![]() ![]() I am always a fan of the 2 way external zipper, and find it particularly useful for belaying or any application where you are wearing a harness. However I talked to a friend in Revelstoke with the same jacket and she mentioned that she liked the pit zip ventilation system. If I am too warm, or if conditions are warm and wet, I am probably just going to opt for a shell instead, as the ventilation acquired from pit zippers is probably not enough to cool me off while being active. Personally, I think the pit zippers are non-essential on an insulated jacket. What I do like about these pockets is that they are big enough to store your gloves, a water bottle, or stash your climbing shoes as you walk to the crag! So far the mesh seems to be quite durable but time will tell. However the internal pockets lack a closure system so for someone like me who is prone to losing things, I will not store valuables in those pockets. There are two oversized mesh pockets on the inside of the jacket where you could store items that you want to keep warm, ie. This leaves the items in your pockets susceptible to the cold. However the pockets are located between the ThermaTek insulation and the Gore-Tex shell. The jacket has 2 external, fleece lined pockets which feel nice on bare hands, and are big enough to put gloved hands into. Even without gloves on, I have difficulty locating the small tab that adjusts the sides of the hood. The toggles for the waist and hood can be tightened up with just one gloved hand, very convenient. I think that the jacket fits loose for the size. The hip length athletic fit is just long enough to cover my bum, and stretches below where the hipbelt from my backpack sits, so the jacket doesn't ride up underneath my pack. The hood is fully insulated and has a fitted collar to seal out wind. The hood is large enough to pull over your helmet, and has 3 cinches to adjust it so it fits well with and without a helmet. The drawback is that it is very expensive and not as soft and squishy as down or some other types of synthetic insulation. The insulation is bonded to the face fabric with adhesive glue dots rather than stitching or quilting, which eliminates cold spots caused by clumping of insulation. This gives it the benefit of retaining warmth when wet, unlike down. Laminated ThermaTek non-quilted insulation:įrom what I understand, ThermaTek is a synthetic insulation that Arc'teryx has coated in DWR (Durable Water Repellant, a finish that is applied to the outer fabric of the jacket to repel water) so that the insulation will not absorb water. Strangely enough, I also felt warmer in this jacket, than in the aforementioned shell/sweater combo. I had no issues with condensation on the inside, which I often get when I wear my Gore-tex shell over a down sweater. I encountered a brief but wet snow squall, and the jacket beaded nicely. ![]() It is no replacement for a good down jacket in cold weather, but is far less bulky and I can pack it into my regular touring pack. I spent about an hour just standing around in -16 and my core temperature was fine. I recently took it on a three day trip and was honestly surprised at how warm it was, given the weight of it. I have been practically living in this jacket since I received it a few weeks ago. In addition to that, I was skeptical that an insulated Gore-tex jacket in the Rockies would be all that useful to me. Being of small stature, I wasn't going to spend all that money on a jacket that wasn't going to fit me properly. ![]() The Arc'teryx Fission SL accomplishes this in just one jacket.Īrc'teryx has been making the Fission SL for a few years now but just recently came out with a women's specific version. Clothing recommendations to reduce this risk include having a middle layer of insulation and an external layer that is wind and water resistant and also allows for evaporation of moisture. My ultra warm down jacket is so bulky that if I bring it, I need to take a bigger backpack to accommodate it.įact: the hypothermia injury rate is 2X higher for females than males. Adding to the dilemma is my issue with carrying a large, bulky pack. I own countless layers of down, synthetic insulation and fleece, and I spend several anxious minutes agonizing over which layering configuration to bring before each and every ski tour. Being a female skier in the Canadian Rockies, my closet is a testament to the gender stereotype of almost always being cold. ![]()
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