Hi everyone,



Just wanted to start a casual discussion here has anyone else seen talks or photos of the Team USA Olympics 2026 Red Puffer Jacket? It’s the bold white jacket worn by the USA’s flagbearer at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and it’s been popping up on social media and news feeds.



Even though this forum is more focused on engineering and technical topics, I find it interesting how design and functionality come together in gear like this. That got me thinking about questions like:



Do you think the design and materials of a statement jacket like this matter beyond just looks?

Would you consider the technical side (warmth, insulation, materials) if you were picking a travel or winter jacket?

Or do you think it’s mostly hype and fashion, especially given the Olympic branding?



Curious to hear what you all think!



Thanks!

When the "new" Ploprof was announced in 2009 (more on that later), Tom Nesbit saw at least two vintage examples a month come into his shop, Nesbit's link Fine Watch Service in Seattle, for restoration. This anecdotal observation is in link line with the story the auction numbers tell, with a link spike in interest during the relaunch.