Berghaus Windstopper Soft Shell jacket tested.
Berghaus Baltoro Jacket - Quick
Test
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Price:
£150
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Weight: 580 grammes
(medium)
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Features:
Softshell jacket made from Gore-texz Windstopper Soft Shell
fabric, Bergnomic cut, adjustable hem, thumb loops,
Bergnomic cut, twin handwarmer pockets, one external chest
pocket, women's Lhotse version also available.
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What's It For?
Part of the Berghaus Extrem range, the Baltoro is intended for
all-round and technical mountain use. Soft shells offer a high degree
of wind and water resistance and should be useable in most conditions
short of heavy rain. The Baltoro's mico-velour type lining adds cold
weather insulation value.
The Techy Bits
There are really only two main techy things to be aware of with
the Baltoro. The first is the use of Gore-Tex Windstopper Soft Shell
fabric, that's totally windproof and effectively waterproof except at
its untaped seams.
The other main stand out is the 'Bergnomic Cut', which is
Berghaus's more tapered, technical fit. The Berghaus web site says
that it's intended to fit over a baselayer and microfleece, which
seems about right based on our experience.
How It Performs
We've never been great fans of Windstopper fabrics in UK
conditions - unless you run quite cool, it's easy to get hot and
bothered inside the PTFE membrane. In fact breathability is closer to
waterproof levels than most windproofs.
The Windstopper tops we have used that works well in the UK have
generally had good venting options, which unfortunately the Baltoro
doesn't. In fact you can't even roll up the sleeves, which is a bit
of an oversight. It's a shame as the Bergnomic cut is otherwise quite
decent, with a close torso fit that sits well under a shell when
needed.
We also disliked the strangely bulky seams which produced a weird
Triceratops-style platelet effect that you'll either like or dislike.
Then there are the front handwarmer pockets which are fine with a
pack but sit too far in, so you look like a demented squirrel if you
use them to warm your hands.
We also found when fully zipped up, the neck of the jacket was too
high and tight and dug into our throat uncomfortably. It would be
better to have a looser collar and add some adjustment. One feature
we did quite like were the thumbloops which are unobtrusive when not
in use, but mean you have the option if you want.
The fabric itself works pretty well and is completely windproof
and also very water resistant. It's only in heavy rain that the
untaped seams allow leakage. The microfleece lining adds extra
insulation too, making it reassuringly protective in winter
conditions even without a mid-layer.
The pay-off is that you can get hot and sweaty quite easily, so
anyone who moves fast and runs on the warm side may well be better
off with a different fabric or a Windstopper garment with better
venting options.
One thing we like, but seldom get in soft shell jackets is a hood.
If you're basically using a jacket as a shell, why limit the
protection available as soon as it starts raining or snowing?
For us the Baltoro doesn't quite hit the spot. The cut's not
bad, but a succession of niggly faults - sleeves that don't roll up,
bulky seams, the lack of a hood or vents, the pocket placement - mean
that we think there are better options out there. And that's before
you even begin to consider Windstopper's relative shortcomings in the
breathability stakes.
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Warm windproof, very water resistant, close torso cut.
Lack of venting,
hood, sleeve roll up, pocket placement and
breathability.
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Know more or want to?
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product check out our user review system and post your opinions to
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Richard Gear or try a posting to our
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