Ordered size Large on Sunday night, arrived this morning - good turnaround, guys!

Initial impressions…

I’m 6ft tall, 39in chest, about 12st 9lbs and it seems a good size on me.  Only tried it over a tshirt so far, will have to wait until later to try over a mid layer, but there seems to be enough room for that.  Lengths are OK on me too, sleeves, waist and back.

Outside pockets seem a good size but not sure about location - again, will try with a pack on later.

Not sure if this is a common problem, but the fabric behind the right hand piece of the zip at the bottom seems to catch pretty easily in the zip “runner”.  Could just be user error, but I’ll investigate.

Ordered Large, way too small but just recieved xlarge. Great fast turnaround.
First thoughts;
-Yes to inside net pockets,
-How about a small stuff sac with karabiner loop for attaching to harness when climbing? (I use one for a pertex shell for the windy belays at the top.)
-Yes the zip gets caught [see “but the fabric behind the right hand piece of the zip at the bottom seems to catch pretty easily in the zip “runner”.” from forum.]
-how about a superlight gillet version?

I’m sure there’ll be more when I’ve worn it in anger but looking good.

NickL - 30 June 2009 12:27 PM

Ordered size Large [snip] I’m 6ft tall, 39in chest, about 12st 9lbs and it seems a good size on me.  Only tried it over a tshirt so far, will have to wait until later to try over a mid layer, but there seems to be enough room for that.  Lengths are OK on me too, sleeves, waist and back.[snip]

Now tried it over a 200 weight fleece jacket.  I wouldn’t want it any smaller, but still comfortable - I could probably still get my shell underneath if slipping the 0hiro on for a stop but it was just too hot to try last night!  Over a 100 weight fleece it’s absolutely fine.  I reckon an XL on me would just be too baggy, so I’m sticking with the L.

Hi there,
Just picked my jacket up and for the money it seems pretty good all round. Thoughts to date are,
Fit - I’m 6’3” with ridiculous long arms, 40” chest. XL fits good on chest and drop back seems good when stood. Would like a little extra length for the body for reaching up as rides up a fair way when stretching. Arm length seems pretty good but would like some velcro closure too just to snug it right up if necessary. Hood fits my Ecrin fine and dandy. Collar fit is spot on for me too.
Pockets - would prefer higher and mesh internal, plus some big glove freindly zip pullers. No more pockets needed, plenty in everything else I’ll wear. Pocket that doubles as a stuff sack would also be a help.
Materials - outer seems plenty tough enough for the job, no idea how warm it’ll feel yet but for the weight and pack size I’m happy with the loft. I live and work in Italy with the Gran Sasso area of the Appenines as my play area so typically in winter it can be minus 20 one day then 5 degrees above zero within a day or two, therefore I want something light enough to carry permanently that can handle gettin soaked with melting snow etc. Not too cold up there at the moment but was still pretty frosty early doors above 2500m last week so may have to give it a use when I get home in a couple of days.
Will report back once it’s got a bit smelly and dirty - a couple of weeks should do it.
Ta.

The first jacket I ordered was a small because I usually fit into small men’s clothing or medium women’s. I’m not at all pear-shaped but the small jacket was so snug over my hips that it was more like a straight jacket!

I then ordered a medium which is a little on the large side with the sleeves being about 2” too long. I have worn it a couple of times on fell tops when I’ve stopped for something to eat. It is very windproof and the hood is comfortable and stays in place even in high winds. My only gripe about the hood is that it’s very bulky when it’s down and you’re wearing a rucksack. If I could mention a rival firm then a simple velcro flap like the one used on the Rab Photon hoody would be ideal for keeping it tied out of the way when not in use.

The warmth to weight ratio seems ideal. I’ve also worn it around a campsite and it’s ideal for dealing with the early morning chill.

All in all a great jacket. It’s just a shame that I seem to be inbetween sizes.

Got my jacket a couple of weeks ago, but only had a chance to try it round the house so far. Weather was far to nice when walking the other week!

First impressions are good. Jacket seems like it will last for a while. My only slight niggles are that maybe the end of the sleeves are a bit small, maybe a velcro closure instead of the none adjustable type? Also the hood elastics are inside the hood, i find these a bit fiddly and prefer them to exit on the outside of the hood. Minor points, look forward to trying it in anger on a winter route.

Col.

eeeeeeeeeeee well exited - my car blew up last week - and this week my new jacket has arrived and I have a van to go away on adventures on - so its all gravy!!

right = i bought a small red jacket - im a size 10 5ft 2” petite gal

Well so far so good - its warm - its a good fit in the arms- my petzl Elios fits comfortably under the hood - which is great and also when not wearing a helmet this is comfy around the neck.  Nice length jacket.  Love the zippers - lets me have them where i want them.  Enough pockets for stuff, and i loke how high it comes up the neck (the zipper that is…..

downfalls…... its a tad tight on the hips - and i aint been eating pies - size 10 ish and active….

i cant wait to get wearing this out on the crags and testing it to the max - i work in the outdoors in wales - so ill see how warm it keeps me and how it stands up to sunny (NOT!) welsh weather!......

[color=pink]THANKYOU ALPKIT GUYS + GALS!!!!

mountain girl….. [/color]

pps love the colour!!!!!

I know I’m logged in as Tim Rivett, but this is Kat Rivett who the jacket was bought for.

Last night the jacket got used in the field for the first time. I was feeling chilly having just finished an unsuccessful search, 3 1/2 hrs bramble bashing, with Woodhead MRT (misper turned up back home this am).

Lovely and warm just what I needed.

Only issues are as most of the women have stated that it is a bit tight over the hips for a woman (size 12 in a medium). A women’s fit one would be great (still with room for layers)

Replacement jacket arrived earlier this week, replaced for staining on the back panel shell fabric.  The replacement looks as though it has the same problem, but on the second one looking closely you can see that it’s down to dark spots in the insulation showing through the shell. Not sure if this is the same in all colours (I’ve got chilli).  Reckon the Alpkit folks will get some quality complaints if this is replicated in the production version.  Either needs fully opaque shell fabric or completely white insulation.  I’m ok to accept this as it’s not a flaw as such, the “marks” are small and this is a pre-production model…but I’d probably return it again if I’d paid full price.

Just had a look at and tried on the jacket.

Tried on with a tshirt and microfleece and also with my buffalo (old so has squashed pile).

I am an average sized guy - w32 c38 (trouser and shirt size) 175cm tall and 75Kg not a skinny rake but do like a beer or two!

I bought the M based on that being the size that I buy almost all my clothes. But I will be returning it for the L.

First thoughts:

Size

I would agree that the size is too snug.  With the tshirt and micro fleece it was almost ok but just on the too small size. With the buffalo on it was too tight. Slightly annoyingly the sleeve length on the M is good for me so the L is going to probably be a bit long (but will report back).

You may wish to add a comment on the website that the jacket is exactly the size stated (humm I still think its small for the size quoted) and if you intend using it as winter belay jacket then order the size up, if its for pulling over shorts and t-shirt then order your normal size.

Hood

Bearing in mind the size, I liked the volume.  My Petzl Erin (or what ever its call) fitted with space, my skiing lid (UVEX 60cm) was a little on the tight size but it was just ok - but this is a real bonus as far as I’m concerned.  As others have reported there were no flexibility issues turning left/right.

Wiring in the peak is not really that malleable - yes if the weather is that bad you would have your waterproof jacket drawn right in to small hole but this doesn’t seem possible on this jacket, yes its a cost issue but I think its important and in a shop compared with other jackets for me it would be a turn off. 

I don’t like the draw cords being on the inside. I suspect that it would feel a bit of faff to adjust when on the hill (but a first thought so will report back). - has this been done to stop the elastic blowing about in the wind?  Nice idea if it has but can it be done so its more accessible? 

Design

Seems ok.  the wire in the hood does give it a bit of budget feel as does one or two smaller details - the seam on the shoulder sleeve rises slightly where it joins the body of the jacket.

It would be nice to see a softer fabric on the inside of the zip baffle - when in the dreich and your having a wee epic its nice having that soft fabric against your nose!

Hard wearing patches - for 60quid you are right not to add them, hot having them also reduces weight.

Cut over all seems ok.

It would be nice to see Velcro on the cuffs, adds versatility.

Logo - why do you only print it on? After only a few uses the logo on my sleeping bag has started delaminating I’m quite proud that I own (and love) your gear it seems odd you’re not so fussed?!  The label in the back of jacket is sewn in so why not on the outside?

Agree with comments about the inside mesh pockets, they would be good, as would a compression sack, also agree with moving the pockets slightly higher but not a show stopper where they are.  Double zip is good too!

Staining effect? Looking with good light I’ve only spotted one or two places where you can see where the ‘problem’ is (unless I’ve had too much Bruichladdich?!)

Hope that assists, naturally happy to discuss further.

If you are reading this and are thinking of buying, think about your size but its fantastic value at £45, buy it!

Any chance of making a female one that I could try out in the Alps in August and in the good old Scottish Winter next Winter?

Received the jacket a couple of weeks ago and thus far have not had much opportunity to really test it out with it being summer and all. However wearing the jacket round the house and over a t-shirt on a slightly chilly lakeland evening i’m generally quite impressed. For the money i think it’s brilliant, even if i do still slightly covet my brothers fancier montane synthetic.

Only thing i think needs adapting is the wiring in the hood, which isn’t bendy and goes almost all the way round the hood, which makes it look like a bonnet when you tighten up the hood. I’d also like it to cover a bit more of my my face round the sides as it feels a bit exposed.

I’d also agree with previous posts asking for large internal mesh pockets- simple but infinitely practical.

Otherwise nice jacket.

Good Bits:
Took the 0Hiro out to the Alps for a good test run, kept me warm on the glacier and was a sufficient substitute for my sleeping bag whilst spending a night at the midi station (3800m) trapped by a storm from our bivi kit down on the col. Other people said they were impressed by its appearance, affordability and with the fact the hood fits over a helmet.

Room for improvement:
Met a guy out there of similar size to me who had the same original problem with the sizing. Whilst in the alps we were both able to try on other peoples belay jackets and we think that currently size small should be relabeled xx-small and medium is x-small as it is still a tighter fit than many other size small belay jackets we tried. As we’ve not seen or tried the other sizes can’t make any judgment after that and we’re basing on this on the chest sizes, length in the arms seems to be ok.

Pockets- everyone i asked said that are there are perfect, to keep it simple and light, don’t add more.

The wire in the hood is too long, it only needs to hold the peak out so shouldn’t be against the cheeks.

The toggles for the cord around the face on the hood are really annoying!!!!! In nasty weather with hood up and zip to the top the toggles rest on the chin and when it got really cold they started getting even more uncomfortable with icicles on them. Would be better if the toggles were on the outside so we just have nice soft material against our face instead of annoying plastic.

So a few improvements needed but generally a good jacket! One of my mates said that “once they’ve ironed out the flaws every student starting climbing in the next decade will have one!”

I ordered this jacket on Tuesday morning and it arrived first thing Wednesday, so an excellent turnaround.

First impressions are very good (especially at 60 quid)

I know it’s summer but I tried it on witha thin base layer, a Mountain Equipment Ultra Fleece Mountain Jacket and a Berghaus Paclite Extrem. The jacket went over the top of these and was a perfect fit. However I ordered an XL and I’m normally a large (5’11” and 13st 12lb). So a rethink on the sizeing may be needed.

The jacket also fitted over my gauntleted winter gloves and my old battered Camp High Star helmet. So the sizing is fine there too.

This is meant to be a belay jacket, that may be used at bivvies, so please keep it simple. Dont add ski pass pockets, spindrift skirts, guide book pockets, velcro wrist closures, or change the outside pockets as I wont be hiking, sking or poseing in it.

What would I change?
I’d remove 1 of the hem toggles, it only needs 1 and it would save a few grammes.
Like lots of others I’d change the inner pocket to a larger mesh pocket, with an draw cord clossure, were I can dry a pair of gloves, keep a water bottle when bivvying and use as a stuff sack.
Maybe I’d put the wind flap on the outside with a velcro clossure, that I can do up in a hurry, when its blowing a hoolie. However this would add weight, so maybe not.

All in all an excellent jacket for UK winter and alpine summer, that I look forward to using in anger.

Cheers Dave

Even though it’s summer, I’ve worn this a good few times.
I’m pleased to report it ticks nearly all the boxes for a well thought out belay jacket..well done.

Fit: I advise that should a buyer need it as an overgarment, then size up. I’m using a Large, whereas I would usually specify Medium.
Nice features, such as fitted hood, dropped back, harness friendly pockets.

Fabric:yes it does remind me a bit of those old 80s Mountain Equipment brown Fitzroys, but that’s fine

Function : it works, great price point

suggestions (minor)
1 the cuffs/ lower arm are slim and gloves may have to fit over, not under the cuffs..perhaps relax the fit here a bit.
2 consider a mesh lower internal pocket..but I know the more frills, the more the price, so I don’t think this is a big issue.

So, overall, a great jacket for the price, Cheers.