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Field Report:
"Found the flexibility of the combination of the
jacket and sweater a big plus"
My field testing of the Big Sky Products Warm-n-Cozy
Better-than-Fleece Jacket and the Better-than-Fleece Convertible Sweater
occurred on three bushwalks/camping trips. The first was a nine day
bushwalk (actual eight nights) in the Fitzgerald River National Park in
April 2006. The second bushwalk was a weekender in the Julimar Conservation
Reserve in May and finally I got one nights camping in at 37 Mile Break in
the Avon Valley National Park in June, 2006. A total of 10 nights testing of
the sweater and jacket.
During the Fitzgerald River National Park walk in April (autumn) bushwalk the
overnight temperatures did vary from conditions where it was too warm even
for just the sweater to nights where I
wore the sweater and jacket and for me, a first, one day where I wore the
sweater all day in its vest format, while I was walking (see photo). According to
Bureau of Meteorology the average minimum in the eastern end of the park
during the walk was 10 C (50 F). I suspect, however, that we were a degree
or two colder than the given minimum.
On one day I resorted to wearing the sweater as a vest, I was seriously
feeling the cold southern ocean (read Antarctic) winds. The walking on this
day included some serious scrub sections where risk of damaged to the
sweater was high. I am pleased to report that the sweater survived this day
without damage.
Overall on this walk, I found the sweater and jacket work fine and I
really found the flexibility that the combination provides great.
For the Julimar Conservation Reserve walk in May (autumn) where we
camped at Spice Brook, the nearest town's recorded overnight minimum was 13
C (55 F). On this trip I just took convertible sweater given I expected the
overnight temperature to be mild. At camp I found it was too warm to wear
the sweater in the evening but did wear it around camp Sunday morning. I
found it kept me comfortable just wearing it over my walking shirt
underneath. Also at this camp we enjoyed a night of bushfire smoke and a low
intensity fire burning approximately 100 - 150 metres (320 - 500 ft)
up hill from us. I am pleased to report that I found no evidence of the
sweater taking on board any smoke smell.
My final night's testing of the jacket and sweater was at 37 Mile Break
in the Avon Valley National Park in June (winter). On this night the
nearest town recorded an overnight minimum 6 C (42 F). I wore the
convertible sweater in the evening and again in the morning, when the
temperature got to around 8 C (46 F). I found the sweater comfortable and
warm and that I did not need to put on the jacket as well.
Referring now to my test plan as published in my
Initial Report, I will
comment on the various aspects that I planned to focus on; a summary if you
like of my findings to date.
As my opening comment states, I
really like the flexibility of the combination of the jacket and sweater.
There have been times when I have worn both, times when I have just worn
the sweater, times when I have worn the sweater as a vest and times when I
have just taken the sweater. I think that says it all in terms of
flexibility!
As often seems to happen when I
am testing something which requires wet conditions, it stays dry. This is
again the case with this test. I have only used the sweater and jacket in
dry warmish conditions to date and I am very happy with the outcomes. I have
in particular found the sweater to be a great addition to my gear.
My usage has been all around camp
with the exception of one day walking in the Fitzgerald River National
Park when I wore the sweater in vest mode during the day whilst walking.
This day's walking was pretty much all off-track, often through thick and
very aggressive scrub. I am pleased to report that the sweater come
through this without damage and both the sweater and jacket have not been
damaged on any of trips so far.
I put the effectiveness of the
wind resistance of the jacket and sweater to the test on the Fitzgerald
River National Park walk when we encountered winds off the Southern Ocean
most days. It got so cold on one day that I resorted to wearing the
sweater in vest mode, something I normally don't do. I found the sweater
was very effective in these conditions, i.e., was good at protecting me
from the cold winds.
Not been able to test this aspect
due to the weather not cooperating.
Have experienced no issues with
the zippers or drawcords. Find the zippers do not tend to snag, found it
easy to un-zip the sleeves on the sweater and general use of the zippers
and drawcords has been without issue.
So in summary:
Things I like:
- I like the way the jacket and sweater are reasonably compressible within
my pack - made fitting them in so much easier;
- I like the degree of warmth provided given my conditions;
- I love the versatility of the laying options including removing
the sleeves on the sweater.
Things I don't like:
Relaxing in the Big Sky Products Better-than-Fleece
Convertible Sweater at Gordon Inlet, Fitzgerald River National park
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