Posts Tagged jackets
Helium II Packable Jacket From Outdoor Research
Taking the concept of a packable, water-resistant, breathable jacket one step further, this super-light Helium II one from Outdoor Research packs a punch in a pouch.
Sure, when I’m out on the town in my home city or driving somewhere with loads of room in the car, I love to wear the best-looking jacket in my closet. Bring on the leather, the wool, or the thick layers. When I’m traveling with a carry-on suitcase or backpack though, the requirements quickly change. Then I want something that does the job required while taking up as little space as possible.
Back in 2010 our former reviewer Kara sang the praises of the original Helium jacket from Outdoor Research and before that I gave the thumbs up to their Fanatic jacket. It took me through a tour in the Galapagos in fine form and is still looking good three years later.
With all of these, the concept is simple but effective: make a jacket that keeps away the elements when you need that, but packs away into a a little pouch (its own pocket) when the sun comes out again. Great performance, with very little burden.
The Helium II is an improved version of the original. Here’s the official word: “6% lighter and 10% more breathable than its predecessor. An ultra-compressible piece you’ll never leave behind, it offers 30% more waterproof protection than the original.” If I remember right the original version was also touted to be around 6 ounces, but I guess when you get down that low, it doesn’t take much to get “6% lighter.” Not like you could tell the difference anyway: a mild gust will blow this thing off your lap.
This is no wimpy windbreaker though. To give it a real test I took it to San Francisco, where the weather is as unpredictable as Mitt Romney’s convictions and you can often see fog, sun, wind, rain, and calm on the same day. I got everything but the fog, so I was able to see how this Helium II jacket held up in varied conditions.
It kept the rain off, it didn’t hold everything in when I sweated my way up a hill, and I didn’t feel the wind coming through it either. In short, a good all-around jacket for above-freezing conditions. When it was time to go home, it packed into its own pocket and took up so little room that I thought I’d lost it when I got back and started unpacking.
There are some minor downsides to it, like the swishy-swishy nylon sound it makes, but some of the gripes that came up about the earlier version have been addressed. There’s a second pocket now inside (good for anything expensive, or a passport) and the zippers seem to be a little more robust. There are some nice touches to separate this quality jacket from the cheapos, like a good cinch strap system at the bottom, wrist elastic, and a stretchy hanging hook.
Get more info on the Helium II jacket at the OR site, but I can tell you in comes in four sizes, multiple colors, has Pertex Shield waterproofing, and the adjustable hood is big enough to go over a helmet when spring skiing. The list price is $150, but you’ll find it for less on the real or virtual racks.
Unlike some other things we’ve reviewed here, this is not a difficult item to find. You should be able to buy it at your local outdoor gear store, or you can check prices online at Backcountry, Altrec, or Summit Hut.
Get the women’s version at Summit Hut or Altrec.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, Travel Light on April 19th, 2012
Obermeyer Coco Jacket and London Pant
Sometimes, performance and style don’t always match on the slopes. They do with the Obermeyer Coco Jacket and London Pant.
The jacket’s 100-percent Cocona polyester fabric uses a natural technology derived from coconut shells, providing increased body moisture evaporation and breathability. It also has a pretty pattern, for those who care about style points. Its interior stretch panels, inner cuffs with thumbholes, integrated powder skirt, well-placed vents and removable hood help ensure you can have a good ski (or board) day and stay comfortable.
The jacket also incorporates the RECCO reflector, a device that never needs to be switched on (and never needs batteries) that bounces back a searcher’s directional radar signal, in the event of a burial. While nobody likes to think about that in advance of a ski day, it’s definitely a nice-to-have element.
The one thing I wish the jacket had: larger pockets. On my recent Aspen trip, I became envious of people sporting jackets with pockets that would fit their ski gloves, wallets and other things needed for the ski day. I got my iPhone, wallet and hat crammed in the pockets, but that’s pretty much all I could manage.
If you’ve been looking for a great-performing ski pant that fits perfectly, try the Obermeyer London Pant. Made with MicroTec 100 percent polyester twill with HydroBlock, the pants will keep the snow out, whether you’re skiing, snowboarding, or just hiking. Heavy-duty zippers, reinforced hems, thigh vents and an adjustable webbing belt add to the useful features.
If you’re planning on seriously layering up, make sure you consider ordering one or even two sizes up. The pants cut a nice silhouette when they fit in your regular size, however with a layer underneath, plus perhaps some padding for the inevitable beginner snowboarding crashes, you’ll wish they were just a tad more baggy. Trust me on this little detail.
The Obermeyer Coco Jacket lists for $399.50 on the Obermeyer website. You may be able to find it for less at Backcountry.com or at Sierra Trading Post. The Obermeyer London Pant lists for $159.50 on the Obermeyer website, and are also available on Altrec and Sierra Trading Post. This being the end of season, you’ll probably find a clearance sale going on…
Posted by Jill in Adventure Gear on March 30th, 2012
Hi-Tec Cloud Chaser Shell
I’ve field tested a good number of jackets and shells this winter, so when the Hi-Tec Cloud Chaser arrived on the scene (just in time for spring), I have to admit to being a bit blasé. After all, once you’ve seen one waterproof shell, you’ve seen them all, right?
Wrong. (But you knew I was going to say that, didn’t you?) So what sets the Cloud Chaser apart? Three things: feel, portability, and price.
Feel:
Unlike some waterproof shells that can be stiff and unyielding, the Cloud Chaser feels almost supple, and you certainly have full movability. The Dri-Tec material is soft and breathable while still being completely seam-sealed. In fact, at first glance, I doubted the Cloud Chaser could be truly waterproof, because it’s not slick like a rain jacket or ‘rubbery’ like the ski shells I’m used to, and it’s extremely lightweight. I put it to the ultimate test: two hours on the sidelines of a kids’ soccer match in the driving Oregon rain…in March. No water got through this shell. Again, I’ll admit it: I was surprised, and impressed.
The outer shell is polyester ripstop and the lining is nylon, but because of the ventilation zips, you don’t sweat in it like you would in a traditional rain jacket. You’ll want layers under the Chaser in extreme temperatures, but on mild spring days with light drizzle, you could wear it over a single layer and be comfortable.
Portability:
The feature of the Chaser getting the most attention is the fact that it ‘packs into its own pocket’. At first, I wondered what exactly this meant: did the Cloud Chaser come with a drawstring pouch of some sort? Did the hood convert to a pocket? Turns out, it’s nothing that complicated. They mean exactly what they say: you can roll up the shell and stuff it right into one of its own front pockets. I tried it, and it does indeed work (shrinking to just a little bigger than the size of a softball.) I left the Chaser stuffed overnight, just to see how it would pack for a trip, and while it was marginally wrinkled when I took it out the next day, the wrinkles shook out within the first twenty minutes or so of wear. The hood is oversized (so it will fit over a helmet or thick beanie), and rolls up to be packed away at the back of the collar when you don’t need it. There’s a nice drawcord cinch at the bottom, and you can adjust the fit at the wrists, too. All the pockets and ventilation slits have waterproofed zippers/closures.
Price:
The fact that the Cloud Chaser is only $99 restores my faith that a quality waterproof shell doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. The price makes it possible to add this shell as a travel piece you’ll use again and again, and reach for at home for walks, light hikes, and, if you’re me, endless soccer matches. The women’s Cloud Chaser comes in four colors (two of which are two-toned): Sprout/November, Haze/November, Dover, and Black. Pick one up at Amazon or the Hi-Tec online store. Discount online sites like ShoeBuy have a nice selection of colors and sizes as well.
See more Hi-tec product reviews
Posted by Amy in Adventure Gear, Travel Light on March 27th, 2012
L.L. Bean Insulated Fleece Jacket
Sometimes fleece seems to be the right choice for cold weather, but the wind still seems to blow right through it. If you’re looking for more warmth with your fleece, try L.L. Bean’s Insulated Fleece Jacket, which combines wind- and weather-resistent fleece with a layer of insulation.
Stretch Thinsulate Flex insulation is sandwiched between two layers of Polartec Wind Pro Fleece, adding more warmth without the jacket becoming too bulky. On top of that, Polartec Power Shield fabric is pieced at wear areas for added weather protection, to resist wind and repel water. Toss the jacket in the washer and dryer, and you’re set to wear it over and over.
The Insulated Fleece Jacket is great for cooler-weather activities, like hiking and bicycling—but that doesn’t mean you can’t just wear it on your travels or at home to run errands. Two deep zippered pockets are useful for your hands, or items you want to carry with you. A smaller, zippered chest pocket is perfect for an MP3 player, because there’s a small hole through which you can string your earbuds.
Pull cords are at the bottom of the jacket, so you can tighten them as you wish, to avoid a draft. The collar can fit up around your neck for additional warmth, and the zipper doesn’t jab you in the chin.
The drawback for me was the extremely limited color choices: raspberry and teal. I get that it’s a jacket for women, but we all don’t love the girly colors. The men’s jacket, on the other hand, is available in a darker blue and deep red. Add a black or gray to each offering (like the image), and I’m sold. No, my clothing colors may not stand out in a crowd, but I like it that way.
The L.L. Bean Insulated Fleece Jacket lists for $149 from the L.L. Bean website. There’s also a men’s version for the same price.
Posted by Jill in Adventure Gear, General Gear on March 9th, 2012
Quality Girls’ Jackets at a Good Price From Columbia
It’s always a dilemma: you want to put your kids in decent outerwear, but you don’t want to spend a fortune on something that won’t fit a season or two from now. Your best bet is often to hit the sale rack (physical or virtual) and look for the Columbia Sportswear logo.
I’ve talked before about how Columbia Sportswear is not timid about the “out with the old, in with the new” retail discounting philosophy, with this post on inexpensive travel staples. Whereas most companies act like the list price is sacred on their own websites, these guys aren’t afraid to mark down items to move them out the door on their outlet site.
This winter my daughter has been the guinea pig on two jackets that have already gone from a good price to a better one. First up is the cute Pearl Plush Full Zip fleece you see pictured at the top, in two of its four colors. My daughter being the girlie girl she is, naturally went for the pink. Besides the color, she loves how soft and fuzzy it is, like a favorite stuffed toy. They call this fleece “Luscious pile,” and it’s a good description.
Although kids don’t sweat out the armpit area as much as we do, this does allow some venting there to keep the little ones from getting overheated and also makes this fleece look more like mom’s more expensive outdoor wear. It’s also got the same kind of zippered pockets and zipper pulls.
This jacket originally sold for $60 to $75, but now you can find the regular or hoodie version for under $40 if you shop around. That puts it in the range of no-name brands that don’t look or feel as good. And this is a great jacket for this spring, next fall, and beyond. Just go a size or two up to allow for growth because it’s slim-fitted. Follow these links to check prices at Backcountry, Department of Goods, Campmor, or direct from Columbia.
Omni-Heat for Girls
I also like how Columbia has incorporated some of the technology you find in their most expensive adult jackets and put it into kids’ versions you can pick up for far less. At the top of that list is the silver-dots Omni-Heat technology, which reflects body heat back and thus saves on the amount of bulk needed.
This Red Hottie jacket incorporates that technology plus the Omni-Shield water repellent, but is currently selling for $60 on Columbia.com. This has 100 grams of insulation, so it’s not meant for blizzards and sub-zero weather, but is a good layering piece for less trying ski days and playing outdoors.
As with the fleece, this is meant to look like something mom would wear, with its quilted design, slim fit, and pockets in all the right places (including an interior zippered one). But it’s 1/10 the price…
Check sale prices on the Red Hottie at Altrec.com, Zappos, and Columbia’s outlet site.
See more kids apparel at Columbia Sportswear.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, General Gear, Kids and Family on March 1st, 2012
