Long Term Report:
GoLite Wizard Jacket

Report Date: April 25, 2005

This is the third report of three
My Initial Report may be viewed here
My Field Report may be viewed here

Navigation Reviewer Background Product information in brief Field and test information Product Use and Performance Summary

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 ultra-light enthusiast, from spring to fall my preference is to carry a pack weight (before food and water) 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.

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
  
  

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

Field and test information

During the four-month period covered by this Long Term Report, the GoLite Wizard was used for a mix of activities in the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains of New York State, at elevations to 4500 ft (1372 m). Much of the hiking involved off-trail excursions i.e. "bushwhacks," and included a number of the more difficult Catskill peaks. Minimum pack load was 12 lb (5.4 kg) or so for day hikes and up to 28 lb (11.3 kg) for backpacks. The lowest temperatures experienced during the testing period were at night, down to approximately -15 F (-26 C). The period of the long-term test, beginning in mid-December and lasting to the present time, had a few intermittent mild periods, with a maximum during use of about 60 F (16 C) but we experienced protracted stretches of cold (occasionally, very cold) weather. Despite a late start, the winter proved a snowy one in this region. The wide range of temperatures and conditions experienced during the test period allowed me to use the jacket for a diverse range of activities: going out on errands, day-hiking, backpacking, winter camping, cross-country skiing (backcountry and classic), snowshoeing, bicycling and (latterly) kayaking.

Product Use and Performance

As reported in the Field Report, in mid-December I had to return the Wizard to GoLite because of a faulty front zipper. A replacement was received promptly on January 4, 2005, together with a copy of a magazine on adventure racing. I was intrigued by this enclosure, as clearly GoLite is pitching its products heavily to this fairly new market (based on advertising content, etc.), and in fact the magazine in question gave the Wizard a commendation.

I'd like to make one correction to the last report here. As I was packing the jacket for return, I found one very small rip, probably caused by a projecting branch. Based on this, I decided against taking the replacement Wizard on too many off-trail outings, preferring instead to use a seemingly indestructible Lowe shell (purchased on sale a few years ago) that's part of my select wardrobe of clothes that can get beat up without too much fretting on my part. Despite this resolution, the Wizard has been on some fairly wild hikes subsequently, without ill effects.

I inspected the new jacket carefully. There were no design changes evident, and the quality of construction remained overall good, although there was a stitching defect on the right ConvertiCuff, with a loose thread at the bottom of the thumb cut-out as if the stitching had not been properly completed, and the top of that same seam was partially unfinished. This did not appear to affect strength or functionality, but was disappointing to note in a comparatively expensive piece of clothing.

The zipper remained a little awkward in use, still with a tendency to jam at the neck, although it certainly worked better than that on the first jacket I received. In order to improve the ease of movement further, I treated it with a lubricant I had purchased for the purpose (Panef White Stick Lubricant with silicone). This made a huge difference, and I did not suffer from the zipper slide jamming again, even in extreme cold.

With approximately six months use in aggregate, my feelings about this jacket remain a bit conflicted, although overall my assessment is more positive than negative. It is unquestionably rich in features, though they are not always well thought-out. Let's look at the list:

• SkullGlove Balaclava. This resides in a mesh pocket between the shoulders. Because of the storage location, it absorbs a great deal of the sweat generated between the pack and back. This not only leads to a build-up of musty, sweaty odor over time, but it means that when it is deployed it tends to be slightly damp. In my Field Report, I described how much trouble I had with the balaclava icing to my beard. Much of the moisture was from my breath, but a good deal was already in the fabric. Additionally, when the balaclava is hastily stored, the pocket creates a little hump in the lines of the jacket. Quasimodo chic?
  
  
• ConvertiCuffs. These are a feature that I like, as they form a useful gaiter between wrist and glove, as well as a palm-warmer. However, except in the direst emergency, they are pretty useless as mitts when fully extended, at least on my hands, which are ordinary in proportions. I find the only way to wear them is with my fingers curled in a fist, but this leaves the fingertips, the most vulnerable part of the hand, next to the opening. If I need to quickly warm my hands, they work after a fashion, but they can't be comfortably used in this manner for any period of time. In addition, they are made from what appears to be the same material as the balaclava, and if left overnight in a tent below freezing, they will (per the Field Report) freeze rock solid, making putting the jacket on the following morning a real trial. Since the jacket does not take up a lot of room, on my recent winter trips I stored it in my sleeping bag to avoid this problem.
  
  
• WatchWindow. This was a feature I initially disliked, as it tends to fog or frost over. Still, to test it, I started to wear my watch-altimeter over my inner layers on my fore-arm, and I found that it really was useful to be able to quickly view the time or altitude, particularly as the tight fit of the cuffs makes access to the wrist, where one would usually wear a watch, awkward. If the pane is pushed against the watch face, it's generally easy to read. Still, it would be nice to be able to block this window when not in use.
  
  
• MP3 pocket and headphone loops. This was not a feature I was able to use, as I don't own an MP3 player. I had hoped to be able to use it to store my small GPS, but it was a very tight fit and I was concerned that it would get squeezed out and lost, as there's no retaining flap. In any case, when I'm out in winter (or any other time) I want to keep focused on matters like navigation and observation. I'm an enthusiastic (if very amateur) tracker, and I'm not keen on anything that distances me from my surroundings. However, if I were a snowboarder or downhill skier I expect I'd have a blast!

To continue... In researching this article, I revisited the GoLite website. I was intrigued to see that the use description on the product page for the Wizard now reads "Wet-weather pursuits of all kinds." This had originally read "What'chu got?"—a considerably less precise description. Additionally, at least one retailer (ProLite) now excludes both winter camping and regular camping (!) from their list of recommended uses, while retaining backpacking and other winter shell applications. Having used the Wizard as my primary shell for several winter camping trips under relatively severe conditions, I'd beg to differ somewhat on this assessment.

As a result of my early testing, I was already aware of such issues as the freezing of the cuffs, and I have learned to work around them. In my estimation the Wizard makes a perfectly acceptable shell for all but the most extreme conditions, provided that one keeps such limitations in mind. As I noted previously, I simply throw the jacket in my sleeping bag to keep it supple, and doing this I've happily camped in nighttime temperatures (outside the tent) of -15 F (-26 C) or below, awaking to find my jacket, stored down by my feet, comfortably warm and fully flexible.

It's really a question of knowing the limits of the garment in advance. The fact that the weight is 21 oz (595 g) is a big plus, given that my best GORE-TEX parka weighs almost three times as much. The latter would be my choice for truly extreme conditions (for example, winter New Hampshire, which I didn't make this year), but I was very pleased with the performance of the Wizard in the bitterly cold and windy weather I experienced in the Adirondacks and Catskills. The bottom line is that, in conjunction with my layers, it kept me comfortably warm.

I have learned a few minor but useful tricks with the jacket that I'll pass along. Opening the zip from the bottom is a handy way to reach pockets in garments underneath (using the two-way zip in this manner retains more heat and prevents snow from penetrating). It's also a good option for airflow, again while keeping snow from penetrating my collar and chilling me. The pit zips are handy and with the pit zips, front zip and mesh pockets all open I remained largely shielded from the elements during periods of heavy exertion, without becoming overheated. I must note that I found the cord zip-pulls have an annoying tendency to come untied, and I have, as a precaution, retied them all. The jacket, if fully zipped with the hood back and cinched, does a rather good job of gaitering the neck against clumps of snow falling from trees (assuming that I don't simply decide to put the hood up).

One important matter that's very difficult to assess quantitatively is the breathability and waterproofness of the Alchemy3 fabric that's used in the body of the jacket. In general, I found both qualities good, but on occasion, especially during periods of very heavy exertion (e.g. cross-country skiing uphill) I noted sporadic signs of "soaking out" on the surface of the jacket, despite careful temperature regulation. This may, in fact, be due to external moisture, such as melting snow. The problem shows up as areas where the fabric darkens as it takes up water, so it's pretty easily visible.

When fabric soaks out, the breathability plummets. This is one reason why it is so important to keep the DWR coating in good shape with waterproof-breathable garments. The soaking seems to occur most frequently (unsurprisingly) in locations such as sleeves, which are frequently flexed. I don't consider this a big issue, as the areas affected were fairly localized. The seam-taping seems highly effective—I experienced no leakage at any point.

The one time I laundered the jacket (without any noticeable adverse effect, I'm pleased to report), I made a point of renewing the DWR coating with a bottle of Revivex. I've not seen any undue wear from pack-straps, but I gave the shoulders an especially carefully treatment with the spray just in case, because of the wear they receive. After washing, the jacket has continued to hold up against snow and rain as well as it originally did.

On a final incidental note, with its waterproof zip, wrist gaiters and articulated sleeves, this is a darn fine paddling jacket for use in a kayak!

Summary

This is a very versatile shell for year-round use. Despite a bumpy start, in part due to the problems with the zipper, I have found myself liking it more and more as time went on. Still, it has a number of quirks, as I've noted in the body of my report, and there are things I'd love to see altered. I believe these changes would substantially improve the utility of the garment.

• A smoother-operating zip. Despite the advantages offered by urethane-backed zips, they tend to be stiff, and to become stiffer still as the mercury drops. At very least, perhaps a silicone lubricant should be supplied?
• While it is sometimes useful to have an accessible balaclava, the placement, in a high-sweat zone, leaves something to be desired. I believe the balaclava should either be omitted entirely (I always carry one in winter anyhow as part of my standard kit) or mounted up near the collar in a moisture-proof pocket.
• I'd like to see a closeable velcro-sealed flap of the same fabric as the body of the jacket over the WatchWindow.
• The ConvertiCuffs are wonderful as wrist-gaiters and palm-warmers, but pretty much useless as mittens. I'd love to see the construction of this area altered to reflect that, either to make them a fully usable (and sealable) mitten, or else to shave weight by making them single-ply.
• It would be an improvement if the ConvertiCuffs and balaclava were made out of a slightly less absorbent material.
• An extra inch or so added to the length of the jacket would be no bad thing.
• Remove the MP3 pocket or better still, make it suitable for carrying a GPS, with a flap or loop to prevent loss.
  
  

Likes

• A lightweight shell, suitable for both mild- and cold-weather use
• A large, well-constructed hood
• Breathable fabric, with lots of options for enhancing airflow
• Gaitered sleeves and a close-fitting neck

Dislikes

• The absorbency of the ConvertiCuffs makes them freeze solid if left at sub-freezing temperatures after wearing
• The balaclava... well, I've covered that in detail!
• The stiffness of the zip
  

I thank BackpackGearTest and GoLite for permitting me to participate in this very interesting test.