Mens Alaskan Hardgear Ice Fog Down Parka Review
Mountain Hardwear Chillwave Jacket Review
Price: $415 List
Pros: Very warm, extremely durable
Cons: Incredibly beefy, unflattering, felt stiff
Manufacturer: Mountain Hardwear
By Greg Davis ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ Nov 26, 2014
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Our Verdict
Mountain Hardwear Discontinued The Chillwave in Fall 2016
The Mount Hardwear Chillwave Jacket would have won every category in our review a couple of years ago, nonetheless, the classic and tested design information technology is a scrap outdated. The coat is incredibly warm and a wise option when winter mountaineering or ice climbing, merely a bit heavy and beefy compared to our Meridian Option winner, the Rab Neutrino Endurance. Despite the stiff competition, it is but as useful as when the glaze was first used in the mountains in its early on iterations, and new materials have upgraded it to meet modern standards. The product is a work horse and performs admirably, but we would like to encounter a mode and fit upgrade from Mount Hardwear.
Our Analysis and Exam Results
Hands-On Review
The Mountain Hardwear Chillwave is a cracking old-school style parka designed for the gnarliest of conditions. A wind resistant outer shell and removable hood are married with durable materials, creating a good - but not great - wintertime jacket.
Performance Comparison
Staying toasty warm later a fleck of water ice climbing in the Mount Hardware Chillwave Jacket.
Credit: Molly Ravits
Warmth
This is not a jacket designed for sitting in a cafe or library, but for the frosted tall environment. When all the zippers and flaps are cinched, the coat is a veritable fortress of warmth.Iy is filled with loftier quality 700 fill down. Featuring a box baffle design that eliminates cold sports near the stitching, the sheer amount of fabric integrated into the design gives a feel non unlike wearing a kitchen oven. If warmth is the primary concern, this is a high quality piece, however the Canada Goose Expedition Parka is fifty-fifty warmer still.
In the end we felt that this glaze was too bulky and heavy to be carried in the backcountry.
Weather Resistance
The Airshield Core that makes upwards the exterior of this jacket is a middle-of-the-road fabric. It breathes well when used in the common cold and blocks wind and moisture. The removeable hood has a large velcro flap that prevents any wet from finding its manner into the glaze, and the sleeves can cinch tight against the wrist thanks to some other pair of velcro flaps. The thick YKK zipper is hands accessed with gloves and is covered past a storm flap (held in place by yet more velcro).
A combination of velcro flaps and fleece collar lining make this coat extremely comfortable in even the harshest wind and cold.
Credit: Greg Davis
Comfort
If your idea of comfort is wearing a sleeping bag around all day, this might exist the platonic coat. When sitting at a belay or on a ski elevator, the coat is extremely comfortable and absolutely fills any seat one finds with excess fabric and down spilling all over the identify. In one case moving, notwithstanding, the wonderful folds of downwardly backlash as you lot're left battling stiff zippers and velcro flaps and being blinded by a hood that tin firm a lap dog. Again, these are features ideal on big mountain expeditions, merely the Rab Neutrino Endurance has shown that similar comfort and warmth tin exist had without paying such a hefty cost in mobility.
Features
With bulk and weight come up condolement features, and whatsoever user that decides on this jacket volition exist rewarded. The hood can exist removed, but be careful to remember it is detached, as anything removable tin can be misplaced. The collar and hand pockets are fleece lined and very soft. Both hand pockets and ii chest pockets, are insulated and perfect for electronics like a phone or GPS. An inside chest pocket on the left side works well to store the included stuff-sack and a big mesh pocket inside at the waist is perfect for keeping gloves and goggles warm.
Burly construction allows for twenty-four hours-to-solar day abuse without compromising the stitching or material with rough pack straps.
Credit: Greg Davis
A really useful feature when in cold and windy environments is the face protection built into the hood. A pair of Velcro straps secure windproof nylon over the face up in the effect of harsh weather. This comes in handy on exposed slopes and in driving gales, although when non needed it get in the way - and the velcro has a habit of getting caught in a few testers' beards. Finding out just how important these features are for your next trip will be key in deciding if this jacket is for you lot.
Style
Some may prefer this classic mountaineering style, a think to the mid-90'southward when posters at the gear shops showed the same glaze proudly on the summits of K2 and Everest. For others, the pyramid-shaped hood, thick shoulder reinforcement, and boxy shape are out-dated and uncomfortable. The Rab Neutrino would slide right in with whatever social gathering, providing atmospheric condition was common cold enough to warrant a heavy glaze.
Like a large wear-able down sleeping bag, we liked to throw the Chillwave on over the shoulders whatever time common cold tin creep up, like a few moments to switch footwear in the shade.
Credit: Greg Davis
Immovability
Mount Hardwear has always done a splendid job making durable products. The shoulders and hem line are reinforced with a heavy cloth that won't tear or neglect. Despite very rough abuse in a variety of conditions, there was no sign of failure at any point. Overall we felt that no extra care was needed and the production should terminal years, even with hard utilise.
Best Awarding
Some of the nearly fun ane can take in life are in areas and then cold and miserable that the fun is considerably reduced. For activities similar winter mountaineering, ice climbing, or even Alaskan Cruises, this coat volition not just keep the user warm only completely enveloped in a body of water of down and nylon. Providing fit and style are not a business organization we recommend this product.
Value
The cost of this product continues to rise and at $415 we feel it is starting to become priced out of the market. It doesn't perform much better than the Rab Neutrino Endurance, and the Arc'teryx Camosun Parka is of drastically higher quality.
Conclusion
I could do much worse than this tested product, a safe and cumbersome selection for very cold and miserable weather condition.
Other Versions
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer
- Cost - $350
- Ultralight down jacket
- Winner of our Editors' Choice award
- An example of a more modern production from the company
Mountain Hardwear Hooded Ghost Whisperer - Women's
- Toll - $350
- Weight - $7.two oz
- Available in colors that you either dear or hate
— Greg Davis
Source: https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/clothing-mens/winter-jacket/mountain-hardwear-chillwave-jacket
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