A Windstopper windshell cut for walking use not gallivanting about on mountain bicycles from the Swedish gear company
|
Haglöfs Pulse
Jacket
|
|
|
Price:
£140.00
|
|
Weight: 511 grammes (men's
L)
|
|
Gore Windstopper fabric
with mesh drop liner, articulated arms, full hood with peak
and volume adjuster, twin handwarmer pockets, single map
pocket, adjustable waist and hem drawcords, adjustable
cuffs, reflective piping on shoulders
|
|
Windproof and highly water-resistant with good
breathabilitty
Not quite up to heavy rain
|
Who They?
Haglöfs? A Swedish brand that's better known over there than
in the UK, but in our limited experience is producing some very neat,
nicely put together kit that deserves recognition. More about their
350-gramme waterproof jacket in the next fortnight or so, but for the
past six months, we've been using one of their Pulse windproof
shells. Here's what we reckon.
Different Cut
Using Gore's Windstopper membrane with a light face fabric, the
Pulse takes the features of a classic waterproof shell and
incorporates them in a fully-featured mountain windshell. That's
interesting because most windproofs are aimed at what the industry
terms 'fast movers', viz runners, mountain bikers and hyperactive
walkers.
They're mostly cut short with a drop tail, a minimal hood, no
pockets and a close fit that often baulks at covering a mid-layer. By
contrast, the Pulse is longer and looser with a fully-adjustable
peaked hood that will just about take a helmet. It even has
handwarmer pockets and a map pocket. In short, better for general
walking and mountaineering use. Our only real quibble was with the
sleeves pulling down when reaching high when scrambling - try before
you buy.
Gore Windstopper Fabric
The fabric uses Gore's Windstopper membrane with a lightweight
face fabric - the garment's not particularly light for a windshell at
just over 500 grammes by the way, but some of that is due to the mesh
dropliner necessary to protect the membrane from abrasion.
Windstopper is completely windproof and very water resistant, though
untaped seams mean that in really heavy downpours, the rain will get
in.
The pay off is higher breathability than any waterproof fabric on
the market. In anything short of heavy, sustained rain, you'll
actually stay drier and more comfortable than with a straight
waterproof shell and even when it really buckets down, it's arguable
that most people will get as damp from the inside wearing a full
waterproof as they do from the outside in Windstopper.
In straight, windy conditions where waterproofs often get donned
for their windproof qualities, there's simply no contest -
Windstopper is much more breathable and consequently more comfortable
and leaves you less likely to get clammy and overheated.
High Mountain Use
Windshells make even more sense in high mountain conditions where
snow and wind are the main problems and here again, the Pulse's more
generalist cut is works better than minimalist fast-moving windshells
and the high breathability is a big plus over lightweight
waterproofs.
|
Verdict: In a low-key sort of way,
the Pulse is almost unique as a fully-featured mountain
windshell. Most of the competition is aimed at fast movers.
There's nothing dramatic about the cut, but the hood works
well enough, - despite the stiffness of the peak being a
little marginal - and the longer cut and pockets make for a
more versatile garment. Breathability is excellent compared
to waterproofs and it is also very water resistant. You'll
be okay in anything short of heavy rain. For 90 per-cent of
the time in UK hills and, arguably 100 per-cent of the time
in higher mountains the breathability makes up for the lack
of total waterproofness and makes for a more versatile
garment that still breathes effectively when it's dry and
windy. Downsides? We found the sleeves pulled down on high
reaches overhead and at £140 it's not cheap, but if
what you're looking for is a windproof for general walking
use, you won't find much better suited.
|
|
Performance
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Pushed for time: A
wndproof shell that's cut for general mountain walking use
rather than gallivanting around on bikes or in Walshes.It
has a proper hood and proper pockets including one that
takes an OS map. Gore Windstopper fabric is windproof and
very breathable. It's also highly water resistant, though
will let the damp in when the rain gets heavy. Better than a
waterproof shell 95 per-cent of the time and not much worse
even when the going gets bad due to superior breathability -
if what you're looking for is a windproof for general
walking use, you won't find much better suited.
|
Know more or want to?
If you'd like to add your own experiences of this product check
out our user review system and post your opinions to the world. If
you have questions you can mail
us direct, ask
Richard Gear or try a posting to our gear
forum.
