ExOfficio
- Storm Logic Jacket
Test Series by Bob
Sanders
Initial Report: October 2, 2011
Field Report: December 14, 2011
Long Tern Report: February 7, 2012
| PERSONAL
INFORMATION |
| Name: |
Bob Sanders |
 Backpacking
Background: I went on my first backpacking trip as a Boy
Scout at the age of 16. Over the years I have hiked the Wonderland
Trail in Washington and section hiked parts of the Florida Trail,
Appalachian Trail, Colorado Trail and 740 mi (1191 km) of the
Pacific Crest Trail. I continue to backpack and hike year round in
the Colorado mountains. I have evolved from a heavyweight
backpacker to a lightweight backpacker and sometimes reach
ultralight weights. My three day fall/winter solo adventures
(using a tent) have me hovering around a 17 lb (7.7 kg) base
weight.
|
| Age: |
54 |
| Gender: |
Male |
| Height: |
6 ft 1 in
(1.85 m) |
| Weight: |
210 lb (95
kg) |
| Email: |
sherpabob(at)mac(dot)com |
| Location: |
Longmont,
Colorado USA |
INITIAL
REPORT
October 2, 2011
PRODUCT
INFORMATION (Description & Photo From Website)
|
Manufacturer:
ExOfficio
Manufactured: 2011
Website: www.exofficio.com
Description:
The shape shifting Storm Logic Jacket is made with a ripstop
polyester that’s treated with DWR (Durable Water Repellent). The
lining is made with Primaloft One, which is 14% warmer when dry
and 24% warmer when wet than competing insulation. Wear this
slightly puffy jacket to stay warm or to hold your head while you
get some zzzz’s.
Specs:
- 100g (3.5 oz) of Primaloft in the chest and 60g (2.1 oz) in
the arms
- Shell constructed in a mini ripstop fabric: featherweight,
polyester microfiber
- Sizes Available: M-XXL
- Size Tested: XXL
- Colors available: Black, Deep Lapis, Dk Ivy, Lt Jade, Rust
- Listed weight: NA
- Actual weight (XXL): 20.3 oz (576 g)
- Listed Sizing for XXL:
Chest 49-51 in (124-129 cm)
Neck 18-18.5 in (45-47 cm)
Sleeve Length 35-36 in (89-91 cm)
- MSRP: $150 US
|
INITIAL
IMPRESSIONS
This jacket is soft and luxurious. It is
almost like wearing a sleeping bag. It drapes really well and it feels
lightweight but at 20.3 oz (576 g), not so much.
I chose the XXL size because I have a big chest, long torso and long arms.
Often I will choose a tall version because it will fit my torso and arms
better. If no tall version is available I typically choose the next larger
size. After I first tried it on my decision to get the XXL was a good one.
The overall fit is good for me. Not too bulky, so I can wear additional
layers underneath and the arm length is just about perfect.
The length of the jacket covers my entire posterior and angles up to the
front. I like the extra coverage and with the elastic drawcords at the
waist I will be able to seal out any drafts. There is a reflective logo on
the lower hem on the front and one on the back of the collar. Another good
feature so you can be seen at night if you are traveling.
The jacket is insulated with Primaloft One synthetic insulation. More
insulation is in the body area where it is needed and less in the arms.
The insulation is not overly thick and I estimate it to be 3/8 in (.95 cm)
thick. Just feeling with my fingers I cannot tell the difference between
the thickness of the insulation in the arms and chest. They seem the same
to me.
The fabric is a polyester mini ripstop and is advertised to be wind and
water resistant.
The jacket has simple elastic cuffs that fit well and are not binding. It
also has a multitude of pockets. Two zippered hand warmer pockets and a
convenient zippered chest pocket. Inside the hand warmer pockets, in the
bottom corner, you can pull on and stow the extra elastic drawcord from
the waist band drawcords. This keeps the extra drawcord from simply
dangling from the front of the jacket.
The jacket is primarily marketed as a travel jacket. It has 4
interior pockets that are designed to accommodate tickets, passport,
glasses and cell phone. Each specific pocket is labeled with an
embroidered icon of those items. There is even a handy key lanyard
with a hook on the end to attach your keys. Your keys then go inside
the zippered passport pocket for safe keeping. The pockets are well
thought out but the embroidered icons a bit overkill in my opinion.
The other travel oriented feature of the jacket is the integrated
pillow. Across the lower back on the inside is a long horizontal
pocket that closes with hook and loop patches. These patches are
less grippy than standard hook and loop. I simply took the jacket
off, inverted the pocket and stuffed the jacket into a long tube.
On each end of the stuffed tube are 2 short tabs, also with hook
and loop. Attaching the tabs makes a semi-circle pillow. The first
time I attempted this it took a lot longer than I thought it
would. It is a bit of a challenge to get the hook and loop tabs
lined up. A zipper would have been a simpler option.
Presto, Chango - Travel Pillow
Likes:
- The fabric is soft and luxurious
- Lots of pockets
- Fits me really well without being bulky
Dislikes:
- A bit heavy for backpacking, though it is really made for travel
_____________________________________________________________________
FIELD
REPORT
December 14, 2011
Since receiving this jacket I have worn
it pretty much everyday. I have worn it to work, walking the dog in the
early morning, 3 day hikes and one quick overnighter. Even though it is
not officially winter we have gotten our share of cold winter weather. The
temperatures have averaged 40 to 20
F (4
to -7
C) during the day and 20
to -6 F (-7 to -21 C) at night.
All of the day hikes and the overnight
backpack trip took place in the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area of central
Colorado. There was 12 in (30 cm) of compacted snow on the ground with
occasional snow flurries.
The majority of the time the weather
started out in the morning cloudy but usually changed to bright sunshine
during the rest of the day.
FIELD REPORT:
All of my day hikes and the overnight backpack started in the morning when
temperatures were cooler. I basically wore a lightweight wool base layer
followed by a lightweight micro fleece 3/4 zip top and then the Storm
Logic jacket as my top layer. I always bring along a fleece hat and
gloves. The mornings started in the 20 F (-7 C) range and stepping out of
the car I was chilled but as I hiked I quickly warmed up and would
typically remove my hat first, then my gloves and finally unzip the jacket
to keep from becoming overheated. As the day wore on and the temperatures
continued to rise to 40 F (4 C) I would need to remove the jacket
completely to reduce sweat. The only place I noticed any wet area on the
jacket was on my back where the pack was. On the day hikes I was usually
back to the car before the sun had set but the temperatures had dropped
and I would put the jacket back on for the ride home.
For the overnight backpack pack I hiked in about 6 mi (9.6 km) and set up
camp before the sun set. By the time all my chores were done and dinner
was started it was in the freezing range and I was beginning to feel
chilled. Especially when my activity dropped and I was just sitting there
tending dinner. I brought along a down jacket just in case and I'm glad I
did. I needed to switch to the down jacket about an hour after sunset. For
sleeping I brought along my 20 F (-7 C) down quilt and a tent. I had both
the Storm Logic and the down jacket in case I needed extra warmth. I
initially went to bed with just my base layers and my micro fleece on.
Around midnight I woke up shivering, drank some water and put on the Storm
Logic. It was just what I needed to shake off the chill. The temperature
read 14 F (-10 C) I woke up the next morning reasonably warm. I did put on
the down jacket for morning chores and breakfast but switched to the Storm
Logic for the hike back to the car.
The only opportunity I have had to test
the comfort and usability of the travel pillow was during Thanksgiving. My
son and I took a little road trip to see relatives and while he was
driving I took a little snooze and used the jacket in the travel pillow
configuration. It was quite comfortable and I really like the fact that it
is big enough to wrap around my neck so no matter which way I leaned I was
comfortable.
Cleaning & Care:
After wearing the jacket nearly every
day for two months I decided this weekend to give it the sniff test and
determine if it was ready for a thorough cleaning. To my surprise it
smelled OK. So I will wait until the final stage of this test, wash it per
the instructions and report back on that experience.
SUMMARY:
So far I like this jacket. Warmth wise I
would consider it a midweight jacket. For me it has a comfort range of
about 50 to 20 F (10 to -7 C) depending on my activity level and what I am
wearing underneath. Above 50 (10 C) while moving around I was too warm.
Below 20 F (-7 C) with no activity I feel chilled.
Style wise it is a beautiful jacket and
I felt comfortable wearing it to a casual Thanksgiving dinner. Although I
have not traveled on an airplane with it I would bring it with me on such
a trip. It is lightweight and compressible enough to be an excellent
travel jacket.
PROS:
- Soft, luxurious fabric
- Comfortable over a reasonable
temperature range
- Tightly woven fabric cuts the wind
real well
CONS:
- A bit heavy for a backpacking
jacket
____________________________________________________________________________________________
LONG
TERM REPORT
February 7, 2012
I have continued to wear the jacket on
almost a daily basis. It really depends on the weather. If it is above
20 F (-7 C) and I leave the house I have it on. I have worn it to
work, to walk the dog and I have brought it with me on every day hike
and overnight backpack I have taken during this test period.
I have taken 3 additional day hikes and the temperatures have ranged
between 60 and 20 F (16 and -7 C). I tend to hike my usual trails as
they are close by and I am familiar with them. The Indian Peaks
Wilderness Area and Lefthand Reservoir are my favorites. Hikes are
usually 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 km) round trip and I almost always wear
my standard winter layering setup consisting of hat, gloves, wool base
layer, microfleece pullover followed by the Logic Jacket. Temperature
adjustments are made by removing hat, then gloves, then unzipping the
jacket and finally removing jacket. On the one day hike where the
temperatures were near 60 F (16 C) I never even put the jacket on.
I also managed to get one more overnighter to Lefthand Reservoir. I
forgot just how cold it can get up there. The altitude is near 10,000
ft (3048 m). Temperatures were around 20 F (-7 C) for the hike in and
quickly dropped to around 0 F (-18 C) that night. I did bring a 0 F
(-18 C) down bag but I was cold and slept in the down jacket I also
brought. I did use the Logic as a pillow and I really love the way it
wraps around your neck. Not only was it very comfortable but it also
kept my neck warm. I wore the jacket on both the hike in and hike out.
The only place I got sweaty was on my back where the backpack pressed
against me. When I got to the car and took my pack off I was
immediately chilled. In the time it took me to stow my gear, talk to a
couple at the trail head and basically enjoy the scenery (maybe 20
minutes) the jacket felt partially dry and I was no longer chilled.
The sun was shining bright and the jacket is black, so the combination
helped speed the drying. By the time I got home the jacket felt
completely dry.
Cleaning & Care:
After wearing the jacket nearly every day for four months it was time
to give it a wash. I followed the directions on the hang tag. Cold
water wash with mild soap and tumble dry on low. It came out fresh as
a daisy and still looking brand new. I even ran the sleeve under a
water faucet and the water beaded up pretty well.
SUMMARY:
For me the comfort range still seems to be between 50 and 20 F (10 and
-7 C) depending on my activity level and what I am wearing underneath.
The jacket is really designed as a travel jacket and when used for
that purpose I think it excels. The integrated pillow is a great
feature for airplane travel and all the pockets can hold all the items
a traveler would need. It is warmer and more comfortable than a fleece
jacket and is very wind resistant. It also packs smaller than a fleece
jacket.
As a backpacking jacket I feel like all the extra features are nice
but just add unneeded weight. For me I have other jackets that I will
take backpacking. I will continue to use the jacket on a daily basis
and definitely as a cool weather travel jacket.
PROS:
- Soft, luxurious fabric
- Comfortable over a reasonable temperature range
- Tightly woven fabric cuts the wind real well
- Lots of pockets for stowing small pieces of gear
CONS:
- A bit heavy for a backpacking jacket
I would like to thank BackpackGearTest.org and ExOfficio for the
opportunity to test this Jacket.
Read more gear reviews by Bob Sanders
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