Haglöfs women's-specific Endo Q jacket REVIEW
In using it, I immediately noticed the excellent breathability of the Active Goretex, combined with the waterproof properties you would expect from this jacket. This combination meant that I felt really dry in even the worst rain and wind (and boy, did I get more than i'd bargained for in that department!)
I used the chest pocket daily for stashing my ipod while running to music but I was a bit miffed that I didn’t have a bigger one, or more pockets for tucking away bits and bobs when needed. However, I soon learnt to work around this. A lack of 'bells and whistles' gives this jacket a stylish simplicity.
There is very little to fault with this product. If I was pressed, I would say that the thumb-loops were somewhat obstructive when trying to wear (or take on and off) any pair of thick gloves. I was using fleece windstopper gloves on my challenge, which didn’t really fit under the tight cuff and it was difficult to poke my thumb through the loop. However, this was only necessary due to some very wintry conditions on the Charlie Ramsay Round (Scotland
Women's Montane Lite-Speed windproof REVIEW
My initial quibbles went like this; when running in mild weather, I found that the DWR treatment on the Pertex seemed to reduce its breathability, which made me damp. The zip on the chest pocket seemed very delicate and I worried about snagging the delicate fabric. I also wondered if I would really need a hood in the wind (I would don my waterproof hard-shell if it started to rain, rather than take my chances with a sopping windproof).
As soon as I started the UK Big 3 Challenge on May 16th, the weather was horrendous. Heavy rain, gale force winds and eventually snow in Scotland
In damp, low cloud and mist (which I had for nearly all of the Paddy Buckely Round), the Montane Lite-Speed windproof coped admirably, reducing the need for me to run about the hills in a relatively heavy waterproof jacket when it wasn’t really raining. In gale-forec winds on the Bob Graham Round, the jacket really took the edge off the windchill and I was grateful for the added warmth. I often wore the hood up over my beanie, which afforded me additional warmth by keeping the back of my neck and my ears out of the elements. With its elasticated pull-cord it gripped well but was not restrictive.
Finally, in Scotland
I would strongly recommend the Montane Lite-Speed windproof for less aerobic hillwalking activities or when fell-running in damp and windy conditions. It really does make the difference.
Outside Edge in Oban has very generously donated an Endo Jacket from Haglofs for testing. The jacket is stealth black (instead of the green pictured here). It is stylish and light (320g for a size L) and has no double-fabric areas at all. The single chest pocket you can see in the picture is made from a stretch soft-shell to maximise breathability. There are also very snazzy stretch fabric cuffs, designed to work with trekking poles. The zips are new, lightweight, YKK items and the hood is the familar LIM design with the shock-cord on the outside of the hood. The Active Shell is far more breathable than other types of Goretex, making it a lot more comfortable to wear for extended periods. Apparently the Endo will retail for about £220 when it appears in September 2011 (get yours in Outside Edge!) and it should be spot on for a mix of lightweight walking, running, biking and climbing (although the hood isn't technically 'helmet compatible', it takes my helmet anyway).
The Spec:
· Women’s specific active cut with slight drop tail
· Full length, semi-automatic front zip with anti-snag baffle
· Roll-away hood with single-hand adjustable non-whip face aperture draw-cords
· Elasticated self fabric cuffs
· Zipped chest security / map pocket
· Single-hand operated, adjustable elasticated draw-cord hem
· MONTANE® logo reflective trim
· Own stuff sac with mini karabiner
· PERTEX ® fabric containining Durable Water Repellancy (DWR) as the first barrier to keeping you dry.
The jacket is Mountain Equipment's lightest mountain jacket and is made of the new Goretex Active Shell material, the most breatheable Goretex manufactured to date. At first look, the jacket is incredibly light and has the following features:
Active cut with articulated sleeves
NEW superlight GORE-TEX® Active Shell
Pit zips
Adjustable hood
WR centre front zip with rear storm-flap
Dual chest pockets, one with internal D-ring attachment
Fully adjustable hem draw-cord
Adjustable cuff grabs
Mountain Equipment Firefox II Jacket REVIEW
The weather I was faced with during the ‘UK Big 3 Challenge’ was a challenge indeed; for my legs, for my brain and for my waterproofs! Luckily, I was equipped with the Mountain Equipment Firefox II Jacket from Nevisport.
I arrived in Wales
When I arrived in the Lake District to tackle the Bob Graham Round, I was greeted by gale force winds and more low cloud. In the strong winds, the adjustable hood stayed in position well and the cut was roomy enough for me to layer-up with fleeces underneath. Sadly, I did manage to lose the little toggle from one of the hood-adjustment cords. But when I didn’t need to wear waterproofs on this round (not often), the jacket weighed next to nothing in small my fell-running pack.
As soon as I started the Charlie Ramsay Round in Scotland
By the time I was on the final leg of the Charlie Ramsay Round, I was faced with snow! It began with flurries on Stob Ban and ended with driving 60mph blizzards on Aonach Mor.
The Firefox II jacket is the perfect lightweight waterproof jacket for aerobic, single-day activities such as fell-running or mountain biking. After several days of heavy rain and nights spent in cold bothies (in which my jacket didn’t always dry out), it began to struggle though. As the days went on, the Gore-Tex Active fabric began to wet-out quite considerably compared to my experience of Gore-Tex Pro Shell alternatives. I think the Gore-Tex Active fabric is likely to be less durable over time and need re-proofing more often. However, this is exactly why Gore-Tex has different grades of fabric! The Firefox II benefits from the extreme breathability of Gore-Tex Active and combines lightweight design with optimum comfort. It also has every feature you would expect from a really serious mountain jacket.
Get yours from Nevisport!!
Joe Browns have kindly donated the following equipment for testing:
A Source Widepac 1.5L Hydration System for drinking on the move. Voted best in test by Trail magazie in 2010, it claims to be easy to use, easy to clean and dry and easy to refill on the hill: a great choice. I normally use a bottle (or just a cup!) and have never tried out a hydration system before; so this will be a first for me...
Spec:
- Quick release bladder tube and wide opening top
- Strong carry handle
- Locking Helix bite valve
- Dust and dirt bite valve cap
Source bladders claim to be:
- Taste-Free: A high tech co-extruded film & tube retains pure liquid taste with no plastic flavor.
- Bacteria-Free: Grunge-Guard - Anti-microbial technology blocks bacteria growth for the life of the system. Glass-Like : Liner technology prevents bio-film build-up, system is self-cleaning.
- Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) surface analysis shows that Source�s Glass-Like film is 1000% smoother then that of competitors using PU films with only a 50% difference from glass itself.
- Care-Free: Glass-Like technology combined with Grunge-Guard technology represent a new generation in hydration system where cleaning is no longer an issue. Simply refill and drink again and again without special care. The same water will remain fresh for days and even weeks.
Joe Browns also donated an Arcteryx Phase AR Zip Neck baselayer in Bondi Blue. This is a lightly insulated, zip-neck base layer, ideal for use during aerobic activities in cooler conditions.
Technical Features
- Moisture-wicking
- Breathable
- Lightweight
- Quick-drying
- Minimal odour retention
- Antimicrobial, odour-control fabric treatment
- Hydrophobic materials will not absorb water
- Mechanical stretch textile for unrestricted mobility—fabric is inherently stretchy without the use of Spandex fibres, making it more durable
- Anatomical shaping for fit and comfort
- Gusseted underarms
- Laminated chin guard
Zippers & Fly Configuration
- Quick-pull 1/2 length zip for easy venting
- Long sleeves
- Non-chafing label
