New for this season, I was keen to try Mountain Equipment’s synthetic insulation as I’ve long been a fan of their down jackets. I also had a cooling experience with a badly-designed Primaloft jacket many years ago in its early days, so I wanted to see if this insulation could now cut the mustard.
Mountain Equipment Compressor Hooded Womens Jacket
Price £140
Weight 305g (Size 10)
Insulation
The insulation comes in the form of synthetic PrimaLoft One with 60g weight in the body and hood and less fill (40g) in the arms. Originally developed for the US army, PrimaLoft has a good reputation and the insulation qualities of Primaloft One are comparable to 550 fill power dry goose down at equal eight and density. So whilst its not as warm as most quality down jackets on the market, it still provides a good level of insulation that won’t be affected by the wet (either from sweat or rain) – manufacturer’s tests showed only a 4% loss of insulating capability when wet. The construction is quilted rather than sewn through to the lining. Having used it in a variety of conditions, including letting getting it wet over the course of a claggy Corbett route, the jacket has proved pretty warm in cool, windy and damp conditons, although I would want more insulation in a jacket if intended to be worn mainly at lunch stops or around camp on very cold dry winter days.
Fabric
Outer fabric is Mountain Equipment’s own Helium 30, a lightweight, windproof material which turned out to be much more water resistant than I was expecting. It continued beading in heavy drizzle for most of a morning and even then it took quite a while before the jacket started to feel properly wet. Despite fending off the wet, the fabric and combination with the relatively thin insulation means the jacket performs well on breathability. After several extended wears, the fabric has remained snag-proof so far although some tiny threads of the insulation have started to leak through the stitching in areas which have been rubbed by my rucksack. Whilst I doubt this will affect performance, it will mean the jacket will lose its looks in the long term if warn as part of a layering system rather than just for breaks/belaying.
Construction and Fit
Minimal, unfussy quilted construction with attached hood (non-hooded version also available if you must). Two way YKK front zip with a more than adequate baffle behind it. The helmet-compatible hood is big, and although it adjusts well using the front drawcord (the ends of which are kept inside the jacket rather than whipping at your face), for smaller heads, a volume adjuster at the back would be useful. The hood rolls and is held in place by one velcro strap and makes a nice comfy warm neck baffle when you don’t need a hood. The 2 front zipped hand warmed pockets are generous (not big enough to take an OS map though) and there’s also a smaller napolean pocket perfect for GPS and/or phone. The jacket can be zipped into one of the pockets which then has 2 small carabiner attachments on the resulting pouch. All the zips have drawcords and can be used reasonably easily with mitts, although the zip on the pocket that doubles as the jacket stuff sack can get caught as it has an additional drawcord which sometimes gets in the way. Simple elasticated cuffs provide a good seal without being overly tight and a double drawcord allows the hem to be adjusted.
In terms of fit, the sizing on the women’s version is fairly tailored making it ideal as a mid-layer but you’d maybe want to go up a size if this is planned as a belay or around-camp jacket only. There is good movement in the arms and the hood can easily be worn with a hat or helmet underneath. I’m 5’2″ and found the length fine (there is a slight scoop at the back) but taller users might find it a little on the short side.
Also available in a non-hooded version (RRP £120) and a vest (RRP £90) as well as men’s version with the same specification and prices. The 70’s blue and red colourway of the tested jacket does make you feel like you should be riding around on a Chopper bike, but it is also available in emerald green, vintage red (orange) and black and in sizes 10 – 16.
Conclusion
The simple design and light materials mean this jacket weighs in at just 305g for the smallest size. It easily stuffs into its zipped pocket, providing a 25 x 14 x 10cm package that is easily stowed or clipped onto a belt. Good for general walking in all but the coldest conditions and very useful due to its packability, resistance to rain and insulating qualities if it does get wet. Easier to look after than down, the jacket can go in the washing machine. The price sits mid way amongst similar jackets and has been available at well below the RRP in some outlets. I’ll still take my higher insulation down jacket on very cold and dry outings and camp trips, but this jacket is a more practical option for our damp and changeable climate and for milder winter days.