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On test: Patagonia R2 Jacket |
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Written by Rosie
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Friday, 24 June 2011 14:03 |
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 If we could give marks for ‘strokeable-ness’ the R2 Jacket would come in first place – once you’ve picked up this fleece you’ll want to pretend it’s your pet cat and stroke it like you’re Doctor Evil hatching some cunning plan. Or take it to bed with you (or maybe that’s just me). The High Loft fleece material it’s made of is really special.
On to the proper stuff. As you can guess by the price, this jacket is designed for serious expeditions, and this is reflected in its features: forward-set shoulder seams, for example, so it doesn’t get uncomfortable when you’re wearing a heavy rucksack. It has stretchy panelling under the arms and on the elbows for maximum movement, but these are fleece-lined on the inside so those areas don’t get any colder than the rest of you.
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Last Updated on Friday, 09 December 2011 13:00 |
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On test: Icebreaker GT260 Quantum Hood |
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Written by Rosie
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Friday, 24 June 2011 13:50 |
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 Huzzah huzzah – finally a fleece with thumb holes. What could make a girl happier?
I’m a big fan of Icebreaker tops – a slightly different version of this fleece was one of two warm things that made the final cut for a three-month trip to South America last year. My reasons for choosing the Icebreaker? It was warm, it packed down small, and if it’s really cold it fits nicely enough to wear under another fleece or jacket. And there are those thumb holes.
The Quantum Hood has the same qualities: warm, small pack size and close fitting. Part of the reason it fits so well is that the garment is made out of merino wool with 3% lycra. Another plus point of merino, other than it being natural, is that it’s anti-bacterial so it stops you from smelling so bad (I’ll have to double check with my tent mate on that one). And it’s comfy and breathable – all good.
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Last Updated on Friday, 09 December 2011 13:01 |
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On test: Mammut Innominata Jacket |
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Written by Rosie
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Friday, 24 June 2011 13:36 |
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 Mammut’s Innominata jacket is similar to North Face’s Genesis – it’s traditional, quite bulky (only got in the tin with significant pressure) but very warm, and made of the same Polartec Thermal Pro. So what do you get for your £11 extra?
The biggest difference is the weight. By our scales Mammut’s offering is almost 40g lighter in the large size than North Face’s is in the medium, and you can feel the difference when you‘re wearing it. (Yes, I did realise that I’m fatter than I originally thought half way through this review.) Another bonus is a zipped pocket inside the jacket on the bottom left – useful for keeping stuff safe if you’re planning to be opening and shutting the two handwarmers. A plus for me is that the zip is on the left, although if you’re used to it on the other side that won’t be an issue.
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Last Updated on Friday, 09 December 2011 13:16 |
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Written by Rosie
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Friday, 24 June 2011 13:29 |
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 From the traditional to the technical, the first thing you think when you look at the Montane Liberty is that it means business: apart from the Paramo, it’s the least traditional-looking on test. The body and outer arms of the jacket are made from Polartec Classic 200 – warm and snug – but the under arms and sides are made from a stretchy material called Dryactiv Stretch so you’ve got maximum movement if you’re climbing or mountaineering.
The rest of the jacket is geared towards more extreme activities too. It has a two-way zip so you can wear it over a harness, which is also good for ventilation, and the pockets are slightly higher up so you could wear it under a harness.
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Last Updated on Friday, 09 December 2011 13:16 |
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On test: North Face Women’s Genesis |
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Written by Rosie
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Friday, 24 June 2011 13:16 |
 The North Face Genesis is exactly how you’d imagine a textbook traditional fleece, and I use textbook to mean ‘good’. It’s quite big – another one where I had to put a lot of weight on the lid of the tin to get the lid on – and the heaviest on test, but it’s mega warm. North Face uses the traditional Polartec for this jacket, which feels good against the skin, and inside the pockets it uses something even softer – you’ll want to warm your hands even if they’re not cold. On the subject of pockets it has two zipped handwarmers – they’re a good size and the zips are easy to use in gloves. And on the subject of zips (oh the links are seamless) the main one is on the right – what I think of as the man’s side – which means that I occasionally managed to break it. This is apparently because TNF is an American brand and that’s the side American women like their zips. And it means the fleece is interactive with the North Face outer layers. I’m not keen, but I’m sure I’d get used to it if I bought one, and it wouldn’t change the jackets performance of course.
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Last Updated on Friday, 09 December 2011 13:17 |
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