Duofold Multisport Mid Layer Jacket
Field Report - 14 March 2006
 Geocaching on the California Coast
This report is the second in a three part series. See the Initial Report for further details on the Duofold Jacket. Stay tuned for the Long Term Report.
BIOGRAPHY
Name: Jeff Jackson
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Height: 5’ 10” (178 cm)
Weight: 185 lb (84 kg)
Website: http://www.tothewoods.net/
Email: jwj32542 at yahoo dot com
Location: Monterey, CA, USA
Backpacking Background:
I have been backpacking for about eleven years. I started as a three-season overnight-only hiker in the North Georgia mountains, and have since hiked in California, Colorado, Georgia, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. Weather has generally been mild (50-85 F/10-30 C), although I sometimes hike in winter (~20 F/-7 C) as well. My current pack weight is roughly 30 lb (14 kg). I generally wear only very light insulation and a wind shell when hiking, even in sub-freezing temperatures.
PRODUCT INFO
Manufacturer: Duofold (http://www.duofold.com)
Product: Multisport Mid Layer Jacket (2005)
Measured Weight (Size L): 11.75 oz (332 g), scale accurate to 1/8 oz (2 g)
Color: Black/Grey
MSRP: $70.00 US
Description
The Duofold Multisport Mid Layer Jacket appears to be an excellent active-wear pullover. The front, back and top of the sleeves are made from a wind and water resistant nylon/spandex weave (shown as black in the picture). This wicking material is slippery on the outside and very soft and comfortable on the inside. A grey Duofold logo adorns the left breast.
A grey strip of stretch material (nylon, polyester and spandex) provides extra breathability along the obliques, through the armpits, and to the insides of the arms. The cuffs have elastic inside the stretch material, providing a snug fit at the wrists.
The half zip measures 13” (33 cm) from the top of the standup collar to the bottom of the zipper, which ends around my sternum, and the top of the zipper has a “pocket” to protect the neck and chin from the zipper head when fully zipped. The zipper pull has a 2” (5 cm) lanyard made from the nylon/spandex material, ensuring easy zipping when wearing gloves.
The stand-up collar provides extra wind protection, and is stiff enough to stand up even when the half-zip is opened. It also comfortably folds down when the extra protection is not needed.
The left bicep has a 4” (10 cm) zipper, which opens into a pocket measuring 5” x 5” (13 cm x 13 cm). This pocket is big enough to hold a small wallet and mp3 player.
Testing Update
In my Initial Report, I noted that I am impressed with the overall fit and comfort of this jacket. The stretch panels move very well with my body (tested during some minor rock climbing) and the shoulders do not feel constricting when I raise my arms over my head. The material is soft and comfortable when worn over a base layer. After several trips and washings, it still fits very well and I have noticed no pilling or wear on the material.
I have tested the breathability by purposely overheating in it, and it is very breathable. The neck zipper is large enough for adequate ventilation. The gray stretch material is rather thin and is made with a thin weave, and this significantly increases the jacket's ventilation, especially in the windy weather I experience in Monterey. The wicking material does its job very well, and I noticed no moisture buildup even though I was sweating slightly.
This jacket performs best for me during activity rather than when lounging. Since the gray stretch material increases the ventilation, the cool Monterey winds easily blow through those areas. When I am active this is an advantage, but when lounging at the beach or eating outside the wind quickly cools me down. (Of note, this jacket is marketed as the Multisport Mid Layer jacket, so it seems to be performing to specs.) On the rare occasions during this test period when the wind was not blowing, the jacket still ventilated and wicked well.
It also performs adequately in drizzly conditions. The black material is water repellent and I could see the drizzle beading up on my arms and chest. The gray stretch material soaked in the rain pretty quickly, though this was not a problem for me when I was active and the rain stayed light. Those sections dried quickly when the rain subsided, but I would definitely not be able to stay dry without additional raingear.
My biggest complaint so far is the bicep pocket. It is perfect for an ID card and my Rayban sunglasses, but the zipper is not quite long enough to fit my trifold wallet. More importantly, however, the weight of a cell phone or car keys in the bicep pocket makes the jacket pull to the left side. This causes the collar to rub on the right side of my neck, which was very irritating and might have caused a rash if I did not remove the items. Putting an identical pocket on the right bicep would allow me to balance the weight and increase the storage capacity with only a marginal increase in weight.
Also in my Initial Report, I noted that the size Large fit well in the waist but that the sleeves were a bit short. After sizing up to Extra Large, the sleeves fit very well but the waist is a bit too big, causing the waist hem to stick out from my stomach. It seems that I am "in between" sizes, but this doesn't significantly impact the jacket's performance or appearance and I still prefer the XL instead of the Large size.
Field Conditions
I have used this jacket for about twenty days, including day hikes (with and without a pack), running, geocaching, rock climbing, beach trips, taking the kids to the playground, baseball practice, and just wearing it around town. Temperatures have ranged from 40 F to 70 F (4 C to 21 C); under these temps I needed more insulation unless I was active, and over these temps I did not need the jacket unless I was sitting still in windy conditions. Winds have ranged from zero to about 20 mph (32 km/h), and weather was either sunny, foggy or drizzly.
Test Plan
Since I had to cancel all three of my camping trips during this field test, I still need to take the jacket on an overnight trip. I have at least two weekend trips scheduled and hope to take a few overnight trips as well. Locations will include Los Padres National Forest and the Big Sur area, with at least one weekend trip to the Sierra Mountains. Temperatures will range from ~15 F to 70 F (-10 C to 21 C), with elevations from sea level to ~10,000 ft (3000 m). I also plan to use it on a salt-water kayaking trip around Monterey Bay.
I will continue to evaluate the jacket on the basis of comfort, durability, performance and style. Issues that still need to be examined are:
- Comfort. Will the shoulder seams irritate my shoulders when I wear my pack? Is it comfortable to sleep in?
- Durability. Do the zippers continue to slide easily with one hand? With wear, will they catch any material when opening or closing? Will the cuffs retain their elasticity throughout the entire test period? Does the fabric show any wear over time, such as pilling or fraying? How does it handle the dirt and grunge encountered in the field?
- Performance. How well does it fit under my rain shell? How quickly does it dry in the field? How much pack space does it require when compressed?
What I Like (So Far)
- Very comfortable, breathable and attractive
- Excellent mix of protection and breathability for active periods
- Bicep pocket is very convenient
What I Don’t Like (So Far)
- Bicep pocket causes neck irritation if weighted down
- I am "in between" sizes
I would like to thank Duofold and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test this excellent piece of gear.
Jeff Jackson
Read more reviews of Duofold gear
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