|
Berghaus Paclite Alpine Pro -
First Look
|
|
|
Price:
£180.00
|
|
Weight: 495 grammes (men's
medium)
|
|
Features: Gore-Tex
Paclite with Cassis face fabric from Cordura, 'Bergnomic
Cut' for active use, full length zip with hook and loop
fastened double storm flap, mountain hood with volume
adjuster and wired peak, two external chest pockets with
water-resistant zippers, two interal stretch mesh pockets,
elasticated hem and waist draw cords, adjustable front and
back for ventialtion and fit, new hook and loop fastened
wrist cuff closures, seperate elasticated stuff
sac.
|
|
Nice cut, very breathable, full-on hood.
Nothing really.
|
The Concept Lightweight technical mountain jackets seem to be
the in thing this winter with different manufacturers coming up with
different solutions - ME has combined Paclite and XCR while Lowe
Alpine has produced an incredibly lightweight full XCR shell, the Ice
Light.
Berghaus has a different answer. It's taken Paclite, which is very
light and more breathable than any conventional waterproof fabric
we've used other than eVENT, and beefed it up to give it more
abrasion resistance. The outer face fabric called 'Cassis' is unique
to Berghaus and is a street tough Cordura material developed with
Dupont. The idea is to combine lightness and breathability with a
significantly higher degree of strength and abrasion resistance to
allow the material to be used in a full-on mountain shell.
Also new for this winter and used in the new Paclite Alpine Pro as
well as elsewhere in the technical range is what the company's
calling the 'Bergonomic Cut' ... Geddit? It's a slimmer, more
tailored fit using redesigned panels aimed at giving a closer, better
performing cut but with good mobility.
Features The fabric and cut are the most obvious departures
for Berghaus, for the rest, it's a classic Berghaus technical jacket
but in a new fabric. That means well-protected zips, a proper,
helmet-compatible but roll-away hood with a wired peak for UK
horrors, nicely tucked away hood adjustment cords and seamless
shoulders.
In Action It's early days yet, but two things have already
impressed us. The first is the neat 'Bergonomic Cut'. Okay, so it's a
slightly naff name that makes us think of garden ornaments with
fishing rods, but this is the best tailored Berghaus technical jacket
we've used and light years ahead of the loose-fitting designs the
brand was churning out a few years back.
 It's
an excellent compromise between a close, non-billowing fit and good
mobility with or without a pack and / or harness. It's not super
tight, though larger buyers may need to try carefully. For medium to
slim users though, it's a definite step in the right direction.
The second plus is the breathability of the Paclite fabric, which
seems unimpared by the more robust face material and is appreciably
better than XCR. What we can't tell you at the moment, is how tough
the Cordura Cassis material will prove to be, though it has a
distinctly durable feel to it that immediately sets it apart from the
normal Berghaus Paclite Helium. We'll be using it as often as we can
and dragging it over rocks and under packs in an effort to get a
better long term picture.
The rest of the jacket is reassuringly competent. The hood is a
full blown mountain chalet jobby with enough room to comfortably
house a helmet, though the front adjusters are a little fiddly
wearing gloves. It's also comfortable and protective without a
helmet, when the big wired peak comes into its own.
The pockets are well above harness level, though won't take a map
- this is a technical jacket remember - and neat Velcro fasteners take
care of the cuffs. Oh, we really like the mad green colour - 'Extrem
Green' - as well.
 The
cunning fabric development should allow you to take a full-on
technical Paclite jacket into the high mountains without fretting
over durability. That means sub-500 gramme weight, small pack size
and top notch breathability, which is appreciably better than Gore's
own XCR fabric. Will the fabric be tough enough? It's too early to
say, so watch this space. Our doubts would be over the Paclite bit of
the laminate rather than the tough-feeling face.
Otherwise, we love the Bergonomic Cut, which is a real advance for
Berghaus. The rest of the jacket has impressed us too with its all
round competence. If you're in the market for a lightweight alpine
shell, the Paclite Alpine Pro should definitely be on your shortlist.
|
