Jacket Reviews
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, 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.
Posted By Mark on Fri, Jan 4 '08
Cabela’s, “the world’s foremost outfitter,” is well-known throughout the hunting and fishing worlds for their high quality clothing and gear. I’ve tried a couple of their garments in the past, and although they are usually of pretty high quality, it’s usually the fit of the garment that can be a deterrent for me. The T.E.F. 60, while providing a pretty good fit, is not ideal, but it is windproof, and, coupled with a lightweight insulation, is quite warm, too, a good choice for those who want something that’ll keep the wind off, and keep them warm in the process.
Posted By Mark on Fri, Jan 4 '08
As a rule of thumb, I like to have at least one windproof jacket in my collection of outerwear. This does not include hard shells, since hard shells are inherently windproof (although, to be perfectly honest, I have seen a very few fully seam-taped hard shells in my lifetime that were merely wind-resistant). The Geosphere has the potential to fill that slot: a windproof, water-resistant, breathable shell. Constructed from TNF’s proprietary Hydrenalite fabric, and given a good dose of DWR, the jacket’s designed to keep you dry in most conditions, like a softshell, although, given the option, I’d probably more accurately classify this one as a windshell, suitable for cool, windy weather with a chance of rain. At over 17 ounces, the Geosphere gets a good kick in the pants from many windshells that are very comfortable in the 3-7 ounce range. But then again, it’s a good deal more durable, and feature-packed, than those shells, and could probably stand up to even a bit of bushwhacking.
Posted By Mark on Wed, Jan 2 '08
I think that in the search for the perfect hardshell, there are three characteristics that take top priority (already assuming full waterproofness): durability, breathability, and light weight. Due to a problem with a previous jacket, I was given the opportunity to own a Gore-Tex jacket of my choosing (thank you, Gore!). I decided on the Mountain Hardwear Aiguille Parka, which I now consider one of the best jackets I own. It’s got durability (Gore-Tex XCR on the hood, shoulders, and upper arms). It’s got breathability in spades (Gore-Tex PacLite for the main body of the shell, and good-sized pit zips). And it’s definitely lightweight, weighing in at only 16 ounces, very impressive for a fully seam-taped hardshell with a lot of features. It doesn’t get much better than this, folks.
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