OBERMEYER KESTRAL JACKET
TEST SERIES BY BRIAN HARTMAN
LONG-TERM REPORT
March 26, 2013
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TESTER INFORMATION
NAME:
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Brian Hartman
|
EMAIL:
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bhart1426ATyahooDOT com |
AGE:
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45
|
LOCATION:
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Westfield,
Indiana |
GENDER:
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M
|
HEIGHT:
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5' 9" (1.75
m) |
WEIGHT:
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145 lb (65.80
kg) |
I have been backpacking for over
20 years throughout Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and most recently in Western USA.
In addition to backpacking I enjoy family camping with my wife and kids and
being outdoors in general. I would describe myself as a mid weight backpacker.
I use fairly light weight equipment and gear but still like to bring more than
the bare essentials with me while on the trail.
INITIAL REPORT
PRODUCT INFORMATION &
SPECIFICATIONS
|
Courtesy of
Obermeyer | Manufacturer: Sport Obermeyer Year
of Manufacture: 2012 Manufacturer's Website: http://www.obermeyer.com/ MSRP:
US $475.00 Listed Weight: Not Listed Measured Weight: 2.8 lbs (1.27
kg)
Colors Available: Baja, Bling, Black, Juice, Quarry Color Tested:
Quarry Sizes Available: Small, Medium, Large, XL, 2XL Size Tested:
Small Fabric / Coating: EcoGenesis - 100% polyester mechanical stretch with
20,000mm / 10,000g laminate Insulation / Lining: Thinsulate; Cocona Baselayer
- 52% Cocona polyester, 48% polyester Waterproofing: 20,000mm /
10,000g Fit: Alpine Cut
Features: External storm flap with hook
and loop closure Internal windguard with fleece chin protector Fully
seam sealed Zippered hand warmer pockets with key holder and d-ring
Zippered chest pockets with detachable goggle cloth Wrist accessory pocket
with water resistant zipper Zip-off hood with 2-way adjustment
Adjustable internal hem drawcord Brushed collar lining Gusseted cuffs
with adjustable closure Stretch fleece inner cuffs Helmet compatible
hood Internal zippered electronic pockets RECCO rescue reflector
Underarm ventilation with mesh gussets Powderskirt with gripper elastic
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION &
INITIAL IMPRESSION
|
Storm flap | The Obermeyer
Kestral jacket arrived at my doorstep in great condition with four hang tags
attached. After giving it a brief once-over, my initial impression was that it
was a great looking jacket (as seen in the photo above in Quarry gray color with
black pinstripes) and it appeared to be very well made.
As reported by
Obermeyer, the Kestral jacket (hereafter called Kestral or jacket) is a
waterproof / breathable insulated jacket utilizing Obermeyer's green friendly
EcoGenesis stretch fabric. EcoGenesis is made from 100% polyester, 53% of which
is recycled from PET bottles. In fact, the entire jacket (shell, lining and
insulation) is made of 100% polyester fibers. Waterproofing and breathability
are accomplished by adding the manufacturer's proprietary 'Hydroblock'
microporous coating and 'Duroguard' DWR finish to the jacket which help give it
its 20,000mm / 10,000g rating. Hydroblock is a polyurethane coating that the
manufacturer claims prevents water from penetrating the shell while still
allowing body moisture to evaporate out. It does this by reducing the size of
the fabric pores such that water droplets are too large to enter but water vapor
can still pass through. For added protection, the Duroguard finish is applied
as a hydrophobic coating to the exterior of the jacket to increase surface
tension causing water to bead up. As noted on Obermeyer's website, Duroguard
also makes the fabric more durable and helps prevent stains.
The
significance of the waterproof / breathability rating system mentioned above is
that manufacturers can use a standardized test to determine the waterproof /
breathability rating of their clothing and then display their results for
marketing purposes and to allow consumers to compare clothing based on their
particular needs. Finally, the jacket is fully seam sealed which should help
prevent any water permeation through the stitched areas where the fabric is sewn
together.
The Kestral has a full-length front zipper with a 1.5 inches (4
cm) wide exterior storm flap that is secured by six hook and loop closures. The
storm flap prevents water from seeping through the front zipper, which is not
waterproof. The front of the jacket is also protected against air filtration by
an internal zipper windguard that measures approximately 1.25 inches (3 cm) in
width. Moving to the top of the jacket, the top 8 inches (20 cm) of the
windguard is fleece-lined on the inside as a chin protector. As an added bonus,
the entire inside of the jacket collar, which stands 4 inches (10 cm) tall, is
fleece-lined. The hood is fully adjustable via two drawcords on its lower left
and right hand sides that can be used to loosen or tighten it as necessary. The
hood can also be adjusted vertically using a drawcord that is located on the
back side of the hood. It is secured to the back of the jacket by a zipper and
two hook and loop closures that hold it in place on the sides. The hood is also
fully detachable and is large enough to be worn with a helmet for ice climbing
or downhill skiing.
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Interior pocket |
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Sleeve pocket | The Kestral
has five exterior and two interior pockets. Starting with the exterior pockets,
the two front hand pockets measure 7.5 inches (19 cm) deep by 11 inches (28 cm)
tall. These pockets are fleece-lined and are covered by storm flaps. The right
hand pocket houses a plastic D-clip for securing car keys or some other object.
Moving upwards, the right chest pocket is protected by a waterproof zipper and
measures 6 inches (15 cm) by 6 inches (15 cm) while the left chest pocket is
secured by a regular zipper and storm flap and measures 5 inches (13 cm) deep by
8 inches (20 cm) tall. This pocket contains a detachable goggle cloth which I
already know will come in handy when my glasses fog up or get dirty. The fifth
and final exterior pocket is located on the left sleeve and is protected by a
waterproof zipper. It measures 4 inches (10 cm) by 5 inches (13 cm). Both
interior pockets are mesh. The right interior pocket has a hook and loop
closure and measures 8 inches (20 cm) deep by 7 inches (18 cm) tall while the
left interior pocket is zippered and is 5 inches (13 cm) deep by 9 inches (23
cm) tall.
For improved ventilation, the Kestral jacket has underarm
zippers with mesh gussets. They provide a convenient way to release excess body
heat and perspiration while doing strenuous hiking. When fully unzipped each
opening measures 14 inches (35 cm). For decreased ventilation and / or to
prevent cold air from entering the jacket, the Kestral has gusseted cuffs that
are fully adjustable via hook and loop closures. The inner cuffs work very well
in providing enough stretch to seal off any air flow coming up the sleeves.
Another place where cold air tends to enter most jackets is at the waist line
and so Obermeyer has incorporated a powder skirt into the Kestral. The powder
skirt has an elastic waistband that helps prevent cold air flow (and snow) from
entering the jacket around the waist. The jacket also has an adjustable
drawcord located at its lower hem to help seal out cold air as well as
snow.
For those hiking in avalanche prone areas, the Kestral is fitted
with a RECCO rescue reflector. The reflector is a small device that is sewn
into the right shoulder of the jacket. When used in conjunction with RECCO's
radar detectors which are standard issue for most search and rescue teams, it
helps locate an avalanche victim under several feet of snow. Last but not
least, Obermeyer's name is printed on the left chest pocket of the jacket as
well as on the lower back.
|
Cuffs |
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Underarm ventilation |
|
Powder
skirt |
READING THE INSTRUCTIONS
As mentioned earlier, four hang
tags were attached to the jacket zipper upon its arrival. The first was from 3M
with details regarding Thinsulate; the second hang tag was from Obermeyer and it
provided a brief background on the company as well as a sizing chart; the third
hang tag was also from Obermeyer and it aptly described the advanced design and
construction features of the Kestral; the final hang tag was from RECCO and it
briefly described their avalanche rescue system.
Care Instructions for
the Kestral are listed on the jacket's collar tag. Obermeyer also provides
detailed instructions on their website regarding how to properly wash and care
for the jacket. Of particular note is that the DWR finish can wear off or
become masked by dirt over time. When this happens, washing can help restore
the effectiveness of the finish and /or a new coating of DWR can be applied at
home. My experience is that it is pretty easy to know when either of these
procedures is necessary as water no longer beads up on the outside of the
jacket.
Warranty: Obermeyer offers a lifetime warranty against defects in
the materials or workmanship of all of their products. The warranty does not
cover normal wear and tear, misuse, accidents, fading or the natural breakdown
of materials over time.
As someone who does most of his shopping online,
I must say that Obermeyer's website is very well laid out and easy to navigate,
which is not an easy feat to pull off while still providing the wealth of
information they do about their product line. They have done a great job of
describing each article of clothing and I really like that they provide large,
detailed product photos and allow those photos to be rotated 360 degrees to
provide a full view of their clothing from all angles. While on the website I
also spent some time reading about the history of the company and its founder,
Klaus Obermeyer and found it quite interesting. In this age of large
corporations, it was inspiring to read Klaus' story and how his dream evolved
into the company it is today.
TRYING IT OUT
I have been wearing the Kestral
jacket around town for the past few days and also went hiking at a local park
this weekend. When I went on my hike, it was sunny and the temperature was
just above freezing at 34 F (1 C). My initial thoughts after this brief
examination of the Kestral are as follows:
I really like the materials
that were used in the construction of this jacket. The shell is made with a
very tightly woven polyester fabric that feels smooth to the touch and durable.
It also has some stretch to it which I noticed after moving around for a few
minutes. I think the stretch 'factor' gives it a better fit and will allow me a
larger range of motion while backpacking. Based on these factors, I am not too
concerned about how this jacket will hold up in the field. From my initial exam
it appears to be very durable and so I am not too concerned about snagging it on
a branch or wearing down the shoulders or waist fabric from my backpack straps.
I also really like that the fabric drapes well and isn't overly noisy as I move
my arms back and forth while hiking.
In regards to construction, the
Kestral's stitching is impeccable and I wasn't able to find a single loose
thread or blemish. The zippers are solid and slide readily back and forth. The
hood is generously sized and appears to be securely fastened. While hiking it
was very easy for me to adjust the hood and as a quick test I was easily able to
remove it once back to my car. Although the Kestral does not have thumb inserts
in the cuffs akin to some other winter jackets, it still has very nice inner
cuffs that are stretchy enough to prevent cold air from getting up my sleeves.
As stated in my bio, I am a mid weight hiker and so I am not all that
concerned about carrying a few extra ounces for the sake of comfort or
convenience. In this regard, I must say that I really like the fleece-lined
hand pockets. They are a joy to use and well positioned so as not to interfere
with my pack straps. In addition, they are plenty large to carry whatever I
need. I can see myself using the sleeve pocket for various small items I may
need to access readily while on the trail. Based on my initial hike this
morning in 34 F (1 C) weather, the Kestral was plenty warm with a long sleeve
shirt underneath so much so that I found myself trying out the underarm vents.
They were easy to open and did a great job of venting some of the heat I had
built up during my hike.
SUMMARY
I first became familiar with
Obermeyer products a few years ago when I tested one of their shell jackets. I
was impressed with the design and the quality of their products back then and so
I came into this test with high expectations for this jacket. So far the
Kestral does not disappoint. It has a stylish design, a ton of great features,
and, if it is as rugged as it appears, it will be a sure winner. One last note
is that I had the opportunity to talk with Obermeyer's customer service
department and they are outstanding. As a regular 'Joe' calling up asking
questions about their products, they were extremely knowledgeable and friendly.
This concludes my Initial Report for the Obermeyer Kestral jacket. Thank you to
Sport Obermeyer and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test this
jacket. I am really excited for the thermometer to drop a few more degrees and
the snow to start flying.
FIELD
REPORT
FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
During the past two months, I
wore the Obermeyer Kestral jacket on two multi-night backpacking trips and
numerous day hikes. I also wore it daily around town, shoveling snow, and on
walks with our dog. Because it is warm, functional and looks good, I pretty
much wore it anytime I left the house. I estimate I have over one hundred forty
hours of use on the Kestral so far.
So far this winter my trips have been
to parks in Central and Southern Indiana as well as Northern Ohio, where I spent
time hiking in the Cuyahoga National Park and North Chagrin Forest (photos
below). Temperatures during my outings ranged from 12 F to 38 F (-11 C to 3 C)
with weather conditions that included everything from sunshine to freezing rain
and snow. In Cuyohoga National Park wind speeds of 35 mph (56 kph) made for
bitter below zero F (-18 C) wind chills. The details of my two overnight trips
are highlighted below:
Trip
One: (3 days, 2 nights) Hiking and camping in Brown County, Southern Indiana
Weather: Cold (12 to 35 F / -11 to 1 C) and breezy (22 mph / 35 kph) with
freezing rain the 2nd day Elevation: 932 ft (284 m) Distance covered: 9
mi (12 km) Backpack Weight: 32 lb (15 kg) Use: This trip involved hiking
on maintained trails over hilly terrain
Trip Two: (2 days, 2 nights)
Backpacking in the Charles Deam Wilderness, Hoosier National Forest, Indiana
Weather: Cold (24 F / -4 C) and snowy. Elevation: 920 ft (280 m)
Distance covered: 7.4 miles (12 km) Backpack Weight: 26 lb (12
kg) Use: This trip involved off-trail hiking and bushwhacking to my final
campsite.
PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
During the past two months of
Field Testing, the Kestral performed flawlessly. It exceeded my expectations
for warmth, weather resistance, comfort and durability and inspired confidence
that it could handle whatever was next. For these reasons I gladly give it two
thumbs up. In my opinion, Obermeyer has proven itself to be a top quality
manufacturer of high end clothing and the proof is in their products which time
and time again simply 'perform'. During testing, I typically paired the jacket
with a midweight synthetic top and a lightweight vest and this combination kept
me warm in temperatures down to 25 F (-4 C). When temperatures dropped well
below freezing or when I was resting at camp, I switched out the vest for an
insulated mid-layer jacket and was warm once again. When temperatures were in
the upper 30's F (3 C) and I was hiking aggressively, the pit zips came in handy
to release my body heat so I didn't sweat. In general I found it very easy to
regulate my body temperature using the pit zips and front zipper and had no
problems with breathability as the Kestral did a good job of allowing moisture
vapor to escape.
While hiking in Cuyahoga National Park, the Kestral's shell did an excellent job
of blocking the wind and the sleeve gussets and powder skirt prevented cold air
from coming up my arm sleeves and torso. Although I usually don't wear hoods,
this was one trip where I was very glad I had stuffed the Kestral hood in my
backpack. Reattaching it to the jacket was straightforward and only took a
minute, although I had to take my gloves off to get the ends of the hood
secured. It might have been possible to get the ends secured using different
gloves, but not the ones I was wearing. They were knit wool and they kept
sticking to the hook and loop closures. With my hood up, sleeve gussets
fastened tight and powder skirt snapped shut, I was adequately warm in 20 F (-6
C) weather with constant 35 mph (56 kph) winds. During this outing it was also
nice to have added wind protection provided by the high front collar as well as
the fleece lining for my chin.
In addition to wind protection, the
Kestral did a great job of shedding rain and snow while I was hiking in Brown
County. On this trip it demonstrated its waterproof claims. At no time did
water soak through the shell or reduce the jacket's ability to insulate. At one
point, where the trail came out of the woods, I hiked several hundred yards
(approximately three hundred meters) through heavy cold rain while water beaded
up and rolled off of the jacket. Thank goodness for sealed seams (and once
again the zip-off hood)!
Throughout my testing, the Kestral was soft,
comfortable to wear and easily slipped on over my mid layers. While backpacking
with trekking poles, I had plenty of room to move in the jacket and was able to
extend my arms with no binding or difficulty. The chest and waist area fit
comfortably, and the arm length has been almost perfect. In my Initial Report,
I mentioned that the jacket fabric had some stretch which I felt gave it a
better fit and allowed me a larger range of motion. After two months of
testing, I agree even more so with my previous statement and would add that the
'stretch factor' has probably helped prevent several tears or rips that would
have occurred if the fabric didn't have some give to it. Despite hiking
off-trail through thorny, bristly brush and plowing through low tree limbs and
branches, the Kestral looks great and has only a few small scratches that are
hardly noticeable from more than a few feet away (a meter). In spite of
trekking many days with a heavy backpack, the shoulder straps have caused no
noticeable wear on the jacket. I am sold on the comfort, fit and ruggedness of
the EcoGenesis stretch fabric. I plan to order a pair of EcoGenesis pants when
my current mountaineering pants wear out (hopefully soon).
In addition to
the other features mentioned above, the jacket has lots of well-placed pockets
that are easy to access and substantial in size. I love the fact that they are
fleece lined as my hands usually get cold while sitting around camp. The
pockets also came in handy for carrying my car keys, GPS, maps, and various
other items like snacks that I didn't want to freeze. I had no problems with
any of the zippers snagging on the jacket and most of them were simple to open
with one hand.
SUMMARY
I am very happy with Obermeyer's
Kestral jacket. It is well designed, comfortable to wear, exceptionally
waterproof and, so far, quite durable. Despite daily use the jacket is still in
great shape and is a breeze to keep clean with a simple toss in
washer.
LONG-TERM
REPORT
LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND
CONDITIONS
Two day / two night camping trip to Franklin County, Indiana. I hiked 5.5 mi (9
km) in snowy, windy weather with temperatures ranging from 8 - 14 F ( -13 to -10
C). The 1st day was breezy with winds gusting to 20 mph (35 kph).
Day
hike at Eagle Creek Park, Indianapolis, IN. During this outing I hiked along
snow covered trails for approximately 9 mi (14 km) and had some great views of
Eagle Creek Reservoir. The temperature was 18 F (-8 C) with sunny skies and
almost no wind.
Two day / two night backpacking trip to the Charles Deam
Wilderness, Bloomington, IN. While in Bloomington I hiked 12 mi (19 km) on hard
packed trails. The temperature started at 24 F (-4 C) on the first day but
dropped to 15 F (-9 C) the following morning as a cold front moved in.
Ski trip to Perfect North Ski Resort in Lawrenceburg, IN. The
temperature stayed around 20 F (-7 C) throughout the day and only dipped
slightly at night. Skies were mostly cloudy.
Day hike to Fort Benjamin
Harrison Park - Indianapolis, IN. I hiked approximately 6 mi (10 km) at this
park along hard, frozen trails and gently rolling terrain. The temperature
stayed just below freezing at 31 F (-0.5 C) while skies were
sunny.
PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
Thanks to colder than normal
temperatures this winter season, I wore the Kestral jacket almost every day for
the past two months, whether backpacking, day hiking, walking my dog or
shoveling snow. I also wore it to work as well as around town on errands and on
an overnight ski trip. Although my front closet contains at least two of every
item (gloves, hats, shoes etc), the Kestral is so versatile that it is the only
winter jacket I have hanging there. It fit great, shed snow with ease, kept me
plenty warm in cold weather and brisk winds, and I was able to wear it just as
easily with dress clothes as in the backcountry.
The
jacket has held up really well despite constant wear. Durability has been
great. I've had no problems with the zippers or hook-and-loop closures and there
are no wear spots on the shoulders or waist from my pack straps. During the
past two months the Kestral survived many encounters with tree branches and
briars with no ill effects. The jacket continues to repel water. Despite
hiking for several hours in heavy snowfall on my trip to Franklin County the
Kestral kept me completely dry and managed to dry itself out as well by the
following morning.
My final opportunity to test the Kestral this test
period came during a ski trip to Perfect North Slopes. Although I skied a lot
in high school and college, I've only skied once in the past dozen years and so
I was very rusty. Despite the fact that I was sorely out of practice, the
Kestral performed wonderfully. The stretch fabric allowed me a full range of
motion and I never felt cold, despite several wipe outs on the moguls that
resulted in long slides down the slopes on my back. I really liked having the
wrist pocket to store my handkerchief and the goggle cloth came in handy to
clean my glasses after one memorable face plant. Thank goodness there were no
photos to memorialize my escapades. Regrettably I had some minor trouble
keeping the hood in place while skiing. Although I adjusted it using the
drawcords I still found it to be loose which sometimes hindered my forward and
side vision (no excuse for my skiing). Negating the small problem I had
with the hood while skiing, the Kestral has been a joy to test during the past
four months. It has proven itself to be a very capable winter jacket and the
first one I reach for when the temperature drops.
SUMMARY
The Obermeyer Kestral performed
flawlessly this winter. It easily handled single digit temperatures, wet snow
and high winds while keeping me warm and dry. In fact, it has been a joy to
wear throughout this test period and I look forward to wearing it for many more
years.
This concludes this test series. Thanks to Sport Obermeyer and
BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test this jacket.
This
report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org
Report Writer Version 1. Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. Read more gear reviews by Brian Hartman
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