeo Vest. 1 purchase, 2 jackets, 3 ways to wear—that’s 686 math. Made of 3L Sorona® Bio-Based sustainable fabric, the Rodeo Jacket is as light on your back as it is on the planet. The versatile shell fights off snow, rain, and wind with ease. The removable insulator vest is designed for ultimate temperature flexibility – leave it zipped in for cold days or remove it when things heat up. With large vents and a minimalist style, the Rodeo is our team’s favorite for both riding and traveling.

GRY_MENS GLCR SMARTY 3IN1 RODEO 3L JACKET

Essox Pant:
Tommy Gesme signature pant Built to be affordably priced as an option for more people Oversized loose fit During the filming of Goodsport, Tommy famously purchased a pair of XXL snow pants from a thrift store and tapered the legs to fit exactly how he wanted them to appear on film. We’ve reinterpreted this look into the Essox pant, featuring oversized legs, classic cargo pockets, and cuff adjusters to keep the fit clean and customizable over your boots. The more detail, opinion, description & comment you give us, the more we can feature you.

GRY_ESSOX CARGO PANT_CAMO