GoLite Men's Wizard Jacket
Initial Report
Report Date: October 13, 2004
Reviewer Information
- Name: Edward Ripley-Duggan
- Age: 51
- Gender: Male
- Height: 6' 1" (1.85 m)
- Weight: 215 pounds (98 kg)
- erd@wilsey.net
- Catskills, New York State
Reviewer Background: See end of report
Product information in brief
- Manufacturer: GoLite
- URL: http://www.golite.com
- Product: Men's Wizard Jacket
- Year of manufacture: 2004
- MSRP: $300
- Manufacturer's stated weight: 20 oz (570 g), for size large
- Measured garment weight (size XL): 21 oz (595 g)
- Color: Twilight
- Fabric: Alchemy3 main body
- External Pockets: two external, zipped, with mesh pocket bags for venting
- Internal pockets: one small pocket for MP3 player or similar small device
- Main Zip: full front zip with chin guard
- Pit zips: one under each arm
- Hood: full, with slightly stiffened beak
- Drawcords: at hood and at waist
- Seams: taped
- Additional features:
- Integral SkullGlove balaclava in mesh pocket within garment
- transparent panel ("WatchWindow") on left sleeve for viewing watch, altimeter etc.
- Converticuff partial mitts
Delivery and contents: the jacket was delivered on October 7, 2004, adequately packaged and in good order. Within the package were a GoLite catalogue and the hang-tag for the garment, attached to the main zipper.
Introduction
Brought to market in the last quarter of 2004, this is GoLite's premium garment, their single most expensive piece of clothing. It uses the firm's proprietary Alchemy3 fabric, new this year, and has a variety of unusual features, including an integral balaclava, a demi-mitten (described by the firm as a handwarmer mitten), an mp3 player pocket with headphone loops, etc. As a use description for the jacket, the firm has been using the phrase "What'chu got?" which one could interpret as meaning this is good for almost anything short of Himalayan ascents.
However, in their catalogue 5 (Fall/Winter 2004) there is a detailed comparison chart, rating their available shell jackets by benefit, by sport and by weather. This is a more realistic assessment. This is one of three garments GoLite manufactures that it considers storm shells, which is the basis on which it will be evaluated in my test.
From this chart, we learn that the jacket bears the firm's highest rating (5) for water protection, quick-dry and wind protection. Abrasion resistance, compressibility, durability and breathability are all rated 4. Light weight is rated 3, and stretch (despite the presence of articulating panels) 2. The jacket receives their highest rating for high wind, wet and storm, a lower rating for mixed weather and a low rating for a dry climate (understandably). In terms of activities, this is intended for endurance sports and vertical sports (which I assume to be anything from ice climbing to big wall climbing). It bears a lower rating for adrenaline sports.
Construction
Textiles: The Alchemy3 fabric (as the numeral would imply) is a three-layer textile designed to be a waterproof-breathable laminate. The exterior is a tightly-woven (specs not located) ripstop nylon with a DWR finish. The middle layer is a 10 denier nylon tricot. A tricot is a warp knit: the yarns used are formed into stitches in a lengthwise manner, hence the characteristic texture. These are less elastic than weft knits, but are perfectly appropriate for a shell garment lining. The innermost layer is a polyurethane coating (which is hydrophilic—it attracts moisture, wicking it away into the fabric), faced with silk protein. Many garments now use silk protein, which avoids the clammy, binding sensation common with a raw polyurethane lining. In short, this is a very sophisticated piece of fabric technology.
Since the shell fabric is not that flexible, panels of Alchemy3 Stretch (a flexible version, similar to Schoeller fabric used in many soft shells) are used in areas where articulation is critical. As already noted, this garment has integral hand warmers and a balaclava. These are made from C-Thru Endurance, a wicking fabric that is another GoLite exclusive. There is a fleece chin-guard at the top of the zip, and coarse mesh is used extensively for the pockets (which makes these useful for core venting). All seams are taped, and the zips are faced with a rubbery synthetic (not mentioned in the literature), so that when closed the zipper itself is essentially concealed from the elements.
Fit: The Wizard is described in GoLite's catalogue as semi-fitted (though the fit is elsewhere described as aerodynamic, which sounds good but does not have a great deal of meaning unless one is wearing this for BASE jumping). GoLite has three categories for jackets: fitted, semi-fitted and relaxed. My measurements called for an XL according to GoLite's sizing chart, and the size appears to be true to form. While there is not over-abundant space (undesirable in a shell in any case) there is adequate room for one or more layers of insulating clothing over the base layer. The range of what can be worn before the fit becomes constricting will be tested in the months to come. Suffice it to say, the jacket is a comfortable fit. It is a little shorter than many of my winter jackets, but not to an extent that this should be an issue affecting utility. The short length is presumably in the interest of limiting weight.
Laundry: Cool wash with mild detergent at 105 F (40 C), rinse thoroughly, no bleach or fabric softener. No drying instructions (so I will hang dry). A cool iron may be used, and is probably good for reseating the DWR treatment. Dry cleaning is not advised.
Assembly: All stitching seemed to be done with precision, though one or two very minor thread-ends were noted. The Wizard is made in China.
Features: As indicated in the summary, this is a feature-rich garment. The basic hood is very ample, and is large enough to accommodate a climbing helmet, and the stiffened beak improves visibility. The SkullGlove balaclava normally lives in a mesh pocket against the shoulders, sealed with a Velcro tab. It is a solid piece of gear in and of itself, close fitting but not constrictive, with a small mesh panel for the nose. I only wear balaclavas in fairly extreme conditions, but having this so readily available will probably win me over from my usual composite system of face-masks etc.
The Converticuffs extend from beneath the elasticized wrists of the jacket, and these have a thumb-hole. This provides full palm cover but leaves the fingers exposed. There is a further flap of fabric that, at a pinch, could be used to convert the cuff to a liner mitten of sorts, but I have already found that this causes the sleeve to be pulled forward in an uncomfortable manner and really doesn't do the job well. I intend to treat the cuffs as a palm-warmer for mild winter days and as a bridge between glove and sleeve on colder ones, though I will experiment further with the mitten function.
The WatchWindow on the left sleeve is an ingenious idea, although the Converticuffs, when withdrawn, tend to block it. As hoped, the MP3 player pocket is of a size to take a small GPS (though it does not close, so I will carefully tie off the neck-loop of the GPS to the headphone loop. I don't own an MP3 player and don't hold with walking in the wild and listening to music, but that's a matter of personal taste.
Testing locations and conditions: Fall, Winter and Spring Catskills, Adirondacks (NY) and possibly White Mountains (NH). In the former setting, I expect temperatures down to at least 15 F (-26 C); in the Whites, lower. Upper temperatures during the testing period could possibly as high as 70 F (21 C), although I will give the jacket only limited testing under warm conditions--it does not seem to be designed for those. The jacket will be tested in rain, snow, wind, hail, all the fun elements. I will be using the jacket for hiking, snowshoeing in the mountains and backcountry skiing as well as winter backpacking (bordering on light mountaineering).
Testing issues
- 1. Necessarily first in the list, how is the venting on this jacket? How effective are those mesh pockets and pit zips? And are the zips fully waterproof (an important question, having had a few bad experiences with less-than-perfect zips)? Do the zippers operate smoothly, without snagging on fabric?
- 2. Alchemy3 is a new textile. How well does it withstand heavy wear? Does it lose its waterproof/breathable ability with wear or soiling? How does the laminate on the shoulders hold up to the rubbing of pack straps? Is the shoulder surface slick, which can create awkwardness when wearing a pack?
- 3. How breathable is Alchemy 3? It is billed in the outdoor press as having "higher breathability than comparable waterproof laminates". Is this claim borne out? How well does the seam sealing work? Over what temperature range can this jacket be comfortably worn (at various exertion levels)?
- 4. How much layering does the fit permit before one feels like the Michelin Man? What garments work well with the shell? Over what temperature range is the shell alone adequate?
- 5. How warm is the SkullGlove balaclava? Does it need a second layer in cold temperatures, or is the hood sufficient? Does the WatchWindow remain clear with high ambient moisture (I frequently consult my wrist altimeter) and is there a way to prevent the retracted Converticuffs from blocking it?
- 6. Does washing interfere with the waterproofing or the breathability of the fabric?
- 7. Do all the other features (the hem draw cord, the stiffened balaclava beak, etc.) function satisfactorily?
Reviewer Background
I enjoy walking in all its manifold forms, from a simple stroll in the woods to multi-day backpack excursions. Though by no means an extreme ultralight enthusiast, from spring to fall my preference is to carry a pack weight of 12 lb (5.5 kg), more or less. In recent years, I've rapidly moved to a philosophy of "lighter is better," within the constraints of budget and common sense.
