The jacket didn’t face rain during testing, but circumstantial evidence suggests its a dependable barrier against prolonged mist and light rain. The jacket stays close to the body to build warmth quickly but manages to breathe enough to remain comfortable, even when trudging through waist-high snow. One tester faced more than 30 minutes of heavy late-season snow in the northern Sierras before considering a more advanced hardshell while another tester found, ” … it remained comfortable at rest despite freezing temperatures and gusts of cold north wind.” The materials excel in giving the First Light Hoody above-average performance when faced with direct precipitation. In terms of durability, one tester said that ” … the Schoeller stretch woven nylon face fabric used in the Black Diamond Equipment First Light Hoody scoffed at attempts to abrade or puncture it during extended use in rocky and brushy areas.” Weatherproofness The stretch-nylon shell affords the wearer flexible comfort and aids in packability. The former was more evident than the latter, as the primary tester was able to mar with it notable cosmetic evidence of continued use. Schoeller’s NanoSphere finish has been in the market for some time, introduced to provide exterior water and stain resistance. It’s also considerably water-resistant and breathable as a result. However, as a synthetic insulator not pretending to be down, PrimaLoft Silver Active eschews bulk, emulating a mid-layer softshell more than it does a traditional synthetic puffy. This jacket was sent to me for review through the #ORInsightLab.Black Diamond partnered with outdoor apparel mainstay Schoeller for the First Light Hoody’s lightweight, NanoSphere-finished exterior, and PrimaLoft to fill it with its Silver Insulation Active.īoth materials are used in situations where manufacturers are shooting for a warmth-to-weight balance.
Buy the Uberlayer through Outdoor Research, CampSaver, REI, Mountain Gear, or Amazon for $299. If you don’t mind always looking (and smelling) kinda dirtbaggy, this jacket is it. I also found that the nylon shell holds stains and dirt pretty well, even with thorough and frequent washings.
The ultimate downside of the Uberlayer is it stinks something fierce when you’re rocking it day in and day out. When you’re sweating away, the jacket doesn’t stick to you, an absolute must when I’m bike commuting to work. It’s perfect for throwing over a t-shirt. The mesh lining keeps me reaching for this jacket time and time again for everything. I really, really, really wish more jackets were versatile like this. The double separating front zipper is a godsend with a harness on, or if you really need to use the bathroom with all your snow gear on. It’s breathable enough for shredding and insulates enough for windy days on the wall or the lift. From snowboarding to snowshoeing to climbing, this jacket is sport agnostic. Not having to really shed layers while I’m on the go? That’s a total win in my book. I used to be all about the down jacket, but now this is my go-to. The Outdoor Research Uberlayer has really changed my tune towards synthetic insulation. The fit is trim.Īvailable through Outdoor Research | CampSaver | REI | Mountain Gear | or Amazon The jacket features a helmet compatible hood and a double separating front zipper. The jacket features two zippered hand pockets, one zippered napoleon pocket, and two internal stuff pockets. Polartec® Alpha® Active Insulation is layered between a polyester mesh lining and a highly breathable nylon shell to keep you warm and cool, all at once. The Outdoor Research Uberlayer Hooded Jacket does just that.Īt 16.7 oz, the jacket is lightweight, breathable, water resistant and wind resistant.
When you’re huffing and puffing away in varying temperatures, you want insulation that works with you and not against you.
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