28 January 2014

Outdoor Research'S FLOODLIGHT JACKET

Outdoor Research's FLOODLIGHT JACKET


Staying warm in Albarracín with the Floodlight Jacket and the Deadpoint Pants.
Outdoor Research's promotional video.
Backcountryskiingcanada.com video where we can appreciate this jacket's water-proofness (starts at 2:00).


Sometimes, when we're about to leave home to go climbing/bouldering in the mountains and the weather is changeable, i.e., it's cold outside and don't know whether it's going to rain or not, we normally doubt whether to take our down jacket to be warm or the waterproof one so as not to get wet.


I always ended up putting both pieces of clothing in the backpack, but unfortunately this means extra weight -which is not a good idea when the hike-in is long- and you need a rucksack big enough to host everything in.


The new Floodlight Jacket by Outdoor Research has just solved this problem for me, since it perfectly combines the nice warmth its 800+ down fill provides -besides of the compressibility and lightness which are not met by the synthetic garments- plus the fact that I'm going to be at ease without worrying about getting wet or the wind bothering me. 


How did OR was able to do that? Instead of sewing the baffles, they have bonded an exterior Pertex® Shield+ membrane (water and wind-proof and breathable) to the synthetic interior. That way they avoid the humidity to enter where the feather is.  


The only drawbacks that we've found are:

- It's a little bit heavier (600 g in size L) and a little bit less compressible (less bulkier than a harness).

- As with all the jackets that we've tested from OR so far, it hasn't got double zipper closure, which is a bit annoying when belaying from our harness belay loop.

- We think that the neck box is a little bit too wide, making it feel a tad colder around our neck (it could be fixed with a long necked 1st and/or 2nd layer/s).


Besides this, its main characteristics are:

- 2 big zippered hand pockets which are situated higher than most of the jackets out there making it possible to have your hands in them while you wear the harness or your rucksack/crash-pad belt over the Floodlight Jacket. Moreover, they are fleece lined, which makes them cosier. 

- 1 zippered Napoleon pocket.

- 2 internal pockets where to place your climbing shoes when its cold, hence, warm them before you slide them on.

- Adjustable wire-brimmed hood, helmet compatible.

- Velcro Hook/loop cuff closures as well as double adjustable hem.

- Internal front-zip storm flap. This avoids the zipper to snag the internal fabric.

- 800+ fill down.

- Outer: Pertex® Shield+, which is breathable and water-resistant (10.000 mm) as well as windproof. Check the video at the bottom right-hand corner to see how water-proof this jacket actually is (starts at 2:00).



If you're looking for a lighter and more compressible feather jacket, you can read our Transcendent Hoody review (just 369 g. in size L).




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