Reviews > Clothing > Childrens Clothing > Molehill Mountain Hooded Fleece Jacket > Curt Peterson > Long Term Report

Molehill Mt. Equipment Hooded Jacket

- Long Term Report -
March 2006

Below you will find: 1) Tester and Co-Tester Background and Contact Information  2) Molehill Mt. Hooded Jacket Specifications 3) Molehill Mt. Hooded Jacket Long Term Report

1)Tester and Co-Tester Background and Contact Information

Name: Curt Peterson
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Height: 6'3" (1.91 m)
Weight: 270 (122 kg)
Email address: curt<at>boopants<dot>com
Location: North Bend, Washington, USA

I live in the Cascade foothills, just 20 mi (32 km) from the Pacific Crest Trail via trails leading right from my backyard. My outdoor time in Washington is spent dayhiking, backpacking, climbing, and skiing everywhere from the Olympic coast to rainforests to Cascade volcanoes to dry Central Washington steppe.  I played football in college and often evaluate products from a big guy perspective. My typical pack load ranges from 12 - 19 lbs (5.4 - 8.6 kg) and usually includes wet weather gear.

Name: Ethan Peterson
Age: 3
Gender: Male
Height: 3'3" (0.91 m)
Weight: 33 lbs. (15 kg)
Molehill Mt. Equipment Size: 4T/5T
Email address (Using Papa's): curt<at>boopants<dot>com
Location: North Bend, Washington, USA

I'm a ridiculously cute and very active 3 year old. I hike on a trail every single day with my mommy and papa and dog. We go on the trail to the lake and throw rocks in the water. I live in the mountains where it can get pretty cold and fleece jackets are a great way to keep warm without overheating – especially when you're as much of a wild child as I am. My Papa got me skis and is going to teach me how to ski this winter. I can't wait. I even skied on the grass in July just to try it out! I should be able to use the jacket a whole bunch because I don't sleep. Ever.
 

2) Molehill Mt. Equipment Hooded Jacket Specifications
 

• Jacket Size: 4/5
• Jacket Weight: 8.6 oz (246 gm) 
• Jacket Material: Malden Mills Polartec Classic 200 Weight Fleece, 100% Polyester 
• Jacket Color: Green Day
• Lifetime Warranty
• Recycle Program (see Initial Report)
   
• Made in Mexico 
• Manufacturer Website: www.molehillmtn.com  
  

3) Molehill Mt. Hooded Jacket Long Term Report
 

Long Term Report

I actually have trouble picturing my little boy playing outside in the winter weather without his fuzzy green coat - that's how much the Molehill Mt. Hooded Jacket has been used over the test period.  I may be underestimating its use by saying he likely wore it 6 days a week.  Seriously.  Not only is the Molehill fleece jacket a nice thickness for the Northwest's relatively mild winters, but he REALLY likes it.  Unlike many kids in their 4th year, our Ethan doesn't really care what he wears.  Our friends and family tell  us stories of their children having favorite shirts, refusing to wear certain colors, etc.  Our boy will wear pretty much anything we put on him and not think twice about it.  Then there's the Molehill Mt. Hooded Jacket.  This is the only clothing item we've seen him have a genuine preference for.  In fact, he's willing to go to battle for it.  Even when it's too cold for a 200 weight fleece, it's the jacket he wants and if that means we put it on him and a winter parka over the top, than that's what we do.  More than any technical features, sizing notes, or performance factors, Ethan's love for this jacket says volumes about the product.

Fortunately, it's easy to let him wear it all the time because it's such a nice piece.  As note previously, it is cut to toddler proportions, so fit is absolutely fantastic.  He's grown a little over the 4 months, but the jacket still fits as if it were custom.  The arms and body are appropriate length without being excessively baggy, the hood (which he wears ALL the time) fits snug but not tight, and the zipper when up all the way doesn't bother his mouth or chin.  My guess is that even more than the fuzzy warmth of 200 Polartec, the comfortable fit is why he likes the jacket so much.  Especially in warm wear, bulk and fit are typically cumbersome in toddler outerwear in our experience.  The little kids waddling around barely able to walk or move their arms is a common site on snow days - the Molehill Mt. fleece allows relatively unrestricted movement. 

It has been worn with backpacks a bit, thrown on the ground too many times to count, fallen on, scraped, kicked, and just about everything else imaginable and looks no worse for wear.  This doesn't surprise me as my experience is that fleece is very durable, but it's nice to see it survive toddler use as well.  He's had skiing around 3500 feet (1050 meters) a few times, but most use has been on valley trails in the area around 1000 to 1500 feet (300 to 450 meters).  Temperatures ranged from the mid teens F (-11 to -8 C) - very briefly -  to the mid 50s F (11 to 14 C).  It's been very wet, but the Molehill Mt. jacket handles drizzle well and layers nicely under a shell when it gets to be too wet.

The limited feature set has worked well.  The simplicity is appreciated, and everything still works just fine.  No elastic has failed or stretched out, the zipper works smooth as ever, and the pockets still hold items despite being given numerous opportunities to develop holes from sharp rocks and sticks that manage to get loaded in them.  The fabric itself seems a little more nubby but a little less fuzzy, but my recollection is that fleece compacts a bit over time with washings and that this is normal.  It has been washed over a half dozen times.

Material: 
**The 200 fleece performs as expected.  No weakening or negative changes have been noticed.

Fit: 
**Fit is fantastic. Molehill Mt. has us as customers for the rest of his childhood based on this characteristic alone.

Safety:
**No drawcords or cordlocks.  All closeable aspects are zipper or elastic - much appreciated.

Comfort:
**It must be comfortable because he wears it all the time.  He even wears it indoors!

Ease of Use: 
**No problems here.  The zipper works as well as it did when new.

Hood: 
**He still has a bit of a conehead look in the hood, but it fits great.  It has a nice seal around his face without being too snug.  It's the only hood he'll actually wear.

Durability:
**No problems.  No loose threads, holes, tears, or failures.  It's definitely up to toddler abuse.

Insulation:
**It is typical of 200 weight fleece.  It's not windproof, so windy cold gets through easily and a shell is needed in those situations.  200 fleece is VERY breathable and winds gets right through it.  A wind blocking fleece version of this jacket would be an interesting item!

Thanks to BackpackGearTest.org and Molehill Mt. Equipment for the opportunity to test the Hooded Jacket!
 

Reviews > Clothing > Childrens Clothing > Molehill Mountain Hooded Fleece Jacket > Curt Peterson > Long Term Report