Great review. I've been eyeballing this jacket for a bit, and do a lot of winter mountain hiking up here in NE (White Mountains), where summit/ridge temps can get down to the single digits. Would this jacket be suitable for those conditions, assuming I'm also wearing quality merino base layers? Thanks! PS, I plan to get out to Colorado, with a goal of doing a 14er, which would you recommend, and any resources you think I'd find valuable?
Hi, Have you tried the KUIU Kenai or the ArcTeryx Proton LT? How do you think this one compares to those? Which one is more wind resistant? which one release heat better? You used this one static in pretty cold temps with just the T-shirt how do the other two compare for static usage. Thanks.
Hello! Yes, I have used and reviewed both of those jackets. Really good products. I feel like the Vario is in the middle of those. The ventilation holes under the arms on this jacket makes it a bit less wind resistant. But it dumps heater faster than either of those. The Kenai was the warmest in static temps. I am doing an active insulation comparison video this week and will cover the differences and other brands as well. Hope you enjoy that video!
@@Engearment Hi, that would be great. I have the Kenai and was wondering. In that case the Vario and Proton would leave me feeling cold. I just ordered the LL Bean Primaloft Packaway Hoodie to see if is warmer than the Kenai. You should also check out the Kuhl Aktivator and Kuhl The One hoodie. They have fleece underarm to release heat. I would order them to test out. I be looking forward to your active Insulation video. please mention how they fare in different categories, static, rain, wind etc. Thanks!
@@theflyerpr40d I like how you think! I just shot the review on the KUHL The One hoodie this morning. Lovely long pile fleece active insulation piece for sure. That review should be up early next week as well. Simular minds you and I!
@@Engearment 😀. That is super cool. Would look forward to your review. I’m super impressed with the LL Bean Packaway as is 60g of Primaloft Aerogel. And is super thin compared to the 60g of the Kenai. Another one I have on the way is the Sitka Kelvin Aerolite is 80g of Primaloft Gold Aerogel. And the Stone Glacier Cirque 133g of Primaloft Gold this one should be super warm plus it have Pit Zippers to release heat. Let see which one I keep.
Do you ever do long term reviews? I'd like to see what you think about the jackets you review after 1 or 2 years, because durability is an important consideration to me. You could give the jackets to someone to wear for a year and then take a look at how it held up.
Absolutely! That is also a great idea. And pretty close to how we do it over here. I just got done shooting a 2 year review on some Patagonia and Arcteryx jackets. What I usually do is test the gear for a few months, get the review going, lend it or gift it to a friend or fellow Engearment writer, then check back to see how it is doing. The Vario is still going strong. Through being smushed in a backpack to worn for days on end. And lots of washes. The only thing I notice is some darkening around the cuff area. But that is usually where I see wear first.
@@Engearment Perfect. I am interested in both of those brands. Particularly, the long term review of the Arcteryx Proton and Atom LT jackets. I will keep an eye open on your channel for the videos. Best regards.
P.S. If possible, you could make a playlist regarding Long Term Reviews. As a hiker that really uses (I mean abuses) their equipment, I will buy used equipment that somebody purchased years ago, but did not use or used very little. As I am going to take it on thru hikes for months, I do not care if it's perfect. And, I get it at half the price. Thanks again.
@@romenhiking8623 That is a great idea. We are all about making the most of gear, repairing it and keeping it out of landfills. And, also scoring great deals on used gear :). I will get that playlist going.
Sean, i believe you weren't that impressed with the Kaenon you reviewed recently, and i can see why: that SR91 is just a gimmick. I myself haven't been able to get them to tell me what's the deal with this strange material...
Why'd it take me so long to find your channel? Love all the practical information, not just the spec sheet and b roll!
Thank you so much for the kind note! Made my day!
Great review. I've been eyeballing this jacket for a bit, and do a lot of winter mountain hiking up here in NE (White Mountains), where summit/ridge temps can get down to the single digits. Would this jacket be suitable for those conditions, assuming I'm also wearing quality merino base layers? Thanks! PS, I plan to get out to Colorado, with a goal of doing a 14er, which would you recommend, and any resources you think I'd find valuable?
Hi,
Have you tried the KUIU Kenai or the ArcTeryx Proton LT?
How do you think this one compares to those?
Which one is more wind resistant? which one release heat better?
You used this one static in pretty cold temps with just the T-shirt how do the other two compare for static usage.
Thanks.
Hello! Yes, I have used and reviewed both of those jackets. Really good products. I feel like the Vario is in the middle of those. The ventilation holes under the arms on this jacket makes it a bit less wind resistant. But it dumps heater faster than either of those. The Kenai was the warmest in static temps.
I am doing an active insulation comparison video this week and will cover the differences and other brands as well. Hope you enjoy that video!
@@Engearment Hi, that would be great.
I have the Kenai and was wondering. In that case the Vario and Proton would leave me feeling cold.
I just ordered the LL Bean Primaloft Packaway Hoodie to see if is warmer than the Kenai.
You should also check out the Kuhl Aktivator and Kuhl The One hoodie. They have fleece underarm to release heat.
I would order them to test out.
I be looking forward to your active Insulation video.
please mention how they fare in different categories, static, rain, wind etc.
Thanks!
@@theflyerpr40d I like how you think! I just shot the review on the KUHL The One hoodie this morning. Lovely long pile fleece active insulation piece for sure. That review should be up early next week as well. Simular minds you and I!
@@Engearment 😀. That is super cool.
Would look forward to your review.
I’m super impressed with the LL Bean Packaway as is 60g of Primaloft Aerogel. And is super thin compared to the 60g of the Kenai.
Another one I have on the way is the Sitka Kelvin Aerolite is 80g of Primaloft Gold Aerogel.
And the Stone Glacier Cirque 133g of Primaloft Gold this one should be super warm plus it have Pit Zippers to release heat.
Let see which one I keep.
Do you ever do long term reviews? I'd like to see what you think about the jackets you review after 1 or 2 years, because durability is an important consideration to me. You could give the jackets to someone to wear for a year and then take a look at how it held up.
Absolutely! That is also a great idea. And pretty close to how we do it over here. I just got done shooting a 2 year review on some Patagonia and Arcteryx jackets.
What I usually do is test the gear for a few months, get the review going, lend it or gift it to a friend or fellow Engearment writer, then check back to see how it is doing.
The Vario is still going strong. Through being smushed in a backpack to worn for days on end. And lots of washes. The only thing I notice is some darkening around the cuff area. But that is usually where I see wear first.
@@Engearment Perfect. I am interested in both of those brands. Particularly, the long term review of the Arcteryx Proton and Atom LT jackets. I will keep an eye open on your channel for the videos. Best regards.
P.S. If possible, you could make a playlist regarding Long Term Reviews.
As a hiker that really uses (I mean abuses) their equipment, I will buy used equipment that somebody purchased years ago, but did not use or used very little. As I am going to take it on thru hikes for months, I do not care if it's perfect. And, I get it at half the price. Thanks again.
@@romenhiking8623 That is a great idea. We are all about making the most of gear, repairing it and keeping it out of landfills. And, also scoring great deals on used gear :). I will get that playlist going.
Sean, i believe you weren't that impressed with the Kaenon you reviewed recently, and i can see why: that SR91 is just a gimmick. I myself haven't been able to get them to tell me what's the deal with this strange material...
Hello Wadsworth! I think the material is fine. Definitely not a gimmick. But hard to beat glass for optics. Just my take on them.