Pushed for time? Click here
Price: £95
Weight: 670g
Features: Four zipped pockets, a detachable Karisma hood,
full-length, dual zip - opens from top or bottom, Karisma
fleece-lined front panels.
Comments: The Alpiniste has been around for ages in various
guises, so you'd expect it to have evolved to near perfection and
indeed, you'd be, er, wrong. You can remove the main problem
instantaneously along with the hood; twin adjustment shock cords
that'll lash you nastily in the face once the wind gets up. These
really need sorting out and anchoring securely. Otherwise the hood is
adequate though we'd prefer to see some sort of chin guard.
The rest of the jacket is actually pretty good. The cut is
defiantly slim, maybe too snug across the top where the broad
shouldered may find it restrictive, but it makes for a good fit under
a shell jacket and there's no restriction when reaching up for higher
holds.
The fabric is warm Polartec 200 with a lining of wind-resistant
Karisma fleece at the front which increases outright insulation and
takes the edge off wind chill when walking into a headwind. The lower
two pockets are useless with a harness, but the two upper ones will
take an OS map and a guidebook respectively with ease. Cuffs are
good.
Verdict: Definitely one to try before you buy as the cut is
best suited to mountain whippets and watch out for those hood cords
which need sorting out. Otherwise a nice jacket, if a little on the
warm side for non-winter or high mountain conditions.
Performance: 3
Value: 3
Whisk me briskly to Karrimor's new webby
paradise
Pushed for
time: Fine winter technical jacket with a couple of flaws,
notably the whiplash hood cords
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