Reviews > Clothing > Jackets > GoLite Wizard > David Sowards-Emmerd > Initial Report

Initial Report - GoLite Wizard Storm Jacket
October 13, 2004

Backpacking Background:
I began backpacking semi-frequently about four years ago, soon after moving to California. I generally take weekend (1 night) trips, and occasionally take 3-4 day trips. Most of my backpacking experience is at moderate altitude, 6,000'-12,000' (1,800-3,650 m), in conditions ranging from dry desert to hail/heavy snow in the mountains. In winter and spring I split time between Southern California (SoCal) deserts and snowshoeing/skiing/snowcamping in the Sierra/Cascades. Summer and fall I tend to stick to the high country. I have reduced my packweight down to less than 50 lb (23 kg) over the past year - including food/water and a bear barrel. I'm trying to include more mountaineering, climbing and bouldering in my trips.

The product was received on October 6, 2004.

Product Description:
Manufacturer's Website: www.golite.com
Manufacturer's Description (from hangtag):

''Through the magic of breathable, waterproof Alchemy technology and experience-enhancing features like waterproof stretch panels, a built-in SkullGlove balaclava, WatchWindow, and built-in ConvertiCuff handwarmer mittens, the Wizard will keep you dry and comfortable no matter what nature throws at you.''

Features:

• Taped seams
• ConvertiCuff
• SkullGlove
• Internal MP3/security pocket with ear phone guider loops
• Watch Window
• Two-way watertight full front zip
• 2 large pockets with watertight zippers and mesh pocket bags for core venting
• Pit zips
• Stiffened beak
• Hem draw cords with glow-in-the-dark cord locks
• Aerodnamic fit

Fabrics:
''Alchemy3 three-layer waterproof-breathable fabric main body. Alchemy3 Stretch three-layer laminate ergonomic panels in shoulders, underarm, side and hood panels. C-Thru Endurance in ConvertiCuff and SkullGlove.''

Weight: 1 lb 4 oz/570 g (Men's Size Large)
MSRP: $299.99

Specifications (as measured by tester):
Weight: 1 lb 2.8 oz/532 g (Men's Size Medium)
Color: Night (black with a purpleish-blue tint)

Initial Impressions and a Rundown of the Features:

The first thing I noticed was that the main zippers are on the left side of the jacket (when worn) - all my other jackets are the opposite, so it feels a little odd zipping it up, but I'm getting used to it.

Overall, the workmanship appears to be excellent and all the components used to piece this jacket together seem to be top of the line (not sure what the Alchemy3 fabric actually is...). It appears that everything is seam taped except the bottom hem and the main zipper. However, there are few spots where narrower seam tape could have been used - in several regions (MP3 pocket, SkullGlove pocket, etc.) the extra seam tape is torn because it overlaps with the pocket openings.

The areas where the stretch and regular Alchemy3 fabric are used can be seen in the photos below of the jacket. The stretch version of the fabric does seem to stretch a bit, but this is barely noticeable when pulling on the fabric with fingers. Both fabrics have the same soft, stripped gray lining on the inside of the jacket, but the Alchemy3 fabric appears to be some sort of gridded ripstop on the outside (shiny) while the Alchemy3 Stretch fabric looks more like a softshell material and has a duller appearance (see photos).

Main Zipper:
The YKK urethane main zipper has two pulls so that in addition to leaving an opening at the top of the jacket, the same can be done at the bottom. Additionally, this means the jacket can be worn as a cape (Halloween?).

ConvertiCuffs:
The Converticuffs are thick, elastic C-Thru cuffs (3.5''/9 cm long) that are sewn into the elastic cuff of the jacket. The ConvertiCuffs can be flipped out from the sleeve and cover most of the palm of my hands. A small thumb hole keeps them in place (see photos). The 'back of the hand' fabric is two layers, and this can be inverted to create a tight little mitt (see photo). The ConvertiCuffs are sewn in all the way around, so if they're not out and on your hands, then they are going to be over your wrists (this seems to interfere with the Watch Window feature). This also means it take a bit of doing to get the jacket on since it's necessary for me to put my hands through the ConvertiCuffs when putting it on. This is even more awkward when wearing a long sleeved shirt. However, this isn't a big deal if the cuffs are already sticking out of the jacket. I'm very curious to see how well the ConvertiCuffs can be layered over a light pair of gloves.

SkullGlove:
The SkullGlove is a full balaclava with a very long neck and mesh region for the mouth. The lower back side of the SkullGlove is sewn into the jacket and packs away into a mesh pocket in the upper central back of the jacket. I'm concerned this will be uncomfortable with a pack on - something to test. I'm able to take the SkullGlove out of its pocket, put it on, and put it back away without removing the jacket. Because it is sewn in, the SkullGlove loses a bit of functionality as a balaclava - namely it can't be double or tripled up into a hat. However, it can be worn just as a neck gaiter or without the fabric over my face by putting it on through the face opening of the balaclava. Lastly, the hook-and-loop fastener on the pocket tends to stick itself to the balaclava.

Front Pockets:
The front pockets (8 ''/20 cm squared) are positioned high enough so that they're still useful when wearing a pack waistbelt or climbing harness. I believe they are also low enough that they won't conflict with pack shoulder straps - I'll verify this during the field testing period. The pocket are mesh on the inside (for venting) and it means you can see what is inside them without opening the pockets. The pockets seal up tight with YKK urethane zippers and 'zipper garages' at the top (see photo). My metal flask easily fits in either front pocket.

Pit Zips:
The 14.5 ''/37 cm long pit zips are located in the usual place and seal with YKK urethane zippers with two zipper pulls so they can vent moisture and head in a variety of ways. One thing I noticed right away is that the design is such that the pit zips, when fully sealed, tend to poke against my skin around my armpits. When unzipped this is much less noticeable, and I believe this is simply due to the cut of the jacket combined with the rigidity of the pit zip zippers.

Hem Draw Cords and Locks:
The Hem cord locks are located at the bottom hem, with one on each side - on my side when wearing them, not located by the front zipper. The cord locks are not (I verified this) glow-in-the-dark as suggested by the hangtag (the Manufacturer's website does not list this feature though). However, this doesn't concern me in the least since I'll probably only go by feel with these cord locks and they also tend to rest 'under' the jacket so that even if they were glowing, I would need to roll up the bottom o the jacket to see them. One concern however is that the cord locks might interfere with a pack waistbelt or harness - I will check this during the Field Test period.

Watch Window:
I don't wear a watch, so in that sense it doesn't do anything for me on that front (and it appears that the ConvertiCuffs interfere with the window also - see photo). However, it does provide a nice way to see moisture buildup, both on the inside and outside of the jacket. I noticed this biking to work with the Wizard the day after it arrived when the fog was think enough that I could watch the tiny droplets build up on the outside of the Watch Window. Finally, I'd like to rig a way to position my altimeter on the Watch Window (on the inside of the jacket), but do not want to apply tape to the fabric.

MP3/Security Pocket and Guide Loop(s):
The MP3 pocket is located right around my left collar bone when wearing the jacket (see photo). This stretchy pocket is actually very small (2'' by 4'' /5 cm by 10cm when laid flat) and looks like it's meant for use with a solid state 'USB drive' type MP3 player. My jukebox-style (read: one with a Hard Disk) will definitely not fit in this pocket. My cell phone (Nokia 3650) barely fits in, and I believe (I'll verify this during the Field Testing period) I'll be able to use it hands-free in this configuration. The placement of the pocket is such that it might interfere with backpack shoulder straps - so I'll check this during the Field Testing Period. Since my jukebox style mp3 player won't fit, I've already 'borrowed' (he he) my wife's Nomad MuVo (USB drive) MP3 player for the duration of the testing period! I can only find one ear phone guide loop on the jacket and it's located directly above the MP3 pocket. Also I note that a pocket knive fits in this pocket rather nicely.

Hood:
The hood fits nicely over my head, but is not compatible with either a biking or climbing helmet. I will have to wear the hood underneath my helmet when needed. The 'beak' does not appear to be stiffened any more than the rest of the hood - however, the fit o the hood is such that this doesn't really matter. It should keep water off my face - I'll be testing this. The hood can be tightened via cord locks on each side of the bottom of the hood. Once the jacket is zipped up all the way, I am unable to put the hood on or take it off without unzipping. The hood can be tucked away (sort of) by folding it over a few times before putting the jacket on (think hunchback), but can't really be stowed. Also, there's a nice soft fuzzy patch of material right where my chin is when the jacket is zipped up all the way.

Fit:
I'm not sure about how 'aerodynamic' the fit is, but it fits my form very well and does allow for a bit of layering: a light fleece jacket fits underneath so long as all my other base layers are thin.

Testing Locations:

Testing will probably range from below sea level to over 14,000'/4300 m and cover a wide range of temperatures and conditions. Testing locations will include local hikes and my daily bike commute (already wore it one cool foggy morning), and ski and snowshoe overnight trips to the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades. This week I'll be using the Wizard as my main protection from wind and weather on a 4 day peak climbing trip to the Palisades. The Wizard will probably be worn almost continuously on a 9 day Thanksgiving trip of bouldering and hiking around Bishop, CA and Death Valley National Park. Depending on how durable the Wizard appears to be, I may wear it a bit for rock climbing and bouldering when the temperatures are cooler. Finally, I'll be in Michigan for a week or two around New Years and can see how it behaves in the cold there (it's generally different than the winter weather out here in the mountains) and for a few days of cross-country skiing if there's snow.

Test Plan:

Comfort:
This is my main concern - will the jacket help to keep me warm and dry under a variety of conditions? Are there any points that rub? Using the Wizard along with a few base layers and a thick down vest, can I comfortably run the gamut of conditions here in California?

Durability:
How well does it hold up, how durable is the fabric, and are there any particular spots where abrasion and wear appear? How well do the urethane zippers hold up, and how often do they jam?

Breathability/Overheating:
Will the breathability of the jacket degrade noticeably with wear, dirt, and sweat? How much of a cross draft can I get by venting the front pockets and pit zips. Will the stowed SkullGlove and ConvertiCuffs create 'hot spots' due to the added insulation? Is condensation a big issue inside the jacket?

Weatherproof:
Does rain eventually seep through the fabric or the zippers? Will the contents of the front pockets safe After a good soaking how quickly does it dry? I plan to do the tried and true shower test on this jacket during the Field Testing Period. How do the ConvertiCuffs fare when wet - do they lose their insulating properties? After a good soaking (wiping down the jacket but not allowing it to dry) how much does it weight now?

Design:
Do the ConvertiCuffs interfere with shirt and jacket cuffs? Is the stowed balaclava uncomfortable when wearing a pack? How well do the ConvertiCuffs and SkullGlove work for layering and does the SkullGlove wick moisture effectively? Does water find its way in through open pit zips when it's raining? How does wearing the hood affect my visibility when riding a bike - does it turn with my head to some degree or should I invest in a mirror?

Pockets:
What sorts of extras can I fit in these pockets - will my camera fit? Do I lose a significant amount of the venting ability when I can't unzip the front pockets because they're full (plus the added insulation of the contents)?

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Reviews > Clothing > Jackets > GoLite Wizard > David Sowards-Emmerd > Initial Report