No-nonsense hillwalking jacket in no-nonsense colours with no-nonsense hood and no-nonsense features. Must be a no-nonsense jacket then.
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Lowe Alpine Atlas
Jacket
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Price:
£100.00
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Weight: 786 grammes (men's
M)
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Features:
Triplepoint fabric with mesh drop liner, 2 mesh handwarmer
pockets. map pocket, foldaway hood with volume adjustment,
watershed seamless shoulders, adjustable elasticated cuffs,
two-way front zipper with double storm flap and snap
fasteners, elasticated, hide-away drawcord at waist and hem,
inversion slit for removal of inter-layer icing in ultra
cold conditions (it says here), zip-in compatible with liner
attachment points at inner cuff and centre back
neck.
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All round walking jacket
Drab colours
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Lowe's Atlas is unashamedly, unostentatiously and proudly a dedicated
walker's jacket. If you want bright colours, climber-type technical
features like pit-zips and a hem that just about grazes your belly
button, please switch off the lights on your way out. If, on the
other hand, you're after a no nonsense, affordable, long-cut jacket
for all round walking use, pay attention.
The Atas is made of Lowe's 2-ply Triplepoint fabric - a coating
rather than a membrane - and isn't as breathable as the more
expensive Triplepoint Ceramic used on more technical jackets, however
for lower intensity work, like most walking, it's quite adequate and
feels reassuringly tough, even though the jacket in a men's medium
weighs under 800 grammes. The women's equivalent, by the way, is the
Sequioa, which has pretty much the same features and price tag.
Cut is on the slim side of billowy and long, which will be
reassuring for those who want their precious things kept warm and
dry. Snugness and windproofing is helped by elasticated drawcords at
waist and hem and the elasticated cuffs also have a Velcro closure
for the final clampdown.
The features list has pretty much everything the walker could ask
for, nothing flash mind, but all the basics are there including
decently protected main zip, twin handwarmer pockets, a seamless
shoulder construction, roll-away, adjustable hood and a double storm
flap over the double-ended main zip.
There aren't any chest pockets, bar the OS-sized map one, though,
so if you're one of those chipmonk like chappies who stashes their
eats and sundries in pockets, you may be frustrated. The handwarmer
pockets are low enough to clear most pack hip belts, but it obviously
depends on how tall you are and some may find a pack makes them
unusable. Check before buying if that worries you.
What else? Well, there's an 'inversion slit' so in extreme cold
conditions you can invert the lining and shake out any frozen
condensation from inside the drop liner ' and the hood, despite being
relatively simple, is excellent with a stiffened peak, adjustable
cord and simple strap and Velcro volume adjuster. It also zips neatly
away into the collar without fuss.
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Verdict: Okay, it could be more
breathable and have more pockets, but then it would be more
expensive and slightly heavier too. As it stands, the Atlas
is a good, no-nonsense hillwalking jacket with all the
features you really need, at a decent price. It's long
enough that you don't need overtrousers at the first hint of
rain and feels well put together and tough. Weighing in at
under 800 grammes for a men's medium, it's also a decent
weight. The colour choice is a little dull being green or
one of two shades of blue, but what the heck. Unpretentious
but effective. The women's version is the Sequoia at the
same price.
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Performance
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Value
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Pushed for time:
Triplepoint isn't as breathable as the more expensive
Triple Point Ceramic, but for most hillwalking use it
doesn't really matter. The Atlas is a classic, long-cut
hillwalking jacket with a decent, roll-away hood, map pocket
and good detailing. There are no chest pockets which may be
a factor for some potential buyers and the styling and
colour choice are conservative, but it feels well made,
design is good and at under 800 grammes for a men's medium,
it won't weigh you down too much when it's in your pack. No
frills, no flounces, no unnecessary technical mountaineering
features, just a good basic jacket at a reasonable
price.
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