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

This jacket continues to impress me with its fit and comfort.

I have used this jacket for about forty days in conditions similar to my Field Report (backpacking and camping in Los Padres National Forest, several day hikes with and without a pack in Pinnacles National Monument and Big Sur, 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.

Updates since my Field Report include the following:

Comfort. Will the shoulder seams irritate my shoulders when I wear my pack? Is it comfortable to sleep in?

I found no irritation and the jacket was fairly comfortable to sleep in.
Also, the zipper protector works great to protect my neck from the zipper, but the collar is a bit too tall and pokes my chin. It is comfortable when I unzip it an inch or so. I think a contoured collar so my chin has a “pocket” when the collar is fully zipped would make the jacket a bit more comfortable.

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?

The zippers show no signs of wear, continue to slide easily, and have never caught on any fabric.
The cuffs have retained their elasticity, but the double-seam on the right cuff is beginning to unravel. I recently used a lighter to singe the hanging threads, but I do not know how long the seam will remain intact without a proper repair.
The collar has started to pill. Interestingly, the pilling is only on the right side. I think this has occurred because the bicep pocket on the left sleeve gets weighted down and causes the right side of the collar to rub against the stubble on my neck. The pilling is not extreme and I think a shaving razor will remove it easily.

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?

It fits fine under my rain shell, dries quicker than most of my other gear in the field, and compresses almost as small as a softball in my pack

What I Like

Very comfortable, breathable and attractive
Excellent mix of protection and breathability for active periods
Bicep pocket is very convenient

What I Don’t Like

Bicep pocket causes neck irritation if weighted down

In conclusion, I think this is a great jacket and I will get a lot of use from it in the future. However, I don't think it is suited to my style of lightweight backpacking. It isn't quite lofty enough to add much warmth, and it's not waterproof enough to be a rain jacket...which means it's a windshirt, and it's pretty heavy for a windshirt. As I noted in my Field Report, it is marketed as a "multisport" jacket, and I'm very satisfied with its performance as such. I will continue to use it for multisport activities, but I will leave it home for lightweight backpacking trips.

I would like to thank Duofold and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test this excellent piece of gear.

Jeff Jackson

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