Top 3 Pro Riders, including Shuhei Sato, Declare They 'Want to Buy and Wear' Them. Honest Reviews of the Latest 2026-27 Models Released.

"Product is King" - 686, constantly innovating, presents its latest 2026-27 collection. The ambassadors who shred the snowy mountains more than anyone else know how a single piece of apparel can change your riding. In this release, three individuals, Shuhei Sato, Keita Yamazaki, and Shunshi Yone, thoroughly review "the one piece they chose themselves." They discuss the real-world mobility, temperature regulation, and attention to silhouette that go beyond spec sheet numbers. Ahead of the April 30th reservation deadline, the "true value" of the gear that professionals trust with their lives is revealed.

Ambassadors Talk About "Real Choices"

What you can't tell from catalog specs alone is the actual comfort and usability. 686 ambassadors use their wear daily in the field, and through that experience, they continue to choose "what's truly good." This time, from their real perspective, we unravel the appeal of next season's featured models.

【Shuhei Sato】

MENS GHOST 2.5L ANORAK - NAVY WIDE WALE CORDUROY

Price: 48,400 yen (tax included)

https://shop.likesdowell.co.jp/view/item/000000004828

MENS 2.5L GHOST PANT - NAVY WIDE WALE CORDUROY

Price: 46,200 yen (tax included)

https://shop.likesdowell.co.jp/view/item/000000004834

・First Impression I've been wearing this series for three seasons now, and I always wear it as a set-up because I like the silhouette of the wide-bodied jacket and baggy pants.

・Favorite Point I like that it's made of corduroy material, even though it's outerwear. I like that I can wear it like everyday clothes.

・Good Points Felt While Wearing Even though it looks like everyday wear, it's surprisingly windproof and warm. I think I can adjust with layers when it's cold.

・Conditions I Want to Use It In

My field is backcountry, so I use it in powder. Honestly, in terms of functionality alone, GORE-TEX might be higher quality, but I prefer to choose "coolness" over that.

・One-word Comment If it's cold, just layer up. Snowboarding has to be cool.

【Keita Yamazaki】

MENS GORE - TEX GT THERMAGRAPH JACKET - ALPENGLOW BLUE

https://shop.likesdowell.co.jp/view/item/000000004741

・First Impression Light! It has warmth only where you need it, so it's easy to combine with inner layers. A little slim, perhaps?

・Favorite Point Despite its lightness, it's reliably warm, and I also feel a sense of "breathability." The comfort during activity is on a completely different level.

・Good Points Felt While Wearing The efficient insulation from the Thermagraph system keeps me warm, and the reliability of GORE-TEX makes it comfortable even in snow and wind. It's resistant to stuffiness and can be used in any condition, from hiking to riding.

・Conditions I Want to Use It In

Backcountry in harsh alpine areas, or in bad weather with strong wind and snow. The more severe the conditions, the more this jacket's qualities stand out, I think.

・About Appearance and Style

I like the clean, minimalist silhouette and the presence of ALPENGLOW BLUE. It also has high visibility, making it an easy color to meet up with friends in a wide field.

・One-word Comment In a word, this season I'm a blueberry boy! It's super easy to spot me when meeting up, lol.

【Shunshi Yone】

MENS 686 DOJO SHELL JACKET - BLACK

Price: 61,600 yen (tax included)

https://shop.likesdowell.co.jp/view/item/000000004792

・First Impression A relaxed fit that's easy to wear casually. The silhouette is impressive, offering both ease of movement and stress-free wear.

・Favorite Point The pockets are perfectly placed where you want them. This high level of practicality directly leads to comfort.

・Good Points Felt While Wearing Connecting the powder guard hook to the pants prevents the guard from flipping up even when moving, effectively preventing snow from entering inside, which is really great. It provides a sense of security, especially on bad weather days.

・Conditions I Want to Use It In Its versatility is appealing, as it can be used for powder riding as well as in the city on rainy days.

・About Appearance and Style I like the simple, easy-to-match design, with the forest graphic tag adding a subtle accent.

・One-word Comment It's truly a "versatile jacket" that can be used in the mountains or in the city.

【Shunshi Yone】

MENS 686 DOJO 20K PANT - BROWN CRINKLE WASH

Price: 50,600 yen (tax included)

https://shop.likesdowell.co.jp/view/item/000000004793

・First Impression Despite its denim-like appearance, it's surprisingly light and easy to move in. The gap between its look and feel leaves a strong impression.

・Favorite Point Even though it looks like it would get wet at first glance, it has solid water resistance. This functionality with this look is quite appealing.

・Good Points Felt While Wearing The waist area has a good hold, and there's no stress of the belt loosening and the pants falling down, which is comfortable. I can concentrate on riding without distraction.

・Conditions I Want to Use It In I imagine it can handle a wide range of conditions, but I personally feel it fits best for street wear.

・About Appearance and Style I really like the denim-like pattern and coloring. It's so well-made that I'd want a real denim version with the same design.

・One-word Comment It's "street-inspired" wear that can be used in the city as is.

About Early Bird Reservations

Reservation Period: March 11, 2026 - April 30, 2026 Sales Site: LIKES ONLINE STORE https://shop.likesdowell.co.jp/view/page/2627preorder686 Estimated Delivery: Around November 2026

How to Reserve Eligible products can be reserved with a 20% deposit of the selling price.

Early Bird Reservation Benefits (for specified high-end models only) ・10% point back ・686 original pouch gift

●About 686

Founded in 1992 in Los Angeles, California, USA, by founder and designer Michael Akira West, 686 is a snowboard apparel brand. Since its inception, the brand has consistently pursued apparel manufacturing based on philosophies such as "Product is King," "High Tech, Good times," "Always Different," and "REIMAGINE PERFORMANCE."

He continues to create innovative and original products that exceed users' imaginations.

The brand has pioneered collaborations with artists, famous brands, and characters, and has developed unique systems such as SMARTY 3-IN-1 SYSTEM, ORIGINAL TOOL BELT, THERMAGRAPH BODY MAPPING SYSTEM, and HYDRASTASH SYSTEM. It has also fused apparel and fashion with items like REAL DENIM JACKET & PANTS, PRINT DENIM PANT, and FLANNEL SHIRT JACKET. These innovations set 686 apart from other brands, making it a leading wear brand that is widely supported by both entry-level and core users. Now celebrating its 34th anniversary, its originality has earned it a place among the top three most popular brands in both its home country of America and in Japan.

Official Website: https://sixeightsix.com/ Official Online Store: https://shop.likesdowell.co.jp/ct_686 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/686_jpn/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/686JAPAN X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/686Jpn

LINE Official Account: https://line.me/ti/p/%40697efaqx