Brooks-Range Cirro Jacket

While outdoorsmen already know the rules of survival when hitting nature’s extremes, business travelers such as myself can often find themselves in some out-of-the-way locations with off-the-chart temperatures. Such was my fate when learning I would be in Ulan Bator, Mongolia (the world’s coldest capital city based on average temperatures) in the middle of March with biting temperatures reaching as low as -25 during the evening hours. Still, that meant that my trusty overcoat and business suits would need to be supplemented with something a bit heftier.

So I turned to my outdoorsmen friends to seek an alternative since my closet has one North Face jacket that would certainly not be warm enough. That’s when I learned about Brooks-Range Mountaineering’s lightweight Cirro jacket. It arrived in a small box folded neatly and packed tightly. Muck to my surprise, it unraveled to reveal quite an impressive piece of clothing.

My problem is that I cannot make space in my solo carryon bag for a thick jacket that takes up lots of room. That’s where the Cirro jacket fits into my winter weather travel regime perfectly. I am sure I was not the target market for this durable piece of clothing, but it certainly can have many uses.

This featherweight jacket seemed almost too thin or light to provide the insulation I would need in biting temperatures, but it was my best option space-wise. What I learned is that you cannot always judge a product on its first impression.

It is lined with Primaloft One, a fluffy synthetic insulation that has the consistency of down, but doesn’t lose its warmth if it becomes moist from rain or humidity. This is because of the 100% water-resistant rip-stop nylon that coats the outside of the jacket. That’s the perfect combination for those taking the jacket camping, hiking, skiing, or even on chilly mountain hikes. Plus, it folds down into a small enough size that it can easily be stuffed into a suitcase corner without usurping too much vital real estate.

There are four different versions of the jacket including some with hoods and others featuring just a half-zip pullover style. I opted for the full-zip, hoodless version in black. Skiers will definitely want the hood version!

The jacket is not too puffy, and it even looks stylish for those who are into the latest European trend of slick winter wear. My favorite part was that I was able to wear the jacket unzipped even when I was not in extreme weather and felt perfectly comfortable. It is hard to find at retail so far but is available on the company’s web site. Just what I needed: a versatile and stylish winter or spring jacket that can be equally well-used on an adventure trip or big city jaunt.