Jacket Reviews and News
Posted By Mark on Fri, Sep 5 '08
Well, it's finally happened. That wonder fabric, eVent, has been in existence for a couple of years, but before now, there weren't really any mainstream North American companies that had picked it up for use in their outerwear; it was mainly European companies which had used it. But now, REI has released a hard shell jacket and pant for both sexes that uses eVent, reportedly the most breathable fabric out there.
Posted By Mark on Fri, Jun 20 '08
I’ll admit, I’ve got a jacket obsession. I like jackets. And every once in a while, a jacket comes along that I really like. I can say with confidence that the Windstopper Insulated Jacket is one of those. It does almost everything right. Of course, no jacket is perfect, and this one’s not an exception, but it comes darn close.
Posted By Mark on Mon, Jun 9 '08
With the solid financial backing from Columbia Sportswear, Mountain Hardwear, a smaller, younger brand, has a lot of room to try out new and adventurous gear on the market. I believe that the Monkey Man fleece is the result of this allowance. A unique look and a bit of humor have conspired to create a warm, functional piece that is excellent for layering in nasty storms, or wearing just by itself.
Posted By Jonathan on Mon, Mar 3 '08
The Gore-Tex PacLite Rainy River Parka is a fully waterproof jacket that comes at an unbeatable price. It hits the nail right on the head, with one of its few downfalls being awkward hand warmer pockets. With its lightweight Gore-Tex PacLite shell and full body adjustment capability, it’s a great choice at a great price for anyone looking for a simple, waterproof jacket.
Posted By Jonathan on Mon, Feb 18 '08
With the Mountain Hardwear Crucial jacket, you get what you pay for. In this case, you’re getting a sturdy, fully waterproof and windproof hard shell jacket with an all around great feel. This isn’t your average jacket, however; the Crucial jacket is intended for alpine climbing or mountaineering, and this becomes apparent as soon as you pull the hood over your head.
Posted By Jonathan on Sat, Feb 16 '08
Marmot has just announced their spring 2008 collection as well as their new Marmot UpCycle™ program.
New men's jackets for their spring collection include: Minimalist, PreCip Traveler, Rush, Leadville, DriClime Catalyst (UpCycle product), and Motion jackets.
New women's jackets include: Minimalist, Highland, Skyline, Essence, Rush, Leadville, DriClime Catalyst (UpCycle product), and Power Stretch Zip Hoody.
Also announced is Marmot's UpCycle program. The Marmot UpCycle program uses recycled materials to manufacture products that would otherwise end up in landfills.
"Marmot UpCycle® products minimize our impact on the environment by using recycled or discarded materials that would otherwise end up in landfills.
Our UpCycle® fabric is made from recycled plastic...hence the name “UpCycle”. When you recycle plastic, you get more plastic; when we UpCycle® plastic, we get fabric, a greater value and a broader use."
Source: Marmot
Posted By Jonathan on Wed, Jan 9 '08
Mountain Hardwear has introduced two new performance shells, the Men's Edge jacket and Women's Carve jacket. Intended for backcountry and snowsports use, both jackets feature a Gore-Tex Soft Shell laminate and grid fleece backing offering outstanding waterproofness and breathability.
Offering taped seams, welded/water resistant zippers, and an internal MP3 pocket, the Edge and Carve jackets look like a great choice to keep you warm and dry when you're on the mountain. Both jackets retail for an MSRP of $395.
Posted By Jonathan on Sat, Jan 5 '08
The Mountain Hardwear Backstage Jacket is a solid soft shell offering exceptional warmth, terrific water resistance, a great fit, and some extra perks. It’s all around a fantastic soft shell but does, unfortunately, come with one noticeable drawback. Regardless, this is the jacket that’s replaced the hooded sweatshirts I used to wear instead of a full-on jacket, even in the pouring rain.
Posted By Mark on Fri, Jan 4 '08
A bit of an older jacket, The EMS Expedition Sweater has been discontinued, in favor of either the Ascent Belay Jacket or the Heater SYNC Jacket.
It appears, though, that the Expedition Sweater had the best of both worlds: an athletic fit, superb pit zips, and a hood. This jacket is excellent for cold days with a chance of rain or snow, and with the pit zips and removable hood, is also suitable for a wide range of weather conditions.
Posted By Mark on Fri, Jan 4 '08
There are plenty of synthetic insulations out there that perform better than down in terms of compressibility and loft retention, but for sheer warmth, it’s very difficult to beat down, the best natural insulator. And since down has a tendency to lose loft when it gets wet, it’s helpful to have a down jacket that comes with a solid water-resistant nylon or polyester outer shell. The Jansport Orb Jacket has just that, but it doesn’t stop there; the jacket also features seamless shoulders, and a lot of pockets, great for the outdoorsman on a budget.
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