Winter is Waiting in the Wings
Posted by Nicki | August 22, 2012
Hard as it is to believe, winter is waiting in the wings – and it won’t be too long before it’s time to pull on the waterproofs or down jackets to battle the elements.
Here’s a selection of the very best coming to Gear-Zone soon…
The jacket that inspired a generation is back in the form of the Berghaus Choktoi II, an updated version of their best-selling Windstopper fleece in a top-of-the-range technical jacket designed to lock out the fiercest mountain winds.
The Choktoi II guarantees maximum warmth by trapping air inside, thanks to a lofty microfleece grid backer that helps to heat your core body temperature.
Aimed at the experienced winter mountaineer looking for high performance and versatility, this practical, cosy fleece promises more warmth and less bulk than similar offerings in its class, combining total windproofness with maximum breathability to eliminate the cold.
The Mera Peak II is a lightweight shell from Berghaus, a classic mountain jacket which has undergone the most rigorous tests and passed with flying colours.
Even in the most extreme wet weather, this durable 2-layer Gore-Tex Performance Shell will keep you dry, with waterproofing capabilities and excellent breathability making it a terrific all-rounder.
Pit zips have been incorporated to help regulate your body temperature, in a tough, dependable workhorse aimed at the experienced mountain enthusiast looking for a professional performance jacket in the harshest of conditions.
The Hurricane Shell from Berghaus is a storm-proof powerhouse of a jacket, compatible with their InterActive system and ready to take a fleece inner as part of a flexible layering system to cope with variable weather conditions.
The revised Generator Jacket from Rab packs away into its own chest pocket, making it the perfect travelling companion in changing conditions.
Primaloft One synthetic fill in the body and sleeves makes this the ideal layering piece for backpacking, climbing and mountaineering, with minimal weight and pack size rendering it almost unnoticeable in your backpack.
Primaloft One is the most water-resistant and compressible of synthetic fill, and the Pertex Quantum outer is tough and lightweight, with hand warmer pockets which won’t interfere with a harness.
Protection Against the Brutal Cold
The North Face Windwall Jacket lives up to its name in a wind-resistant fleece, a serious stand-alone piece for protection against the brutal cold and ideal when worn as an insulation layer with an outside shell.
Their Apex Bionic Vest is a sleeveless bodywarmer which will protect your core in harsh, cold conditions, providing an impenetrable defence against howling headwinds, with water-resistance thrown into the equation to make it one of the most versatile pieces of outdoor clothing around.
Also from The North Face, the Upland Jacket is a waterproof classic, designed for all-mountain pursuits and crafted to cope with the very worst that Mother Nature can throw at you.
As its name suggests, the Jack Wolfskin Cold Trail Jacket has been built for tough conditions on the trail, a robust shell with a cosy polyfibre interlining in a classic Alpine-look design.
Their Fairbanks Parka is for seriously cold temperatures, a Polar explorer jacket whose thermal qualities make it suitable for Arctic temperatures, while the Helium Down is a true Alpine mountaineering jacket in an ultra-lightweight design that packs away into its own pocket.
For the ladies, the women’s Iceland Jacket from Jack Wolfskin gives you the best of both worlds in fluctuating temperatures.
The sleek, uncomplicated outer provides plenty of weather protection in the worst of conditions, while the inner fleece promises the warmth you need for colder days on the hill.
Jack Wolfskin’s zip-in system allows the two to be zipped together to make a versatile insulating piece - or wear them separately as conditions dictate.
Classic Status Throughout the World
Their velvety-soft 5th Avenue hiking jacket has achieved classic status throughout the world, ideal for a wide range of activities when the temperatures fall.
This ladies’ cold-weather walking coat combines a waterproof, windproof and breathable shell with a polyfibre fill thermal interlining, combining reliable weather protection with cosy warmth.
From The North Face comes the women’s Evolution Parka, a zip-in compatible waterproof, and the Juneau Jacket, as elegant as it is practical and filled with European premium quality down in a design based on winter insulation worn by women in Alaska.
Rab’s women’s Vapour Rise Jacket is celebrating its 15th birthday with an updated version of a softshell classic.
Wind and water resistant, incredibly breathable and versatile enough to be worn as a stand-alone baselayer, efficient midlayer or an outer shell, this ladies’ mountain trekking top is the jacket of choice for many Polar explorers.
