Sarah, pictured here in the Rab Xenon X, sold this jacket and now uses one or two fleeces and a wind or rain jacket for wet weather outdoor activities. Windproof synthetic-insulated jackets offer the highest warmth-to-weight ratio. Though they cost considerably more than fleece, synthetic-insulated jackets have a higher warmth-to-weight ratio, are more weather resistant, and are more comfortable (less restrictive over a wider range of motion). Here, highly air-permeable fabrics allow moisture vapor and excess heat to quickly transfer through the jacket, and also provide more weather resistance than fleece. For high exertion activities in cold weather.When there’s a high probability of getting the jacket wet and there won’t be an opportunity to dry it out.It loses less loft when exposed to equivalent levels of humidity, moisture vapor, condensation, and precipitation – and it dries out faster than down.Ī synthetic-insulated jacket can be a good investment in two situations: However, synthetic insulation manages moisture better than down. Finally, down is more durable (i.e., it resists the long-term loss of loft) than synthetic insulation in response to repeated compression and wetting-drying cycles. In addition, down fill is more compressible than synthetic fill.
The insulating capacity of high fill-power (i.e., 700+ cubic inches per ounce) down provides more insulation than the same weight of synthetic fill fibers. Credit: Max Neale What is the Purpose of a Synthetic Insulated Jacket?įor stationary and low-exertion use, down insulated jackets can offer the best performance (if measured in terms of warmth-to-weight ratio) and long-term value (e.g., durability) for many outdoor activities. Here Dan Sandberg climbs the East Ridge of Mt. The Patagonia Nano Air Light, a highly breathable active insulation jacket, is one of our top choices for high-exertion activities in cold weather. Included in this review (links go to individual product reviews published as part of this review): I researched over 100 models and chose 15 to exhaustively test over two years of outdoor activities, including lightweight backpacking, rock and alpine climbing, backcountry skiing, and multi-sport expeditions. I’ll help you discover the context that’s most valuable to you so you can make an informed decision about which jacket to buy, or which to take on a particular adventure. It’s a bit on the heavy side compared to other midlayers, but that’s a price we’re willing to pay for its versatility.What’s the best synthetic-insulated jacket? You’ll be wearing this jacket way more than packing it, but you can squish it down to about 7 by 5 inches in its own pocket. We liked the clean cuffs (they have Lycra inserts to block wind) which play nicely with other layers and gloves. A sturdy, two-way zipper let us vent from top or bottom and access a climbing harness. Five pockets (two interior) store winter must-haves. The hood fits over a climbing helmet, but also adjusts snugly over a beanie. “It’s an ideal outer layer when you’re grinding hard uphill in deep cold, and it makes a low-bulk midlayer under a shell,” one tester says.
#OUTDOOR RESEARCH UBERLAYER JACKET REVIEW FULL#
It’s the full recipe at work: Polartec Alpha, an insulation with thousands of tiny perforations that allow body heat to escape, is sandwiched between a wicking polyester liner and tough-but-supple nylon shell.
#OUTDOOR RESEARCH UBERLAYER JACKET REVIEW SKIN#
This jacket became a second skin for one tester who wore it nonstop for four days of ice climbing in New Hampshire, then around-the-clock on a four-day summer climb of Mt. Breathable when it needs to vent, warm when it needs to insulate.
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