• Name : Graham Blamey
• Age : 62
  
• Height : 1.82 m (6' 0")
  
• Weight : 76 kg (168 lb)
• Email : gg@higray.fsnet.co.uk
• County : Essex
• Country : UK
• Additional product related information
  
• Torso :  53.3 cm (21")
• Chest : 104 cm (41")
• Waist :  86.4 cm (34")

Backpacking background

I started serious walking about 23 years ago and backpacking a few years later. I have backpacked, with my wife Ginny, mainly in Europe and the UK. We have spent three weeks of each year for the last seven years, backpacking in the French/Spanish Pyrenees. We spend at least one day a week on long day-walks, and take a number of three- to four-day backpacking trips throughout the year. We also take part in several night and weekend orienteering events. Our backpacking style is getting increasingly lighter as we explore the possibilities brought about by new materials and designs.

Product Information

Manufacturer	Duofold - USA
Manufacturer's URL	http://www.duofold.com
Country of origin	Vietnam
Sizes available	S - 2XL
Size tested	M
Colour	Black / Grey
Listed weight	Not listed
Weight as received	Size M - 305 g (10.75 oz)
Materials	86% Nylon - 14% Spandex
MSRP	US $70.00

Some features of the Multisport Mid Layer Jacket (taken from Duofold's website).


(This garment is now described on Duofold's website as "Duo Dri Men's Half Zip Jacket").

Product Description

From the labelling and care instructions enclosed with the Multisport Jacket I learnt that the "Fiber content is: WOVEN - 67% Nylon, 18% Polyester, 15% Spandex. KNIT - 92% Nylon, 8% Spandex".

The care instructions are: "Machine wash warm with like colours, no bleach, no softener, tumble dry low, cool iron". This is pretty standard for most synthetic garments, although, for the past few years I have used a washing powder in tablet form that has an integral softener.

The Duofold Multisport Mid Layer Jacket is made from a fairly closely-woven material that is a mixture of nylon/Spandex over most of the jacket (the areas shown as black in the picture) with a finer nylon/polyester/Spandex in the grey areas. The thicker material of the main body is claimed to be water and wind-resistant and the thinner, grey, stretchy areas are supposed to provide extra breathability and ease of movement at times of high activity. The material of the main part of the jacket has an interesting feel on the outside, rather smooth like a GoreTex rain shell, but the inside is more like a soft, fine corduroy. The front zipper comes down to about mid-sternum and zips right up to the top of the stand-up collar, where there is a small triangular pocket to cover the zip puller. See also my INITIAL REPORT. and FIELD REPORT.

Long Term Test Conditions

During the Long Term Test period, I've worn the Duofold Multisport Jacket on a couple of one-night backpacks, on a number of day walks, a few times at the gym and on bike rides.

The backpacking trips were single overnight trips on parts of The Three Forests Way, near my home. 

The weather in the UK in March/April continued cold, with averages hovering around 10 C (50 F) during daylight hours and 3 C (37 F) during the night, with overnight temperatures dipping to 0 C (32 F) on a couple of occasions in late April. The UK has still had very little rain during this period, so although it was cold, it was reasonably pleasant. At the beginning of May, we had days of complete contrast; one day it would be cold and overcast, the next warm and sunny. Things have continued in this vein which has made wearing and carrying the right clothing a bit hit-and-miss.

Fit

In my Initial Report I mentioned that I thought the large size was a little too big for me. I received a medium size in exchange at the end of January and although the fit in the body of the jacket was better, it was clear that I wouldn't be able to wear more than a couple of base layers under it. The sleeves of the medium were a little shorter and the cuffs reached my wrists with no extra material to allow for movement.

Long Term Test

I've continued to persevere with the Multisport jacket since my Field Report, despite the misgivings I expressed about it's suitability for backpacking. The fit, when the weather is warmer, is better with just one short- or long-sleeved base layer underneath. I have no problems with the sleeve length, but there really is little to spare and I can't pull the cuffs down to, say, cover my watch; as soon as I move my arms, the cuffs ride up. I find that I can pull the zipper up to almost the top but, because of the stiffness of the collar, I find that zipping completely up is too constrictive, as the stand-up collar does exactly that. I still feel uncomfortable with the feel of the material, it just doesn't feel like any material I'm familiar with and still feels like a thin Neoprene or 'rubberised' fabric.

On the two backpacking trips I took, the weather was still cool and I found that the Multisport jacket over just a base layer wasn't sufficient to keep me warm when moving at a slower pace and I was soon adding another layer, either under or over the jacket. When I was in a more exposed part of the route, I found I needed my Pertex windshirt on top to really counter the keen north wind.

When I've been out in what little rain we've had the jacket has been fine up to a point and seems to repel light showers or drizzle. When the rain's been heavier I've noticed water eventually soaking through in places and I've usually slipped my Berghaus Paclite smock over the top.

On fast day walks, on bike rides and at the gym however, the jacket really comes in to it's own and most of the time one base layer under it has been quite sufficient.

Conclusions

Although the Duofold Multisport Mid layer Jacket is a nicely styled and well made jacket, I have had to conclude that it doesn't suit me for winter daywalking and backpacking; it's not warm enough to substitute for a light fleece layer, it's too heavy to carry solely as a windproof (my Pertex windshirt weighs 85 g / 3 oz), and it's not waterproof enough as an outer layer when it's raining heavily. I'm going to continue to try using it during the coming, warmer months as I'm sure it will be useful for short training walks, when I'm moving a bit faster and not too bothered about getting wet. I'll certainly use it when riding my bike and at the gym, as, for me, this is where it really excels.

During the test period I've been looking at every aspect of the Multisport Jacket, including:

Does a different size fit me better?

##FR. Yes, with reservations. The body of the jacket is a comfortable fit with one or even two base layers under it but the sleeves are a trifle short.

##LTR. I've concluded that it's probably my body size and shape but a slightly longer sleeve would be great for me. (I wouldn't want to move up a size as this would make the body of the jacket too big for me).

Is the jacket comfortable?

I have to say, on most of the occasions I've worn it, no. I'm finding the feel of the jacket difficult to get used to.

I still feel uncomfortable with the feel of the fabric.

Is the material water and wind-resistant as claimed?

Reasonably, but I've not really had a good opportunity to test this yet as I've almost always worn other layers on top.

It's not as water or windproof as a dedicated garment.

Is the material breathable?

So far I've not experienced any lack of breathability with the jacket, but then I have never got really hot in it either.

On the odd occasion when I've got hot in the jacket, it's been reasonably breathable.

How warm is the jacket as a mid layer?

I don't find it particularly warm at all. I feel warmer in a 100 wt fleece.

I still don't find it a particularly warm jacket.

What weight of base layer will I need to wear for various weather conditions?

So far, with two base layers under it, I've found I need another layer on top to feel really warm in the cold temperatures we've been experiencing in the UK.

No change here (for walking or backpacking).

Will it make my Pertex windshirt redundant?

No. I still find that in cold, windy conditions I need my windshirt on.

No change here.

Can I wear it as an outer layer?

Not in the weather conditions prevailing at the moment and, at the size I have, there's not a lot of room for too much under it.

I'm going to start wearing it as an outer layer, now that the weather in the UK has started to warm up.

Is the sleeve pocket a superfluous extra?

For me yes, I've not used it.

Still not used it.

Does it wear well?

So far, yes.

At the end of the test period, the jacket still looks as good as new. It seems to be very durable. I've not noticed any pilling, scuffing or fraying of the fabric.

How long can I wear it without washing it?

I've washed it once (by hand) during the Field Test period.

I've washed it a couple more times (by hand).

Does it wash and dry well?

Yes. It was easy to wash and rinse out and then I spun it in the washing machine and hung it to dry in my airing cupboard. It dried fairly quickly and I didn't need to iron it.

I've followed the same procedure and it dries fairly quickly (and certainly hasn't needed ironing).

Is it easily packable?

Yes. Like most synthetic garments, I just scrunch it up and stuff it in my pack. It takes up little room.

No change here.

Likes

Style and design.

Dislikes

Material feels cool against me.
Doesn't really keep me as warm as I expected.
Too heavy to use solely as a windshirt.
Not waterproof enough to use as waterproof jacket.

I am grateful to BackpackGearTest and Duofold for the opportunity to test this product.