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Reviews > Clothing > Jackets and Vests > Dickies Pro Jasper Extreme Coat > Test Report by Coy Ray StarnesWilliamson-Dickies Mfg. Co., LLC. Pro Jasper Extreme Coat Special Note: also reviewing two liner jackets Review by Coy Starnes Initial Report: November 10, 2018 Field Report: January 18, 2019 Long Term Report: March 26, 2019
Tester Biography I live in Northeast Alabama. I enjoy backpacking, hunting, fishing and kayaking. I enjoy hiking with family and friends but also hike solo occasionally. Most of my hiking has been in the Southeastern US. I hike throughout the year but actually enjoy late fall or early spring the most with some winter hiking mixed in. I don't like the hot and humid weather of summer unless I can escape to the mountains where it is cooler. My style is slow and steady and my gear is light. I will sacrifice weight for comfort and durability to a degree. A typical 3-season load for me is around 20 lb (9 kg) not counting food and water. Initial Report: November 10, 2018 General Product Information
Dickies Pro Jasper Extreme
 Dickies Pro Jasper Extreme Product Description As I stated at the top, I will be reviewing three jackets. I’ll start with the Jasper Extreme. It serves as the outer jacket when wearing either of the other two jackets under it but any of the three can be worn alone. Although not designed as a triple layering system, I found I could wear all three together, but felt like the Michelin Man... Anyways, I’ll wear each jacket or jacket combination depending on conditions in the field. The Jasper is waterproof so it can serve as a rain jacket by itself in warmer weather. The hood is removable. It has pockets galore. I counted seven total. The three on the inside are big enough for a large wallet or cell phone and one has a media cord port. The outer pockets are similar in size. The lower two hand pockets are zippered but have an overlapping flap positioned in such a way to protect contents from rain. The outer chest pockets are covered with a flap that is sealed with a small hook and loop patch. The inside neck area has a fleece liner for comfort. The sleeves can be cinched tight with hook and loop closures. The Jasper is triple needle stitched and seam sealed. All zippers on the coat have the YKK logo on them but are not waterproof. However, a flap covers the main zipper and can be additionally secured with five snaps. There are short pit-zips under each arm which have no flap but should be fairly waterproof due to the location. The main zipper is really a dual zipper and has teeth on both sides. The inside zipper is used to zip in a liner. Once a liner is zipped in the other zipper is still available to zip the front of the coat together. There are snaps located on the inside of each sleeve near the cuff and at the back at the neck that match small loops of cord (Dickies calls them locker loops) sewn onto each liner jacket. This is especially helpful when removing the coat with a liner jacket attached as it keeps the sleeves aligned and also from separating. For the record, I've already zipped in both liner jackets (separately of course) and the zipper system and locker loops work great. Fit and Initial Impression This is a big jacket, which makes sense because it is designed to work over a liner jacket, the Glacier Puffer in particular because the Glacier is a pretty thick liner jacket. The Jasper appears to be very well constructed and gives the impression that it is a tough no-nonsense garment. I would say it is a little heavy compared to typical backpacking rain jackets, partly because it has a mesh liner but also because it lot bigger than any XL jacket I own. This should be nice in summer when worn alone because the extra room will allow the jacket to billow as I move in it which helps ventilation. In colder weather the addition of a liner jacket fills the space but the large shell still feels great because it isn’t overly snug when worn over a liner jacket. I actually put on all three jackets briefly but was melting at 55 F (13 C). I also felt like the Michelin Man but was able to bend or reach pretty much like normal. Dickies Pro Glacier Extreme
 Dickies Pro Glacier Extreme Product Description The Glacier Extreme Puffer features a DWR treatment to help the jacket repel water but is not a rain jacket. The jacket features two zippered hand warmer pockets that are nicely lined with fleece on both sides. There are also two inside zippered pocket on each side at chest level. They are also lined with fleece and the left side one has a media port hole. Each sleeve has an elastic cuff. There is a small strip of fleece around the neck. The zippers are all YKK. There are three small loops of stretchy cord (locker loops) strategically located which help keep the jacket aligned with the Jasper Coat when zipped inside as a system. Two are near the sleeve ends and one is in the center back at the neck line. The jacket has a bungee cord with two barrel locks to snug the jacket at the waist. The Thinsulate insulation in this jacket, thought not real bulky is pretty substantial in my opinion. It also has the ability to insulate when wet more so than a traditional down jacket. The downside is it isn't as compressible for packing as a down jacket. Fit and Initial Impression I like that this jacket fits me almost perfectly. The sleeve length is spot on and it is roomy at the shoulders but is not baggy. The weight of the jacket is backpacker friendly for a jacket with this much synthetic insulation. The material for the shell and liner is identical. I wouldn’t say it is heavy duty but it isn’t paper thin like a few ultralight jackets I own. The jacket also feels very warm. I have worn it briefly a couple of times in temperatures as cool as 29 F (-2 C) and it was plenty warm. With the Jasper over it I was downright toasty. One note, when zipped in as a liner I lose access to the inner pockets of the Jasper. Since the Glacier has one fewer inner pocket, whenever I feel I will need more inner pockets I may not attach the jackets together. Honestly, it seems to work just as well either way. I did wear the Glacier Extreme in a light rain and the water beaded up and did not wet through the shell.  raindrops beading nicely Dickies Pro Frost Extreme Fleece
 Dickies Pro Frost Extreme Fleece Product Description The Frost is designed and constructed much like the Glacier jacket except it has more pockets. In addition to the hand warmer pockets it has a napoleon pocket on the outside upper left chest area. It also has two very large inner pockets behind where the outside hand pockets are located, which are interesting in that if I place a hand in a hand warmer pocket the inner pocket is between where my hand is and the outer layer of the jacket. There is a media port hole in the left side hand pocket. The jacket has the same locker loops, elastic cuff at the wrist, and bungee cord/barrel locks at the waist as the Glacier jacket. Fit and Initial Impression The Frost Fleece fits identical to the Glacier Puffer. The sleeve length is just right and shoulders are roomy. I was wearing a tee shirt under it but could easily wear a thicker shirt or even a tee shirt and a long sleeve flannel. I’m tempted to say the Frost is going to be my favorite. I say this because it is so comfortable. I have been wearing it a lot already in cool breezy conditions and felt good at temperatures down to 40 F (4 C). When I came inside I kept the jacket on awhile and it felt more like wearing a sweater or sweatshirt. The wife is out of town a few days so I’ve been keeping the house cooler than normal. I actually took a nap in it on the couch. This concludes my Initial Report. Field Report: January 18, 2019  headed to the Fiesta Bowl (and no, Bama is not playing) Field Locations and Conditions I have worn the jackets separately most of the time letting the current weather conditions dictate which jacket I needed. I wore the Glacier jacket on an overnight hike when the low was 36 F (2 C) on December 3. I carried and wore the Jasper on a trip to Phoenix, Arizona and wore it at 33 F (1 C) while there. I also wore it a lot around home while it was cold, windy and raining, or just raining. I wore the Frost Fleece the most and most of this as an everyday jacket. This often included day hikes in the woods and or road walks with my wife. Field Report Test Results I’ll cover my uses in the order I described the jackets in my Initial Report. Due to a very rainy last few months I was able to test the waterproof qualities of the Jasper thoroughly. It passed with flying colors. I was also quite surprised at how warm the Jasper allowed me to be. Due to limited space it was the only jacket I carried on a recent flight to Phoenix, Arizona. On January 1 I was able to attend the Fiesta Bowl (a football game at the same enclosed stadium the Arizona Cardinals play in). We parked a good 20-minute walk from the stadium and it was 33 F (1 C) when we parked. It took about an hour to walk and get through security before we finally went inside. Inside the stadium it was a little warmer but still around 50 F (10 C). I kept the Jasper on the whole game which lasted about three and a half hours. The walk back to the car was quicker since we didn’t have to go through security but still took about 20 minutes. It was 44 F (7 C) by now but I still wore the jacket, only unzipped this time. I had a polo shirt on under the jacket and was wearing blue jeans. Back home in Alabama I wore the jacket in cold and windy rains several times. Whether just walking over to my mom's or checking the mail, or several times when out for a 2 or 3 mile (3 to 5 km) hike. When it was really cold I layered the Frost Fleece under the Jasper, but honestly, I didn’t need to do this except a few times when it was around 25 F (-4 C) and windy. One thing I really liked was that the Jasper is big on me. This allowed the jacket to fit over whatever layers I wanted without feeling tight. An added benefit was I was able to just put the hood over my head and pull the jacket around my shoulders without putting my arms in the arm holes. This was handy when I would be going to my truck to go somewhere when it was raining. I could then easily remove the jacket as I hopped in my truck but still stay reasonably dry. In fact, if I leaned forward just a little as I walked the front of my chest stayed complete dry unless the wind was really driving the rain. One last observation for the Jasper. The pockets on the jacket are great for storing my phone, wallet and even a water bottle. My phone often stayed in an inside pocket and was completely protected from the rain and cold as I walked.  Wearing the Jasper for quick sprint to my truck Next up is the Glacier jacket. I only wore it a few times, usually when it was in the low 20s F (around - 6 C) and I stayed warm. It also cuts the wind very well. I wore it some on an overnight hike on December 3 when the low was 36 F (2 C). I wore it a couple of hours that evening before turning in for the night when it was still about 40 F (4 C) and then wore it while hiking 2 miles (3 km) the next morning when it was 36 F (2 C). I was using a 15 F (- C) quilt but if I got chilly under the quilt, wearing the jacket was my backup plan. Fortunately I was able to use it as my pillow only during the night and it worked nicely for that. The warmth was appreciated next morning as I broke camp and I did notice that my backpack felt a little snug when I had it on over the Glacier. However, I was able to let the shoulder straps out a little and it was fine. Due to the lack of a hood I also needed a boggin to keep my head and ears warm. The Frost Fleece also proved to be very warm. I would also say it was more comfortable over a wider range of temperatures than either the Jasper and especially the Glacier. As a results this was my go-to jacket most of the time. I wore it twice as much as the Jasper and probably 10 times more often then the Glacier. It seems to breathe but was wind proof enough to keep me warm down to around freezing temperatures, yet still felt comfortable up to around 60 F (16 C). I wore it day hiking, to church, to town, to work and just about anytime I need a jacket to go outside. About the only times I didn’t wear it, it was raining or forecast to rain, or very cold and windy. The only thing I would do to improve this jacket would be adding a hood. I had to wear a boggin on several walks when a hood would have been appreciated and easily flipped back when not needed. This is also the only jacket I have washed. It wasn’t absolutely necessary but after wearing it on several day hikes in which I sweated in the jacket I figured a wash would be good. It was no problem to wash in my washing machine and I dried it on my deck in a few hours. Overall the durability of all three jackets seems very good. This concludes my Field Report. Long Term Report: March 26, 2019 Test Locations and Conditions All my recent testing was back home in northeastern Alabama. I managed two more overnight hikes but most use was just as everyday wear, either at home or at work, or on day hikes on trails near my house. It has been an extremely wet period with weeks on end of cold rainy weather. On my two overnight hikes I avoided hiking in any major storms but did hike right after some rain on my Feb 5th hike. This was also one of the warmest days with a high of 70 F (21 C) and a low of 54 F (12 C). On my last trip on March 11th it was cooler with a high of 51 F (11 C) and a low of 43 F (6 C) with no rain. Both hikes were approximately 4 miles (6 km) total with around 400 ft (122 m) of elevation lost and gained. My day hikes were usually on cold and or rainy days because when it was warmer, I tried to get in a bike ride. I wore the Fleece Frost on several more bike rides, the longest being 11 miles (18 km) at a temperature of 46 F (8 C). Long Term Test Results With all the rain and cool temperatures, I was able to put the Jasper to good use over the past couple of months. The extra room in the Jasper also proved to be handy as I will explain. I prefer to hike with a poncho so that my pack is protected but I recently picked up an Ultimate Directions 16 L (1000 cu in) vest /running pack. Out of curiosity, I put the Jasper on over the vest pack full of gear and was able to zip it up. I may have looked like the Hunchback of Notre Dame and it did make the jacket a little tight, but not enough to be a bother. I didn’t wear this pack in rain so I wore the pack over the Jasper when I did hike in it. Unfortunately, the vest pack is so small I wasn’t able to put the Jasper in it after warming up. I have a few small packs in the 30 L (1800 cu in) range and was curious to see if the Jasper would fit over those (full of gear). My Osprey Talon 33 L (2000 cu in) was a very tight fit in the back and I couldn’t zip the jacket in front so wouldn’t want to depend on this setup in anything more than a light sprinkle.  Jasper over small day pack On my overnight hike on February 5th I wore the Jasper under my backpack for about 30 minutes. Since it was fairly warm, I worked up a sweat while wearing it and it did get a little damp on the inside. My cotton t-shirt also got damp. However, this is typical for any rain jacket I’ve ever worn so not really a concern. The vegetation along the trail was very wet and I’m not sure if I would have stayed drier keeping the jacket on, but with the warm temperatures right after some very cold weather I couldn’t handle the heat. On the bright side, my shirt dried out by bedtime and I actually slept in it. I used the Jasper as my pillow. It was OK for that but I prefer the Frost which I used on a previous and later hike as my pillow. And now about that cold weather I just mentioned. I wore the Jasper working outside nearly all day on January 30th. I had on a cotton t-shirt, a cotton flannel shirt and overalls over some sweat pants. Anyways, I was helping my brother-in-law get power to his trailer. It was 18 F (-8 C) when we started digging the hole for the power pole. I had to take the jacket off because I got too hot but would have to put it back on if I stopped for a few minutes break. After we got that done, we dug a trench for the conduit to go under the trailer. The ground was frozen on top but not deep so we created a muddy mess. To make matters worse, I had to lay down as I worked my way under the trailer and ended up getting the jacket pretty muddy. I brushed off most of the caked on mud before driving home but my truck seat looked almost as bad as the jacket. Anyways, I washed the jacket with a hose a few days later and it looks new again. What is impressive is that the ground I was laying on was covered with several inches of chert rock but the Jasper took it in stride with no apparent damage.  dried mud on Jasper jacket I wore the Frost Fleece several times on day hikes when there was no threat of rain. It always kept me warm enough as long as I kept moving. It also didn’t appear to wet out at all even though I sweated in it several times. My shirt under it would get a little damp but seemed to stay drier then when wearing the Jasper. I wore the Frost on my last overnight hike and used it as my pillow. I liked it a lot better than using the Jasper which was my pillow on the February hike. The Frost really shined on days I wanted to ride my bike but was too cool for a tee shirt only. This was typically when temperatures were around 50 F (10 C). I liked it because it was warm enough to make the ride bearable but when I got my blood flowing I would not overheat and have to stop and find a place to store the jacket. My only reservation wearing the Frost for biking is that it is not all that visible. On a side note, the Frost is the least compressible of the three jackets but I was using an 85 L (5200 cu in) pack for this trip and had plenty of room for all my gear. Same can be said for my 65 L (4000 cu in) pack I used on the February 5th hike. I only wore the Glacier a few times during the test. It is the lightest of the three jackets but also the warmest, in fact so warm that I found it caused me to overheat for most hiking situations. As a result, I only needed to wear it when it was well below freezing and I wasn’t planning on moving a lot. When worn under the Jasper it was as warm as any of my full-blown winter coats. Final Thoughts All three of the Dickies jackets performed well during the test. The Jasper always kept me dry and is a fairly warm jacket on its own. When worn over either of the other jackets it was blizzard worthy. The many pockets also came in handy, keeping not only my phone dry but also let me carry water for my wife and myself on several of our walks. The Frost was my go-to jacket anytime it wasn’t raining or bitterly cold. It was the most comfortable and also didn’t cause me to overheat when temperatures rose. The Glacier was worn the least but kept me very warm when it was called to duty. None of these jackets are all that compressible, but to be fair, excluding my warmest down jacket, they are warmer than the jackets I typically wear backpacking. This was never a problem when I used my larger packs but something to consider when trying to go Ultra-Lite or using a small day pack. This concludes my testing of the Dickies Jasper, Frost Fleece and Glacier jackets. I would like to thank Dickies and BackpackGearTest.org for this testing opportunity. 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