Gear

Hi Dave,

I have both the Prism 2 and the flux if you had any questions.

Cheers,

Stephen

I had a Prism 2 last year.

Overall, I found it quite useful (it was often slung on or packed in backpacks 'just in case') but was not completely happy with the fit.  I had the 'Large' size which was just about right if I only wanted a base layer under it but it was realy too snug for much more.  The arms and collar/hood were ok (hood could have been a little larger and a more protective peak would have been nice too) but the body was WAY too short for what I wanted.  On me (5'10") it really only just covered my waist with no real backside coverage.

Of course, if you're a slimmer build and want a more 'active' cut jacket then this might be your thing.

I was impressed with the warmth and weather proofing though.  Even though not meant to be 100% waterproof I found it shedded moderate rain and sleet well - standing about, coaching rugby in the best of British horizontal rain/sleet anr a coupe of hours and I was still plenty warm and dry enough.

Since then though I have gone to the PHD Kappa.  Ok, so a fair bit more expensive but the fit is exactly right for me, it is warmer and more weatherproof too.

James

Jimbo - I'm same height as you and my Prism needs a replacement, I was waiting til I pass thru UK shortly to try on Prism 2 and the Flux and a few other items before I decide, I don't need anything til October earliest so luxury of patience. One thing I like abou the Prism is it cover me all over including over backside and you're confirming what I see elsewhere the Prism2 is short?

I'm a medium in practically everything so would a PHD Kappa in medium be right? Surprised you need a large? 

Nigel,

I can't directly compare the Prism with the Prism 2 since I have never had the first version.

On me, and for what I wanted, the Prism 2 was a little short.  This seems to be trend these days - manufacturers going for shorter, more 'active' cuts.  Perhaps it saves on materials...?

Saying that though, the Prism 2 was useful enough, especially if I wanted something reasonably warm and weatherproof to use in temperate times.  However, I found it worked best when I could get away with wearing it as a sole outer layer in 'moderate' conditions.  Ie, if it really chucked it down or got too cold the jacket by itself was not enough - insulation was only really good enough to around freezing and all the sewn-through stitching lines would let rain through eventually.  Throwing a shell over it just got me sweaty and there was not enough room under it for more layers.

On the other hand, I have found the Kappa more useful.  I find the insualtion better for when I need it in the cold, the large fit allows me to use this OVER other layers (either a fleece or two when it's well below freezing or chucked on over my shell at rest stops) and the HS2 outer fabric is the most waterproof and breathable one I have ever come across.

In an ideal world (when I eventually win the lottery!) I would have another Kappa in a Medium to use just over base layers.  I can dream...

James

Well yes the Prism is ok down to about freezing, at freezing have to be moving fast, vary the baselayer to suit your sensitivity and then overlayer with either synth gilet or down to get a little below freezing, then move to down jacket for well below. That all works when you are at home and just packing for a known day. The issue is packing for multi-day conditions varying from above to below freezing, that's an awkward range. Upper end of that range your Prism about right but all the packed layers to get to the lower end of that range is more total volume than the extra volume of the Kappa vs Prism, if that makes sense.

Flux seems to be more insulation which means carrying less but then too warm on the warmer days.

An all-over insulator jacket is better insulation/weight than a short-torso or short-sleeve or hoodless jacket.

Just to make this more confusing the new batch of Prisms for this Autumn (in a couple of places) seem to me to have an arm length much closer to the flux than they did previously.

And iirc a swing tag saying <440g, which is slightly up on the previous weights thus suggesting maybe it is a real difference in the cut. Or of course I could be rather confused but its a big difference (in medium on me from half way to my elbow when on, to sort of OK.).

Have you tried the Rab Generator Alpine, Martin?

I've got long arms, and the sleeves almost cover my hands.

Ah well, there's long and longgggg

Mine in medium (1/2 a size up maybe) is actually a little short of my wrists with a little arm lift to boot. Since thats hardly fatal in an insulating jacket, and a lot better than many alternatives!, I've actually got one.

I'd probably rather a xenon or something, but the arms on that one really are sarcastic on me.

I tried the Torres Core in a store in September, I didn't like it, when you reach arms out they bind in the forearms the shoulders not the "articulated" type. I have the sleeves and they don't bind but very thick Popeye type, 133g fill, most jackets are like 100g arms at most, I got to complement the Torres gilet and that pairing works out ok but obviously the gilet is 100g file and no hood but a high collarso not as warm as the Core.

I'm more leaning towards the Rab Xenon but I got the tattoo on my forehead to never buy til I try. The Torres trousers will only fit a beer-belly with no muscle in their thighs.

1. winter belay, go for a simple low-weight very warm hooded jacket/smock.
2. other 3 seasons belay, go for gilet, lightest way to get warm quick
3. sleeves are the cheapest way to get to a belay jacket if you already bought the gilet and are about 2L packed volume to fit in a side-pocket of pack for quick adding/remove without stopping.

If you've not bought anything so far then just buy a smock/hooded jacket, most insulation for weight/cost. You're doing right to try for fit, logic common-sense simply doesn't apply predicting fit.

Winter walking pants, Cascadas, come in different leg lengths.

There's not just the price difference, also different weights and insulation.

So Torres core is 514g plus Torres sleeves 226g for total of 740g vs the Flux 550g. That's probably fairlly representing the difference insulation. Oh what a surpise, the warmer item is heavier and more expensive.  Torres jacket is same 133g all over as the core+sleeves but doesn't have the sleeves joke so a little lighter at 667g, and the Torres smock is 775g but has a more bombproof thicker outer layer and so will last longer plus the hands can meet in the smock middle to help keep them warm but is over-the-head.

So not the same insulation quite a bit warmer is the Torres option. 

You also know Primaloft Eco is about 25% less insulation per weight than Primaloft One?